Jo Nesbo: Macbeth (October 2022)

Hogarth Press invited 6 authors to write a novel based on plays by Shakespeare and Jo Nesbo re-imagined Macbeth set in a lawless, dystopian Scottish city riven by corruption, violence and drugs, the highly addictive ”brew”.

Macbeth, a recovering drug addict, is in charge of the police SWAT team before being promoted to Head of Organised Crime and his partner, known only as Lady, owns a casino. They have been given back-stories, both are damaged by deprived childhoods, sexual abuse and are burdened with dreadful secrets so it is understandable that they would be drawn to one another and ruthlessly advance themselves to positions of power and authority.

Encouraged by Lady, Macbeth kills Duncan, the Chief Police Commissioner and they frame his guards for the murder. They go on to commit more bloodshed, blackmail and fabrication of evidence. Macbeth goes back to using brew, becoming increasingly paranoid and suffering from hallucinations.

After Lady’s suicide he is alone and trapped in a nightmare of his own making. His downfall and death at the hands of those he has betrayed is inevitable.

We found it helpful to have refreshed our memories of the source material and the characters in the original play. It was a clever and inventive interpretation, particularly the three witches with their ”brew” and their fateful prophecies.

We discussed the many different ways that Shakespeare has been produced. By coincidence some of us are going to see Macbeth by Candlelight at the Pavilion Theatre on 2nd November.

As in the play, the book is grim and bloody and would make an excellent Scandi-Noir film but it was too bleak and violent for some of our group so was awarded only 2/5.