‘Human ambition will always stretch towards sun like a thistle and overshadow and kill everything around it.’ Jo Nesbo brings his typically dark Scandinavian vision to Shakespeare’s classic tale, part of the Hogarth Shakespeare series. It is a violent world, set in a 1970s metropolis in a vaguely defined geographical setting. It rains – a lot. This is a novel looking at the moral choices we make, at ambition and power and how it seduces and takes over like a drug. Nesbo stays true to the general outline of the original play but creates a world where drug addiction and gambling are rife, and violence is never far from the surface. It is undoubtedly well written, but I could never fully engage with the characters and I admit to skim-reading several pages just to get the gist of the story. It is an interesting take on the Bard, and whilst the themes of corruption and politics are apposite in these troubling times, for me this was only a decent read, not a great one. The original play makes the points well enough, and Nesbo doesn’t quite manage to create enough ‘newness’ to his adaptation to make it stand out or to say anything original. Nonetheless, I quite enjoyed it and it certainly displays Nesbo’s prodigious talent as a writer. His large fan-following will enjoy this novel. (With thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for an ARC of the novel in return for an unbiased and honest review.)

I am a huge fan of Jo Nesbo and couldn't wait for my order of this book to arrive but so far it has been a huge disappointment. The translation is poor at best and the narrative does not flow making it far from the exciting 'hard to put down' book I was hoping for. I will slog on with the book in faith of the author and hope the translation improves. My advice; borrow a copy if you want to give it a go!

Pretentious nonsense that is an insult to Shakespeare.

I have enjoyed every Nesbo so far but this was a huge disappointment. The story is not believable and just becomes boring. Ho hum, another murder. The Macbeth theme is contrived. The end was expected and absurd Please can we have the old Nesbo back.

Sold by Waterstones as a his latest blockbuster thriller, it is a tawdry take on Shakespeare's play. Events are not remotely feasible and the only reason you may read beyond 100 pages is curiosity that it could continue in this vein. It can! Save your money and time by sticking to the Bard. Why would Nesbo sully his name with this unorginal tosh beats me - except to make money. Waterstones could at least follow Amazon's lead be honest and put it in the Shakespearean section - preferably in the remaineder bin! (ps I am taking it back to the shop today to ask for my money back as it was sold under false pretences.).