It’s always a pleasure to get stuck into a new adventure featuring Detective Carl Mørck and his quirky crew of Rose, Assad and Gordon from Department It’s always a pleasure to get stuck into a new adventure featuring Detective Carl Mørck and his quirky crew of Rose, Assad and Gordon from Department Q cold-case squad. The recent suicide of a 60-year-old woman reminds Carl’s boss, Marcus Jacobsen of a case which has plagued him for over 30 years; that of an explosion at an auto repair shop where a 3 year old boy was killed. Department Q reluctantly begin to investigate but soon discover that the deaths are linked to other unsolved cases which have been occurring at two year intervals since 1988. The main part of the action takes place in December 2020 and the already tough case is made even tougher with the COVID-19 restrictions which were in place that winter. Carl and his team find themselves pitted against one of the most ruthless and organised killers they’ve ever faced. There is a thrilling finale which takes place on Boxing Day but, ultimately ends in something of a cliffhanger with Carl’s future under threat. This must be a sign that there are further Department Q adventures still to come. I can hardly wait for the next....more
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 subsThis 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....more
An elderly widow is found bludgeoned to death in a Copenhagen park and her murder resembles that of a young teacher 10 years previously; a case which An elderly widow is found bludgeoned to death in a Copenhagen park and her murder resembles that of a young teacher 10 years previously; a case which remains unsolved. Across town, a hit-and-run driver is targetting young women, three of whom are planning to rob the safe at a nightclub where the boyfriend of one works as a bouncer. Department Q, as always, is under pressure of closure from unsympathetic superiors; a pressure made worse for Carl, Assad and Gordon when Rose has a breakdown, being haunted by ghosts from her family past. In fact, there are a myriad of interconnected threads running through the whole novel, but it’s a testament to the author’s skill that I still found them all easy to follow. Also, as always, despite the seriousness of the crimes, the narrative is frequently interlaced with bursts of what I can only think of as typical Danish humour. The final third of the novel is a thrilling merry-go-round as all the loose ends of the threads get tied together and Carl and Assad are on a desperate chase to save Rose, although neither is sure from what or whom. In all, another very worthy addition to this unique series....more
It’s always a pleasure for me to catch up with the latest adventures of Carl Morck and his rag-tag team of detectives in Department Q: Rose, Gordon anIt’s always a pleasure for me to catch up with the latest adventures of Carl Morck and his rag-tag team of detectives in Department Q: Rose, Gordon and Assad. This one begins with Catalan journalist Joan Aiguader, desperate to revive his career, covering a tragic story of dead Syrian refugees washing ashore in Cyprus; one elderly woman being referred to as Victim 2117. Her identity awakens unpleasant memories for Assad, reminding him of the family he had to leave behind in Iraq and his confrontation with Ghallib, a brutal guard from Saddam’s infamous Abu Ghraib prison. For deranged 22-year-old Alexander, Victim 2117 becomes a focus for his own intended killing spree. The suspense is maintained throughout by alternating chapters being told from the viewpoints of different protagonists, as the action shifts across Europe (Copenhagen, Barcelona, Cyprus, Munich, Frankfurt), culminating in an intended terrorist attack in Berlin. The Department Q team always seem to be one step behind Ghallib and Alexander. A very well constructed and thrilling story and a worthy addition to a highly original series....more
It is now October – the month in which this novel is set – and the chestnut season will soon be upon us. Delicious as they are, however, I doubt I’ll It is now October – the month in which this novel is set – and the chestnut season will soon be upon us. Delicious as they are, however, I doubt I’ll ever be able to look at them the same after reading this brilliantly scary work. I’m not familiar with the author’s TV series “The Killing”, however this novel does bear the hallmarks of someone who has written for the visual media. Wonderfully detailed and evocative location descriptions, razor-sharp dialogue and mercifully short chapters, many of which end in a cliffhanger. The tortured and mutilated body of a young mother is discovered in her back garden in a leafy Copenhagen suburb. Dangling above her is a crude doll made of matchsticks and two chestnuts. Forensics later discover the lower chestnut bears the fingerprint of Kristine Hartung, daughter of senior politician, Rosa. Kristine went missing a year ago and a man has already been convicted of her murder, even though her body has not been found. At first I thought the detective pairing here was a bit of a cliché. The young, ambitious female, Naia Thulin, paired with the jaded, cynical older male, Mark Hess. However as their investigation progresses, the relationship changes as Mark’s seemingly, initial indifference transforms into a personal crusade to find the killer. Although it appears as if he’s more intent on returning to his old job at Europol, he continually finds clues his colleagues have completely overlooked. The story eventually builds to a stunning climax at a remote farmhouse during a snowstorm. This is a brilliantly told tale and one which I won’t be forgetting. As good as any to complete my Reading Challenge for 2019....more
It was a pleasure to get reacquainted with Peter Boutrup, Mark Bille Hansen and Kir Røjel; the central characters from the author’s previous Three DogIt was a pleasure to get reacquainted with Peter Boutrup, Mark Bille Hansen and Kir Røjel; the central characters from the author’s previous Three Dog Night. Each flawed in their own way yet still very likeable. Peter is the last person to see young nun Melissa alive. Her body is later found in the convent moat and she has been garotted. Meanwhile, Kir finds a box containing human bones on the seabed. Although 60 years old, it appears the victim has also been garotted. Also, Magnus, the younger brother of Peter’s late friend My has gone missing. Are events somehow linked to animal rights activists protests about a mink farm or is the solution far older and much more dangerous? The viewpoints alternate between each of the central characters as they pursue their separate investigations. As most of the action takes place in an isolated community, virtually all the people involved know each other, although, it would appear, many have some well-kept secrets. Once again, Elsebeth Egholm has managed to produce a highly original and gripping tale. Hopefully, there will be further novels in this series....more
Most of the action in this novel takes place in the small town of Grenå on the coast of Jutland, Denmark in the grips of a severe winter. Recently releMost of the action in this novel takes place in the small town of Grenå on the coast of Jutland, Denmark in the grips of a severe winter. Recently released from prison, Peter Boutrup is now trying to lead a quiet, law-abiding life whilst making a modest living as a carpenter. However, it seems Peter's past has a way of catching up with him. First he discovers the dead body of a former prison acquaintance on the shore near his home; then his home is ransacked and another prison acquaintance is viciously assaulted. Also, how does his mysterious new neighbour, Felix Gomez fit into all this? As if often the case with small isolated communities, there are frequent and numerous interconnections between the lives of the residents. It is discovering where these connections lie and why that drives this intriguing story forward, culminating in a thrilling dual-finale where two women are separately abducted by brothers from a highly dysfunctional family. As well as Peter and Felix, there is a whole cast of deeply troubled characters. Couple this with the remote location and unforgiving weather and we have all the main ingredients for a classic example of Scandinavian Noir. The nearest comparison I can think of are the novels of Swedish author Åsa Larsson, which is no bad thing. This is a novel which ticked all the boxes for me and I look forward to reading more in the series....more
This was a slow paced police procedural that frequently dealt with the private lives of the investigators more than the crimes they were trying to solThis was a slow paced police procedural that frequently dealt with the private lives of the investigators more than the crimes they were trying to solve. The murder of a teenage girl of Jordanian descent is suspected of being an "honour killing". Then, however, her best friend - a white Danish girl - is also murdered with similar strange marks found on her body. There's no doubt the novel is well-researched and well-intended and it does deal with the thorny issue of the clash between Islamic and European cultures in a sensitive manner. However, as a crime thriller it fell down with a lack of momentum or focus....more
The debut novel of the creator of the excellent Department Q series is an unusual psychological thriller told in two parts. The first part tells of twThe debut novel of the creator of the excellent Department Q series is an unusual psychological thriller told in two parts. The first part tells of two British airmen shot down over Germany in early 1944 and how they end up in the eponymous Alphabet House, a psychiatric hospital for SS officers. The second part tells of their traumatic reunion in 1972 at the time of the Munich Olympics. Although some of the "action sequences" in the second half did strain credibility a bit, I still felt this was a well-written and original debut....more
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