The New York Times and #1 internationally bestselling author of The Keeper of Lost Causes delivers his most captivating and suspenseful Department Q novel yet—perfect for fans of Stieg Larsson. Detective Carl Mørck of Department Q, Copenhagen’s cold cases division, meets his toughest challenge yet when the dark, troubled past of one of his own team members collides with a sinister unsolved … members collides with a sinister unsolved murder.
In a Copenhagen park the body of an elderly woman is discovered. The case bears a striking resemblance to another unsolved homicide investigation from over a decade ago, but the connection between the two victims confounds the police. Across town a group of young women are being hunted. The attacks seem random, but could these brutal acts of violence be related? Detective Carl Mørck of Department Q is charged with solving the mystery.
Back at headquarters, Carl and his team are under pressure to deliver results: failure to meet his superiors’ expectations will mean the end of Department Q. Solving the case, however, is not their only concern. After an earlier breakdown, their colleague Rose is still struggling to deal with the reemergence of her past—a past in which a terrible crime may have been committed. It is up to Carl, Assad, and Gordon to uncover the dark and violent truth at the heart of Rose’s childhood before it is too late.
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This was the least enjoyable book in the Department Q series for me. It was confused, confusing, fractured in narrative, The narrative was also psychologically disturbing, dealing with the emotional abuse, as young girls, of several characters. The charm found in the characters was not sufficient to counteract the darkness in this case, and I felt the book was overall a failure, though the writing remained good.
An amazing book. Hard to put this book down Adler-Olsen is a wonderful writer
I’m a fan of Scandinavian mysteries
Not nearly as good as the preceding books in this series but a satisfactory read.
Typically good read.
This Danish author is tremendous. This series is excellent work.
I esteem Jussi highest among the Nordic Noirs’ – Nesbø, Lars-Keppler, Indriðason, Larsson, Jonassón – because he flavors the frame around his gristle with a joi de vie and wit I find as a bit of sorbet between tastings, hey.
Department Q doesn’t signify ‘Quirky’ but…
Led by the perfectly toasty but buttery Detective Carl Mørck and seconded by pitch perfect Clouseau/Watson by-way-of-Mossad hybrid Assad, the team truly soars with a touch of wild Rose, the gal Friday – who takes center stage here.
If you’re new to Jussi – I jumped in with 2007’s The Keeper of Lost Causes and was hooked. From there you’re best served going forward to The Absent One, A Conspiracy of Faith… and onward.
I wouldn’t jump in here. It’s a good yarn providing deep back story on a favorite character, but not the best place to start your live affair with one of Denmark’s best exports!
5 stars
Former police officer Marcus Jacobsen is reading the newspaper one day and notices an article about sixty-seven year old Rigmor Zimmermann’s murder. Her body was found in a park. Marcus is struck by the similarity of an earlier crime. Surely the current police force would have checked the history to look for similar cases. Right? He calls his old subordinate Carl Morck and asks him to take over the case from homicide.
Carl is having problems with his current boss Lars Bjorn. For some reason Bjorn is trying to sabotage Department Q. He reports to the politicians and the commissioner that Carl’s department is only clearing 25% of their cases, when the truth is they are clearing 65%. Bjorn already has plans to shut down Carl’s department.
Rose, Carl’s unpredictable and volatile secretary, is having her own problems. She is splitting apart mentally. She finally checks in to the local mental hospital. Carl, Conrad and Assad join with Rose’s sisters and after reading her journals learn quite a bit about Rose’s tragic past. Her volatility and dressing like her sisters is only part of it. Carl wants this valuable member of his team to come back to them.
Carl goes straight to the commissioner and with him is the judicial committee made up of local politicians. They are having a meeting. Carl bursts in and shows the commissioner his statistics. The commissioner is surprised. Supremely happy that he has cut Bjorn off at the pass, he is surprised to discover Olaf Borg-Pedersen from Station 3 news in his office. They want to follow him around for a bit. Bjorn has already approved it. Carl has a great plan to turn it on Bjorn and completely mess up his day.
Meanwhile a social worker by the name of Anne –Line Svendsen (and prefers to call herself Anneli), is tired of her useless and complaining clients. She discovers that she has breast cancer and decides to take revenge upon the useless of society; women in their late twenties who have been on social for quite a while and are completely uninterested in getting work or getting off benefits. She is going to kill them by running them down with stolen cars. Her plan proceeds apace, but she makes some mistakes. She is very cunning and smart, however, and seems to land on her feet.
Meanwhile three of the “girls” on Anneli’s list are planning something big to get money. But things go wrong. Rose gets into more trouble.
I simply love Jussi Adler-Olsen’s novels, especially the Department Q series. I like Carl, Assad and now Conrad. I’m not too sure about Rose, for I haven’t quite figured her out yet. She is entertaining and interesting, that’s for sure. Carl has a real sense of justice and fights exhaustively for his victims and his department. Assad is a mysterious figure from the Near East. He has a shadowy background about which he doesn’t talk. Carl is constantly amazed and left wondering about where Assad learned his many skills. Conrad is learning his job and coming along just fine. Rose is just Rose. This book is extremely well written, plotted and translated. I take my hat off to the translator William Frost who has done a remarkable job. The reader meets many people in this book; some you like and some you don’t.
There are many twists in this story, so hang on to your hat and strap in for the ride. We have a myriad of people all with their own motivations. Circumstances throw them together in interesting way. They try to extricate themselves from their troubles, some to good effect, some not so good.
Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant…
All books in this Dept Q series are great. The detectives are quite an unusual team
W/personality quirks BUT relentless in pursuit of solving mysteries.
As I am only about 125 pages into this book, I am basing my review based on that and my opinion of all of the rest of Adler-Olsen’s books that I’ve read. And, have read all that have sold here in the U.s. As soon as I finish the latest book, I dread having to wait for the next one. I thoroughly enjoy the Department Q characters, stories, and etc.