So, this is the first and only book by Jo Nesbo I have DNF'ed. I usually love his writing, but this is just not his best work. I get where he was trying to go, with a tragic mafia ish brothers who control the small town and commit crimes, and the crimes are starting to catch up with them. But I just couldn't get into it. It was very much written for the male gaze.

Jo Nesbo's suspense thriller grabbed me from the first page. Having read several of the Harry Hole series, I was happy to see how versatile Nesbo's writing is. Although Blood Ties is the second in a series, it worked well as a standalone. Blood Ties is about brothers; Carl and Roy, and their deadly ambition to obtain power and wealth in their small town. It is writing at its best when the reader can emphasize with a killer. This is a fast and captivating book that is hard to put down. Thanks to Netgalley and publishers for the opportunity to read this advanced copy.

Another amazing thriller from the king of Norwegian Noir.
Having read and enjoyed all 13 Harry Hole Novels ( and wanting more ) this was my first "stand alone" Nesbo Fiction. Technically the sequel to the Kingdom ( which I own, but admittedly haven't read yet ) this story follows the further adventures of siblings, Carl and Roy Opgard, whose livelihood are threatened by a proposed tunnel that will ultimately cause the main road to bypass their hometown Os.
Roy gets caught in one sticky situation, after another, and is constantly hounded by the town Sheriff... er "Station Head", Kurt Olsen, who is hell bent on pinning one or more murders, discussed in the first book, on the brothers ( preferably Roy )now that the Statute of Limitations has been lifted.
Meanwhile the brothers are trying to expand their real estate holdings in Os, including the expansion of Os Spa, owned by Carl, and a new amusement park to be built by Roy. This can happen, only if the engineers report can show the infeasibility of building the tunnel and sparing the town.
With all these moving parts, it all comes down to sibling rivalry and which brother will emerge as "King of Os."
A well crafted and taught Noir Thriller, and can be enjoyed by those of us who did not read the Kingdom first. I highly recommend this and all the Harry Hole Novels.

A slower build than the Harry Hole series as well as this one’s predecessor, but once it got going, it was GOING. Roy truly is a likeable killer and it is fascinating watching the machinations in Os - by Roy, by Carl and by the rest of the town. Suspenseful with lots of moving parts, this is a great example of Nordic noir, but not my favorite from Nesbo.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a digital ARC of this title!

Blood Ties is an explosive sequel to The Kingdom. When you think everything is going well for Roy, another obstacle is thrown in his path. This book certainly kept me on my toes and seemed like a never-ending tale of misfortune and questionable decisions.

Here are a few things to note for anyone considering diving into Nesbo's newest release:

- Read The Kingdom first. While Nesbo does a good job of recapping events in Blood Ties, The Kingdom deeply explores Roy as a character. Without that intimate knowledge, it will be challenging to understand the gravity and impact of what transpires in Blood Ties.

- Blood Ties is plot-driven, whereas The Kingdom is character-driven. This second book is much more action-packed. That is neither a pro nor a con, but Blood Ties lacked the depth that made The Kingdom such an impactful novel.

If you have read The Kingdom, Blood Ties is a must-read, but you will miss out if you choose to read it as a stand-alone novel.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I did not finish Blood Ties. Jo Nesbo I one of my favorite mystery writers, I love his Harry Hole series. I read the first in this new series and started Blood Ties. I could not engage with the story and just dis not care about the characters. I

Note: this is the 2nd in a series, but also works as a standalone fairly well.

I have loved the Harrry Hole series for years, and I expected this book to be the same. But I really struggled to stay invested - the characters are just so awful. I see how Nesbo attempted to make them likeable to the reader in spite of their terrible selves; i just struggled to invest in it.

Jo Nesbo is a fantastic serial writer. I'll continue to read Harry Hole novels, but I'll probably pass on any more in this series.

I don't know how he does it, but Jo Nesbo always gets me to root for the rule breakers and, in the case of Carl and Roy Opgard for stone cold murderers and accessories to murder. The brothers live in Os. They were introduced to us in The Kingdom in 1921, back when I still pre-ordered hard cover books by my favorite authors, which includes Nesbo. Carl is the younger brother and returned from working in the US to Os. He has established a spa there, with Roy and others as investors and he needs to make sure that the new road the is planned to use a tunnel to get through the mountain, instead of going near Os is deep-sixed. Roy is the one who owns the local gas station, a bar and other properties in Os. He has a dream to acquire a former lover's campgrounds and build the world's largest wooden rollercoaster. On the whole, Roy has a value system that keeps making you root for him as he does many, many things that are very bad. They are not altruistic. He is our narrator. Carl seems more evil, but that might be attributed to the fact Roy is the narrator. They both have lots of childhood trauma to inform the reader of how they got that way.

Natalie, a young woman who lived in Os until her mid-teens has returned and begins working for the spa. Roy and Natalie have a history because he helped her out in a huge way at one time and they develop a close relationship. For me, what's fun is that he keeps telling Natalie every thing he's ever done wrong (with some exceptions) and their friendship seems to get stronger.

Kurt Olson, the town sheriff, has it in for the Opgards because he "knows" they killed his father. who was the former sheriff. As he continuously investigates them, a practice he started many years ago, he distances himself from his role in their football (soccer) club and pulls up cars that went over the cliff at a turn in the road and into a lake.

Nesbo partly makes these guys likable along with all the characters that make up a small town, because he uses humor freely. And repeatedly, it is the gossip and careful backfilling done by all involved that means there is always dirt against the person who is against you. How it is uncovered and used is amusing to read. I highly recommend Blood Ties.

A follow-up to The Kingdom, Jo Nesbo’s Blood Ties again features brothers Roy and Carl Opgard, owners of the spa and hotel, the gas station and bar in small town Os, Norway. Other characters familiar to readers of The Kingdom include Sheriff Kurt Olsen still on the tail of the brothers and determined to convict them of murders, and Grete, still spreading gossip from the village beauty shop. Readers who haven’t read The Kingdom needn’t worry because Nesbo’s latest Opgard brothers book stands on its own.

Already suffering financially, Os faces economic collapse as plans surface for the construction of a tunnel under the mountain, causing traffic between cities to be diverted entirely away from Os. With belief that he is doing the right thing—murdering only with good reason--and a way of covering their tracks, Roy Opgard, especially, proves a complex character.

Jo Nesbo fans and readers of Nordic Noir will enjoy the twists and turns of this wild romp of a tale featuring the Opgard brothers of Os.

Thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for an advance reader egalley.

A bleak Nordic Noir centered around two ‘twisted’ brothers. When I picked up this book, I didn’t expect to like the characters knowing Nesbo’s writing style but this was a tale that was tough for me to finish because I truly did not like either characters. I’ll stick to the Harry Hole series.

Thank you NetGalley and Knopf for the advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley

You are so good. Everytime I pick up one fo your books I just love you more :)
This book shall I say is twisty instead Harry Hole twisted. I'm laughing at myself.
I am a huge fan of alot of Aurhors I read a lot of books. So it's always hard to say You are my favorite
It's like picking a best friend out of some of the best people.
Thank you so much for being you Writing exceptional books nd sharing them with people like me

4.5 stars!!!
What do you get when your sense of right and wrong develops a conscience? For Roy, it's a problem that is huge in his life, as he the enforcer brother for Carl's ideas. Only now Carl's ideas threaten his dreams. But what do you do when family loyalty and history keep you bound together in a devil's game of comeupance? Fighting to get off the carousel, Roy has to contend with a Sheriff who blames him for his father's death and will fight til the end to prove that the brothers killed him. As the stakes get higher and Roy sees a way out, Carl sees it too, and the result is a destructive rollercoaster powerful read about family ties out of control. Do NOT miss this Nordic thriller- it's a perfect intro to Nesbo's writing, that will have you going back to read her other books, and becoming a fan of her work!

The Opgard brothers are back and working hard to expand their wealth and influence. Big fish in a little pond type criminals who keep pushing the limits of the law to reach the success they think they are entitled to. As I was reading this, I got the feel of a family working to become a criminal dynasty. Jo Nesbo may have created the next series family for Taylor Sheridan!!!

They say blood is thicker than water. In this new novel from the Norwegian master of thrillers, two brothers who carry each other's dark secrets must decide which one of them will remain standing in the power struggle.

Roy is a man who lost his moral compass. His younger brother Carl would also pretty much do anything to secure his position as the "King of Os", a small town in Norway. They have both killed in the past. But these complex characters could not be more different from each other.

Roy is in the forefront of the story. He is smart, but people underestimate his intellect. I liked Roy's character and his desire for justice vs. personal gain. It's very hard to explain since Roy does some terrible things in the book. He is very matter of fact sharing some gruesome revelations.

But let's talk about the novel itself. The book shines with its fantastic literary style storytelling. The translation into English, by the way, is excellent, and so is the narration of the audiobook. Although, there is a crime investigation going on in the background, this is mostly a novel about family. The narrative could be compared to the game of wolf and a fox between Kurt, the town sheriff, and Roy. Who will outsmart whom? It is also a game between the brothers, but almost like in a dangerously playful way. Chapter 42, where Kurt was talking about his dad, not calling him father anymore, was so sad.

This Nordic Noir novel is reminiscent of a good 'ol Western with a protagonist, an antagonist and a Sheriff on their tail. The ending was chilling and heart-wrenching. Amazing book, really, and not just a great thriller.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Knopf for gifting me both a physical and digital ARC of Jo Nesbo's latest thriller. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

Brothers Carl and Roy Opgard have killed their way to the top in their small town of Os. Carl runs the fancy spa hotel and Roy has big plans for an amusement park. But the sheriff seems to be closing in on them and feels he has new evidence in past murders. The brothers are used to covering their tracks, but they won't go down without a fight.

I'm a huge Nesbo fan, especially of his Harry Hole books, but somehow I missed the first book in this series. Didn't matter - this book definitely stands on its own and I thoroughly enjoyed it, even though it's filled with unlikeable characters. It's also full of action and suspense, with family loyalty on the line, bringing up the question of just how far people will go to protect their secrets and maintain their power. Plenty of twists and turns, and Nesbo is fabulous at bringing to life the atmosphere of these small Norwegian towns. .

Full disclosure; Jo Nesbo is one of my all time favorite authors so it was no surprise that I found his latest novel, Blood Ties, to be a masterfully crafted exploration of family loyalty, ambition, and the secret complexities that bind us together. Serving as a sequel to his dark and twisted story from The Kingdom, this suspenseful new narrative delves deeper into the lives of brothers Roy and Carl Opgard as they navigate the treacherous waters of their shared past and precarious future. I really cherish Nesbo's commitment to character development and settings for his books. He excels at portraying multifaceted characters, particularly with the Opgard brothers. Roy the steadfast protector, and Carl, the ambitious, visionary, are depicted with depth, nuance, and empathy, making their moral dilemmas both compelling and understandable. The small town of Os was brought to life with descriptive detail immersing me in its often claustrophobic ambiance. This setting only served to amplify the tension, making the unfolding drama even more gripping and intense. This was a slow burning thriller that balanced well the building suspense with bursts of action.
The storytelling kept me on the edge, weaving a tale filled with the familiar yet unexpected twisted and turns that I appreciate Jo Nesbo for. This book is a must read for fans of The Kingdom and Jo Nesbo. If you love Nordic Noir, psychological thrillers and character-driven plotlines, drop everything and get your hands on this book now !

If Blood Ties was written as a AITA Reddit post, I’d tell Roy Opgard that yeah, he’s TA, but he’s certainly not the biggest one.

I love Nordic Noir (or Scandinavian Noir, if you prefer). It’s one of my favorite thriller subgenres. It trades in metaphor, filler material, and descriptive narrative for moral complexity, tight and efficient writing, and a pacing that is melancholic but implacable in its coming. I love how bleak these books are and how the penetrating cold reveals the social ills that plague a population that’s usually portrayed to be so happy with their lives.

Blood Ties is technically the sequel to Nesbo’s book The Kingdom (which is available in paperback and ebook with the same translator), but I didn’t have to read it to understand this book at all. Blood Ties stands all on its own as a supremely engaging, compulsively readable thriller about one brother who’s been trying to make up for perceived failings from when he was young and another brother who just can’t stop taking. The characters in this book were complex and sad while also all being so pivotal to the plot. Not a single one was wasted. The plot had great twists and turns, but none that didn’t make sense and all were impeccably styled.

Roy Opgard was a fantastic protagonist, morose and rather apathetic about whether life is worth keeping up with. Doesn’t like killing, but he’s good at it. Both hates and loves his little brother. Does what he thinks is right, even if it means he might have to give up what he was working towards. Roy learns to invest in his life, and that makes the last third of the book a shaking rope bridge of suspense.

I was provided a copy of this title by the author and publisher via Netgalley. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.

File Under: 5 Star Review/Crime Thriller/Murder Thriller/Suspense Thriller/Thriller

"Blood Ties" is a dark comedy about two brothers, Carl and Ray Opgard, expanding their empire in small town Os, Norway. Even with the local sheriff about to call their number at any moment, that doesn't deter their nefarious behavior—blackmail, theft, fraud, and even murder. The brothers will stop at nothing to become the King of Os.

This offbeat story is "Fargo" meets "True Detective" but from the criminal perspective and it will charm the pants right off of you. Even in the fog of greed and power, I couldn't help rooting for Opgard success. Ray and Carl are slick, smooth operators with dopey facades that disguise their intelligence each time. They're playing chess while everyone else is playing checkers. It's glorious.

But the true heart of this book is a story about family, love, and community. Excluding the infighting and shady dealings, the people of Os are just trying to make their home a better place even if they have a unique—or shall we say unorthodox—way of going about it.

This novel is well-constructed and flows seamlessly from cradle to grave and you will find yourself unexpectedly delighted by the sinister yet clever schemes involved. I found myself audibly chuckling at their twisted games.

Released as a sequel last year in Norwegian, "Blood Ties" has been successfully translated for English publication today! The translation initially felt slightly off but found its footing fairly quickly. Also, you don't need to read the first one to understand the next story. I had no problem jumping right in and it makes me want to go back to the first book.

Ultimately, Jo Nesbø has created a criminally charming, dark comedy that will delight readers with unexpected laughter and pockets of thrills.

Thank you to NetGalley; Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor | Knopf; & Jo Nesbø for the ARC in exchange for my authentic review.

Blood Ties by Jo Nesbo is an intriguing, mysterious, full of suspense and such a twisty story.
The characterization was superb, the writing pacey and flowing, and the tension delivered in a series of shocks and twists along the way.
This is a tightly written story, with well developed characters and enough suspense to keep you reading.
I loved book one in this series and I hope to see another one.

Roy narrates this story of greed and murder set in the small town of Os, Norway. He, along with his brother Carl, have been amassing land, building a spa, and murdering people who stand in their way for years. Now, Roy has bribed consultants to the Highway Department to say that a road must run through the town, a woman he protected as a teen is back in town, the police are pulling cars out of a ravine, and Carl is, well, there are problems. And Roy wants to build an amusement park. I missed the first book but that wasn't a problem. These are deeply unappealing people-loathsome-making it classic Nesbo Nordi-noir. I'm also not sure why I kept reading except that I found myself wanting to know what was going to happen. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. For fans of the genre and Nesbo.