Sequences can be a little confusing with Scandinavian 
It is an interesting novel, where one of the things to notice is that unprofessional conduct by Inspector Frank Frolich plays a key part in the novel. The good inspector takes part in a police operation. Then he sees a woman leisurely walking the aisles of the shop where no customers should be, as the police are about to raid it. He rushes inside, tackles her to the floor, and manages to get her out of the way milliseconds before the bullets start flying. The lady he saved was one Elisabeth Faremo.
A while later Frolich meets the lady again. And there is sweet music in the air. They are attracted to one another, and start an intense, almost feverish affair.
It was complicated from the start, as Elisabeth was a witness. But it got much more complicated when Frolich learned that Elisabeth was also the sister of a well known local criminal, Johnny. Very complicated, very unprofessional. And then Johnny is involved in a new crime, Elisabeth disappears, and it gets really difficult and troublesome for Inspector Frolich! And as he learns more and more, things go from bad to much worse.
The Fourth Man is well written and excellently translated by Don Bartlett. I simply love some of the descriptions:
“She was the crowning glory of a total work of art: the materialized essence of litter, blaring radio, mess and an aura of liberated indifference.”
The Fourth Man is a great, fairly dark police procedural/psychological thriller with several surprises and good, interesting characters and very interesting dynamics among the characters – some of them quite deep and dysfunctional as well. And in the course of the investigation we are faced with an intriguing, tangled web of art theft, blackmail, torrid sex and double crosses. The plot is smart and complex, and Dahl moves it along at a pretty brisk pace. I like The Fourth Man a lot – a great read is my opinion. In the Scandinavian crime fiction literature K. O. Dahl has taken possession of his own niche – this book is neither Sjowall & Wahloo, nor Mankell or Fossum or Nesbo. Well worth reading, rich and densely written, and recommended!
Praise for K. O. Dahl:
“I have read many clever and thrilling crime novels through my life, but often they have nothing to do with real life. .. when K.O. Dahl tells his stories, I believe every single word.” –Karin Fossum, author of The Indian Bride
“An absorbing study of sexual enthrallment, dogged police work and a harrowing twist or two: Fans of procedurals…will snap this one up.” –Kirkus
“Recommend to fans of Karin Fossum and Kjell Eriksson. Dahl is a formidable talent whose books may well become as popular in the US as in Norway.” –Booklist
“Effective and entertaining crime….We let ourselves be both mesmerized and entertained…” –Adresseavisen (Norway)
“Elite crime writing… Kjell Ola Dahl is one of the big names of Norwegian crime fiction, and The Fourth Man shows why …” –Stavanger Aftenblad (Norway)
“…an excellent crime novel has seen the light of day…” –Hersfelder Zeitung (Germany)
, 
, and 
