Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole Review: Netflix’s Atmospheric Crime Thriller Is Elevated By A Stellar Cast

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Following the popular trend of turning bestselling crime novels into TV shows, Netflix’s adaptation of Jo Nesbø’s ‘Detective Hole‘ closely captures the dark mood and focus on characters found in the books. The show beautifully utilizes the Norwegian landscape and is driven by strong performances from its actors.

Similar to Prime Video’s Reacher, a very popular recent adaptation of a crime thriller book series, Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole focuses on just one book from the original series in its first season. And unlike other hit shows like Bosch, Cross, and The Night Agent, it stays quite faithful to the source material.

It’s no surprise this adaptation of Jo Nesbø’s The Devil’s Star – the fifth book in the Harry Hole series – stays true to the source material, as the author himself wrote the show. Whether this approach will lead to a longer-running series remains to be seen, but it’s a definite improvement over Hollywood’s earlier, unsuccessful attempt to adapt Nesbø’s novels.

Just like the popular Jack Reacher books, the Harry Hole series also got made into a movie. Called The Snowman, it starred Michael Fassbender as the detective Harry Hole. Unfortunately, like the Jack Reacher films, The Snowman wasn’t considered a very good adaptation.

Thankfully, Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole on Netflix is not the same.

Tobias Santelmann & Joel Kinnaman’s Complex On-Screen Dynamic Is The Best Aspect Of Netflix’s Detective Hole

Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole starts as a classic murder mystery, immediately introducing a serial killer and following the lead investigator, Harry Hole, as he carefully gathers clues. But the story becomes more complex when a tense rivalry develops between Hole and fellow detective Tom Waaler, and this conflict gets woven into the main investigation.

Both characters are deeply flawed, often blurring the lines between right and wrong. However, Harry Hole generally tries to do the right thing, even if he’s hesitant, while Waaler willingly gives in to his darker impulses and is driven by unchecked ambition.

Throughout much of the series, the main question of who the killer is keeps you engaged. The show also blends realistic crime investigation with a chilling, psychological horror, thanks to Harry Hole’s unique talent for vividly imagining crime scenes and understanding the victims’ perspectives.

The strength of Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole really lies in its portrayal of the complex relationship between Harry Hole and Tom Waaler, who are two very similar characters. When Tobias Santelmann and Joel Kinnaman act together, showing how both characters battle their inner struggles, the mystery of the crime itself almost becomes secondary.

Honestly, the show really hits hard when it focuses on how consumed these characters are by their work – it’s a raw look at addiction and how it can destroy you. Joel Kinnaman is incredible; he completely embodies Waaler’s cold, calculating side, and it’s both captivating and terrifying to watch. It’s seriously the best work I’ve ever seen him do.

Tobias Santelmann delivers a captivating performance as the main character, particularly when portraying Harry’s struggles with alcoholism and his tender, open moments with Rakel Fauke (Pia Tjelta) and her son.

For most of the series, Detective Hole focuses on the thoughts and feelings of the characters Harry and Tom. But the show also occasionally switches to distant, observational shots of Tobias Santelmann’s character, emphasizing his loneliness within the vast city of Oslo.

The series frequently shows Harry Hole framed by empty spaces, emphasizing his isolation and disconnection from Oslo. The city itself is depicted with a cold, imposing atmosphere reminiscent of Gotham City, creating an unsettlingly familiar feel.

Similar to how the show develops characters like Tom Waaler (Joel Kinnaman) and Harry Hole (Tobias Santelmann), the city itself feels like a character. We see hints of other crimes and gang conflicts happening underneath the main story, subtly linking to the central murders.

Jo Nesbo’s Detective Hole Would Have Benefited From A Shorter Runtime

Netflix

Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole had the potential to be a standout crime thriller. Unfortunately, it doesn’t quite reach that level due to a plot that goes on for too long. While the series starts strong with an intriguing opening and keeps you hooked with cliffhangers early on, it eventually becomes repetitive.

About halfway through, the story loses momentum before regaining it towards the end.

While the show had a slow patch in the middle, the exciting final episodes were a strong finish. I was pleasantly surprised by the ending – it felt satisfying and wasn’t what I expected, though it wasn’t shockingly unexpected. However, many viewers, including myself, might still find it hard to forget the weaker episodes in the middle of the season.

Netflix’s Detective Hole, based on Jo Nesbø’s work, might have been more effective as a shorter series, perhaps with just six episodes.

The Netflix thriller occasionally feels unbalanced when it tries to combine supernatural horror with classic detective work. While visually impressive, some scenes depicting the main character’s intense visions and hallucinations feel forced and don’t quite fit into the overall story.

Overall, Detective Hole by Jo Nesbø is a solid crime thriller adaptation and one of the better ones currently available on streaming. While the first season isn’t perfect, I’d definitely tune in for a second. Tobias Santelmann also shows real potential to become the lead in a successful detective series, possibly even reaching the level of popular franchises like Reacher, Bosch, and True Detective.

All nine episodes of Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole premiere on March 26, 2026, on Netflix.

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2026-03-23 22:22