Book review: 'The Night House' is a successful switch for Jo Nesbo
Jo Nesbo is best known for his detective fiction, primarily his Harry Hole series. 'The Night House' is his first novel in the horror genre. Picture: Thron Ullberg/PA
- The Night House
- Jo Nesbo
- Harvill Secker, €25
In the of his parents’ tragic death in a fire, 14-year-old Richard Elauved has been sent to live with his aunt and uncle in the remote town of Ballantyne. Something of an outsider (a member of what he describes as the pariah class at school) and troublemaker, Richard is damaged by his earlier experiences.
Things quickly start to become very strange indeed. A prank call, instigated by Richard, leads to the disappearance of the schoolmate making the call, eaten by the very telephone he is using, no less.
After a visit to a creepy old house on Mirror Forest Road, known locally as the night house, a second classmate of Richard disappears, having turned into a cicada before Richard’s eyes.
The police, unsurprisingly, are reluctant to accept Richard’s explanation of events and he becomes further isolated and the object of much suspicion. Only Karen, a popular girl at school who Richard fancies, is willing to believe him.
Behind events lurks the mysterious and terrifying figure of Imu Jonasson, a local child who supposedly murdered his parents. Imu had been incarcerated in an institution, from which he had escaped in an inexplicable manner.
The reader is introduced to the concept of black or white word magic, an idea which plays an important role in the tale.
Richard is sent to Rorrim’s Correctional Facility for Young People. Karen visits him, vowing to continue the search for the elusive Imu.
An escape plan is hatched involving two other inmates. Richard learns the full story of the diabolical Imu, and must rush to the rescue of the gravely imperilled Karen.
In the second part of the book, Richard (now known as Richard Hansen, for reasons which will become clear) is 15 years older and the author of a successful teen horror novel, called, of course, The Night House.
He agrees to attend a class reunion, hoping to make amends for his unpleasant behaviour while at school, and to meet Karen again, for whom he still has feelings.
Though outwardly successful and seemingly over his terrible earlier experiences, Richard experiences gaps in his memory, something which worries him considerably.
An evening which begins in conviviality and general bonhomie takes a turn for the phantasmagorical, and Richard finds himself running from his life and the people he knew, who have turned murderous. The titular night house again features.
The attentive reader will know what the third and final part of the novel will involve.
Without wishing to give away too much, this section of the book does raise some interesting questions regarding the vagaries of the human mind under certain conditions, and how these might best be addressed.
The turbo-selling Nesbo (more than 50m books sold worldwide) is best known for his detective fiction, primarily his Harry Hole series. is his first novel in the horror genre.
While comparisons with Stephen King might be premature, this is quite an effective chiller. The central character is engaging, the suspense is well handled, and there are scary moments, some of which come with an element of humour.
The tripartite structure of the book works well, and if it moves in a somewhat predictable direction, there is enough going on here to keep the casual reader entertained for the duration.
is an interesting swerve into different territory for Nesbo and may garner him some new devotees.
