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Kongeriket #1
Kongeriket
I en liten norsk bygd lever bilmekanikeren Roy et relativt fredelig og enkelt liv da lillebroren Carl vender hjem etter mange år i utlandet. Med Carl, hans nye kone Shannon og planene om et høyfjellshotell som kan skape nytt liv i den lille bygda, begynner mørke hemmeligheter fra guttenes barndom igjen å piple fram. Da de var små, forsvarte Roy broren mot mobbere og mørke rykter, men lojaliteten mellom brødrene settes på prøve når grådighet og svik kommer i veien for Carls planer.
Når bygdas lensmann på nytt begynner å stille spørsmål ved det tragiske dødsfallet til guttenes foreldre, må Roy ta stilling til hvor langt han er villig til å gå for å beskytte broren. Og hvordan skal egentlig Roy forholde seg til at Shannon fanger hans oppmerksomhet?
Kongeriket er en mørk og mektig spenningsroman fra bygde-Norge - om ambisjoner, lojalitet og kjærlighet. Ikke minst er det en roman om hemmeligheter som truer med å kutte båndene mellom to brødre.
Når bygdas lensmann på nytt begynner å stille spørsmål ved det tragiske dødsfallet til guttenes foreldre, må Roy ta stilling til hvor langt han er villig til å gå for å beskytte broren. Og hvordan skal egentlig Roy forholde seg til at Shannon fanger hans oppmerksomhet?
Kongeriket er en mørk og mektig spenningsroman fra bygde-Norge - om ambisjoner, lojalitet og kjærlighet. Ikke minst er det en roman om hemmeligheter som truer med å kutte båndene mellom to brødre.
630 pages, Paperback
First published August 27, 2020
3724 people are currently reading
13228 people want to read
About the author
Jo Nesbø
184 books23.2k followersJo Nesbø is a bestselling Norwegian author and musician. He was born in Oslo and grew up in Molde. Nesbø graduated from the Norwegian School of Economics with a degree in economics. Nesbø is primarily famous for his crime novels about Detective Harry Hole, but he is also the main vocals and songwriter for the Norwegian rock band Di Derre. In 2007 Nesbø also released his first children's book, Doktor Proktors Prompepulver.
Series:
* Harry Hole
* Doktor Proktor
For exclusive content about Jo Nesbø and his books, register for the official fan newsletter: https://jonesbo.com/newsletter/
Series:
* Harry Hole
* Doktor Proktor
For exclusive content about Jo Nesbø and his books, register for the official fan newsletter: https://jonesbo.com/newsletter/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,649 reviews
December 9, 2020
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 The Bruno Johnson series.
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 The Bruno Johnson series.
September 25, 2020
To be honest it's more like 2.5 than 3 stars for this standalone from Jo Nesbo. Even though he writes good I can't say there was something I haven't seen in other stories so I wasn't very intrigued with this one. He used many cliches but I won't elaborate further as to not spoil things from the story. The Kingdom is 700 pages long and in my opinion he could have written it also with half of them. Many things are revealed early on in the story and it made me wonder what more could there be for me to discover but even though in the middle I felt that story is starting to become boring things started to happen again and it continued this way until the end.
I appreciate his talent as to how he could make me at least sympathize with actions I'm usually not ok with and even though I knew this story couldn't have ended with a happy end I was surprised that the end was open to interpretation according to one's own thoughts and personal feelings as to how he would like to end the story of the two brothers and mostly the main character who is also the narrator of the story.
In my opinion it wasn't atmospheric enough and he could have done a better job based on the setting Nesbo used for his story that's a small village in Norway. He did though an amazing job in describing the thoughts and actions of his main character Roy and through them build a connection between him and the reader.
In the end the thought that most is occupying my mind is if we can change our character and break the circle of the actions that brought us to our current situation or if there's isn't going back and we must continue in the same path.
Since I buddy read it with a friend I can say it made reading the story more enjoyable for me.
I appreciate his talent as to how he could make me at least sympathize with actions I'm usually not ok with and even though I knew this story couldn't have ended with a happy end I was surprised that the end was open to interpretation according to one's own thoughts and personal feelings as to how he would like to end the story of the two brothers and mostly the main character who is also the narrator of the story.
In my opinion it wasn't atmospheric enough and he could have done a better job based on the setting Nesbo used for his story that's a small village in Norway. He did though an amazing job in describing the thoughts and actions of his main character Roy and through them build a connection between him and the reader.
In the end the thought that most is occupying my mind is if we can change our character and break the circle of the actions that brought us to our current situation or if there's isn't going back and we must continue in the same path.
Since I buddy read it with a friend I can say it made reading the story more enjoyable for me.
August 29, 2020
Just recently finished re-reading this book and ALL I want to do is keep thinking about it & talking about it. Nesbø is my all-time favorite author so it’s no surprise that I loved this book, but what IS a surprise is how quickly this book became one of my favorite Nesbø books ever. Each standalone novel Nesbø writes is totally unlike the others, and highlights another side of his talent. In THE KINGDOM, he puts his own dark (*very* dark) spin on a story that explores the ties that bind a family together—and just how far those ties can be pushed before they break. This is a slow-burn crime novel (aka: it’s got a very different vibe than a Harry Hole thriller). It’s a story with layer upon layer of sinister revelations in store for the reader, and Nesbø ratchets up the tension page after page until the story reaches its truly gut-wrenching conclusion.
Note that this is a very dark story and it grapples with disturbing themes including abuse and sexual assault.
I’ll have more coherent thoughts to come as we get closer to this book’s release and I process all my thoughts and feelings. Loved this one so, so much.
Note that this is a very dark story and it grapples with disturbing themes including abuse and sexual assault.
I’ll have more coherent thoughts to come as we get closer to this book’s release and I process all my thoughts and feelings. Loved this one so, so much.
August 14, 2020
The Opgard brothers - Roy and Carl - live on a mountain farm their father refers to as The Kingdom. After the death of their parents, Roy stays and Carl goes to the USA and Canada. He returns fifteen years later with architect wife Shannon and a big dream for a Kingdom hotel and a plan that will involve the local village community. Some people are enthusiastic, others suspicious including Sheriff Kurt Olsen who is watching the brothers very carefully, with good reason. The story is told by Roy.
At the start of the book I was a little bit worried but have no fear, this is the Norwegian maestro. If I can make a car analogy (cars are very important in the storytelling especially Cadillacs) it’s like one of those vintage cars you crank with a handle, it takes a while to get it going but once it’s off, it goes at a lick. In fact, at times the pace is warp speed. The story of the two brothers is as dark and long as a northern Norwegian night. At times it has a sort of biblical Cain and Abel vibe, though at others the brothers collaborate but there’s underlying jealousy and mistrust although they have a bond of love bound up in secrecy. The brothers are absolutely fascinating and their characters are absolutely intrinsic to the storytelling and plot line. It’s convoluted, intriguing, mysterious, full of suspense and as twisty as one of the roads up to The Kingdom. There’s layer upon layer of secrecy, lies, coverups, pretence, betrayal, obsession, love and violence. I love the idea of the hotel, the setting adds to the atmosphere and the wildlife especially birds, is used effectively. I cannot do the book justice in this review because the plot is so packed it’s impossible to mention everything!
Overall despite the slow start this is another brilliant thriller from Jo Nesbø who is one of my favourite authors. I think this will be a memorable one because of the depth of the character study. Highly recommended to fans of this genre.
4-5 stars rounded up
With thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House, Harvill Secker for the much appreciated ARC.
At the start of the book I was a little bit worried but have no fear, this is the Norwegian maestro. If I can make a car analogy (cars are very important in the storytelling especially Cadillacs) it’s like one of those vintage cars you crank with a handle, it takes a while to get it going but once it’s off, it goes at a lick. In fact, at times the pace is warp speed. The story of the two brothers is as dark and long as a northern Norwegian night. At times it has a sort of biblical Cain and Abel vibe, though at others the brothers collaborate but there’s underlying jealousy and mistrust although they have a bond of love bound up in secrecy. The brothers are absolutely fascinating and their characters are absolutely intrinsic to the storytelling and plot line. It’s convoluted, intriguing, mysterious, full of suspense and as twisty as one of the roads up to The Kingdom. There’s layer upon layer of secrecy, lies, coverups, pretence, betrayal, obsession, love and violence. I love the idea of the hotel, the setting adds to the atmosphere and the wildlife especially birds, is used effectively. I cannot do the book justice in this review because the plot is so packed it’s impossible to mention everything!
Overall despite the slow start this is another brilliant thriller from Jo Nesbø who is one of my favourite authors. I think this will be a memorable one because of the depth of the character study. Highly recommended to fans of this genre.
4-5 stars rounded up
With thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House, Harvill Secker for the much appreciated ARC.
December 23, 2020
I listened to Jo Nesbo’s “The Kingdom” translated by Robert Ferguson and narrated by Euan Morton. At first, I did not like the narrator’s voice, but chose to give it a shot. I’m happy I did. In fact, I ended up believing he was the perfect narrator for the protagonist, Roy Opgard. This is almost a 20 hour production. It’s basically a rumination of Roy’s life in a desolate mountain town in Norway. It’s bleak and referred to as noir genre. I am a fan of Harry Hole, and love the action-packed and crazy life of Harry. This is crazy, but less action packed….more of a slow burn into destruction.
Not to say it isn’t macabre. Incest, arson, infidelity, murder, swindling, and of course, deceit feature heavily in this tome. Of course we get the story from Roy’s side. His brother, Carl, plays an important role, if not the instigator in much of the mayhem. Carl is younger than Roy, and Roy felt a fraternal duty to protect Carl all through Carl’s life. Carl experienced a sexual abuse that Roy felt responsible for, suggesting that is Roy’s main compulsion for protecting Carl when Carl should have been held responsible. But family secrets loom heavy in the story, and Roy keeps covering for one secret after another.
“The Kingdom” is the land that the two brothers inherit after their parents die in a tragic and questionable car crash. Carl leaves Norway to study at a university in Minnesota. He returns with a grandiose plan to build a hotel and vacation destination in their humble mountain town. Carl also returns with a wife who seems to be cut of the same ilk as the brothers, creating a trio of borderline psychopaths. More deaths, more questionable car crashes, more missing persons…..how will this end?
One reviewer likened this novel to a miniseries. Given the length and all the crazy action, it could be a Cohen brother’s sort of miniseries. Or Quentin Tarantino could do a solid job in making this into a film.
This is a family saga that is dark and unsettling. It’s a story of slowly mounting destruction and betrayal. Don’t go into it thinking you will read another Hole action-packed story.
Not to say it isn’t macabre. Incest, arson, infidelity, murder, swindling, and of course, deceit feature heavily in this tome. Of course we get the story from Roy’s side. His brother, Carl, plays an important role, if not the instigator in much of the mayhem. Carl is younger than Roy, and Roy felt a fraternal duty to protect Carl all through Carl’s life. Carl experienced a sexual abuse that Roy felt responsible for, suggesting that is Roy’s main compulsion for protecting Carl when Carl should have been held responsible. But family secrets loom heavy in the story, and Roy keeps covering for one secret after another.
“The Kingdom” is the land that the two brothers inherit after their parents die in a tragic and questionable car crash. Carl leaves Norway to study at a university in Minnesota. He returns with a grandiose plan to build a hotel and vacation destination in their humble mountain town. Carl also returns with a wife who seems to be cut of the same ilk as the brothers, creating a trio of borderline psychopaths. More deaths, more questionable car crashes, more missing persons…..how will this end?
One reviewer likened this novel to a miniseries. Given the length and all the crazy action, it could be a Cohen brother’s sort of miniseries. Or Quentin Tarantino could do a solid job in making this into a film.
This is a family saga that is dark and unsettling. It’s a story of slowly mounting destruction and betrayal. Don’t go into it thinking you will read another Hole action-packed story.
March 19, 2025
Todavía no me creo que yo le esté poniendo 5⭐️ a un libro de este autor. No soy muy fan de Jo Nesbo. Los títulos que he leído de la serie Harry Hole me dieron más penas que alegrías y no la terminé. Este libro es otra cosa, un Nesbo diferente, a otro vivel, que me ha conquistado por completo.
Es importante que los futuros lectores sepan que no estamos ante un thriller. Es más bien una novela de narrativa general con tintes de negra y criminal. Hay asesinatos sí, pero la trama no se centra en averiguar quién los ha cometido (el lector lo va saber más pronto que tarde), sino en las motivaciones, las relaciones entre los personajes y en el qué va a pasar en cada momento.
El ritmo es pausado. El autor incluye disgresiones que, para aquellos que se acerquen a la novela esperando una trama policíaca sin más, entiendo les parezca que se dispersa. No ha sido mi caso. La trama es bastante más compleja y he disfrutado de todas y cada una de las líneas de este libro.
Los personajes bien dibujados son así mismo complejos. Roy, el hermano mayor, que arrastra un sentimiento de culpabilidad, con un concepto enfermizo de lo que se debe a la lealtad familiar. Carl, el hermano menor, sociópata y manipulador. Shannon, la esposa de Carl, arquitecta sin escrúpulos morales, obsesionada con la construcción de su edificio. Los secundarios son igualmente notables. Destaco a Grete, la cotilla con mala baba, que me ha puesto los pelos como escarpias.
La ambientación es buena. Transmite el ambiente opresivo, cerrado y viciado de un pueblo pequeño de alta montaña en Noruega.
El final correcto. Hubo un momento que esperé otro desenlace, pero es coherente con la forma de actuar de los hermanos a lo largo de la novela.
En definitiva una novela que me ha gustado mucho y que recomiendo sin dudar.
Es importante que los futuros lectores sepan que no estamos ante un thriller. Es más bien una novela de narrativa general con tintes de negra y criminal. Hay asesinatos sí, pero la trama no se centra en averiguar quién los ha cometido (el lector lo va saber más pronto que tarde), sino en las motivaciones, las relaciones entre los personajes y en el qué va a pasar en cada momento.
El ritmo es pausado. El autor incluye disgresiones que, para aquellos que se acerquen a la novela esperando una trama policíaca sin más, entiendo les parezca que se dispersa. No ha sido mi caso. La trama es bastante más compleja y he disfrutado de todas y cada una de las líneas de este libro.
Los personajes bien dibujados son así mismo complejos. Roy, el hermano mayor, que arrastra un sentimiento de culpabilidad, con un concepto enfermizo de lo que se debe a la lealtad familiar. Carl, el hermano menor, sociópata y manipulador. Shannon, la esposa de Carl, arquitecta sin escrúpulos morales, obsesionada con la construcción de su edificio. Los secundarios son igualmente notables. Destaco a Grete, la cotilla con mala baba, que me ha puesto los pelos como escarpias.
La ambientación es buena. Transmite el ambiente opresivo, cerrado y viciado de un pueblo pequeño de alta montaña en Noruega.
El final correcto. Hubo un momento que esperé otro desenlace, pero es coherente con la forma de actuar de los hermanos a lo largo de la novela.
En definitiva una novela que me ha gustado mucho y que recomiendo sin dudar.
January 15, 2021
Well I always prefer a Harry Hole novel but I am happy to read anything Jo Nesbø writes.
The Kingdom turned out to be a very long, dark book about two brothers, Roy and Carl, a dysfunctional family, abuse, secrets and murder. It is all viewed from Roy's perspective and sometimes it turns out he does not know all the facts, especially about Carl. One murder very early in the piece is the cause of all that follows. The saying "be sure your sin will find you out" applies.
The book seemed to peak early and I was left wondering what the author was going to do in the last 200 pages. This is Nesbo we are talking about and of course he found plenty. It was a roller coaster ride to the inevitable ending. I enjoyed the whole book very much and raced through it. Nearly five stars but then it wasn't Harry so I will settle on 4.
The Kingdom turned out to be a very long, dark book about two brothers, Roy and Carl, a dysfunctional family, abuse, secrets and murder. It is all viewed from Roy's perspective and sometimes it turns out he does not know all the facts, especially about Carl. One murder very early in the piece is the cause of all that follows. The saying "be sure your sin will find you out" applies.
The book seemed to peak early and I was left wondering what the author was going to do in the last 200 pages. This is Nesbo we are talking about and of course he found plenty. It was a roller coaster ride to the inevitable ending. I enjoyed the whole book very much and raced through it. Nearly five stars but then it wasn't Harry so I will settle on 4.
March 27, 2025
4/5 Estrellas
Mi primer Nesbo. No me he atrevido a meterme con la extensa serie de Harry Hole, pero me apetecía catar al autor con un libro sin tanto recorrido y al calor de las buenas y recientes reseñas entre muchos de mis referentes y amistades, aquí en GR.
Me ha gustado, si. Me ha encantado, no.
Me ha gustado la ambientación. Esa montaña Noruega, de tiempo cambiante, con habitantes duros habituados a las condiciones climáticas extremas, donde los modos de vida están limitados a la ganadería y a una agricultura residual. O estaban, porque el turismo y la abundancia de recursos naturales han sacado a los buenos (y escasos) noruegos de estas limitaciones y los han convertido en unos de los habitantes del planeta con mejor calidad de vida. Poco se vislumbra eso en la novela.
Me han gustado los personajes. Muy bien perfilados y desarrollados. Quizá demasiado porque, pese al bagaje que arrastran, no acabo de comprender muchas de las decisiones que van tomando en el transcurso de la novela y que condicionan el transcurso posterior de la trama. Esa facilidad para mentir, esa facilidad para matar, esa facilidad para encubrir y encubrirse. No me la he acabado de creer, me ha parecido un poco forzado todo.
Me ha gustado esa sociedad rural pueblerina, con ADN noruego. Ese pueblo de Os (parece que existe en realidad), con sus relaciones personales enquistadas, odios, amores y traiciones que se transmiten de generación en generación. Esa gente con pocos referentes, pero decidida a resistir, pese a que los embates de la tecnología y los avances sociales hacen tambalear su misma identidad y subsistencia.....si para ellos hay que vender lo poco que tienen, su montaña, se vende. Demasiado fácil todo.
Y tenemos a la familia Opgard, sobre todo los hermanos Carl y Roy ¿en serio se puede llegar tan lejos por y para la familia? Pues no sé, a mi me rechina un poco.
En cualquier caso todo está extremadamente bien hilado y ambientado y el libro es muy recomendable. Cierto que no he disfrutado lo suficiente para darle las 5 estrellas, pero me anima a seguir leyendo al autor.
Mi primer Nesbo. No me he atrevido a meterme con la extensa serie de Harry Hole, pero me apetecía catar al autor con un libro sin tanto recorrido y al calor de las buenas y recientes reseñas entre muchos de mis referentes y amistades, aquí en GR.
Me ha gustado, si. Me ha encantado, no.
Me ha gustado la ambientación. Esa montaña Noruega, de tiempo cambiante, con habitantes duros habituados a las condiciones climáticas extremas, donde los modos de vida están limitados a la ganadería y a una agricultura residual. O estaban, porque el turismo y la abundancia de recursos naturales han sacado a los buenos (y escasos) noruegos de estas limitaciones y los han convertido en unos de los habitantes del planeta con mejor calidad de vida. Poco se vislumbra eso en la novela.
Me han gustado los personajes. Muy bien perfilados y desarrollados. Quizá demasiado porque, pese al bagaje que arrastran, no acabo de comprender muchas de las decisiones que van tomando en el transcurso de la novela y que condicionan el transcurso posterior de la trama. Esa facilidad para mentir, esa facilidad para matar, esa facilidad para encubrir y encubrirse. No me la he acabado de creer, me ha parecido un poco forzado todo.
Me ha gustado esa sociedad rural pueblerina, con ADN noruego. Ese pueblo de Os (parece que existe en realidad), con sus relaciones personales enquistadas, odios, amores y traiciones que se transmiten de generación en generación. Esa gente con pocos referentes, pero decidida a resistir, pese a que los embates de la tecnología y los avances sociales hacen tambalear su misma identidad y subsistencia.....si para ellos hay que vender lo poco que tienen, su montaña, se vende. Demasiado fácil todo.
Y tenemos a la familia Opgard, sobre todo los hermanos Carl y Roy ¿en serio se puede llegar tan lejos por y para la familia? Pues no sé, a mi me rechina un poco.
En cualquier caso todo está extremadamente bien hilado y ambientado y el libro es muy recomendable. Cierto que no he disfrutado lo suficiente para darle las 5 estrellas, pero me anima a seguir leyendo al autor.
February 9, 2025
The Kingdom was my first book by Jo Nesbø. Its pages were full of complicated and flawed characters making horrible decisions. It seemed like the more I wanted them to do better for themselves, the worse they seemed to spiral.
Carl and Roy are brothers with a traumatic childhood. You're slowly clued into what happened throughout the first part of the book. You start to believe their past informs their poor decisions. You let your guard down and wonder if you could possibly find a soft spot in your heart for these troubled characters. Then they continue to spiral.
Well, maybe not everyone takes this emotional rollercoaster while reading The Kingdom. But it's the ride I was on. I had a strong love/hate relationship with these characters. I hated that I wanted to love them so much and I hated the decisions they kept making.
Speaking of love/hate - don't you love the way I can tell you so much about my experience reading a book without telling you a single fact about the book? I figure you can read the synopsis to find out what it's about. The less I tell you, the less the odds I give away a spoiler. Besides, my reviews aren't about what happens in the books. My reviews are about how much I hated for the books to end! This was one of those. Fortunately for me, the sequel is due to be release next Tuesday! I'll be anxiously awaiting its release.
The Kingdom earned 5 stars from me. I have a lot of catching up to do with with Jo Nesbø's writing. I hear the Harry Hole series is good. Are you a Nesbø fan? Do you have a favorite Nesbø book?
Carl and Roy are brothers with a traumatic childhood. You're slowly clued into what happened throughout the first part of the book. You start to believe their past informs their poor decisions. You let your guard down and wonder if you could possibly find a soft spot in your heart for these troubled characters. Then they continue to spiral.
Well, maybe not everyone takes this emotional rollercoaster while reading The Kingdom. But it's the ride I was on. I had a strong love/hate relationship with these characters. I hated that I wanted to love them so much and I hated the decisions they kept making.
Speaking of love/hate - don't you love the way I can tell you so much about my experience reading a book without telling you a single fact about the book? I figure you can read the synopsis to find out what it's about. The less I tell you, the less the odds I give away a spoiler. Besides, my reviews aren't about what happens in the books. My reviews are about how much I hated for the books to end! This was one of those. Fortunately for me, the sequel is due to be release next Tuesday! I'll be anxiously awaiting its release.
The Kingdom earned 5 stars from me. I have a lot of catching up to do with with Jo Nesbø's writing. I hear the Harry Hole series is good. Are you a Nesbø fan? Do you have a favorite Nesbø book?
December 12, 2024
Norwegian author Jo Nesbo - who's probably best known for his Harry Hole crime novels - goes in a different direction with this book.
*****
Brothers Roy and Carl Opgard grew up in a Norwegian mountain town called Os. Big brother Roy was always very protective of his sibling. Thus, when little Carl cried, Roy comforted him.
When young Carl couldn't kill a mangled dog, Roy did it for him; And when teen heartthrob Carl was attacked by jealous boys, Roy beat them up.
Carl knows he only has to call, and Roy will rush to his side and do what has to be done. Carl relies on this, expecting to be rescued no matter what.
Roy and Carl were young teens when their mother and father were killed in a horrible road incident.
This causes reverberations down through the years, which are slowly revealed as the story unfolds.
After their parents died, Roy and Carl were looked after by an uncle, but mostly raised themselves. Then, when the boys became young adults, Carl went off to school in America and Roy remained in Os. Carl became a real estate tycoon/property developer.....
and Roy became a car mechanic/service station manager.
It's now fifteen years later, and Carl returns to Os with his beautiful bride Shannon, who's an architect.
Carl and Shannon plan to use the mountaintop Opgard property to build an upscale hotel, spa, ski resort complex.
Carl hopes to get most residents of Os to invest in the project, believing everyone will get rich, especially himself and Roy.
Not everyone in town has warm feelings towards the Opgards, however, and some people would be more than happy to derail the hotel project. In part, this is because Carl left broken hearts behind when he exited Os to go to America;
Roy's teenage beating victims are now men with a grudge;
Carl is reputed to have cheated partners in a previous real estate scheme;
the sheriff suspects the siblings of various kinds of wrongdoing; and more.
Moreover, Os is not an idealic Norwegian village. Dark undercurrents permeate the story, including child abuse; incest; unfaithfulness; adultery; blackmail; malfeasance; murder; arson; and more.
There's also some plain bad behavior. For instance, Roy is thought to have little interest in women, and his fifteen-year-old service station employee, Julie, seems bent on rectifying the situation. Julie's attempts to seduce Roy are both funny and disturbing.
It's mesmerizing to see the secrets of Os revealed, one by one, and to observe the dark depths of the human soul. There are truly horrific revelations in the book, which - if you're familiar with Nesbo's work - won't come as a surprise.
This is an excellent suspense story, highly recommended.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com
August 16, 2020
This standalone novel is nothing like the successful Harry Hole series by the same author and a much more gentler and slower paced novel than I was expecting. The book started very slow probably because of my expectations of a fast paced action novel but the story built and built to an excellent finale.
This is the story of two very different brothers Roy and Carl whose parents die when they are both just teenagers. Roy is a protector to his impulsive brother Carl and is content to live in the sleepy village his father called the kingdom. While Roy works as a mechanic Carl is looking for a much different life and leaves home to seek fame and fortune. Carl marries an architect named Shannon and together they have grand plans to build a spa hotel on their family land. Carl wants not only to make the brothers rich but the rest of the village, too. A series of events threaten their plans as well as long buried secrets from the past.
This book got better with every page I read and reminded me of a similar experience I had recently while reading the new Tana French novel 'The Searcher'. Both books are well written but so different from what we have grown to expect from them and show the extent of the writing.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Knopf for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
This is the story of two very different brothers Roy and Carl whose parents die when they are both just teenagers. Roy is a protector to his impulsive brother Carl and is content to live in the sleepy village his father called the kingdom. While Roy works as a mechanic Carl is looking for a much different life and leaves home to seek fame and fortune. Carl marries an architect named Shannon and together they have grand plans to build a spa hotel on their family land. Carl wants not only to make the brothers rich but the rest of the village, too. A series of events threaten their plans as well as long buried secrets from the past.
This book got better with every page I read and reminded me of a similar experience I had recently while reading the new Tana French novel 'The Searcher'. Both books are well written but so different from what we have grown to expect from them and show the extent of the writing.
I would like to thank both Netgalley and Knopf for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
April 14, 2024
Do What Has to be Done,
and Do it Now...
THE KINGDOM by Jo Nesbo
No spoilers. 5 stars. Roy and Carl, the brothers Opgard, live by their father's maxim: Do what has to be done and do it now...
Ironically, this was the same maxim that got their father murdered...
Because...
At a very young age, their father had been raping Carl on the bottom bunk of the bunkbeds that the brothers shared...
While...
Older brother Roy was trying to sleep through it all on the top bunk... as he heard the bed squeaking and Carl crying...
Afterward...
Roy would slip down to the lower bunk and comfort the sniffling Carl while planning a way to murder their father...
Do what has to be done and do it now...
Years later...
When the brothers were grown men, they had several occasions to use their father's mantra...
And...
Their Kingdom became a virtual graveyard...
This was the first of Jo Nesbo's novels that I've read, and I must say it was excellent! The last 10% was a wild, nail-biting, and suspenseful ride. Impressive!
and Do it Now...
THE KINGDOM by Jo Nesbo
No spoilers. 5 stars. Roy and Carl, the brothers Opgard, live by their father's maxim: Do what has to be done and do it now...
Ironically, this was the same maxim that got their father murdered...
Because...
At a very young age, their father had been raping Carl on the bottom bunk of the bunkbeds that the brothers shared...
While...
Older brother Roy was trying to sleep through it all on the top bunk... as he heard the bed squeaking and Carl crying...
Afterward...
Roy would slip down to the lower bunk and comfort the sniffling Carl while planning a way to murder their father...
Do what has to be done and do it now...
Years later...
When the brothers were grown men, they had several occasions to use their father's mantra...
And...
Their Kingdom became a virtual graveyard...
This was the first of Jo Nesbo's novels that I've read, and I must say it was excellent! The last 10% was a wild, nail-biting, and suspenseful ride. Impressive!
January 5, 2021
Το Βασίλειο τελείωσε,και το μόνο σχόλιο που έρχεται αυθόρμητα κλείνοντάς το, είναι ότι ΔΕΝ μου αρεσε.Σοβαρά τώρα. Σοβαρά, σε βαθμό που τσιμπήθηκα λιγάκι για να δω αν ονειρεύομαι. Και ενώ είχε όλα τα καλά του κόσμου,δεν είχε αυτό που περιμένω από ένα βιβλίο του Nesbo.
Η ιστορία εμπνευσμένη αρκετά και πολύ καλοδουλεμένη, οι ήρωες ψυχογραφημένοι στο ακέραιο-παρακολούθησα όλη την ψυχολογική τους μεταστροφή και κατάπτωση στιγμή προς στιγμή,ενώ η γραφή κατάφερνε να με βάζει πότε στα παπούτσια του ενός και πότε του άλλου:ηθική δικαίωση για τη μια δολοφονία,αποτροπιασμός για την άλλη, επιθυμία για δικαίωση ,αγανάκτηση για την τυπική και εμμονική συμπεριφορά μιας κλασικής κλειστής κοινωνίας, κλπ κλπ.Όλα καλά.ΟΛΑ ΚΑΛΑ ΣΤ'ΑΛΗΘΕΙΑ.Δεν ξέρω τι δεν μου άρεσε. Κι ενώ θα πάρει τα 5⭐ γιατί πραγματικά δεν μπορώ να του βρω το παραμικρό αρνητικό,δεν βρίσκω ούτε έναν λόγο για να το βάλω στα αριστουργήματα του συγγραφέα.Θα μείνει εκεί στη γωνίτσα του,να κλαίει προσπαθώντας να δει με τα κιάλια τον Μάκβεθ αραχτό στον θρόνο του, να τρώει φράουλες και να πίνει σαμπάνιες!
Η ιστορία εμπνευσμένη αρκετά και πολύ καλοδουλεμένη, οι ήρωες ψυχογραφημένοι στο ακέραιο-παρακολούθησα όλη την ψυχολογική τους μεταστροφή και κατάπτωση στιγμή προς στιγμή,ενώ η γραφή κατάφερνε να με βάζει πότε στα παπούτσια του ενός και πότε του άλλου:ηθική δικαίωση για τη μια δολοφονία,αποτροπιασμός για την άλλη, επιθυμία για δικαίωση ,αγανάκτηση για την τυπική και εμμονική συμπεριφορά μιας κλασικής κλειστής κοινωνίας, κλπ κλπ.Όλα καλά.ΟΛΑ ΚΑΛΑ ΣΤ'ΑΛΗΘΕΙΑ.Δεν ξέρω τι δεν μου άρεσε. Κι ενώ θα πάρει τα 5⭐ γιατί πραγματικά δεν μπορώ να του βρω το παραμικρό αρνητικό,δεν βρίσκω ούτε έναν λόγο για να το βάλω στα αριστουργήματα του συγγραφέα.Θα μείνει εκεί στη γωνίτσα του,να κλαίει προσπαθώντας να δει με τα κιάλια τον Μάκβεθ αραχτό στον θρόνο του, να τρώει φράουλες και να πίνει σαμπάνιες!
October 28, 2024
No me esperaba una novela tan buena! Es la primera que leo de este autor.
Una novela complicada. Una historia brutal. Densa. Perturbadora.
Se cuece a fuego lento. No es un thriller. A medida que avanza la trama, la perspectiva va cambiando. Hay hechos, ocurridos en el pasado, muy inquietantes. Y en el presente, también. La evolución de los personajes principales es asombrosa y la ambientación muy buena.
Nos encontramos en la Noruega profunda, es decir, un pueblo perdido en las montañas, con pocos habitantes, con un clima durisimo en invierno, de 25° bajo cero. Donde todos se conocen. Donde la rutina es muy simple.
En este escenario, Roy, de treinta y tantos, nos cuenta su vida. Vive solo en una granja en lo alto de la montaña. Su hermano, Carl vuelve al pueblo, con su mujer, Shannon, después de varios años en USA y Canadá. Carl huyó del pueblo, gracias a una beca, para estudiar en el extranjero. Ahora regresa con un máster en administración de empresas y una mujer arquitecta.
Carl vuelve con un proyecto de construir un hotel de lujo en los terrenos baldíos de la granja.
Roy rememora su vida en la granja con Carl y sus padres: su niñez, el accidente en el que murieron sus padres, su vida con Carl estando solos, siendo adolescentes, y cómo salieron adelante. Alterna el pasado con el presente y poco a poco vamos descubriendo la doble vida de Carl y Roy: lo que hay oculto y lo que se ve desde fuera, la fuerte relación entre los hermanos, los crímenes que llevan a cuestas, la lealtad, la deslealtad...
Roy nos confunde a veces. En su narración, nos da a entender cosas que luego son de otra manera, por lo que, a medida que avanzamos en la lectura, descubrimos nuevas facetas de los hermanos, hechos que habíamos interpretado de otra manera, lo cual nos sorprende y nos conduce a querer saber más.
Si vamos descubriendo que el pasado oculto es aterrador, el presente no se queda corto. Si antes eran dos, ahora son un trío, con la incorporación de Shannon. Ella conoce ese pasado y no duda en unirse a afrontar los obstáculos en el presente, sea como sea. Los tres son implacables, cada uno a su manera.
Cuando la relación entre ellos se complica, asistimos a un desarrollo final inesperado.
No he contado casi nada, para no destripar. Pero la trama es muy buena, con muchos matices, situaciones límite y personajes complejos, no sólo los principales.
Una novela redonda 👌
Una novela complicada. Una historia brutal. Densa. Perturbadora.
Se cuece a fuego lento. No es un thriller. A medida que avanza la trama, la perspectiva va cambiando. Hay hechos, ocurridos en el pasado, muy inquietantes. Y en el presente, también. La evolución de los personajes principales es asombrosa y la ambientación muy buena.
Nos encontramos en la Noruega profunda, es decir, un pueblo perdido en las montañas, con pocos habitantes, con un clima durisimo en invierno, de 25° bajo cero. Donde todos se conocen. Donde la rutina es muy simple.
En este escenario, Roy, de treinta y tantos, nos cuenta su vida. Vive solo en una granja en lo alto de la montaña. Su hermano, Carl vuelve al pueblo, con su mujer, Shannon, después de varios años en USA y Canadá. Carl huyó del pueblo, gracias a una beca, para estudiar en el extranjero. Ahora regresa con un máster en administración de empresas y una mujer arquitecta.
Carl vuelve con un proyecto de construir un hotel de lujo en los terrenos baldíos de la granja.
Roy rememora su vida en la granja con Carl y sus padres: su niñez, el accidente en el que murieron sus padres, su vida con Carl estando solos, siendo adolescentes, y cómo salieron adelante. Alterna el pasado con el presente y poco a poco vamos descubriendo la doble vida de Carl y Roy: lo que hay oculto y lo que se ve desde fuera, la fuerte relación entre los hermanos, los crímenes que llevan a cuestas, la lealtad, la deslealtad...
Roy nos confunde a veces. En su narración, nos da a entender cosas que luego son de otra manera, por lo que, a medida que avanzamos en la lectura, descubrimos nuevas facetas de los hermanos, hechos que habíamos interpretado de otra manera, lo cual nos sorprende y nos conduce a querer saber más.
Si vamos descubriendo que el pasado oculto es aterrador, el presente no se queda corto. Si antes eran dos, ahora son un trío, con la incorporación de Shannon. Ella conoce ese pasado y no duda en unirse a afrontar los obstáculos en el presente, sea como sea. Los tres son implacables, cada uno a su manera.
Cuando la relación entre ellos se complica, asistimos a un desarrollo final inesperado.
No he contado casi nada, para no destripar. Pero la trama es muy buena, con muchos matices, situaciones límite y personajes complejos, no sólo los principales.
Una novela redonda 👌
November 29, 2025
До средата си този роман вървеше много добре, но разводнената му втора половина уби доста от набраната инерция…
Не знам и защо на автора му бе нужно да повтаря вече известни нам предни събития - от това историята само губи. Отделно, 600+ страници ми дойдоха множко.
Двама братя - Рой и Карл се справят както могат с травмите от живота. Рой е необщителен работохолик със скромна мечта за собствена бензиностанция, а Карл е избрал да търси своя късмет в САЩ и в Канада - след завършен колеж там, се е хвърлил с главата напред в бизнеса с недвижими имоти.
Изненадващо, един ден Карл се завръща у дома с нов грандиозен хотелски проект и това поставя началото на поредица от злощастия. Ус никога няма да е същото малко селце, скътано в подножието на безмилостните норвежки планини.
Цитати:
"И бесилката също може да е красива, стига смъртната присъда да е необходима."
"Косата е точно толкова жива, колкото изпражненията."
"Щастлив край не съществува, но някои мигове са необяснимо щастливи и всеки от тях може да бъде последен, така че защо да не пеем с цяло гърло."
"Онези от тях, които бяха забравили майчиния си норвежки език, бяха забравили и почти всичко за родината си. Езикът, един вид, поддържа спомените живи."
А аз си мислех, че само нашенците са такива…
P.S. Ще излезе тези дни и втори роман за клана планински Опгор.
Не знам и защо на автора му бе нужно да повтаря вече известни нам предни събития - от това историята само губи. Отделно, 600+ страници ми дойдоха множко.
Двама братя - Рой и Карл се справят както могат с травмите от живота. Рой е необщителен работохолик със скромна мечта за собствена бензиностанция, а Карл е избрал да търси своя късмет в САЩ и в Канада - след завършен колеж там, се е хвърлил с главата напред в бизнеса с недвижими имоти.
Изненадващо, един ден Карл се завръща у дома с нов грандиозен хотелски проект и това поставя началото на поредица от злощастия. Ус никога няма да е същото малко селце, скътано в подножието на безмилостните норвежки планини.
Цитати:
"И бесилката също може да е красива, стига смъртната присъда да е необходима."
"Косата е точно толкова жива, колкото изпражненията."
"Щастлив край не съществува, но някои мигове са необяснимо щастливи и всеки от тях може да бъде последен, така че защо да не пеем с цяло гърло."
"Онези от тях, които бяха забравили майчиния си норвежки език, бяха забравили и почти всичко за родината си. Езикът, един вид, поддържа спомените живи."
А аз си мислех, че само нашенците са такива…
P.S. Ще излезе тези дни и втори роман за клана планински Опгор.
October 28, 2020
συνανάγνωση με Φωτεινή, nesbomaniacs forever <3 :)
λίγο διαφορετικό από τον αγαπημένο Χάρι Χόλε, πιο σκοτεινό, πιο "επικίνδυνο" αλλά σταθερά Νέσμπο.
τρέλανέ μας κι άλλο ;)
λίγο διαφορετικό από τον αγαπημένο Χάρι Χόλε, πιο σκοτεινό, πιο "επικίνδυνο" αλλά σταθερά Νέσμπο.
τρέλανέ μας κι άλλο ;)
January 18, 2021
Jo Nesbø is back with a new standalone thriller that has the reader thinking from the outset. A tale that binds two brothers with a sordid past, Nesbø creates a great backstory and development throughout The Kingdom, though it is up to the reader to determine who rules and where the subservient will find themselves at various points in the narrative. Dark and complex, like much of his past writing, Nesbø offers a great piece for those who are patient enough to peel back the layers of this story. Recommended to fans of the author, as well as those who fancy some Scandinavian noir in their reading diet.
Roy and Carl Opgard live in rural Norway, a place called ‘The Kingdom’ by their father. When the Opgard parents die, Carl takes his leave and flees across the Atlantic, ending up in North America to make a name for himself and leave the family name behind. Roy stays behind and revels in how to define himself, surrounded by the people and scenery he’s known his entire life.
When Carl returns years later, he brings with him a successful wife and plans to revive the small community with a major hotel, aptly named ‘Kingdom’. While Roy is not entirely sure how to process all of this, Carl and his wife, Shannon, speak fondly of the venture and hope to win over the locals. Some appear eager to breathe new life into the community, while others are skeptical, knowing the Opgards and the stories that surround them.
As the story progresses, Roy reveals much about their past, including abuse and treachery that the family sought to hide. There are crimes and other vagrancies that Roy and Carl hope never see the light of day, though they are all whispers on the lips of the locals. The Opgards are no strangers to struggle and self-protection, something that will resurface throughout this intense story.
As Roy finds himself drawn to his brother’s wife, the biblical parallels to Cain and Abel cannot be dismissed by the reader. Struggles with the outside world and from within take over the narrative until a final act seals the fate of all involved. Nesbø uses his mastery of the plot twist to keep the reader guessing throughout, saving his most explosive reveal for the latter stages of the story. Roy and Carl may have drifted apart, but their blood bond cannot be dismissed.
A longtime fan of Jo Nesbø, I was eager to get my hands on this one. I admit, I was not paying attention when I picked it up and was expecting a new instalment of the Harry Hole series, though things soon proved to shake me from my reverie. Instead, this is a complex standalone novel that pulls on themes of family, abuse, deception, and betrayal. Jo Nesbø uses his mastery of language (I am still baffled every time I read one of his books that it was not penned in English, as the flow is not lost in translation) to tell a story that will impact all readers, however differently.
Roy and Carl prove to be highly intriguing joint-protagonists. Their similar upbringing binds them and the time apart enriches their personalities as well as the connection they share. Both have suffered in the past, though are not willing to roll over and accept defeat. Rather, they use these experiences to grow and become greater men. Each has a personality that provides a needed uniqueness, though the backstory of abuse at the hands of a horrid father serves to connect them, as they envelop themselves in the secrets of their childhood.
Nesbø develops wonderful supporting characters throughout his piece, playing on the complementing role that these individuals usually play in stories. There are some who exact new narratives through their dialogue, while others serve only to steer things in a pre-ordained direction. The reader may latch onto some of them and discard others, but that is true nature of the beast in such a complex story that has so many twists.
While Jo Nesbø’s writing is not for the impatient reader, there are gems within the narrative that make it a wholesome and well-crafted thriller. As others have said, this book took some time to get moving, though once it did, there was no stopping the action and revelations. The narrative begins darkly and never seems to crawl out of that hole, though Nesbø does so well at keeping things intriguing without providing much happiness throughout. Chapters slowly progress, but never lag, and the plot gets better the more time the reader permits. This is certainly not for someone seeking a quick story to tide them over. Rather, it forces the reader to look at the underbelly of family life usually hidden behind well-hung curtains and hushed at the front door!
Kudos, Mr. Nesbø, for another chilling thriller. I love how seamlessly your writing flows, without getting too uplifting.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
Roy and Carl Opgard live in rural Norway, a place called ‘The Kingdom’ by their father. When the Opgard parents die, Carl takes his leave and flees across the Atlantic, ending up in North America to make a name for himself and leave the family name behind. Roy stays behind and revels in how to define himself, surrounded by the people and scenery he’s known his entire life.
When Carl returns years later, he brings with him a successful wife and plans to revive the small community with a major hotel, aptly named ‘Kingdom’. While Roy is not entirely sure how to process all of this, Carl and his wife, Shannon, speak fondly of the venture and hope to win over the locals. Some appear eager to breathe new life into the community, while others are skeptical, knowing the Opgards and the stories that surround them.
As the story progresses, Roy reveals much about their past, including abuse and treachery that the family sought to hide. There are crimes and other vagrancies that Roy and Carl hope never see the light of day, though they are all whispers on the lips of the locals. The Opgards are no strangers to struggle and self-protection, something that will resurface throughout this intense story.
As Roy finds himself drawn to his brother’s wife, the biblical parallels to Cain and Abel cannot be dismissed by the reader. Struggles with the outside world and from within take over the narrative until a final act seals the fate of all involved. Nesbø uses his mastery of the plot twist to keep the reader guessing throughout, saving his most explosive reveal for the latter stages of the story. Roy and Carl may have drifted apart, but their blood bond cannot be dismissed.
A longtime fan of Jo Nesbø, I was eager to get my hands on this one. I admit, I was not paying attention when I picked it up and was expecting a new instalment of the Harry Hole series, though things soon proved to shake me from my reverie. Instead, this is a complex standalone novel that pulls on themes of family, abuse, deception, and betrayal. Jo Nesbø uses his mastery of language (I am still baffled every time I read one of his books that it was not penned in English, as the flow is not lost in translation) to tell a story that will impact all readers, however differently.
Roy and Carl prove to be highly intriguing joint-protagonists. Their similar upbringing binds them and the time apart enriches their personalities as well as the connection they share. Both have suffered in the past, though are not willing to roll over and accept defeat. Rather, they use these experiences to grow and become greater men. Each has a personality that provides a needed uniqueness, though the backstory of abuse at the hands of a horrid father serves to connect them, as they envelop themselves in the secrets of their childhood.
Nesbø develops wonderful supporting characters throughout his piece, playing on the complementing role that these individuals usually play in stories. There are some who exact new narratives through their dialogue, while others serve only to steer things in a pre-ordained direction. The reader may latch onto some of them and discard others, but that is true nature of the beast in such a complex story that has so many twists.
While Jo Nesbø’s writing is not for the impatient reader, there are gems within the narrative that make it a wholesome and well-crafted thriller. As others have said, this book took some time to get moving, though once it did, there was no stopping the action and revelations. The narrative begins darkly and never seems to crawl out of that hole, though Nesbø does so well at keeping things intriguing without providing much happiness throughout. Chapters slowly progress, but never lag, and the plot gets better the more time the reader permits. This is certainly not for someone seeking a quick story to tide them over. Rather, it forces the reader to look at the underbelly of family life usually hidden behind well-hung curtains and hushed at the front door!
Kudos, Mr. Nesbø, for another chilling thriller. I love how seamlessly your writing flows, without getting too uplifting.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
July 6, 2021
Two old deaths, which could have been the result of suicide, accident or murder, are subjected to renewed interest when younger brother Carl returns home and involves his brother Roy in his big real estate development plans. I almost stopped reading this book several times. I’ve read a couple of the author’s Harry Hole books, but I’m not really a fan. This book is a standalone so I thought that I would try it. The original deaths are understandable, but the end of the book goes completely off the rails when the bodies start piling up. There is an excess of familial loyalty. The book is 100 pages too long and , but I did stick to it until the end. Unfortunately, I’ve concluded that this should probably be my last attempt with Nesbo.
December 1, 2022
As a big fan of Jo Nesbø's Harry Hole series, I was looking forward to this book. Like his famous Scandinavian noir series, this book is dark and atmospheric, and the main characters are flawed, but they lack any redeeming qualities. Roy and Carl are brothers, with family secrets. Roy has stayed local where he runs a service station while Carl skipped off to Minnesota and then Toronto. He returns to Os, with his wife Shannon, and their shared dream to build a spa hotel on the family's hardscrabble but scenic homestead. Carl is a gifted salesman, convincing Roy and the entire town to back the project using their homes as collateral for the financing. When their past begins to catch up with them, things deteriorate quickly and hostilities flare.
May 28, 2021
Pues voy a discrepar de algunas opiniones pero a mí me ha encantado. Este hombre cada día escribe mejor. Que siga escribiendo por muchos años.
January 19, 2022
Audio - 5 stars
Story - 3 Stars
This story was chalk full of despicable people with little to no redeeming qualities. But that's not the reason for the 3 stars. It was the delivery of the story. It was a bit scattered and very repetitive.
Story - 3 Stars
This story was chalk full of despicable people with little to no redeeming qualities. But that's not the reason for the 3 stars. It was the delivery of the story. It was a bit scattered and very repetitive.
October 1, 2020
Another book I struggled with . Far too long drawn out. Could've been written in half the amount of pages . I find his standalone books not nearly as good as the HarryHole books .
May 12, 2021
Amo a Nesbo. Sí, ya lo he escrito antes, pero es que soy fanática y tan pronto vi que tenía nuevo libro fui por él. Iba tan lento y no pasaba casi nada, que por más amor que le tuviera pensaba en abandonarlo y dejarlo para después por aquello de que "tal vez no es el momento". El caso es que a partir de la página número 100, más o menos, la cosa se fue poniendo interesante y de momento me encontré leyendo sobre un hombre rebanando un cuero cabelludo con un cuchillo y con Whitney Houston cantando I will always love you a manera de banda sonora, y señoras y señores, no pude parar de leer. Esta es una historia que se va narrando lentamente, expone los habitantes del pueblo, sus secretos, la oscuridad y pecados de varios de ellos y dos hermanos que se quieren mucho... Bueno, y todo esto con una narrativa impecable como la de Nesbo (y el mérito a quien traduce), que me hizo pasar horas pegadas al ereader leyendo cómo se iba desmenuzando una trama, que de vez en cuando pensaba ¿qué más puede pasar?, ¿qué más se puede inventar este señor?, pues resulta que quedan muchas páginas por seguir leyendo y disfrutando de un excelente narador. Me envolvió en su narrativa y no me soltó hasta la última página.
August 28, 2024
551 pages long and I could have easily indulged myself in another 500. Jo Nesbø is one of my favorite authors - whether I am reading his series or a standalone such as 'The Kingdom' or 'The Knife' - his books always keep my me glued to the pages, dreading getting closer to the conclusion and having to wait it out for his next masterpiece.
The ending was not what I was expecting at all - which made the whole experience of this novel that much more satisfying and exciting.
The ending was not what I was expecting at all - which made the whole experience of this novel that much more satisfying and exciting.
November 12, 2020
Ένας Nesbo πολύ διαφορετικός. Αργή πλοκή που διανθίζεται και δένει σφικτά στην πορεία μέχρι και την ολοκλήρωση. Οι χαρακτήρες ζωντανοί, αλλά ίσως επειδή δεν ήταν αυτό που περίμενα να μην εντυπωσιάστηκα κιόλας. Πρωτότυπο στόρι παντως.
February 12, 2021
I loved and hated this book. I hated how dismal this family’s life was and the downward spiral they couldn’t escape from but it is very well written. When an author can make you change your feelings about the main character several times over during the book that’s pretty amazing. I was horrified when I thought Roy was the abuser. And the disfunction of this family!! OMG! And yet while I was listening I felt like what they did was kind of reasonable and kind of understandable. But then I said to myself...wait this is awful and unthinkable and entirely wrong!! Jo Nesbo really played with my emotions and that makes for a thought provoking book that I am going to be thinking about for a long while. Well played! And I wonder when that canyon is going to be entirely full of car wrecks? 😉 I’m not sure I was completely able to convey my feelings but this book won’t let you walk away feeling nothing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 5, 2020
Ωραίο, αλλά τελείως διαφορετικό από τη σειρά του Χάρι. Δεν είναι αστυνομικό, δίνει μεγαλύτερη έμφαση στους χαρακτήρες, και θα το χαρακτήριζα σαν κοινωνικό που εστιάζει περισσότερο στην σκοτεινή πλευρά των πρωταγωνιστών και της τοπικής κοινωνίας. Επίσης μου άρεσε πάρα πολύ και η γραφή, και στο συγκεκριμένο έχει μια ωραία φλυαρία που σε καθηλώνει!
Προσωπικά μου άρεσε αρκετά, αλλά όχι όσο τα τελευταία του με τον Χάρι.
Προσωπικά μου άρεσε αρκετά, αλλά όχι όσο τα τελευταία του με τον Χάρι.
August 3, 2021
Μέτρια ιστορία με κακό γράψιμο. Δεν ξέρω γιατί απογοητεύτηκα, δεν είμαι σίγουρη τι ακριβώς περίμενα. Μάλλον μια μέτρια ιστορία με μέτριο γράψιμο. Βαρέθηκα να διαβάζω "που λένε" και "γαμω τον μπελά μου" όμως, κάπου λίγο έλεος. Εντάξει, για την πνευματική μου κατάσταση στην έναρξη των διακοπών δεν ήταν άσχημο, ας ήμουν σε θέση να διαβάσω τίποτα πιο της προκοπής.
September 25, 2020
The Kingdom was good but not good enough. The novel didn't exactly meet my expectations.
October 1, 2020
Ο Νέσμπο επέστρεψε. Καλώς , θεωρώ, ότι βάζει στην άκρη, αυτή τη στιγμή τον Χάρι Χόλε και μας δίνει ένα βιβλίο με διαφορετικό πρωταγωνιστή. Για μια ακόμη φορά μας αποδεικνύει ότι έχει την ικανότητα να μαγνητίζει τον αναγνώστη , ο οποίος , παρά τις σχεδόν 700 σελίδες του βιβλίου δεν μπορεί να το αφήσει εύκολα , μέχρι να φτάσει στο φινάλε του. Από εκεί και πέρα βρήκα την ιστορία περισσότερο κοινωνική- δράμα παρά crime (η αλήθεια είναι πολύ περισσότερο κοινωνική-δράμα από ότι θα περίμενα). Υπήρχε, ακόμα, μια βασική παράμετρος στην ιστορία , η οποία δεν μου άρεσε. Επίσης, σίγουρα υπάρχει αυτή η αίσθηση μυστηρίου να πλανάται σχεδόν σε όλο το βιβλίο, η οποία σίγουρα αρχικά είναι θετικό στοιχείο, πλην όμως ,προσωπικά, μου προκάλεσε και πολύ μεγάλες προσδοκίες, οι οποίες δεν καλύφθηκαν πλήρως με την ολοκλήρωση του βιβλίου. Κρατάω, σίγουρα, πάντως το γεγονός ότι 700 σελίδες έφυγαν νερό. Αναμονή , λοιπόν , για το επόμενο του συγγραφέα.
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