Headhunters by Jo Nesbo, Random House, $19.95
Roger Brown prides himself on being Norway’s gun corporate headhunter. But an indulgent lifestyle — and his wife’s hobby, expensive art gallery — leave him constantly strapped for cash, so he boosts his income by stealing valuable paintings.
And when his next client for a CEO job claims to own a priceless lost work by Rubens…
Fundamentally it’s a heist story; dark, violent and surprisingly funny. Because the client proves just as tough and amoral as Roger himself who will do anything — to anyone — to prevent his criminal double life being exposed.
Nesbo is best known for his Nordic noir thrillers like The Snowman, featuring Detective Harry Hole, and I’d wondered if this English translation — the novel was published in Norway years ago — was just a bid to cash in on Nesbo’s growing reputation.
Turns out it’s a terrific crime novel and there’s something about Roger the rogue, a small man with a giant ego, you can’t help barracking for.
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