I read the first book of Jussi Adler-Olsen's Department Q series  The Keeper of Lost Causes  -  and just knew I would be in a for another fantastic read with the second book - The Absent One.

Department Q is the division of the Copenhagen P.D. dedicated to the resolution of cold cases. The staff is not large - it is only Detective Carl Morck and his assistant Assad. The characters and their interplay are a big reason I am so enamoured of this series. 

I  first 'discovered Anne Holt when I read the Edgar nominated 1222 featuring recurring protagonist Hanne Wilhelmsen last year.  Holt is a Norwegian author and started the Hanne series in 1993. Holt has worked for the Oslo P.D., as a lawyer and a journalist and news anchor as well. This extensive background has added much authenticity to this crime series.

 Roslund and Hellström's novel, Three Seconds, hit bestseller lists in their native Sweden and in the US.

I had never heard of Anne Holt  before - she's described as Norway's #1 bestselling crime writer. After finishing her latest book 1222, I can see why.