A Conspiracy of Faith: A Department Q Novel

This is the second of Adler-Olsen's books that I've read, but the third in the Department Q series. This story, as was the first, is intense. From the perspective on the criminal side, it was dark, but on the investigative side, somewhat loose and entertaining. First of all, I can't see how a police department can function like this in the U.S. It's personnel policies are really rather lax and could readily be susceptible to terrorism. In this series, we have a rather disgruntled veteran detective managing a cold-case department with a secretary suffering from a dissociative personality disorder (at least two manifest personalities) and an Syrian assistant whose background is of a highly suspicious nature. Nonetheless, the rapport between the detective, Carl Morck and Hafez el Assad is quite entertaining. Morck's personal background is an unusual construction of an unfaithful wife from whom he has a fear of divorcing for financial reasons, a worthless step son who he tolerates in his apartment along with others, and a female psychologist, i.e., his analyst with whom he is having an affair. The novel, as a mystery story, is very good, and the characters enjoyable, if neurotic with aberrant behavior patterns. This hodge-podge blend of intense criminal activity and crazy characters makes for an excellent story blend.

Several interesting characters. Lots of suspense, twists, and turns. Scary cult figures. Looking forward to book four in this Dept Q series.

Two terrified little boys chained up in a boathouse..a serial kidnapper and murderer..crackpot religious sects..arsonists..Eastern Europe crime syndicates..and it just keeps going and going. The kidnapper/murderer is a genius at hiding his trail, disguises, etc. Even his wife doesn't really know who he is. An expert aT finding and using women. A real psychopath with a pretty awful childhood. Detective Morck is his usual self although he has been relocated/exiled to the basement and he isn't bothered by the brass as much. Seems like he is slowing down. His love life is in better shape. His psychiatrist/girlfriend is back and they lost no time getting back together. His crackpot ex-wife is still crazy and his teenage son is still a pain. Assad, who is actually an assistant/janitor, really comes to the front in this book. His keen observant eye and amazing memory once again allows him to tie tiny details together and bring them to Morck's attention. All crucial to finally solving the case. And once again Assad shows several times that he is capable of serous physical action/violence and again we wonder exactly what his job was back home. Plus he knows how to drive tanks? Rose, the usually efficient secretary, is going through some strange phase and she is either missing or a little whacked out throughout most of the book. Hardy, the paralyzed bedridden ex-cop, is living at Morck's place. Morck still feeling guilty. The author still excels at adding in funny details: like the fly that successfully ambushes Morck over and over, the health inspector giving them grief over asbestos, Morck paying his son to find his ex-wife a new boyfriend, and Assad having a brawl in the office with another of his countrymen. Ending is great, real page turner. Are they going to get there in time...? All in all thoroughly enjoyable. Recommended. How long do we wait for the next one?

This is the third of the Dept Q series than I've read and I thoroughly enjoyed it, maybe even a little more then his second, "The Absent One.". I will not try to rehash the book's storyline as it has been very well done by some of the previous reviewers. This is a very readable book, with several concurrent storylines going, that flows well and continuously kept my interest and attention throughout. There is not "golden reveal moment" when everything suddenly solved; but, only through the individual bits of detective work was the picture made clear. All characters seemed to be real people responding in very human ways to the storyline written. I thought that this story could very well have happened just as it was told - which is, to me, a high compliment for a Fiction Novel. I look forward to reading the next edition in this series. The only criticism that I have of the story is very minor: 1) I thought too much time was spent on the back-story of the kidnapper's childhood and 2) I never "got" the gist of why the need for the Yrsa to impersonate Rose, as I didn't see where that turn did anything for the overall storyline. Recommendation: If you haven't read the first entree in this series: "Keeper of Lost Causes" you should probably start there, as it introduces the major protagonists, Detective Merck and his very able assistant Assad and the back-story on Dept. Q - which, fortunately, also just happens to be a good read.

This book was a fun read and makes you like the characters. It’s fun how they catch the guy . Hope you enjoy the book.

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.

Very satisfied...

Grim but somehow entertaining.

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!