New Jo Nesbo Thriller: The Kingdom Free Ebook Sampler

My first and possibly my last Jo Nesbo book. What a hard slog, very dreary and I could not connect with any of the characters. There must be no room for any more cars down that ravine! Not my usual genre, psychopaths and sexual abuse were the main subjects. I found that I was forcing myself to read it ready for book club discussion. Very disappointing!

My first Jo Nesbo - he book is dark and claustrophobic and draws parallels of the poor enclosed communities across Norway, USA and Barbados and the secrets that families keep which are supported by the wider (but small) community. The characters were all cold and lacked empathy which as they all seemed to be psychopaths then Jo did a good job on writing them. The sexual abuse within a family was well drawn and unfortunately all too true in reality but the number of gross murders and violence within a small area stretched my credulity. Quite liked that this mountain was no more stable than the family living on it and the hotel being built. The hotel scenario seemed familiar but I don’t know why. The brothers are condemned to live with each other and their crimes. Perhaps Roy will be the one to crack! Unfortunately I didn’t like it - don’t think Scandi Noir is for me. I scored it low for that reason though I suspect it should earn more for artistic merit.

This is the first book I've read by Jo Nesbbo and was surprised by how bleak it was. The central characters Roy and Carl are borderline psychopaths! It was set in a small, remote Norwegian village, but it could have been an American backwater equally. I found the story unremittingly grim. The problem I had was that I didn't really like any of the characters much. Everyone seems deeply flawed and out for their own gain. The novel starts slowly and does gather pace but it did feel like a very long book. As the plot unfolds, there is really only one way it can end although I admit I didn't see the twist coming. Not sure quite so many murders could go undetected!!
This may appeal to you if you like dark tales of crime, but certainly not a holiday read!

'The Kingdom' is the first Jo Nesbo book which I have read but has sadly left me a little disappointed. It's quite a lengthy book and one which is definitely a very 'slow burner'. I felt that momentum in the story finally got going only in the last third of the novel - and then I was gripped! However, I found the first two thirds of the book to be less compelling and at times I was a little frustrated with it. Jo Nesbo's writing itself is excellent. The attention to detail given when describing the thoughts and feelings of the main character, Roy, is superb. However, I struggled to feel a connection with any of the characters, so ultimately I didn't really care what happened to them. I did enjoy finding out the 'truths' of this dark tale, which were revealed towards the end of the book with some unexpected twists along the way.

Jo Nesbo returns with his new book The Kibgdom which is nothing about detective Harry Hole. It’s the story of two orphaned brothers Roy and Carl with dark secrets from their past. Initially a slow burner, once it got going I was well and truly hooked into its 550 pages. In true Nesbo style there are a few gruesome events but nothing quite like those contained in the Harry Hole series. Difficult to put this one down. Superb plot which twists and turns! One of his best yet? Be prepared for some late nights!