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?
*This post contains affiliate links.
I have two delightful audio books to share with you today.
If you’re looking for an escape from the recent crazy weather, author Carla Neggers’ DECLAN’S CROSS will transport you to beautiful Ireland.
Narrator Carol Monda does a terrific job bringing the characters to life. She gives each character their own unique voice with her mannerisms.
FBI Agents Colin Donovan and Emma Sharpe are enjoying some down time in Ireland. Meanwhile, marine biologist Julianne Maroney has come to Declan’s Cross to heal her broken heart after a split with Colin’s brother, Andy. She didn’t know Colin and Emma were in the Irish seaside village. She was to stay with a friend, Lindsey, but it seemed upon arriving that Lindsey was missing.
Things change drastically for the trio when Lindsey is found dead. At first it looks like an accident, but then it appears Lindsey was pushed from a cliff to her death.
A new layer is added when Lindsey’s father arrives in the village. He could possibly have a connection to a decade old art theft that Emma’s grandfather, a renowned art detective, investigated. The stolen art nor the thief have never been found.
What follows is an intriguing story with a number of subplots all combining for a suspenseful tale. The story moves at a steady pace with twists and turns.
The characters are realistic and well-developed. They have flaws and concerns readers can relate to. The interaction among family members adds depth to the characters.
The author’s rich descriptions and eye for detail makes the reader/listener feel transported to Ireland. Her vivid accounts of the area bring it to life.
DECLAN’S CROSS is the third installment in the Sharpe and Donovan series, but can be read/listened to on its own. There are references to past issues, but new readers/listeners won’t be left in the dark.
This is a tantalizing tale of murder, art thefts, and mayhem with moments of subtle romance woven throughout. Set in a fascinating Celtic seaside village, this suspenseful tale will hold you spellbound until the end.
Declan’s Cross by Carla Neggers, A Sharpe and Donovan Novel Book #3, Performed by Carol Monda, Recorded Books, @2013 ISBN: 978-1464018220, Unabridged, 9 Discs, Running Time: 9 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.
Sergeant Hamish Macbeth is unlike most policemen you will encounter in murder mysteries. Hamish is more of a laid-back, low-tech officer, but still very dedicated to protecting the residents of Lachdubh in the Scottish Highlands.
The narration by Graeme Malcolm brings the story to life. Malcolm’s cadence and mannerisms adds depth to the story and gives individual voices to the characters.
With the threat of local police stations being closed, Detective Chief Inspector Blair sees an opportunity to possibly get rid of Hamish. He sends Cyril Sessions, a young policeman, to spy on Hamish and document his laziness.
Hamish discovers Sessions is spying on him and begins a plan to spoil Blair’s plot. However, Sessions is murdered and it’s up to Hamish to prove his own innocence, find the real killer and expose Blair’s dirty dealings.
As the investigation gets underway, a woman is found dead in Hamish’s garden. He realizes the body is a warning that he’s digging into something much bigger than he first expected.
The plot is filled with twists and turns. It also includes a number of zany characters such as the spinster librarian, Hetty, who was briefly involved with Sessions and has serious problems of her own. In addition, Hamish is forced to take actions to save his police station that he doesn’t like but doesn’t have a choice.
The author draws you in with the vivid details and descriptions of the area and its residents. The characters are likable and colorful. The story flows at a steady pace and holds your attention.
DEATH OF A POLICEMAN is the 29th installment in the Hamish Macbeth series. While this book can be read/listened to on its own, there are references new readers/listeners won’t completely understand. However, those references don’t impede the reading/listening of this book.
This is a murder mystery that is rich in characters and suspense.
Death of A Policeman by M.C. Beaton, A Hamish Macbeth Novel Book #29, Performed by Graeme Malcolm, Hachette Audio, @2014, ISBN: 978-1478982180, Unabridged, Digital Download
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.
Thanks so much for visiting today. Hope you’re having a relaxing Sunday. Have you read or listened to either of these series.
I have two very different books to share with you today. Both are fascinating stories and will hold you captivate as you transcend into the wonderful world of the authors’ imaginations.
The Southern charm seeps out and surrounds you in LOOKING FOR ME. It’s heart-wrenching at times with laugh-out-loud moments woven throughout the story.
Narrator Jenna Lamia may live in Los Angeles, but she does an excellent job with the Southern flare in this story. Her cadence pulls you in and holds your attention while her mannerisms adds to the charm of the characters. Between Lamia’s vocalizations and the author’s vivid characters, listeners will feel they are a part of the story and won’t be ready to leave when it ends.
Teddi Overman grew up on a farm in Kentucky, but left home in the middle of the night when she was 18 leaving only a letter for each member of her family. She traveled to Charleston, South Carolina, where she began a career as an antiques dealer and faux-finishing specialist. There she built a life for herself with a group of zany friends - Olivia, Inez, and Albert.
Teddi is always drawn back to her family’s farm and the mysterious beauty of the Red River Gorge. It was there that her brother, Josh, went missing when he was only a teenager. While many, including her family, believe Josh is dead, Teddi continues to believe he is alive and thriving in the wilderness. Josh always had a special bond with animals and nature. He was the healer of animals and she was the healer of furniture. When signs that Josh might still be alive surface, Teddi’s world is turned upside and she begins searching for answers. Her path leads her to discover things about her family she never know and better understand how her brother’s disappearance tore her family apart.
LOOKING FOR ME is told from Teddi’s viewpoint as an adult while she copes with running her business; caring for her grandmother, Grammy Belle; and trying to decide where her life is going. The story reverts back to her childhood at times, giving glimpses of what the family’s life was like before and after Josh’s disappearance. There are bits of romance intermingled to add a good balance to the story.
While there is a bit of a mystery and some romance involved, this story is about family and life in general. It’s about how people face the hardships and triumphs in different ways and how we can know people, but never really know them - even family.
Author Beth Hoffman has created likable, well-developed characters that readers will want to visit again. She writes in such a manner that you feel the characters’ pain and sorrow, as well as their joy and hope. Hoffman’s eye for detail translates into vivid descriptions of the countryside and animals, the feel and texture of the furniture and antiques Teddi deals with, and the kaleidoscope of emotions the characters encounter. She draws you deeper into the story as she presents you with an element, only to withhold the true nature of the item leading you to ponder about it before she reveals all.
LOOKING FOR ME appears at first glance to be a lengthy book (and audio). However, as you’re pulled into the lives of Teddi and those surrounding her, you’ll begin to think it’s not long enough for you’ll want to know more and more. Be prepared with a box of tissue handy as there are moments of sadness and heartbreak, but hope always abounds. This is a story about the travels in one’s life and striving for happiness, compassion and family.
Author Beth Hoffman’s website is www.bethhoffman.net
Looking For Me by Beth Hoffman, Performed by Jenna Lamia, Penguin Audio, @2013, ISBN: 978-1611761702, Unabridged, 10 Discs, Listening Time: Approximately 12 Hours
Looking For Me by Beth Hoffman, Pamela Dorman Books, @2013, ISBN: 978-0670025831, Hardcover, 368 Pages
FTC Full Disclosure - The book was also sent to my by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
Life at Department Q remains a mixed bag of chaos and order as Danish detective Carl Mørck and his Syrian assistant, Assad, go about their daily work. This time around they are helped temp
orary by Yrsa, who is a story all by herself.
Narrator Graeme Malcolm does a wonderful job bringing the characters to life. His interruption and mannerisms give each character their own distinct voice. His cadence with the emotional aspects of the story draws the listener in and holds them spellbound.
Author Jussi Adler-Olsen brings his quirky characters back for a third installment in the Department Q series with A CONSPIRACY OF FAITH. The group takes on an old and unusual mystery when a message is discovered in a bottle. The note appears to be written in blood around 1996. It clearly reads ‘Help,’ but the elements have obscured much of the remaining words.
Yrsa and Assad slowly piece the message together letter by letter. The team soon locate the parents of the note’s author. However, when contacted the family refuses to talk about the boy and won’t say whether he’s alive or dead. As they continue their search, Mørck and Assad find the boy’s brother that was with him when the note was written. In doing so, they discover a serial killer is preying on the fears of certain religious groups and getting away with not only kidnapping and extortion, but also murder. The closer the Department Q team gets to finding the killer, the closer he gets to pulling off another kidnapping scheme with deadly consequences.
Mixed in with the search for the killer, Adler-Olsen gives readers a glimpse into the private lives of the Department Q team. In addition, he blends in antidotes of the police department’s daily activities.
Adler-Olsen has created well-developed characters with his main members of Department Q. He has made them likable and realistic with their own unique quirks. In addition, he has a knack for presenting villains readers loathe, but can’t help but have moments of compassion for. He gives the killer an appalling childhood that shaped his outlook on life and his attitude toward certain religious sects.
A CONSPIRACY OF FAITH is another intriguing case for Mørck and Assad with the help of Yrsa. Fans of suspense will find this book very appealing.
Author Jussi Adler-Olsen’s website is http://www.jussiadlerolsen.dk
A Conspiracy of Faith by Jussi Adler-Olsen, Performed by Graeme Malcolm, Penguin Audio, @2013, ISBN: 978-1611761627, Unabridged, 12 Discs, Listening Time: Approximately 15.5 Hours
FTC Full Disclosure - This audio book was also sent to my by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.
Thanks for visiting today. Do you ever find yourself feeling sorry for the villain in a story? Have you ever had a story to inspire you to try a new hobby such as antique shopping?
