Slow start to this Scandi Thriller meant I almost gave up a third of the way through.
Happy that I don’t - very atmospheric, well written tale of murder and small town life.
Kjeld, a police detective receives a rambling call from his father whom he hasn’t spoken to for twelve year. Kjeld, currently on leave from work, travels back home.
Kjeld is surprised to find his father has advanced dementia and is being looked after by his sister Sara who quickly becomes annoyed with Kjeld about his treatment of their father over the years.
Kjeld eventually uncovers a body in the barn and then things take a turn for the worse with his father having a heart attack and Kjeld being attacked and left for dead.
Another story focusing on the local mining operations and the family that owns it becomes linked with Kjeld and his family.
No big surprises but a well written and enjoyable book.
3.5 Stars ⭐️
Thanks to #Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in return for a fair review.

Detective Kjeld Nygcot has cut himself off from his family. His career is on hold as he has been suspended after his last case went horrendously wrong and his relationship with his husband and daughter is at an all time low.
Then he receives a phone call from his father saying he has seen a murder in the barn where the ravens roost.
The local police have investigated but have found no evidence and his father is suffering from dementia. However, when Kjeld goes into the barn to have a look around he finds a human tooth in one of the nests and then a body is discovered.
Can Kjeld solve the murder before the police arrest his father?
Look forward to the next one!! Kept me guessing to the end.

Good first novel I. The Scandi noir genre. Kjeld is a dysfunctional detective under investigation after a case goes wrong who finds himself returning to his very remote family home when his father leaves him a voice mail asking for help after witness murder. It’s 12 years since Kjeld was home after an unhappy childhood culminated in an argument with his father that neither of them can forgive or forget. Except that his father now has Alzheimer’s and has forgotten much, including the murder he’d witnessed. The cast of characters is small which made it very easy to guess where the story was heading, especially the big mystery that led to the murder but I wasn’t completely sure until the murderer was revealed which one of them it actually was. This was incidental really as the story was intriguing and fast paced enough to encourage me to read it quickly. I look forward to reading more by this author.

Many thanks to the author, publishers and Netgalley for a free ARC of this ebook.
As the story opens it's a fairly standard Scandi Noir tale, a dysfunctional cop with lots of emotional baggage, a decent colleague, a body, and lots of ice and snow. So far, so ho hum. Now whilst I'd never say this book is fast paced, it moves at a pace that allows you to get to know the characters, the back story and much else besides. There is a detailed exploration of the impacts from dementia on a family. It's a great book, I really enjoyed it and very much look forward to reading more by this author.

This is a gripping thriller set in a small town in Sweden. The general writing and descriptions of the characters, and the cold landscape, are wonderful. The plot is intriguing - a body found buried in an old barn, a father with Alzheimer’s, his detective son with a troubled past, and his fractured family with dark secrets. Plenty of twists and turns to keep us guessing, and a surprising end. I was dismayed to find quite a lot of errors in the book – missing words, extra words, misplaced and missing commas which spoiled the flow of sentences etc – and if it hadn’t been for these I would have given 5 stars. I have kept a list to send to the publishers and hope they can be corrected before the release date.

Sweden has become the literary murder capital and this is another based there in the province of Jamtland. The village of Varuna is an isolated, introverted community which the lead character Kjeld left as soon as he could after growing up there to be a detective in Stockholm. He is back to see his sick father whom he fell out with many years ago. Kjeld is described as ‘broken and impassible’ (sic). The story shows that to be true. His childhood was dominated by tasks looking after his father’s ravens in the barn. They are prominent in the book and are described in great detail as well as giving the book’s title. During his return visit the body of a scion of a local important family is found in the barn. That sets of the story leading to a dramatic ending. The book is very descriptive but that gives it much of its character and appeal. It is a good read and I recommend it.

Excellent book. The detailed descriptions of atmosphere and surroundings make this novel brilliant. The characters are all flawed and each fight their own battles, turning them into potential murderers. I have suspected all and none and I have to say that it only took me two days to finish it because I couldn’t put it down. It is the pure dark noir Scandinavian captivating story that will stay with me for a long time.

This is a well thought out and brooding book with complex characters and family disputes. Detective Kjeld Nygaard suspended from Gothenburg Police pending an investigstion, receives a confused phone call from his estranged (and early onset) dementia father claiming to have seen a murder but there is no body to be found. Kjeld rushes to see his father to find out the truth. This is a dark but gripping book which draws you in as the plot progresses.

Kjeld receives are garbled voicemail from his estranged dad, something about a murder. What follows is a thriller that you see from the likes of Jo Nesbo.

The book has quite a slow pace that builds as the book nears its climax. Karin has a wonderful way with words that really makes you sense the cold landscape and the nervousness around the ravens.

In amongst the terrible family dynamics is Kjeld a detective who is running away from his daughter, the investigation into his previous assignment and running away from his family. His dad seems to hate him, his sister hates her life and less said about the freaky ravens the better. By the end he has and his family have some closure and Kjeld seems ready to face the world again.

I kind of guessed part of the ending but someone of it was a surprise. I look forward to reading more novels of Kjeld as the main character, and hopefully there will be a prequel as I really want to know what happened with him and his best friend.

Thank you to Netgalley and HQ digital so an advance copy of this book in return for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this debut novel from Karin Nordin, set in a small and very parochial town in northern Sweden.

Kjeld Nygaard is a Detective Inspector, currently suspended from his position, with the Gothenburg police, because of a problematic murder inquiry. He has received a confused phone message from his father, Stenar, in which he says he has witnessed a murder. As a result of a bitter argument it has been twelve years since they last met. Reluctantly, Kjeld heads home to the small town where he grew up. Stenar's allegation has been reported to the local Chief of Police, Ek, who has found no evidence of a crime. Kjeld, who has a checkered past with Ek, is not going to let the matter rest, if only because it provides an opportunity to wind Ek up. What he uncovers is a lot more than he bargained for.

This is a really well plotted thriller which gradually exposes family disputes and resentments, small town malice and gossip, corporate greed and manipulation. There are plenty of twists and turns as Kjeld's investigation proceeds.

The author skillfully brings the characters to life. Kjeld is difficult and self-absorbed. Esme, his police partner in Gothenburg, is feisty, funny and protective of Kjeld. Stenar is portrayed sensitively as an older man suffering the onset of dementia. Kjeld's sister, Sara, who cares for Stenar, is bitter and resentful. The supporting characters such as Ek, are equally well drawn.

The atmosphere of a dark Swedish winter in a small northern town really comes alive, with the ravens a constant brooding presence.

Where Ravens Roost is perfect for lovers of Scandi thrillers and thrillers in general. I really hope to read more about Kjeld in a future book.

Thank you to NetGalley and HQ Stories for an ARC in return for an honest review.

A gripping Scandi noir novel about a suspended Detective who returns to his home after an unusual telephone call from his father about a murder. This tale encompasses Alzheimer’s, family feuds and differences, a small Swedish mining community, plenty of troubled people with a dark atmosphere, and a lot of ravens. I found this book hard to put down and am looking forward to another by this author. Thank you for letting me read and review this book.

A debut Novel written by Karin Nordin, set in a small town in northern Sweden, the home town of main character, Kjeld Nygaard. Kjeld's father leaves a vague message with information about witnessing a murder in their barn, prompting Kjeld to drop everything and return to the mining town to find out what happened. While investigating the potential crime, Kjeld has multiple run-ins with the local police chief, an old friend with whom there is animosity which is to be explored.

As the plot develops, we are given an insight into a variety of complex family dynamics, involving secrets held for many years and how to manage when a parent is struggling with deteriorating health. As the secrets unravel, and the truth becomes clear, you become more and more invested in the plot.

Kjeld Nygaard has been written as an investigator with a troubled past, with a recent high profile case that has gone wrong. While I understand the purpose of having an event such as this to draw upon for the characters current mental state, I feel this has been done before, and repeatedly by many other similar novels, and so I wasn't thrilled to see it again. Initially I found the pace of the novel to be quite slow, with not much seeming to happen, and I almost lost interest. The pace definitely picks up and I found myself devouring the second half of the book!

This is so impressive as a debut novel, and I can't wait to see what Nordin does next.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book

Scandi Noir but with a slow pace, a story about Alzheimer's and lots of ravens. Too many ravens. They're the only characters at the start of the book and there's a lot of information about them which I found unnecessary as well as creeping me out. Guess that bit worked then!

The novel and plot are good but for me they were bogged down in detail and explanation of birds, inheritance laws and the backstory of the main character. When the novel focused on the crime and the reluctance of the police to investigate the ramblings of a mentally ill man, then it was classic Scandi Noir

I would read another from this author but this wasn't my favourite.

A good crime noir novel and very atmospheric. Well drawn characters and well written. Shows good promise and I will interested to read this author's next offering.
One huge plea to all authors-please, please, please can we ditch the Alzheimer's storylines? Typically not handled well and becoming ubiquitous. It was this that dropped a star for me-I was close to dropping two but that felt a bit unfair

Kjeld Nygaard receives a very garbled phone message from his father, Stenar, that he has witnessed a murder. Already on suspension following a complicated murder enquiry, Kjeld rushes back to his home town, a place he never really wanted to go back to, especially as he and his father had a falling out 12 years ago and hadn’t spoken since. The local police chief had been a childhood friend, but things had turned sour when they had worked together years ago. No body was found by the police but Kjeld can’t leave it at that. As he makes more waves locally things start to get more and more complicated for him.

This is an atmospheric piece, very well written, and the descriptions of Kjelds home town are excellent. It shows how complicated family relationships can be, how your memories shape you and those around you, especially when you blame yourself for not being good enough. Kjeld is a well drawn, if flawed character but his honesty and determination to not let his father down shine through, Family dynamics are complicated but this makes for an even more interesting read. For a debut novel this is an excellent read, and I’m really hoping this character will be developed further, I would be very keen to read this authors next book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

As soon as I started I had a Jo Nesbo feeling and was hooked. This gripping crime debut was absolutely perfect for me as I needed a story to get me back into reading after all Christmassy romance.
I will not be surprised if Karin Nordin will make this book into a series, following detective Kjeld Nygaard twisted life and uncovering more dark secrets.
The detailed descriptions of atmosphere and surroundings are what make this novel brilliant. Characters are all flawed and each fight their own battles, turning them into potential murderers. I have suspected all and none and I have to say that it only took me two days to finish it because I couldn't put it down.
Incorporating family drama and the life in a small town where people know each other and generations grew up following their parents footsteps without ambitions of their own, detective Nygaard feels like he doesn't belong. He always wanted to get out, become a police officer and leave as far as possible from his father and the ravens. He wanted that life to be put behind him and forget all that happened. But the past has a way of drawing you back and reveal its implications when least expected.
It is the pure dark noir Scandinavian captivating story that will stay with me for a long time.

A debut Scandi noir novel written by a US author. Detective Kjeld Nygaard is suspended for a period following a shooting in a difficult case when he receives a message from his father saying that there’s a body in the barn. He returns home to a small community in the north of Sweden to see what’s going on, but his father is in the early stages of Alzheimer’s so is there a body in reality?

What follows is a well-plotted gripping thriller, which exposes fractured family and community relationships as well as the more conventional investigation. It is well done and deals with the downsides of Swedish small town life in the dark cold north. There is the occasional infelicity, like the information dump explaining the difference between US and Swedish inheritance laws, rather than leaving the reader to infer this, and the big reveal was apparent from about halfway through, but overall this is a gripping read and I would read more from this author.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for a review copy.

This is a great book, set against a Scandinavian backdrop, I am delighted with netgalley for letting me read this debut, by a promising author.

This book is the very definition of Scandinavian noir. I love the dark, brooding atmosphere created by the desolate landscape, the small rural community and the troubled characters, not to mention the menacing ravens! This book is highly addictive, well paced and cleverly plotted. This is a brilliant debut novel and I can’t wait for the next book in the series.

Set against the bleak snow-laden Norwegian backdrop, Nordin has produced an immersive tale of past secrets and flawed family relationships, all wrapped up with a brutal imagery and compelling narrative that had me glued to my Kindle for most of the day.
Detective Kjeld Nygaard, suspended from the force, receives a garbled message from his father, Stenar. Someone has died. The who, where and when are less easy to define when Kjeld finally arrives in the dark mining village that was his home. His father has dementia and is unable recall the conversation. If only the ravens could speak...
This is going straight to the top of my favourite reads list for 2021. Reading a best seller in the making before the critics get their mitts on it is truly an honour. I have no doubt that this will be the first of many successes by this writer.