Reviews

Victim 2117 by Jussi Adler-Olsen

femmelotje's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

haliner's review

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sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

candacesiegle_greedyreader's review

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4.0

Followers of Jussi Adler-Olsen's Department Q series remember well the opening of the first book in the series when Carl Morck returns from leave and is tapped to launch Department Q, a dead-end, cold-case department located in a windowless basement. Exhausted and shell-shocked, Carl doesn't make a peep, seeing this as an opportunity to sit at a rickety desk and nap or watch soccer on his laptop. He needs a break from police work.

But his dream is interrupted early on with the assignment of Assad, a Syrian refugee, as his assistant. As cheerful as Morck is grumpy, Assad fills the space with fragrant Arab coffee, tasty meals brought by relatives, and colorful rugs. He gets them what ever they need with charm and gentle humor. But Assad is there to work, and he shows from the start that he has a good feel for the cold-case pile, getting Carl back into police work.

Over the series, we've seen flashes competence and skill from Assad that don't quite fit his origin story. In "Victim 2117" we find out why.

A photo on the front page of a Danish newspaper shows an older woman washed up on a beach with Syrian refugees. But this woman didn't drown, she was stabbed. And Assad knew her.

What follows is a hair-raising story that will change Assad and Department Q forever. I'm curious to see how the next novel will manage to blend horror and the humor that brightens the series.

I don't find the writing of the Department Q novels as good as some of the other Scandinavian writers. It's a little stiff, awkward, but the originality of this this novel's plot over comes that and makes for an exciting and heartbreaking read.

Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the digital review copy.

~~Candace Siegle, Greedy Reader

khosch's review against another edition

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4.0

These books are so crazy.

mhmissey's review against another edition

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4.0

a little to all over the place

lelandbuck's review against another edition

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medium-paced

4.0

jmclincoln's review against another edition

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4.0

Except for a hospital situation that pushed credulity this addition to the Department Q series met all expectations. Let’s just say several of these characters are going to suffer serious PTSD.

virtuella66's review against another edition

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dark sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

tonund's review against another edition

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medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot

3.0

Bakgrunnshistorien til Assad kommer frem i denne boken samtidig som man følger en syk ung mann som tar livet av sin far med sverd og planlegger et massemord som han ringer og plager Gordon med. Assad og Carl reiser til Tyskland for å finne Assad sin long lost familie som han forlot for over 15 år siden og antok de var døde, mens de egentlig var fanget og måtte utholde tortur og voldtekt hele denne tiden ... 

Synes det er vanskelig å forstå at denne bakgrunnen ikker har tynnet Assad mer gjennom alle de tidligere bøkene. Klarer ikke å bli like engasjert i denne historien som i tidligere Avdeling Q bøker, synes dette er en av de svakere bøkene i serien. Veldig stereotypisk terroristplot.

ckjaer88's review against another edition

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4.0

Lidt mere alvorlig og intens end de tidligere. Savnede lidt de humoristiske iagttagelser fra Carl, men var vild med endelig at få noget af vide om Assad.