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

Loved It.

Would you listen to The Keeper of Lost Causes again? Why?

I will listen to this book again. It was a very different kind of mystery- I couldn't wait to get back to it each time.

Absolutely amazing story!!

Jussi Adler-Olsen has just become. one of my favorite crime writers. This fist Department Q novel blew me away. And Erik Davies' narration was top notch.

Good story, had a slow start but a good ending.

The reader was not the best. He was slow. The story started out slow but really was good. I especially liked the characters.

Great moving book

Totally gripping story, beautifully narrated guaranteed to awaken human psyche. just loved, worthy of my time

Pretty good murder mystery

The story was well read with names and name places properly pronounced making the listener more present as the story unfolds. Although it starts slowly once you are drawn in the storyline is compelling. Some parts of the book, probably intended as character development for the protagonist, are mostly background noise or filler, such as the antics of the annoying teenager. Overall worthwhile. Would I buy a sequel? Probably not.

The story wins

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

compelling story

Any additional comments?

The story is a great listen. The reading is a bit slow, but once you get into the rhythm it works well and the accents of speakers are consistently played.

Hated the fake Danish accent if the narrator

Good story but did not like the narration. Reading with a fake Danish accent was awful!

Very enjoyable

In a crazy developed by the Millennium series of books, this Danish crime series fits right in. Even though Siteg Larsson was Swedish not Danish, I found the pacing and tone of this book to be very similar.

This book features a reluctant hero seemingly trudging through his time on the police force after a traumatic event. An opportunity arises, for he that he originally sees as a dodge to escape work and notice.

Slowly the character along with his supporting cast begin to unwind the mystery around a kidnapped female MP.

The book kept me listening often well into when I really should have been doing other things because I wanted to know what would happen next.

If you enjoy a good crime thriller, I would suggest giving this first book in a series a try.

Wooden Translation

Is there anything you would change about this book?

Have someone else translate it.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Keeper of Lost Causes?

Finishing it.

Who would you have cast as narrator instead of Erik Davies?

It is difficult to separate the stilted language of the book from the performance.

Do you think The Keeper of Lost Causes needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

No.

Any additional comments?

I can only think the translation of this book is bad. I cannot believe that original Danish is as colorless as the translation. It sounds as though it was translated using Google.

Kept me hanging on until the very last page

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

suspenseful, sad, hard-to-put-down

Who was your favorite character and why?

The victim because of the strength of her desire to live.

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

This was the first time I've listened to Erik Davies. I thought he was wonderful. I loved his accent and pronunciations.

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

The descriptions of the victim in her cage were heartrending.