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  • The Keeper of Lost Causes

  • Department Q, Book 1
  • Written by: Jussi Adler-Olsen
  • Narrated by: Erik Davies
  • Length: 15 hrs and 36 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (54 ratings)

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The Keeper of Lost Causes

Written by: Jussi Adler-Olsen
Narrated by: Erik Davies
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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

What listeners say about The Keeper of Lost Causes

Average Customer Ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Thoroughly enjoyed this story.

So engaging. The characters were interesting and unpredictable, as was the story. Excellent narrator.
Enjoyed it very much.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • Kat
  • 2023-02-25

Getting used to the narrator

It took a bit to get used to the narrator, but once I got into the book it was great.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Interesting detective, questionable genesis

I have rated this novel an “Overall” 3 and a “Story” 3 because it seemed like a bit of a stretch throughout. I couldn’t get my head around the dastardly penance meted out for a childhood misdemeanour. Morck and his assistant had the makings of an interesting duo but again seemed forced, not quite believable. Others have loved this book but it fell short for me. I’ve been given “The Purity of Vengeance” by the same author and will at least give it a try.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Slow to start BUT a great book once it does

This book was fantastic. The character development at the beginning was slow, but once you got past that it really picked up!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Will not disappoint

The story is gripping and paced well. The narration is top-notch. My only concern was that I figured out what's happening quite early in the story so there wasn't any surprises, but for a detective story I appreciate the author providing enough relevant information for the reader to be able to figure things out rather than providing an arbitrary resolution. I'm quickly downloading the second novel.

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Thank goodness it was free!

The protagonist Karl a police detective so inept and obnoxious he was assigned to head of a new cold case department with a very talented assistant Jack of all trades newly immigrated Assad.
Assad does most of the heavy lifting when searching for a politician who has been missing for many years and is presumed dead.
Karl meanwhile cowtows to his exwife and stepson and offends everyone else he comes into contact with and runs roughshod over the police department. This audiobook is way too long and monotonous with mostly unsympathetic characters especially Karl.
Assad shines through with many leads in finding Maruda the missing politician but is brushed aside by his arrogant and self absorbed boss as well as the rest of the police detectives. But his charm with the secretaries wins him their friendship and help and provides some much needed humour.
Listen at your peril!!

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