The Kingdom

Während ich diesen langen, komplexen, schmerzhaften Roman las, musste ich mehrmals an die Genesis denken. Kain und Abel. Auch hier gibt es einen Vater, der ein eifersüchtiger Gott ist, der von seinen Kindern das Unmögliche verlangt und ihnen ein Land als Erbe gibt. Dann dachte ich an Ödipus, nur dass die Hauptfigur seine Mutter nicht heiratet. Mit jeder neuen Figur, die die Szene betritt, können Sie eine psychologische Abweichung, eine Todsünde, assoziieren.
Wie gesagt, ein langer und komplexer Roman, sehr gut geschrieben von einem Autor, der im Laufe der Jahre gelernt hat, den Leser nie aufzugeben.
Da es sich um einen Thriller handelt, werde ich nicht mehr sagen, außer, dass es hier nicht Kain und Abel gibt, sondern Kain und Kain.

This example of Nordic Noir is written by the creator of the Harry Hole series, but this book is very different. It is a crime novel but it is also very much a family drama focusing on the bond between brothers.

When he is 15 years old, Roy Opgard is told by his father that he must always look after his younger brother Carl: “’You and me, we’re alike, Roy. We’re tougher than people like Mum and Carl. So we have to look after them. Always. . . . We’re family. We’ve got each other and nobody else. Friends, sweethearts, neighbours, the locals, the state. All that’s an illusion, it’s not worth a candle the day something really matters. Then it’s us against them, Roy. Us against absolutely everybody else.’” Roy takes show more seriously the responsibility to protect his brother, especially after they are orphaned. Carl gets into trouble and Roy rushes in to help and clean up the mess. Once Carl leaves for North America, Roy focuses on managing a gas station in the small village of Os and living a quiet life on the mountain farm his father called The Kingdom. Then, 15 years later, Carl returns with Shannon, his architect wife. The two have big plans to build a mountain resort, though the sketchy financing plan necessitates the involvement of virtually every villager. It quickly becomes clear that Roy will have to revert to his role as protector: “I suspected the reason for this sudden and unannounced homecoming was . . . [that] he needed his big brother’s help.” More than once, Roy is faced with having to decide how much he is willing to do to help Carl.

Almost from the beginning it is obvious that both boys suffered trauma in their childhoods, trauma which has had a lasting emotional impact. Of course, this trauma has been kept a secret from everyone, though it seems some people in the village have suspicions. Even the reader is initially kept in the dark as to exactly what happened. However, when that first secret is revealed, it emerges that there are other secrets - in fact, layers of secrets and lies. At times, the number of secrets becomes almost overwhelming.

The two brothers are foil characters. Roy, the narrator, is an introvert and loner; his ambition is to own his own service station. He has a strong sense of duty, and his love for and loyalty to his brother are obvious; he feels he has incurred a debt to his brother which “I was going to have to go on paying until I died.” Carl is the extrovert, a social charmer. He dreams on a large scale, though his impulsive nature often gets him into trouble. The two work together when necessary, but Roy begins to mistrust his brother when he learns that Carl is not always completely truthful and forthcoming. There is also underlying jealousy; Roy admits, “’I’ve been jealous [of Carl] since I was five years old.’” The complexity of the relationship between the two creates suspense. We know Roy doesn’t fully trust Carl, but does Carl completely trust his brother?

This is a lengthy novel and it starts slowly. Then the pace picks up and the reader will be breathing quickly because of the many twists and turns: “Almost nothing is impossible. It’s just a question of time, and then everything happens.” Unfortunately, I did find myself shaking my head in disbelief after a while because there’s “a pile of wrecked cars and corpses that just grew and grew.”

The book does urge readers to consider what they would do to protect family. Roy and Carl’s father says, “’It is the ability not to take the path of least resistance but the path of highest morality that separates humans from animals’” but suggests that they may have to be collateral damage, “unintentional fatalities, but necessary” in a war endangering family. Shannon points out, “’morality as a motivating force is overrated in us humans. . . . We shape morality so that it suits our purposes when we feel our group is under threat. Family vendettas and genocides throughout history are not the work of monsters but of human beings like us who believed they were acting in a way that was morally correct.’” She admits, “’I love the ones I love and do what I have to in order to protect them. Even if that means doing bad things.’” Would you?

This dark and atmospheric novel has interesting characters with both internal and external conflicts. Once tension begins, there’s little lessening. It engages the reader in questions of morality and responsibility for and loyalty to family. The amount of betrayal, obsession and violence stretches credibility but would work well in an action-packed film adaptation.

Note: I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

Please check out my reader's blog (https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/) and follow me on Twitter (@DCYakabuski). show less

Brilliant crime novel about two Norwegian brothers, who are basically conmen and assassins, but nevertheless earn one’s sympathies.

The main character, Roy, is the tough, but lovable cookie – silent, amorous, inconspicuous, loyal, a cold assassin – whereas his brother Carl is the abused swindler – charming, glamour boy with weak knees. Roy worked as a mechanic before running the local service station (that was taken over from his uncle by a company). Carl left Norway after the death of their parents, trying his hand at a major swindle – when that falls through, he flees back home with his architect girlfriend, Shannon. Once back he unfolds a big plan, to construct a multi-million Kroner hotel to save the future of the village show more which will soon be by-passed by a major new highway. The beauty is that one does not need to bring in a huge loan, the bank provides the funds to a Shared Liability company in which most villagers have shares. Another advantage is that the plans for this modern monster of a hotel have already been prepared by Shannon. And that the land on which the hotel will be built is family land of the Opgards – bound to increase four-fold in value, once the monster has been built. And yet there is more – if the hotel proves successful, there are added benefits – plots for the construction of private holiday homes can be sold.

Yet, nothing is what it seems. This becomes clear in the backstory that is slowly revealed to the reader in the first one-third of the book. Both brothers have killed. Roy took care of his abusive dad (and accidentally also of his mom), after he cut the brakes on the family Cadillac and his parents plunged into the abyss at the sharp curve on the road that leads from their farm to the village. Carl has taken care of a suspicious local sheriff, by pushing him off the same cliff (after which event, Roy helps getting rid of the body). And there are more secrets to do with amorous affairs. Carl has had an extensive affair with the beau of the village (daughter of the village council chairman), which was abruptly terminated after Carl was seduced for a quickie in the woods by the local hairdresser (who fancies him). Roy has had an extensive affair with an older woman, the wife of the local loan shark and business tycoon, for a number of years. And there is more adultery in store.

In a flowing style, Nesbo explores different dimensions of child abuse and its consequences, while feeding one killing after another. Meanwhile the hotel goes up in flames and more complications arise. For once, it is not about drugs or prostitution, and the local Police does not impress. The end is a veritable dagger in the heart, and once more Roy has to help his brother get rid of a body. This sets the scene for a terrible revenge (in the sequel called ‘Blood ties’). show less

The Kingdom by Jo Nesbo is a very highly recommended twisty, dark, standalone thriller. Once you start it, this one is un-put-down-able.

As they were growing up Roy Opgard has always been there to look after and defend his younger brother, Carl. Roy is a mechanic who currently runs a service station, with hopes to own his own station someday. Carl went off to college in the USA and then went to work in Canada where he had great success. Carl is now coming back to Os, the remote Norwegian village where he grew up with Roy. He arrives with a wife, Shannon Alleyne, and plans to build a resort and spa on the mountain that the brother's jointly own. These two brothers have a dark past and are survivors.

This is an absolutely riveting thriller show more and Nesbo's writing will expertly play on all your emotions with his narrative slight of hand. As old secrets are slowly exposed, it also becomes clear that the brothers need to make more plans. Make no mistake that it is also an unsettling, disturbing novel where violence, suspicious accidents, and abuse are prevalent. The tension and trepidation continues to grow and spread out as each part of the narrative unfolds.

There are several mysteries hidden in the novel and the tale of each one will eventually be told. Since the setting is a small town, everyone's secrets and history often come back to light. Os seems a small, insular, provincial place where past and present actions are always noted and remembered. I am in awe of how carefully Nesbo plotted this novel and allowed Roy, the narrator tell the story. Just when I thought one thing was true, I'd learn a few chapters later that it was another thing altogether.

Roy, as mentioned, narrates the novel, tells the stories, and explains his complex relationship to his brother, Carl. Roy is a complicated character and since he is the rather reticent narrator we very slowly learn more about him, his past, and the secrets he holds. He also has a great capacity for violence, but he is also logical to a fault. Towns people consider his a decent man, although Roy might disagree.

After a slow but steady plot advancement throughout the whole novel, the final denouement is shocking, surprising, and unforeseen. Dark, disturbing, and utterly engrossing, I was seized by the compelling, intricate plot and held captive until the end. This is a contender for my favorite books of the year.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Knopf Doubleday .
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2020/11/the-kingdom.html
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3639822580 show less

I began to hate the protagonist when I read this, early in the book:
"I placed one hand on dog's head and he licked my wrist. I grabbed him by the skin on the back of his neck and with my other hand slit his throat. But I was cautious, nothing happened. Dog just jerked. Not until the 3rd attempt did I manage to cut through properly, and then it was like what happens when you make the hole too low in the juice cartoon, the blood came pouring out as if it had been just waiting for the chance to get free."

" 'in Norwegian we say love makes you blind.'
'Aha.' She gave a low laugh. 'but that's even more precise than my English Love is blind. Which people use in the completely wrong way anyway.'
'they do?'
'they use it to mean that we see only show more the good side of people we love. But actually it refers to the fact that Cupid wears a blindfold when he shoots his arrows. Meaning that the arrows strike at random, and it isn't us who chooses who to fall in love with.' "

Kurt Olson, the son of the previous sheriff, who the protagonist's brother Carl pushed over the edge on top of their parent's car, wants to make things difficult for Carl trying to build his hotel, because he's always had a suspicion that Carl is his father's murderer.
" 'it's about the time line on the day my father disappeared," said Kurt Olson. 'you said he left opgard at 6 o'clock. Is that right?'
'it's a long time ago now,' said Carl. 'but yes, if that's what it says in the report.'
'it is. But signals received by the base stations show that my father's phone was in the area around your farm until 10 that evening. After that there's nothing. It could be that the battery ran out, someone removed the SIM card, or the phone was damaged. Or that the phone was buried so deeply the signals no longer carried. What it means is, we have to check the area around the farm with metal detectors. It means that nothing up there should be touched, and that starting date I've been hearing about will have to be postponed until further notice.'
'Wh-what?' Stammered Carl. 'but...'
'but what?' Olsen stopped by the hot dog stand, stroked his mustache and looked calmly at him.
'how long are we talking about?'
'Hmm.' Olsen stuck his lower lip out and looked as if he was calculating. 'it's a large area. 3 weeks. Maybe 4.'
Carl groaned. 'Jesus, Kurt, that's going to cost us a fucking fortune. We've got contractors coming in at agreed times to do their work. And the frost-- '
'I'm sorry,' said Olsen. 'but investigations into a suspicious death can't take your desire to turn a profit into consideration.' "
So, what do the brothers do? Find a way to go down to the bottom of the cliff, and search for the sheriff's phone. And get rid of it. And that's what they do. Nothing stops these guys.

The book goes back and forth in time; that's how the reader finds out what the heck is going on.
When their father won't stop molesting Carl, Roy tells Carl that he'll take care of it. And the mother has to be taken care of too, because she "loved him" too much to do anything about it:
"We saw the brake lights on the Cadillac flare. They're connected to the pedal, so even if the brakes don't work the lights do. Their speed increased. Carl made a sound. I could see in my mind's eye dad turning the wheel, hear a scraping noise from the steering column, feel the steering wheel turning and meeting no resistance, having no effect on the wheels. And I feel pretty sure he understood it then. I hope so. That he understood and accepted it. That he accepted it included mum, and that the sums added up. She could live with what he did, but not without him.
It happened quietly and with a strange lack of drama. No desperate pounding on the horn, no scorching Rubber, no screams. All I could hear was the crunching of the tires, and then the car was just gone. And the golden plover sang of loneliness.
The crash from Huken sounded like the far-off rumble of delayed thunder. I didn't hear what Carl said or shouted, I just thought that from now on Carl and I were alone up here in the world. That the road ahead of us was empty, but all we could see right now in the dusk was the mountain in silhouette against the sky colored orange in the west and pink in the north and south. And it seemed to me the loveliest thing I had ever seen, like a sunset and sunrise both at the same time."

Carl used to have the local rich girl, before he screwed up and fucked her best friend. That's when he had to leave to go to study in the United States. When he comes back, and the local rich girl has married a guy from out of town, Carl talks to Roy about how her husband hates him:
" 'keep him on his toes. That's what they're like.'
'who's they?'
'oh, you know. The Mari Aaases and Rita Willumsens. They suffer from Queen syndrome. That's to say it's us, the male drones, who suffer. Of course even Queens want their physical needs satisfied, but the most important thing is for them to be loved and worshipped by their subjects. So they manipulate us like puppets in their fucking schemes. You get so fucking tired of it.'
'aren't you exaggerating a bit?'
'no!' Carl put his beer bottle down hard on the windowsill and two of the empties toppled over and fell to the floor. 'real love doesn't exist between a man and a woman who aren't related, Roy. There has to be blood. The same blood. The only place you find real, selfless Love is in the family. Between brothers and sisters and between parents and their children. Outside of that...' He gestured expansively, knocked over another bottle and I realized he was drunk. 'forget it. It's jungle law. Every man is his own best friend.' By now he was snuffling. 'you and me, Roy, we're all we've got. Nobody else.' "

I need to remember this part, whenever I get so down that it's hard to face another day:
"I carried on walking eastwards. Through sleeping streets, towards the EI8. It began to rain. And for once it was proper rain. My shoes were squelching as I set off across the half kilometer of the Varoddbro bridge over to Søm. Halfway across it occurred to me that there was actually an alternative. And I was already soaking wet. I peered over the edge at the greeny-black Waters down below. 30 metres? But already I must have started to doubt, even before my head began telling me I would probably survive the drop, and the survival instinct would kick in and I was splash my way to shore, almost certainly with a few broken bones and damaged organs that wouldn't mean a shorter life, just an even more shitty life. and even if I was lucky enough to die in the water down there, was there really anything to be gained in being dead? Because I had just remembered something. The answer I gave when the former sheriff asked why we should go on living when we didn't enjoy it. 'because being dead may be even worse.' And once I'd recalled that, I remembered what Uncle Bernard had said when he had been diagnosed with cancer. 'When you're up to your neck in shit, best not to hang your head.' "

That's all I'm going to put in this review for now. I like this writer a lot, and I have read other books of his, and I will read more. But this book only rated three stars for me, and I'm not exactly sure why. It's something to do with the relentlessness of the protagonist and his brother: just killing everybody that got in their way. But that's probably something that happens when you've been molested as a kid. And then Roy had to keep on protecting his brother Carl from the violence that he had inside of him. Which caused Roy to have to be violent. show less

I find Nesbø’s writing endlessly fascinating. This one, like the others I’ve read, is very dark and challenges traditional conceptions of morality while exploring damaged characters, concepts of justice, and right and wrong. Lots of twists and turns keep the level of suspense high in this tale of family bonds, community dynamics, and murder.

This latest meaty and twisty standalone bring us to a remote Norwegian village where our attention will be centered on the complex relationship between two brothers, Roy and Carl Opgard. It opens when 15 year old Carl mortally wounds the family dog and his brother puts the animal out of its misery and cleans up the mess.

Then

Very slowly Mr. Nesbo methodically peels away the secrets surrounding the brothers’ backstory and gradually frog leaps into Carl and Roy’s relations with their neighbours. The simmering and complex story gives us unexpected violent twists when slippery Carl plans to reinvigorate the town...and inevitably gruesome secrets emerge and the ever growing body count mounts.

Although this story is more concerned with show more sibling rivalry, family secrets, young love and the winter blues...we still find a lot of conniving going on... so, why am I left hot and cold about “The Kingdom”. It simple: too slow moving, too convoluted, too many clichés and quite boring for too long. This story could have been said within 400 pages. It was a challenge to stay on top of this story but ¾ into it when things took an about turn more intensity and intrigue injected into the story I stayed glued and could not put the last pages down wanting so much to see how this saga would end....Oh boy what an open ending...One a final note this story provides us with amazing characterization and a superb narration but having said this I was left slightly disappointed with this one.

Thank you Penguin Random House and Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review show less