Mercy unfolds like a police procedural but has an urgent, thrilling edge to it thanks to Adler-Olsen’s great storytelling. He sets up cliff-hangers with poise, pulling you on through the chapters even though for long periods detective Carl Mørck and his assistant Assad are investigating the case in minute detail. They’re trying to solve the cold case of a popular and beautiful Danish politician who disappeared five years ago, and thus the book may remind you in passing of The Killing. It’s his focus and persistance that pushes the distracted and negative-minded Carl forwards. This is a really, really, really great crime novel. The last 150 pages are compulsory reading simply because the plot is so gripping and harrowing, and the characters so compelling – including the villains. But you’ll have to find out about them for yourselves.
