Jussi Adler-Olsen

Author

Jussi Adler-Olsen is a Danish author whose Department Q series is one of the most successful and acclaimed Scandinavian crime fiction series of the twenty-first century. His novels have sold over thirty million copies worldwide and have been adapted into a series of highly successful films in Denmark. Born in Copenhagen in 1950,... Adler-Olsen studied medicine, sociology, political science, and film, and worked in a variety of fields — including as a magazine editor, a publisher, and a comic book author — before turning to crime fiction. The Keeper of Lost Causes (2007, English translation 2011) introduced Department Q, a cold case division of the Copenhagen Police staffed by the irascible Detective Carl Mørck and his unconventional assistant Assad. The department is essentially a dumping ground for cases no one else wants — and for Carl himself, who has been shunted aside after a traumatic incident. Together, Carl and Assad reopen cold cases that prove to be far more dangerous than anyone expected. The series includes The Absent One, A Conspiracy of Faith, The Purity of Vengeance, The Marco Effect, The Hanging Girl, The Scarred Woman, Victim 2117, The Shadow Murders, and more. Each novel combines a present-day investigation with a parallel narrative revealing what happened in the original crime, building tension across two timelines. Adler-Olsen writes with the dark humour, social commentary, and psychological insight that characterise the best Nordic crime fiction. His depiction of the relationship between Carl and Assad — prickly, funny, and ultimately deeply loyal — is one of the great partnerships in modern crime fiction. The audiobook editions of Adler-Olsen's novels are gripping, with narrators capturing the dark humour and tension of his storytelling. His books and audiobooks are essential for crime fiction fans who love Scandinavian noir at its very best. Read more Show less