It is the second in a series featuring Harry Hole, a cop who shares many of the foibles of dedicated cops who are consumed by the job. An alcoholic, divorced father of two grown children, Harry thinks he has inadvertently caused his own downfall. Assigned to oversee a cavalcade of cars, one containing the American president, Harry notices a man moving furtively through a toll plaza. Despite his poor marks on his firearms test, Harry hits the man and kills him. Unfortunately, the man was a Secret Service agent. However instead of being in trouble for his impulsiveness, the matter is hushed up and Harry is bounced into a higher level job as a liaison officer in Security Service.

Harry becomes involved in investigating people who were involved in Norway’s Eastern Front during World War II. It is a complicated story. A group of Norwegians who were fighting for Germany at some point switched their allegiance to Russia and became part of the Resistance. Each member of the group had their own agenda, not all of them politically motivated. A bit of romance and a desire for power also play key roles in the action.

The past comes in conflict with the present as players in the conflict of some fifty plus years that are still alive would like for their secrets to remain buried and undisturbed. These desires collide with Harry’s investigation which takes on a much more personal tone when one of Harry’s closest colleagues, Ellen is killed.

Of late there has been considerable interest in crime fiction by Scandinavian authors which probably explains why this fine novel has finally appeared in English. It is difficult to comment on the style of writing because the translator plays an important role. However, it is assumed that the back story of the events during World War II, how it is divided and yet integrated with the modern day are the inventions of Jo Nesbro. It is not merely a case of relating the events of fifty odd years ago while concurrently narrating what is happening at the present time. The author has disguised those characters that were the story’s focus in 1942-45 as they presently appear in 2000.

It is a refreshing look at “the last great war” in that it is not told from the point of view of an American or Brit, or from the view of the Germans. The Norwegians had a rather unique perspective on the war which is cause for reflection. Norway was considered one of Europe’s poorest countries in 1920 which goes a long way toward explaining the country’s actions during the war. In addition, they thought actually participating in the killing that is war can change one’s view on taking the life of another individual forever.

The title of the book is quite apt and does not directly relate to the familiar bird. One of the soldiers was dubbed the redbreast for his skill of killing with a bayonet which he considered the most humane method. When properly employed brain death was almost instantaneous.

Harry, although stereotypical in his alcoholism and preoccupation with “the job,” is anything but a stereotypical character. He seems at times to care little for those closest to him. His daughter who had suffered as a child from the lack of a father figure, still returns to him as an adult trying to reestablish a relationship with him. Harry can only see her faults and his shortcomings as a father. Gradually though. he does start to have some emotional feelings toward those closest to him.

Though I am prone to dismiss psychological profiling as so much psychobabble, the concept plays an intriguing role in the plot of the novel. Certainly an individual who has endured the horror of war in hand to hand combat is a likely candidate for mental instability.

The author is an excellent history teacher. He even reminds those who have forgotten or teaches those who do not know who Vidkun Quisling was and what role he played during World War II. Everyone needs to brush up on their trivia.

Nesbro has employed a clever method for filling in the odd missing pieces through the use of papers that Harry finds at the scene of a death. It allows the use of first person from a character of which we have little knowledge. Thus all the loose ends are connected and the story is complete. The Redbreast is the second of four books written by Nesbro that involve Harry Hole. We can but hope that the others will appear in English in short order.

--Andy Plonka