Thursday, January 16, 2025

Blood Ties

Blood Ties by Jo Nesbo
2/11/25; 384 pages
Knopf Doubleday
Kongeriket #2
 
Blood Ties by Jo Nesbo is a very highly recommended chilling and suspenseful Nordic noir/crime fiction and the sequel to 2020's The Kingdom. This can be read as a standalone but reading the first book in the series does add more to the complex back story. Robert Ferguson is the translator.

Brothers Carl and Roy Opgard are on their way to being moguls in the small Norwegian town of Os. Carl (mis)manages the area’s successful spa and hotel and has plans to expand while Roy owns an auto repair shop and convenience store. Roy plans to get financing to buy land and open an amusement park with the world’s largest wooden roller coaster and Carl also wants money to finance his plans. Threatening their success is a new highway to be built nearby, bypassing Os and taking tourist dollars away from them.

Roy must shrewdly (and violently) handle the situation and find a way to prevent the bypass from happening. At the same time Sheriff Kurt Olsen is determined to present new evidence linking the Opgard brothers to old crimes. Adding to the complexities is the return of Natalie Moe, who Roy rescued years ago as a teenager. Natalie is now in charge of marketing for the spa and showing an interest in Roy, which is mutual.

The slow-burning start helps set up the various schemes and plans the Opgard brothers have and also serves as a way to establish the character's role and history in their relationship. There are a lot of moving parts in the plot. There is no doubt that Roy is a killer and can resort to violence, but he is one with his own deliberate standards. His role is to be the enforcer for any plans he and Carl have. As the older brother he feels it is his job to protect Carl. This care isn't always reciprocated. The second half of the novel picks up the pace and the complexities, keeping you glued to the pages.

As expected the writing is excellent, capturing the atmosphere while portraying various characters as unique individuals. The brothers are connected by blood, as the title refers to, and Roy takes this burden on as his most important role. Carl abusing this tie to his benefit. Roy must confront the question how far does loyalty and family ties go. Those who read and enjoyed The Kingdom will definitely want to read Blood Ties.

Thanks to Knopf Doubleday for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

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