Headhunters is a compelling thriller that will keep you guessing until the final page, a thriller that has more in common with the American and British style than the Nordic. Roger Brown is a charming protagonist with a dark sense of humour. He is the country's top headhunter and has the kind of lifestyle that most people can only dream about, a lifestyle that he funds by being a successful art thief. His beautiful wife runs an art gallery and one evening during a private showing introduces Roger to Clas Greve and that is when the fun starts. Greve possesses an extrememly valuable painting and Roger sees this as the opportunity to make a fortune and finally give up his criminal life. Of course things don't go to plan and I kept wondering who was really in control. Roger finds himself hunted by an expert tracker with his life in danger and yet he is unable to go to the police, who can he trust? Nesbo leads the reader to believe they know what is going on only to throw in another plot twist. Although it isn't his usual blood soaked serial killer plot, there are a couple of scenes that made me cringe, albeit for completely different reasons, but due to the dark humour I found myself on the verge of laughing at the same time. I am not sure how well I will do with the film adaptation though! If you are dubious about Nesbo without Harry Hole then don't be, I hope this first standalone won't be his last.
A point of interest - all royalties go to Nesbo's Harry Hole Foundation to help reduce illiteracy in the 3rd world.