The Hanging Girl by Jussi Adler-Olsen

Cases that appear bewildering and irrelevant to each other always find their way together in author Jussi Adler-Olsen’s Department Q psychological thrillers.

In the latest Department Q release – THE HANGING GIRL – narrator Graeme Malcolm does a superb job giving distinct voices to the various characters. His varying pitch and tone does well when switching from male to female characters. His is able to bring out the depth of emotions of the characters without over dramatizing the scene. His narration of the story brings the places and dialect of the area to life.

A cold case has haunted Sergeant Christian Habersaat for years so he contacts Danish Detective Carl Mørck, head of Department Q, for assistance. Carl informs the officer he can’t help him and a short time later the officer commits suicide. Carl is reluctantly then drawn in to solve Habersaat’s original cold case that involved a young woman apparently the victim of a hit-and-run driver.

It seems Habersaat had discovered the girl’s body hanging upside down from a tree nearly two decades ago. Treated as an accidental death all these years, Carl and his quirky group of assistants soon discover the girl had been murdered and their journey to find the true killer begins. Carl, Rose, Assad and newcomer Gordon have their hands full as they travel about putting the pieces together.
Meanwhile, a seeming unrelated story begins to unfold dealing with an eccentric sun-worshipping cult, its equally unconventional guru and a woman obsessed with him. 

Adler-Olsen has an uncanny way of pulling seemingly unrelated stories together with the most unique twists and turns. Just when you think you have it figured out, the author still has a few surprises in store to keep you on edge.
The characters are well-developed and likable. They’re presented in such a way you feel you know them like friends. Their interaction chemistry enhances the story and adds depth to the series.

THE HANGING GIRL is the sixth installment of the Department Q series to be published in the U.S. The book can be read or listened to on its own, but to fully appreciate the wacky misfits of Department Q the stories should be read in order.

This story has suspense, mystery, psychological tension and bits of humor throughout. Once again members of Department Q have proven they are a force to be reckoned with when it comes to solving cold cases no matter how disinclined Carl is to begin with.

The Hanging Girl by Jussi Adler-Olsen, A Department Q Novel Book #6, Narrated by Graeme Malcolm, Penguin Audio, @2015, ISBN: 978-1611764727, Unabridged, 13 Discs, Run Time: 15 Hours and 30 Minutes 

FTC Full Disclosure – A copy of 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. The thoughts are completely my own and given honestly and freely.

Thanks for stopping by today. Are you a fan of Department Q and the crazy characters that make it up? Do you enjoy reading or listening to book written by authors from other countries set in those countries?

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