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Department Q #6
Verheissung
Siebzehn Jahre lang hat Polizeikommissar Christian Habersaat vergeblich versucht, den Tod einer jungen Frau aufzuklären, die kopfüber in einem Baum hängend aufgefunden wurde. Kurz nachdem er Carl Mørck um Hilfe gebeten hat, kommt er auf schockierende Weise ums Leben - und nur wenig später sein Sohn. Die Recherchen des Sonderdezernats Q führen nach Öland, zu einer obskuren »Akademie für die Vereinigung von Mensch und Natur«. Carl Mørck und seine Assistenten ahnen nicht, dass sie sich in tödliche Gefahr begeben ...
608 pages, Paperback
First published September 3, 2015
1186 people are currently reading
8476 people want to read
About the author
Jussi Adler-Olsen
44 books5,335 followersJussi 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,523 reviews
December 1, 2020
(B+) 76% | Good
Notes: After a promising start the bottom falls out and it chases its tail like a single-minded dog. Also, hippies are not scary.
Notes: After a promising start the bottom falls out and it chases its tail like a single-minded dog. Also, hippies are not scary.
June 29, 2020
I guess I am now officially hooked on this series. I love the setting in Denmark and the way the Danish place names roll off the tongue. I really enjoy all of the characters and I was pleased to see in this book that Hardy has achieved some small improvements in his life.
The Hanging Girl opens in a very dramatic fashion although I was unable to visualise how the hanging part was actually achieved. I know it was explained later but I still couldn't come to grips with it. Anyway it was dramatic and pictorial and really set the scene for the rest of the book.
There was a lot of good, painstaking police work, some gruesome deaths and a few near death experiences but everything came good in the end with Assad and Carl becoming closer friends than before. We are steadily inching towards some kind of explanation of Assad's real life story. I am looking forward to that!
The Hanging Girl opens in a very dramatic fashion although I was unable to visualise how the hanging part was actually achieved. I know it was explained later but I still couldn't come to grips with it. Anyway it was dramatic and pictorial and really set the scene for the rest of the book.
There was a lot of good, painstaking police work, some gruesome deaths and a few near death experiences but everything came good in the end with Assad and Carl becoming closer friends than before. We are steadily inching towards some kind of explanation of Assad's real life story. I am looking forward to that!
September 23, 2015
Series just gets better. I thought I had it figured out but I was very wrong. Lots of twists in this. Really good reading. I like how Adle-Olsen uses humor with his characters and how he gives a glimpse of Danish life thru his writings.
If you hadn't read the others in the series, I'd say start at the beginning with The Keeper of Lost Causes. It helps with some of the support characters and also, why Carl is the way he is. Highly recommend.
If you hadn't read the others in the series, I'd say start at the beginning with The Keeper of Lost Causes. It helps with some of the support characters and also, why Carl is the way he is. Highly recommend.
November 12, 2021
In this 6th book in the 'Department Q' series, Detective Carl Mørck investigates a murder that occurred 17 years ago.
*****
Detective Carl Mørck heads Department Q of the Copenhagen Police Department. Department Q, a sort of orphan division that investigates cold cases, is confined to a cramped basement and staffed with police oddballs, including Carl's invaluable assistants Assad and Rose.
Carl, who was gravely injured in an incident that killed one colleague and paralyzed another, prefers to laze around, drink coffee, nap, and avoid work. Thus, when Detective Christian Habersaat asks for assistance with a 17-year-old cold case involving the death of a beautiful girl named Alberte, Carl refuses.
Habersaat, whose life was ruined by his obsession with the case, commits suicide the next day. Rose is horrified and bullies Carl into investigating Alberte's death.
Carl and his colleagues gather Habersaat's massive collection of 'Alberte files' and painstakingly go through them. They eventually find a poor, grainy photo of a man beside a van and expend great effort to discover who the man is and how he was connected to Alberte.
During their inquiry the detectives speak to Habersaat's family and colleagues, and to Alberte's relatives, friends, and teachers. Many of these people are oddly hostile and uncooperative.
A parallel story line involves a nature-worship cult headed by a charismatic leader called Atu Abanshamash Dumuzi - a man who's oddly irresistible to women.
This has unfortunate consequences because Atu's assistant Pirjo carries a huge, unrequited torch for him and will do anything to get rid of the competition.
For me, this book isn't as successful as previous books in the series. The plot is disjointed and Department Q's inquiries are too drawn out and tedious. I also feel that the characters aren't as engaging as usual. Assad - with his warm heart, confusion with idioms, crazy driving, and intuitive detective work - is still a fun, memorable character.
Rose, however, doesn't exhibit her usual kooky, multiple personality traits and Carl's interactions with his friends, colleagues, ex-wife, and ex-stepson aren't as compelling as usual. Moreover, many of the ancillary characters are too self-centered or psychopathic to be sympathetic.
The book can be read as a standalone but readers unfamiliar with the previous books may be confused about some characters and situations. All in all this is a pretty good mystery with lots of unexpected twists. The story ends with a dramatic climax that leads to a satisfactory conclusion. I'd recommend the book to people who like mystery books, especially fans of Jussi Adler-Olsen.
You can follow my reviews at http://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com/
November 28, 2018
'Are you actually aware why there are camels in the desert and no giraffes?' asked Assad.
... 'The answer is simple. If there were giraffes in the desert they'd die of sorrow.'
'Aha! And why's that?'
'Because they're so tall, they'd know that there was just endless sand as far as the eye could see. Fortunately for the camel, it doesn't know this, so it trudges on assuming that an oasis is just around the corner.'
Carl nodded. 'I understand. You feel like a giraffe in the desert, right?'
'Yes, a bit. Just right now.'
Bless Assad and all of his camel analogies.
I really do immensely enjoy this series. Crotchety old Carl who grudgingly takes on cases when he'd much rather be napping in between cigarettes with his feet up on the desk. The quiet and strange Assad, who has a camel-related saying for any situation. Crazy old Rose who has a quick temper and strong stubborn streak. Even slimy Gordon who is slowly working his way into the team. I love the way they all work together. I love how Carl's reluctance is completely ignored by his subordinates.
This time they're forced to take over an old, unsolved hit-and-run case that left a girl hanging in a tree. It leads the gang to a spiritualcult organisation that we're given inside info on through the viewpoint of the cult organisation leader's right-hand woman.
The split view, as always, keeps things interesting, because you're pretty sure you know what happened but it's still vague enough to keep you guessing. There were some really fascinating characters built into this one, and as a spiritual person I was particularly fascinated by the ideas and theories and the way the organisation operated. I mean, spiritualism is one thing, but blindly following the ideas of another is a little scary. So the story angle was fascinating and hooked me slightly more than the previous books.
The police work is always fun, and while I did lose track a little of who was who, the writing seems to expect that and reminds you each time a minor character is re-introduced. It's a fairly lengthy novel at 600+ pages, but there's plenty to keep the story moving, and keep you invested in what's happening.
Six books in, I still don't know if the brilliantly direct writing is genuine or a by-product of the translation, but either way I thoroughly enjoy it. It can be really vague at times, but Carl is so snappy and sarcastic and his little comments peppered throughout are a lot of fun. Add to that Assad's endless optimism and enthusiasm, and his imperfect English (Danish), and it makes for rather creative and enjoyable interactions. I love the way these two work together.
'Something fishy? I don't always understand what you are talking about, Carl. What are they doing with the fish?'
We also get another (minor) glimpse at the progress of the case that started it all - the shooting that killed one of Carl's colleagues and left the other permanently paralysed. Hardy does make a brief appearance, and it's quite symbolic to realise how slow that case is progressing in parallel to the cases that have been solved so far throughout the series.
I'm really pleased to give this series another 4-star rating. These books are always so much fun to read, with the unique characters, fun, snappy dialogue and detailed stories. The research that must go into these books is astounding.
Highly recommend this one to others continuing the series, and if you've not been introduced to Carl and the Department Q gang, I highly recommend you pick up a copy of Mercy and get started!
... 'The answer is simple. If there were giraffes in the desert they'd die of sorrow.'
'Aha! And why's that?'
'Because they're so tall, they'd know that there was just endless sand as far as the eye could see. Fortunately for the camel, it doesn't know this, so it trudges on assuming that an oasis is just around the corner.'
Carl nodded. 'I understand. You feel like a giraffe in the desert, right?'
'Yes, a bit. Just right now.'
Bless Assad and all of his camel analogies.
I really do immensely enjoy this series. Crotchety old Carl who grudgingly takes on cases when he'd much rather be napping in between cigarettes with his feet up on the desk. The quiet and strange Assad, who has a camel-related saying for any situation. Crazy old Rose who has a quick temper and strong stubborn streak. Even slimy Gordon who is slowly working his way into the team. I love the way they all work together. I love how Carl's reluctance is completely ignored by his subordinates.
This time they're forced to take over an old, unsolved hit-and-run case that left a girl hanging in a tree. It leads the gang to a spiritual
The split view, as always, keeps things interesting, because you're pretty sure you know what happened but it's still vague enough to keep you guessing. There were some really fascinating characters built into this one, and as a spiritual person I was particularly fascinated by the ideas and theories and the way the organisation operated. I mean, spiritualism is one thing, but blindly following the ideas of another is a little scary. So the story angle was fascinating and hooked me slightly more than the previous books.
The police work is always fun, and while I did lose track a little of who was who, the writing seems to expect that and reminds you each time a minor character is re-introduced. It's a fairly lengthy novel at 600+ pages, but there's plenty to keep the story moving, and keep you invested in what's happening.
Six books in, I still don't know if the brilliantly direct writing is genuine or a by-product of the translation, but either way I thoroughly enjoy it. It can be really vague at times, but Carl is so snappy and sarcastic and his little comments peppered throughout are a lot of fun. Add to that Assad's endless optimism and enthusiasm, and his imperfect English (Danish), and it makes for rather creative and enjoyable interactions. I love the way these two work together.
'Something fishy? I don't always understand what you are talking about, Carl. What are they doing with the fish?'
We also get another (minor) glimpse at the progress of the case that started it all - the shooting that killed one of Carl's colleagues and left the other permanently paralysed. Hardy does make a brief appearance, and it's quite symbolic to realise how slow that case is progressing in parallel to the cases that have been solved so far throughout the series.
I'm really pleased to give this series another 4-star rating. These books are always so much fun to read, with the unique characters, fun, snappy dialogue and detailed stories. The research that must go into these books is astounding.
Highly recommend this one to others continuing the series, and if you've not been introduced to Carl and the Department Q gang, I highly recommend you pick up a copy of Mercy and get started!
March 4, 2021
Ο Νυσταγμένος Καρλ και το φοβερό παρεάκι του Τομέα Q σε νέες περιπέτειες. Μια υπόθεση από τα παλιά και ένας αστυνομικός που την πάλεψε μέχρι τέλους με τεράστιο προσωπικό κόστος,μια παράλληλη ιστορία που δεν ήταν τίποτα πρωτότυπο αλλά ωστόσο έδωσε μερικές ενδιαφέρουσες ανατροπές και μια ομάδα που δούλεψε σαν ρολόι,πρόσθεσε ένα ακόμα όμορφο βιβλίο στην αγαπημένη σειρά.
4/5⭐
4/5⭐
February 19, 2016
It's been awhile since a man kept me up all night ...reading. Geez, what were YOU thinking I was talking about? This was the first Department Q book that I've read, but it definitely won't be the last. I really liked police officers Carl and Assad,the mystery just kept getting darker and there were just enough twists to keep me wanting more. Excellent read!
September 16, 2017
So ignoring one friend..... who gave this a one!! For shame!! ;)
Starting in the present we have the trio invited to help on a case which they (Carl) ignores only for a sequence of events thereafter to bring them front & centre on the case..... and obliged to solve it.
As usual the story works along the lines of converging timelines, one in the present, the other from the past. Its a method ive come to enjoy with the trio & as always there quirks & interactions make for a mostly entertaining read..... I say mostly as I did find at times it went on a little too long with some scenes, for little gain, with Rose & Assad seemingly having to chime in....... As I got further into the book I actually found myself enjoying the “other” timeline much more then the trio’s & have to admit to drifting a little during the trio’s “investigation” where it was office based in the mid-sections.....
The Rose & Assad development (backstory) seems to have died completely or is so slow its not worth doing, I mean department Q has been going 7 years now.....
The ending is lively enough as everything comes together & there’s a fair few surprises, however...... All in all not the strongest of outing’s in the series & certainly not a patch on the Marco effect which was the prior in the series & the best for me, so its my first 3-3.5 stars (rounded down to 3) for this series with a dip in form for me.
PS I can see why my GR friend gave this a one now.
Starting in the present we have the trio invited to help on a case which they (Carl) ignores only for a sequence of events thereafter to bring them front & centre on the case..... and obliged to solve it.
As usual the story works along the lines of converging timelines, one in the present, the other from the past. Its a method ive come to enjoy with the trio & as always there quirks & interactions make for a mostly entertaining read..... I say mostly as I did find at times it went on a little too long with some scenes, for little gain, with Rose & Assad seemingly having to chime in....... As I got further into the book I actually found myself enjoying the “other” timeline much more then the trio’s & have to admit to drifting a little during the trio’s “investigation” where it was office based in the mid-sections.....
The Rose & Assad development (backstory) seems to have died completely or is so slow its not worth doing, I mean department Q has been going 7 years now.....
The ending is lively enough as everything comes together & there’s a fair few surprises, however...... All in all not the strongest of outing’s in the series & certainly not a patch on the Marco effect which was the prior in the series & the best for me, so its my first 3-3.5 stars (rounded down to 3) for this series with a dip in form for me.
PS I can see why my GR friend gave this a one now.
May 28, 2015
After reading the five first books of the series during the last months, I was very excited to finally read the next installment and I really enjoyed this book. The plot might not have been that gripping than other parts of this series, but however I liked the context/setting a lot. Like usual, Jussi Adler-Olsen managed to create great characters. After thinking that I already knew, who the murderer war, the ending came as quite a surprise to me. The twists were well done and felt real. Such a tragic story; if all those misunderstanding hadn't been, a lot of sorrow could have been avoided. I'm still in love with the exceptional and totally crazy investigator team! A few more details about Assad's past are revealed, but the full picture still needs to be uncovered. I can't wait for the next part! 4 stars!
January 25, 2016
Adler-Olsen's sixth book featuring Carl Morck's Department Q cold case team. A pleading call from a country patrolman is ignored by Carl so he commits suicide at his retirement ceremony to draw attention to the case of Alberte Goldschmid, who was found dead hanging in a tree by the patrolman, which haunted him. Rose shames Carl into taking the case, and Assad provides his usual enthusiastic support. Meanwhile, there is a cult leader using his charm to seduce women, while his #2 tries to win his love. Bad formula. The two stories are destined to collide, but not formulaic at all.
October 9, 2015
Definately a bit disappointed with the latest in the so far excellent series. I didn't really engageed in the crime very much at all and feel that his was a bit haphazardly put together. Unlike in the previous books the characters were not as well drawn and therefore I didn't care that much about most of them. Obviously the story around Carl, Assad and Rose and their relationship is still engaging and they are brilliant characters, but I think it is about time we find out what Assad's background is and what really lies behind the shooting of Carl and Hardy. For a while at the end of the book I thought we finally might find out at least the answer to one of those questions, but know, yet another teaser. Getting a bit tedious. Well, let's wait for the next one!
July 3, 2019
Zaboravljeni neriješeni slučajevi uvijek nađu svoj put do stola šefa Sektora Q Carla Mørcka. Naravno, ne prije nego kroz njih prošvrljaju njegovi asistenti, Assad i Rose.
Mørckov uobičajeni jutarnji spavanac tog će jutra naprasno prekinuti poziv kolege Habersaata iz Bornholma, koji se tiče još jednog gotovo posve zaboravljenog slučaja na kojem Habersaat radi već skoro dva desetljeća. Mørck ga isprva odbije, a onda, nedugo potom, Habersaat počini samoubojstvo. Nakon što čuju za ovaj tragični događaj, Mørckov tim ipak otputuje u Bornholm, a kako sve više okolnosti ovog nemilog događaja dolazi na svjetlo, Assad i Rose inzistiraju da krenu u istragu baš svakog traga, uključujući i Habersaatov stari slučaj.
Istraga će uskoro, kako to već uoičajeno biva u Sektoru Q, postati ekstremno komplicirana i zamršena, a svaka iskopana stara tajna otkopat će neku drugu, još stariju. Tijekom istrage, Mørck i njegov tim pronaći će razne svjedoke i sumnjivce, a u priču će se uplesti i skriveni kult sa švedskog otoka Ölanda.
Šesti roman iz serijala o Sektoru Q još nam jednom donosi intrigantnu i zapetljanu istragu jednog davnog zločina. Kod serijala koji se protežu na više od 4 romana često se dogodi da zanimljivost i tečnost radnje ili rastu ili opadaju sa svakim novim romanom. Kod Sektora Q to nije slučaj - on nastavlja biti jednako zanimljiv i tečan (a i zabavan!) od prvog do posljednjeg romana u seriji.
U ovom romanu pratimo dvije simultane priče, koje su vrlo pametno postavljene. Ove priče nikada ne pokazuju sve svoje karte. O poveznici između njih čitatelj može cijelo vrijeme nagađati, može razmišljati o tome na koji su način povezane, ali ta glavna poveznica ostat će skrivena sve dok ne dođe vrijeme da se sama razotkrije.
Istraga zaboravljenih slučajeva ne ide cijelo vrijeme uzlaznom putanjom, ona često zapinje, ponekad ode u krivom smjeru, ponekad se vrti u mjestu. Ponekad stagnira. Ali čak i tada, sve što je potrebno je samo jedan novi trag, jedna nova ideja, da se istraga ponovno pokrene. Riječima Hardya Hennigsena, Habersaatovog prijatelja:
"Kako se ono kaže kad priča dođe do mrtve točke? Samo treba ubaciti neko čudovište da je se ponovno pokrene. Ili letećeg slona, u nedostatku boljega."
Prateći ovu istragu (a i općenito istrage Sektora Q) možemo dobiti uvid u to koliko je zapravo teško riješavati stare neriješene slučajeve. Svi dokazi su prastari, svjedoci se jedva sjećaju, a za pronaći novi trag potrebno je nešto ravno zgoditku na lutriji - pronicljiv i uporan um. Srećom, toga Mørcku i njegovom timu ne manjka.
Kažu da se policijski kriminalistički serijali, kako knjige tako i TV serije ili filmovi, mogu pročitati ili pogledati tek određen broj puta prije nego ti sve postane 'već viđeno'. Ja se s time ne bih složila. Uvijek će tu biti neki novi intrigantni slučaj, nešto novo što je potrebno istražiti. A ako su ti likovi dragi, poput ovih u Sektoru Q, htjet ćeš se s njima družiti zauvijek.
Još jedna intrigantna istraga i ovaj je put pred nama, još jedno ugodno druženje s Mørckom, Assadom i Rose, još jedno zabavno čitanje uz obilje (crnog) humora koji Jussi uvijek tako vješto utka u svoje romane, još šašavih viceva o devama kakve samo Assad zna ispričati.
Od svih mogućih kriminalističkih serijala, od kojih su mnogi vrlo uzbudljivi, napeti i zanimljivi, ovaj je sve to, ali je još i nevjerojatno zabavan. Šesti put ništa manje od prvih pet. Volite li čitati o Mørcku i njegovom timu, navalite!
Mørckov uobičajeni jutarnji spavanac tog će jutra naprasno prekinuti poziv kolege Habersaata iz Bornholma, koji se tiče još jednog gotovo posve zaboravljenog slučaja na kojem Habersaat radi već skoro dva desetljeća. Mørck ga isprva odbije, a onda, nedugo potom, Habersaat počini samoubojstvo. Nakon što čuju za ovaj tragični događaj, Mørckov tim ipak otputuje u Bornholm, a kako sve više okolnosti ovog nemilog događaja dolazi na svjetlo, Assad i Rose inzistiraju da krenu u istragu baš svakog traga, uključujući i Habersaatov stari slučaj.
Istraga će uskoro, kako to već uoičajeno biva u Sektoru Q, postati ekstremno komplicirana i zamršena, a svaka iskopana stara tajna otkopat će neku drugu, još stariju. Tijekom istrage, Mørck i njegov tim pronaći će razne svjedoke i sumnjivce, a u priču će se uplesti i skriveni kult sa švedskog otoka Ölanda.
Šesti roman iz serijala o Sektoru Q još nam jednom donosi intrigantnu i zapetljanu istragu jednog davnog zločina. Kod serijala koji se protežu na više od 4 romana često se dogodi da zanimljivost i tečnost radnje ili rastu ili opadaju sa svakim novim romanom. Kod Sektora Q to nije slučaj - on nastavlja biti jednako zanimljiv i tečan (a i zabavan!) od prvog do posljednjeg romana u seriji.
U ovom romanu pratimo dvije simultane priče, koje su vrlo pametno postavljene. Ove priče nikada ne pokazuju sve svoje karte. O poveznici između njih čitatelj može cijelo vrijeme nagađati, može razmišljati o tome na koji su način povezane, ali ta glavna poveznica ostat će skrivena sve dok ne dođe vrijeme da se sama razotkrije.
Istraga zaboravljenih slučajeva ne ide cijelo vrijeme uzlaznom putanjom, ona često zapinje, ponekad ode u krivom smjeru, ponekad se vrti u mjestu. Ponekad stagnira. Ali čak i tada, sve što je potrebno je samo jedan novi trag, jedna nova ideja, da se istraga ponovno pokrene. Riječima Hardya Hennigsena, Habersaatovog prijatelja:
"Kako se ono kaže kad priča dođe do mrtve točke? Samo treba ubaciti neko čudovište da je se ponovno pokrene. Ili letećeg slona, u nedostatku boljega."
Prateći ovu istragu (a i općenito istrage Sektora Q) možemo dobiti uvid u to koliko je zapravo teško riješavati stare neriješene slučajeve. Svi dokazi su prastari, svjedoci se jedva sjećaju, a za pronaći novi trag potrebno je nešto ravno zgoditku na lutriji - pronicljiv i uporan um. Srećom, toga Mørcku i njegovom timu ne manjka.
Kažu da se policijski kriminalistički serijali, kako knjige tako i TV serije ili filmovi, mogu pročitati ili pogledati tek određen broj puta prije nego ti sve postane 'već viđeno'. Ja se s time ne bih složila. Uvijek će tu biti neki novi intrigantni slučaj, nešto novo što je potrebno istražiti. A ako su ti likovi dragi, poput ovih u Sektoru Q, htjet ćeš se s njima družiti zauvijek.
Još jedna intrigantna istraga i ovaj je put pred nama, još jedno ugodno druženje s Mørckom, Assadom i Rose, još jedno zabavno čitanje uz obilje (crnog) humora koji Jussi uvijek tako vješto utka u svoje romane, još šašavih viceva o devama kakve samo Assad zna ispričati.
Od svih mogućih kriminalističkih serijala, od kojih su mnogi vrlo uzbudljivi, napeti i zanimljivi, ovaj je sve to, ali je još i nevjerojatno zabavan. Šesti put ništa manje od prvih pet. Volite li čitati o Mørcku i njegovom timu, navalite!
April 1, 2015
This has been the most highly anticipated crime novel of the past year for me. By this time last year I had finished all the other books in the series and had started the count down. In January I saw that it had been released in Danish and almost ordered it. In the end I decided to wait. When it finally did come, it arrived at the same time as my new puppy so didn't have a chance to devour it the way I usually would.
In this book Carl Mørck gets a call from a police officer on the island of Bornholm who wants him to look into a hit-and-run accident. Carl scoffs at him. The next day the police officer has shot himself in fron of his colleagues and Carl and his team are off to Bornholm after all. The victim of the hit and run accident twenty years in the past was a very beautiful young woman. She was hit so hard that she was thrown up into a tree. Of course it wasn't an accident, she seriously got on someone's nerves.
I was a teeny weeny little bit disappointed due to my extremely high expectations. It was very well worth reading and a few more bits and pieces from Carl Mørck's assistant Assad's mysterious past is revealed. I am very keen on the further developments in this series, which is expected to be ten books long. The author has plot lines for the rest of the books in a looked room at home. How I would love to be a fly on the wall there!
In this book Carl Mørck gets a call from a police officer on the island of Bornholm who wants him to look into a hit-and-run accident. Carl scoffs at him. The next day the police officer has shot himself in fron of his colleagues and Carl and his team are off to Bornholm after all. The victim of the hit and run accident twenty years in the past was a very beautiful young woman. She was hit so hard that she was thrown up into a tree. Of course it wasn't an accident, she seriously got on someone's nerves.
I was a teeny weeny little bit disappointed due to my extremely high expectations. It was very well worth reading and a few more bits and pieces from Carl Mørck's assistant Assad's mysterious past is revealed. I am very keen on the further developments in this series, which is expected to be ten books long. The author has plot lines for the rest of the books in a looked room at home. How I would love to be a fly on the wall there!
December 17, 2015
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for sending me this ebook in return for an honest review. I enjoyed reading this book and give it a solid 4 out of 5 stars.
Carl Morck is the head of Department Q, a cold case squad of the Danish police.
He has 2 assistants, Assad, a Syrian refugee, and Rose. This is the sixth book in the series and I have only read this one and book 1 in the series.
The narrative proceeds along 2 threads: One by Carl and one by a lethal and cunning killer, but there is a surprise ending about 1 of the murders. The case starts when a policeman commits suicide because Dept. Q won't take on a case that he wants reopened.
I like the author's sense of humor: "A wise man doesn't puke against the wind."
The translation is excellent, but there are distracting, repeated, intermittent formatting problems. The text will stop one or two words into that line and drop to the next line even though it is not the end of a sentence. I do not recommend buying the ebook version until the formatting issue is resolved.
Carl Morck is the head of Department Q, a cold case squad of the Danish police.
He has 2 assistants, Assad, a Syrian refugee, and Rose. This is the sixth book in the series and I have only read this one and book 1 in the series.
The narrative proceeds along 2 threads: One by Carl and one by a lethal and cunning killer, but there is a surprise ending about 1 of the murders. The case starts when a policeman commits suicide because Dept. Q won't take on a case that he wants reopened.
I like the author's sense of humor: "A wise man doesn't puke against the wind."
The translation is excellent, but there are distracting, repeated, intermittent formatting problems. The text will stop one or two words into that line and drop to the next line even though it is not the end of a sentence. I do not recommend buying the ebook version until the formatting issue is resolved.
July 7, 2024
Everything I expect from Adler-Olsen: the irascible Carl Merck and his two long suffering assistants, a vivid cast of witnesses, all with problems, secrets, and resentments, and a plot that evolves through good detective work to a surprise twist at the end. The book's a bit long, or as they say in Denmark, about right.
January 29, 2016
Jussi, Jussi, Jussi...
I still love you. I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt (4 stars despite shortcomings). But you need to step up your game. While the characters are still among my favorites, their development seems to have stalled. What's your plan, Jussi? 10 books? More? The problem is, I think (I hope) your readers are not the type to be happy with tiny little bones thrown to keep them reading an unending series.
While I love your writing and your characters, I need more meat. Not tiny little bones. Department Q is about the characters and you aren't giving us enough anymore. I want more about Assad! More about Rose! The mystery was good enough, but what about all those unanswered murders? All those girls Periou (sorry! I listened to the book and therefore have NO IDEA how to spell her name) got rid of. They were never even mentioned. It just seemed lazy to me. I know you are busy, Jussi. We all are. I get it. The dog needs walking, the house is a mess... But really. your writing comes first. You don't need me to tell you that.
Thanks for this talk, Jussi. I know you won't disappoint me on the next one.
I still love you. I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt (4 stars despite shortcomings). But you need to step up your game. While the characters are still among my favorites, their development seems to have stalled. What's your plan, Jussi? 10 books? More? The problem is, I think (I hope) your readers are not the type to be happy with tiny little bones thrown to keep them reading an unending series.
While I love your writing and your characters, I need more meat. Not tiny little bones. Department Q is about the characters and you aren't giving us enough anymore. I want more about Assad! More about Rose! The mystery was good enough, but what about all those unanswered murders? All those girls Periou (sorry! I listened to the book and therefore have NO IDEA how to spell her name) got rid of. They were never even mentioned. It just seemed lazy to me. I know you are busy, Jussi. We all are. I get it. The dog needs walking, the house is a mess... But really. your writing comes first. You don't need me to tell you that.
Thanks for this talk, Jussi. I know you won't disappoint me on the next one.
June 23, 2021
RECOMENDADO
"Sin límites", la sexta entrega del Departamento Q, en la que nada es lo que parece ser.
Aunque algunos momentos me han resultado un poco peliculeros, la historia me ha tenido pendiente hasta el final.
Además del caso que hay que resolver, me tiene mucho más intrigada la historia personal de los miembros de este Departamento Q. Ya poco me queda para llegar al último número publicado.
"Sin límites", la sexta entrega del Departamento Q, en la que nada es lo que parece ser.
Aunque algunos momentos me han resultado un poco peliculeros, la historia me ha tenido pendiente hasta el final.
Además del caso que hay que resolver, me tiene mucho más intrigada la historia personal de los miembros de este Departamento Q. Ya poco me queda para llegar al último número publicado.
November 14, 2017
Jussi je prostě mág. Jeho detektivky mají pokaždé jiné prostředí, ve kterém se odehrává hlavní příběh. Tentokrát si vzal na mušku ezoterické sekty a dlouho jsem čekal, v jakém světle tu budou popsány.
Nesmírný mě překvapil. Po předchozím Marcovi, který byl pro mě spíš slabší, než ostatní díly jsem se trochu obával, aby série Oddělení Q neměla sestupnou tendenci. Nemá. Nesmírný má skvělý příběh a pointu do poslední chvíle úplně nejasnou.
A co je ještě lepší: Olsen pokračuje v líčení vedlejších dějových linek - těch, které spojují jednotlivé díly série. A tentokrát to rozjel hodně naplno. Není to jen Asad, jehož příběh rozplétáte, ale i Carl. A vlastně i Rose. Olsen dovedl hlavní příběh umě propojil s těmi vedlejšími tak, aby akceleroval příběhy vedlejší.
Stále se ukazuje, že série Oddělení Q patří mezi ty nejlepší detektivní příběhy ze Skandinávie. Nesmírnému nemám vůbec co vytknout. Drží vás v napětí celou dobu a až posledních asi 80 stránek se spustí vír, který vám nedovolí dojít si na záchod. To finále příběhu je stejně skvělé, jako v jeho zatím nejlepší knize (podle mého názoru) Zabijáci.
Velký palec nahoru.
Nesmírný mě překvapil. Po předchozím Marcovi, který byl pro mě spíš slabší, než ostatní díly jsem se trochu obával, aby série Oddělení Q neměla sestupnou tendenci. Nemá. Nesmírný má skvělý příběh a pointu do poslední chvíle úplně nejasnou.
A co je ještě lepší: Olsen pokračuje v líčení vedlejších dějových linek - těch, které spojují jednotlivé díly série. A tentokrát to rozjel hodně naplno. Není to jen Asad, jehož příběh rozplétáte, ale i Carl. A vlastně i Rose. Olsen dovedl hlavní příběh umě propojil s těmi vedlejšími tak, aby akceleroval příběhy vedlejší.
Stále se ukazuje, že série Oddělení Q patří mezi ty nejlepší detektivní příběhy ze Skandinávie. Nesmírnému nemám vůbec co vytknout. Drží vás v napětí celou dobu a až posledních asi 80 stránek se spustí vír, který vám nedovolí dojít si na záchod. To finále příběhu je stejně skvělé, jako v jeho zatím nejlepší knize (podle mého názoru) Zabijáci.
Velký palec nahoru.
September 30, 2015
This is the sixth book in the Department Q series featuring Carl Mørck, a deputy detective superintendent in Denmark, who has been working on cold cases from his office in the basement of police headquarters for the past seven years. It wasn't always this way. Seven years earlier, Carl had been upstairs, investigating active cases with two partners who were also his friends. Then one day, it all fell apart on a case that left one partner dead, one partner paralyzed, and Carl emotionally scarred. Carl's superiors wanted him gone from their sight for what they felt was his incompetence and cowardice, leading to the disaster on that case. But without concrete evidence against him, they had to be satisfied with awarding him a promotion to the cold case unit in the basement, which was in reality not a promotion at all, but a slap on his wrist and across his face.
Now before you feel sorry for Carl, you should know that he's not the most likable person around. He's made a fine art of being lazy and selfish, not to mention he's chauvinistic and intolerant of people unlike himself. But somehow, the author has managed to make Carl an appealing character, with glimmers of humanity and compassion shining through his ever clouded judgment. And in this book, Carl has taken an even greater leap forward in his progress as a human being, instead of the baby steps he has taken in the past. Unfortunately, the insight and self awareness he's gained this time around didn't kick in until after he blatantly ignored a police officer's desperate plea for help on an old case the man could no longer work now that he'd be retiring.
The police officer had been first on the scene to find a hit and run victim nearly eighteen years ago, and began investigating the case on an unofficial basis, despite him not having skills as a detective. The detectives on the case had dismissed it as an accident for lack of witnesses, suspects, and proof that it was anything else. But the police officer was convinced it was possibly a case of premeditated murder. Complicating things was the fact that the victim, a seventeen year old girl, was found hanging upside down in a tree near the road, apparently propelled there by the impact of the car that hit her, however unlikely the scenario.
In usual fashion, Carl blows off the retiring police officer, refusing to take the case out of sheer laziness, with disastrous results that weigh heavily on his already buckling conscience. So reluctantly, Carl steps up and decides to set things right, if possible, with some help from his current set of partners, Assad and Rose. Assad is a mysterious man with an unknown past and secrets who often appears naive and hapless when working a case, but proves he is anything but that. Rose, an intelligent, competent, and strong willed young woman, has her own mysterious past and secrets which have threatened her ability to do her job, at times, though she can generally be counted on when the going gets tough.
The trio set off to solve the case from where the retiring police officer left off, using mounds of his notes accumulated over the past eighteen years. They hit one dead end after another, but through process of elimination, begin to solve a twisty case that will leave the reader as exasperated as Carl and his associates until the exciting ending when all becomes clear.
I liked more things about this book than I disliked, but I still had to give it three stars instead of the four I've given every other book in the series. This is because of two big problems. The first problem was this book was way too long for the story it told, over a hundred pages longer than the first book which was one of my favorites. The second problem was the back story to the crime and its possible suspects, told mostly in flashbacks leading to the present. They went on at length in excruciating detail, focusing on a sun worshipping cult leader and his right hand person. This really slowed the pace of the story to a crawl for the portion of the book not dealing directly with the active investigation. Adding to the problem, these sections were populated with characters who were mere caricatures.
Still, there many good things about this book to counteract the bad. Topping the list were the wonderful main characters and their abundant interactions, especially those centering on Carl and Assad. Finally, Carl, who in the past has always had disdain for Assad's religious practices and displayed impatience with his limited knowledge of slang words and idioms, now has some meaningful exchanges with him that go beyond glib banter and arguing. Here's an example in this edited conversation:
"Garages are eerie, Carl," said Assad, emphasizing this with clenched fists at the end of his otherwise loosely hanging arms.
"Why? Are you worried about spiderwebs?"
"It says something about all the hours that have passed by, and all the hours that have been used incorrectly," philosophized Assad.
"Used incorrectly?"
"All the hours where things in here should have been used but weren't."
"We don't know anything about that, Assad. And why eerie? More pitiable, I think."
Assad nodded. "And garages are separate from the house and it's life. When I'm in a place like this, it's like feeling death."
"I don't get it."
"You don't need to, Carl. We can't all feel the same way."
Here's another exchange that shows how far Carl has come in accepting Assad and appreciating his religious customs instead of Carl berating him for stopping to pray during the afternoons when working a case:
'Carl looked up again at the treetops, imagining the outline of that young dead girl. He momentarily felt melancholy but also a sense of reverence, as if standing on holy ground. Had he been Catholic, he'd probably have crossed himself, but he was far from being that, which in its own way felt both empty and sad.
He looked at Assad, who was standing with his back to him. "Tell me, Assad, do Muslims have something they can honor the dead with, a prayer or something?"
Assad slowly turned around to face him. "It's done, Carl. It's already done."'
So there's the good, the bad, and the boring aspects about this book which focused on a case that I thought I had solved early on, only to be fooled by the author, then fooled again, then fooled yet again. If you like off the wall characters who solve criminal cases while trying to solve the mysteries inside themselves and inside each other, than take a look at this series. But begin with book one, The Keeper of Lost Causes, a unique book that started it all.
Now before you feel sorry for Carl, you should know that he's not the most likable person around. He's made a fine art of being lazy and selfish, not to mention he's chauvinistic and intolerant of people unlike himself. But somehow, the author has managed to make Carl an appealing character, with glimmers of humanity and compassion shining through his ever clouded judgment. And in this book, Carl has taken an even greater leap forward in his progress as a human being, instead of the baby steps he has taken in the past. Unfortunately, the insight and self awareness he's gained this time around didn't kick in until after he blatantly ignored a police officer's desperate plea for help on an old case the man could no longer work now that he'd be retiring.
The police officer had been first on the scene to find a hit and run victim nearly eighteen years ago, and began investigating the case on an unofficial basis, despite him not having skills as a detective. The detectives on the case had dismissed it as an accident for lack of witnesses, suspects, and proof that it was anything else. But the police officer was convinced it was possibly a case of premeditated murder. Complicating things was the fact that the victim, a seventeen year old girl, was found hanging upside down in a tree near the road, apparently propelled there by the impact of the car that hit her, however unlikely the scenario.
In usual fashion, Carl blows off the retiring police officer, refusing to take the case out of sheer laziness, with disastrous results that weigh heavily on his already buckling conscience. So reluctantly, Carl steps up and decides to set things right, if possible, with some help from his current set of partners, Assad and Rose. Assad is a mysterious man with an unknown past and secrets who often appears naive and hapless when working a case, but proves he is anything but that. Rose, an intelligent, competent, and strong willed young woman, has her own mysterious past and secrets which have threatened her ability to do her job, at times, though she can generally be counted on when the going gets tough.
The trio set off to solve the case from where the retiring police officer left off, using mounds of his notes accumulated over the past eighteen years. They hit one dead end after another, but through process of elimination, begin to solve a twisty case that will leave the reader as exasperated as Carl and his associates until the exciting ending when all becomes clear.
I liked more things about this book than I disliked, but I still had to give it three stars instead of the four I've given every other book in the series. This is because of two big problems. The first problem was this book was way too long for the story it told, over a hundred pages longer than the first book which was one of my favorites. The second problem was the back story to the crime and its possible suspects, told mostly in flashbacks leading to the present. They went on at length in excruciating detail, focusing on a sun worshipping cult leader and his right hand person. This really slowed the pace of the story to a crawl for the portion of the book not dealing directly with the active investigation. Adding to the problem, these sections were populated with characters who were mere caricatures.
Still, there many good things about this book to counteract the bad. Topping the list were the wonderful main characters and their abundant interactions, especially those centering on Carl and Assad. Finally, Carl, who in the past has always had disdain for Assad's religious practices and displayed impatience with his limited knowledge of slang words and idioms, now has some meaningful exchanges with him that go beyond glib banter and arguing. Here's an example in this edited conversation:
"Garages are eerie, Carl," said Assad, emphasizing this with clenched fists at the end of his otherwise loosely hanging arms.
"Why? Are you worried about spiderwebs?"
"It says something about all the hours that have passed by, and all the hours that have been used incorrectly," philosophized Assad.
"Used incorrectly?"
"All the hours where things in here should have been used but weren't."
"We don't know anything about that, Assad. And why eerie? More pitiable, I think."
Assad nodded. "And garages are separate from the house and it's life. When I'm in a place like this, it's like feeling death."
"I don't get it."
"You don't need to, Carl. We can't all feel the same way."
Here's another exchange that shows how far Carl has come in accepting Assad and appreciating his religious customs instead of Carl berating him for stopping to pray during the afternoons when working a case:
'Carl looked up again at the treetops, imagining the outline of that young dead girl. He momentarily felt melancholy but also a sense of reverence, as if standing on holy ground. Had he been Catholic, he'd probably have crossed himself, but he was far from being that, which in its own way felt both empty and sad.
He looked at Assad, who was standing with his back to him. "Tell me, Assad, do Muslims have something they can honor the dead with, a prayer or something?"
Assad slowly turned around to face him. "It's done, Carl. It's already done."'
So there's the good, the bad, and the boring aspects about this book which focused on a case that I thought I had solved early on, only to be fooled by the author, then fooled again, then fooled yet again. If you like off the wall characters who solve criminal cases while trying to solve the mysteries inside themselves and inside each other, than take a look at this series. But begin with book one, The Keeper of Lost Causes, a unique book that started it all.
January 23, 2017
Leída en un abrir y cerrar de ojos. Adictiva a más no poder. Volver con Carl, Assad y Rose al departamento Q y dejarte llevar.
Y te dejas, claro que te dejas. Te dejas las pestañas porque no quieres perder tiempo durmiendo para saber qué pasa después. Y qué ha pasado antes.
Todo comienza con la llamada de un policía a punto de retirarse, obsesionado con un caso ocurrido veinte años atrás, en el que una muchacha había muerto atropellada en lo que parecía un accidente. Pero este policía no ceja en su empeño de continuar investigando, pues le parece poco probable que aquello sea un accidente. Este policía llama al departamento Q para encargarles la investigación del caso, y se suicida el mismo día de su jubilación, en la fiesta preparada para él, de un tiro en la cabeza. Así que Carl, Rose y Assad no tienen más remedio que investigar el caso.
En paralelo se nos cuenta la historia de Atu y Mirja, dos aprovechados, creadores de una especie de religión-secta-filosofía sobre el sol y la luz y una mezcla un poco de todo. Atu es el gurú y Mirja su mano derecha. Mirja aspira a algo más desde hace años, pero no paran de aparecer tías buenas por el poblado que han creado en su secta, que le levantan a Atu todas las veces. Mirja no parece tener escrúpulos, ni a la hora de atender el teléfono de atención al desamparado de la secta (un 905 de los que te cobran una pasta) ni a la hora de quitarse del medio a las amiguitas de Atu.
Y, a medida que avanzan ambas historias, se comienzan a entrelazar. O lo parece. Porque, con el departamento Q, cualquier giro de la historia es posible. Carl, Rose y Assad se hacen un máster acelerado en terapias naturales, sectas, hipnosis, religiones alternativas y cultos extraños y comienzan a hilar pistas desperdigadas e inconexas hasta esos momentos.
El final, trepidante, te deja, como siempre, con ganas de empezar a leer la siguiente novela del departamento Q. Habrá que tener paciencia.
Y te dejas, claro que te dejas. Te dejas las pestañas porque no quieres perder tiempo durmiendo para saber qué pasa después. Y qué ha pasado antes.
Todo comienza con la llamada de un policía a punto de retirarse, obsesionado con un caso ocurrido veinte años atrás, en el que una muchacha había muerto atropellada en lo que parecía un accidente. Pero este policía no ceja en su empeño de continuar investigando, pues le parece poco probable que aquello sea un accidente. Este policía llama al departamento Q para encargarles la investigación del caso, y se suicida el mismo día de su jubilación, en la fiesta preparada para él, de un tiro en la cabeza. Así que Carl, Rose y Assad no tienen más remedio que investigar el caso.
En paralelo se nos cuenta la historia de Atu y Mirja, dos aprovechados, creadores de una especie de religión-secta-filosofía sobre el sol y la luz y una mezcla un poco de todo. Atu es el gurú y Mirja su mano derecha. Mirja aspira a algo más desde hace años, pero no paran de aparecer tías buenas por el poblado que han creado en su secta, que le levantan a Atu todas las veces. Mirja no parece tener escrúpulos, ni a la hora de atender el teléfono de atención al desamparado de la secta (un 905 de los que te cobran una pasta) ni a la hora de quitarse del medio a las amiguitas de Atu.
Y, a medida que avanzan ambas historias, se comienzan a entrelazar. O lo parece. Porque, con el departamento Q, cualquier giro de la historia es posible. Carl, Rose y Assad se hacen un máster acelerado en terapias naturales, sectas, hipnosis, religiones alternativas y cultos extraños y comienzan a hilar pistas desperdigadas e inconexas hasta esos momentos.
El final, trepidante, te deja, como siempre, con ganas de empezar a leer la siguiente novela del departamento Q. Habrá que tener paciencia.
February 7, 2017
This is the 6th installment in what is most likely my favorite crime series. Adler-Olsen creates a compelling story, along with characters that I absolutely love. Assad is a literary masterpiece :)
A police officer was the first to the scene of what appears to be a hit and run back in 1997. The case continues to haunt him for the next 17 years, right up until he retires. He contacts Carl and Department Q the day before he retires but Carl is in the middle of a nap and tells the guy to contact someone else. The next day, at his retirement ceremony, the cop commits suicide. For once Rose and Assad don't have to drag Carl into investigating this 1997 case that obsessed the cop.
On the bad guy side of the equation we have a cult leader and his devoted assistant, who are both decidedly creepy.
As always, Adler-Olsen does a phenomenal job of developing the characters in a way that makes them psychologically consistent. He also continues to flesh out the main characters a bit in each book. Hardy has some wonderful moments in this, we get more about Assad's mysterious past, and we see more of Rose's inner conflict. These are brief bits in a much larger overall picture but I like hearing about these characters that I love so much.
There's supposed to be a 7th book that will be released at the end of this year and I absolutely can't wait. I wondered if I should learn Danish asap so that I could read it immediately instead of waiting for the translation.
A police officer was the first to the scene of what appears to be a hit and run back in 1997. The case continues to haunt him for the next 17 years, right up until he retires. He contacts Carl and Department Q the day before he retires but Carl is in the middle of a nap and tells the guy to contact someone else. The next day, at his retirement ceremony, the cop commits suicide. For once Rose and Assad don't have to drag Carl into investigating this 1997 case that obsessed the cop.
On the bad guy side of the equation we have a cult leader and his devoted assistant, who are both decidedly creepy.
As always, Adler-Olsen does a phenomenal job of developing the characters in a way that makes them psychologically consistent. He also continues to flesh out the main characters a bit in each book. Hardy has some wonderful moments in this, we get more about Assad's mysterious past, and we see more of Rose's inner conflict. These are brief bits in a much larger overall picture but I like hearing about these characters that I love so much.
There's supposed to be a 7th book that will be released at the end of this year and I absolutely can't wait. I wondered if I should learn Danish asap so that I could read it immediately instead of waiting for the translation.
March 16, 2017
Yet another entry in the 'Department Q' series by Mr. Adler-Olson, featuring Carl Morck and staff: Assad, Rose and now Gordon.
In this one Carl is dragged into an investigation begun years earlier by a police officer who's killed himself. It's one big convoluted, intricate puzzle for Carl et. al., which leads in all sorts of directions, including, but not least, to that of a sun-worshipping cult in Sweden.
I love this series, love this book which I GOT ALL WRONG. (Was a girl in a hit and run - 20 years ago - killed by accident, or was it murder?) I thought I knew whodunnit and why, but was I ever wrong. This series is meticulously written, wonderfully translated and filled with characters who are real, often crazy, and portray a world in which right is often wrong - or upside-down. It's the kind of series where I can't wait for the next book...
Or I could learn Danish as the next in the series is available (now) only in Danish.
Darn it!
In this one Carl is dragged into an investigation begun years earlier by a police officer who's killed himself. It's one big convoluted, intricate puzzle for Carl et. al., which leads in all sorts of directions, including, but not least, to that of a sun-worshipping cult in Sweden.
I love this series, love this book which I GOT ALL WRONG. (Was a girl in a hit and run - 20 years ago - killed by accident, or was it murder?) I thought I knew whodunnit and why, but was I ever wrong. This series is meticulously written, wonderfully translated and filled with characters who are real, often crazy, and portray a world in which right is often wrong - or upside-down. It's the kind of series where I can't wait for the next book...
Or I could learn Danish as the next in the series is available (now) only in Danish.
Darn it!
May 29, 2023
I usually love my Department Q novels, but this one was only so-so. I was actually quite bored reading it. It didn't have the same quality as the other books in the series so far, and you don't learn anything new about the recurring characters in this book. In fact, the usually colorful characters are all pretty drab in this one. So, in hindsight, I could have skipped this one, not lost any of the continuity in the storyline, and avoided feeling disappointed. I hope the next book in the series is back to form. Fingers crossed.
January 1, 2019
Kad deviņdesmito gadu vidū pabiju Bornholmā, vietējie iedzīvotāji apgalvoja, ka pie viņiem nekādas noziedzības neesot. Nu vienīgi dažreiz jaunieši izdemolējot pastkastītes un tā. Vai nu viņi nekrietni meloja, vai neko nezināja, jo Q nodaļas autors tur ir izracis senus noziegumus, ezotēriskus kultus, dīvainas sektas un visādas citas šausmiņas. Pilnīgi trakums kaut kāds, jo tagad sanāk, ka esmu mitinājusies vienā pilsētelē ar nelietīgo slepkavu. Labi, ka deviņdesmito gadu vidū Baltijas iedzīvotājiem vēl nebija tik kriminālas reputācijas kā tagad. :)
December 10, 2015
Sometimes the road to the truth is very tortuous!!
It all starts when Carl Mork received a call from a collegue, Officer Habersaat, working in Bornholm a Danish island, about an old case. When he refuses his help to this collegue, Carl Mork starts a chain of events that takes him deep into the mysteries of a strange culte, killers that stops at nothing to preserve what they worked for, a devastating secret and death.
17 years ago, a girl went missing in Bornholm and was found the next day hanging from a tree by Officer Habersaat, it was a case of hit and run never solved that obsessed Habersaat and that he passed over to Mork and his team, Assad, Rose and Gordon.
From the beginning i was completely caught by the story, a case that seemed very simple and all the evidence gathered pointed at a very obvious direction, but as the investigation went on many details appeared to change everything. And even though i thought i knew who the criminal was all the time, i enjoying reading the book. But then, the final twist, or should i say twists, were completely unexpected!! All along, i was missing the whole picture, i only saw part of it, and that was outstanding.
I liked how at the beginning the author oscillated between the present investigation of Mork and a past event that seemed to be unrelated to the death of the girl and the investigation, until these two stories connect and everything starts to make sense.
The characters were very interesting, each one with his mysterious past of suffering that was unfolded a little bit, only to keep you eager to know more about each of them. Assad was the most fascinating, with his eccentric methods and tortuous past and his relationship with Carl that was strange and touching and that actually made me want to read the other books of this series, to know the characters better.
Rose, on the other hand, was amazing too, the tough, meticulous woman. There was another female character that made the story completely different, it gave an insight into a distorted mind that can do anything to protect what he worked for..
I really enjoyed this book, the style of the author was captivating and the story interesting. I recommend it to all my friends.
It all starts when Carl Mork received a call from a collegue, Officer Habersaat, working in Bornholm a Danish island, about an old case. When he refuses his help to this collegue, Carl Mork starts a chain of events that takes him deep into the mysteries of a strange culte, killers that stops at nothing to preserve what they worked for, a devastating secret and death.
17 years ago, a girl went missing in Bornholm and was found the next day hanging from a tree by Officer Habersaat, it was a case of hit and run never solved that obsessed Habersaat and that he passed over to Mork and his team, Assad, Rose and Gordon.
From the beginning i was completely caught by the story, a case that seemed very simple and all the evidence gathered pointed at a very obvious direction, but as the investigation went on many details appeared to change everything. And even though i thought i knew who the criminal was all the time, i enjoying reading the book. But then, the final twist, or should i say twists, were completely unexpected!! All along, i was missing the whole picture, i only saw part of it, and that was outstanding.
I liked how at the beginning the author oscillated between the present investigation of Mork and a past event that seemed to be unrelated to the death of the girl and the investigation, until these two stories connect and everything starts to make sense.
The characters were very interesting, each one with his mysterious past of suffering that was unfolded a little bit, only to keep you eager to know more about each of them. Assad was the most fascinating, with his eccentric methods and tortuous past and his relationship with Carl that was strange and touching and that actually made me want to read the other books of this series, to know the characters better.
Rose, on the other hand, was amazing too, the tough, meticulous woman. There was another female character that made the story completely different, it gave an insight into a distorted mind that can do anything to protect what he worked for..
I really enjoyed this book, the style of the author was captivating and the story interesting. I recommend it to all my friends.
June 3, 2016
Porque tenía que trabajar y no hay suficientes horas en el día, que si no cae en menos de un día.
En la línea de los anteriores libros de esta serie protagonizada por Carl Morck, un policía adusto, malhumorado y anti-social, acompañado de su misterioso ayudante sirio Assad y su excéntrica secretaria Rose. El libro salta entre dos escenarios: por un lado, el de la investigación policial de un caso antiguo que les ha caído encima sin comerlo ni beberlo; y por otro, el de una mujer enamorada hasta la obsesión. Y sólo casi al final se juntan estos dos escenarios en un desenlace que no es el que parece desde el principio. Todo ello aderezado con los toques justos de nuevas pistas en la investigación del tiroteo donde Carl y su ex-compañero Hardy fueron heridos.
Un libro que no por tener el mismo protagonista te cansa. Es más, lo acabas y estás deseando que llegue el siguiente.
En la línea de los anteriores libros de esta serie protagonizada por Carl Morck, un policía adusto, malhumorado y anti-social, acompañado de su misterioso ayudante sirio Assad y su excéntrica secretaria Rose. El libro salta entre dos escenarios: por un lado, el de la investigación policial de un caso antiguo que les ha caído encima sin comerlo ni beberlo; y por otro, el de una mujer enamorada hasta la obsesión. Y sólo casi al final se juntan estos dos escenarios en un desenlace que no es el que parece desde el principio. Todo ello aderezado con los toques justos de nuevas pistas en la investigación del tiroteo donde Carl y su ex-compañero Hardy fueron heridos.
Un libro que no por tener el mismo protagonista te cansa. Es más, lo acabas y estás deseando que llegue el siguiente.
April 25, 2017
Yet another wild ride with the crew. For the most part I'm a let your freak flag fly kind of girl, but these people bugged me, sheep. Anyway, Carl is still a mess, Assad is more mysterious.!
November 17, 2019
Kārtējais Jussi krimiķis par Q nodaļu neļauj vilties. Ir noziegums tālā pagātnē, kuru no plauktu dziļuma izvelk vietējais izmeklētājs un publiski nošaujoties liek Karlam Merkam uzsākt izmeklēšanu. Paralēli tiek virpināts arī pagātnes sižets, pēc kura liekas, ka slepkavības motīvs un izpildītājs ir pilnīgi skaidrs, taču tas nebūtu Jussi, ja būtu tik vienkārši.
Paralēlā krimiķa līnija ir sektas, to izveidošana, mērķi un patiesā labuma guvēji. Kārtējā viela pārdomām.
Neizpaliek arī Asada jociņi par kamieļiem un citi asāki un melnāki joki.
Varbūt ne pats labākais Jussi kriminālromāns, bet tomēr ir vērts izlasīt.
Citāti:
Viņam bija salauzts žoklis, plaukstas pamatne, privātā dzīve un visas Jitlandes iedzimtā ambīcija.
... taču dzivojot Andersena zemē, cilvēks zina, cik ātri maza spalviņa var pārvērsties par piecām vistām.
Glīts, precēts vīrietis zina, kad ledus kļūst planāks.
Kad gan bija kļuvis pieņemami lūgt vīrietim dienesta pienākumu pildīšanas laikā izrādīt savas noplukušās zeķes.
Varbūt Gordons gaidīja, ka viņam kāds iebāzīs roku pakaļā un jautās viņa vietā gluži kā vēderrunātājs?
Viņa brēc kā kamielis, kas saēdies smiltis.
(par cilvēkiem, kuri apmeklē izstādi "Alternatīvais kosmoss") Nebija nekādu šaubu par to, ko viņi meklē: ātru, vienkāršu un , vēlams, lētu ceļu uz labāku un apskaidrotāku dzīvi.
Ja kamielim ieskatās dziļi acīs, tas sāk šķielēt.
Viņi protestēja, kad viņiem lūdz uzvilkt slimnīcas drēbes. Pieauguši vīrieši garos kreklos, ar pliku pēcpusi un spalvainām kājām nav nekāds daiļais skats.
Kurš gan uzdrošinātos runāt pretī ārstam smalkās brillēs?
Paralēlā krimiķa līnija ir sektas, to izveidošana, mērķi un patiesā labuma guvēji. Kārtējā viela pārdomām.
Neizpaliek arī Asada jociņi par kamieļiem un citi asāki un melnāki joki.
Varbūt ne pats labākais Jussi kriminālromāns, bet tomēr ir vērts izlasīt.
Citāti:
Viņam bija salauzts žoklis, plaukstas pamatne, privātā dzīve un visas Jitlandes iedzimtā ambīcija.
... taču dzivojot Andersena zemē, cilvēks zina, cik ātri maza spalviņa var pārvērsties par piecām vistām.
Glīts, precēts vīrietis zina, kad ledus kļūst planāks.
Kad gan bija kļuvis pieņemami lūgt vīrietim dienesta pienākumu pildīšanas laikā izrādīt savas noplukušās zeķes.
Varbūt Gordons gaidīja, ka viņam kāds iebāzīs roku pakaļā un jautās viņa vietā gluži kā vēderrunātājs?
Viņa brēc kā kamielis, kas saēdies smiltis.
(par cilvēkiem, kuri apmeklē izstādi "Alternatīvais kosmoss") Nebija nekādu šaubu par to, ko viņi meklē: ātru, vienkāršu un , vēlams, lētu ceļu uz labāku un apskaidrotāku dzīvi.
Ja kamielim ieskatās dziļi acīs, tas sāk šķielēt.
Viņi protestēja, kad viņiem lūdz uzvilkt slimnīcas drēbes. Pieauguši vīrieši garos kreklos, ar pliku pēcpusi un spalvainām kājām nav nekāds daiļais skats.
Kurš gan uzdrošinātos runāt pretī ārstam smalkās brillēs?
November 30, 2017
Weeral een spannend boek vd Serie Q! Boek 7 ligt al klaar om te lezen. :)
April 24, 2015
LIJVIG EN DOORSPEKT MET HUMOR
Deel 6 in de 'serie Q'. Voor een juiste interpretatie van de samenhang, verhoudingen en persoonlijke ont- en verwikkelingen is het beter eerst de eerder verschenen delen te lezen: #1 De vrouw in de kooi, #2 De fazantenmoordenaars, #3 De noodkreet in de fles, #4 Dossier 64 en #5 Het Marco-effect, maar los is 'De grenzeloze' ook goed te doen. Je zult dan hier en daar finesses missen, bijvoorbeeld de Hardy-lijn niet helemaal kunnen volgen, maar er blijft genoeg lezenswaardigs over in dit lijvige boek.
Afdeling Q, in de persoon van Carl Mørck, krijgt een telefoontje van een collega op Bornholm. Deze collega, Christian Habersaat, wil dat Q een onderzoek oppakt waaraan hij zeventien jaar van zijn leven besteed heeft zonder tot resultaat te komen. Mørck wijst het verzoek af. Dan gebeurt er iets ... en Mørcks assistente Rose zorgt ervoor dat Q alsnog afreist naar Bornholm, al is het maar voor de vorm. Op Bornholm blijkt dat er wel iets heel erg mis moet zijn, want ... Q duikt alsnog in de oude moord op het meisje Alberte. Alleen al het terugvinden van de destijds betrokkenen is een heidens karwei.
Humor is een belangrijk ingrediënt in Jussi Adler-Olsens serie Q, vooral de kamelengrappen van Assad doen het goed. 'De grenzeloze' is doorspekt met droge humor, al naar gelang de smaak van de lezer is dat hetzij een positieve hetzij een negatieve ontwikkeling of ergens daartussenin. Ik geniet van Adler-Olsens humor - het woord 'achteromkant' heb ik geadopteerd -, echter overdaad schaadt. Humor moet geen bladvulling worden, of ingezet om te camoufleren dat het moordonderzoek in feite maar een dun verhaal is, dat hier en daar zelfs neigt naar langdradigheid. Gekoppeld aan het verhaal van Pirjo, rechterhand van goeroe Atu Abanshamash Dumuzi, slaat de meter desondanks uit in positieve richting. Pirjo's gedachten en daden volgen we op de voet, de inkijk in haar verwrongen geest is buitengewoon interessant.
Maak je geen zorgen, het is niet alleen maar humor, er vallen ook doden. En er zijn verbanden tussen heden en verleden. De personages zijn weer uit de kunst getekend door Adler-Olsen. De raadselen lijken onontwarbaar, maar team Q staat voor niets. Wel jammer dat in 'De grenzeloze' de karakters van de Q-leden stagneren, daar waar we juist zo nieuwsgierig zijn naar bijvoorbeeld Assads voorgeschiedenis.
'De grenzeloze' is over het geheel genomen niet heel spannend, maar wel boeiend. Er komen spannende momenten in voor en ook de finale mag er zijn, mét onverwachte wending.
[spanning 3, plot 4, leesplezier 5, schrijfstijl 5, originaliteit 4, psychologie 4]
Deel 6 in de 'serie Q'. Voor een juiste interpretatie van de samenhang, verhoudingen en persoonlijke ont- en verwikkelingen is het beter eerst de eerder verschenen delen te lezen: #1 De vrouw in de kooi, #2 De fazantenmoordenaars, #3 De noodkreet in de fles, #4 Dossier 64 en #5 Het Marco-effect, maar los is 'De grenzeloze' ook goed te doen. Je zult dan hier en daar finesses missen, bijvoorbeeld de Hardy-lijn niet helemaal kunnen volgen, maar er blijft genoeg lezenswaardigs over in dit lijvige boek.
Afdeling Q, in de persoon van Carl Mørck, krijgt een telefoontje van een collega op Bornholm. Deze collega, Christian Habersaat, wil dat Q een onderzoek oppakt waaraan hij zeventien jaar van zijn leven besteed heeft zonder tot resultaat te komen. Mørck wijst het verzoek af. Dan gebeurt er iets ... en Mørcks assistente Rose zorgt ervoor dat Q alsnog afreist naar Bornholm, al is het maar voor de vorm. Op Bornholm blijkt dat er wel iets heel erg mis moet zijn, want ... Q duikt alsnog in de oude moord op het meisje Alberte. Alleen al het terugvinden van de destijds betrokkenen is een heidens karwei.
Humor is een belangrijk ingrediënt in Jussi Adler-Olsens serie Q, vooral de kamelengrappen van Assad doen het goed. 'De grenzeloze' is doorspekt met droge humor, al naar gelang de smaak van de lezer is dat hetzij een positieve hetzij een negatieve ontwikkeling of ergens daartussenin. Ik geniet van Adler-Olsens humor - het woord 'achteromkant' heb ik geadopteerd -, echter overdaad schaadt. Humor moet geen bladvulling worden, of ingezet om te camoufleren dat het moordonderzoek in feite maar een dun verhaal is, dat hier en daar zelfs neigt naar langdradigheid. Gekoppeld aan het verhaal van Pirjo, rechterhand van goeroe Atu Abanshamash Dumuzi, slaat de meter desondanks uit in positieve richting. Pirjo's gedachten en daden volgen we op de voet, de inkijk in haar verwrongen geest is buitengewoon interessant.
Maak je geen zorgen, het is niet alleen maar humor, er vallen ook doden. En er zijn verbanden tussen heden en verleden. De personages zijn weer uit de kunst getekend door Adler-Olsen. De raadselen lijken onontwarbaar, maar team Q staat voor niets. Wel jammer dat in 'De grenzeloze' de karakters van de Q-leden stagneren, daar waar we juist zo nieuwsgierig zijn naar bijvoorbeeld Assads voorgeschiedenis.
'De grenzeloze' is over het geheel genomen niet heel spannend, maar wel boeiend. Er komen spannende momenten in voor en ook de finale mag er zijn, mét onverwachte wending.
[spanning 3, plot 4, leesplezier 5, schrijfstijl 5, originaliteit 4, psychologie 4]
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