The Bat is the first book in the series of books by Jo Nesbo featuring the legendary detective Harry Hole. The story unfolds in Australia, where Harry Hole goes to investigate the murder of a woman from his home country, Norway. There, he will meet his colleagues, get involved with the underworld, while also having to confront his dark past. During his investigation, he will realize that he cannot trust anyone and the clues leading to the discovery of the murderer are dwindling. Will he be able to handle this case that turns out to be more complicated than it seems?
The author uses several local historical references to provide the reader with information about Australia, where some social problems stem from, as well as to deeply understand the characters. There are also various references to the protagonist's past to outline the personality and character of Harry Hole. I really liked Jo Nesbo's writing style, and the reading was quite easy, with the only exception being the many historical references that personally tired me out. The book is divided into subsections, where at the beginning of each subsection, in addition to the number, there are also some words that summarize the content that will follow. Overall, it is a good adventure and introduction to the universe of Harry Hole, which will capture the interest of readers. I recommend it.