cjeanne99's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Roy and Carl Opgard live in a small mountain town in Norway. Growing up, Roy protected Carl - including taking on their father. Then Carl got a scholarship to a school in Canada and left town. Roy stayed, taking over his uncle’s car repair business - which he converted to a successful service station/convenience store. Roy is seduced by the wife of the local used car dealer who also is known to loan money when the bank is unwilling. Carl calls with a request for additional tuition money - which Roy borrows from the car dealer (Willemsen). Carl sends repayment - plus more - which allows Roy to pay off the loan and put in some repairs at the family home.
Then - Carl returns to Norway with a wife and a plan to build a hotel. He sells the townspeople on the idea of becoming stockholders in the hotel with promises of future revenues and expansion for the town when the hotel - and the subsequent private cabins - are built and the tourists flock to the area.
As the hotel project proceeds - questions arise about the death of their parents - who drove off a cliff - the death of the sheriff - who was last seen near their house - and questions about Roy’s previous relationship with Willemsen’s wife.
Carl and Shannon promote the hotel and start building with the bank loan and a Willemsen loan. Turns out Shannon is the architect - Carl carries on with his high school girlfriend, Roy is being pursued by one of his employees, lots of turmoil in interpersonal relationships.
The hotel catches fire, the investments are in peril, the loan is due, the bodies keep piling up. Through it all - Roy and Carl support each other.
http://crimebythebook.com/blog/2020/11/9/book-review-the-kingdom-by-jo-nesbo
Then - Carl returns to Norway with a wife and a plan to build a hotel. He sells the townspeople on the idea of becoming stockholders in the hotel with promises of future revenues and expansion for the town when the hotel - and the subsequent private cabins - are built and the tourists flock to the area.
As the hotel project proceeds - questions arise about the death of their parents - who drove off a cliff - the death of the sheriff - who was last seen near their house - and questions about Roy’s previous relationship with Willemsen’s wife.
Carl and Shannon promote the hotel and start building with the bank loan and a Willemsen loan. Turns out Shannon is the architect - Carl carries on with his high school girlfriend, Roy is being pursued by one of his employees, lots of turmoil in interpersonal relationships.
The hotel catches fire, the investments are in peril, the loan is due, the bodies keep piling up. Through it all - Roy and Carl support each other.
http://crimebythebook.com/blog/2020/11/9/book-review-the-kingdom-by-jo-nesbo
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest, Murder, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Violence and Sexual content
sarahna's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Murder, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cancer, Fatphobia, Grief, Incest, Infidelity, Rape, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts
ren97's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Animal death, Blood, Car accident, Child abuse, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Incest, Infertility, Gun violence, Violence, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual content, Pregnancy, Pedophilia, and Murder
Minor: Toxic relationship, Cancer, and Drug use
kdowli01's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Synopsis: After 15 years away, Carl returns to the mountain town in Norway that his brother Roy never left with a wife and a business opportunity. But not everyone is happy about the opportunity or Carl’s return, and questions are raised about some mysterious disappearances in their past.
*
⚠️CW: Rape, incest, death, domestic abuse
*
This was long and REALLY dark, but I really enjoyed it. I was rooting for Roy so much throughout, even as his character devolved more and more. I thought this did a really good job of putting the reader on the side of a really flawed character.
*
It is a slow burn, this is not something that you'll fly through. And it's heavy. But if you enjoy flawed characters, and are ok with some disturbing material, this is a great book. Even if at times it felt like not much was happening, I couldn’t put it down.
4.5⭐️
*
⚠️CW: Rape, incest, death, domestic abuse
*
This was long and REALLY dark, but I really enjoyed it. I was rooting for Roy so much throughout, even as his character devolved more and more. I thought this did a really good job of putting the reader on the side of a really flawed character.
*
It is a slow burn, this is not something that you'll fly through. And it's heavy. But if you enjoy flawed characters, and are ok with some disturbing material, this is a great book. Even if at times it felt like not much was happening, I couldn’t put it down.
4.5⭐️
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Incest, Murder, Rape, and Violence
srm's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
A really different feel from other Nesbo books, the characters are incredibly engage and the mystery is beautifully complex. I'm going to be thinking about what happened after the last page for a while.
I've seen this compared to various mysteries and noirs, but honestly, more than anything, I think it has a strong East of Eden vibe.
I've seen this compared to various mysteries and noirs, but honestly, more than anything, I think it has a strong East of Eden vibe.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Incest, Infidelity, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Terminal illness
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