The Absent One by Jussi Adler-Olsen

Detective Carl M²investigates the twenty-year-old murders of a brother and sister whose confessed killer may actually be innocent, a case with ties to a homeless woman and powerful adversaries.

I really do like this author. I wish I could do a better job at telling you why. He does keep me interested and I would describe his books as “page turners”. That being said I am better at describing the things I dislike about his writing. After reading two of his novels I have to admit that a pattern has emerged of really dragging out the end. These books are translated so perhaps it is a lost in translation issue, I am not sure. This particular novel was a bit too evil for me without any real purpose for some of the depraved actions. There is a particular scene which would be a spoiler if I were to describe it that I believe did not need so much detail to get across the incidents which occurred. Of course many readers may feel differently. I will continue with the series. I do like the main characters and look forward to their development.

Way more violent and gory than I expected. If I keep on with the series, I'll adjust my expectations. This one was significantly more difficult to get through than the first in the series. I do like the two main characters, and maybe they've even added a third to their little department.