Jo's writing always draws you in and this is no exception. However, this book, an the one before it (The Kingdom) don't compare to the Harry Hole series.

He obviously enjoys writing flawed characters, and the lead character in this book. Roy, is certainly that. Yet unlike with Harry Hole it's very hard to feel a connection to Roy. I found the tone and story in both books quite dark and depressing.

This book picks up where The Kingdom left off, with brothers Roy and Carl and their dysfunctional relationship. If you've read The Kingdom then it's worth reading Blood Ties too to see where to story ends. If however you love Harry Hole and are expecting something similar, this is not it.

Nesbø’s stand-alones tend towards the Shakespearean in their structure, and this slow-burn rural noir is no exception. It reminded me of Thomas Savage’s western The Power of the Dog in some ways (all good), and the translator perfectly conveys Nesbø’s wry word-play for English readers. I also enjoyed the rollercoaster-related technical details!