Club Benefits
Netflix is the place to be for anyone who likes Nordic noir dramas this week, as the streaming service has just dropped a brand new nine-part series that takes us to the shadowy streets of Oslo: Jo Nesbø’s "Detective Hole" has arrived.
Pitched on Tudum as "a gripping serial killer mystery" featuring Nesbø’s "legendary Norwegian anti-hero," "Detective Hole" sees Tobias Santelmaan stepping into the titular detective's shoes for an adaptation of the fifth book in the series, "The Devil's Star." Here, the troubled detective contends with a horrific serial killer, his corrupt rival colleague, Tom Waaler, and his own troubles, too.
Author Jo Nesbø created the series and serves as showrunner, and if you're looking to get sucked into a new whodunnit, all nine episodes are available to binge on Netflix as of today (March 26). Considering whether to add "Detective Hole" to your watchlist? Here's a little more info about Netflix's newest arrival.
Article continues belowWhat is 'Detective Hole' about?
Across the first season of "Detective Hole," troubled Oslo detective Harry Hole goes head-to-head with his rival, corrupt detective Tom Waaler. He's wrestling with his own demons and, alongside Tom, navigating the blurred ethical lines of the justice system, working to catch a killer and bring Waaler to justice... before it's too late.
Netflix's logline for the series reads: "Five years after a tragic incident, Detective Hole is sober, dating, and rebuilding his life, but a brutal murder soon drags him back toward the abyss."
Speaking to Tudum about the plot, director Øystein Karlsen said: "You will have to watch it twice to realize you could have figured it out along the way, but a beer on me at Schröder’s if anyone gets the whole plot before it ends — unless you’ve read the book, of course.”
In addition to Tobias Santelmann and Joel Kinnaman, "Detective Hole" also stars Pia Tjelta, Anders Danielsen Lie, Ane Dahl Torp, Peter Stormare, and pop singer Dagny (among others).
Should you stream 'Detective Hole' on Netflix?
I'll admit to being a little reticent about the series, mainly because my only exposure to the Harry Hole character came from the 2017 crime thriller movie "The Snowman," a critically panned adaptation of Nesbø's seventh Harry Hole story. And while I'm not too far into the series at the time of writing (so I wouldn't want to offer a definitive verdict), I'm definitely intrigued and keen to keep streaming after the first couple of episodes.
If you're looking for reviews, the series doesn't yet have a rating on Rotten Tomatoes, but several critics have already weighed in on "Detective Hole," and it seems like this new adaptation will be worth watching for genre fans.
Collider's Kelcie Mattson gave the show an 8/10 rating, writing: "A roundhouse-kick of a thrill ride that lives up to the promises baked into the thriller subgenre's name, Jo Nesbø's Detective Hole delivers virtually everywhere it should — which is nothing less than what a modern legend deserves."
The Times' Deputy TV Editor Ben Dowell was similarly pleased, praising the show as a "rollicking Scandi-action ride" that left him "stuffed but satisfied" by the end in his 4-star review.
Radio Times critic James Hibbs offered a 3-star verdict on the show, arguing that it feels a little like the show is "playing the beats of a well-worn genre" but ultimately recognizing that fans of the Nordic noir stylings "will likely be delighted."
Reviewing for THR, Daniel Fienberg said the series was "well-acted and atmospheric, but too convoluted," but also concedes that it "has many things going for it" before the twists and red herrings stack up in that finale.
All in all, early signs point to "Detective Hole" being a decent addition to any crime thriller fan's watchlist. If you're keen to stream a grim, moody noir series, then this could be the series you need.
"Detective Hole" is now streaming on Netflix
Follow Tom's Guide on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feeds.
More from Tom's Guide
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
