Wolf Hour

A Novel

By: Jo Nesbo, Robert Ferguson - translator

Narrated by: Euan Morton

From “one of today’s most interesting thriller writers” (Lee Child) comes an immersive, propulsive novel in which a detective and a crime writer conduct parallel investigations, six years apart, into a series of puzzling murders.

“[Nesbo] can heighten suspense with a single word and wrong-foot the most attentive customer.” —Wall Street Journal

Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2016. When a small-time criminal and gun dealer is shot down in the street, all signs point to Tomas Gomez, a quiet man with a mysterious past—and deep connections to a notorious gang—who has seemingly vanished into thin air. Other murders soon follow, and it appears Gomez is only getting started. Meanwhile, Bob Oz, a down-and-out suspended police officer with a dubious past of his own, becomes fascinated by the case: he is obsessed with the notion of hunting down a serial killer who only he can understand, a killer with a story as tragic as his own.

Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2022. An enigmatic Norwegian man with ties to Minneapolis—a self-described crime writer—has traveled to the United States to research the Gomez case, in the hopes of writing a book about it. But as his investigation progresses, the writer’s seemingly neutral position reveals itself to be more complicated than the reader is initially led to believe.

Wolf Hour is a twisty and unforgettable thriller in classic Jo Nesbø style, which bears out Vanity Fair’s observation that “Nesbø explores the darkest criminal minds with grim delight and puts his killers where you least expect to find them. . . . His novels are maddeningly addictive.”

Critic reviews

“Mr. Nesbø encloses Wolf Hour, translated from the Norwegian by Robert Ferguson, in a clever conceptual envelope. . . . The device adds another layer of intrigue to a mesmerizing and often heartbreaking story.”
—Wall Street Journal

“A fair-play mystery, with breadcrumbs scattered strategically along the way. . . . The violence and macabre elements that are Nesbø’s trademarks emerge gradually and organically, building to a chilling conclusion. . . . Nesbø is such a fluent and persuasive storyteller.”
—AirMail

“Exquisitely plotted, darkly funny. . . . Readers will have no doubt they’re in the hands of a brilliant storyteller. This soars.”
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Another standout standalone from the author of the Harry Hole series. . . . The novel is a pleasure to read with its engaging, easy-twisting plot, its cerebral touches, and characters like Liza, a bartender whose teasing scenes with Oz are highlights.”
—Kirkus (starred review)

“Nesbø has crafted a powerhouse here, a profoundly human exploration of loneliness and grief driven by a twisting procedural plot and grisly shocks…. Nesbø’s taut narrative and social commentary [are] deeply infused with emotional depth. Highly recommended for newcomers seeking startling perspectives on justice, such as those found in Dennis Lehane’s and Richard Price’s works.”
—Booklist

“Be warned: this constantly unsettling and constantly surprising new stand-alone thriller from Jo Nesbø concludes with an increasingly shattering and grisly finale.”
—Anniston Star Tribune

“Twisty, suspenseful.”
—Crime Fiction Review

“There aren't many writers on the planet capable of combining the grit of crime noir with the thrills of following a police investigation that is also anchored in the cultural and historical settings of the territory in which it is grounded. Wolf Hour will surprise and unsettle readers.”
—Bookreporter

Nesbo Does It Again

Excellent story and narration. If you can’t accept a story that questions the impact of guns and politics, stick with stricter ideological fare that won’t cause you undue stress. For everyone else - it’s a good listen.

Reasonably good story, marred by politics.

The story is fairly interesting, but not really suspenseful due to slow pacing. Too much of the book is a political diatribe against the 2nd Amendment and the existence of wealth inequality in the U.S.

Good in parts

Grabbed me for a while, nice narration and a pretty good yarn overall, not the best.

Wolf Hour

Jo Nesbo’s tribute to Alfred Hitchcock is worth your time. Norman Bates and Buffalo Bill reverberate throughout.

Underwhelmed

I enjoyed the musings on US gun control (or lack thereof) and the political climate. But ultimately this title did not invoke the same suspense, wonder and even horror that I’ve felt some of this author’s other novels. I also found the prose and narration to be quite wooden at times.