A Conspiracy of Faith

Department Q, Book 3

By: Jussi Adler-Olsen

Narrated by: Graeme Malcolm

Length: 15 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

The New York Times and internationally best-selling Danish crime writer Jussi Adler-Olsen returns with the third thriller in his exhilarating Department Q series.

Detective Carl Mørck has received a bottle that holds an old and decayed message written in blood. It's a cry for help from two young brothers, tied and bound in a boathouse by the sea. After floating in the ocean for years before turning up, the bottle sat forgotten, unopened, on a police department windowsill, before the seal was cracked and the gruesome message, written in Danish, was analyzed. Could it be real? Who are these boys, and why weren't they reported missing? Could they possibly still be alive?

Carl's investigation will force him to cross paths with a woman stuck in a desperate marriage: Her husband refuses to tell her where he goes, how long he will be away, what he does while he's gone - or even what he does for a living. Isolated after choosing him over family and friends, she waits for days on end, and when he returns she must endure his wants, his moods, his threats. But enough is enough. She will find out the truth, no matter the cost to him - or to herself.

In this heart-pounding thriller, Carl and his colleagues Assad and Rose must use every resource available to uncover the horrifying truth set adrift in that bottle all those years ago.

©2012 Jussi Adler-Olsen (P)2013 Penguin Audio

Descending

The first book in this series was the best, the second book the second best, etc. That said, this one is still quite good--no question the author is talented--but I hope this trend reverses, because I'm caring less about these characters over the course of the series, not more.

Gripping

So far, anyway, this is the best of the series. The audio performance was exemplary, and the story had me seeking out spare moments when I wasn't supposed to be listening. Carl Mørck and Department Q have a fan in me.

Edge of my seat

There were so many moments when I could hardly catch my breath, the events tumbled so quickly on top of themselves.
I especially liked the development of characters. Each became so much more defined and human and empathetic.
This was a great “read” I would definitely recommend.

Pay attention!

keeping everyone straight is certainly a challenge...it is well worth the effort. Tension runs high.

Intensely developed characters

Adler-Olsen requires you appreciate the characters’ personality and intellect despite their unique cultural positions. Mental health issues, physical incapacity, and secret backgrounds challenge our protagonist Carl to see the best in his friends and coworkers. There is so much interplay of the heros wrapped around really intriguing mysteries. I enjoy multiple story threads winding together at the end.

Time will tell…

I am anxiously looking forward to this Audible listen. Will write more later. Over and out for now. Carry on.

Fantastic story and telling

Great story. Suspenseful and interesting Well written. Enjoyed the book immensely. Highly recommended. Happy reading.

Alternative to Nesbo/Harry Hole Novels

I am a big fan of John Nesbo novels, and having listened to them all had to find an alternative. I read the reviews and this novel, book 3, in the series got the highest rating, so I started there. I did not feel like I missed anything from previous novels, so I feel I can safely backtrack in the listening order. Set in Stockholm, it fits well in the genre of Nordic serial killer books (Nesbo, Girl with Dragon Tattoo, etc.) . If you liked any of those books, you will like this and vice versa. So if you have not read Nesbo, you can listen to this series and then move on to him. That way you will almost a dozen books to listen to.

Jussi's Stories Just Get Better- Need More Dept Q!

This is the 3rd Department Q and I have to say I just love these books and this one is the best so far.

I love the characters and Assad has to be the most entertaining sidekick in all the mystery/thrillers I enjoyed in a long time.

You can read the overview of the book to get the thrust of the story. I will tell you the pacing, narration and story keep you wanting more. This one is hard to stop listening too.

How long do I have to wait for the next Department Q? I'm hooked!

another excellent Dept Q

I listen to my books in the order I buy them. So, I've reached a point with Jussi Adler-Olson's books that I'm happy when one of his books come up. The author has created quite the group in Dept Q in Denmark where they work the coldest of cold cases. The interactions of the people in the department are quirkey and enjoyable adding some humor tot he books. But the author has a creative imagination and comes up with morbid, gruesome plots. I'd hope these types of characters are not crawling all over Denmart or anywhere else for that matter. In this book, when the bad guy was a kid, his preacher father "beat God out of him". But as he he grew into adulthood he didn't grow up normal rather he turned to the dark side and became a nasty person himself doing really nasty things to his victims. This was a page turner and stays true to the genre. Adler-Olson is one of those authors where his books keep getting better as he gains writing experience. Enjoy!!