Another Scandinavian “must-read” mystery, this complicated tale is set in and around Oslo. The killer’s trademark is a snowman – placed outside the home of the victim, sometimes using parts of the victim in the design, as well as other creative means to communicate the theme. Harry Hole is the detective inspector out to catch this first known serial killer of Norway. He made the connection of the murders of several women over a period of 25 years. Dark, complex and often grisly, this chronicle of death and the cat and mouse game the killer plays with Harry; it’s difficult to put down and a nail-biter to the very end. The author has woven a series of flashbacks, current events, memories and clever dialog that leads the reader to more than one dead end. Die-hard mystery lovers will not want to miss this one.