The Snowman by Jo Nesbo. Harvill Secker; €14.50

MANY authors can make the hairs on the back of your neck stand: this former footballer, soldier, musician and financial analyst is one of the few who knows how to keep them upright.

It’s a talent that’s rapidly getting him noticed — Jo Nesbo is already winner of the Glass Key Award for best Nordic crime novel, an accolade shared with Henning Mankell and Steig Larson. His books have been translated into 30 languages and he’s regarded as one of Europe’s leading crime writers.