The Leopard by Jo Nesbo

Harry Hole is not "whole".  And I'm not talking about his missing index finger.  Somehow he has lost part of his soul, too.

Alfred A Knopf sent me a copy of this book in ebook form for review (thank you).  I had previously read "The Snowman" and was looking forward to reading this new mystery.  I didn't think Mr. Nesbo could scare me so badly again, but he did.

The story begins with a young woman being held captive in a room she doesn't recognize.  She has something big in her mouth and she's having trouble breathing.  But her captor doesn't appear to be coming back.  When he left, he told her not to pull the string.  But her mouth hurts, she can't breath, and she's desperate...

When a second woman is found dead from the same unique killing device, a decision is made to go find Harry Hole and bring him home.  Harry is hanging out in Hong Kong and using opium to forget the past, he has no desire to go back.  When the policewoman cannot get him to change his mind, she plays her hole card:  His father is ill and dying.  So Harry goes back to Oslo against his better instincts.

This author creates evil mysteries that go far beyond the current event.  The past and the future are intertwined in his stories.  And the murders are never simple.  They're ugly, the journey to solve the murder is full of traps and lies, and Harry comes close to losing his life.  

This was a creepy story that kept me glued to it.  I hated to set it down.  And when it was over, I sat there and thought about it.  I don't think this story is really over yet; there's one more character out there I think Mr. Nesbo may insert him in another story.  He's like that; you know, sneaky.

This author's stories are complex, absorbing and make an impression upon you.  I look forward to reading the next one in this series, even though I do feel sorry for Harry.

Happy reading.

The Stranger You Seek by Amanda Kyle Williams

Keye is a recovering alcoholic who has lost her job and her husband.  She has just completed the first part of her recovery, and she does a bit of private investigating and warrant serving now.  Just enough to keep her rent paid and buy a few things, like food.

Bantam, an imprint of Random House, and Net Galley provided me with an ebook for review (thank you).  This book was published in August, so you can find a copy at your local bookstore.

Keye is the type of person that starts something and won't stop until she gets to the answer.  That almost gets her killed in this story.

There's a serial killer out there who is going after men and women both.  The killer has an ugly ritual and the deaths are brutal.  Keye's cop friend gets her involved in the case by asking her to profile the killer.  She's an unofficial consultant, since she was fired from the FBI.  The more she learns about the cases, the more she wants to know...

There is an odd mix of characters in this story.  Keye is Asian, her brother is black, her adoptive parents are white.  The people around her are not what they seem.  Ms. Williams soon has you wondering if any of them are safe to be with.

The story had an unexpected ending for me.  I liked it.  This is a good read and will keep you glued to your chair.  It will also make you wonder if all your friends are what they appear to be.  I'll also be watching for another in this series.  I don't think Keye is done yet...

Happy reading.