Harry Hole

Harry Hole is the main character and hero of the novel. Harry is an unlikely hero because he is described several times as being unattractive, a loner and an alcoholic. He is, however, a talented detective. On his list of accomplishments is the capture of a serial killer in Australia. It is because he captured and killed this serial killer that both Katrine and Mathias are attracted to him. He catches Katrine’s attention because she wants the best detective possible to help her find out what happened to her father. He catches Mathias attention because Mathias has already outsmarted Rafto, Katrine’s father, and hopes to do the same with Harry.

Because Harry is such an undisciplined detective with many demons, he has caught the attention of his superior officers before because of his drinking and unstable personality. When it is believed that Katrine is the...