Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What did you think of the book’s pacing and its two parallel plotlines? Did you find the balance between the serial killer hunt and Harry’s secret war against Waaler effective? Or did one overshadow the other for you?

2. How does Harry Hole compare to other detectives you’ve encountered in the Nordic Noir genre, like Stieg Larsson’s Lisbeth Salander or Henning Mankell’s Kurt Wallander? What makes Harry a compelling or perhaps frustrating character to follow?

3. What was your reaction to the final showdowns with Wilhelm Barli and Tom Waaler? Did you find the resolutions satisfying? What did the novel’s conclusion suggest about Harry’s future?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Harry’s obsession with securing justice for Ellen severely damages his relationship with people he loves. Have you ever felt torn between pursuing a personal goal and maintaining important relationships? How did you balance the conflict?

2. Harry’s accusations against Waaler initially seem ludicrous. Have you ever had a negative impression of someone whom others seemed to like and trust? Did your suspicions turn out to be justified?

3. Wilhelm Barli’s motivation for the murders is a deeply personal betrayal that festers for years. What types of betrayals or harm do you personally find it most challenging to forgive?

4. Rakel tells Harry that he, not his job, is the problem, pointing to his self-destructive tendencies. In your own life, how do you distinguish between challenges that come from external circumstances and those that arise from your own patterns?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. Even before his corruption is revealed, Waaler is known to have killed two individuals while apprehending and arresting them. He claims to have done so in self-defense. How does Nesbø’s novel critique the police and other institutions of justice? Are the police portrayed as necessary to Norwegian society?

2. How does the novel portray the media’s role in shaping public perception of crime and justice?

3. Wilhelm Barli creates the ruse of a serial killer in part because of research into the patterns and typical behavior of these criminals. What does current cultural interest in serial killers and true crime reveal about society? Do you think it is dangerous for so many people to be fascinated by killers?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. Describe how Harry’s persistent nightmares function as a device for character development. How do they contribute to revealing his interiority, history, and emotional preoccupations?

2. What is the significance of Oleg’s presence in the plot? How does the endangerment of a child raise the stakes of suspense and danger?

3. Analyze the role of Vibeke in the novel. As a minor character, what does she contribute?

4. Discuss the function of a plot structure in which the killer is seemingly apprehended at the end of Part 4. Did you suspect that Sven Sivertsen was not the true killer?

5. The chapters often include short sections from different points of view. How did this narrative device create or heighten suspense?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Imagine a historical novel about Olaug’s experiences during WWII. What aspects of her story (working for a Nazi official, her illicit relationship, becoming a single mother) would you want the novel to focus on? What might it be called?

2. Diamonds function as a key clue in the novel. Research a famous diamond from history (such as Koh-i-Noor or the Hope Diamond) or literature (such as the stone in Willkie Collins’s novel The Moonstone). Discuss why diamonds can be associated with curses and bad luck.