One foggy morning in Larvik, a severed head is found mounted on a stake. All that the police know about the victim is that she is a teenager and from an ethnic minority background. This has all of the hallmarks of an honour killing but just doesn't quite seem to fit the pattern. With no other information to go on, Detective William Wisting leads his investigative team as they try to catch the killer dubbed The Night Man. At the same time, his daughter Line is reporting on the murder for one of the major Norwegian newspapers. Which one will figure out who is responsible and will either of them be lead down a dangerous path in the process?

It was with Kurt Wallander that my love of Scandi Crime began, but William Wisting has filled the very big hole that was left behind. I really enjoy the father/daughter dynamic between Wisting and Line. The way that the story switches between the pair means that we not only get two different viewpoints on the case, but we also get a really interesting juxtaposition of the same investigation seen through the eyes of a police detective and a journalist - the varying techniques and processes involves, and their very different approaches to solving the crime.

The Night Man is yet another example of an exceptional police procedural from Jørn Lier Horst. The intricacy of the investigation, the level of detail, the atmosphere created and the relationships between the characters are on point throughout, and the story itself is a timely and sobering issue. If you are a fan of crime novels from the police procedural subgenre, you won't find much better than this series!

I would like to thank Netgalley and Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House for an advance copy of The Night Man, the seventh novel to feature Chief of Investigations William Wisting, set in the Norwegian town of Larvik in 2008.

The discovery of a head impaled on a stick in the centre of Larvik is a headache for Wisting. The press is very interested and he doesn’t know who the victim is. Then another body is found and he starts to realise that there might be more to the case than murder. All roads lead to a criminal gang and its ringleader known as The Night Man.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Night Man, which is an intelligent police procedural that had me gripped from start to finish. It is told from two points of view, Wisting and his daughter, Line, who is a reporter. They are both investigating from different angles and that allows the author to cover more ground while keeping the novel fresh and absorbing by contrasting their different styles, interests and priorities. It is also interesting to see their dynamic, she isn’t afraid to get information from him, but equally she’s quick to share what she learns.

The novel is fast moving and easy to follow and read, although that is not to call it shallow. If anything, it is broad ranging and informative on a variety of subjects with the author being unafraid to use statistics to back up his points. I found it educational and it offers enough food for thought for me to reconsider things I took for gospel.

I like the way the novel initially suggests that it will go one way, only to lead the reader down a different path. Most of the novel is logical and realistic, with one glaring exception, and while it has an even tone there are enough action scenes to make it tense and exciting at times.

The Night Man is a good read that I have no hesitation in recommending.

One foggy morning the head of a young girl is found on a stake in the middle of a small town.
This act sickens everyone but then more bodies are found and Wisting has to solve these murders.
Soon everything leads back to the Night Man - but who is he?
I am a great fan of the series on television.

Thank you for the advanced copy, this is my first book but I have watched both the first and second season of Wisting which had just concluded with this story. Well written, utterly fantastic. I love Wisting and his daughter Line.

Highly recommended - both the TV series and this book

A cracking detective story in the ‘Scandi noir’ genre - gripping story, excellent characterisation and a really nasty murder to solve. There’s plenty of gore in this book and the writing is so effective that this almost becomes visible, so if you’re not a fan of blood and gore this may not be a book for you! It centres around the particularly nasty murder of a young immigrant girl and finding her killer involves investigating drugs, illegal migration, modern slavery and all sorts other of 21st century issues without ever becoming preachy.. The story does stretch credibility occasionally, for instance when the detectives take a trip to Afghanistan to find a young boy who is involved in the puzzle, but overall this kept me absolutely engaged for a long flight and I was sorry when it ended. Before the plane landed! The ending left open the possibility of more from our hero, William Wisting and the next book in the series is eagerly anticipated by this reviewer.

Jan Lier Horst has done it again, another great novel ! Compelling from start to finish, educational and just stops short of the amount of gruesome detail I can cope with.
I struggled with the visit to Afghanistan and whether that would actually happen but all in all another fantastic book.

Really good book…..gripping from start to finish. Saw the tv programme too…..a good representation of the novel

Well written with a compelling storyline that kept me gripped all the way through and well developed characters. I couldn't put it down.

This was another amazing Wisting novel. It is fast paced and the relationship between Wisting and his daughter Line continues to develop. It isn’t for the faint hearted but is a top quality Scandinavian detective thriller and I wholeheartedly recommend it.

The latest Wisting scandi noir from Jorn Lier Horst doesn't disappoint.

As usual it's fast paced, complex enough to keep you guessing, current enough to be relevant and just the right side of bloody.

From the discovery of the head of a young girl we move on to drugs trafficking, gun running and links to Afghanistan. As an added aside Line, Wisting's journalist daughter finds herself not only on the same case but able to assist her father's investigation with her own.

We do have a couple of forays into romance for both Line and William but they're not too intrusive. I like a crime novel to "stick to the facts" as it were.

The only part that seemed a touch unbelievable was the trip to Afghanistan to trace a witness. But that small part aside, it was a well plotted, enjoyable detective novel.

Solid 4 stars and recommended for Wisting fans and Scandi fans alike. You don't need to have seen either the series or read any other of this series tp enjoy this book. Horst explains just enough to fil you in on William's past without it becoming intrusive.

A gruesome discovery in the early morning in dense fog - the head of a young girl left on a stake in the middle of the town. Wisting and his team struggle to identify the victim, all they can say for sure is that she is from an ethnic minority. The killing leads to intense press interest which includes Wisting's daughter Line. One of Line's contacts links the girl to the recent discovery of a suitcase filled with drugs left at Larvik station. Then another body is discovered in the local river - a man this time but he is also from an ethnic minority. As Wisting and his team link the two murders and discover connections to the international drug trade Line is investigating locals who could be involved in the drug trade in Larvik.

A great read which takes you from Norway to Sweden and Afghanistan. Love this series of books.

Thanks to Netgalley, Penguin Random House and Jorn Lier Horst for the ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

All hail Scandi Crime author Jørn Lier Horst, a master of his genre. The Night Man is the latest in his William Wisting series, and it’s another sure fire winner.

The quiet town of Larvic, Norway, is the centre of the investigation into the horrific discovery of a severed head placed on a stake in the market square. It’s even more horrific when forensics reveal the head belongs to a female of around 12 years old.

It’s not long before another body is found which may be connected to the first!

Clues don’t come easily to Wisting in this case, but eventually he discovers a criminal network with a leader known only as The Night Man. Looks like the eponymous Night Man may be the monster that they’re looking for.

Once again Wisting and his journalist daughter Line work to bring these evil people to justice. Although Wisting isn’t always happy about Line working so closely on the same cases, creating as it does a conflict of interest, but they seem to work well, one aiding the other.

Another terrific but distressing storyline, using children against their will as drugs couriers, but this a great addition to this excellent series.

I enjoyed this book. I have followed the Wisting books so catching up with his daughter Line and his team was great. This book could be read as a stand-alone although I would recommend all the books. The plot was very clever and it unfolded at a good pace. The characters and places are well described so it was easy to become immersed in the story
As always I will recommend this one

Jorn Leir Horst has weaved another Norwegian masterpiece. It starts with a teenager's decapitated headwhich starts Wisting's police investigation and his daughter's, Line journalistic one. The two strands twist and turn until they come together for an unexpected conclusion.

I enjoyed this book even though it was a bit slow and tortuous at times. This is the first Wisting book I have read although I have watched the TV series. As usual, Line, Wisting's daughter whose a journalist gets involved with the same crime that he is investigating. Line does have a tendency to get herself in dangerous situations without back-up or telling her father. Although a murder investigation, it did highlight the pros and cons of immigrants.
This is an honest review of a complementary ARC.

Another great one from the Nordic King.:
A SEVERED HEAD ON A STAKE, A BODY IN THE LAKE
remote and creepy. This one is quite gory.
Nice village setting though. Just where you think nothing will happen....

Yes please

This had me hooked! I love scandi noir and this was an excellent example of a crime thriller without being too bogged down on the police procedural side of it. Its dark without being gory or trying to just be shocking and has such a complex woven plot that gets under your skin and doesn't let up. It's also quite a relevant and modern topic which is also fascinating to explore

Thank you for this arc. This is my first book by this author and wished I had found the books earlier. A very detailed police procedural story with threads in all directions to solve the crime and keep you hooked. It worked for me and would certainly read other books by this author. Nordic crime stories are riveting.

I love the Wisting stories and this one does not disappoint. If you are a lover of Nordic crime you will love this story. in The Night Man the head of a young girl is found impaled on a stake in the town square of Wisting;s home. It is a crime that DI Wisting and his daughter, Line get caught up in. The story involves drugs, the use of children and the ethnic minority. A brilliant police procedural novel set in cold Norway.

Wisting is back and what a dark story this is !.A head of a young girl is found on a stake in the town centre and an investigation begins which takes Wisting and his journalist daughter Line to the dark side of Norway.A story of drug trafficking with the use of children as couriers unfolds .This is a compelling story if a little harrowing ,a very good read .Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC