Kvinden i buret - Jussi Adler-Olsen

[goodreads]

Title: Kvinden i buret (The Woman in the Cage)
Author: Jussi Adler-Olsen
Genre: Suspense
Rating: 4.5/5
# pages: 379
Date read: January, 2010

I've found a new author to look out for. Jussi Adler-Olsen writes excellent page-turners, and so far I've been very impressed by his books.

A beautiful winterday in 2002 the young, ambitious politician Merete Lynggaard disappears completely. The media jump on the story and headlines guess everything from murder or suicide to a deliberate disappearance. The police immediately start an elaborate search, but with no results. Merete Lynggaard is nowhere to be found.

Five years later, Carl Mørck is made head of the new police department for 'Cases of special importance', and picks up the Merete Lynggaard case again. A seemingly innocent remark turns out to be a new clue, and soon he and his assistant Assad are on the hunt of a ruthless criminal with an insane plan. The question is whether they're in time to prevent the hideous outcome, or if they'll be victims as well.

Jussi Adler-Olsen writes both from the POV of Carl Mørck and Merete Lynggaard which makes for a more interesting read, than if we had just gotten one of the stories. It starts a bit slowly, as he sets up his characters and the universe, but quickly picks up pace and keeps it high for the rest of the book.

It's not really meant to be a 'whodunnit' (I'd guessed the identity of the criminal before it was revealed), but more a psychological thriller. I was shocked by the thought of being kept captive for 5 years with nothing for company but your own thoughts. I think I'd go mad!

Excellent book. I'm looking forward to reading more of his work.