Richard R. (rpr) reviewed The Keeper of Lost Causes (aka Mercy) (Department Q, Bk 1) on + 3 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
A very entertaining book with some fresh, eccentric characters. I enjoyed this quite a bit even though the story setting up 'Dept. Q' is very reminiscent of what Nesbo used starting the Harry Hole series. I'll definitely look for more in this series.
Andrew K. (kuligowskiandrewt) -
Helpful Score: 1
What do you do with a good, but damaged (physically and emotionally) cop whom no one wishes to work with? You take advantage of government funding and create a brand-new department for him alone (and keep the rest of the money in your own budget). Let the guy handle Copenhagen's (and maybe all of Denmark's) cold cases, allowing him a small basement office and an assistant whose immigrant background allows him to settle for menial work while his intelligence makes him a valued member of the team.
Jussi Alder-Olsen has created an engaging premise to a new series, in which Carl Merck and his Department Q (in other words, Carl and his assistant Assad) investigate the case of a rising political star who vanishes from a ferry between Denmark and Germany 5 years beforehand. Did she commit suicide? Was she murdered? Or, as the reader will quickly realize (especially if they read the dust jacket), perhaps she's not even dead yet
Alder-Olsen also manages to successfully manage jumping around various locations and even times without confusing the reader certainly a challenge that has stymied other writers.
I picked up this book simply because of its locale I'd never read a mystery set in Denmark. I plan to pick up the next one because the author impressed me, regardless of setting.
RATING: 5 stars.
Jussi Alder-Olsen has created an engaging premise to a new series, in which Carl Merck and his Department Q (in other words, Carl and his assistant Assad) investigate the case of a rising political star who vanishes from a ferry between Denmark and Germany 5 years beforehand. Did she commit suicide? Was she murdered? Or, as the reader will quickly realize (especially if they read the dust jacket), perhaps she's not even dead yet
Alder-Olsen also manages to successfully manage jumping around various locations and even times without confusing the reader certainly a challenge that has stymied other writers.
I picked up this book simply because of its locale I'd never read a mystery set in Denmark. I plan to pick up the next one because the author impressed me, regardless of setting.
RATING: 5 stars.
Ron K. (WhidbeyIslander) -
Slow to get going and jumps back and forth in time, but picks up steam eventually. Carl is a not someone it's fun to spend 400 pages with, though. He is what used to be called a Male Chauvinist Pig, although he does treat his Syrian assistant decently. I thought it was too long and there were some plot holes along the way, and a few too many non-essential characters. Even though Denmark isn't that vast a country, it would have been helpful if the publishers had included a map to help follow the action. Not a failed book, but could have been tighter and better.
Eadie B. (eadieburke) -
Copenhagen's police department created a new department called Q in the basement of their building. It is headed up by Carl Morck, a flawed policeman that nobody wants to work with. He is given an immigrant named Assad who is suppose to do menial work but his intelligence is very helpful to Carl. Department Q is in charge of cold cases and one case catches the eye of Carl. It is a liberal woman politician who has been missing for 5 years. Some surmise suicide or murder but she may still be alive. Carl and Assad are bound and determined to find out.
This book has a very interesting plot but the story moved very slow for me. I don't know if it was the translation but the book was very wordy and could have used better dialogue. Carl and Assad were unique but the other characters seemed very stilted to me. I switched to the audio version and that worked better for me. I will continue with the series and I would recommend to those who like mystery noir from Denmark.
This book has a very interesting plot but the story moved very slow for me. I don't know if it was the translation but the book was very wordy and could have used better dialogue. Carl and Assad were unique but the other characters seemed very stilted to me. I switched to the audio version and that worked better for me. I will continue with the series and I would recommend to those who like mystery noir from Denmark.
John M. reviewed The Keeper of Lost Causes (aka Mercy) (Department Q, Bk 1) on + 93 more book reviews
Very good read, the author was new to me and that is actually why I requested the book. I will be reading as many more of the Adler-Olsen books as I can find.
Leah G. (LeahG) reviewed The Keeper of Lost Causes (aka Mercy) (Department Q, Bk 1) on + 320 more book reviews
I read this book because it was on someone's wish list and I'm glad I did. I could not put this book down. At first I kept wondering why he brought certain characters to light, and then it quickly meshed and kept me on the edge of my chair until the end.
Joan W. (justreadingabook) reviewed The Keeper of Lost Causes (aka Mercy) (Department Q, Bk 1) on + 1726 more book reviews
This was a pretty good read, a new department is created to move a problem officer and becomes the center for old unsolved cases.
He is good at working alone and solving hard cases.
Lots of thinking and details in this storyline, you will find yourself wondering and trying to work it out.
Will give book 2 a go!
He is good at working alone and solving hard cases.
Lots of thinking and details in this storyline, you will find yourself wondering and trying to work it out.
Will give book 2 a go!
Becca C. (becca21) reviewed The Keeper of Lost Causes (aka Mercy) (Department Q, Bk 1) on + 5 more book reviews
I usually don't do reviews but I really liked this one... prompted me to buy a bunch rather than wait for them to be wish listed :)
Kathy G. reviewed The Keeper of Lost Causes (aka Mercy) (Department Q, Bk 1) on + 329 more book reviews
All in all a good book. Figured out the bad person quickly but rest of story plot kept me interested to see how everything was going to work out. Had humor in it too and I enjoyed it, because it made me laugh. Good book.
Meriam B. reviewed The Keeper of Lost Causes (aka Mercy) (Department Q, Bk 1) on + 130 more book reviews
Interesting twist. Well written with clear characters. Read more in this series
