The highly anticipated adaptation of Jo Nesbø’s bestselling Harry Hole series, Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole, premieres worldwide on Netflix today.
At 8am CET this morning, all nine episodes of the show went live in 190 countries.

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
★★★★

Jo Nesbø’s internationally bestselling novel Wolf Hour, has risen to the No. 1 spot on the UK Amazon Kindle charts. It also leads in the categories International Mystery & Crime, Crime Thrillers, and Mysteries.

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.

Netflix just released the official trailer for Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole.

“Harry Hole isn’t just another detective,” actor Tobias Santelmann tells Netflix. “He’s a character [who] readers around the world have lived with for almost 30 years, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to bring him to the screen. I approached this role with deep respect for Jo Nesbø’s work and for the audience that has followed Harry for so long. At the same time, I had to find my Harry — or our Harry — and I hope we’ve created something that feels true to the spirit of the books while also standing on its own.”

As seen in the trailer, Hole is on the hunt for a serial killer lurking in the dark recesses of Oslo’s streets while also attempting to bring corrupt cop Waaler to justice. It’s no wonder that when Hole is asked how long he’s worked as a detective, his answer is a world-weary one: “Far too long.”

For Kinnaman, playing Waaler was “an exciting challenge” that was also rewarding. “Filming in Oslo, the city so deeply woven into Jo Nesbø’s novels, brings an authenticity to the series that’s impossible to replicate,” he tells Netflix. “Collaborating closely with Jo to explore this darker side of Harry’s world has been a rewarding creative experience, and I’m so proud to help bring this story to the screen.”

“Do you ever think about what makes people like us do what we do?” Waaler asks Hole.

The answer? “To silence those goddamn voices.”

Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole will be streaming on Netflix globally on March 26.

The paperback edition of Jo Nesbø’s latest standalone novel, Wolf Hour, has been selected as one out of six titles for the Spring 2026 Book Club Picks by the prestigious Richard and Judy Book Club in the UK.

The Richard and Judy Book Club is the biggest book club in the UK and brings readers a carefully handpicked selection of book recommendations. The Wolf Hour paperback is published today in the UK.

Jo Nesbø’s Blood Ties features at No. 2 on the Swedish paperback list for the third consecutive week. The novel also claims the No. 3 spot on the bestseller list for paperbacks for the month of January.

Netflix just released a behind the scenes-video of Jo Nesbo’s Detective Hole – a first look into the production and what went into creating this series adaptation based on Jo Nesbø’s bestselling Harry Hole novels.

Jo Nesbø’s Blood Ties climbs the official Swedish paperback list, landing at No. 2 this week. Blood Ties is the second installment in The Kingdom series.

The Norwegian Storytel Awards 2026 are now open for voting.

Among the nominated in the category Crime & Suspense are Jørn Lier Horst’s The Lake, Lars Kepler’s The Sleepwalker, Jo Nesbø’s Blood Ties, and Liza Marklund’s Storm Mountain.

In the Children’s category, Martin Widmark is nominated for both The Dinosaur Mystery and Nelly Rapp and the Mare.

The winners will be announced on February 12. To cast your vote, click “Read more” below.

This morning Netflix revealed the teaser trailer for Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole, the first TV-series based on Nesbø’s internationally bestselling novels featuring Harry Hole, marking the beginning of a new era for one of literature’s most iconic detectives, played by actor Tobias Santelmann.

Author, creator and executive producer Jo Nesbø: “It’s been just great working with Tobias Santelmann and creating a character that is fresh, still  true to the character and his universe in the novels. I’m really looking forward to presenting this Harry Hole to the audience.”

Actor: Tobias Santelmann: “Stepping into Harry Hole’s shoes has been a tremendous honor and a thrilling challenge. Jo Nesbø’s world is so rich, and Harry is a truly complex character. I’m thankful for this opportunity, and I hope the audience will enjoy our Harry Hole. Bringing him to life, and working with everyone involved, has been a true privilege.”

Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole will have its global premiere on March 26th.

Jo Nesbø’s Blood Ties enters the official Swedish paperback list at No. 3 this week. Blood Ties is the second installment in The Kingdom series.