Starred review from November 18, 2024
Brothers Roy and Carl Opgard return in bestseller Nesbø’s immersive and disturbing sequel to The Kingdom. Shortly after the events of the previous novel, the Opgards have settled into promising careers in the sleepy Norwegian town of Os: older brother Roy, who narrates, runs an auto repair shop and convenience store with dreams of building the world’s largest wooden roller coaster on the property, while Carl owns a luxury hotel and spa with grand plans for expansion across Norway. The brothers’ ambitions are threatened when they learn a planned highway is going to be routed away from Os, taking tourist dollars with it. Determined to keep his and Carl’s dreams in sight, Roy reverts to his old role as the pair’s “enforcer,” engaging in violent schemes to control the highway project. Meanwhile, sheriff Kurt Olsen uncovers new evidence linking the Opgard brothers to old crimes, and launches a campaign to take them down. Nesbø brilliantly plunges readers into the psyche of a charming killer, leavening the bloodshed with pop culture references and dashes of the lacerating humor that suffuses his Harry Hole series. The result is a chilling and darkly funny noir that will haunt readers long after the last page. Agent: Niclas Salomonsson, Salomonsson Literary.