This is a debut novel and i have to say I was really impressed.

With DI Nygaard as the protagonist I was captivated from the first few chapters and couldn’t stop creating my own plots to try and figure out how the story would end. The plot is not fast paced but does slowly pick up and it was really interesting and worth waiting for. 

I loved the complexity of the characters, even though DI Nygaard really annoyed me at times. You know a book is good when this happens and you still want to keep reading! I am also quite curious to know more about his past and I’m hoping this is covered in possible future books: 

There’s plenty of thrilling parts and twists that I didn’t see coming even though i did figure out some small details (but this did not make it any less interesting!) 

I have to say that the setting of the book is also perfect and very atmospheric - which is something that I really love. 

Overall I really enjoyed this book and can’t wait for further books in this possible series! 

I would like to thank HQ digital and Netflix for an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

A really interesting concept - a Scandinavian Noir book written by a British author.  The book has a very dark and sombre tone, starting with a phone message to a Detective Inspector in Gothenburg from his father who he has not seen in over a decade, telling him that he has witnessed a murder.  To make matters more complicated, his father has been living with dementia.  A slow-burner of a novel, which nevertheless had me gripped and totally convinced about its setting.  Definitely an author to look out for in the future.  Recommended.

Karin Nordin is a new voice in Scandi Crime one of my favourite genre’s and she has 
written a dark and thrilling debut novel that really hits the mark. Detective Kjeld Nygaard receives a confused voicemail from his father Stenar  who he has been estranged from for many years and doesn’t know quite what to make of it. Kjeld is facing his own demons after being suspended from his position in the police force so decides to travel back to his home to try and find out more about what is going on there. 
The book starts off at a slow pace and I did wonder if I was going to continue at one point but the descriptions and writing drew me in more and more and I found myself getting totally immersed in the story as the pace increased. 
Plenty of good characters, dark moments and some humour also, I was surprised by the ending as it was a “didn’t see that coming” moment for me which gave the book a real edge. 
I hope to hear much more from the author and can highly recommend this book.
My thanks to NetGalley and HQ Digital for giving me the chance to read the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Wow! This is a gripping debut novel about family, secrets and lies, all told within the freezing Northern Swedish town of Varsund.

A son, Kjeld,  returns home to see his ailing father - there are difficulties within the relationship and the fact that the father now has Alzheimer's further complicates their relationship. Kjeld has recently received a strange voicemail from his father and he's keen to understand it's relevance.  His sister, Sara, is the one who has had to take the brunt of caring and it's not easy as her husband has lost his job and she's got a family. So far, so, Scandic.
What follows is the discovery of a body in a barn that also houses Ravens and as Kjeld works to discover the truth, he also has to deal with his own family memories, whilst also meeting old schoolfriend along the way. Then there is the issue of a court case in his previous district where he was involved in a shooting.

This is such a good murder mystery and the fact that I'd worked out a lot of the mystery before 50% of the book and yet kept reading, tells you a lot about the storytelling skill of this new author. I challenge anyone to read this book and not feel cold! The descriptive nature of the writing and the excellent characters, held me spellbound from beginning to end.

Thanks to NetGalley and HQ digital for the opportunity to preview this excellent debut novel and I wish Karin Nordin every success.

An excellent debut Swedish crime novel. Detective Kjeld Nygaard hasn’t been to his native town since a falling out with his father twelve years ago but when he receives a message from him to say he has witnessed a murder in his barn Kjeld feels duty bound to return. The problem facing him is that his father has dementia and so is what he says true?
Then follows a well-written, absorbing narrative with great believable characters. The story is as much a crime investigation as a depiction of a family’s stresses in coping with a loved one’s dementia and the strain this brings to an already difficult father-son relationship. 
This is a gripping, emotional read and I hope there will soon  be another novel featuring Detective Kjeld Nygaard.

What a cracker of a debut novel! 

I couldnt put this story down, its twists and turns just made me want to find out what happens! 
The story evolves at a good pace, meaning that you get to know the characters and become to care about them through the twists and turns. 
The characters are complex which keeps you guessing as you find out more about them, 

Highly recommend this story as it kept me gripped.

The book started a little slowly for me but after that, it was addictive and atmospheric and a really enjoyable read.

Where Ravens Roost is a compelling gripping thriller set in a small rural town in Sweden .Kjeld Nygaard is a Detective Inspector with the Gothenburg Police on suspension ,when he receives a confused message from his Father saying he has witnessed a murder.Kjeld has been estranged from his Dad who has early stage Alzheimers for 12 years but he decides to  go and see what is going on with his Father .From then on I was gripped with the  story which has great twists and turns .I loved the atmospheric feel of the story the cold and desolate landscape,the descriptions of the characters made them seem very real.I enjoyed the surprise ending and hope that Kjeld Nygaard can be come a series .Many Thanks to the Publisher ,the Author and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review .

Effective and intriguing story of fathers and sons - disgraced detective responds to his estranged father’s telephone call and the unravelling of the mystery of a murder he claims he saw delves into the past, and the depredations of a dysfunctional family. Perhaps over-written at times, the character development (crucial to this story) is fully fleshed out - impressive - going back home to a place where you were an outsider from birth is portrayed very well ... and what friendships through thick and thin are ... despite getting bogged down at times, i was keen to find out what happened and it’s a shocker - you never would have excited it coming ... I’m biting my tongue not to say ... highly recommended

Slow start to this Scandi Thriller meant I almost gave up a third of the way through. 
Happy that I don’t - very atmospheric, well written tale of murder and small town life. 
Kjeld, a police detective receives a rambling call from his father whom he hasn’t spoken to for twelve year. Kjeld, currently on leave from work, travels back home.
Kjeld is surprised to find his father has advanced dementia and is being looked after by his sister Sara who quickly becomes annoyed with Kjeld about his treatment of their father over the years.
Kjeld eventually uncovers a body in the barn and then things take a turn for the worse with his father having a heart attack and Kjeld being attacked and left for dead.
Another story focusing on the local mining operations and the family that owns it becomes linked with Kjeld and his family.
No big surprises but a well written and enjoyable book.
3.5 Stars ⭐️ 
Thanks to #Netgalley for  allowing me to read this book in return for a fair review.

Detective Kjeld Nygcot has cut himself off from his family. His career is on hold as he has been suspended after his last case went horrendously wrong and his relationship with his husband and daughter is at an all time low.
Then he receives a phone call from his father saying he has seen a murder in the barn where the ravens roost.
The local police have investigated but have found no evidence and his father is suffering from dementia. However, when Kjeld goes into the barn to have a look around he finds a human tooth in one of the nests and then a body is discovered.
Can Kjeld solve the murder before the police arrest his father?
Look forward to the next one!! Kept me guessing to the end.

Good first novel I. The Scandi noir genre. Kjeld is a dysfunctional detective under investigation after a case goes wrong who finds himself returning to his very remote family home when his father leaves him a voice mail asking for help after witness murder. It’s 12 years since Kjeld was home after an unhappy childhood culminated in an argument with his father that neither of them can forgive or forget. Except that his father now has Alzheimer’s and has forgotten much, including the murder he’d witnessed. The cast of characters is small which made it very easy to guess where the story was heading, especially the big mystery that led to the murder but I wasn’t completely sure until the murderer was revealed which one of them it actually was. This was incidental really as the story was intriguing and fast paced enough to encourage me to read it quickly. I look forward to reading more by this author.

Many thanks to the author, publishers and Netgalley for a free ARC of this ebook.
As the story opens it's a fairly standard Scandi Noir tale, a dysfunctional cop with lots of emotional baggage, a decent colleague, a body, and lots of ice and snow. So far, so ho hum. Now whilst I'd never say this book is fast paced, it moves at a pace that allows you to get to know the characters, the back story and much else besides. There is a detailed exploration of the impacts from dementia on a family. It's a great book, I really enjoyed it and very much look forward to reading more by this author.

This is a gripping thriller set in a small town in Sweden.  The general writing and descriptions of the characters, and the cold landscape, are wonderful.  The plot is intriguing - a body found buried in an old barn, a father with Alzheimer’s, his detective son with a troubled past, and his fractured family with dark secrets.  Plenty of twists and turns to keep us guessing, and a surprising end.  I was dismayed to find quite a lot of errors in the book – missing words, extra words, misplaced and missing commas which spoiled the flow of sentences etc – and if it hadn’t been for these I would have given 5 stars.  I have kept a list to send to the publishers and hope they can be corrected before the release date.

Sweden has become the literary murder capital and this is another based there in the province of Jamtland. The village of Varuna is an isolated, introverted community which the lead character Kjeld left as soon as he could after growing up there to be a detective in Stockholm. He is back to see his sick father whom he fell out with many years  ago. Kjeld is described as ‘broken and impassible’ (sic). The story shows that to be true. His childhood was dominated by tasks looking after his father’s ravens in the barn. They are prominent in the book and are described in great detail as well as giving the book’s title. During his return visit the body of a scion of a local important family is found in the barn. That sets of the story leading to a dramatic ending. The book is very descriptive but that gives it much of its character and appeal. It is a good read and I recommend it.

Excellent book. The detailed descriptions of atmosphere and surroundings make this novel brilliant. The  characters  are all flawed and each fight their own battles, turning them into potential murderers. I have suspected all and none and I have to say that it only took me two days to finish it because I couldn’t put it down. It is the pure dark noir Scandinavian captivating story that will stay with me for a long time.

This is a well thought out and brooding book with complex characters and family disputes. Detective Kjeld Nygaard suspended from Gothenburg Police pending an investigstion, receives a confused phone  call from his estranged (and early onset) dementia father claiming to have seen a murder but there is no body to be found.  Kjeld rushes to see his father to find out the truth. This is a dark but gripping book which draws you in as the plot progresses.

Kjeld receives are garbled voicemail from his estranged dad, something about a murder. What follows is a thriller that you see from the likes of Jo Nesbo. 

The book has quite a slow pace that builds as the book nears its climax. Karin has a wonderful way with words that really makes you sense the cold landscape and the nervousness around the ravens. 

In amongst the terrible family dynamics is Kjeld a detective who is running away from his daughter, the investigation into his previous assignment and running away from his family. His dad seems to hate him, his sister hates her life and less said about the freaky ravens the better. By the end he has and his family have some closure and Kjeld seems ready to face the world again. 

I kind of guessed part of the ending but someone of it was a surprise. I look forward to reading more novels of Kjeld as the main character, and hopefully there will be a prequel as I really want to know what happened with him and his best friend. 

Thank you to Netgalley and HQ digital so an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this debut novel from Karin Nordin, set in a small and very parochial town in northern Sweden. 

Kjeld Nygaard is a Detective Inspector, currently suspended from his position, with the Gothenburg police, because of a problematic murder inquiry. He has received a confused phone message from his father, Stenar, in which he says he has witnessed a murder. As a result of a bitter argument it has been twelve years since they last met. Reluctantly, Kjeld heads home to the small town where he grew up. Stenar's allegation has been reported to the local Chief of Police, Ek, who has found no evidence of a crime. Kjeld, who has a checkered past with Ek, is not going to let the matter rest, if only because it provides an opportunity to wind Ek up. What he uncovers is a lot more than he bargained for.

This is a really well plotted thriller which gradually exposes family disputes and resentments, small town malice and gossip, corporate greed and manipulation. There are plenty of twists and turns as Kjeld's investigation proceeds.  

The author skillfully brings the characters to life. Kjeld is difficult and self-absorbed. Esme, his police partner in Gothenburg, is feisty, funny and protective of Kjeld. Stenar is portrayed sensitively  as an older man suffering the onset of dementia. Kjeld's sister, Sara, who cares for Stenar, is bitter and resentful. The supporting characters such as Ek, are equally well drawn. 

The atmosphere of a dark Swedish winter in a small northern town really comes alive, with the ravens a constant brooding presence.  

Where Ravens Roost is perfect for lovers of Scandi thrillers and thrillers in general. I really hope to read more about Kjeld in a future book.

Thank you to NetGalley and HQ Stories for an ARC in return for an honest review.

A gripping Scandi noir novel about a suspended Detective who returns to his home after an unusual telephone call from his father about a murder.  This tale encompasses Alzheimer’s, family feuds and differences, a small Swedish mining community, plenty of troubled people with a dark atmosphere, and a lot of ravens.  I found this book hard to put down and am looking forward to another by this author.  Thank you for letting me read and review this book.