A tense and atmospheric standalone thriller about two brothers, one small town, and a lifetime of dark secrets, from bestselling author Jo Nesbø“I read The Kingdom and couldn’t put it down … Suspenseful … Original … This one is special in every way.” —Stephen KingA KIRKUS REVIEWS BEST MYSTERY AND THRILLER OF THE YEARRoy and Carl, brothers from a small mountain town, have spent their whole … and Carl, brothers from a small mountain town, have spent their whole lives hiding from the darkness in their pasts—Roy by staying put and staying quiet, and Carl by running far away. Roy believed his little brother was gone for good. But Carl has big plans for his hometown. And when he returns with a mysterious new wife and a business opportunity that seems too good to be true, simmering tensions begin to surface and unexplained deaths in the town’s past come under new scrutiny. Soon powerful players set their sights on taking the brothers down by exposing their role in the town’s sordid history. But Roy and Carl are survivors, and no strangers to violence. As the town’s long-buried past begins to surface, Roy will be forced to choose between his own flesh and blood and a future he had never dared to believe possible.
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I read The Kingdom and couldn’t put it down… Suspenseful… Original… This one is special in every way.
I can’t say that I liked any of the characters, but the twists and turns in the story kept me charging to the end. I should have predicted the ending, but found that I was daily surprises at the outcome!
I did not enjoy it. Prefer the earlier Harry Hole books.
As often happens with authors who write a standalone novel after producing numerous books with the one character, there are frequently disappointed readers. Whilst it may not be Harry Hole, it is a must-read dark tale of gritty substance. Two brothers in Norway reunite after a dozen years, which is a precursor to monumental change for the small village in the mountains. Family history and events cannot continue to hide truths as the impending change reveals disturbing facts about previous accidents and the unbreakable bond of brothers. Jo Nesbo’s Kingdom is an engrossing tale with some distressing disclosures with an atmospheric tension that makes it difficult to put down. A slow burner hard crime page turner of a Scandinavian noire, with a five-star rating.
This book left me feeling troubled after I finished it. The thoughts and actions of brothers Roy and Carl Opgard led to a hopeless story line. I have recommended many of Jo Nesbo’s books. I wished I hadn’t read this one though.
Not Harry Hole but kept you reading to see the outcome. I really enjoyed the character development. The story kept me involved through each chapter.
I have read every single Harry Hole book and loved them all. The Kingdom was entirely different from any of Jo Nesbo’s or anyone else’s books I have ever read. One of the most heartbreaking novels I’ve had the privilege to read. The characters are so realistic I pictured each one of them in my mind while reading their lifetime dramas. I don’t want to say anything else about the storyline or about the characters because I don’t want to ruin the reading experience for anyone. All I can say is bravo, Jo Nesbo! You are by far one of my favorite authors.
Really loved this book, five solid stars. This book checked all the boxes for me. The depth of character, the details never once crossed the line and made me question the credibility of the story. Nesbo achieves here what Stephen King does so well, he writes scenes that the reader can relate to in their daily lives and yet he still maintains the tension at high levels. This is not a thriller but a slow burning mystery with murder, romance and family dysfunction. While reading this one I caught a taste of James M. Caine’s the Postman Always Rings twice.
Nesbo works the story from three different time periods bouncing around with ease using only one point of view. I was never confused. Even with the first-person point view all the other characters seen through Roy’s perspective are three dimensional.
The main story is the relationship between two brothers Carl and Roy and how they evolve during adversity. The book is 550 pages, the length of two average mysteries and I never once lost interest. This is my favorite mystery of the year and I highly recommend it.
David Putnam Author of Bruno Johnson series
Not what I expected from Jo Nesbo but I couldn’t put it down. This is a dark read and for awhile I wasn’t sure if I wanted them caught or not, which made me question my own morals. Very well written and suspenseful and will leave you wanting to know more, and yet you know that some things never change.
I really enjoy Nesbo’s books.
The Kingdom starts with an unforgettable prologue foreshadowing many events throughout as two brothers entwine in murder, guilt, and love in a small town in Norway. More exceptional writing from Jo Nesbø.
I read the because Stephen King said he couldn’t put it down. I could.
This is a story of choices and courage, and about Roy against everyone else. A year older than Carl, it is clear he is the more robust of the two brothers. But the day Carl heads out with his father’s beloved dog changes everything.
Roy has always been Carl’s guardian, his protector and helper. ‘Nothing is as good as the sound of a little brother who is safe.’ He has lived in his wilderness kingdom for fifteen years alone with the oppressive ghosts of Opgard, while Carl studied finance and business administration in the USA. Now Carl is back home with a rather large agenda. A mountain hotel and the idea of selling the property that had been in their family’s possession for four generations. He returns with Shannon in tow and this time, the world is a little different.
The book has a great sense of community and rivalry, and the poetic descriptions that stay with you for days are, as always, stunning. A much slower pace than Nesbo’s Harry Hole series, it nevertheless delivers the same massive punch. It also delves deep into Roy’s and Carl’s pasts, a seemingly normal upbringing with the underpinnings of unresolved grief, infidelity and revenge. Is Carl’s sudden return simply to show off how well he’d done? And how will he build this ‘castle in the air’ and gain investors from a town built on skepticism?
From the outside, Carl’s relationship with Shannon appears tender and devoted, living in each other’s pockets. But there is underlying tension and you wonder what kind of straw will break the camel’s back. Accidents do happen, although Kurt Olsen has his own opinions. He’s a hunter. He won’t give up.
To say I couldn’t put it down is an understatement. I kept thinking I knew how it would end but I was far from it. Bruises, revenge affairs, fires, and Roy’s plan. What could possibly go wrong?
Strangely addictive and a keep-you-up-all-night story, it’s no wonder Scandinavian writers continue to dominate the thriller market. Intricate plotting and masterful characterization makes this one of my favorite books this year.