> Skip to content
Play sample
  • Published: 4 May 2021
  • ISBN: 9781784709105
  • Imprint: Vintage
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 656
  • RRP: $22.99

The Kingdom

The new thriller from the Sunday Times bestselling author of the Harry Hole series




The gripping new standalone thriller from multi-million copy bestseller, Jo Nesbo.

'Suspenseful, original...special in every way' Stephen King

TWO BROTHERS. BOUND BY BLOOD...AND A LIFETIME OF SECRETS.

When Roy and Carl's parents die suddenly, sixteen-year-old Roy is left as protector to his impulsive younger brother. But when Carl decides to travel the world in search of his fortune, Roy stays behind in their sleepy village, satisfied with his peaceful life as a mechanic.

Some years later, Carl returns with his charismatic new wife, Shannon - an architect. They are full of exciting plans to build a spa hotel on their family land. Carl wants not only to make the brothers rich but the rest of the village, too.

It's only a matter of time before what begins as a jubilant homecoming sparks off a series of events that threaten to derail everything Roy holds dear, as long-buried family secrets begin to rise to the surface...
_________________________

PRAISE FOR THE KINGDOM:

'The Kingdom is a stunning novel from a storyteller with few equals' Daily Express

'Jo Nesbo remains the king of Scandicrime' Financial Times
'A stunning novel' Daily Mirror
'A sombre delight. There are shades of a Nordic Ripley, or maybe Virginia Andrews on aquavit. Choose your poison' The Times
'The latest stand-alone from the chronicler of Inspector Harry Hole puts all the murky, violent twists on brotherly love that you'd expect from this leading exponent of Nordic noir...' Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review)
________________________

READERS LOVE THE KINGDOM:

***** 'Intriguing, mysterious, full of suspense and as twisty as one of the roads up to The Kingdom' Netgalley reader

***** 'A gripping read... once it all starts to fall into place you can't put the book down!' Netgalley reader

***** 'To say I couldn't put it down is an understatement... One of my favourite books this year' Netgalley reader

***** 'A great read with plenty of twists and surprises...my book of the year so far' Netgalley reader

  • Published: 4 May 2021
  • ISBN: 9781784709105
  • Imprint: Vintage
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 656
  • RRP: $22.99

About the author

Jo Nesbo

Jo Nesbo is one of the world’s bestselling crime writers, with The Leopard, Phantom, Police, The Son, The Thirst and Knife all topping the Sunday Times bestseller charts. He’s an international number one bestseller and his books are published in 50 languages, selling over 45 million copies around the world.

Before becoming a crime writer, Nesbo played football for Norway’s premier league team Molde, but his dream of playing professionally for Spurs was dashed when he tore ligaments in his knee at the age of eighteen. After three years military service he attended business school and formed the band Di Derre (‘Them There’). They topped the charts in Norway, but Nesbo continued working as a financial analyst, crunching numbers during the day and gigging at night. When commissioned by a publisher to write a memoir about life on the road with his band, he instead came up with the plot for his first Harry Hole crime novel, The Bat.

Sign up to the Jo Nesbo newsletter for all the latest news: jonesbo.com/newsletter

Also by Jo Nesbo

See all

Praise for The Kingdom

Twisty /.../ Fans of classic noir such as Double Indemnity will be hooked.

Publishers Weekly, US

This standalone promises to be another disturbing thriller as only Nesbø can write them.

Amazon Book Review *12 must-read mysteries and thrillers coming this fall*

The latest stand-alone from the chronicler of Inspector Harry Hole puts all the murky, violent twists on brotherly love that you'd expect from this leading exponent of Nordic noir...The illusions of a family and its close-knit town constructed and demolished on a truly epic scale.

Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review), US

With echoes of such classic noir authors as Dorothy B. Hughes, James M. Cain, and Jim Thompson...Nesbo brilliantly uses the insularity of Roy's world, both internally and externally, to accentuate the Shakespearean inevitability of the impending tragedy.

Booklist, Starred Review

An engrossing, tense and atmospheric page turner

Essential Marbella

This being Nesbo there is plenty of deception, death and partial decapitation to come. No Harry Hole this time, but still a sombre delight. There are shades of a Nordic Ripley, or maybe Virginia Andrews on aquavit. Choose your poison

The Times

The pace is uncharacteristically gentle, which is well-handled by Nesbo. But it all ends up as enjoyably over the top as ever

Sunday Express

Jo Nesbo remains the king of Scandicrime.

Financial Times

Brilliantly chilling

Deirdre O'Brien, Best

The Kingdom is a stunning novel from a storyteller with few equals

Jon Coates, UK Press Syndication

Superbly written and magnificently chilling

Sunday Mirror

I read THE KINGDOM and couldn't put it down...suspenseful...original...this one is special in every way.

Stephen King

[A] mesmerising novel

Independent

A grippingly dark standalone thriller... Utterly compelling

Silversurfers

A truly stunning novel

Charlotte Heathcote, Sunday Express, *Summer Reads of 2021*

Discover more

Article
What you should read next based on your fave Netflix shows

Done binging the latest TV sensation? Pick up a book and keep the good times rolling.