400 pages
English language
Published Sept. 7, 2011 by Dutton.
Carl Mørck used to be one of Copenhagen’s best homicide detectives. Then a hail of bullets destroyed the lives of two fellow cops, and Carl—who didn’t draw his weapon—blames himself. So a promotion is the last thing he expects. But Department Q is a department of one, and Carl’s got only a stack of Copenhagen’s coldest cases for company. His colleagues snicker, but Carl may have the last laugh, because one file keeps nagging at him: a liberal politician vanished five years earlier and is presumed dead.
But she isn’t dead … yet.
Darkly humorous, propulsive, and atmospheric, The Keeper of Lost Causes introduces American readers to the mega-bestselling series fast becoming an international sensation.
(Danish book series: Afdeling Q) (aka Mercy)
Starts very slowly and gets better over time. Was loosely used for the script of the "Dept Q" TV series and transposed to Scotland. The main story line is there, but there are so many differences, almost 2 different stories.
As literature this book is just fine. As something worth reading, I find it cruel, black, depressing, and unnerving. With the world falling apart as it is these days, there are most certainly better books to spend my time reading.
It was a little slow going at the start, primarily because I don't know the first thing about Danish government or politics, but once it got into the heart of the story, I found that I couldn't put it down. I'm looking forward to continuing with the series.
3.5 Stars, We have good Mystery writers in the USA. but it refreshing to get an alternative location now and then.
A woman is held in captivity; a detective is sidelined with a new job (running Department Q, a cold case squad of one) and a seemingly incompetent assistant from Syria. The assistant turns out to be sharp, the cases not so cold, and the woman quite a hardy specimen. I was disposed to hate the book given its prologue, but by the end I was won over. A Dane proves there is humor in Scandinavian crime fiction.
