The Kingdom

A Novel

By: Robert Ferguson - Translator, Jo Nesbø

Narrated by: Euan Morton

Length: 19 hrs and 53 mins

Publisher's summary

“I read The Kingdom and couldn’t put it down ... Suspenseful ... Original ... This one is special in every way.” (Stephen King)

Two brothers. One small town. A lifetime of dark secrets. A tense and atmospheric standalone thriller from best-selling author Jo Nesbø.

Roy has never left the quiet mountain town he grew up in, unlike his little brother Carl who couldn't wait to get out and escape his troubled past. Just like everyone else in town, Roy believed Carl 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. Roy has always protected his younger brother. As the body count rises, though, Roy's loyalty to family is tested. And then Roy finds himself inextricably drawn to Carl's wife, Shannon, an attraction that will have devastating consequences. Roy's world is coming apart and soon there will be no turning back. He'll be forced to choose between his own flesh and blood and a future he had never dared to believe possible.

©2020 Jo Nesbo (P)2020 Random House Audio

Starts slow with a satisfying finish

Some books you read simply to say you have finished them, some because they are entertaining and some because they speak to you.

The Kingdom belonged to the latter category. I could relate to much about the main character, Roy Upgard. Middle aged, from a remote small town, more comfortable with machines than people, in a comfortable career and a brother (younger, not older).

More important than the excellent writing though is the story with its underlying themes of fate and circularity. It starts out slow, but stick with it. It is well worth reading to the end.

Based on other reviews not everyone will agree with me. I guess it depends where you are coming from and what stage of life you are at. I’ll bet that if you are younger than thirty you will say it’s boring but if you are 40 or older with a few bumps and bruises from the school of hard knocks you’ll enjoy it.

Tragic

Engaging to listen to, but too tragic for my sensitivities. “Merciless Spring was on its way again”. If I’d read (listened to) that last line of the book beforehand, I probably wouldn’t have listened. I prefer books that lift my thoughts.

Mountaintop Murders

Jo Nesbo is a master at creating crime drama. In The Kingdom, he places the drama atop a remote mountaintop in his home country of Norway. And this book is as dark as a Norwegian Winter. It is not difficult to tell the “good guys” from the “bad guys” because, in The Kingdom, the “good guys” are AWOL. The characters are complicated and intriguing. And Nesbo keeps us wondering what awful thing will happen next on this mountain where the story is set. There are times when I thought similes were stretched and used to excess. But I was still held hostage by the compelling prose that kept me listening. Euan Morton’s narration was great, as was the translation by Robert Ferguson (although I do not speak Norwegian). This book would lend itself well to a 10-part streaming video binge!

Dark and disturbing

Good character development as usual but the character was less likable- hard to cheer for him, also..unnecessarily long. Became unbelievable. Glad it’s over.

Last but not least

I was not disappointed by this latest production of Jo Nesbo. After going thru all his detective series plus another stand alone novel I anxiously awaited this book. At first the narrator sounded too foreign but very soon Euan Morton too me away to the small Upgard farm and family. The book finished too quickly. Here’s to the next.

Great listen!

Characters are well defined and complex. The story unfolds slowly and methodically surprising the listener with deeper psychological insight into unthinkable actions. Didn’t want it to end!

So powerful — his best so far

I love Jo Nesbo, but this one is in a different category. Gripping and true, start to finish.

Slow burn twist on Cain and Abel

Many reviewers have said that this book is not like the Harry Hole novels and I agree wholeheartedly, but it is still excellent. Jo Nesbo has an amazing insight into human motivation and behavior, which fuels this book all the way to the agonizing end. Narration is excellent too

The End

When I started this 19+ hour listen, I wondered if it was worth it. It was. The delicate character development allowed me to become emotionally involved with some very ugly people. I never could determine who or what I was rooting for. The twists and turns and clever analogy kept me on my toes and wanting to listen every chance I could get. Well done Jo Nesbo. Well done.

best Nesbo book ever

in spite of the dark view, I listen to all the Harry Hole books because of the quality of the writing. iOn this book Nesbo has moved to a much higher level. It reminds me of Camus’ The Stranger”. It is brilliantly written and philosophically challenging.