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Department Q #4
Journal 64
Indtil for blot 40 år siden blev utilpassede eller blot uheldige danske kvinder deporteret til en lille ø, hvor ondskab, misrøgt og torturlignende metoder blev brugt til at holde orden. Hertil kom Nete Hermansen, og her fra slap hun væk: Troede hun. Den dag fortiden indhentede hende, blev det starten på en af Afdeling Q’s mest komplicerede sager. Hvad gemmer hendes fortid? Hvad hændte der hende? Hvor forsvandt menneskene omkring hende hen? Og hvem stod bag?
Skønt vicepolitikommissær Carl Mørck har rigeligt at se til med en mordefterforskning, han måske var involveret i og med et privatliv, der ikke helt spiller, presser hans to stædige assistenter ham til at genåbne den sag, der for 23 år siden udspillede sig med voldsomme konsekvenser for de implicerede. Snart går det op for det lille efterforskningsteam, at sagen blot er en lille flig af noget større, der handler om overgreb af den allergroveste slags. Overgreb, som tilsyneladende stadig finder sted.
Stille, roligt og indædt går opklaringsarbejdet i gang, og det kommer til at tære på Carl, ikke mindst fordi hans, Roses og Assads engagement i sagen bliver livsfarligt. Og da Carl endelig mener at vide, hvordan tingene hænger sammen, melder en ny og meget koldblodig spiller sig på banen.
Skønt vicepolitikommissær Carl Mørck har rigeligt at se til med en mordefterforskning, han måske var involveret i og med et privatliv, der ikke helt spiller, presser hans to stædige assistenter ham til at genåbne den sag, der for 23 år siden udspillede sig med voldsomme konsekvenser for de implicerede. Snart går det op for det lille efterforskningsteam, at sagen blot er en lille flig af noget større, der handler om overgreb af den allergroveste slags. Overgreb, som tilsyneladende stadig finder sted.
Stille, roligt og indædt går opklaringsarbejdet i gang, og det kommer til at tære på Carl, ikke mindst fordi hans, Roses og Assads engagement i sagen bliver livsfarligt. Og da Carl endelig mener at vide, hvordan tingene hænger sammen, melder en ny og meget koldblodig spiller sig på banen.
461 pages, Paperback
First published November 10, 2010
1409 people are currently reading
8916 people want to read
About the author
Jussi Adler-Olsen
44 books5,330 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 1,882 reviews
November 28, 2020
(B+) 79% | Good
Notes: Flashbacks tell an impactful story, whereas before they were merely a device to elicit pity for cruelly abused women.
Notes: Flashbacks tell an impactful story, whereas before they were merely a device to elicit pity for cruelly abused women.
November 30, 2021
In this fourth book in the 'Department Q' series, Detective Morck and his team deal with a Nazi-ish politician and a woman who wants revenge. The novel can be read as a standalone.
*****
Several decades ago, Danish farm girl Nete Hermansen lost her mother at a young age, and growing up among her father and brothers, learned to curse like a sailor and freely exhibit her body - habits that shocked teachers and townsfolk.
After a difficult childhood and two early pregnancies Nete was sent to Sprogo Island by evil Dr. Curt Wad, a eugenicist determined to rid Denmark of 'inferior people.'
Sprogo Island housed girls considered to be mentally defective or sexually promiscuous, and the girls were treated harshly, forced to work, and often sterilized.
Later - after Nete left Sprogo, got an education, and was happily married - a chance meeting with Dr. Curt Wad upturned her life once again.
Meanwhile, in the present, Copenhagen police Department Q is looking into a series of decades-old disappearances. The cold case squad consists of three odd but endearing individuals: Detective Carl Morck;
His language-challenged assistant Assad;
And his secretary Rose, who appears to have a peculiar type of multiple personality disorder.
The investigations reveal that the old disappearances seem to have ties both to Dr. Curt Wad, who now heads a political party poised to institute eugenics in Denmark, and to Nete Hermansen, now an elderly lady living alone.
When the police start to look into Dr. Curt Wad he panics, afraid his old Nazi-like tactics on Sprogo will be exposed, and Wad and his allies take extreme measures to protect themselves.
Nete Hermansen's connection to the disappearances revolve around retribution against those who wronged her in her youth.
The story skillfully switches back and forth between past and present and engages the reader in every scene. The characters are well written and varied: some funny, some earnest, some evil creeps you'd gladly throttle. Not too many twists and surprises but a very good book. Highly recommended.
You can follow my reviews at https://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot....
April 17, 2020
Puede ser la mejor que haya leído de la serie hasta la fecha. Quizás porque he empatizado bastante con los personajes de Assad (de quién aún no sabemos gran cosa), y de Rose. Por eso es muy importante haber leído la serie en orden. Con este autor aún más que con compatriotas suyos.
De nuevo Jussi Adler-Olssen combina capítulos entre el presente y el pasado, aportando lo justo en cada uno para que la trama se vaya tejiendo de forma natural. Es de agradecer que, en la presente entrega, se detecte un incremento del sentido del humor en los diálogos, pues el trasfondo es lo suficientemente oscuro como para sobrecoger al lector. El de una Dinamarca racista en su pasado y en su presente, donde una parte de la sociedad hará todo lo que esté en su mano para dificultar la integración racial, desde evitar partos indeseados hasta el asesinato sin pudor, siempre justificando sus hechos sin vergüenza ni remordimiento. Y aunque esta novela es más el relato de una de las víctimas, es también el relato de sus verdugos. Un nórdico con todos los elementos que lo han elevado a un género incómodo y desgarrador, pero también necesario. Una cuarta entrega muy valiosa para esta serie del Departamento Q.
De nuevo Jussi Adler-Olssen combina capítulos entre el presente y el pasado, aportando lo justo en cada uno para que la trama se vaya tejiendo de forma natural. Es de agradecer que, en la presente entrega, se detecte un incremento del sentido del humor en los diálogos, pues el trasfondo es lo suficientemente oscuro como para sobrecoger al lector. El de una Dinamarca racista en su pasado y en su presente, donde una parte de la sociedad hará todo lo que esté en su mano para dificultar la integración racial, desde evitar partos indeseados hasta el asesinato sin pudor, siempre justificando sus hechos sin vergüenza ni remordimiento. Y aunque esta novela es más el relato de una de las víctimas, es también el relato de sus verdugos. Un nórdico con todos los elementos que lo han elevado a un género incómodo y desgarrador, pero también necesario. Una cuarta entrega muy valiosa para esta serie del Departamento Q.
December 19, 2018
The Purity of Vengeance is number 4 in the Department Q series and it is long, involved and quite deep. Some of the subject matter points the finger at a rather murky part of Denmark's history and there are a lot of disturbing incidents and deaths. Does that all sound bad? It isn't.
In the hands of Jussi Adler-Olsen it becomes an intriguing and exciting story of one person's determination to exact vengeance on the people who ruined her life, and the police hunt to discover the truth. As usual the author lightens the mood from time to time with humour, usually of the black variety. After the three previous books his main characters, Carl, Rose and Assad have all developed into really likeable if somewhat unusual people and there is a multitude of minor players who we have also come to know well.
The book culminates in a rather tense and quite spectacular ending which ties off all the loose ends really nicely. Recommended to anyone who enjoys a good crime novel but to get the most from it start at book 1!
In the hands of Jussi Adler-Olsen it becomes an intriguing and exciting story of one person's determination to exact vengeance on the people who ruined her life, and the police hunt to discover the truth. As usual the author lightens the mood from time to time with humour, usually of the black variety. After the three previous books his main characters, Carl, Rose and Assad have all developed into really likeable if somewhat unusual people and there is a multitude of minor players who we have also come to know well.
The book culminates in a rather tense and quite spectacular ending which ties off all the loose ends really nicely. Recommended to anyone who enjoys a good crime novel but to get the most from it start at book 1!
April 1, 2024
I find it difficult to find a crime series I want to read or continue as I find it very important the get invested in the characters and not just the actual cases. As I mentioned before I was recommended this series and I'm so happy I started it. I find the main characters rather funny and a bit of a strange bunch of people.
I got more invested in this case more the I did the last and the series is back of getting a 5 stars from me. Don't know if I will jump into the next one soon or if I will be able to read other stuff. But this is one of the series I seem to be binging at the moment.
I got more invested in this case more the I did the last and the series is back of getting a 5 stars from me. Don't know if I will jump into the next one soon or if I will be able to read other stuff. But this is one of the series I seem to be binging at the moment.
January 11, 2014
Book Review:
"I'm good enough!"
Carl nodded to himself.
He was in no doubt she had been.
Once.
And so ends the story of Nete, a woman we see upon opening the book as holding a cool delicate champagne glass in her delicate fingers, who relished the hum of voices, gazed fondly upon the palette of colorful evening gowns and proud figures and the light hand of her husband at her waist.
A woman for whom the laughter of such people has since long gone.
Without a doubt, Jussi Adler-Olson has stepped into the rarefied circle of top Scandinavian writers with this latest addition to his Department Q novels. This is a story that will shock you in profound ways. It is also a book that with a stroke of genius delivers the very antithesis of shock: it will have you tear up with unavoidable laughter.
Nete's story, a cold case delivered onto Carl MØrck's desk, will haunt readers for a long time following the reading of this novel. I still think of her in spite of the fact that I'm well into my current novel by another author. I think about how on earth it was possible for human beings to treat others as Nete was treated by the Danish mental healthcare system: a place for women who were not good enough. Careful not to editorialize, Adler-Olson scrutinizes his country's touchy affiliation with Nazi tactics (ergo, Scandinavia's moral and political implications following their so-called neutrality during and after the war), particularly where it concerns genetics and the extermination of unwanted offspring by doctors providing abortions on unwilling female patients. In The Purity of Vengeance we find the echoes of Sweden's Alva Myrdal who following her Novel Peace Prize for her work on nuclear disarmament was tarnished (rightly or wrongly) by revelations that her views on population control and social engineering were not so different from war time Germany. Adler-Olson makes all this painfully concrete through his haunting presentation of Nete's life.
Having said the above, Adler-Olson is certainly not without a sense of humor (unusual for Nordic writers). This is the fourth in his Department Q series and the ongoing saga of detective superintendent Carl MØrck and his two assistants Assad and Rose will have you peeling away in laughter: particularly in this fourth book. The mystery behind Assad's life continues to be explored by both Rose and MØrck. Allegiances between this threesome continually shift as in turn, MØrck and Assad walk on pins and needles wondering if Rose's alter ego will make her appearance (see previous novels in this series). I cannot overemphasize the stroke of genius with which Adler-Olson provides his treatment of these characters. In the world of police procedurals, Adler-Olson is second to none in terms of presenting his characterization of a police department continually at odds with itself, and do it in the most delightful manner.
I do not recommend reading this series out of order as the characterization builds from one novel to the other.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Series Review:
Jussi Adler-Olson
Jussi Adler-Olsen was born in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1950. Known for his 3 stand-alones (The alphabet House, The Company Basher, and Washington Decree and the famous Department Q novels his popularity in Denmark has finally migrated over to the U.S.
All Department Q novels are set in Denmark and reveal the writings of an author intensely interested in criticizing politics while simultaenously being agnostic to parties in general. Not that this is any great revelation as for the most part politics is the mainstay of most European dinner table conversations. On this topic of politics, the author says:
"If you with that ask me whether I'm critical of the political system, then yes. If you ask me whether I have a tendency to defend party-political opinions, then no. My agenda political wise is firstly to criticize regardless of what is to criticize, and no matter what the basis of view is, and secondly to appeal to the politicians in power that they should understand that they are our servants and not our masters, and that they first and foremost on their fields of activity should learn to acknowledge mistakes and to evaluate their own actions."
Through his protagonist Carl MØrck, a lone detective absconded to the basement of police headquarters, heading a cold case department of one, and for all the world a detective ostracized for his unsociable and arrogant manner we bump head-on into the political machinations of Denmark's finest if not the corruption of a government beyond. Not that corruption threatens to take over the story. The author is careful about that:
It's all about having and keeping empathy. If you have this ability in your writings, it will never be the corruption in itself that is the story's starting point, but the people and the relations that the corruption affects. It is as simple as that! If you want to be a writer, you have to learn to turn everything upside down.
Born a son to a father with a psychiatric degree and living on the premises of such mental institutions a good portion of his life, Jussi Adler-Olsen has developed a keen insight into a human's boundlessness, self-centeredness if not the degree to which human beings can succumb to a lack of affection.
If it wasn't for these issues, there wouldn't be any thriller novels in the world. And the consequences of these character flaws give me a lot to work with. Revenge, strive for justice, and insanity.
As with most Nordic thrillers (Jo Nesbo, Henning Mankell, Larson, etc), there's a certain ennui that pervades the populace. Perhaps that is due to the unique form of Scandinavian democracy that today seems to be under siege by more globalistic tendencies, a slight leaning to the right that highly values the individual instead of the public society so prominent in Scandinavian countries. As with these other thriller writers, we view a somber if not morose society...practical, but not affluent in that affection mentioned by the author.
We have had a very negative and sad period, but the right to criticize and reject bad ideas in their unblemished form still holds. And there is no other place on earth, in my opinion, that uses this right as frequently and thoughtfully, which I'm proud of.
But what is it about novels that is captivating readers across the globe? I can only speak for myself.
As always, translations must be kept in mind and my hat's off to those who attempt to translate a foreign language into English. It is an art in and of itself. Especially when one considers that it is possible to have thoughts in one language that are not possible in another. Being bilingual myself, I still wrestle with certain idioms not available to me when communicating in English. In this sense, Lisa Hartford does an excellent job in her translation from Danish to English. Indeed, in terms of immediate and enduring attention grabbing, Adler-Olsen is in the Chandler class.
As with most European and Scandinavian mystery/crime novels, the causation behind the crime is usually a simple event rationalized by an unhealthy mind. I love this about Nordic thrillers...how we are brought to fully understand motivation as part of the unravelling of a mystery. You could say that this is exactly what is wrong with Hollywood where everything is sensationalized, instead of sprung forth out of ordinary life.
Junior Detective Superintendent Carl MØrck has a brilliant mind and as is usually the case, brilliance inspires envy, and envy destroys achievements. The way Jussi Adler-Olsen portrays this within the Danish police force cannot be dismissed. Ever critical, he has created a character both perfectly ordinary as well as constantly critical of everything set before him. There is a quiet humor behind the man who has no qualms about doing nothing but placing his feet on his desk and complain that he is too busy...until of course he becomes interested at which point he becomes a Danish bloodhound.
The plots are exquisite, driven not by the unveiling of a carefully kept ending held close to the chest by the author (I've read reviews where some partially dismiss this author for guessing the who-dun-it half way through) but rather by the unveiling of the true motivation behind the crime which gives the reader an entirely different satisfaction. Cold cases are tough and most of them are not solved. But, as Adler-Olson says:
It's all about having and keeping empathy.
Enjoy!
"I'm good enough!"
Carl nodded to himself.
He was in no doubt she had been.
Once.
And so ends the story of Nete, a woman we see upon opening the book as holding a cool delicate champagne glass in her delicate fingers, who relished the hum of voices, gazed fondly upon the palette of colorful evening gowns and proud figures and the light hand of her husband at her waist.
A woman for whom the laughter of such people has since long gone.
Without a doubt, Jussi Adler-Olson has stepped into the rarefied circle of top Scandinavian writers with this latest addition to his Department Q novels. This is a story that will shock you in profound ways. It is also a book that with a stroke of genius delivers the very antithesis of shock: it will have you tear up with unavoidable laughter.
Nete's story, a cold case delivered onto Carl MØrck's desk, will haunt readers for a long time following the reading of this novel. I still think of her in spite of the fact that I'm well into my current novel by another author. I think about how on earth it was possible for human beings to treat others as Nete was treated by the Danish mental healthcare system: a place for women who were not good enough. Careful not to editorialize, Adler-Olson scrutinizes his country's touchy affiliation with Nazi tactics (ergo, Scandinavia's moral and political implications following their so-called neutrality during and after the war), particularly where it concerns genetics and the extermination of unwanted offspring by doctors providing abortions on unwilling female patients. In The Purity of Vengeance we find the echoes of Sweden's Alva Myrdal who following her Novel Peace Prize for her work on nuclear disarmament was tarnished (rightly or wrongly) by revelations that her views on population control and social engineering were not so different from war time Germany. Adler-Olson makes all this painfully concrete through his haunting presentation of Nete's life.
Having said the above, Adler-Olson is certainly not without a sense of humor (unusual for Nordic writers). This is the fourth in his Department Q series and the ongoing saga of detective superintendent Carl MØrck and his two assistants Assad and Rose will have you peeling away in laughter: particularly in this fourth book. The mystery behind Assad's life continues to be explored by both Rose and MØrck. Allegiances between this threesome continually shift as in turn, MØrck and Assad walk on pins and needles wondering if Rose's alter ego will make her appearance (see previous novels in this series). I cannot overemphasize the stroke of genius with which Adler-Olson provides his treatment of these characters. In the world of police procedurals, Adler-Olson is second to none in terms of presenting his characterization of a police department continually at odds with itself, and do it in the most delightful manner.
I do not recommend reading this series out of order as the characterization builds from one novel to the other.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Series Review:
Jussi Adler-Olson
Jussi Adler-Olsen was born in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1950. Known for his 3 stand-alones (The alphabet House, The Company Basher, and Washington Decree and the famous Department Q novels his popularity in Denmark has finally migrated over to the U.S.
All Department Q novels are set in Denmark and reveal the writings of an author intensely interested in criticizing politics while simultaenously being agnostic to parties in general. Not that this is any great revelation as for the most part politics is the mainstay of most European dinner table conversations. On this topic of politics, the author says:
"If you with that ask me whether I'm critical of the political system, then yes. If you ask me whether I have a tendency to defend party-political opinions, then no. My agenda political wise is firstly to criticize regardless of what is to criticize, and no matter what the basis of view is, and secondly to appeal to the politicians in power that they should understand that they are our servants and not our masters, and that they first and foremost on their fields of activity should learn to acknowledge mistakes and to evaluate their own actions."
Through his protagonist Carl MØrck, a lone detective absconded to the basement of police headquarters, heading a cold case department of one, and for all the world a detective ostracized for his unsociable and arrogant manner we bump head-on into the political machinations of Denmark's finest if not the corruption of a government beyond. Not that corruption threatens to take over the story. The author is careful about that:
It's all about having and keeping empathy. If you have this ability in your writings, it will never be the corruption in itself that is the story's starting point, but the people and the relations that the corruption affects. It is as simple as that! If you want to be a writer, you have to learn to turn everything upside down.
Born a son to a father with a psychiatric degree and living on the premises of such mental institutions a good portion of his life, Jussi Adler-Olsen has developed a keen insight into a human's boundlessness, self-centeredness if not the degree to which human beings can succumb to a lack of affection.
If it wasn't for these issues, there wouldn't be any thriller novels in the world. And the consequences of these character flaws give me a lot to work with. Revenge, strive for justice, and insanity.
As with most Nordic thrillers (Jo Nesbo, Henning Mankell, Larson, etc), there's a certain ennui that pervades the populace. Perhaps that is due to the unique form of Scandinavian democracy that today seems to be under siege by more globalistic tendencies, a slight leaning to the right that highly values the individual instead of the public society so prominent in Scandinavian countries. As with these other thriller writers, we view a somber if not morose society...practical, but not affluent in that affection mentioned by the author.
We have had a very negative and sad period, but the right to criticize and reject bad ideas in their unblemished form still holds. And there is no other place on earth, in my opinion, that uses this right as frequently and thoughtfully, which I'm proud of.
But what is it about novels that is captivating readers across the globe? I can only speak for myself.
As always, translations must be kept in mind and my hat's off to those who attempt to translate a foreign language into English. It is an art in and of itself. Especially when one considers that it is possible to have thoughts in one language that are not possible in another. Being bilingual myself, I still wrestle with certain idioms not available to me when communicating in English. In this sense, Lisa Hartford does an excellent job in her translation from Danish to English. Indeed, in terms of immediate and enduring attention grabbing, Adler-Olsen is in the Chandler class.
As with most European and Scandinavian mystery/crime novels, the causation behind the crime is usually a simple event rationalized by an unhealthy mind. I love this about Nordic thrillers...how we are brought to fully understand motivation as part of the unravelling of a mystery. You could say that this is exactly what is wrong with Hollywood where everything is sensationalized, instead of sprung forth out of ordinary life.
Junior Detective Superintendent Carl MØrck has a brilliant mind and as is usually the case, brilliance inspires envy, and envy destroys achievements. The way Jussi Adler-Olsen portrays this within the Danish police force cannot be dismissed. Ever critical, he has created a character both perfectly ordinary as well as constantly critical of everything set before him. There is a quiet humor behind the man who has no qualms about doing nothing but placing his feet on his desk and complain that he is too busy...until of course he becomes interested at which point he becomes a Danish bloodhound.
The plots are exquisite, driven not by the unveiling of a carefully kept ending held close to the chest by the author (I've read reviews where some partially dismiss this author for guessing the who-dun-it half way through) but rather by the unveiling of the true motivation behind the crime which gives the reader an entirely different satisfaction. Cold cases are tough and most of them are not solved. But, as Adler-Olson says:
It's all about having and keeping empathy.
Enjoy!
December 9, 2020
4/5 estrellas
Siento que he cometido un error al comenzar la serie por su cuarta entrega, pero no me arrepiento, ya que me ha permitido conocer una serie de novela negra-policiaca estupenda. Ya conocía los casos del Departamento Q por la serie de TV, y me gustaron, pero evidentemente el libro es otra dimensión.
Debido a que no he seguido el orden cronológico de los libros, me he perdido referencias a casos anteriores, que sobrevuelan sobre las vidas y el comportamiento de los personajes. Me ha costado entrar un poco en la historia ya que primero tienes que aterrizar y comprender a los protagonistas, sus relaciones personales, su forma y condiciones de trabajo, pero una vez aterrizado se despliega ante ti una historia interesante, de la que crees comprender fácilmente las líneas principales por la que se va a desarrollar: quien es el asesino, sus motivaciones, como están relacionados con la historia principal los personajes secundarios, muy bien perfilados, pero que finalmente se revela mucho más compleja y que no deja de sorprenderte hasta el final.
Nos movemos en Dinamarca en tres líneas temporales, entre personajes maltratados por la vida, entre otros fríos y amorales, que siguiendo la mejor tradición del nacionalsocialismo se arrogan la potestad de decidir sobre la vida y el futuro de las personas en base a criterios de inteligencia, raza y estrato social del que provienen, siguiendo sin inmutarse el camino que su mente enferma les indica.
Cóctel explosivo que acaba sobre la mesa del Departamento Q, que dirige el subcomisario Carl Morck y los arrastra, junto con sus peculiares ayudantes, a una espiral de muertes, violencia y degradación que los lleva hasta el límite mismo de su supervivencia...y no cuento más. Puedo decir que acabo de añadir una serie policiaca más a mi lista.......
Con estos mimbres os estaréis preguntando, porque no le he dado las 5 estrellas al libro y la respuesta está en la traducción desastrosa de Maeva. Entre que hay que traducir del danés, que en el equipo de investigación hay un personaje de origen sirio y chapurrea el danés, giros que luego hay que traducir o "intentarlo" al castellano, hay párrafos del libro que acaban perdiendo totalmente su significado. Ejemplo:
Pág 422: Están buscando al sirio y llegan a su supuesta casa y en la puerta de su supuesta dirección no aparece su nombre y hacen un comentario inmobiliario: "¿Quien no conocía a alguien que tenía dos casas y se había quedado con el culo al aire por el estancamiento del mercado inmobiliario? Los días felices en que los ministros de Economía pensaban con el culo y los bancos con el bolsillo interior no habían pasado del todo....." ¿Qué demonios significa esta última frase?
Por no hablar de expresiones inadecuadas o inusuales como: "en el entretanto" o nerviaciones (en lugar de nervaduras). En fin, la historia te atrapa y dejas de darle vueltas, pero me parece que el lector se merece algo mejor. Supongo que la traducción inglesa estará mejor, pero mi nivel de comprensión del idioma de Shakespeare no llega a tanto, como para intentarlo.
Investigando al traductor, veo que existe y que ha traducido entre otros a Henning Mankell, así que el tipo domina al menos sueco y danés, demasiado me parece a mi, me da que en este caso ha utilizado "un poco" el Google translate.
Perdonad el rollo, en cualquier caso la historia merece la pena.
Siento que he cometido un error al comenzar la serie por su cuarta entrega, pero no me arrepiento, ya que me ha permitido conocer una serie de novela negra-policiaca estupenda. Ya conocía los casos del Departamento Q por la serie de TV, y me gustaron, pero evidentemente el libro es otra dimensión.
Debido a que no he seguido el orden cronológico de los libros, me he perdido referencias a casos anteriores, que sobrevuelan sobre las vidas y el comportamiento de los personajes. Me ha costado entrar un poco en la historia ya que primero tienes que aterrizar y comprender a los protagonistas, sus relaciones personales, su forma y condiciones de trabajo, pero una vez aterrizado se despliega ante ti una historia interesante, de la que crees comprender fácilmente las líneas principales por la que se va a desarrollar: quien es el asesino, sus motivaciones, como están relacionados con la historia principal los personajes secundarios, muy bien perfilados, pero que finalmente se revela mucho más compleja y que no deja de sorprenderte hasta el final.
Nos movemos en Dinamarca en tres líneas temporales, entre personajes maltratados por la vida, entre otros fríos y amorales, que siguiendo la mejor tradición del nacionalsocialismo se arrogan la potestad de decidir sobre la vida y el futuro de las personas en base a criterios de inteligencia, raza y estrato social del que provienen, siguiendo sin inmutarse el camino que su mente enferma les indica.
Cóctel explosivo que acaba sobre la mesa del Departamento Q, que dirige el subcomisario Carl Morck y los arrastra, junto con sus peculiares ayudantes, a una espiral de muertes, violencia y degradación que los lleva hasta el límite mismo de su supervivencia...y no cuento más. Puedo decir que acabo de añadir una serie policiaca más a mi lista.......
Con estos mimbres os estaréis preguntando, porque no le he dado las 5 estrellas al libro y la respuesta está en la traducción desastrosa de Maeva. Entre que hay que traducir del danés, que en el equipo de investigación hay un personaje de origen sirio y chapurrea el danés, giros que luego hay que traducir o "intentarlo" al castellano, hay párrafos del libro que acaban perdiendo totalmente su significado. Ejemplo:
Pág 422: Están buscando al sirio y llegan a su supuesta casa y en la puerta de su supuesta dirección no aparece su nombre y hacen un comentario inmobiliario: "¿Quien no conocía a alguien que tenía dos casas y se había quedado con el culo al aire por el estancamiento del mercado inmobiliario? Los días felices en que los ministros de Economía pensaban con el culo y los bancos con el bolsillo interior no habían pasado del todo....." ¿Qué demonios significa esta última frase?
Por no hablar de expresiones inadecuadas o inusuales como: "en el entretanto" o nerviaciones (en lugar de nervaduras). En fin, la historia te atrapa y dejas de darle vueltas, pero me parece que el lector se merece algo mejor. Supongo que la traducción inglesa estará mejor, pero mi nivel de comprensión del idioma de Shakespeare no llega a tanto, como para intentarlo.
Investigando al traductor, veo que existe y que ha traducido entre otros a Henning Mankell, así que el tipo domina al menos sueco y danés, demasiado me parece a mi, me da que en este caso ha utilizado "un poco" el Google translate.
Perdonad el rollo, en cualquier caso la historia merece la pena.
January 24, 2014
Having read/devoured all three of the previous Department Q books, I actually preordered this one, prior to it's January release. I was so excited when it arrived...but what a dissappointment. I see that most other readers have rated it here and on Amazon, very highly. Don't know why though. It really didn't engage me at all and I had to struggle to get through it. Carl, Assad. and Rose (the main ongoing characters) simply did not have the rough charm that captured me in the first three books. The writing style just felt differnt. At first I thought there may be a new translator, but it is the same person. A lot of "hitherto" "thus" etc. phrasology that was not used before. The story itself had some fair plotting, but even the "heroine/instigator" didn't evoke much empathy, which I attribute totally to the writing. Cannot recommend spending time on this book. Will I read another Department Q book? Are they being knocked out too quickly due to the popularity of the first ones? I just don't know......
April 30, 2021
The is the 4th book in the Department Q series. Carl Mørck is back with his assistants Assad and Rose, a team that on the surface would appear to be totally dysfucntional but which are proving to be highly effective at solving cold cases.
This cold case centres on the coincidental disappearance of five people who seem to have all completely disappeared on the same day. Mixed up in this it seems that a current political party called 'The Purity Party' may be something to do with this, in particular the leader Curt Wad a doctor who is anti-immigration and welfare. He also appears to be conducting illegal abortions on unsuspecting women in a bid to stop 'undesirable' children being born.
In this book Carl comes to realise (perhaps too late) just how important a role Assad plays in his investigations and that Carl may actually like, even respect him.
This series is a hidden treasure and I cannot wait to read book five.
This cold case centres on the coincidental disappearance of five people who seem to have all completely disappeared on the same day. Mixed up in this it seems that a current political party called 'The Purity Party' may be something to do with this, in particular the leader Curt Wad a doctor who is anti-immigration and welfare. He also appears to be conducting illegal abortions on unsuspecting women in a bid to stop 'undesirable' children being born.
In this book Carl comes to realise (perhaps too late) just how important a role Assad plays in his investigations and that Carl may actually like, even respect him.
This series is a hidden treasure and I cannot wait to read book five.
December 7, 2014
I loved the first book in the Department Q series. The quirky characters have been a lot of fun. It's a shame to see the caliber of each book, as the series progressed, turn into just an ok series. I didn't care for the story line on this one. I couldn't feel much sympathy for the victim. It didn't seem realistic to me.
Possibly the Department Q series is being dumbed down for a wider audience. Or it's getting lost in translation. I like a lot of plots/subplots going on. This has gotten a bit too simplified.
Possibly the Department Q series is being dumbed down for a wider audience. Or it's getting lost in translation. I like a lot of plots/subplots going on. This has gotten a bit too simplified.
December 18, 2016
Yay! The library finally received the one book in the Department Q novels I was missing. I've read these books out of order( beginning with book 6), but it is nice to finally receive all the missing puzzles pieces.
Morck, Assad, and Rose have been presented with case files that promise to get right under their skin and it all revolves around a woman bent on revenge. Five missing people, a political party based on the master race, and a cousin trying to pin a murder on Carl make for a book that is hard to put down.
Of course, now I want to know if/when book 7 is coming our way!
Morck, Assad, and Rose have been presented with case files that promise to get right under their skin and it all revolves around a woman bent on revenge. Five missing people, a political party based on the master race, and a cousin trying to pin a murder on Carl make for a book that is hard to put down.
Of course, now I want to know if/when book 7 is coming our way!
June 10, 2020
Para mi gusto, el mejor de la serie hasta el momento. Una trama que te engancha por su complejidad, con giros bastante inesperados. La serie no decae y mejora, buena noticia.
May 22, 2022
Cuatro estellas porque aunque en el final hay algunos giros resolutivos que no me han gustado, en general es una lectura muy entretenida y me hace seguir leyendo para saber más también de la historia sus personajes
October 3, 2020
Mal wieder grandios als Hörspiel von Audible vertont - Ich hoffe bald kommt auch Bd. 5 heraus!
Am Anfang hatte ich ein wenig Probleme den drei Zeitebenen zu folgen, was aber vielleicht auch an mir lag. Aber spätestens ab dem ersten Viertel war ich drin im vierten Fall vom Sonderdezernat Q. Auch hier tun sich menschliche Abgründe auf und es wird sogar richtig Actiongeladen.
Sehr gut hat mir gefallen, dass man wieder etwas mehr über unsere drei "Ermittler" erfährt und der "rote Faden" weitergesponnen wird. Dieses Mal ist dei Gefahr für Carl und auch Assad sehr hoch und trägt sehr gut zur Spannung bei.
Den Twist am Ende habe ich kurz vorher geahnt, was aber wirklich nur wenige Minuten vor der Aufklärung passierte und mich sogar begeistert hat, dass ich mal auf etwas gekommen bin ^^
Weiterhin eine tolle Reihe und ich warte gespannt auf Folge bzw. Band 5
Am Anfang hatte ich ein wenig Probleme den drei Zeitebenen zu folgen, was aber vielleicht auch an mir lag. Aber spätestens ab dem ersten Viertel war ich drin im vierten Fall vom Sonderdezernat Q. Auch hier tun sich menschliche Abgründe auf und es wird sogar richtig Actiongeladen.
Sehr gut hat mir gefallen, dass man wieder etwas mehr über unsere drei "Ermittler" erfährt und der "rote Faden" weitergesponnen wird. Dieses Mal ist dei Gefahr für Carl und auch Assad sehr hoch und trägt sehr gut zur Spannung bei.
Den Twist am Ende habe ich kurz vorher geahnt, was aber wirklich nur wenige Minuten vor der Aufklärung passierte und mich sogar begeistert hat, dass ich mal auf etwas gekommen bin ^^
Weiterhin eine tolle Reihe und ich warte gespannt auf Folge bzw. Band 5
May 22, 2022
Muy entretenido como los anteriores de la serie.
En este caso, la trama se centra en el fascismo y en la supuesta raza superior, que debe imponerse sobre el resto.
Con ganas de saber más acerca de los personajes principales.
En este caso, la trama se centra en el fascismo y en la supuesta raza superior, que debe imponerse sobre el resto.
Con ganas de saber más acerca de los personajes principales.
March 25, 2020
A quick reread, since I didn’t realize that this is one of many titles by this author translated and titled differently, but which I had actually previously read as The Purity of Vengeance. Very elaborate plot, with Mork, Assad and Rose getting lots of “play” throughout- my favourite part of this series.
March 7, 2015
Jussi Adler-Olsen napisao je jedan od meni najdražih trilera, “Žena u kavezu”. Prošli su mjeseci od čitanja ali nisam zaboravila oduševljenje koje je u meni izazvao pa sam jedva dočekala provjeriti kakav je “Okus osvete”. Naravno, nisam ostala razočarana.
U Danskoj je, ne tako davno, postojala zloglasna institucija na otoku gdje su zatvarali žene proglašene slaboumnima ili nepodobnima za društvo. Ondje su trpjele razna maltretiranja te su nad njima vršeni grozni zahvati, a većina uopće nije tamo bila svojom krivnjom. Jedna od njih bila je i Nete Hermansen koja je, otišavši s otoka, odlučila pokopati prošlost. Sada, udana za uglednog liječnika, ni ne sluti kako neke tajne ne mogu ostati skrivene… Carl Morck dobiva još jedan intirgantan “hladni” slučaj. Naoko ne postoje nikakvi korisni tragovi no uskoro otkriva kako su se u vrijeme zločina dogodili čudni nestanci ljudi što je prevelika slučajnost i moraju biti nekako povezani. Hoće li otkriti kako? I kakva je poveznica Nete Hermansen, žrtva ogromnog zločina? “Među prijateljima ćeš pronaći najgore neprijatelje.” U ovom odličnom trileru pratimo komplicirani slučaj Sektora Q te prošlost Nete Hermansen. Iako se u početku priče nikako ne isprepliću, ubrzo se pokazuje povezanost. Glavni likovi, Carl Morck i njegovi pomoćnici također su odlično opisani te njihove priče i karakterizacija savršeno nadopunjuju ionako kompleksan roman. Samim time i radnja je puno složenija, a umjesto jednog zločina otkriveno ih je nekoliko, tajne koje se skrivaju u pozadini nezamislive su, kako za prošlost tako i za današnjicu. Kao pravi stručnjak, Jussi Adler-Olsen ostavio je najbolje za kraj. Čak i kada čitatelj konačno uspije shvatiti kako su sve osobe bitne za slučaj povezane, autor ostavlja mjesta novim iznenađenjima a sam kraj dolazi sa izuzetno velikim faktorom iznenađenja koji me jednostavno oduševio. “Okus osvete” je apsolutni must-read za sve ljubitelje trilera. Savršeni spoj napetosti, misterija i akcije pobrinut će se da ostanete budni cijelu noć te potražite ostala djela ovog autora (ako već niste).
https://www.facebook.com/210901922419...
U Danskoj je, ne tako davno, postojala zloglasna institucija na otoku gdje su zatvarali žene proglašene slaboumnima ili nepodobnima za društvo. Ondje su trpjele razna maltretiranja te su nad njima vršeni grozni zahvati, a većina uopće nije tamo bila svojom krivnjom. Jedna od njih bila je i Nete Hermansen koja je, otišavši s otoka, odlučila pokopati prošlost. Sada, udana za uglednog liječnika, ni ne sluti kako neke tajne ne mogu ostati skrivene… Carl Morck dobiva još jedan intirgantan “hladni” slučaj. Naoko ne postoje nikakvi korisni tragovi no uskoro otkriva kako su se u vrijeme zločina dogodili čudni nestanci ljudi što je prevelika slučajnost i moraju biti nekako povezani. Hoće li otkriti kako? I kakva je poveznica Nete Hermansen, žrtva ogromnog zločina? “Među prijateljima ćeš pronaći najgore neprijatelje.” U ovom odličnom trileru pratimo komplicirani slučaj Sektora Q te prošlost Nete Hermansen. Iako se u početku priče nikako ne isprepliću, ubrzo se pokazuje povezanost. Glavni likovi, Carl Morck i njegovi pomoćnici također su odlično opisani te njihove priče i karakterizacija savršeno nadopunjuju ionako kompleksan roman. Samim time i radnja je puno složenija, a umjesto jednog zločina otkriveno ih je nekoliko, tajne koje se skrivaju u pozadini nezamislive su, kako za prošlost tako i za današnjicu. Kao pravi stručnjak, Jussi Adler-Olsen ostavio je najbolje za kraj. Čak i kada čitatelj konačno uspije shvatiti kako su sve osobe bitne za slučaj povezane, autor ostavlja mjesta novim iznenađenjima a sam kraj dolazi sa izuzetno velikim faktorom iznenađenja koji me jednostavno oduševio. “Okus osvete” je apsolutni must-read za sve ljubitelje trilera. Savršeni spoj napetosti, misterija i akcije pobrinut će se da ostanete budni cijelu noć te potražite ostala djela ovog autora (ako već niste).
https://www.facebook.com/210901922419...
November 7, 2023
Everything I've come to expect from Adler-Olsen: engaging characters, despicable bad guys, clever story twists, and that undefinable Danish flavor, a mix of modern tolerance and centuries' old tradition. Here, the long suffering detective Carl looks into a cluster of missing persons' cases that seem to be linked to a long-closed girls' asylum where uncompliant young women were interned and abused. Also linked with the case is Kurt Vad, the elderly leader of the Purity Party who wants to move Denmark toward a fascist future. Smart investigation, flaunting the rules, and Carl's able assistants Assad and Rose reveal a plethora of horrors hidden for decades.
April 5, 2017
4.5 Punkte
Sehr angenehm und flüssig zum Lesen. Mir gefielen die Handlung wie auch die Personen. Ob der Schluss etwas übertrieben ist oder nicht. Für ein Buch, dass ich kaum weglegen konnte gibts viele Sterne.
Sehr angenehm und flüssig zum Lesen. Mir gefielen die Handlung wie auch die Personen. Ob der Schluss etwas übertrieben ist oder nicht. Für ein Buch, dass ich kaum weglegen konnte gibts viele Sterne.
October 9, 2024
Este es el cuarto libro de la serie Departamento Q y aunque los casos presentados en cada uno son distintos, yo sí recomiendo leer la serie en orden cronológico para entender el desarrollo de los personajes que integran al Departamento Q, Carl, Assad y Rose.
En esta ocasión, el caso es elegido por Rose, la secretaria que hace mil funciones más allá del nombre de su puesto, una mujer desaparecida hace 20 años, nunca fue encontrada, y ese hilo se va desmadejando conforme la investigación avanza, convirtiéndose en un caso de proporciones épicas para un policía, una secretaria y un empleado de limpieza.
El éxito de esta serie no se basa en los casos, ya que no tienen nada de especial o diferente, más bien lo distintivo viene por estos tres personajes que por así decirlo son marginados de la sociedad y en su propio trabajo, casi arrinconados en una esquina para que no molesten o incomoden, pero en lugar de estarse quietos, ellos con sus limitantes y su férrea voluntad logran hacerse visibles y resolver caso tras caso, aún cuando en el intento ponen en peligro su vida.
Conforme el caso va avanzando se va descubriendo una maraña llena de personajes oscuros, con ideas espeluznantes y que por increíble que parezca han convencido a parte de la población de su ideología, pareciera mucho poder a enfrentar, pero el departamento Q a base de ingenio, inteligencia y suerte logra enfrentarlos aunque no estamos seguros si saldrán adelante.
Me he pasado un buen rato leyendo este libro, aunque a veces si me incomodé pensando que parte de lo que se cuenta está basado en hechos reales.
En esta ocasión, el caso es elegido por Rose, la secretaria que hace mil funciones más allá del nombre de su puesto, una mujer desaparecida hace 20 años, nunca fue encontrada, y ese hilo se va desmadejando conforme la investigación avanza, convirtiéndose en un caso de proporciones épicas para un policía, una secretaria y un empleado de limpieza.
El éxito de esta serie no se basa en los casos, ya que no tienen nada de especial o diferente, más bien lo distintivo viene por estos tres personajes que por así decirlo son marginados de la sociedad y en su propio trabajo, casi arrinconados en una esquina para que no molesten o incomoden, pero en lugar de estarse quietos, ellos con sus limitantes y su férrea voluntad logran hacerse visibles y resolver caso tras caso, aún cuando en el intento ponen en peligro su vida.
Conforme el caso va avanzando se va descubriendo una maraña llena de personajes oscuros, con ideas espeluznantes y que por increíble que parezca han convencido a parte de la población de su ideología, pareciera mucho poder a enfrentar, pero el departamento Q a base de ingenio, inteligencia y suerte logra enfrentarlos aunque no estamos seguros si saldrán adelante.
Me he pasado un buen rato leyendo este libro, aunque a veces si me incomodé pensando que parte de lo que se cuenta está basado en hechos reales.
January 21, 2023
The Purity of Vengeance (Department Q, #4) - Jussi Adler-Olsen
أيُّ سلسلة جريمة اسكندنافية يجب أن تضم بين أجزائها على جزء يتحدث عن دور رعاية الفتيات والفظاعات التي تقع بها، وكلما كانت القصة موغلةً في القدم كلما كانت القصة أكثر بشاعة وقسوة .
وهو حال هذا الجزء من رواية يوسي أدلر أولسن هذه، طبقات من الجريمة تبدأ كالعادة بجريمة قديمة تصل لأبواب فريق الجرائم غير المحلولة، ولكنها ليست جريمة واحدة بل عدة جرائم تتصل بجرائم أخرى .
رواية مذهلة ومعقدة وحبكة ممتازة حتى اللحظة الأخيرة .
أيُّ سلسلة جريمة اسكندنافية يجب أن تضم بين أجزائها على جزء يتحدث عن دور رعاية الفتيات والفظاعات التي تقع بها، وكلما كانت القصة موغلةً في القدم كلما كانت القصة أكثر بشاعة وقسوة .
وهو حال هذا الجزء من رواية يوسي أدلر أولسن هذه، طبقات من الجريمة تبدأ كالعادة بجريمة قديمة تصل لأبواب فريق الجرائم غير المحلولة، ولكنها ليست جريمة واحدة بل عدة جرائم تتصل بجرائم أخرى .
رواية مذهلة ومعقدة وحبكة ممتازة حتى اللحظة الأخيرة .
February 12, 2021
Τρία αστεράκια στην Ενοχή του Jussi Adler Olsen γιατί σε αυτή την ιστορία αν και στο γνωστό πλέον στυλ του είχε λίγο περισσότερη δράση και κατάφερε να μου κρατήσει το ενδιαφέρον περισσότερο!
Οι γνωστοί πλέον χαρακτήρες επιστρέφουν για να λύσουν άλλη μια παλιά υπόθεση με τις γνωστές τους προστριβές αλλά και χιούμορ δυστυχώς όμως ο Olsen είναι φλύαρος σε σημεία που δεν πρέπει και προσπερνάει σημαντικές στιγμές χωρίς τη δέουσα σημασία. Επίσης δεν ειναι καλός στη περιγραφή και ανάπτυξη των συναισθημάτων των πρωταγωνιστών του.
Πιο ευχάριστη έγινε η ανάγνωση αφού το διάβασα παράλληλα με μια φίλη! Τρίτο buddy read με την @man.marianthi
Three stars for the fourth installment in the series because even though written with his usual style this one was a tad more interesting and had a bit more action and managed to keep my interest.
The main characters are back to solve yet another cold case with their usual banter and humour but sadly Olsen is wordy in situations that aren't important but passes without details moments that are and the reader can't but feel disconnected with the main characters! Also he isn't good with the description and development of some characters feelings.
Reading the book was more pleasant since it was part of the buddy read with my friend @man.marianthi
Οι γνωστοί πλέον χαρακτήρες επιστρέφουν για να λύσουν άλλη μια παλιά υπόθεση με τις γνωστές τους προστριβές αλλά και χιούμορ δυστυχώς όμως ο Olsen είναι φλύαρος σε σημεία που δεν πρέπει και προσπερνάει σημαντικές στιγμές χωρίς τη δέουσα σημασία. Επίσης δεν ειναι καλός στη περιγραφή και ανάπτυξη των συναισθημάτων των πρωταγωνιστών του.
Πιο ευχάριστη έγινε η ανάγνωση αφού το διάβασα παράλληλα με μια φίλη! Τρίτο buddy read με την @man.marianthi
Three stars for the fourth installment in the series because even though written with his usual style this one was a tad more interesting and had a bit more action and managed to keep my interest.
The main characters are back to solve yet another cold case with their usual banter and humour but sadly Olsen is wordy in situations that aren't important but passes without details moments that are and the reader can't but feel disconnected with the main characters! Also he isn't good with the description and development of some characters feelings.
Reading the book was more pleasant since it was part of the buddy read with my friend @man.marianthi
September 29, 2014
I really like the premise of this series and enjoyed the first book very much. But I had mixed feelings about this one. There really isn't a mystery per se: we know early on what was done to Nete Hermansen and who was primarily responsible. We just don't know the exact details. These are slowly meted out through flashbacks spanning the years 1955-1985. Then there is the question of exactly how Nete is going to get her revenge, which is told in flashbacks from 1987. These are interspersed with chapters about present-day (2010) events in which Detective Carl Morck and his colleagues, Rose and Assad, are trying to solve several cases of missing persons from 1987. (You can see where this is going.)
As usual, there is a tie between the cold cases and the present, but the members of Department Q don't realize it for much of the book. Watching them figure it out is the point of the book, but their endeavors seem to take forever, mainly because the unfolding of Nete's story takes so long (the book is 500 pages).
This is the third Department Q book I've read and I have one more (The Marco Effect) to go to round out the series, but to be honest, I'm not sure I'm going to read it. I just don't like the people well enough. Carl is borderline abusive to his "underlings:" he seems to dislike them intensely (although there are hints that he is partly covering up a grudging respect for them) and he himself comes across as selfish and arrogant. He writes Rose off as insane and his behavior toward Assad is basically racist. I could understand him being uncomfortable around Rose and Assad when he first finds that he has to work with them, but I expected a little growth in his maturity level by this book.
As for Rose and Assad, since the author doesn't let us into their heads, we are forced to see them through Carl's eyes, which is to say not as real people. So there isn't really anyone to root for. Even Nete, who is the obvious victim here, is hard to sympathize with because she becomes so full of hatred and a need for vengeance.
As usual, there is a tie between the cold cases and the present, but the members of Department Q don't realize it for much of the book. Watching them figure it out is the point of the book, but their endeavors seem to take forever, mainly because the unfolding of Nete's story takes so long (the book is 500 pages).
This is the third Department Q book I've read and I have one more (The Marco Effect) to go to round out the series, but to be honest, I'm not sure I'm going to read it. I just don't like the people well enough. Carl is borderline abusive to his "underlings:" he seems to dislike them intensely (although there are hints that he is partly covering up a grudging respect for them) and he himself comes across as selfish and arrogant. He writes Rose off as insane and his behavior toward Assad is basically racist. I could understand him being uncomfortable around Rose and Assad when he first finds that he has to work with them, but I expected a little growth in his maturity level by this book.
As for Rose and Assad, since the author doesn't let us into their heads, we are forced to see them through Carl's eyes, which is to say not as real people. So there isn't really anyone to root for. Even Nete, who is the obvious victim here, is hard to sympathize with because she becomes so full of hatred and a need for vengeance.
November 28, 2015
Τώρα τι να πω για αυτό το βιβλίο εκτός από το "ΕΠΙΤΕΛΟΥΣ ΤΟ ΤΕΛΕΙΩΣΑ" ?!?!
Πρώτα από όλα να δηλώσω ότι είναι η πρώτη φορά και η τελευταία που διαβάζω κάτι από αυτόν τον συγγραφέα.
Το βιβλίο 640 σελιδίτσες ήταν ένα μπερδεμένο κουβάρι που όσο τρέχανε οι σελίδες συνέχιζε να είναι μπερδεμένο. Μπορεί να έφταιγε ότι δεν υπήρχαν κεφάλαια... ή τουλάχιστον δεν ήταν ξεκάθαρα τα "ας πούμε" κεφάλαια που είχε.
Πάρα πολλές πληροφορίες και ακόμα περισσότεροι οι χαρακτήρες από τους οποίους τους πέρασε από κόσκινο και όταν αποφάσιζες να κάνεις ένα διάλειμμα σε κάποια τελεία, σου άφηνε ένα μικρό πονοκέφαλο για δώρο.
Η ροή της ιστορίας κυλούσε πιο σιγά και από σαλιγκάρι.. εγώ προσωπικά δεν είχα καμία αγωνία να δω που πάει το πράμα..
"Και γιατί συνέχισες να το διαβάζεις" θα με ρώταγαν κάποιοι?? Γιατί 1ον ήθελα να δω πότε θα γίνει η ανατροπή και 2ον διότι για να έχει πουλήσει 10.000.000 παγκοσμίως κάτι θα λέει αυτό το βιβλίο...
Η ανατροπή ήρθε στις τελευταίες 100 σελίδες αλλά δεν έδιωξε την απογοήτευση και τον πονοκέφαλο των υπολοίπων 540 ώστε να του δώσω έστω ένα αστεράκι παραπάνω...
Όσο για τα 10.000.000 πωλήσεις ... το αφήνω ασχολίαστο...
Πρώτα από όλα να δηλώσω ότι είναι η πρώτη φορά και η τελευταία που διαβάζω κάτι από αυτόν τον συγγραφέα.
Το βιβλίο 640 σελιδίτσες ήταν ένα μπερδεμένο κουβάρι που όσο τρέχανε οι σελίδες συνέχιζε να είναι μπερδεμένο. Μπορεί να έφταιγε ότι δεν υπήρχαν κεφάλαια... ή τουλάχιστον δεν ήταν ξεκάθαρα τα "ας πούμε" κεφάλαια που είχε.
Πάρα πολλές πληροφορίες και ακόμα περισσότεροι οι χαρακτήρες από τους οποίους τους πέρασε από κόσκινο και όταν αποφάσιζες να κάνεις ένα διάλειμμα σε κάποια τελεία, σου άφηνε ένα μικρό πονοκέφαλο για δώρο.
Η ροή της ιστορίας κυλούσε πιο σιγά και από σαλιγκάρι.. εγώ προσωπικά δεν είχα καμία αγωνία να δω που πάει το πράμα..
"Και γιατί συνέχισες να το διαβάζεις" θα με ρώταγαν κάποιοι?? Γιατί 1ον ήθελα να δω πότε θα γίνει η ανατροπή και 2ον διότι για να έχει πουλήσει 10.000.000 παγκοσμίως κάτι θα λέει αυτό το βιβλίο...
Η ανατροπή ήρθε στις τελευταίες 100 σελίδες αλλά δεν έδιωξε την απογοήτευση και τον πονοκέφαλο των υπολοίπων 540 ώστε να του δώσω έστω ένα αστεράκι παραπάνω...
Όσο για τα 10.000.000 πωλήσεις ... το αφήνω ασχολίαστο...
August 31, 2015
I have found my favourite from this series :D
This book has it all. The tension, the genius and kind of sick plot, great characters and a lot less of annoying Vigga and all that crap.
The thing that scared me most out of all this is a thought that came to me while reading- people like Wad really exist somewhere out there in the world. Crap. Damn. He is so sick and twisted and stops at nothing. He cracks his fingers and poof, someone's dead. Hopefully, there are people like Carl in this world too.
The twist in the end knocked me down. I really wasn't expecting it but it all made sense and I asked myself how I didn't conclude it out of the last few chapters.
I'm so glad this book was so freaking good after the past one that was kind of disappointing. On to the the next oneee! :D
This book has it all. The tension, the genius and kind of sick plot, great characters and a lot less of annoying Vigga and all that crap.
The thing that scared me most out of all this is a thought that came to me while reading- people like Wad really exist somewhere out there in the world. Crap. Damn. He is so sick and twisted and stops at nothing. He cracks his fingers and poof, someone's dead. Hopefully, there are people like Carl in this world too.
The twist in the end knocked me down. I really wasn't expecting it but it all made sense and I asked myself how I didn't conclude it out of the last few chapters.
I'm so glad this book was so freaking good after the past one that was kind of disappointing. On to the the next oneee! :D
September 8, 2022
Σε αυτό το βιβλίο υπάρχει μεγαλύτερη εξέλιξη στις προσωπικές ιστορίες των βασικών χαρακτήρων. Η υπόθεση με την οποία ασχολούνται μου άρεσε το φρικιαστικό στοιχείο που δεν το βάζει σε πρωταγωνιστική θέση ο συγγραφέας ώστε να κερδίσει εκεί την προσοχή του αναγνώστη παρά το χρησιμοποιεί σαν αλατοπίπε��ο. Αξίζει να διαβαστεί.
May 31, 2016
No less than five stars.
Excellent mystery in all regards. Carl Morck, head of Department Q (in charge of cold cases) and his two assistants, the multi-personality (maybe) Rose, and Syrian immigrant Assad are involved in yet another baffling, complex, intricate puzzle. Working on the case of a missing brothel owner, they are led to several other missing person-cases; AND a talented doctor with eugenics-to-the-extreme on his mind; AND a group of people determined to make the 'Purity Party' fully represented in Danish party politics. In a less-talented writer this would become a mashup; in Adler-Olsen's deft hands it becomes a work equal to anything by PD James or John le Carre.
No kidding. The writing is splendid. Each and every character is well-delineated. (There is no such thing as a 'red shirt' in Adler-Olsen's world.) The writing is perfect in that the story is number ONE, characters second. Description is succinct, not overdone. Dialogue, even in translation, is spot-on, though it's obvious the translator is British as the slang slants that way. Who cares? Because this book kept me up late at night reading, and during the day wondering which way things were going. Events do move back and forth in time, but it's always carefully spelled out and makes sense in the storyline. There are twists and turns, but never contrived. They're more the, 'why didn't I see that coming?' type of thing. I thought I had various elements figured out; I did not. Yay for the writer! (Boo for me.)
(We also get a little more background/back story on Rose and Assad, as well as more clues into what happened when Carl and his two partners were ambushed during an earlier investigation. The ambush left Carl injured, one of his partners dead, and the third paralyzed from the neck down.)
It appears to me that Adler-Olsen's books get better with each passing one. Am now in waiting to get my hands on #5!
Excellent mystery in all regards. Carl Morck, head of Department Q (in charge of cold cases) and his two assistants, the multi-personality (maybe) Rose, and Syrian immigrant Assad are involved in yet another baffling, complex, intricate puzzle. Working on the case of a missing brothel owner, they are led to several other missing person-cases; AND a talented doctor with eugenics-to-the-extreme on his mind; AND a group of people determined to make the 'Purity Party' fully represented in Danish party politics. In a less-talented writer this would become a mashup; in Adler-Olsen's deft hands it becomes a work equal to anything by PD James or John le Carre.
No kidding. The writing is splendid. Each and every character is well-delineated. (There is no such thing as a 'red shirt' in Adler-Olsen's world.) The writing is perfect in that the story is number ONE, characters second. Description is succinct, not overdone. Dialogue, even in translation, is spot-on, though it's obvious the translator is British as the slang slants that way. Who cares? Because this book kept me up late at night reading, and during the day wondering which way things were going. Events do move back and forth in time, but it's always carefully spelled out and makes sense in the storyline. There are twists and turns, but never contrived. They're more the, 'why didn't I see that coming?' type of thing. I thought I had various elements figured out; I did not. Yay for the writer! (Boo for me.)
(We also get a little more background/back story on Rose and Assad, as well as more clues into what happened when Carl and his two partners were ambushed during an earlier investigation. The ambush left Carl injured, one of his partners dead, and the third paralyzed from the neck down.)
It appears to me that Adler-Olsen's books get better with each passing one. Am now in waiting to get my hands on #5!
June 27, 2015
The Purity of Vengeance: A Department Q Novel by Jussi Adler-Olsen is another in the Adler-Olsen's Department Q series. I enjoy the series-I like the characters and the plots are interesting. Purity is a very enjoyable read-I guessed some of the mystery but not all. I read it quickly, I could hardly wait to see how the book ended. I do think the book was a little long and my interest faltered a bit during the last 100 pages.
Still, I especially like the lead character, Carl Morck, still tortured by what happened to his colleague in a shooting in a previous book. I like the links between the books. I also found the portrayal of Denmark's political scene of interest.
I enjoy the genre of Nordic Noir and I especially enjoy Adler-Olsen's contributions. The Purity of Vengeance: A Department Q NovelThey is suspenseful and entertaining and I recommend it to all fans of this genre.
Still, I especially like the lead character, Carl Morck, still tortured by what happened to his colleague in a shooting in a previous book. I like the links between the books. I also found the portrayal of Denmark's political scene of interest.
I enjoy the genre of Nordic Noir and I especially enjoy Adler-Olsen's contributions. The Purity of Vengeance: A Department Q NovelThey is suspenseful and entertaining and I recommend it to all fans of this genre.
July 9, 2024
2.5 ⭐️
Šioje knygoje man labiausiai patiko ne dabarties, o praeities skyriai. Juose buvo intriga, įtampa, pyktis maišėsi su gailesčiu ir pasibjaurėjimu. Autorius neskubėjo, vis įterpdavo naujų, tikrai įdomių ir stiprių personažų. Na o dabarties įvykiai mane šiek tiek erzino. Pagrindinė trijulė kartais panašesnė į vaikų būrelį, žaidžiantį detektyvus, nei į tikrus policininkus. Pagrindinis blogiukas (ir ne tik jis) visą savo ilgą gyvenimą galėjo elgtis kaip nori ir buvo ne tik kad nebaudžiamas, bet dar apie jo darbelius niekas nežinojo (nors žinojo labai daug žmonių). Na ir pabaiga buvo pigaus ir lėkšto veiksmo filmo lygio😬
Šioje knygoje man labiausiai patiko ne dabarties, o praeities skyriai. Juose buvo intriga, įtampa, pyktis maišėsi su gailesčiu ir pasibjaurėjimu. Autorius neskubėjo, vis įterpdavo naujų, tikrai įdomių ir stiprių personažų. Na o dabarties įvykiai mane šiek tiek erzino. Pagrindinė trijulė kartais panašesnė į vaikų būrelį, žaidžiantį detektyvus, nei į tikrus policininkus. Pagrindinis blogiukas (ir ne tik jis) visą savo ilgą gyvenimą galėjo elgtis kaip nori ir buvo ne tik kad nebaudžiamas, bet dar apie jo darbelius niekas nežinojo (nors žinojo labai daug žmonių). Na ir pabaiga buvo pigaus ir lėkšto veiksmo filmo lygio😬
September 5, 2017
Sasvim OK mada sidekick Assad postaje zanimljiviji od glavnog lika
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