Macbeth by Jo Nesbø

This is the first book I have read by Jo Nesbø, so I can't say whether it is a typical book of his. I suspect it might not be. The title itself reveals what the story is about. Nesbø has used the Shakespeare play as a base for his own story. It is not set, as the original, in 11th century Scotland, but in Norway in a near, somewhat dystopian future. I was not familiar with the plot of Macbeth and took some time off from the book to read it. It seems that Nesbø uses it almost to the point.

Instead of a fight for the throne of Scotland, we face a fight for the post as head of the police departement, or even as the mayor of the city, which is the highest post. We find all the characters and names from the original play, and it is masterly adapted to modern times.

Macbeth's role in the police is head of the Guards. They come in to clean up the mess, and uses more violent terms to do it. His Lady is the head of a luxurious casino. When the corrupt chief of police is killed a new era is to begin. Duncan, the new head is honest and wants to fight the corruption that holds the city in a grip.

Macbeth is a popular guy, maybe because he has stayed where he is. He had a complicated and difficult youth with drug abuse. Clean since several years he prefers to stay where he is. There are two big drug gangs in the city, fighting for survival. Especially one of them, called 'The Hand', is fighting to take control of the city in his own way. He knows how to manipulate people, as does Lady, and when he lets someone whisper in Macbeth's ears that he could become the next chief of police if he gets rid of the present one, Macbeth's mind starts working. With the help of Lady.

“Women understand hearts and how to speak to them. Because the heart is the woman in us. Even if the brain is bigger, talks more and believes that the husband rules the house, it’s the heart that silently makes the decisions. The speech touched your heart and the brain gladly follows.”
                                                                                                      Jo Nesbø, Macbeth

One murder leads to the next. Power corrupts they say, and this story clearly shows it. It becomes a rat race to plan the murders and then to cover them up. The more murders, the more cover ups. In the end you are stuck in a corner and there seems to be no way out.

The adaption of this story into modern times works very well. It shows us an angle that we understand. The 11th century is far away, times were different and we might not really be able to put ourselves in those times. But, when we read about our own time, the story becomes more sinister. An excellent thriller, well written and difficult to put down.