Synopses & Reviews
New York Times bestseller Jussi Adler-Olsen returns with the second book in his electrifying Department Q series. In The Keeper of Lost Causes, Jussi Adler-Olsen introduced Detective Carl Mørck, a deeply flawed, brilliant detective newly assigned to run Department Q, the home of Copenhagen’s coldest cases. The result wasn’t what Mørck—or readers—expected, but by the opening of Adler-Olsen’s shocking, fast-paced follow-up, Mørck is satisfied with the notion of picking up long-cold leads. So he’s naturally intrigued when a closed case lands on his desk: A brother and sister were brutally murdered two decades earlier, and one of the suspects—part of a group of privileged boarding-school students—confessed and was convicted.
But once Mørck reopens the files, it becomes clear that all is not what it seems. Looking into the supposedly solved case leads him to Kimmie, a woman living on the streets, stealing to survive. Kimmie has mastered evading the police, but now they aren’t the only ones looking for her. Because Kimmie has secrets that certain influential individuals would kill to keep buried . . . as well as one of her own that could turn everything on its head.
Every bit as pulse-pounding as the book that launched the series, The Absent One delivers further proof that Jussi Adler-Olsen is one of the world's premier thriller writers.
Review
“Adler-Olsen, Denmark’s leading crime fiction author, outdoes his outstanding debut,
The Keeper of Lost Causes, with his second Department Q novel.”
—Publishers Weekly, (starred review)
Review
"Adler-Olsen's humor and his portrayal of Kimmie's sad life make
The Absent One stand out among today's flood of Nordic mysteries."
—Kirkus Reviews
Review
"The Copenhagen-set sequel to
The Keeper of Lost Causes is quirky and wry."
—The Sacramento Bee
Review
"Adler-Olsen has created a wonderful addition to the detective fiction genre...Readers of detective fiction, international crime fiction, and suspense fiction will highly enjoy this thriller."
—Library Journal (starred review)
Review
“The pages fly by as the twisty puzzle unfolds. Stieg Larsson fans will be delighted.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review) on The Keeper of Lost Causes
Review
“[An] absorbing psychological thriller.”
— Library Journal (starred review) on The Keeper of Lost Causes
Review
“Comparisons [to Stieg Larsson] are inevitable and, while he may lack a Salander, Adler-Olsen’s prose is superior to Larsson’s, his tortures are less discomfiting, and he has a sense of humor.”
— Booklist (starred review) on The Keeper of Lost Causes
Review
“Plan on putting everything else in your life on hold if you pick up this book.”
— The Oregonian on The Keeper of Lost Causes
Review
“A relentless thrill ride of surprise, shock and terror.”
— The Sacramento Bee on The Keeper of Lost Causes
Review
“The new ‘it’ boy of Nordic Noir.”
— The Times, London on The Keeper of Lost Causes
Review
"
The Keeper of Lost Causes is the one I'd be most eager-and most reluctant-to loan."
— The Boston Globe on The Keeper of Lost Causes
Review
"
The Keeper of Lost Causes is dark, atmospheric, and compelling. Those who loved
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo will devour this book."
— C.J. Box
Review
“This series has enough twists to captivate contemporary mystery readers and enough substance and background to entertain readers with historical and literary tastes.”
—Library Journal (starred review) on A Conspiracy of Faith
"From the busy efforts of forensics to some riveting train-and-car chasing near the end, there is no lack of action in A Conspiracy of Faith."
—Houston Chronicle
“A shattering parable of honest individuals caught up in the corruption of our times.”
—Publishers Weekly (starred review) on A Conspiracy of Faith
“Comparisons [to Stieg Larsson] are inevitable and, while he may lack a Salander, Adler-Olsens prose is superior to Larssons, his tortures are less discomfiting, and he has a sense of humor.”
—Booklist (starred review) on The Keeper of Lost Causes
“Adler-Olsen, Denmarks leading crime fiction author, outdoes his outstanding debut, The Keeper of Lost Causes, with his second Department Q novel.”
—Publishers Weekly (starred review) on The Absent One
Review
Praise for A Conspiracy of Faith:
“A shattering parable of honest individuals caught up in the corruption of our times.”
— Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“This series has enough twists to captivate contemporary mystery readers and enough substance and background to entertain readers with historical and literary tastes."
—Library Journal (starred review)
“Compelling... impossible to put down the book.”
— Associated Press on A Conspiracy of Faith
"From the busy efforts of forensics to some riveting train-and-car chasing near the end, there is no lack of action in A Conspiracy of Faith."
—Houston Chronicle
Review
Praise for The Absent One:
“Adler-Olsen, Denmarks leading crime fiction author, outdoes his outstanding debut, The Keeper of Lost Causes, with his second Department Q novel.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“Adler-Olsen has created a wonderful addition to the detective fiction genre in his sleuth….While the book can be read as a stand-alone novel, readers will be unable to resist seeking out and devouring the first and subsequent series titles.” — Library Journal (starred review)
Review
Praise for The Keeper of Lost Causes:
“The pages fly by as the twisty puzzle unfolds. Stieg Larsson fans will be delighted.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“[An] absorbing psychological thriller.” — Library Journal (starred review)
“Comparisons [to Stieg Larsson] are inevitable and, while he may lack a Salander, Adler-Olsens prose is superior to Larssons, his tortures are less discomfiting, and he has a sense of humor.”— Booklist (starred review)
“Plan on putting everything else in your life on hold if you pick up this book.” — The Oregonian
Review
Praise for
The Purity of Vengeance: “[A] sordid tale… inspired by actual events during a dark period of Danish history. Ah, but there more, so much more in this frenzied thriller…” -
The New York Times Book Review "The Purity of Vengeance is an enjoyable and eye-opening way to learn about the real Scandinavia, a story so outrageous that not even the best mystery writer can make it up." - The Boston Globe
“When your series relies on cold cases, its not always easy to craft plots that have both historical interest and an air of urgency, but its something Adler-Olsen is very good at.” - Booklist
"Adler-Olsen merges story lines...with ingenious aplomb, effortlessly mixing hilarities with horrors...This crime fiction tour de force could only have been devised by an author who can even turn stomach flu into a belly laugh." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Another accomplished exercise in three-decker suspense" - Kirkus Reviews
"Surprises, twists and turns galore" - Bookreporter.com
Praise for Jussi Adler-Olsen's Department Q series:
“This series has enough twists to captivate contemporary mystery readers and enough substance and background to entertain readers with historical and literary tastes.” —Library Journal (starred review) on A Conspiracy of Faith
"From the busy efforts of forensics to some riveting train-and-car chasing near the end, there is no lack of action in A Conspiracy of Faith." —Houston Chronicle
“A shattering parable of honest individuals caught up in the corruption of our times.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review) on A Conspiracy of Faith
“Comparisons [to Stieg Larsson] are inevitable and, while he may lack a Salander, Adler-Olsens prose is superior to Larssons, his tortures are less discomfiting, and he has a sense of humor.” —Booklist (starred review) on The Keeper of Lost Causes
“Adler-Olsen, Denmarks leading crime fiction author, outdoes his outstanding debut, The Keeper of Lost Causes, with his second Department Q novel.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review) on The Absent One
Synopsis
The fourth book in his Department Q series,
New York Times bestselling author and Denmarks #1 crime writer Jussi Adler-Olsen returns with Detective Carl Mørcks most sinister case yet.
In 1987, Nete Hermansen plans revenge on those who abused herespecially Curt Wad, a surgeon who was part of a movement to sterilize wayward girls in the 1950s.
More than twenty years later, Detective Carl Mørck already has plenty on his mind when he is presented with the case of a brothel owner, a woman named Rita, who went missing in the eighties: New evidence has emerged in the case that sent Carl to Department Q.
But when Carls assistants, Assad and Rose, learn that numerous other people disappeared around the same weekend as Rita, Carl takes notice. Sifting through the evidence, they inch closer to Curt Wad, who is still committed to his twisted beliefs, and whose treatment of Nete only hints at his capacity for evil.
Synopsis
International superstar Jussi Adler-Olsen, with more than fourteen million copies of his books sold worldwide, returns with the fourth book in his New York Times bestselling Department Q series, about a perplexing cold case with sinister modern-day consequences. In 1987, Nete Hermansen plans revenge on those who abused her in her youth, including Curt Wad, a charismatic surgeon who was part of a movement to sterilize wayward girls in 1950s Denmark.
More than twenty years later, Detective Carl Mørck already has plenty on his mind when he is presented with the case of a brothel owner, a woman named Rita, who went missing in the eighties: New evidence has emerged in the case that destroyed the lives of his two partnersthe case that sent Carl to Department Q.
But when Carls assistants, Assad and Rose, learn that numerous other people disappeared around the same weekend as Rita, Carl takes notice. As they sift through the disappearances, they get closer and closer to Curt Wad, who is more determined than ever to see the vision of his youth take hold and whose brutal treatment of Nete and others like her is only one small part of his capacity for evil.
With The Purity of Vengeance, Jussi Adler-Olsen delivers a thrilling and shocking addition to his bestselling Department Q series.
About the Author
JUSSI ADLER-OLSEN is Denmarks #1 crime writer and a New York Times bestseller. His books routinely top the bestseller lists in Europe and have sold more than fourteen million copies around the world. His many prestigious Nordic crime-writing awards include the Glass Key Award, also won by Henning Mankell, Jo Nesbø, Stieg Larsson, and Peter Høeg.