Publisher Description
Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2016. When a small-time criminal and gun dealer is shot down in the street, all signs point to Tomas Gomez, a quiet man with a mysterious past—and deep connections to a notorious gang—who has seemingly vanished into thin air. Other murders soon follow, and it appears Gomez is only getting started. Meanwhile, Bob Oz, a down-and-out suspended police officer with a dubious past of his own, becomes fascinated by the case: he is obsessed with the notion of hunting down a serial killer who only he can understand, a killer with a story as tragic as his own.
Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2022. An enigmatic Norwegian man with ties to Minneapolis—a self-described crime writer—has traveled to the United States to research the Gomez case, in the hopes of writing a book about it. But as his investigation progresses, the writer’s seemingly neutral position reveals itself to be more complicated than the reader is initially led to believe.
Wolf Hour is a twisty and unforgettable thriller in classic Jo Nesbø style, which bears out Vanity Fair’s observation that “Nesbø explores the darkest criminal minds with grim delight and puts his killers where you least expect to find them. . . . His novels are maddeningly addictive.”
Thrilling Reads WOLF HOUR Book Review
Jo Nesbø’s Wolf Hour is a solid but uneven police procedural that ultimately earns 3 out of 5 stars from me.
For readers expecting another Harry Hole novel, it’s worth noting that this is not part of that series. Instead, the protagonist is Bob Oz, an American-Norwegian police detective investigating a murder in Minneapolis. While I missed Harry Hole, Bob Oz proves to be a capable lead, even if I never fully connected with him or many of the other characters.
The biggest issue is the pacing. At over 400 pages, the novel simply feels too long. I honestly think 100 pages could have been cut without losing anything important to the story. There are extended passages detailing Minneapolis history, neighborhoods, and streets that bog down the narrative and slow the momentum. While some readers may appreciate that level of world-building, I found myself eager to get back to the investigation.
The characters also didn’t resonate with me as much as I had hoped. Many of them are intentionally flawed, but I found several to be more unlikable than compelling, making it difficult to become emotionally invested in their journeys.
That said, there is still plenty here to enjoy. Nesbø remains one of the masters of dark, atmospheric crime fiction, and his signature Scandinavian noir style is on full display. Once the investigation gains traction, the police procedural elements become the novel’s greatest strength. The mystery is intriguing, and without giving anything away, there is a satisfying twist that fans of the genre should appreciate.
One aspect that may divide readers is the book’s commentary on contemporary American culture. The story spends a fair amount of time addressing gun culture, the murder of George Floyd, and the unrest that followed in Minneapolis. Some readers will appreciate the social commentary, while others who read crime fiction as an escape from current events may find it a bit heavy-handed and distracting from the central mystery.
Overall, Wolf Hour is a worthwhile read for established Jo Nesbø fans and readers who enjoy slow-burning, old-school noir police procedurals. It doesn’t rank among my favorite Nesbø novels, but the engrossing investigation, atmospheric writing, and well-earned twist make it worth the journey—even if that journey takes a little longer than it needed to.
