Nesbø, Jo (1960…), is a Norwegian writer of internationally popular crime fiction. Nesbø is among the leaders of a large group of Scandinavian writers of the early 2000’s known for their grim, pessimistic, and often violent detective stories.
Nesbø is best known for his detective stories about Harry Hole, an inspector in the Oslo police department. He began the series with The Bat (1997). Hole is a brilliant investigator, but he also has severe personal problems, including alcoholism and difficulty with family relationships.
In addition to his Harry Hole novels, other novels written by Nesbø include Headhunters (2008), The Son (2014), and The Kingdom (2020). Macbeth (2018) is a retelling of the story of the Scottish king as the leader of a SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics) team. Nesbø wrote a short story collection called The Jealousy Man and Other Stories (2021). He has also written several popular children’s books about an eccentric professor named Doctor Proctor.
Nesbø was born in Oslo on March 29, 1960. He grew up in Molde. He was a teenage soccer star until an injury ended his chance at a sports career. Nesbø graduated from the Norwegian School of Economics with a degree in economics and business administration. He was the lead singer and guitarist of a popular Norwegian rock band during the 1990’s. Nesbø also worked as a freelance journalist and a stockbroker before becoming a full-time writer.
