For twelve years Sonny Lofthus has been in prison, spending time for murders he confessed but didn’t commit. In exchange, the real gangsters supply him constantly with heroin during the time he’s locked up. Sonny is a model prisoner, his fellow inmates regard him as a kind of healer with the favor of absolution for their sins. One day a fellow prisoner tells him the truth about his father’s death. Ab Lofthus, a former police officer, didn’t commit suicide and wasn’t corrupt as Sonny expected – he was murdered. For Sonny, till now “The Son”, changes everything. He wants to take revenge and has to find the mole, makes a brilliant escape and starts hunting down the guys responsible for his imprisonment and his father’s decease. A bloody fight between ‘The Son’ and the gangsters begins. Also Oslo’s Police Officer Simon Kefas, who was a former friend of Ab Lofthus, together with his new assistant Kari Adel are taking up the chase. A deathly bloodbath starts …

The author Jo Nesbo gives us here a thrilling novel about Oslo’s corrupt police hierarchy, drugs scene, the homeless, criminality, murder and manslaughter – but also about true friendship, family ties and a bit of love. The book is not easy and comfortable to read – it is in places extremely brutal and cruel. There are a lot of different characters, corrupt officials and gangsters, drug addicts and murderer – but also lovable and charming people. Sonny, ‘the son’, itself is a mixed character - partly a friendly and well-mannered gentleman and partly very dangerous, cruel and violent.

The story contents a view of unbelievable twists, shocking the reader, especially when he sympathizes with any of the characters. On balance the result is a novel starting slowly, but step by step it will be more exciting and thrilling till the very end, which is unusual, unexpected and really surprising.