Blood Lies is a story about the lives and loves of brothers Roy and Carl Opgard and their businesses in tha small town of Os in Norway. A town in which 'man proposes and God laughs'.
It has all the gruesome twists and turns that we have come to expect from Jo Nesbo's crime novels and is an un-putdownable read from start to finish.

Tense thriller based on two brothers. The first half was very slow and I was tempted to give up, but it sped up as it went on. However, I didn't enjoy it as much as I expected to.
I hadn't read the book that this was the sequel to The Kingdom and I'm sure that would have helped.
Thank you to Net Galley for an advanced copy

Completely my fault did not know this was a book in a series and would have read book 1 had i realised
I still quite enjoyed it,the characters and the plot and would read more but will need to read Book 1 first

Didn’t realise this was a second episode for these characters and I didn’t enjoy it as much as his Harry Hole novels. Basically a tale of two brothers with a history of several murders but they keep escaping justice. It doesn’t really hang together for me but perhaps I was expecting too much after the author’s previous works. Disappointed.

Blood Ties Jo Nesbo

4 stars

What sins would you commit for family?

I have just discovered that this book is a sequel to The Kingdom, one of the few Jo Nesbo books that I have not read. However it was absolutely fine to read it as a stand-alone as the first few chapters set the scene.

The story revolves around two brothers, Roy and Carl Opgard living in a small town in Norway. Carl is the narrator throughout and his story is a grim one. Him and his brother have been responsible for 7 murders over the last ten years, some committed by Carl but the majority by Roy whilst covering up for his little brother. As the story progresses you can see why these crimes have been committed and even though there is never an excuse for murder I found myself sympathising with Roy to a certain extent.

The sheriff, Kurt Olsen, is absolutely positive of the guilt of the two brothers, particularly Roy, and especially as one of the victims was his own father.

The main story is one of Roy trying to escape being arrested and every time new evidence comes to light somehow he manages to turn the tables notably because nearly everyone else involved, including the sheriff, have also bad things to hide.

The title Blood Ties refers in particular to the relations between the two brothers and makes you wonder how far these ties will last under severe pressure.

I did enjoy this book but found it a little slow to begin with but it got better the further I read. I love Jo Nesbo as a writer although I do not think he will ever surpass his Harry Hole novels.

Karen Deborah
Net Galley

This started off a bit slow but picked up in the second half of the story. Two brothers, Roy and Carl, are quite interesting characters who have committed crimes in the past and the story is mostly told by Roy. It's about family ties, loyalty and the plot is certainly different but with few thrills along the way. I just failed to engage with the characters and found it all a bit dull. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

As usual, a crime novel that no-one else would think about writing. Great setting. Fantastic characters. Unique storyline. I loved it.
I received an advance reader's copy for free. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This is the sequel to “The Kingdom” which I haven’t read and I coped pretty well but I think in terms of character and plot development it would have helped if I had.

I enjoyed this story of the two brothers but it failed to draw me in as much as some of this author’s earlier books but it is still a high quality thriller.

Not my favourite Jo Nesbo but that might be because I didn’t read the previous book. I found it rather slow and in fact, I didn’t finish it. Sorry!

It took me a while to realise that I had read something very similar to this -‘The Kingdom’. ‘Blood Ties’ is the equally violent sequel. An elemental epic focusing on the relationship between two brothers. It seems almost biblical in tone and the story is well told through the eyes of the elder brother Roy. Heavy and portentous, but worth persevering with.

Blood Ties is the story of brothers Roy and Carl, and their life in the small town of Os. Roy owns the local garage and nightclub, and Carl the spa hotel.
This is a town where no one leaves, so relationships, vendattas, abuse and even murder link the main characters together.
I love Nesbo's crime books. This is something very different, epic and compelling.
Dark, claustrophobic and atmospheric, I couldn't put this down.

Following on from the events in The Kingdom, this epic novel continues the story of brothers Roy and Carl Opgard as they seek to increase their empire.

The isolated Norwegian mountain town of Os and its community is as much a part of the novel as are the brothers, expertly depicted in all its smalltown glory, it's one step away from becoming a ghost town if the planned new highway diverting traffic away from it comes into being. The Opgard brothers have other plans, but with more than one enemy waiting in the wings the past is looming.

This novel has everything I look for in a good read; great characters, good setting and a compelling storyline from start to finish. There is enough background information given to read this as a standalone novel but I'd definitely recommend reading both in order.

Its years since I read anything by Nesbo and in the past week I've binge-read two, The Kingdom and this one. I loved both of them equally, a master storyteller at his best.

Fantastic. Thrilling. I could not put it down. I read it over one weekend.
The book was my number one priority for 2 days!

This author needs no introduction as consistently delivers storylines of the highest order with diverse three dimensional characters who demand attention in every word, line and page. This storyline follows the hugely successful book The Kingdom which was a complete story in its own right. To have a follow up with same characters and extension to the storyline is possibly even more gripping than the first in the series., and was a pure joy even if read with enormously high expectations. It did not disappoint, to the contrary, delivering in bucket loads. Every emotion under the sun is drawn from the reader as we are introduced once again to a small community struggling to survive with alliances, vendettas and corruption forming the basis of everyday life. When the characters experience the highs and lows of their successes and disappointments we share their emotion . The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune occur with such regular intensity that we are in danger of becoming desensitised from the violence and tragedy. Cannot recommend too highly. This is a 5* read from first to last page and addictive to the point of binge reading. Huge appreciation and thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to review this ARC.

Blood Ties is the sequel to The Kindom, my favourite Jo Nesbo book.
With a similarly Shakespearean storyline Blood Ties continues the story of the sociopathic Opgard brothers Carl and Roy as the many sins of their past threaten to finally see them facing justice. In Carl's megalomaniac mind he's the self-styled King of Os,the small village full of people with good reason to want his demise. As the law closes in on him and Roy and his shady business practices come to light threatening to bring his empire down Carl becomes increasingly paranoid and driven to behaviour that even by his standards is truly appalling.
The book is written using Roy's voice,the more taciturn but no less evil brother and Nesbo skilfully manages to often elicit sympathy for a truly horrible character ,he does have his own version of a moral compass but it's more a case of the logic of the psychotic.

This is an excellent read, anyone who has ever lived in a small town where many of the inhabitants have grown up together will recognise many of the intrigues and complicated relationships in Os. Those who know the story of the Krays will see the similarities with the Opgard brother's complicated relationship,the totally unstable brother and the equally appalling one desperate for the more normal life that supporting his sibling means will never happen and he's forever on the verge of being dragged down with him.

I'd strongly recommend reading The Kingdom before this one ,it's not absolutely necessary but you'll get so much more out of this if you do.
Like The Kingdom this is dark and violent with a compelling plot,it's also Nesbo on top form,
Highly recommended.

I didn’t realise this is a follow up to a previous book until after I started, I find if they follow on it’s always better to have read the ones before, even if it could be read as a stand-alone, personally I enjoy it more. It’s a very slow burn and quite a long book. Not my favourite Jo Nesbo book but still enjoyable.

Blood Ties by Jo Nesbo
Out in the UK 26 September

Brothers Carl and Roy Opgard are big fish in a small pond, their Norwegian home town of Os. They’ve climbed their way up no matter what. Carl manages a spa hotel, Roy owns properties and now he’s planning an amusement park. But local sheriff Kurt Olsen is hot on their trail for murder.

Blood Ties is the follow-up to The Kingdom. It’s typical Nesbo, dark, twisty, full of angst. You find yourself cheering on the anti-hero even though you know it’s wrong. Unfortunately it’s let down a little by the amount of explanation from the first book. But it’s pacy most of the time, definitely a page-turner, and a lot of fun.

Thanks to NetGalley for this drc to review in my own words

To start I think would be easier if it was clear this book was already published under the name ‘The Kingdom’.

This is a classic Nesbo book and has nothing but tension, suspense and thrills.

I enjoyed the descriptions, character study and the overall plot.

I'm a big fan of books by this author and enjoyed Blood Ties which can be read on its own. I thought the first half was very slow going, which I struggled with and often wondered where the story would go. I'm glad to say the 2nd half of the book did pick up and become a more engaging read. The story follows two brothers who have committed past crimes and a Police Officer who is determined to bring them down, and is told mostly through Roy. How strong are the ties binding each brother? Will you protect family first whatever the cost? I quite liked Roy as a character, and also Natalie. The authors writing is good, the story flows well and in my opinion became more absorbing in the 2nd half. I feel that the thrills, suspense and atmosphere I'm used to from this authors books are quite lacking here. I really like the ending though, it gives good closure to the story. I did enjoy Blood Ties and would recommend it, I just don't think it's one of Jo Nesbos' best.

3 stars

A full review will follow on Lyric Lounge Review. Thank you to Netgalley and Vintage for an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.
This thriller, as one expects from Jo Nesbo, is a tense and compelling story about the ties that bind us, explored through the tale of two brothers and the town and women that they love. The characters are interesting and the plot is woven with dexterous skill that will make you want to devour the book as quickly as possible because of the intriguing twists and turns in the story. This is definitely a book to put straight on the top of your tbr pile.