Pride of Britain

Most satisfyingly we can now see the organic shape that Nesbo always intended his work to take, and the canvas stretching out in front of us is a crowded one

Good Book Guide

A fascinating book, filling in the gaps in Hole's biography and telling the story of the murder case in Australia that cemented his reputation as a brilliant investigator... A stunning opening to the series

Sunday Times

Nesbo is a terrific writer who knows how to build a story, taking you slowly to the top of a rollercoaster before sending you hurtling towards a solution that you never see coming

Sunday Express

Harry Hole is fully formed as the difficult, vulnerable personality we have come to know. The evocation of Australia itself has the customary Nesbo expertise...most satisfyingly - we can now see the organic shape that Nesbo always intended his work to take

Barry Forshaw, Independent

Whether a hardened Hole addict or a first-time imbiber, The Bat is sure to snare your interest with its tale of this booze-fuelled policeman

Sunday Sun

A searing read from a chilling thriller writer

Independent

An ambitious, fun, exciting and original crime novel

Smålandsposten (Sweden)

The Bat is a truly captivating crime novel

Berliner Morgenpost (Germany)

The Bat is innovative and different, and the pace that Jo Nesbo creates in his debut novel makes you long for more crime novels featuring Harry Hole

Kristeligt Dagblad (Denmark)

Jo Nesbo has written the cleverest debut novel in the crime genre that I've read in a long time

Aftenposten (Norway)

Meaty, big and bloody, this is the rock and roll of detective fiction

Financial Times

Hole is a spiky character and this is the first novel to feature him. If you want to get to know this brilliant, flawed character, this is the best place to start

William Leith, Scotsman