A Conspiracy of Faith: A Department Q Novel

I have been waiting for this novel to be released for almost a year, and I am happy to report that the read was very well worth wait. 'A Conspiracy of Faith' is Adler-Olsen's third installment into the 'Department Q' series. Book three undoubtably steps up to the tempo set by the two previous novels. Although the cases in all three novels are strikingly different in nature, Alder-Olsen's ability to shock, inspire, and mystify continue to impress.Detective Carl Morck and his assistants Assad and Rose are again given a case that has stumped other investigators. In fact, the case that they are assigned, may not even be a 'case' at all. After nearly ten years of being afloat in the ocean, a glass bottle containing a handwritten message is picked up by a curious scavenger and left to sit in a window seal as a trophy of mystery. Its interest as a conversation piece fades and is forgotten until the man dies years later. Found among his belongings after his death, it is opened and the secrets of it's contents are revealed. Even after years at sea and exposure to the sun, the message's intent is frighteningly clear: HELP. The years of exposure have tainted the vast majority of the written message, but several details are clearly deciphered when the letter is enhanced. Two teenage boys have been abducted, held prisoner, and are begging for their lives. The signature of one of the captives is illegible, but the date is clear - February 1996. Helping is certainly more than a day late and a dollar short if the message's cause and purpose are determined to be legitimate. Is the letter truly a desperate cry for help? Or a sick prank? As Morck and his team of assistants dig deeper, they are also asked to assist in a case involving series of arsons in the industrial sector. In each case a single body is found with same mystifying bone trauma. Although the structures consumed are commercial, all owned by different companies, and burned years apart, the similarities found on the bones of the deceased suggest that they are all connected in some way.Two big cases and three investigators. 'A Conspracy of Faith' is action-packed, heartbreaking, and full of twists and turns that you won't see coming. Jussi Alder-Olsen continues to raise the bar. His writing is superb and the characters and storyline jump off the page as you read along. Even though this novel is the third in the series, it could easily stand alone. I do, however, suggest reading the other two novels first. The dialogue and relationship between the characters can be more easily appreciated if you have read the other works first.

A serial arsonist, a serial killer, and groups of gangs wrecking havoc on the streets of Copenhagen form the basis for Jussi Adler-Olsen's latest book, "A Conspiracy of Faith."The book opens with a young kidnap victim writing one final, desperate message--not for help but as revelation about his plight-- before sealing it in a bottle and throwing it into the North Sea. Ultimately the bottle, now shattered and its message faded with time, winds up on the desk of Copenhagen policeman and the book's protagonist Carl Mork. It seems to be about the kidnaper but so much is illegible how can he be sure?But Mork has more than a mysterious message to deal with. His paralyzed colleague Hardy is now living in Mork's living room, cared for my Mork's tenant Morten. If that weren't enough his stepson is threatening to move out while his estranged wife is threatening to move in.Things are no better at work. Department Q has been temporarily relocated to the third floor, a move that makes Mork exceedingly unhappy. But there are other, equally unhappy people to be found throughout the story. One is the unnamed serial killer, who keeps up the façade of a hardworking businessman while targeting wealthy members of cults or other religious groups like "The Mother Church" to extort money and kidnap children. His methodology: find a wealthy family with many children, ask for a ransom, then murder the victims in a manner that leaves the family living in utmost fear. Perhaps unhappiest of all is his young wife, who cannot understand why her husband pays so little attention to her. To allay her sadness she begins going through her husband's belongings--and doesn't like what she finds.Back at police headquarters a depressed Mork just wants to sleep, but his assistants won't allow it. First, Assad discovers a connection between the fires and some unsolved arson cases sitting on Mork's desk. And Rose--or is it her sister Ysre--or both--keeps finding more clues to the meaning of the message in the bottle. Eventually Mork and Assad figure out what is happening and race against time to save the latest kidnap victims from death. In doing so both put themselves in harm's way.For me, it was the plight of the serial killer's young wife which most held my attention, and made me most nervous. More than once I had to remind myself this was a STORY as I feared more and more for her safety.By the book's end Mork has proven himself to be an able investigator, Assad a uniquely qualified one, and Rose an intriguing secretary. If I found anything to disappoint it was that Mork's overall lethargy sometimes threatened to pull the story out from under a fascinating take on an interesting social issue. There is also less about the Allerod, Mork's home town, which also disappointed me, simply because it is a town I know well and love. And I never knew there were so many religious zealots in Denmark, a country I consider my second home

I am really enjoying this series. The characters are so well developed and interesting to follow their stories. We learn a little more about Assad - a very interesting character who is integral to the story and to Carl. We also learn more about Rose - and her sister. We are lead to question Carl's involvement in past events - instead of understanding them better. A new story in the making.....In this novel, Detective Carl Morck and his assistants Assad and Rose are again working on a case that is "unusual" to other investigators. In fact this case starts as something that is not even a case. A note in a bottle had been found several years in the past - and had not been followed up on. It sat on another detectives window seal for several years - more as a curiosity than anything else. It eventually comes into the office of Carl at Department Q. Assad and Rose begin poking around into what the note could possibly mean - because only part of the note is still legible. The words "Help" however are amazingly clear at the top of the note. Part of the signature is legible and the date, February 1996 - Assad and Rose are also able to work out the area where the "event" occurred - an area where these is a school. With these little pieces of information, Carl and Assad begin the search. They discover two boys. One was a student at the school - and the other was his brother. Both boys seem to have disappeared - but never reported to the police. In fact the family covered the disappearance - and has moved away without leaving a forwarding address.Along with this, we follow the story of the man who caused the disappearance of these two boys - and other children as well. He has a "conspiracy of faith"... and any more than that would be to divulge too much information.

Very satisfied...

It's interesting, tact and well paced. Exactly what you would expect from Carl, Aasad and Rose. Worth a read .

L'auteur développe des caractères secondaires et met un peu sur la touche l'inspecteur, l'intrigue est intéressante et se suit avec plaisir. Mercy , Miséricorde, aborde les thèmes de la justice terrestre ou même du purgatoire pour des fautes commises et leurs tragiques conséquences qui dominent l'enquête policière; The Conspiracy of Faith reste sur le sujet d'un criminel fou et cupide qui doit être stoppé à tout prix, donc les deux romans ne sont pas dans la même catégorie mais il soulève un peu le voile sur les sectes protestantes, sans entrer dans leur aspect théologique et philosophique: le roman doit donc plaire au plus grand nombre, et l'auteur a évité le piège ordinaire de blâmer la "religion" pour justifier l'injustifiable, ce dont je suis reconnaissante à l'auteur.

I truly enjoy the Department Q novels and the interaction among the 3 main characters. What makes the book read so well is the amazing quality of the translation which doesn't read like a translation. The only "flaw", if you will, is that the whole Rose thing was really way too telegraphed--you could see it coming long before the characters did. Other than that, it was most enjoyable.

Why is this book, in the same translation, also available under the tile "The Redemption" - at a third of the cost?! I feel cheated, having bought the more expensive version, and almost tricked, as I almost ordered the same book under the different title again...The book itself deservers 5 stars, but zero stars for the publisher and/or Amazon!Readers beware and be careful!