The Shadow Murders: Department Q #9 by Jussi Adler-Olsen
Published Nov. 4, 2021; Dutton, NetGalley
Genre: police procedural, crime fiction, thriller, Nordic noir
Rating: five stars
Department Q thrillers set in Denmark are always suspenseful and this book is the most suspenseful I can remember reading in the series.
The themes alone are striking: It is 2020 and the police department is hampered by Covid restrictions and lockdowns in the city, but are called to investigate a woman who kills herself many years after losing her young son in an horrific explosion. That explosion at a car repair shop also killed the shop owner and several workers.
It's also Christmas time, so things slow down in the police department. The group of four investigators in Department Q however must carry on, especially when they realize that the car shop explosion is linked to many, many other murder cases, with the culprit or culprits planning a new Boxing Day (Dec. 26) murder.
Vengeance, insanity, misguided religiousness, megalomania, are all mixed up in the case, which challenge Department Q - Carl, Assad, Rose, and George - to the nth degree and threaten their own lives.
Trigger warnings: This series is listed as Nordic Noir, and it is very noir - that is, crazily violent. I enjoyed it, reading nonstop while biting my nails and getting very stressed. I don't know if I'll read another in the series - (I'm showing my age!)
Department Q thrillers set in Denmark are always suspenseful and this book is the most suspenseful I can remember reading in the series.
The themes alone are striking: It is 2020 and the police department is hampered by Covid restrictions and lockdowns in the city, but are called to investigate a woman who kills herself many years after losing her young son in an horrific explosion. That explosion at a car repair shop also killed the shop owner and several workers.
It's also Christmas time, so things slow down in the police department. The group of four investigators in Department Q however must carry on, especially when they realize that the car shop explosion is linked to many, many other murder cases, with the culprit or culprits planning a new Boxing Day (Dec. 26) murder.
Vengeance, insanity, misguided religiousness, megalomania, are all mixed up in the case, which challenge Department Q - Carl, Assad, Rose, and George - to the nth degree and threaten their own lives.
Trigger warnings: This series is listed as Nordic Noir, and it is very noir - that is, crazily violent. I enjoyed it, reading nonstop while biting my nails and getting very stressed. I don't know if I'll read another in the series - (I'm showing my age!)
A romance/chick lit to lighten the mood:
Sweeten the Deal by Katie Shepard
Publication: October 17, 2023; Berkley, NetGalley
Genre: romance, contemporary fiction, chick lit
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The protagonists are 10 years apart in age, but MBA student Caroline Sedlacek loves having Adrian as her "sugar baby," someone she found online to be her paid boyfriend and companion for shows, opera, museums, sightseeing and cultural events. Caroline is not adept socially, doesn't know much about how to dress, attend events, or how to socialize, though she is business savvy and smart in other ways.
We learn later in the book that Caroline is neurodiverse, having a kind of mild cognitive disability, which makes her reliance on her sugar baby, Adrian, plausible as central to the plot. Adrian is a down-on-his-luck artist who can't even pay his rent at the moment.
I liked the ways in which Caroline helps Adrian get back on his feet as an artist, helping him promote and sell his once expensive art work. And of course, it's amusing how Adrian has to coach Caroline on the social front.
An entertaining and unusual contemporary romance written with humor and empathy.
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
The protagonists are 10 years apart in age, but MBA student Caroline Sedlacek loves having Adrian as her "sugar baby," someone she found online to be her paid boyfriend and companion for shows, opera, museums, sightseeing and cultural events. Caroline is not adept socially, doesn't know much about how to dress, attend events, or how to socialize, though she is business savvy and smart in other ways.
We learn later in the book that Caroline is neurodiverse, having a kind of mild cognitive disability, which makes her reliance on her sugar baby, Adrian, plausible as central to the plot. Adrian is a down-on-his-luck artist who can't even pay his rent at the moment.
I liked the ways in which Caroline helps Adrian get back on his feet as an artist, helping him promote and sell his once expensive art work. And of course, it's amusing how Adrian has to coach Caroline on the social front.
An entertaining and unusual contemporary romance written with humor and empathy.
What's on your reading schedule this week and/or the rest of the month?injuly202
Memes: The Sunday Post hosted by The Caffeinated Bookreviewer. Also, It's Monday: What Are You Reading, and Sunday Salon, Stacking the Shelves, Mailbox Monday.
I do like some Nordic Noir/Scandi-crime and I have several by this author in various piles. Maybe I'll read some next year! I've just started 'After the Party' by Cressida Connolly and next after that will be 'The First Four Minutes' by Roger Bannister.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed all the previous noir novels I read by the author, but this one was over the top! Enjoy it if you get to it.
DeleteI used to be quite an avid reader of Nordic Noir but I've gotten away from it in recent years. Maybe I need to dip my toes in again. I'm glad you enjoyed "Sweeten the Deal" even though it is really not my thing. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteThis is the only one I had a strong love-hate reaction to. Hope you enjoy those you read.
DeleteI read and enjoyed the first two books in Adler-Olsen's Dept. Q books; I really need to get back to that series. I can't believe there's 9 of them now. And Sweeten the Deal sounds so cute. Another one to add to my list. :D
ReplyDeleteAdler-Olsen's books may be less crazy early in the series.
DeleteI was a big fan of Nordic noir for a number of years before running into a string of them that were, in my opinion, way over the fantastical-line. I unconsciously started to back away from them at that point, but this one does sound good. I need to look into that author.
ReplyDeleteIf you read this particular one, I hope you'll be ready for a thriller " way over the fantastic-line.:"
DeleteThe Shadow Murders sounds intriguing!!
ReplyDeletehttps://justmeandmyblogreviews.blogspot.com/2023/09/stacking-shelves_9.html
Be prepared to be stressed out!
DeleteI think I'd like Sweeten The Deal.
ReplyDeleteIt's cute and funny.
DeleteThe romance sounds fun -- I would definitely want something like that after The Shadow Murders.
ReplyDeleteYes, it was a breath of fresh air.
DeleteI just read my first Q book a couple weeks ago, Keeper of Lost Causes. I listened to it and really enjoyed the voicing and the story. Assad & Carl are good characters!
ReplyDeleteTerrie @ Bookshelf Journeys
https://www.bookshelfjourneys.com/post/sunday-post-62
I know what you mean about Nordic noir---the tension is thick throughout the book and the unexpected and extreme violence is disconcerting to those of us who are sensitive readers. Still, this book sounds like a fantastic read for those who love this genre.
ReplyDeleteI can see why you might have chosen something light after The Shadow Murders.
The Shadow Murders sounds great, in spite of how dark it is. I'll have to look into that series and I think I might like the noir bits.
ReplyDeleteI love those cold Nordic reads! And if you're reading it non-stop with all that tension, than that's a great recommendation for me! I haven't read anything by that author before, so I'm adding one more for my ever growing list.
ReplyDeleteSweeten the Deal is a book I need to read. Thank you for sharing. Have a wonderful day. Regine
ReplyDeletewww.rsrue.blogspot.com
I've read the first three books in the Department Q series and really enjoyed them but they are gritty! I also watched a tv version of these and it was great. I clearly have fallen behind on this series but need to catch up as this one sounds like a great entry in the series! Hope you have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteI like the cover of Sweeten the Deal. Glad you enjoyed these. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
ReplyDeleteSweeten the Deal sounds right up my alley! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteLisa Loves Literature
Yeah I think I'm a bit too squeamish for Nordic noir. Or too old. hmm. You are brave.
ReplyDeleteSweeten the Deal sounds so cute!
ReplyDeleteThe books sound good. Lately I've been wanting to read rom coms. Sweeten the Deal sounds fun.
ReplyDeleteI've read several of Henning Mankell's books and also the Girl with a Dragon Tattoo books, but I think that's the closest I've come to Nordic noir. The rom com looks more my speed!
ReplyDeleteI’ve read a few Department Q books but they dropped off my radar at some point, the premise of this one sounds interesting. Thanks for sharing your thoughts
ReplyDeleteWishing you a great reading week
Both books sound good. I don't think I've ever read Nordic Noir and should give it a try. Come see my week here. Happy reading!
ReplyDeleteThe Shadow Murders sounds like an interesting mystery.
ReplyDeleteHave a great week.
The Shadow Murders sounds good to me. I hope you are dwelling on good memories during your week. Happy Reading!
ReplyDeleteI've read a couple of those Department Q novels. They are good, but definitely violent.
ReplyDeleteA few years ago, I would have been tempted by your first title, but now I try to stay away from super dark. I'm sure it's very well written though, enjoy!
ReplyDeletevery interested in the Dept Q book. Looks fantastic!
ReplyDelete