This is a terrific and thought provoking addition to Jorn Lier Horst's Scandi-Crime series, set in Norway and featuring the doggedly determined Chief Inspector William Wisting, and his team that includes Nils Hammer and Torunn Borg, often hindered by their media hungry, ambitious boss, Superintendent Audun Vetti. Running her own investigation that dovetails with his own is his journalist daughter, Line, now working for the largest national newspaper, a relationship that could potentially create conflict, but works well as they compliment each other well. It begins in 2008 when Vera Kvalsvik comes across a sight of shocking horror on the Larvik town square, the head of a 14 year old girl on a wooden stake. This gruesome discovery upsets the police team and attracts an intense media presence, in what is set to be the biggest story of the year.

The victim being of an ethnic minority gives rise to speculation of an honour killing and the possible involvement of Cato Dalen and the neo-nazi group, the Patriotic Front. Line is in town pursuing another story of a suitcase, and it is her contact for this, Suzanne Bjerke, working at a residential unit for overseas children, that surprisingly leads to the identification of the dead girl. She is a Pashtun from Afghanistan, Layla Azimi, and soon another body turns up of an older 37 year old man, beaten and shot, the murders seeming to be connected. Wisting's police inquiry turns out be complex and twisted, whilst Line decides to obtain the help of Tommy Kvanter with his useful criminal connections to get ahead of her media rivals. Both find themselves in grave danger, with Wisting going to Afghanistan for vital information and Line ending up in Sweden.

This is a dark, intense and harrowing story that takes in the coercion and exploitation of desperately vulnerable and traumatised children, the theft of armaments, a white supremacist group, organised crime and a international narcotics network. This is a fantastic addition to Horst's series, the author was a police officer and his police procedural crime novels are informed by his background and experience. I think that fans of the series will love this, as will other readers of the crime and mystery genre. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

I always enjoy Horst's books and this one is no exception. The book focusses on the story unlike too many detective stories that are all about the baggage of the detective. As always the plot is excellent and takes the reader with it as it unfolds. Wisting is an interesting character, all detective and whilst there has been tragedy in his life it does not get in the way. I find his relationship with his daughter interesting. There has to be some conflict of interest between Wisting's role and that of his daughter but it is managed well. A thoroughly good read.

Jorn Lier Horst is the new King of Scandi Crime fiction. The BBC4 series has been a hit and this latest book should be devoured by his fans. What is so refreshing about DI Wisting, although having dealt with family tragedies, he doesn't have the hang -ups and issues of lead protagonists in other books. It is this down to earth and let's not diverge too. much from the plot that make these books so great. This is a good police crime procedural . Of course, Wisting's daughter Line is involved through her journalistic endeavours but this doesn't detract but as father and daughter support each other and antagonism is avoided. This is a story with a serious underlying message about drug trafficking and the use of minors- fast paced and yet authoritative in the knowledge the reader learns about this dark trade. Whether you have read previous Wisting stories (recommended) or this is is your first foray into the crime novels of Horst, you won't be disappointed. A great detective read for the winter nights ahead.

Jørn Lier Horst has knocked it out of the ballpark with his latest crime thriller The Night Man. What can be the worst possible crime? Surely the slaying of a child. More gruesome than that; the beheading of a child, a girl. Wisting and all the people involved with this investigation will never be able to 'unsee' the girl's head stuck on a wooden pole, placed in a very public area. It will be with them until they die. What was the motive for the killing will be at the forefront of the investigation and it takes a while to find this. In a fast moving hunt to find those behind this heinous crime, Wisting finds that his daughter Line is seemingly one step ahead of the police. The action is across three countries and Wisting forms a relationship, the first since his wife died a few years ago.
If you like a fast paced crime thriller, then this is for you. I think it will be a fantastic success whether in print, on the TV or (hopefully) at the cinema.

A new story in the Wisting series, made all the better for a step up in pace from the previous novels. I still find his daughter slightly annoying, but that's just me! It works very well as both an action novel and a mystery to be solved, an of course, Wisting does, in his own inimitable style.

The Night Man is a step up in pace for Jorn Lier Horst. His William Wisting books,set in Norway, are usually like the classic Wallender series that amble along in an engrossing but fairly pedestrian manner. This time around the bullets fly and Wisiting finds himself in the wars ,literally at one point and in a surprising location.

The story begins in November 2008 when the severed head of a young girl is discovered impaled on a stake in Wisting's home town of Larvik. Wisiing investigates ,as does daughter Lina who is an up and coming journalist for a national newspaper coincidentally back in town to chase up another story..
With another body found Father and Daughter's separate investigations unearth a tangled web of drugs,guns,terrorist cells, White Supremacist groups and much more. The book is quite political and a number of contentious issues current issues form part of the story with Whisting acting as the author's mouthpiece to give his considered opinions. Thankfully this never gets "preachy" and much of what he says is thought-provoking.

An enjoyable read with plenty of action,great characters that gives the reader plenty to think about.

This is a great police procedural, with a Scandinavian setting. Wisting is a good detective, with the added depth of his journalist daughter. It’s a difficult line to keep - being a Dad without giving too much information to the media inadvertently. A tight plot, well paced. Thoroughly enjoyable.