The Keeper of Lost Causes

Department Q, Book 1

By: Jussi Adler-Olsen

Narrated by: Erik Davies

Length: 15 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

Get to know the detective in charge of Copenhagen's coldest cases in the first electrifying Department Q mystery from New York Times best-selling author Jussi Adler-Olsen.

Carl Mørck used to be one of Denmark’s best homicide detectives. Then a hail of bullets destroyed the lives of two fellow cops, and Carl - who didn’t draw his weapon - blames himself. So a promotion is the last thing he expects. But Department Q is a department of one, and Carl’s got only a stack of cold cases for company. His colleagues snicker, but Carl may have the last laugh, because one file keeps nagging at him: A liberal politician vanished five years earlier and is presumed dead. But she isn’t dead...yet.

Darkly humorous, propulsive, and atmospheric, The Keeper of Lost Causes introduces American listeners to the mega-bestselling series fast becoming an international sensation.

©2011 Jussi Adler-Olsen (P)2011 Penguin

Maximum Thrill and Fabulous Characters

I've been on a Scandi lit bender and each book gets better. I am in love with Department Q and it's two and only sleuths. It's possible that I might have a hissy-fit waiting for the next book to be turned into an audio. Keeper of Lost Causes kept me riveted until the very last five minutes. It was a roller-coaster thrill ride, with no sense that you knew the outcome. A truly unique and twisted plot by an outstanding author. The performance was pitch-perfect. The characters are etched in my mind and my heart, each as sure individuals. This is one of the best audiobooks I've listened to. Highly recommended! Fast paced, fascinating and with characters as flawed and wonderful as exist in literature.

Confusing Accent, Classic Scandinavian thriller

The story is somewhat spoiled by the narrator's attempt to outfit most characters with a deep Danish accent: sometimes you can't tell one apart from another. The good news is that it sometimes sounds like a meeting between Arnold Schwartzenegger and his Saturday Night Live parody.
Otherwise a nice tempo and an entertaining thriller, with all the ingredients we have become accustomed to in Scandinavian stories: political correctness hinders investigations, exceptionally smart criminals, hypocritical politicians, a few obvious clues overlooked by our hero and a climactic ending. Not bad.

Skandanavia does it again-pure excellence

Want a listen that is REALLY a unique thriller? Go for it. From the first few minutes to the end you will alternate between a damsel in distress (tortured for years) and the methodical policeman and his sidekick who are given this cold case (for political expediency) seeking to find her. The damsel does not know who her torturers are and the plodding policeman has little or no help from his police force. Told as well as any excellent thriller with an impeccable sense of timing by the author. Can't wait for his next book.

great characters

If you could sum up The Keeper of Lost Causes in three words, what would they be?

worth the hassle

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

Not really on edge, but I kept thinking about the book when I wasn;t listening to it.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

I actually found the accents rather fun, but it was hard to keep certain characters straight because of the similarities of tone.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

no - in fact it was how the main character gradually and grudgingly came into the case that held its charm. It was interesting that I cared more about the case at hand than the detective did for most of the book.

Any additional comments?

I thought it was time to take a break from mysteries for a while - they were all starting to sound alike until I listened to this. The main character and the relationship between him and his assistant were just great. Looking forward to more from Dept Q.

Good story, questionable form of narration

The story is really good and held my attention. Being of northern European origin I enjoyed especially the quite realistic portrait of the danish police force. However, the attempt to use danish accents was very odd to put it mildly, especially since it obviously caused Erik Davies quite an effort to do so, which left him narrating while running out of breath and getting a bit squeaky with the female voices.
On the other hand, the narration made me giggle a couple of times at places in the story that weren't funny, and that wasn't bad at all since the story has otherwise very little humor.

Good story, anoying accent.

Nicely read except for the weird mock Danish accent used in dialogues. Loved the plot.

Great Story, Great Narration

I listened to this book based on a recommendation because I loved the Stieg Larrson series and I wasn't disappointed. Once the narrator broke out the danish accents, I was hooked for sure. I really like when a narrator adds that extra sparkle to a story. If you are not into the accents, then I wouldn't recommend this book.

As for the storyline itself, I loved it and I loved the concept (as disturbing as it was).

Great listen.

Nuance

I got a huge kick out of the side-kick and his sense of humor, there is more to him than we think. The story was in-depth and inventive and I can’t wait to read the rest of the department q series!

Stick with it. At least the story is good.

The narrator's voices for some of the voices is painful to listen to. It sounds like a parody of a Scandinavian accent. Ugh.

Dialog narrations makes the characters sound mentally challenged

The narrator has a great voice until the dialogs....the stupid accents are so unnecessary; pronouncing ‘w’ as an ‘v’ is unbearable to listen, e.g ‘vot do you vant? Why? Who thought that this would be a good idea? I’m seriously thinking if I should get the second book.