Last Friday saw the world-premiere of Netflix’s Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole in Oslo. The first batch of reviews have come in and they are all excellent. Below is a selection of press quotes.

All nine episodes of Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole will air globally on Netflix on Thursday, March 26th.

“Nine episodes lean toward the longer side of streaming offerings these days, yet Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole wisely utilizes its generous time. Equal parts psychological character study and plot-driven brain-twister, the show largely maintains its momentum throughout; bursts of graphic violence and meditative investigations interrupt the pervasive coiling tendrils of dread, before speeding into propulsive overdrive once hero and villain find the walls closing in around them. 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.”
Collider (US)

“Santelmann is perfectly cast as Harry, with a grizzled, tough exterior that makes him utterly believable as this determined man who has been beaten down by life, while also retaining a tenderness, particularly in scenes with his girlfriend Rakel and her son Oleg. No matter how poorly he behaves or how one-track his mind is, he is always an empathetic character who you can’t help but root for – in direct contrast to Waaler. Speaking of Waaler, Kinnaman has never been better than he is here. A truly twisted, slimy and thrillingly complex figure, Waaler is the show’s most interesting asset and the perfect foil for Harry in this first season. Kinnaman goes to some extreme places here, and it’s never anything less than captivating to watch. The battle between these two forces is easily the best aspect of the nine-part series, which also (of course) features an overarching serial killer storyline. This storyline leans into everything you’d expect from this sort of series, and in doing so brings the tense, chilling atmosphere the genre is synonymous with, even if it is set during the sun-dappled height of summer.”
RadioTimes (UK)

“Nordic noir at its best. Series creator Jo Nesbø and director Øystein Karlsen hit the mark with stylish and captivating noir entertainment. /…/ Rough, hard-boiled, witty. /…/ In Tobias Santelmann’s charismatic title-role, Hole is just as sharp, vulnerable, thirsty, witty, disheveled and self-sacrificing as a vicious investigator should be. /…/ An energetic series that plays confidently and smartly with the Nordic noir landscape. The series is bursting with drama, edge-of-your-seat suspense, and some topical social commentary.”
NRK, Norway
★★★★★

“Netflix hasn’t just made a crime series; they’ve managed to capture the essence of why we can never get enough of Harry Hole. /…/ It’s raw, it’s stylish, and it’s just as uncomfortable as good crime should be. Harry Hole has found its place in the streaming giant’s library, and although Oslo has never looked worse, a Norwegian crime series has rarely looked better. We’re looking forward to season two. Jo Nesbø is a really good crime writer. Now he’s also a really good screenwriter for TV series.”
Nettavisen, Norway
★★★★★

“Hole in one. If you’re going to make a TV series of Jo Nesbø’s Harry Hole, you first have to meet Harry. That’s what Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole does. But this is not for the faint of heart.”
Stavanger Aftenblad, Norway
★★★★★

“Nesbø’s pitch-black crime triumph. With the adaptation of Jo Nesbø’s dark crime universe, Netflix confirms once and for all how good the crime genre can be. /…/ After spending over seven hours in Oslo’s dark backstreets, we can happily conclude that Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole is one of the best Nordic series ever produced, and definitely the most successful crime series – with the potential to reach a wide international audience. /…/ Nesbø’s sharp pen is characterized by his psychological insight into the multifaceted characters, a colorful cast of characters, and novels that do not shy away from explicit and gross violence. A style that the series certainly preserves and expands. /…/ Kinnaman is brilliant as the icy, cynical psychopath – who is only out to get his own share of the pie, regardless of the consequences for those around him. He goes from smooth-talking, seemingly jovial to completely rabid lunatic with delightfully playful ease at the snap of a finger. /…/ With the slightly sleepy expression of a retired boxer who has gone a little too many rounds in the ring, the versatile Santelmann is a perfect match as the investigator who is struggling with his inner demons, ailing private life, and the search for justice for the victims. /…/ The interplay between Santelmann and Kinnaman sparkles. /…/ Most certainly one of the best we’ve seen on the crime front. In terms of police work, we get a touch of Harry Bosch, but in a far more brutal, complex and fascinating universe. With exceptional production quality in every aspect and a cast that all outperforms, Netflix has hit the bullseye with Nesbø’s work.
Lyd & bilde, Norway
★★★★★★

“World-class Norwegian crime. Netflix’s Harry Hole series delivers unparalleled drama. /…/ To say that Netflix’s new TV series is simply ‘riveting’ is an understatement – at its best, this is world-class crime fiction. /…/ Tobias Santelmann takes on the lead role with utmost ease and has both the weight and charisma needed. He is credible as a drunkard, and even better when Hole clears his head and butts in. The investigator is sharp and observant, but also fallible, full of personal flaws. /…/ It’s simply very good craftsmanship, and you quickly notice that the author himself has several hands in it. This is Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole, after all, and Nesbø is both series creator and screenwriter. This means that the characters, their characteristics and development throughout the series closely align with the source material, and the script is of a high, high class. /…/ The series is characterized by powerful, excellent acting: Tobias Santelmann is Harry Hole, Joel Kinnaman is a great actor as his dark, genuinely threatening counterpart, and to top it all off, none of the supporting characters lose out during the season. Let’s hope that Netflix realizes what they have here and is already well underway in adapting Nesbø’s remaining crime books.
Gamer, Norway
9/10

“Tobias Santelmann excels as Harry Hole. /…/ Here, Santelmann and screenwriter Nesbø bring out what makes Harry Hole such an interesting character. /…/ He has deeply human traits that Nesbø carefully builds in his stories.
Aftenposten, Norway
★★★★

The shortlist for the 2026 Riverton Prize has just been announced in Norway, with Jo Nesbø’s Wolf Hour and Jørn Lier Horst’s The Last Case among the five nominees for the prestigious annual award honoring the best Norwegian crime novel.

The jury praise Wolf Hour with the following motivation: “This is truly a virtuoso novel—large, dense, and elegantly driven forward, with surplus energy and flair, seamlessly composed with striking zoom-ins and zoom-outs. There are many details and feints to enjoy—a genre-faithful hardboiled style, a troubled, battle-scarred investigator wearing his heart on his sleeve. The novel’s different layers of reality, with its true-crime dynamic, invite the reader in and, in a striking way, elevate and expand the novel’s pulse and scope.”

The Last Case, the latest installment in the William Wisting series, is commended by the jury as follows: “In Jørn Lier Horst’s characteristically elegant style, the different plotlines are seamlessly woven together into an exciting, surprising, and clever crime novel.”

The winner will be announced on April 15.

Mord i Sogn / Sogn Murders is a four-part crime drama series adapted from the best-selling novels by Norwegian author Jørgen Jæger.

The series follows police investigator Ole Vik (Kristofer Hivju) and his colleague Cecilie Hopen (Eili Harboe) as they solve complex criminal cases in the fictional village of Fjellberghavn, located in the scenic Sogn region of Norway. Beneath the area’s breathtaking landscapes lies a darker reality, where secrets, tension, and crime disrupt the seemingly peaceful community.

The series is created and directed by Kristoffer Metcalfe, who also co-wrote the scripts alongside Kathrine Valen Zeiner.

Mord i Sogn premieres March 19 on TV2 Norway.

Actor Klara Hodell was educated at the renowned Stockholm University of the Arts and graduated in 2021. The same year saw the premiere of the acclaimed TV series Knutby, in which she portrayed Kristina, a performance that earned her a nomination for a Kristallen Award.

Hodell has also appeared in several major film and TV productions, including Länge leve bonusfamiljen (2022), Trolösa (2025), Sanningen (2024-2025) and Toppen (2022).

Hodell is also known from the theatre stage. She has played leading roles in several praised productions, including Romeo & Julia, Linje lusta, and Måsen.

She has a strong musical sensibility and sings, bringing a deep sense of rhythm, tone, and emotional nuance to her creative work.

Lisa Ridzén’s When the Cranes Fly South is shortlisted for this year’s Magnesia Litera in the category “Translated Fiction”. The novel was translated into Czech by Lina Kaprová and it is one of three nominees in the running for the award.

The jury has the following to say about When the Cranes Fly South and Kaprová’s translation:
“Lisa Ridzén’s debut novel is set in the Swedish countryside, yet it tells a universal story. Through an intimate lens, it explores what it means to come to terms with the inevitability of old age, portraying different forms of love alongside the weight of loneliness, helplessness, and the loss of dignity. The novel—delicate yet powerful—suggests that everyone deserves dignified care and emotional closeness, even nearly ninety-year-old Bo, whose body is slowly failing him and who depends on the help of others. It also highlights the importance of small, everyday interactions that make life worth living, regardless of age.
Linda Kaprová’s deeply felt translation skillfully contrasts the brief, factual notes of nursing staff with the protagonist’s inner musings, perceptive observations, vivid memories, and poetic dreams.”

Magnesia Litera is the most prominent literary award in Czech Republic and yearly awards quality literature in a wide range of categories. The winner will be announced in a televised ceremony on April 18.

Lisa Siwe is an award-winning director whose emotionally powerful storytelling has captivated audiences around the world.

Most recently, she directed the Netflix series Genombrottet / The Breakthrough, a restrained yet deeply moving crime drama that reached a vast global audience and was watched by millions worldwide. Genombrottet was praised by critics both in Sweden and internationally. The Guardian described the series as “the best Scandi noir in years” and stated that it “is sensitive, complex and highly emotional” and “excels as a human story.”

In 2011, she served as one of the directors for the first season of the global sensation TV series Bron / The Bridge. As conceptual director of Modus seasons 1 and 2 (2015–2017), Siwe helped create a major TV4 hit with over a million viewers.

She has since directed globally recognized series in the UK and the US, including Temple (2019), Tell Me Your Secrets (2021), and Red Rose (2022).

Her feature debut, I taket lyser stjärnorna / Glowing Stars (2009), became both a critical and commercial success and earned Siwe the Guldbagge Award for Best Director. The film was also nominated at the Berlin International Film Festival for Generation Kplus and won the Student Choice Award in Toronto, the Don Quijote Award in Kristiansand, the Kinder & Jugend Filmfest Prize in Hamburg, and Göteborg’s Grand Film Prize.

Lisa Ridzén’s When the Cranes Fly South is nominated for Audiobook of the Year in Czech Republic. The award is given yearly by the Audiobook Publishers’ Association in several categories, and Ridzén is up for the prize voted forth by the public. Listeners can vote for their favorite until March 31 by clicking “Read More” below. Winners will be announced at a ceremony in Prague on April 23.