Phantom

By: Jo Nesbø

Narrated by: Robin Sachs

Following from Jo Nesbø's electrifying international best sellers The Snowman and The Leopard, now comes Phantom, which plunges the brilliant, deeply troubled, now former police officer Harry Hole into a full-tilt investigation on which his own tenuous future will come to depend.

When Harry left Oslo again for Hong Kong - fleeing the traumas of life as a cop - he thought he was there for good. But then the unthinkable happened. The son of the woman he loved, lost, and still loves is arrested for murder: Oleg, the boy Harry helped raise but couldn't help deserting when he fled. Harry has come back to prove that Oleg is not a killer. Barred from rejoining the police force, he sets out on a solitary, increasingly dangerous investigation that takes him deep into the world of the most virulent drug to ever hit the streets of Oslo (and the careers of some of the city's highest officials), and into the maze of his own past, where he will find the wrenching truth that finally matters to Oleg, and to himself.

©2012 Jo Nesbø (P)2012 Random House Audio

Somewhat Disappointing

I've read and enjoyed all of Jo Nesbo's books but I found this one too long. Twist, after twist, after twist became tedious. I could have used a few less characters and a few less hours of narration. Didn't really appreciate the rat's point of view either.
Robin Sachs did his usual wonderful job narrating.

Dark, Twisty and Heartwrenching- Harry Hole

The best crime novel I've listened to in a long, long time. I had to rewind the end twice to be sure I heard right! It was a shocker! In this novel, Harry Hole is every bit the tortured detective with a heart of gold and penchant for self torment. The other characters are also deeply layered. Jo Nesbo eloquently illustrates the thinnest strands of the human heart that seem to tether us to one fate or another. A bad decision, an impulse, such tiny things can have such an effect on our lives. The twists are frequent, and don't fall into the typical cliches that poison so much crime fiction. In retrospect, I could have predicted some of the plot reversals, but an unconscious sense of optimism blinded me to what should have been obvious. The end result was a book that was very tense- when the traps were sprung, I gasped! Listening to the heartbreak that Harry has, and also brings to others, was at times stomach churning.

I love Robin Sachs elegant, tough and exhausted portrayal of the guy whose live is defined by his failures. Infinitely listenable.

always good and so twisty

just when you think you get what's happening... something else surfaces. this was a reread and I really had to pay attention

Can Nesbo get any better?

I was blown away for how much I love and hate Harry Hole. He's infuriating, caring but careless. I didn't expect the book story to end the way it did. What a twist without being forced. Love this series. Can't wait to see the movie starring Michael Fassbender.

Nesbo's Harry Hole is the best detective series.

I've never been disappointed in any Of Nesbo's works. This one is particularly painful because of the extreme abuse Harry Hole endures. Someone wrote that Nesbo hates Harry Hole, given the physical and emotional abuse Hole endures throughout the series. He does start out a tall, handsome guy with a drinking problem and slowly digresses into a homely, bulbous nose, physically and emotionally scarred drunk and junkie.

But what attracts me to this character is how honest and clever he is with solving crimes, while enduring so much suffering. I hope this series never ends.

ooooh, a great one!

Second only to Snowman. Nesbo gets better and better and this one is intricate and thrilling. Robin Sachs is a terrific narrator and perfect for the tone of this series. But someone should tell him how to pronounce Harry's last name. It has two syllables.

Oh Harry.

The pain Harry goes through is heart wrenching. This is not the book to start with if you are going to read Jo Nesbo...

What defines a person? Murder defines Harry. That and being a policeman.

I relistened to the last few chapters to make sure... I cried for the people left standing. Robin Sachs is the reason Harry touches your heart.

Heartbreaking

Sad but gripping. Robin Sachs brings great depth to Harry, Oleg, etc. highly recommended. Can't wait to finish series.

Harry Hole cleans up his act?

As others have said: if you haven’t read any of the previous books, this probably is not a good place to start.

Harry is once again drawn back to Oslo from his refuge in Hong Kong; this time to clear Oleg of a murder charge.

A good portion of the (early) story shows Harry clean and sober, employed in Hong Kong, feeling like a father to Oleg, and still in love with Rakel. However, following clues that only he can put together, he is quickly pulled into the dark underworld of Oslo drug trafficking. As the story proceeds, the usual Harry Hole adventure gets moving. He meets many unsavory characters and finds that even some police contacts can’t be trusted. Then he is badly cut up, shot, and damaged to the point that it seems he will drop dead at any moment.

Nesbo keeps us guessing who Harry can trust, what danger will hit him next, and if he ever be anything other than a “policeman.”

Robin Sachs portrays Harry Hole perfectly.

how does Harry survive? Lengthy, but worth it..

Always great to do a Jo Nesbo book. Great characters you can identify with.