On her 60th birthday, a woman takes her own life. When the case lands on Detective Carl Mørck’s desk, he can’t imagine what this has to do with Department Q, Copenhagen’s cold cases division. It’s a tragedy to be sure, but the cause of death seems to be clear. But his superior, Marcus Jacobsen, is convinced that this is not in fact a suicide, but a murder related to an unsolved case that has been plaguing him since 1988.

At Marcus’ behest, Carl and the Department Q gang-Rose, Assad, and Gordon-reluctantly begin to investigate. However, they quickly discover that Marcus is on to something: Every two years for the past three decades, there have been unusual, impeccably timed deaths with connections between them that cannot be ignored. As they dig deeper, it transpires that these “accidents” are in fact murders by a very cunning and violent criminal.

Faced with their toughest case yet, made only more difficult with COVID-19 restrictions and the challenges of their own personal lives, the Department Q team must race to find the culprit before the next murder is committed, as it is becoming increasingly clear that the killer is far from finished.

Praise for Jussi Adler-Olsen’s Department Q series:

‘Everything you could possibly want from a thriller and much, much more’ Kirkus

‘Department Q is a must read’ 5* reader review

‘Adler-Olsen is the new “it” boy of Nordic Noir’ The Times

‘Impossible to put down’ 5* reader review

‘Engrossing’ Sunday Express

‘Heart-stopping!’ 5* reader review

‘Gripping storytelling’ Guardian

‘Brilliant as always – these books keep getting better and better’ 5* reader review

‘As impressive as it is unnerving’ Independent

‘Six-star suspense! Superbly written’ 5***** Reader Review
‘Unputdownable. Keeps you hooked from start to end’ 5***** Reader Review
‘Taut, thrilling and nail-biting’ 5***** Reader Review
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She scratches at the walls until her fingers bleed. But there is no escape. She doesn’t know how long she’s been there. She vows not to go mad. She would rather die.

Copenhagen detective Carl Mørck has been taken off homicide to run a newly created department for unsolved crimes. His first case concerns politician Merete Lynggaard, who vanished five years ago.

Everyone says she’s dead. Everyone says it’s a waste of time. He thinks they’re right.

But she isn’t dead . . . yet.

Can they save her in time?
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PRAISE FOR THE DEPARTMENT Q SERIES:

‘Gripping story-telling’ Guardian

‘Mesmerising writing’ Independent

‘Scandinavian crime novels don’t get much darker’ New York Times Book Review

‘Everything you could possibly want from a thriller and much, much more’ Kirkus

A closed case hides a terrible secret . . .
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Department Q solves the unsolvable.

So when a file on the brutal murder of a brother and sister 20 years ago lands on the desk of Detective Carl Mørck, he doesn’t understand why.

Because the killer has already been found, and the case is closed.

Why has it turned up on Carl’s desk?

And more importantly, who put it there?
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Praise for Jussi Adler-Olsen:

‘The new ‘it’ boy of Nordic Noir’ The Times

‘Gripping story-telling’ Guardian

‘Mesmerising . . . As impressive as it is unnerving’ Independent

‘Engrossing’ Sunday Express