I loved the book!

This was my first one from this series and from the author, but it will not be the last!

The storyline was multi-faceted, the characters relatable, and well thought out and the story was very well built. I was captivated by it and stayed up ever so late just to read 'a bit more'!

I am on the lookout for more books like these, and I cannot wait to read more from the Wisting!

Thank you for the ARC, NetGalley!

And so with the discovery of the head of a 14 year old girl on a wooden stake in Larvik town square begins the latest case for William Wisting. As in previous novels, his journalist daughter, Line, also gets involved with the
case. The victim is a refugee which gives rise to the view that a neo-nazi group may be involved.
What follows is a carefully plotted, police procedure novel with a number of twists. This is a harrowing story that looks at the exploitation of vulnerable children and how the state often leaves them to be exploited and abused by organised crime gangs.
Another good thought provoking William Wisting novel.

I changed my rating more times because the more I read the more I liked it. Chilling like the climate, well plotted, and gripping.
A good Scandinavian noir full of twists and darkness.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

Rating 3.5 stars

A severed head is displayed on a stake in a shopping square having been left there overnight. Police Inspector William Wisting and his team are tasked with solving the crime.

Before long, another body is found. The media are now reporting the crimes, especially Wisting's daughter Line who covering the story for a big newspaper. The victims are refugees and they consider it might be an honour killing, or is it linked to a suitcase that was found at a railway station with drugs?

Whilst I overall enjoyed the story, my problem with it was that the Night Man was hardly in the story with most of it being spent focusing on Line getting herself into the thick of the action as usual and having to be rescued - again!

It's a topical theme of drugs being moved between Afghanistan and Norway, using children as couriers.

I received this book from Netgalley in return for a honest review.

Excellent Wisting story where again his daughter Line is involved after the discovery of a head on a stake in downtown Larvik. The initial investigation is to find who she is and of course this takes some time and when a second body is discovered it all speeds up. Line’s parallel investigation for the press gives her father vital clues with possible illegal drugs trading heavily involved. The action is relentless and includes a brief sojourn to Afghanistan to find a probable witness to events. It all builds to an exciting denouement with some super characters.

My thanks to Penguin Random House U.K. Michael Joseph for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Night Man’ by Jørn Lier Horst. As can happen with crime series in translation, this was published in English out of the original publication order. Happily the novels can easily be read as stand-alones.

‘The Night Man’ is Book 5 in his Chief Inspector William Wisting series of police procedurals and was originally published in Norway in 2009. It was translated from the Norwegian by Anne Bruce.

The novel opens in November 2008 with the shocking discovery of a severed head on a stake in the quiet town of Larvik. It’s not the only body found and combined with the frenzy stirred up by the media, the locals are panicking. Police Inspector William Wisting is determined to uncover the elusive figure at the heart of the case - the Night Man.

Horst brings his experience as a former senior investigating officer with the Norwegian police force to his writing. As a result his police procedurals are well grounded in reality. Add to this he has a flair for creating strong characters and page-turning tension.

Overall, this was an intelligent and satisfying novel that confirms Jørn Lier Horst as one of my favourite writers of Nordic Noir.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

Norwegian detective William Wisting has taken over where Wallander left off – which delights me, because I’ve always found Jorn Lier Horst’s world rather more rewarding to visit. This is a long-running series but if you’ve just come to the books – perhaps because you’ve seen the TV version – then this story is skilfully self-contained so it can be enjoyed as a standalone.

The opening chapters are definitely presented to grab your attention: well, it’s hard to ignore a severed head on a pole. But don’t be misled by the publisher’s shock! horror! blurb. The Night Man is not your typical ‘psycho serial killer runs amok’ slasherfest so don’t come here looking for increasingly bizarre murders. Instead it’s a painstakingly plotted investigation into modern slavery and the international narcotics trade, which JLH adeptly approaches from two entirely different directions.

That’s another thing I enjoy about spending time with seasoned detective Wisting; his relationship with headstrong Line, his journalist daughter. You’d think from those brief descriptions that this pair spend their time butting heads in ongoing conflicts between a by-the-book police professional and a headline-grabbing hack. Far from it: their interactions are mature and considered, respectfully working towards a common goal albeit with different methods that suit their generations. It’s pleasantly refreshing.

Nor is the investigation mired in gloom, doom, woe and despondency. William and Line both acknowledge the loss of his wife / her mother, but they are independent adults who’ve moved on… even to the extent of developing new romantic entanglements which have significance to both sides of the story.

And this narrative is as much a social and political commentary as it is a police procedural. It comments at some length Norway’s policies on asylum seekers at home and peacekeeping military actions abroad. The delivery of a large lump of facts and figures does distract from the plot somewhat, and I suspect some folk will skip those bits. Depends how much education you enjoy with your entertainment.

The plot also stretches credibility a touch when Wisting goes off on an exotic adventure and ends up in the firing line. It feels like a ‘made for TV’ segment which was certainly surplus to the plot requirements: a Zoom call wouldn’t have been quite so dramatic, mind.

Overall, a thorough engaging read and a solid addition to the series.

8/10

On a dense foggy morning, Vera Kvalsvik is on her way to work at the local bookshop. As she approaches the flowerbeds near the village square, a shape looms out of the gloom, and to her horror, she finds the decapitated head of a young girl, atop a wooden post. The victim appears to be from an ethnic background.
What a start! This novel not only has a murder to solve, but finds itself dealing with the emergence of The Patriotic Front, an anti immigration group in Norway, that fears that the national identity is being eroded by the settlement of large groups of foreign incomers.
William Wisting is heading up the investigation, and assembles his team. His daughter, Line, a journalist for the local newspaper is also on the case. Both father and daughter approach this case from different viewpoints, Line concentrates mostly upon the groups of vulnerable teenagers in a local hostel, William and his team have to try to investigate without prejudice, which seems very strong and well organised.
Although this book was written a few years ago, the message and fears are still highly relevant today, in these uncertain times of rubber dinghies crossing the English Channel, the question of who stays and who is deported challenges many Governments.
We do learn more about Wisting and his family circumstances, including why his wife left.
I enjoyed this book, and having read it before the TV adaptation, found that the book is far superior, the television version bears only a very superficial resemblance to the book.
I still believe that Line has far too much access to Police investigations, and her interference puts herself in danger and also risks putting an unnecessary bias upon the neutrality of the ongoing enquiries, however, such cooperation is to be admired.
These stories are real page turners, and make the pulse race a little quicker each time a new development arises.
I also loved the explanation of the titular Night Man, gruesome and not the normal career choice for most people.
A five star read. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers, Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House, for my digital copy in exchange for my unbiased review.

Jorn Lier Horst has written an intensely dark novel, again featuring William Wisting and his journalist daughter Line. Although written nearly fifteen years ago the themes explored parallel the problems the world is experiencing today - the heroin trade from Afghanistan to western Europe - the risks taken by migrants trying to escape war zones - and brutal murders.
The author exposes the dark corners where the high standard of living in the Nordic countries gives way to poverty, squalor and violence. This is thought-provoking Scandinavian noir at its gripping best. A compelling, long overdue English translation.

It happened in the quiet town of Larvik. A severed head displayed on a stake. A crime so dark only one man is capable of solving it: Police Inspector William Wisting. Before long, more bodies are found. Media frenzy sweeps the locals into panic. And when Wisting's investigation leads him to a deadly underground crime ring, he fears the whole town may be in danger. But at the heart of it is just one man: The Night Man.
Dark, intense, uncomfortable & at times disturbing read but I couldn’t put it down. A very well written book with brilliant characters & an edge of the seat story. Fast paced & it kept me guessing. It’s easily read on its own but be sure to start it early in the day as it’s not a book you want to be reading in the small hours!
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

On a foggy morning in Larvik, the head of a young girl is found on a stake in the middle of the town square.
Wisting strives to identify the girl and in doing so another body is discovered along with drugs and trafficking links.
Wisting's investigation is told in parallel to Lina, his daughter's journalistic investigation.
I had just watched the TV version of Night Man, but the book was different enough for it not to be spoiled. I preferred the book!

A well researched storyline but unfortunately the knowledge gained by the author then came across as a bit of a lesson. I was looking for more entertainment than education so this wasn’t a good fit for me.

I have always enjoyed the Wisting novels and was happy to read the latest offering.
The relationship between Wisting and his daughter and how she gets involved in his investigations is a feature of these books that I enjoy. Although I sometimes wish that Line didn't put herself in danger so often.
The book started with a horrific discovery and then Wisting's careful investigations began.
Obviously a huge amount of research has been done regarding the subject matter of the book, some of it I was aware of and some was new to me. I felt that sometimes this wealth of information slowed the pace down and the book became more educational in parts. Eventually I found myself skipping pages to get back to the storyline.
That aside it was another cracking crime investigation.

My first read of a Jorn Lier Horst novel and thoroughly enjoyed it.

I will absolutely reading more about Wisting and checking out the tv series.

I would have given it 5stars but there was a lot of tall about immigration and religion which became a bit lecture type and educational. I ended up skimming these bits as some were just too much for me.

A five star read by a favourite author who never fails to deliver a complicated storyline enhanced by three dimensional characters. The head of a young teenager found on a stake. No missing person recorded, no identity match and no witnesses upon which to base any constructive investigation or from which to identity potential perpetrators. No one involved in the case can fail to be affected by the horrific circumstances. The human side of Wisting, the main protagonist is stretched to the limit at the callousness of those perpetrators involved but with Insufficient information and no modus operandi frustrations run high. The need for secrecy and confidentiality is further compounded by a parallel investigation by Line, an astute and talented journalist, chasing the story of her career, who happens to be the daughter of Wisting, chief investigator. The incredible detail and painstaking steps to resolve this mystery are breathtaking in their complexity, notwithstanding the countries involved in the evidence trail. A brilliant conclusion tying up numerous loose ends after a rollercoaster ride involving several countries and nationalities. Many thanks to author, publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review the ARC of this superb book.

I would like to say thank you for the advance copy of this book.
I’ve loved reading the Wisting novels in the past and this one started off great. A severed head on a stick in the middle of a central square. However I just couldn’t get into it.
The bodies kept piling up but I felt it wasn’t going anywhere and it was much slower than the other books I’ve read by this author.
I didn’t really enjoy the subject matter either so I’m afraid I did not finish it.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

it started off so well, a foggy day and a decaptitated head on a post

and before long another body is discovered

wisting has his work cut out for him as well as knowing his daughter is covering the news story that he is investigation

but it also felt a bit of a lecturing and with the currant climate it was to much for me

and as for the nightwatch man....thought he would play a bigger role more of a figure head

shame really because i have enjoyed previous books by this author

Very atmospheric, although the subject matter is quite saddening. Well written and with good characters, which develop well through the book. A good sense of the various places visited in the book, and with a fair amount of research done, I imagine. Some twists, although not too unexpected, but the final suspense is excellent.

It's a very foggy morning in Larvik when a woman going to work discovers the severed head of a child on a stake in the middle of town.
At first Wisting and his team are stumped trying to identify the child. With the help of Line, who is in town originally following up on an abandoned suitcase full of heroin, they are able to establish her identity and when another body is found they are able to identify him too.
Their investigations stretch from Norway to Afghanistan and put the team in danger. Meanwhile back at home, Line is taking chances that also put her in the line of fire.
I really liked this as I had to keep reading in order to find out what happened.

Another in the Wisting series it is pulse pounding, heartbraking and a very disturbing read. This is a master class in Scandi noir. It starts off with the head of a young girl placed on top of a stake and displayed in the flower bed of a public park. Who is she? Where does she come from and more importantly why??? Once I started reading everything else was on hold. Gripping, chilling and heart wrenching. I have never been disappointed by a book in this series and this is one of his best. The Night Man is another MUST READ from this very talented author. Loved it!!!!
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.