Last Good Man

Reminiscent of Dan Brown, this major Danish bestselling and award-winning novel centers around the mysterious murders of “good” men and women around the world, and the Danish detective who must solve the riddle—before he becomes the next victim.In Jewish scripture, there is a legend that at any given moment there are thirty-six righteous people on earth. The thirty-six protect all of us. Without them, humanity would perish. But the thirty-six do not know that they are the chosen ones…

In Beijing, a monk collapses in his chamber, dead. A fiery mark—a tattoo? a burn?—has spread across his back and down his spine. In Mumbai, a beloved Indian economist, a man who served the poor, dies suddenly. His body shows the same mark. Similar deaths are reported in cities around the world—the victims are all humanitarians—all with the same death mark.

In Copenhagen, police are preparing for a world climate summit when they receive an Interpol alert: “good people” are dying under bizarre circumstances. Veteran detective Niels Bentzon is called to investigate. Bentzon is ready to dismiss the assignment, but then he meets Hannah, a brilliant astrophysicist mourning the death of her son. With Hannah’s help, the pair begin to piece together the puzzle of these far flung deaths, and a pattern emerges. There have been thirty-four deaths—two more to come, if the legend is true. And Bentzon and Hannah can predict the time and place of the final two. And the time is now.

Masterfully blending religious legend and breathtaking plot twists, The Last Good Man is truly a standout thriller.

"With a rich brocade of charged emotion and a hero with grit and determination, The Last Good Man never disappoints. This one has everything I look for in a thriller--history, secrets, conspiracies, action, adventure, and international settings. Check this one out, you're going to love it."—Steve Berry, New York Times-bestselling author of The Amber Room and The Columbus Affair

“A mind blowing novel . . . with a spectacular ending.” —Pleine Vie (France)

“Breathtaking.”—Ekstra Bladet (Denmark)

“So tight and exciting that the pages fly through your fingers.”—Fredericia Dagblad (Denmark)

“The buzz thriller of the season.”—L’indépendant (France)

“A.J. Kazinski spins the web of suspense ever tighter, and the reader becomes irrevocably trapped in its web… An unbelievably good ending.”—Hamburger Abendblatt (Germany)

"The Last Good Man is a vivid, powerfully written adventure, where religion and science are melded into an impassioned brew."—Juan Gómez-Jurado, author of The Moses Expedition and The Traitor’s Emblem

“A fast-paced, smartly plotted book … with a cast of lively and likable characters.”—Kirkus

“Intense…. Moments of rapid-fire suspense… A truly compelling and worthwhile journey.”—Associated Press

“How does one find two exceptionally--and genuinely--good people--and then protect them? The fear that question provokes--because what if there are no really good people left? Or what if there's no protection to offer the few who do remain?--is what makes this book so terrifyingly compelling. The answers it offers, however, make for a quietly inspiring read.”—Oprah.com

"The buzz thriller of the season."--L'indépendant (France)

In Jewish scripture, there is a legend: There are thirty-six righteous people on earth. The thirty-six protect us. Without them, humanity would perish. But the thirty-six do not know they are the chosen ones.

In Beijing, a monk collapses in his chamber, dead. A fiery mark—a tattoo? a burn?—spreads across his back and down his spine. In Mumbai, a beloved economist, a man who served the poor, dies suddenly. His corpse reveals the same symbol. Similar deaths are reported around the world—the victims all humanitarians, all with the same death mark. In Venice, an enterprising Italian policeman links the deaths, tracing the evidence. Who is killing good people around the world?

In Copenhagen, police are preparing for a world climate summit when they receive the Interpol alert. The task falls to veteran detective Niels Bentzon: Find the “good people” of Denmark and warn them. But Bentzon is a man who is trained to see the worst in humanity, not the good. One by one, people are crossed off his list. He senses their secrets and wrongdoings.

Just as Bentzon is ready to give up, he meets Hannah Lund, a brilliant astrophysicist mourning the death of her son and the implosion of her marriage. With Hannah’s help, Bentzon begins to piece together the puzzle of these far-flung deaths. A pattern emerges. It is, they realize, a perfectly executed plan of murder. There have been thirty-four deaths—two more to come if the legend is true. According to the pattern, Bentzon and Hannah can predict the time and place of the final two murders. The deaths will occur in Venice and Copenhagen. And the time is now.

In Jewish scripture, there is a legend: There are thirty-six righteous people on earth. The thirty-six protect us. Without them, humanity would perish. But the thirty-six do not know they are the chosen ones.

In Beijing, a monk collapses in his chamber, dead. A fiery mark—a tattoo? a burn?—spreads across his back and down his spine. In Mumbai, a beloved economist, a man who served the poor, dies suddenly. His corpse reveals the same symbol. Similar deaths are reported around the world—the victims all humanitarians, all with the same death mark. In Venice, an enterprising Italian policeman links the deaths, tracing the evidence. Who is killing good people around the world?

In Copenhagen, police are preparing for a world climate summit when they receive the Interpol alert. The task falls to veteran detective Niels Bentzon: Find the “good people” of Denmark and warn them. But Bentzon is a man who is trained to see the worst in humanity, not the good. One by one, people are crossed off his list. He senses their secrets and wrongdoings.

Just as Bentzon is ready to give up, he meets Hannah Lund, a brilliant astrophysicist mourning the death of her son and the implosion of her marriage. With Hannahs help, Bentzon begins to piece together the puzzle of these far-flung deaths. A pattern emerges. It is, they realize, a perfectly executed plan of murder. There have been thirty-four deaths—two more to come if the legend is true. According to the pattern, Bentzon and Hannah can predict the time and place of the final two murders. The deaths will occur in Venice and Copenhagen. And the time is now.

A. J. Kazinski is the pseudonym of Anders RØnnow Klarlund and Jacob Weinreich. Klarlund is a self-taught director and screenwriter whose 1999 film The Possessed caught the attention of Weinreich, who approached Klarlund with an idea for collaboration. Weinreich, a graduate of the National Film School of Denmark, is a screenwriter and novelist. He has published three novels for adults and more than 20 books for young adults. Both men live in Copenhagen with their families.