Andrew K. (kuligowskiandrewt) - , reviewed on 8/27/2016 + 569 more book reviews

Many times, an author comes close to being great with their first novel in a new series, and manages to put it all together in the 2nd or 3rd book. The "problem", if you can call it that, is that I loved Jussi Adler-Olsen's first book in the Department Q series, "The Keeper of Lost Causes". It would have been difficult to improve upon that book. The fact that Mr. Adler-Olsen manages to stay close to that mark is noteworthy.

Our protagonist, Carl Mørck, the head of Department Q, is shown on the job and on the home front. (His co-workers are only shown / discussed on the job, with any hints that they have a personal life limited to conversations at work.) The other vantage points taken during this novel are those of Kimmie, a homeless woman who lives in and around Copenhagen's train station and those of a few of Denmark's most successful - and morally bankrupt citizens. Author Adler-Olsen keeps shifting the vantage point between those 4 perspectives, as they all begin to merge together into a tight and thrilling climax.

Not as good as "The Keeper of Lost Causes", but then, I didn't think it could be. Still enjoyable, though.

RATING: 4 stars.

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