The Absent One

By: Jussi Adler-Olsen

Narrated by: Steven Pacey

Length: 14 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

In The Keeper of Lost Causes, Jussi Adler-Olsen introduced Detective Carl Mørck, a deeply flawed, brilliant detective newly assigned to run Department Q, the home of Copenhagen’s coldest cases. The result wasn’t what Mørck - or readers - expected, but by the opening of Adler-Olsen’s shocking, fast-paced follow-up, Mørck is satisfied with the notion of picking up long-cold leads. So he’s naturally intrigued when a closed case lands on his desk: A brother and sister were brutally murdered two decades earlier, and one of the suspects - part of a group of privileged boarding-school students - confessed and was convicted.

But once Mørck reopens the files, it becomes clear that all is not what it seems. Looking into the supposedly solved case leads him to Kimmie, a woman living on the streets, stealing to survive. Kimmie has mastered evading the police, but now they aren’t the only ones looking for her. Because Kimmie has secrets that certain influential individuals would kill to keep buried... as well as one of her own that could turn everything on its head.

Every bit as pulse-pounding as the book that launched the series, The Absent One delivers further proof that Jussi Adler-Olsen is one of the world's premier thriller writers.

©2012 Jussi Adler-Olsen (P)2012 Penguin Audio

Carries Steig Larsson's mantle forward

Where does The Absent One rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

The upper end of the middle third

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Absent One?

Threading between the past and present.

What didn’t you like about Steven Pacey’s performance?

Use of a British accent to narrate a Danish writer's work badly hurt this book for me. Erik Davies who did the first book was excellent with the Danish accent and I looked forward to this second book. I don't know why the audio publisher made such a regressive change.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Hunters becoming hunted.

Any additional comments?

Please request audio publisher to re-record the audiobook with Erik Davies.

Good but a little unbelievable

I really enjoyed his first book, even though the story itself was a bit unbelievable. This second book was just a little too outlandish for me so I never bought into the story. I liked it enough to give it 4 stars, mostly because the characters are pretty well developed and likable.

1 of my favourite authors, but not voices

Would you listen to The Absent One again? Why?

Jussi Adler-Olsen is one of my favourite authors. His novels are gripping and thoughtful. And while I wouldn't say The Absent One is my favourite one of the series (The Keeper of Lost Causes and A Conspiracy of Faith are), you will still get hooked. I definitely have plans to listen to this book again as I am going to re-read the whole series again in preparation for the new movie coming out.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Carl Mørck. His characterization is so well done. His gruff exterior that radiates indifference is subverted by the relentlessness of his pursuance to the truth and justice. Sure, you could see that as "clichéd" but I think Jussi Adler-Olsen does so in breathtaking new way.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Steven Pacey?

Probably not. I don't know what it is about his voice but I don't fully enjoy listening to him. Potentially because he's not Nikolaj Lie Kaas though.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

The Absent One: The Rich and Nasty get their justice served HOT.

Any additional comments?

Read the Department Q series!

farfetched

Good narrator; story not as good as his others. Overall was OK and fair entertainment.

I'm totally hooked on Departmenr Q.

I just gave a brief review of The Purity of Vengeance. In it I referred to a special relationship between the head of the dept, Carl Mork and his sidekick, assistant detective Assad. Mork is seasoned, smart, grouchy, demanding. On the surface Assad acts like and is treated like an intern. He's a wanna be, a guy who makes up titles for himself. He doesn't have the language skills needed and he doesn't understand local sayings. (Such as "go over it with a fine tooth comb.) In short he exasperates his boss while we get to sit back and enjoy the ride.

This relationship alone makes this book a 4 star listen. So much so, that I really can't remember the ending. To be fair though, I listened to this months ago.

New favorite author

Where does The Absent One rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Top 25 percent

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

Enjoyed the story development. Enough "I didn't see that coming" to keep me on my toes.

Have you listened to any of Steven Pacey’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No. At first I missed Erik Davies but then fell into step with Pacey and enjoyed his narration as well

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Pretty much

Any additional comments?

Anxious for Adler-Olsen's third book translation. This is a lot like I felt reading Steig Larsson....but Adler-Olsen is a little less graphic!

Just absolutely excellent.

One of the best of the wonderful Scandinavian authors to be revealed because of the Millenium Trilogy. One of the very best I've listened to overall.

This book takes off from the very first page. Detective Carl Merck and his Department Q deal with cold cases, nothing new these days, but their uniqueness and complicated lives take readers on an enticing and can't put the book down ride.

Jussi AdlerOlsen's first book The Keeper of Lost Causes available on Audible which this book is a Department Q follow up is a must read too. Cannot wait until the next two books in this series are available.

Departmentt Q gets another psychological thriller!

Thrills and suspense continue in Department Q, where closed cases come to light in a new way. Detective Carl Morck, and his office staff, a pesky Muslim, and mouthy Ruby, work in the basement of a Denmark police station. As the laughing stock of the station, they find themselves working against the system most of the time.

A case file mysteriously finds it's way on Carl's desk. Strangely, it's not a cold case, but a closed case. So why is it on his desk. As his department Q starts checking it out, it becomes obvious that there are a number of very rich and powerful people involved in numerous assault and murder cases. There is also a mysterious bag lady, Kimmie, that everything seems to revolve around. Many people seem to want to find Kimmie, but she's successfully kept under the wire for most of her life.

The thrills and suspense driving this case bring up more and more past murders, but the rich and powerful main players are cunning and sadistic in keeping their secrets. Without giving anything more away, you will grow closer and closer to Kimmie, who has a tragic and terrible story of her own---will you become more and more sympathetic to her or more and more disgusted by her?

This second department Q mystery keeps the thrills going at a frantic and psychological pace that leaves you hoping that book three will be translated into English immediately!

Miss accents in 1st performance

If I listened to this one first I would have been fine with it. But the first gentleman who narrated book one made it more fun and gave the dry air a little more bite. But those dry, humorous observation of life were absent in this one. Almost like the author is already losing interest in his character. But good enough I will give book 3 a chance.

Loved it!

Great story, awesome narrator, really enjoyed the whole package and can't wait to start the next book in the series