One of eight novels by the acclaimed Norwegian writer Jo Nesbø, dedicated to the gifted detective Harry Hole—a classic example of a highly intelligent yet antisocial personality.
In calm, sleepy summer Oslo, a murder occurs—bold, insolent, and provocative. The culprit leaves the police not only the murder weapon, but also a small diamond shaped like a five-pointed star, hidden under the deceased’s eyelid. Soon, the Norwegian capital is shaken by a series of mysterious events mystically linked to the number five: they are persistently hinted at by the five rays of the star and a mutilated hand. Every fifth day, the police find a new victim of a mysterious criminal who, each time, manages to slip by unnoticed.