Cover Reveal and Author Q&A: THE KINGDOM by Jo Nesbø
Available September 15, 2020
The stunning cover for one of Fall 2020’s biggest crime novels has arrived, and I am so honored to be able to reveal it here on Crime by the Book! In September, bestselling and beloved crime writer Jo Nesbø’s newest release will hit bookstores. THE KINGDOM is a standalone work of suspense that delves into the troubled relationship between brothers, and the deadly family secrets that they have been keeping for years. If you’ve been around Crime by the Book for even just a little bit, you will already know how obsessed I am with Jo Nesbø’s writing. He is hands-down my favorite author, and any new book from him is cause for celebration—but I am particularly excited about THE KINGDOM (and not just because its cover is killer!). Jo Nesbø is best known for his crime series featuring a troubled detective in Oslo, Norway, but THE KINGDOM is a standalone crime story that promises to explore a new side of Nesbø’s talent—and provide the perfect opportunity for readers new to Nesbø’s work to dive in and give it a try, too. This crime novel will explore universal themes of loyalty, family, and hidden secrets, all set against a rural, small-town backdrop that calls to mind the setting of Winter’s Bone. With each new Nesbø book I read, I feel like I am constantly discovering new sides of his crime writing talent, and I simply cannot wait to see what he does with THE KINGDOM.
Not only am I completely honored to be able to share the stunning cover for THE KINGDOM with you today, but I also had the incredible opportunity to ask Jo a couple of teaser questions about his newest release! In this blog post, you can catch the cover for THE KINGDOM, learn more about its plot, and get a little sneak-peek into the book from Jo Nesbø himself.
It’s an absolute honor to be able to share the stunning cover for THE KINGDOM with the CBTB community, and I cannot wait until we can get our hands on this book in September! If you are looking to explore more of Nesbø’s work while we wait for the release of THE KINGDOM, check out this blog post for recommended reading and a bit of background information on my personal favorite author. Otherwise, read on for more information on THE KINGDOM, and if it catches your eye, consider pre-ordering it here!
Cover Reveal
THE KINGDOM By Jo Nesbø
About the Book:
#1 New York Times best-selling author Jo Nesbø delivers an electrifying stand-alone novel about a dark family secret that tests the limits of brotherly love.
In a rural village deep in the mountains, mechanic Roy leads a quiet, simple life, but when his little brother, Carl, an entrepreneur, returns with a proposal for a grand hotel to revive the struggling town, dark secrets from their childhood threaten to resurface. As children, Roy defended his little brother against schoolyard bullies and vicious rumors, but his loyalty to family is tested when greed and betrayal saturate Carl's plans--not to mention when Roy's sister-in-law Shannon catches his eye. The farther he goes to protect Carl, the more Roy finds himself dredging up the town's shocking past. And when the town sheriff starts looking into Roy and Carl's parents' tragic deaths, Roy will have to reckon with how far he will go to protect his brother.
About Jo Nesbø:
JO NESBØ is a musician, songwriter, and economist, as well as a writer. His Harry Hole novels include The Redeemer, The Snowman, The Leopard, and Phantom, and he is also the author of several stand-alone novels and the Doctor Proctor series of children’s books. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Glass Key for best Nordic crime novel.
Author Q&A: Jo Nesbø
THE KINGDOM
CBTB: How would you describe the plot of THE KINGDOM if you had to do so in just one or two sentences?
Jo Nesbø: Two brothers with a dark family secret meet again at the farm where they grew up. The younger brother have a grand plan that he promises will make everybody in the village rich, while the older brother – who has fallen helplessly in love with his sister-in-law – does his best to hide what really happened years ago.
CBTB: What inspired your new book?
JN: Life, fiction, dreams and music.
CBTB: Who are the key players in this story? Could you introduce us THE KINGDOM’s protagonists?
JN: Roy is the narrator and older brother that stayed at the farm after his and Carl’s parents died. He is now in his thirties and is running the gas station. He is a down to earth man of few words and no close friends, but he is well liked and respected for the way he is running his business. He is single, has had two long affairs with married women, but the only woman he’s been in love with was his younger brother’s ex-girlfriend.
Carl is a charming, socially clever and smart guy who has returned with his wife Shannon from Canada. He wants to build a hotel in the village. He is received as a savior but nobody knows he is fleeing from a financial scandal.
Shannon is a strong, talented and sensible woman, an architect whose ambition is to build her masterpiece in the dramatic scenery of the highlands in rural Norway.
CBTB: THE KINGDOM is a story that delves into family dynamics and the relationship between brothers. Why did you choose to this focus for your new book?
JN: I’m sure having grown up with two brothers has something to do with it. There is this bond of loyalty that is so strong, and in this story that bond is tested to the extreme. So it’s the eternal question: given a moral dilemma, where you have the competing voices of your heart and your brain, what do you chose? What would YOU have chosen if you were one of the three characters?
CBTB: THE KINGDOM is a story set in a very small, rural town. How does this small-town setting contribute to the story? Are there differences between writing a crime story set in a city versus a crime story set in a rural community?
JN: When you have a story set in a confined space, where there is a distinct inside and outside universe, it creates a context in which the reader expects you to give them the main variables of the inside universe. The contract, I feel, is that there can be no new, surprising information or characters in the inside universe just entering the scene after the first act.
CBTB: Unlike your previous novel, Knife, THE KINGDOM is a stand-alone crime novel. How does writing a stand-alone story differ from writing a series installment?
JN: The arc of the story is different. There is no past you can’t change and no future you have to think of. Apart from that I write about the same things: love, murder, loyalty, greed, morality, lust and the fear of dying.
CBTB: What are you most excited for readers to discover in this book?
JN: Hopefully the landscape and mentality of this Norwegian hillbilly country will be as fascinating for the readers as it has been for me.
THE KINGDOM will be available on September 15, 2020, from your favorite bookseller! In the meantime, learn more and pre-order your copy at the link below:
Pre-Order THE KINGDOM
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