Das Washington-Dekret

by Jussi Adler-Olsen

Durch den kaltblütigen Mord an seiner Ehefrau und dem ungeborenen Kind gerät der neu gewählte amerikanische Präsident Bruce Jansen völlig aus dem Gleichgewicht. Er erlässt das ›Washington Dekret‹ – eine politische Entscheidung, die schwerwiegende Folgen nach sich zieht für die gesamte amerikanische Bevölkerung.
Amerika im Ausnahmezustand …
Doggie Rogers, Mitarbeiterin im Stab des Präsidenten, steht nach dem Attentat unter Schock – nicht zuletzt, weil ihr eigener Vater nun des Mordes angeklagt wird. Auf der Suche nach der Wahrheit wird Doggie zur meistgesuchten Frau der USA. Mit Hilfe von Freunden versucht sie das Komplott aufzudecken. Alles ruht nun auf ihren Schultern …

Genres: Thriller, Fiction, Crime, Mystery, Suspense, Audiobook, Scandinavian Literature

656 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Jussi Adler-Olsen is a Danish author who began to write novels in the 1990s after a comprehensive career as publisher, editor, film composer for the Valhalla cartoon and as a bookseller.

He made his debut with the thriller “Alfabethuset” (1997), which reached bestseller status both in Denmark and internationally just like his subsequent novels “And She Thanked the Gods” (prev. “The Company Basher”) (2003) and “The Washington Decree” (2006). The first book on Department Q is “Kvinden I buret” (2007) and the second “Fasandræberne” (2008). The main detective is Deputy Superintendent Carl Morck from the Department Q and he is also the star of the third volume, “Flaskepost fra P” which was released in the fall of 2009 and secured Adler-Olsen ”Readers' Book Award” from Berlingske Tidende-readers, the Harald Mogensen Prize as well as the Scandinavian Crime Society's most prestigious price ”Glass Key”. The fourth volume in the Department Q series, “Journal 64” was published in 2010 and he was awarded the once-in-a-lifetime-prize of “The Golden Laurels” for this in 2011”. In December 2012 the fifth novel was published, “Marco Effekten".

Furthermore, Jussi Adler-Olsen was awarded “Favourite Author of the Danes” in 2011, 2012 and 2013 leading the organization behind to change the set-up, so the winner cannot be chosen more than once in a three year period.

Jussi Adler-Olsen's novels have had such an impact abroad, that he has also received a variety of awards there: ”The Sealed Room Award” in Japan for “Kvinden I buret”; ”Best Translated Mystery Novel of the Year”,”The Crime - Blitz Award 2011” in Germany for “Flaskepost til P” given to the best international crime, Elle magazine's French reader award: ”Prix de Lectrices the Elle” for “Kvinden I buret” as well as ”The Barry Award” in the US for “Kvinen I buret” that was elected ”Best Novel of the Year”.

His first novel “Alfabethuset” and the first four books of the Department Q series have been sold for film adaptation. “Kvinden I buret” premiered in 2013 and “Fasandræberne” opens in Denmark October 2014.

Reviews

[Paula K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jussi Adler-Olsen is a Danish author I was introduced to in 2013 with his translated police crime series Department Q. My local bookclub read the first in the series and we all loved it. Since then I have continued reading each installment as they have become available.

The Washington Decree is a stand-alone political suspense/thriller recently released in the US. Senator Bruce Jansen is elected to the US Presidency on the same evening of his wife’s assassination. The death of his wife changes him and all hell breaks loose with the US government in chaos. Soon we realize a plot is underway to take over the government by an ambitious and corrupt VP.

I found the plot to be unbelievable. The police state which US citizens have found themselves in is far fetched. Many of the events in the book were unlikely to ever happen. The 596 page novel should have been cut back to about 300 pages max.

I do recommend reading Adler-Olsen’s Department Q series for those that enjoy Scandi Nordic police mystery/thrillers.

Thanks goes to Netgalley and Penguin Group Dutton for the opportunity to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Original Danish publication date - 2006
US publication date - August 6, 2019
Review posted to Goodreads on October 2, 2019

[Mackey · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW – just WOW!! If there is one book that has knocked my socks off this year, it is The Washington Decree by Jussie Adler-Olsen! This is one action packed political thriller that must be read!

Adler-Olsen is most well-known for his Nordic Noir, Department Q series, which I admit that I adore. He is an incredibly talented writer who gives depth to all of his characters and The Washington Decree is no exception. The characters are so well drawn that I, literally, had a picture in my head of what they looked like, who they reminded me of, what their next course of action might be. It was as though they were people I actually knew well.

The Washington Decree introduces us to the main characters several years before the actual story takes place. However, though this introduction, we begin to get a feel for these characters’ personalities and how closely they are tied to one another. When the actual tale begins to unfold, this background is key to the hopeful outcome in the end.

In essence, this is a story ripped from today’s headlines. A president, a wealthy businessman, is overwhelmingly elected to office. However, on election night his wife is assassinated. Overwhelmed with grief, the president initiates a series of executive decisions that will alter the foundation of America’s political, economic and constitutional foundations. The result, of course, is panic and outrage that grows worse with each day he is in office until the very (!) climactic conclusion. In case you suspect that the book is written with America’s current president for an example, keep in mind that The Washington Decree was originally written in 2006 and only now is being translated into English. In addition, the president in question is a Democrat and not a Republican. It does, however, mirror today’s current events very closely, taking them headlong to their ultimate, tumultuous outcome.

ALL US citizens are subject to arrest and imprisonment without charge in the event of a “state of emergency.” Freedom of speech and the right of assembly may be suspended and censorship of the media implemented.

Just a little something that was appended at the end of the book but is, in fact, part of the government’s right in the event of an “emergency.” It is the right that FDR used in the 30s when he shut down the banks and government while crafting his New Deal. The right to executive decision has long been part of the US Presidential powers but never used to the extent that it has been under Presidents Obama and Trump. This is the premise to the book. Its characters, their actions, the re-action of the various groups and organization in America, were so perfectly depicted that I truly believed that this could happen today, right now. It was/is a terrifying read!

The book is not without faults; it is a long book and there are passages that I thought were unnecessary to the overall theme of the book. I also felt so strongly at times about some of the political actions that I had to set the book aside until I could objectively begin reading again. Regardless of your party affiliation or nationality, remember Adler-Olsen is not American, this is an incredible, gripping read and well worth getting to the end – which will knock your socks off!! Just when you thought it was safe to come out from underneath the bed…… that ending. Just WOW! WOW-WOW!

[Thomas · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars for a book that was bloated by about a third. 592 pages was too long by about 200 pages. I expected a murder mystery like the author's other books, but this book presented an apocalyptic version of the US government in chaos. He imagines a sinister plot to take over the government by one man, Thomas Sunderland, and indeed, points to a set of laws put in place setting up FEMA(Federal Emergency Management Agency). This agency usually handle natural disasters, i.e., hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, etc. But there are provisions in the event of a nuclear attack/ accident for FEMA to take drastic measures. So, while this is a possibility, the author spends way too long setting up his scenario. I almost didn't finish this book. I took 3 weeks to read it.
One quote from the White House: "This was the time of the year when life affirming signs of springtime were supposed to dispel the dark melancholy of winter, but it wasn't having any effect on him. Sitting in the world's busiest workplace, Wesley felt paralyzed, oppressed, and alone. Far from a new season of hope and renewal, this spring accentuated a feeling of self-hatred and despair that was in danger of engulfing him if he wasn't careful."
Thanks to Penguin Group for sending me this eARC through NetGalley. #TheWashingtonDecree #NetGalley

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jussi Adler-Olsen hits it out of the park with this fast-paced, disturbing political thriller! The main focus of this book is a president who becomes unglued after his very pregnant wife is murdered on the night of his election. This president abuses his power at every turn with a focus on cleaning up the US by taking away citizens rights one after the other. The Bill of Rights no longer has meaning.

I think this is so disturbing right now because of the totally unhinged president the US currently has in office who seems to make decisions by the seat of his pants and on his whim of the day.

This book was very fast-paced and I didn't want to put it down. I really like Adler-Olsen's Department Q series, but this book is in another league entirely. I really liked it and highly recommend.

[Monnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly, I'm not sure exactly how I feel about this book. No question it's well written and attention-holding (though perhaps a hundred-or-so pages more than really needed). What amazes me most, I guess, is that it was originally published in 2006; that it so closely mirrors the worst that's going on - or what could yet go on if what's happening now is carried to extremes given the current U.S. administration - is positively eerie. Consider, for instance, this quote from the book's President Bruce Jansen:

"From now on we're letting the world take care of itself while we take care of each other here in God's own country. Reforming our way of thinking will pave the way."

It's impossible to believe the author could have known back then who would be the U.S. President in 2018, I have little doubt that the similarities are the impetus for the book's re-release now. It's also worth noting that the author takes aim at the potential for abuse of power - citing in his notes at the end of the book the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which he calls a "shadow government" that has "unlimited authority in all crisis situations." That unfettered power, coupled with corrupt government leaders, is an open invitation to disaster.

But on to the story which, even if you aren't aware of what's going on in the United States right now, stands on its own quite well. Yes, it's a bit over the top when it comes to believability (especially given the time frame in which everything happens), but certainly not beyond the realm of possibility. The aforementioned Jansen, as the Democratic governor of Virginia, embarks on a trip to China with several of the other important characters in the book including "Doggie" Curtis, who won the trip and, as a Republican, somewhat reluctantly accepts. The two hit it off, and Jansen tells her to come to him if she ever needs help. Not long afterward, the unthinkable happens: Jansen's wife is murdered - sending him in an emotional tailspin.

Fast-forward to 2008, when Doggie is 30 years old and working on Jansen's presidential campaign. She and friend Wesley Barefoot, who was on the China trip as well, expect to get jobs in the White House - and they do. Jansen has remarried, and his wife is pregnant with their first child. And the unthinkable happens once again: During a victory celebration at a hotel complex owned by Doggie's father, the president-elect's second wife is murdered. Worse, Doggie's father, once an outspoken opponent of Jansen, is arrested for the murder and sentenced to death.

Emotionally shattered once again, the new President makes his acceptance speech, in which he surprisingly deviates from his prepared text to announce "great and radical" changes. His proposal, in fact, pretty much kills the U.S. Constitution; and it's pretty clear he's serious. To say that all hell breaks loose from this point on would be an understatement. The media is gagged, military folks roam the streets to maintain order and "fringe" groups threaten uprisings. Worse, the political leaders and staff in Jansen's administration who don't agree with what he's doing either claim to support him outright or refuse to voice their objections in fear of retaliation.

Doggie finds herself at odds with the "new" laws as well as not at all certain that her father really is guilty as charged. But can she prove it? A direct encounter with Jansen's vice president not only puts her at odds with the powers-that-be, but on the run and not knowing who to trust. It's a wild ride with many twists and and a very surprise ending (as an aside, I think this would make a very good motion picture).

My conclusion? If you read this book wholly as a work of fiction - or if you don't give a hoot about current politics or don't live in the United States - it's likely you'll find it a very intriguing story on its own. While I've always leaned toward the no-hoot position, what's going on today has me in such a dither that it was tough for me to not worry even more that my country is headed down a slippery slope similar to what happens here. Now, besides thanking the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance review copy, all I can do is try to put everything in these pages behind me and continue to hope that there is hope.

[Semjon · Rating 1 out of 5]

Abbruch nach 30 %.

Ein Däne schreibt einen Roman über die Anfälligkeit des US-amerikanischen Staatssystems. Vielleicht mag das Gedankenspiel, dass ein demokratischer US-Präsident gleich nach der Machtübernahme ein faschistisches Staatswesen einrichtet, bei Erscheinung dieses Buchs vor sieben Jahren interessant gewesen sein. Aber vier Jahre Trump boten interessantere Geschichten als diese haarsträubende Fiktion. Die zurückliegenden Jahre haben uns auch gezeigt, dass das demokratische System schon eine gewisse Stabilität besitzt. Wo sind die vollmundig angekündigten Maßnahmen, die uns vor vier Jahren noch ein Horrorszenario an die Wand malen ließen? Es ist nicht so einfach, dass ein Präsident mal eben so ein Dekret veröffentlichen kann, dass die Freiheitsrechte der Bevölkerung mit einem Handstreich einschränkt. Da gibt es Institutionen, die auch ein Wörtchen mitzureden haben.

Wenn man als Autor schon ein Gedankenspiel auf der Grundlage einer realen Situation vornimmt, dann muss man sich auch mit diesen Gegebenheiten auseinandersetzen und kann sich nicht die Welt stricken, wie sie einem gefällt. Das Ganze liest sich wie eine etwas ausführliche Bearbeitung eines Drehbuchs für einen mittelmäßigen Politthriller. Vielleicht hätte ich mir die Verfilmung des Plots sogar angeschaut zum sinnlosen Zeitvertreib. Aber als Roman ist es einfach hanebüchener Blödsinn, gespickt mit klischeehaften Figuren. Wer der Drahtzieher hinter der Geschichte ist, ist spätestens nach 50 Seiten klar. Die falschen Fährten sind so offensichtlich falsch, dass es schon lachhaft ist. Meine Vermutung, wer der Böse ist, hat sich dann auch bestätigt, als ich die letzten 10 Seiten des Buchs dann doch noch gelesen habe. Wie gut, dass ich nicht mehr Lebenszeit darin investierte. Da hat der Autor mit seinem skurrilen Kommissar Mørck einen großen Erfolg auf dem Büchermarkt, dann müssen natürlich auch die Frühwerke des Autors nachträglich nochmal herausgebracht werden. Der Name Adler-Olsen wird dem Buch schon zum Erfolg verhelfen. Die Rechnung ging ja auch auf für den dtv. Der Lektor wurde wahrscheinlich per Dekret des Verlagsleiters in den Hauskeller gesperrt während der Veröffentlichung.

[Ernst · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sehr starker Politthriller und seit wir Trump kennen, im Handlungsverlauf gar nicht so abwegig. Hatte ich als Hörbuch, ganz nach meinem Motto „man muss nicht alles lesen, wenn es bequemer auch geht.“

Olsen ist kein Sprachkünstler, aber seine Plots sind teilweise, wie hier, sehr raffiniert und mitreißend gebaut und haben etwas filmisches, ein weiteres Argument für die Hörversion. Ich habe auch 2 Bücher von ihm gelesen, da stolpert man dann doch über manche allzu banale Formulierungen, die sich im Audiobook mühelos ausblenden lassen, solange es nicht zuviele sind und das ist bei ihm eigentlich nicht der Fall.

Natürlich hat der Roman zahlreiche Ungereimtheiten, aber so wie bei einem Roland Emmerich Blockbuster oder einem spannenden Dan Brown Verwirrspiel konnte ich mich auf diese near Future Dystopie gut einlassen und war bestens unterhalten.

Tipp: Olsen immer als Hörbuch!

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dark thriller about the US going from a democracy to autocracy.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

It would have been much more pleasant to read this newly translated book when it was originally published in Denmark in 2006, so I could have tut-tut-ed over how ridiculous the plot was. Now, it seems all too realistic, depressing and frightening, and reminds one that it is possible things could even get worse in the United States.

The novel begins in 1992 when Bruce Jansen, the Governor of Virginia, suggested a new geography quiz show he would help fund. The winners would get to accompany him, his staff, and an official Chinese delegation on a trip to China. Those on the trip included single mother Rosalie Lee, who won first prize; a small-town sheriff, T. Perkins, who came in second; and in third place, 14-year-old Dorothy “Doggie” Rogers. Others on the trip included Jansen’s wife Caroll, his right hand man Thomas Sunderland, NBC journalist John Bugatti, Jansen's secretary, and her son, Wesley Barefoot. Disaster struck however, when an assassin killed Caroll Jansen.

Bugatti, trying to comfort Doggie, told her:

“Listen, Doggie, what happened will bind us all closer together. Because of what we’ve experienced today, we belong together from now on. All of us: you and me and T. Perkins and Rosalie Lee and Wesley. Do you understand?”

The story then advances sixteen years, to 2008, and indeed, the little group has all stayed together in a way, or at least stayed in touch with one another. Doggie and Wesley worked for Jansen on his successful presidential campaign. Thomas Sunderland acted as Jansen’s campaign manager. Then improbably, tragedy struck yet again. The night of the presidential victory, while celebrating at a hotel owned by Doggie’s father, Jansen’s beautiful and very pregnant second wife Mimi was shot and killed. Doggie’s father was arrested and put on death row.

Other horrific acts of gun violence around the nation convinced the new president that radical action was needed. When the story picks up a year later in 2009, Jansen, via “The Washington Decree” has declared a “state of emergency,” emasculating Congress, curtailing the press and the legal system, and establishing “a new form of law and order in American society.”

As Wesley, now the president’s press secretary, ruefully saw it, these changes restricting citizens’ freedoms constituted “a frontal attack on practically the entire Bill of Rights.” It was all deemed necessary however, for "national security." Violent attacks continued, with members of the very top levels of the government as victims. Some of those attacks were committed by the paramilitary organizations that were springing up with renewed energy across the country, but others were apparently the acts of lone domestic terrorists and snipers. No one was safe, whether children or the elderly. Checkpoints and roadblocks were everywhere. Surveillance at all levels was instituted. No one felt free to dissent, especially those inside the White House.

T. Perkins didn’t understand the logic of what was happening, and thought:

“But what the hell difference did it make, whether they understood or not? No one had any say in the matter as long as the President, the National Security Council, Homeland Security - and thereby also FEMA - agreed and had control over the generals so the National Guard and military could keep the country in a vise of emergency laws.”

And therein lay the crux of the problem for the country.

Doggie mused:

“…even though people were united in their horror at what was taking place in their beloved country, things were moving so fast that notions of solidarity quickly yielded to the primal instinct of self-preservation.”

As the story advances to a thrilling denouement, full of twists and turns, no one knows whom to trust, who is safe, and who will survive.

Discussion: One can’t help thinking of the horror of this story when one wakes up to tweets from President Trump, such as on May 4, 2018, reading: “Democrats and liberals in Congress want to disarm law-abiding Americans at the same time they are releasing dangerous criminal aliens and savage gang members onto our streets. Politicians who put criminal aliens before American Citizens should be voted out of office!” [This is coupled with new efforts to restrict the vote and to oppose limits on partisan redistricting abuses.]

One can only hope some people in power read this, and consider it a cautionary tale to help them find the courage to put the rule of law over the rule of party.

Evaluation: While some of the twists seemed apparent, that still didn’t diminish the exciting tension and readability of the story, especially when the pace picks up toward the end.

Rating: 3.5/5

[Bill · Rating 1 out of 5]

Why are so many people giving this book high reviews? The plot is so unrealistic and the characters are terrible. If you have read "This Can't Happen Here" or know anything about American History, the way the story is unfolding is just ludicrous. Trying to drag through this Adler-Olsen was boring me to death...even the beginning of how these characters met was terrible. It is like JAO just tossed together some weird story line.

"Doggie" and Rosalie Lee?? Come on....it is like JOA has never stepped foot in America before. Just terrible....Done reading Adler-Olsen after this and the last Dept Q novel.

[Tanja Berg · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a hugely disappointing political thriller. Not the type of book I would normally read, but this is Jussi Adler-Olsen! Of course I must read it. I wish I hadn't.

This is a long and winding story about what is essentially a plot against the United States of America. It explores a grief crazed president's catastrophical leadership. There are some nice characters, such as Doggie. Her father ends up on death row, accused of killing the President's pregnant wife. Doggie doesn't know what to believe.

This book failed to at any point truly grab my attention and I am glad it's over.

[Matthew · Rating 1 out of 5]

The review that I just submitted to the Penguin First To Read website, verbatim:

Dear Penguin Publishing Group,

It's clear that you selected this book for republication in English at a time when its subject matter, an autocratic President, would resonate with the American public. The concept is established well by the author. However, that's the only reason I would give this book any more than 0 stars. The devolution of a national crisis to executive action, with conspiratorial undertones throughout–that's right in my political-thriller reading interests. The tantalizing tidbit that it's a Democratic President who brings this about, instead of the current resident of the White House, made me interested to see how the author went about it. That this novel was written in 2006 was a bit of a drawback, but after the previous Republican President, I could see how it might be an interesting story. However...

I beg you not to publish this book, especially in the form (a galley proof?) that I was provided as an advance reading copy. The execution of the concept is awful, to say the least. The book is far too long, probably by 200-300 pages, for the plot and action conveyed. There are numerous inconsistencies throughout that plot and action, in some places as if the author forgot what he wrote maybe a hundred pages previously. One of the lead characters is named Dorothy, which is itself statistically improbable in the U.S. after "The Wizard of Oz" was adapted for the movies, and then the author nicknames her "Doggie"? The author's depiction of a black family in the Bronx is outright stereotyped and racist. There are a number of Britishisms mixed with their Americanism counterparts that will be off-putting to the American reading public ("sacked" instead of "fired," "flat" instead of "apartment"), especially for a novel set in the U.S. That might be attributed to the translator, who seems to have selected what is simply the wrong word in many locations where it's clear what the author intended to say, and the translated words would be vaguely similar but convey a very different meaning. It took me a while, but I finally recognized that the name of one of the militias, "White-headed Eagles," should actually have been translated as "Bald Eagles"–we don't call them "white-headed eagles" in the U.S.

Unbelievably, after a long slog through eventually irrelevant details, the entire backstory and plot are summarized in Chapter 40. Authors worth their salt don't just dump the entire story on the reader in a fraction of the book's chapters, scattered at the beginning and the end of the novel, with the bulk of relevant and motivating information delivered just prior to the conclusion. If I was to recommend this novel to friends, not only would that lose me many friends, but I would still insist that they read only the first five and last five chapters–the remainder of the novel is useless and inconsequential filler.

Was I the novel's editor, I would be far more heavy-handed than this author's editor dared to be. I would strip the story down to probably four of the written chapters, have those chapters rewritten for clarity, and have someone else (not the original author) rewrite the rest of the story around those key plot points. I would bring the story into the Trump era, which is far more plausible than a Democrat instigating a national emergency. I would rely far more heavily on the author's Appendix than the author seemed to do, and with a broader scope on the repercussions among the American public. But with all of that, it would be my novel instead of the present author's, "based on a concept by" that author.

I urge you not to publish this book. This novel needs heavy editing and rewriting if you're aiming for the sophisticated political-thriller-reading American and British public. Otherwise, you'll tax their (our) patience with all of that off-topic filler and the numerous mistranslations. You have the opportunity here to damage the writer's reputation as a "New York Times Bestselling Author" (I have never heard of him before, but that doesn't necessarily mean anything). You have the opportunity here to damage the reputations of both the translator and the novel's editor (if there was one, which isn't at all clear from the finished product). And finally, you have the opportunity to damage your own reputation as a publisher of laudable (let alone salable) political thriller fiction that captures the American public's imagination and provides a culturally relevant point of discussion about what's really going on around here right now.

Sincerely,

Matthew Garcia
matt.e.garcia@gmail.com

[Magdalena · Rating 4 out of 5]

SWEDISH REVIEW

Låt tänka sig att en världens mäktigaste män, efter att ha minst sin fru, skulle få för sig att genomdriva kontroversiella reformer, som innebär hårdare lagar, genom att t.ex. det skulle vara förbjudet att äga ammunition och att fångar som skulle avrättas inte längre hade en rättighet att förhala eller överklaga beslutet det utan att alla som stod på listan att avrättas skulle göras det, med en avrättning om dagen. Låt säga att denna man är USA's president som såg sin gravida fru bli skjuten till döds, och har nu fått nog och har satt ner sin fot för att med hårda lagar stoppa våldet. Hur ska man stoppa en man som har så stor makt, där alla som sätter sig emot Washingtondekretet plötsligt dör, eller mystiskt ändrar sig?

Washingtondekretet, är en intressant och välskriven politisk thriller. En kompakt bok på över 600 sidor om hur även ett demokratiskt land som USA kan korrumperas om nu någon med tillräckligt med makt och pengar skulle vilja det. Boken är 10 år gammal men känns väldigt aktuell, speciellt när man tänker sig USA idag som står inför ett nyval där Donald Trump kan bli nästa president eller när man ser på vad som händer i Turkiet. Washingtondekretet må vara fiktion, men jag kan lätt tänka mig att det skulle inte vara svårt för en man, med storhetsvansinne att få ett demokratiskt land att bli mer en diktatoriskt stat.

Men man märker snart i boken att någonting inte stämmer och det tröjer inte längre förren det uppstår spännande vändningar och avslöjanden i boken och några människor, som Doggie Rogers, inser snart att det pågår saker bakom kulisserna som de i sina vildaste fantasier inte hade räknat med.

Spännande läsning, dock kände jag ibland att jag skulle vilja skynda på handlingen en aning då vissa delar av boken var lite mindre intressant att läsa än andra delar. Men i stort sett var boken mycket bra och jag älskade slutet!

Tack Albert Bonniers förlag för recensionsexememplaret!

ENGLISH REVIEW

Imagine that one of the world's most powerful men, after losing his wife, would enforce controversial reforms that would mean tougher laws that for instance forbids people to own ammunition. And, prisoners that are locked up for executions would not have any rights to delay or appeal the verdict. Instead, one prisoner on death row would be executed every day. And, the newspapers would be censored. What if this man was the president of the United States and that he saw his pregnant wife get shot to death? And, now he has had enough and has decided to stop all the violence. How, do you stop a man that has so much power that if anyone is against the Washington decree is killed or mysteriously change his mind?

The Washington Decree is a very interesting and well-written political thriller. It's a compact book of over 600 pages about how a democratic country like the US can be corrupted if somebody with enough power and money has the willpower to do it. The book may be 10 years old, but it feels very much up-to-date when you think about the fact that the US will soon choose a new president and one of the candidates is Donald Trump (sorry my American friends, but this is something I just can't fathom) or just look at Turkey. The Washington decree may be fiction, but it would not be hard for a man, with delusions of grandeur to turn a democratic land into a dictatorial state.

But not everything is that simple in the The Washington decree. There are some twist and turns and some people, like Doggie Rogers, soon realize that perhaps there is more going on behind the scenes, then they could imagine in their wildest dreams.

The book was thrilling to read, although I sometimes felt an urge for the story to pick up the pace when some part of the book felt less interesting to read than other parts. But, the book was still very good and I loved the ending!

Thanks to Albert Bonniers förlag for the review copy!

[Bruce Hatton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This 2006 standalone from the author of the quirky and original Department Q series is a totally different kettle of fish from the work he’s done subsequently.
A political thriller set in the U.S. On the very evening Virginia senator Bruce Jansen is elected to become the next President, his second wife Mimi is murdered. Two months later, when he takes office, he enacts a whole draft of draconian law and order measures, much to the dismay of his liberal-minded staff and supporters.
The story largely centres around Dorothy “Dottie” Rogers, a member of Jansen’s staff. She’s known the now President since an earlier trip to Beijing, when the then Senator’s first wife was also murdered. Dottie finds herself totally at odds with the new policies, especially since her father, hotelier Bud Curtis, is accused of masterminding Mimi’s murder and is on Death Row. She becomes a wanted fugitive herself after assaulting the vice-president.
Another wanted fugitive is Dottie’s friend, gay investigative journalist John Bugatti who is in possession of newsreel from the fatal day which could exonerate Curtis and identify the real culprits.
Most of the action takes place against the backdrop of a country under martial law and in a state of social collapse. It is a very long novel and does tend to drag at times. However, the action scenes, when they occur, are very thrilling. Considering the upheavals in U.S. politics over the past few years, this could be seen as somewhat prescient. There is something resembling a happy ending, albeit with sinister undertones.

[Skip · Rating 3 out of 5]

A prophetic book, originally published in 2006, Adler-Olsen writes about a United States President, who after seeing his pregnant wife killed on election night, decided to take on the gun lobby not by banning guns, but by making ammunition wildly expensive and having stockpiles illegal. Surrounded by cabinet members and Congressional leadership who have been victimized, laws are easily passed, especially when opposition is eliminated, such as the free press. The central characters are White House staffers, who fear for their lives, forced to work with fringe characters and old friends to expose the truth. Not as good as the Department Q/Carl Morck series: this book suffers from letting the readers learn the truth and then telling them what they've already learned.

[Janelle Janson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many thanks to Dutton Books for providing my free copy of THE WASHINGTON DECREE by Jussi Adler-Olsen - all opinions are my own.

This is an action-packed political thriller that at times is eerily realistic, especially during today’s political climate. And even though this book is a BRICK, it read very quickly!

Virginia Governor, Bruce Jansen’s first wife was stabbed to death at a public event in China. Sixteen years later, on election night, his second wife, Mimi Todd Jansen was gunned down and killed. Jansen is traumatized but assumes office as President anyway. The President makes some radical changes such as switching off the Internet, banning guns for private citizens, gagging the media, lining military in the streets, and increasing surveillance of citizens. Paramilitary militia groups are in uprising because of these decisions, but a number of Jansen’s cabinet support him. Or at least they pretend to, as some of the political leaders don’t say outwardly that they disagree. The father of Dorothy “Doggie” Rogers, who is on Jansen’s staff, is arrested for arranging Mimi Todd Jansen’s murder...but is he the guilty party?

Alder-Olsen is a very talented writer, but my only concern is the book probably needs to be cut down around 50 pages. The characters are extremely well-developed and I could see every scene vividly in my imagination. This book would definitely make a great movie! The parallels to this story and the current U.S. president are very interesting as Jansen was a wealthy business man who overwhelmingly took the office of president, not to mention the act of making radical decisions such as using executive orders to change the foundation of freedoms and laws. And for the record, this novel was originally written in 2006 and was just now translated to English - so it’s pretty spooky. THE WASHINGTON DECREE is very fast-paced, incredibly gripping, and entirely plausible with a very exciting ending!

[Laura Knaapen · Rating 2 out of 5]

The president is either nuts or being taken for a ride. He shuts down congress, the supreme court, and takes over everything. Anyone who gets in the way is eliminated. Others decide to save their lives and just go along with things.

The first half of the book was too long and repetitive. The story didn't get interesting until the chase was on to capture the main character or save the world.

I started to not like the book when they staged an explosion in Madison that landed debris in Lake Mandota and Landon Street (their errors). Plus, what self-respecting female professional would let herself be called “Doggie”? Maybe if the book wasn't written by a guy from Denmark, I might have accepted the premise more. His forward and afterword kept pushing this as more than meer fiction, but a possible, likely scenario...which I don't buy. The ending didn't help.

Please stick to Department Q.

[Patricia Doyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nothing. Nothing in this story was predictable. Often I was on the edge of my seat. It was that feeling of dread that I felt … almost like watching a scary movie. The crescendo of what-happens-next kept increasing with each page. There was no such thing as predictably.

The author creates President Jansen, a man seemingly gone mad, and Vice President Sunderland, also unhinged, mounting volatile chaos in America, along with radical policies that change, displace, and replace those akin to democracy. Catastrophe follows catastrophe. Panic follows panic. It is disturbing, very disturbing.

Impressive is the Danish author’s knowledge of the American political and governmental systems, although this book by no means takes a political side. Also impressive is how he’s thought of ostensibly everything that could go wrong in this radical new government as the dominoes kept tumbling.

Just as important to me in this book is the AFTERWORD—a must … no, mandatory read. It in detail describes FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and it’s all reaching powers. The American people are not informed as to the degree those powers reach. Executive Orders that are at FEMA’s disposal make FEMA more powerful than Congress and even the President. Frightening indeed.

This gripping and powerful book is now one of my favorites. It deserves more than five stars. I’m so grateful to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. It is genius, Mr. Adler-Olsen, pure genius.

[Kelsie Maxwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Washington Decree was my first experience with author, Jussi Adler-Olsen and I’m torn. I liked it and I didn’t. The book is a little long; the story could have been developed much quicker. The characters were a bit underdeveloped. The premise is interesting but I don’t think there was complete follow through. The storyline was thought provoking, especially in light of the current political climate. Most importantly, I was surprised by the broad powers that have been granted to FEMA in the novel and in the real world. You learn something new every day.

I was chosen to read an advance copy of this book as part of Penguin's First to Read program. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.

[Paula Lyle · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is one of the dumbest books I've read in a long time. There is nothing remotely believable about anything that happens. It is casually sexist over and over again. None of the characters are remotely likable or believable. Give this a hard pass.

I read this because I love the Department Q series, next time I'll wait for one of those.

[frold · Rating 1 out of 5]

Puha en omgang crap - for at bruge et et amerikansk ord.

Jeg ved ikke, hvad Jussi vil med denne bog? Den store internationale bestseller på den Hollywoodsk' scene? Drømme om endnu en filmatisering...

Jeg synes det er pinligt at læse en bog af en dansk forfatter, som så gerne vil være SÅ amerikansk (og ucharmerende) i alle henseender.

Den var slet ikke mig.

Det bedste er jeg fik slæbt mig igennem, så kan jeg endelig komme igang med en ny bog. Ser frem til Selfies - men denne her var et fejlskud.

[Randal White · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not enjoy this novel at all. Too many unbelievable acts, complete lack of reality in what Congress, the Secret Service, and the country would do to stop an out-of-control Presidential administration. One example: in what world would an administration allow the daughter of the man suspected of ordering the killing the President's wife continue to work closely with the President in the White House? And that's just one example. The book is full of them. And the ending is so obvious! I rarely say that I regret reading a book, but in this case, it's true.

[Diogenes · Rating 2 out of 5]

A disappointment from a superb author.

After greatly enjoying his other novels, this was lacking in many ways. There were idioms and colloquialisms that didn't ring true, many psychological aspects were either stereotypical or false, and the story wasn't enough fill the overly high number of pages.

Written over ten years ago, it's recent translation and release seem opportunistic vis-à-vis the current political situation.

[Jch · Rating 2 out of 5]

Couldn't finish. Needed editing. Love Dept Q but this was awful.

[Maria · Rating 2 out of 5]

Un 2.5 pentru idee.

[Inga · Rating 2 out of 5]

In den Rezensionen zu Jussi Adler-Olsens kürzlich in Deutschland erschienenem Polithriller Das Washington Dekret schwingt allenthalben Enttäuschung mit. Das Fazit der meisten: Der Roman reicht keinesfalls an die Carl Mørck Krimis heran.
Dabei muss man klar berücksichtigen, dass Das Washington Dekret bereits 2006 veröffentlicht wurde und damit zu den frühen Werken des Autors zählt. Wie bereits in meiner Rezension zu Das Alphabethaus erwähnt, ist Adler-Olsens Schreibstil nicht immer berauschend. Ich habe Das Washington Dekret als Audiobook gehört, daher waren die stilistischen Patzer nicht ganz so gravierend. Auch die Darstellung der Charaktere ist ihm hier sicher nicht so gut gelungen wie bei seinem Dezernat Q.
Der Geschichte liegt eine durchaus interessante Idee zugrunde: Ein neuer Präsident wird in den USA gewählt und versucht nach tragischen persönlichen Verlusten auf drastische Weise Gewalt und vor allem den Schusswaffengebrauch in den USA einzuschränken - ein Thema das aberwitzige Aktualität hat vor dem Hintergrund des letzten Amoklaufs in einer Schule in Connecticut im Dezember 2012.
Natürlich hat dieser Versuch fatale Folgen, Waffenlobby und anderen Interessensgruppen rufen zum Widerstand auf, schrittweise verwandelt sich die USA in einen totalitären Überwachungsstaat.
Wäre so etwas wirklich möglich? Man fürchtet sich sogar, die Frage mit "Vielleicht?!" beantworten zu wollen. Aber es wird alles wieder gut.
Der Roman beleuchtet die Story sowohl aus der Sicht des inneren Zirkels des Präsidenten als auch aus der Sicht einiger Einzelpersonen, die sich schnell von alledem distanzieren. Schritt für Schritt wird der Komplott aufgedeckt, der die Ereignisse ins Rollen brachte und der Drahtzieher identifiziert. Der Showdown findet zu einem Zeitpunkt statt, an dem bereits alles klar ist - ich habe ihn nicht als spannend und vor allem auch die Nachsätze zum Geschehen als zäh empfunden.
Alles zusammen kann auch ich dem Roman keine besonders positive Kritik geben, hier wird im Zuge der Erfolgswelle des Autors sicher mit einem schwachen Frühwerk Geld gemacht.

[Susana789 · Rating 3 out of 5]

2020: začiatok roka, pokus o "niečo ľahšie". Nájdená kniha ktorá podľa popisu mala zadanie spĺňať. Okolo strany 150 som začala mať čitateľské deja-vu. Ale uprostred noci v záchvate nespavosti som bola lenivá kontrolovať či som to videla alebo čítala. Po preverení so zistila, že som to "čítala". Snaha o dočítanie vyústila do upevnenia dojmu z roku 2018: keď si nepamätám, že som to čítala, nebolo to dobré, napínavé. Dúfam, že do tretice sa o to pokúšať nebudem.
2018: Za mňa skôr čitateľské sklamanie ako thriller, lebo napätie sa akosi nekonalo. Dej sa pohol až po cca 200 stranách (30 percentách obsahu) a potom sa aj na chvíľu rozbehol, ale v okamihu potreby dramatického klimaxu ho autor utopil v ďalšom opise motivácie konanie hlavného padoucha, tipovala som ho od začiatku, takže ani tu body nepripisujem. Keby to malo menej strán, rýchlejší spád a viac sa ponechalo na prácu čitateľa s obsahom ... ale to bude už iná kniha od iného autora.

[Ken Fredette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, you wouldn't think a guy from Denmark would be so knowledgeable about politics in the U.S.A., but he scored right on for me. He put them all in a contest at the beginning of the book and made them into the people who would work well with each other when they need the help. Doggie Curtis was the youngest of the contestants at 14 years of age, Rosalie Lee won the first prize and T. Perkins came in third. They were all to travel to China with Governor Bruce Jansen as guests all paid for by the Governor, his wife was murdered then. Ten or so years later Doggie is working for the Governor who is now running for President. Her daddy is inviting him to one of his hotels during the final vote when Bruce Jansen's wife is shot and killed. The story goes on from there but you can be sure of one thing, you'll be horrified with how thing happen.

[wally · Rating 1 out of 5]

i've stopped at the 22%-mark kindle library loaner not going any further, this story is terrible. first from adler-olsen for me and i doubt there's anything available that i'd want to read after this debacle.
glanced at a few reviews and strangely they gush how great this story is, how they see parallels to the trump administration! and how prophetic this man is...written in 2006? published last year? that should tell you something right there. heh! the writing has subjects verbs, this that the other but that's about all it has. was going to keep plowing through, curious how it resolves, though the signposts so far leave little doubt. meh. don't bother.

[Ellinor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Das Buch liest sich sehr spannend, war mir aber an vielen Stellen viel zu konstruiert. Das ganze Setting ist sehr unwahrscheinlich und durch die vielen Figuren, vor allem die unterschiedlichen Politiker, habe ich sehr lange gebraucht um mich einzulesen. Zwar werden am Schluss alle Ereignisse in einen logischen Zusammenhang gebracht, dennoch ist das Buch nur durchschnittlich. Lediglich der Epilog hat für mich noch einiges herausgerissen.
Hoffentlich konzentriert sich Jussi Adler-Olsen in Zukunft weiterhin auf die Sonderdezernat Q-Serie, die wirklich klasse ist!