The first novel that I finished this month is Midnight Sun by Jo Nesbø. This was my first read by Nesbø and I loved it! I as looking for something easy but with a strong enough plot to keep me interested and Midnight Sun was perfect.
The novel is mostly one of suspense with the occasional bit of thriller thrown in. I can see why some might not enjoy the book as there are several sections where pages upon pages are primarily devoted to the main character's thoughts. But, I like that kind of approach--I enjoy being inside someone else's head, even if it's a fictional character.
The main character, Jon, is on the run after failing to complete a hit--to kill someone--for his boss. In fact, he'd actually never killed anyone before to begin with. The problem is, his boss, the Fisherman, always gets his guy and never stops looking. So, Jon skips town with pretty much nothing but the clothes on his back and a bunch of money. He finds his way to one of the most remote places in all of Norway, a tiny village that turns out to be a sort of religious enclave with its own secrets, dangers, and stories. He introduces himself by a new name, Ulf, and is suspicious of everyone in the town but two people--a young boy named Knut and Knut's mother, Lea.
Can you see where this is going?
Of course, there's a bit of a romantic tension and undercurrent and you can see from a mile away that Jon--or Ulf--and Lea are meant for each other. Immediately Ulf and Knut form a bond with Knut becoming a sort of guidepost for Ulf, even if they aren't aware of it. Lea, however, has demons of her own and they come back to haunt her partway through the novel. Meanwhile, Ulf makes a mistake here and there and risks it all for a few seconds with another woman which could potentially be his undoing and the end of him later in the story.
Overall, I enjoyed the mix of tension, suspense, romance, and the rare episodes of humor. I continued to enjoy the book even when I was able to predict what would happen next. It truly kept my attention. It also made me want to visit the remote parts of Norway that set the scene for the novel; although, I will pass at fish balls and some of the other foods mentioned.
The scenery is as much a character in this novel as the people with wide swaths of open land, rocky shorelines, and a road that winds its way through hills and plateaus to the next town. There's even a bit of nature with an elk--a substory of it's own that was heartbreaking in the end, even though it ends up saving Ulf's life.
I will definitely reading more of Nesbø's work in the future!
I recommend this book with 5 out of 5 stars.
Pick up Midnight Sun by Jo Nesbø from your local library or from Amazon HERE.
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