Review: The Keeper of Lost Causes

The Keeper of Lost Causes by Jussi Adler-Olsen

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Please Note: I read and reviewed this book in September, 2011 from a copy received from Amazon Vine.

My Thoughts and synopsis: Olsen is Denmark’s #1 crime writer, and this book – the first to be released in America, and the first in the Department Q series – makes it quite evident why. His writing style flows smoothly, keeping the pace of the story moving along while providing back story and strong characterization. His main character, Carl, the head of Department Q, is an acerbic and difficult man, but a brilliant detective. He has just returned to work after an attack at a crime scene left one of his colleagues dead and another paralyzed – Carl was hit in the head by a bullet and out for several months. Upon his return, he has set himself to do as little as possible – all interest in his career is gone. However, because he is so difficult, no one can work with him. The head of the department takes advantage of a political situation to set up Department Q, with Carl in charge. Department Q is designed to look into long-cold cases and see if they can be solved before the decision is made to close them once and for all. The first case Carl starts to look into is the disappearance of Merete Lynggaard, a politician who disappeared five years ago from a ferry on the way to Germany. It was believed that she fell overboard – either deliberately on her part, or by accident – and the case left unsolved. Carl starts digging into it and finds many things left unchecked; maybe she’s still alive.

One of the aspects of the story that allowed some lightness into it is Carl’s assistant, Hafez el-Assad, called Assad. We don’t learn much about him – he seems kind of mysterious – but he is quite a character and provides a few of the more light-hearted moments in the story.

My Recommendations: This was a great story and I can highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys thrillers and suspense.



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