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The Shadow Murders

A Department Q Novel

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The Shadow Murders

Written by: Jussi Adler-Olsen, William Frost - translator
Narrated by: Graeme Malcolm
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Summary

INSPIRATION FOR THE NETFLIX SERIES DEPT. Q

In the exhilarating penultimate thriller of the New York Times and #1 internationally bestselling Department Q series, the team must hunt for a nefarious criminal who has slipped under the radar for decades.


On her sixtieth birthday, a woman takes her own life. When the case lands on Detective Carl Mørck’s desk, he can’t imagine what this has to do with Department Q, Copenhagen’s cold cases division since the cause of death seems apparent. However, his superior, Marcus Jacobsen, is convinced that this is related to an unsolved case that has been plaguing him since 1988.

At Marcus's behest, Carl and the Department Q gang—Rose, Assad, and Gordon—reluctantly begin to investigate. And they quickly discover that Marcus is onto something: Every two years for the past three decades, there have been unusual, impeccably timed deaths with connections between them that cannot be ignored, including mysterious piles of salt at the scenes. As the investigation goes deeper, it emerges that these "accidents" are in fact part of a sinister murder scheme.

Faced with their toughest case yet, made only more difficult by COVID-19 restrictions and the challenges of their personal lives, the Department Q team must race to find the culprit before the next murder is committed, as it is becoming increasingly clear that the killer is far from finished.
Crime Crime Thrillers Fiction International Mystery & Crime Mystery Police Procedural Thriller Thriller & Suspense Cold Case Murder Suspense
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What the critics say

“Christmas is the holiday fast approaching in Danish author Jussi Adler-Olsen’s The Shadow Murders, translated by William Frost. But it might as well be Halloween, for all the ghoulish deeds and wicked fiends the book contains.”
Wall Street Journal

“This nail-biter offers the best of everything Department Q thrillers promise: compelling team rapport, boots-on-the-ground detection, masterful story construction, and a cliffhanger ending.”
Booklist (starred)

“Opening teases don’t get much more tantalizing than in bestseller Adler-Olsen’s stellar ninth Department Q novel featuring Copenhagen’s cold-case division.... The climax lives up to the promise of the brilliant opening, cleverly connecting all the plotlines.”
Publishers Weekly (starred)

"Every character seemed to come alive.... This police procedural and crime thriller has a stunning and deeply involved plot. The twists and turns will keep readers highly engaged and leads to an action-filled and emotional conclusion."
Mystery and Suspense Magazine

“Award-winning author Jussi Adler-Olsen delivers another spellbinding thriller, The Shadow Murders, the ninth installment in his popular Department Q series… Readers will find it hard to put the book down because it is so intense, compelling and well done on every level.”
Book Reporter

The Shadow Murders is a big, complex creation.... [Adler-Olsen] is an elite writer among a field of exciting Scandinavian suspense writers.”
—New York Journal of Books

Continue the series

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All stars
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Another great story with amazing performance by narrator. Can’t wait for the next novel! Thanks

Great Crime Drama

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Adler-Olsen’s writing pulls the reader in as always. This story is captivating and exciting. I binged it more quickly that I do most audiobooks which is a testament to the great writing. I cannot wait for the follow up as there is more to unfold in this story. I will always be a fan.

Captivating

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A proper drubbing of those whose ego and judgemental self righteousness allows them to justify all their actions, no matter how reprehensible. An interesting twist that both the perp and the victims fall into this category.
Poor Carl, will he ever find peace? Love Assad and Rose and even Gordon...it leaves us on a cliff hanging by our toes, so I hope Jussi is busy writing Department Q Book 10

Nastiest villain yet...

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It was good to catch up with our friends at dept Q. The storyline was interesting and the pace was good. With the cliffhanger ending I hope the next book isn’t too far away!
Wonderful narration as always.

Another great chapter! But what a cliffhanger!

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