The Right Book at the Right Time

Title: The Keeper of Lost Causes

Author: Jussi Adler-Olsen

Publisher: Dutton, 2011 (originally published in Britain with the title “Mercy” by Penguin Books)

Summary: Ever since Stieg Larsson’s wildly popular “Millennium Trilogy,” it seems that any crime/mystery writer that hails from Scandinavian can’t escape being held up in comparison.  It does seem, though, that Jussi Adler-Oslen has what it takes to live up to the promise of being the next  Stieg Larsson.  “The Keeper of Lost Causes” is a police procedural that is suspenseful, well-written and sufficiently creepy enough to keep the reader on edge all the way to the end.

“Keeper” is the first novel in a planned series by Adler-Olsen entitled “Department Q,” which also happens to be the name of a newly-created “unsolved crimes” squad of the Copenhagen Police Department in the book.  Carl Morck, our flawed and surly lead detective, has been appointed head of Dept. Q, mostly to get him out of the way.  He’s still recovering from being wounded in a shootout that left his best friend dead and another colleague paralyzed.   So when he’s placed in charge of the department, he’s less than enthusiastic.  His lone assistant, Assad, seems more mysterious than anything else, although it isn’t long before Assad proves to be quite the capable detective, which only adds to the mystery about him. Banished to the basement with stacks of cold case files, Morck and Assad begin to investigate the case of Merete Lynggaard, a beautiful politician who disappeared five years earlier.  What follows is a chilling and gripping thriller that is entertaining, disturbing and completely satisfying – and will leave you anxiously awaiting the next installment.

Who will like this book?  Fans of Stieg Larsson, Jo Nesbo, Henning Mankell.

Recommended by: Mary, Branch Reference

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BOOKS SO NICE, WE’VE REVIEWED THEM TWICE!

Title: Pretty Little Things

Author: Jilliane Hoffman

Publisher: Vanguard Press, September 2010

Summary: Although this book is a work of fiction, the subject will be a reality check for some- especially those with teenagers. Lainey Emerson is a 13 year old girl living in a somewhat dysfunctional family. She turns to the internet for companionship. There she meets someone calling himself “El Capitan” whom she agrees to meet in person. When Lainey’s mother finally realizes that she is missing, the family initially believes that she has run away just as her older sister Liza has done numerous times before. When her mom finally decides to call the police the case is given to agent Bobby Dees, also known as “The Shepard”, because he has found and brought home so many runaways. As they get further into the investigation, the detectives finally figure out there is a psycho out there who abducts teenagers and keeps them locked up. The kidnapper then sends an oil painting of the victim to a certain reporter who has been trying to make it big in the business. If you enjoy books with a lot of twists, turns and surprises I think you will enjoy this book. Due to the graphic details, it is not for the faint of heart.

 Who will like this book: Readers of thrillers and suspense, and anyone who has enjoyed Jilliane Hoffman’s previous novels.

 Recommended by: Virginia, Circulation Dept.

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