This appeared last week in Shelf Awareness for Readers, and is reprinted here with permission.
In this second installment in the Department Q series (after last year’s excellent The Keeper of Lost Causes), Jussi Adler-Olsen wastes no time in hurling readers right into the action, with a suspenseful opening that portends a very bad outcome. Then the story cuts to Carl Mørck, the Danish detective whose laziness belies a sharp mind, receiving the file on a twenty-year-old double homicide that by all appearances is solved, with the confessed murderer in prison. It soon becomes apparent that the murders involved several other players still at large, including a homeless woman named Kimmie who’s elusive and dangerous. Mørck and his trusty assistant Assad decide to reinvestigate, and come face to face with people who would kill again to keep their secrets safe.
The story is structured so that readers know who the bad guys are early on. The draw is in rooting for Mørck and Assad to figure things out, and make the smug sociopaths pay for their crimes, perhaps in violent, painful ways. Adler-Olsen does make one of the gang surprisingly sympathetic, and it’s one of the author’s strengths—showing the humanity in even the vilest of people.
He’s also adept at injecting humor into a grim tale, like Mørck’s observation that another character’s “boozy breath was day-old, but of quality origin.” Assad continues to be a delightful sidekick who keeps revealing hints of a more sinister side. Each Department Q book is self-contained, but Adler-Olsen knows how to tease with serial details that will keep readers showing up for more.
Nerd verdict: Make Absent present on your reading list
10 Comments
jenn aka the picky girl
August 27, 2012 at 7:49 amI *just* started listening to this last night when I walked Maddie. Some audiobooks are a bit difficult to get into, but this one wasn’t at all. I never did read The Keeper of Lost Causes, but so far I think I’ll be fine with this one on its own. Glad it’s a good one.
Lauren
August 27, 2012 at 9:21 amKeeper was on sale for $2.99 at Amazon yesterday. Just a little FYI re one of my favorite reads of 2011. 🙂
Sarah RH
August 27, 2012 at 2:26 pmAwww! I missed it!!! =(
Lauren
August 27, 2012 at 2:59 pmThey took it down already? That’s nuts.
Sarah RH
August 28, 2012 at 7:22 amYup. I thought they usually kept them up a couple days. Oh well…
Jann
August 27, 2012 at 8:29 amYou know how shallow I am? I can’t get into any of the Scandanavian books because books with names I can’t pronounce annoy me. Perhaps I should try listening to it since it does sound intriguing.
le0pard13
August 27, 2012 at 9:35 amI always appreciate your book reviews, Elyse. As well, doing my due diligence, you’ve been nominated by me for a Liebster Award.
Julie
October 10, 2012 at 3:14 pmI loved this book and am excited for the next book which will be released early in 2013! This is a series that continues to amaze me.
Pop Culture Nerd
October 21, 2012 at 11:25 pmHooray! Hope it’s early next year. Do you know what it’s called?
Farin
October 22, 2012 at 12:52 pmIt’s called A Conspiracy of Faith.
(because I’m keeping as close a watch on it as you are–loooove!)