The Bat

by Jo Nesbo.

This is the first book in the mystery series about Harry Hole, a Norwegian police officer.  The books have been very popular so I thought I would try one.

Surprisingly, this first book is set in Australia, not Norway.  Harry has been sent to Australia to participate on a police investigation into the strangulation of a Norwegian girl who was living in Australia.  Harry is puzzled when he is met at the airport by an Aboriginal police officer who said he asked to work on this case with Harry.

The officer takes him to a circus performance and shows him a few sites in Australia.  In the course of the investigation Harry also meets a boxer, and several less than desirable characters.  He also meets a young Swedish woman and becomes romantically involved with her.

Harry has a troubled past, he was driving a police vehicle, drunk, while on duty.. This resluted in the death of his partner and disabling of a young child in another vehicle.  He avoids alcohol.

As the investigation proceeds it is decided that the murder may have been the work of a serial murderer.  Several suspects are investigated with no arrests.  Harry and his friends try some very unprofessional things to get information.  They suspect a clown may have been the murderer, he is found brutally murdered, and the Aboriginal police officer is found hung in the clowns home.  It is discovered that the police officer was a heroin addict but further investigation proves that he was murdered. 

Harry is supposed to return to Norway but instead engages in an ongoing drunken binge, while trying to work on his own to solve the crimes.

Harry tries to catch the person he is convinced is the murdering by asking his girlfriend to participate in a setup.   He  is wrong about his suspect and she ends up losing her life. 

I found the first half of the book slow to get going and get my interest, but by the mid-point it became an interesting, action-packed, if some what depressing story.

I enjoyed it, but I am puzzled as to why the author would start the first book in the series in Australia, rather than Norway.  Perhaps the author and publisher felt the exotic locale would be appealing.