Book Summary and Reviews of Blood Ties by Jo Nesbo

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Cloggie Downunder

This Scandi crime fiction is hard to put down.
“Sticking together, no matter what, is perhaps the family’s great blessing, but it’s also its greatest curse.”

Blood Ties is the second book in the Kingdom series by best-selling Norwegian musician, songwriter, economist and author, Jo Nesbo. It is translated from Norwegian by Robert Ferguson. Carl Opgard may be the acknowledged King of Os, but it’s his brother, Roy who goes to the geologist commissioned to report on the viability of the Todde tunnel to offer a bribe of twelve million kroner.

The tunnel would bypass the highway going through Os, adversely affecting all of their interests, including the Os Spa hotel, about to add an extra wing, and the rollercoaster Roy plans to build. The tunnel can’t go ahead, and Roy knows how to persuade, which buttons to press. Murder isn’t out of the question: between them, he and Carl have already killed seven.

Before the news of the tunnel’s demise goes public, Roy needs to buy the land for his amusement park at the right price, and then, once it is known that the highway will be upgraded, press the bank for the loan he needs to build the rollercoaster. Meanwhile, Carl needs to keep the French hotel group interested in their investment.

But Roy is a little distracted. Before the Highways Department constructs the crash barrier at the dangerous turn on Geitesvingen leading to their home, for which the Opgards have agitated, KRIPOS going to retrieve the three vehicles that went over the edge and 100m down into the Huken ravine, cars that didn’t actually get there by accident, and it’s hard not to worry what the police lab might find, even after all these years. Os Sheriff, Kurt Olsen is determined to pin a few murders on the brothers, including that of his father, then Sheriff Sigmund Olsen.

Another distraction is the return of Natalie Moe, the teenager whom he saved from domestic abuse, now an enchanting young woman employed by Carl to look after the Spa’s marketing. And perhaps to help promote the rollercoaster? Meanwhile, Carl has a few things on his mind as well: should he make things official with his married lover, the mother of his child? Progress on the palace he’s building himself is slow; and Os Spa’s incomings aren’t covering its debts.

Carl Opgard may be the one who went to America on a scholarship and spent fifteen years there, but Roy, without formal education, is far from stupid. He has street smarts, is quick-thinking, clever and creative, all talents he will need as things ramp up in their small town. Roy has multiple reasons to hate his brother but, up till now, the fact that they are brothers has always ranked over any other relationship. Has Carl pushed that too far, this time?

While this is a sequel to The Kingdom, it can easily be read stand-alone without confusion, although there are major spoilers for the first book. The blurb says that “the body count in Os is about to get higher” but is actually only increases by two, with a third in Oslo that is not by the Opgard brothers’ direct hand. A certain bathroom scene is blackly funny, while there’s also a particular dark humour in the climactic barn scene. This Scandi crime fiction is hard to put down.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Random House UK Vintage Harvill Secker

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