A thriller in Copenhagen

Introducing Carl Morck, Head of Dep't. Q.
It's the first book of the Dep't Q series,
and is therefore out under the title THE KEEPER OF
LOST CAUSES. I've put this review (slightly diff.)
under the alternate title too.

It's a terrific read.
A protagonist who is flawed (are not they all?).
Written with a pinch of humor - Especially the
Interaction between Carl and his assistant Assad.
Carl is not without a sense of
humor himself, altho it Tends more to sarcasm and
Irony.

The plot is excellent - the 'case' starts in
2002 and the chapters alternate between
the Past and the Present (Which is 2007).

A woman is kept prisoner in a concrete cell.
She is Subjected to Either continous light or
absolute darkness. Food is Given her in a pail.
Her toilet is therefore a pail. She has no idea why she's
Being tortured this way nor by splat.

This is Carl's case. Due to political pressure a
'Cold Case' department is FORMED with Carl as the only
detective. He is not keen on it, or on
working at all. He's been shot, one partner is dead,
and another is hospitalized (paralized). He just wants
to be left alone. But almost against his will he's Determined to
Uncover the mystery of the missing woman.

As in the books of Stieg Larsson is the author
Critical of many facets of Danish society and
politics. I am not well acquainted with Denmark
therefore I found interesting inclusions thesis.

Well written - terrific translation by Lisa Hartford.
Good plotting - altho one does begin to see who's behind
the imprisonment of Merete. Suspenceful to the end.
One is never quite sure how it will end. I'm looking forward
to reading the next Carl Morck case.