Jo Nesbø books in order: How to read all Detective Harry Hole stories

Jo Nesbø is the leading author in the Nordic noir genre, and his Harry Hole books are a must-read for fans of clever, suspenseful crime stories.

Okay, let me tell you, Jo Nesbø is a master of suspense. He’s been writing for years, and his books just fly off the shelves – and for good reason! They’re seriously gripping, but definitely on the darker side. As a reader, figuring out where to dive in and what to read after you’re hooked can be a little tricky, so let me help you navigate his work.

So, you’re thinking about diving into Jo Nesbø’s thrillers? Excellent choice! I’m going to break down the best way to read his books, whether you’re completely new to his work or a longtime fan eager to get caught up before his next release. Let’s get you started on the right path!

Harry Hole books in order

The Harry Hole novels are the core of Jo Nesbø’s work, chronicling the investigations of a gifted but flawed Oslo detective as he tackles ever more challenging and perilous crimes.

To fully appreciate Harry’s growth – both as a person and in his career – it’s best to read these books in order. The stories and characters develop gradually, with details building on each other throughout the series.

So here’s the definitive order:

The Bat (1997)
Cockroaches (1998)
The Redbreast (2000)
Nemesis (2002)
The Devil’s Star (2003)
The Redeemer (2005)
The Snowman (2007)
The Leopard (2009)
Phantom (2011)
Police (2013)
The Thirst (2017)
Knife (2019)
Killing Moon (2023)
Kill Shot (2026, upcoming)

You can enjoy each book on its own, but the series is most impactful when read in order, as it follows Harry’s complete journey – including his successes and failures.

While The Snowman is the book that first made Jo Nesbø well-known around the world, many readers find it more rewarding to start with his earlier books and follow the series from the beginning.

Nesbø’s other books

While Harry Hole is his most famous creation, Nesbø’s talent stretches far wider.

He’s written a number of standalone novels, each with his signature tension and sharp plotting.

Blood on Snow in order:

Blood on Snow (2014): Olav, a solitary contract killer, falls in love with his boss’s wife – only to be hired to murder her, trapping him in a dangerous dilemma.
Midnight Sun (2015): Jon flees a crime boss and hides in a remote northern Norweigan town, helped by a grieving mother and her son. As the endless daylight drives him towards madness, the men hunting him draw closer – can he escape his past?

The Kingdom in order:

The Kingdom (2020): A tense family drama about two brothers and buried secrets in rural Norway.
Blood Ties (2024): A sequel to The Kingdom, delving deeper into family loyalty and small-town intrigue.

Standalone books:

Headhunters (2008): A slick Oslo-set thriller about a corporate headhunter who moonlights as an art thief.
The Son (2014): A story of revenge and redemption, following a wronged man on the run.
Macbeth (2018): Nesbø’s dark, modern retelling of the Shakespeare classic, set in a corrupt 1970s town.
The Night House (2023): A chilling tale centred on a teenager investigating a sinister death.
Wolf Hour (2025): After a sniper begins killing in Minneapolis, detective Bob Oz investigates and realises the murderer may be a serial killer – one whose methods eerily mirror his own, pulling him into a disturbing hunt for the truth.

The Doctor Proctor books are fun, creative adventures for kids, offering a lighthearted change of pace from his usual, more serious detective stories.

The Netflix adaptation: Detective Hole

Nesbø’s world is no longer confined to the page.

A new Netflix series based on the popular Harry Hole books will debut in March 2026, introducing Detective Hole to a wider audience.

Tobias Santelmann, famous for his work on The Last Kingdom, stars as Harry, alongside Joel Kinnaman who plays his mysterious coworker, Tom Waaler.

The show aims to stay true to the source material while also offering a new and exciting perspective, and author Jo Nesbø is closely involved as a creator and executive producer.

Get ready for a suspenseful mystery, set against the dark and atmospheric city of Oslo, with characters and situations as morally ambiguous as those in a Harry Hole book.

How to read Jo Nesbø: the essentials

To get the most out of the Harry Hole books, it’s best to read them in order. If you’re looking for a good place to start quickly, The Redbreast is a solid choice, but reading the whole series from The Bat through Kill Shot is incredibly rewarding.

If you’re looking for something different, try the standalone novels. And for a fresh take on Nesbø’s thrilling stories, be sure to check out the Netflix series.

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Helen DalyDeputy Digital Editor

Helen Daly is TopMob’s Deputy Digital Editor, where she leads new projects and manages commercial partnerships. Before joining TopMob, she was Deputy TV Editor for a national magazine. She holds a BA in English Literature and an MA in Media & Journalism from Newcastle University.

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2026-03-26 10:44