Snackz logo
The Keeper of Lost Causes

Jussi Adler-Olsen

431 Pages
2014

The Keeper of Lost Causes

Penguin UK

Below is just an AI summary! If you really want to learn something:

โšก Free 3min Summary

The Keeper of Lost Causes - Summary

Dive into a chilling world of crime and suspense with "The Keeper of Lost Causes," the gripping first installment in Jussi Adler-Olsen's internationally acclaimed Department Q series. This Scandinavian noir thriller introduces us to Carl Mรธrck, a troubled but brilliant Copenhagen detective demoted to head the newly established Department Q, a cold case unit. Assigned to what seems like a hopeless case - the disappearance of politician Merete Lynggaard five years prior - Mรธrck and his enigmatic new assistant, Assad, are drawn into a dark and twisted mystery that will push them to their limits.

Key Themes

1

The Power of Perseverance

Despite being relegated to the basement with seemingly insignificant cold cases, Mรธrck refuses to let the system extinguish his investigative instincts. He throws himself into Lynggaard's case, initially to appease his superiors, but gradually becomes personally invested in uncovering the truth. This dedication to justice, despite bureaucratic indifference and personal struggles, forms the backbone of the narrative.

2

Unflinching Exploration of Trauma

Adler-Olsen doesn't shy away from depicting the harrowing reality of Merete's captivity. We witness her resilience and her descent into despair as she fights to maintain sanity within the confines of her prison. This unflinching portrayal underscores the brutal consequences of violence and the strength it takes to endure unimaginable suffering.

3

The Dynamics of a Unique Partnership

Mรธrck, cynical and world-weary, initially clashes with his new assistant, Assad, about whom little is known. However, as they delve deeper into the investigation, a begrudging respect develops into a unique partnership. Their contrasting personalities and approaches to detective work create a compelling dynamic that enriches the narrative and provides moments of dark humor.

FAQ's

The novel deals with themes of abduction, violence, and psychological torture. While Adler-Olsen doesn't shy away from depicting the harsh realities of the crime, the focus remains on the investigation and the characters' journeys rather than gratuitous violence. However, readers who are particularly sensitive to these themes may want to proceed with caution.

While each book in the Department Q series features a stand-alone case, there are overarching character arcs and storylines that develop over the series. For a richer understanding of the characters and their relationships, it's recommended to read the books in order.

Yes, the novel has been adapted into a Danish-language film released in 2013, also known as "Mercy" in some countries.

Enjoyed the sneak peak? Get the full summary!

Explore Books

The Cost of Hope

The Cost of Hope

A Memoir

Amanda Bennett

241 Pages
2012
Resurrection Men

Resurrection Men

Ian Rankin

484 Pages
2005
The City of Falling Angels

The City of Falling Angels

John Berendt

534 Pages
2006
The Wretched of the Earth

The Wretched of the Earth

Frantz Fanon

328 Pages
2007
A Molecule Away from Madness: Tales of the Hijacked Brain

A Molecule Away from Madness: Tales of the Hijacked Brain

Sara Manning Peskin

218 Pages
2022
Summary of Robin Wall Kimmerer's Braiding Sweetgrass

Summary of Robin Wall Kimmerer's Braiding Sweetgrass

Milkyway Media

0 Pages
2021
Crocodile on the Sandbank

Crocodile on the Sandbank

Miss Marple crossed with Indiana Jones!

Elizabeth Peters

289 Pages
2011
The Enlightened Sex Manual

The Enlightened Sex Manual

Sexual Skills for the Superior Lover

David Deida

117 Pages
2007
Age as Disease

Age as Disease

Anti-Aging Technologies, Sites and Practices

David-Jack Fletcher

349 Pages
2021
A Scandal in Bohemia

A Scandal in Bohemia

Seven Sherlock Holmes Stories

Arthur Conan Doyle

88 Pages
1981
Auf Den Spuren Des Gรถtz Von Berlichingen

Auf Den Spuren Des Gรถtz Von Berlichingen

Karl SCHUMM

28 Pages
1968
Ali Cross

Ali Cross

James Patterson

201 Pages
2019
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle

The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle

Haruki Murakami

827 Pages
2011
Elantris

Elantris

Brandon Sanderson

508 Pages
2005
Bright Line Eating

Bright Line Eating

The Science of Living Happy, Thin and Free

Susan Peirce Thompson, PHD

322 Pages
2021
Machine Learning For Dummies

Machine Learning For Dummies

John Paul Mueller, Luca Massaron

464 Pages
2021
The Pirate Prince

The Pirate Prince

Gaelen Foley

416 Pages
2006
Good Omens

Good Omens

The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch

Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett

434 Pages
2011
The Count of Monte Cristo Volume 1รขle Comte de Monte-Cristo Tome 1: English-French Parallel Text Edition in Six Volumes

The Count of Monte Cristo Volume 1รขle Comte de Monte-Cristo Tome 1: English-French Parallel Text Edition in Six Volumes

Alexandre Dumas

433 Pages
2010
Border as Method, or, the Multiplication of Labor

Border as Method, or, the Multiplication of Labor

Sandro Mezzadra, Brett Neilson

380 Pages
2013
Summer Love

Summer Love

Subina Bhaแนญแนญarฤฤซ

256 Pages
2015
Cristiano and Leo

Cristiano and Leo

The Race to Become the Greatest Football Player of All Time

Jimmy Burns

0 Pages
2018
What Matters Now

What Matters Now

How to Win in a World of Relentless Change, Ferocious Competition, and Unstoppable Innovation

Gary Hamel

308 Pages
2012
Weather For Dummies

Weather For Dummies

John D. Cox

384 Pages
2021
The Pleasures of Philosophy

The Pleasures of Philosophy

A Survey of Human Life and Destiny

Will Durant

446 Pages
1967
The Plot Against America

The Plot Against America

Philip Roth

52 Pages
2010
Japanese Candlestick Charting Techniques

Japanese Candlestick Charting Techniques

A Contemporary Guide to the Ancient Investment Techniques of the Far East, Second Edition

Steve Nison

321 Pages
2001
The Echo of Old Books

The Echo of Old Books

A Novel

Barbara Davis

0 Pages
2023
We Do Not Part

We Do Not Part

A Novel

Han Kang

0 Pages
2025
Starling House

Starling House

A Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick that is the perfect dark Gothic fairytale for autumn!

Alix E. Harrow

392 Pages
2023

Let's find the best book for you!

Get book summaries directly into your inbox!

Join more than 10,000 readers in our newsletter

Snackz book
Snackz logo

The right book at the right time will change your life.

Get the books directly into your inbox!

โœ… New Release

โœ… Book Recommendation

โœ… Book Summaries

Copyright 2023-2025. All rights reserved.