Crime dramas are incredibly popular on TV right now, and 2026 is seeing a surge in viewership. Shows like His & Hers, 56 Days, and Scarpetta have consistently topped streaming charts, and Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole is following suit. This new series premiered on Netflix on March 26th and is quickly becoming a standout hit.
Detective Hole, a crime thriller series starring Tobias Santelmann, follows the character of Harry Hole, a detective well-known to readers of Jo Nesbø’s novels. The show is based on the book The Devil Star and, with just nine episodes, is offering a fresh take on the crime thriller format for streaming audiences.
Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole Is Netflix’s Answer to Prime Video’s Bosch
Netflix is known for many hit shows, including popular series like Ozark and Lupin. While Prime and HBO have long been the leaders in high-quality detective dramas with shows like Bosch, Mare of Easttown, Ballard, and The Task, Netflix is now trying to establish itself in this genre. Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole is their latest effort to create a compelling, long-running crime series.
Like the series Bosch, Detective Hole by Jo Nesbø is another compelling crime series. Nesbø is Norway’s most successful author, and his Harry Hole books are particularly popular. The seventh book in the series, The Snowman, has already been made into a film.
Michael Fassbender played Detective Harry Hole in The Snowman, which had the potential to become a popular film series. Unfortunately, the movie didn’t perform well in theaters and received poor reviews. This Netflix film is the second effort to adapt Jo Nesbø’s Harry Hole novels for the screen.
This season, he wrote every episode of the Netflix series, giving him complete creative control over the character and storyline. He aimed to stay true to the spirit of the Harry Hole books that fans love, while also making necessary changes for the screen.
This series offers a raw and realistic depiction of life as a police officer. The main character, Harry Hole, battles personal struggles while hunting a dangerous criminal, creating intense suspense as viewers question whether he can overcome his issues and find redemption.
Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole tackles very dark and unsettling aspects of a murder investigation. The series is based on the fifth book, The Devil Star, which follows Harry as he hunts a killer who targets women, placing a diamond star under their eyelids and severing one of their fingers.
As a true crime and thriller fan, I’m really hooked on Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole. It’s not just about the cases – although they’re gripping! – but also about the detective himself, Harry. He’s investigating a possible corrupt cop while battling his own demons with alcohol and depression. It adds such a complex layer to the story and makes it a really character-driven show. It’s a raw look at the toll police work can take on a person, and that’s what makes it so compelling.
Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole Marks a Shift for Netflix‘s Crime Dramas
Netflix is increasingly focusing on high-quality, character-focused detective dramas, and Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole is a prime example of this change. Following a trend that began in the 2020s, the series establishes Netflix as a competitor in the gritty detective genre, alongside shows like Bosch and Task.
What sets great detective shows apart isn’t just the mystery, but the compelling characters – their flaws, inner battles, and how they balance solving crimes with their own personal problems. Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole recognizes this, focusing on the complex character of Harry Hole rather than simply presenting a straightforward ‘who done it’ story.
Crime dramas that unfold slowly, with a detective tackling a new case each season, are a great way to adapt books for television. For example, the series based on Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole lets audiences really get to know and care about Harry Hole, making them invested in both the current mystery and what might happen to him in the future.
The TV series based on Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole could run for twelve more seasons, covering each of his Harry Hole books except for the one already used for the first season, The Devil Star. Because Jo Nesbø is still involved in the show’s development, fans can expect a faithful adaptation of the novels.
The show was a success with both audiences and critics. Hopefully, Netflix will keep making high-quality, character-focused shows like this one—stories that feel real, stay with viewers, and leave a mark on the crime drama genre.
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2026-04-04 17:16