Sunday Salon: The Absent One by Jussi Adler-Olsen

I can’t believe September is already underway, we’re about to celebrate the last major holiday of the summer (Labor Day on Monday) and Sunday Salon is here once again.

Sunday Salon is where we relax and discuss the wonderful books we’ve read and discovered throughout the previous week. The book I’m sharing today is the second installment in a series that had it not been for an audio book, I probably would have never known about. And that would have been a shame. You see the series is written by Denmark’s number one crime writer - Jussi Adler-Olsen - and is a fabulous series. It contains Danish names and locations that would have been a problem for me reading, but listening to their correct pronunciation adds to the story.

THE ABSENT ONE by Jussi Adler-Olsen

A solved murder case from decades earlier has landed on the desk of Copenhagen’s Department Q where only cold cases are investigated.

Puzzled by the mysterious file, Detective Carl Mørck and his assistant Assad begin checking into the case. They are aided in their investigation by a new member to Department Q, Rose. She’s a bit sassy, but thorough in her assignments.

Narrator Steven Pacey does an excellent job bringing the various characters to life, giving each a distinct voice. His cadence, accent and delivery of the emotions adds another layer to the story. He gives sound to the raw emotions woven throughout the story.

Mørck and his department learns a young brother and sister were brutally murdered two decades earlier. While a man confessed to the crimes years later, four of his companions were also briefly considered suspects. The group was from a privileged boarding school with the convicted man being from a less influential family than the others.

Reopening the case, Mørck finds three members of the group are now well-respected, wealthy men. The fourth member, Kimmie - the only woman, lives on the street and has been for a number of years keeping out of reach of her friends.

As Mørck and his team gets closer to learning what really happened, Kimmie puts her own plan into action. She’s out for revenge for her own reasons and will stop at nothing to accomplish it.

THE ABSENT ONE is a heart-pounding, adrenaline rush that will hold you captive from beginning to explosive end. Author Jussi Adler-Olsen mixes bits of humor along the way to lighten the mood and then drops you off the edge. Adler-Olsen has a unique way of creating a character that you find despicable for their actions, only to turn around and feel sorry and pity for almost forgetting their misdeeds.

THE ABSENT ONE is the second installment in the Department Q series and can be listened to or read on its own. However, to get the complete understanding of the characters I would highly recommend listening or reading KEEPER OF LOST CAUSES first. 

Author Jussi Adler-Olsen’s website is http://www.jussiadlerolsen.dk/?page=forside

The Absent One by Jussi Adler-Olsen, A Department Q Novel, Read by Steven Pacey, Penguin Audio, @2012, ISBN: 978-1611761207, Unabridged, 12 Discs, Listening Time: Approximately 14 Hours

FTC Full Disclosure - This audio book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
 
Do you enjoy reading or listening to books by authors from other countries? Who are some of the authors you have found? Thanks so much for stopping by today. Hope everyone has a safe and fun Sunday.