Jo Nesbø, a Norwegian author, began the Harry Hole mystery series in 1997 with Flaggermusmannen, translated into English in 2012 as The Bat. Although popular in Norway, Nesbø’s novels were not translated into English until the fifth book in the series, Marekors, was published in English in 2005 as The Devil’s Star. This book, and the third book in the series, The Redbreast, remain the most popular in the series.

The Snowman, the seventh book in the series, follows detective Harry Hole as he hunts his first serial killer in his home country of Norway. Harry’s cases often take him far afield, to Australia, Thailand, and Hong Kong among other places, as he solves mysteries involving Norwegian citizens abroad. Nesbø is one of Norway’s most famous Nordic noir authors, and his detective, Harry Hole, has become iconic. Harry’s unusual approach to investigation, complicated personal history, and struggles with relationships and addiction make him a complex character who fulfills many of the conventions of the Nordic noir genre.

Nordic noir is a subgenre of the mystery genre and comprises work from the Scandinavian countries of Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland. Most often, Nordic noir novels are police procedurals that focus on the details and day-to-day work of solving a crime by professional investigator.