The Redbreast
Detective Harry Hole investigates a neo-Nazi threat in modern-day Oslo while uncovering connections to Norwegian volunteers who fought on the Eastern Front during World War II.
Themes & atmosphere
What you might want to know about The Redbreast
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Detective Harry Hole is moved to Oslo's surveillance unit after a mistake during a US presidential visit. A rare wartime rifle has been smuggled into Norway, and Harry's hunt for the buyer pulls him back into the Eastern Front service of Norwegian volunteers in the German army at Leningrad.
The Redbreast is the third book in Jo Nesbo's Harry Hole series but the first translated into English, where it became the most popular entry point. The series has more than 13 books.
No direct adaptation of The Redbreast exists as of 2025, but the 2017 film The Snowman (based on a later Harry Hole novel) starred Michael Fassbender. That film was widely panned.
The Redbreast was written by Jo Nesbo, published in 2000 by HarperCollins Canada, Limited.
The Redbreast is 576 pages in standard print editions, though page counts vary slightly between hardcover, paperback, and large-print formats.
At an average reading pace of about 250 words per minute, The Redbreast takes most readers 9 to 12 hours to finish.
The Redbreast is a standalone novel by Jo Nesbo, not part of a series.
The Redbreast is available in hardcover, paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats from Amazon, Bookshop.org, ThriftBooks, and most major bookstores.