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Jussi Adler-Olsen

ユッシ・エーズラ・オールスン

Jussi Adler-Olsen

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1950-08-02 （Copenhagen）
Nationality
Denmark
Languages
Danish

Career

Occupations
Writer, Author
Active Years
1985-
Nominations
2014: Flaskepost fra P. — Barry Award (Best Novel) nomination, 2015: Marco Effekten — Barry Award (Best Novel) nomination

Awards

Harald Mogensen Prize
2010
Work: Flaskepost fra P. (The Bottle Post from P.)
Organization: Danish Crime Academy / Harald Mogensen Prize
Result: 受賞
The Glass Key (Glasnyckeln / Glass Key)
2010
Work: Flaskepost fra P.
Organization: Scandinavian Crime Society / The Glass Key
Result: 受賞
De Gyldne Laurbær (The Golden Laurel)
2011
Work: Journal 64
Organization: Danish Booksellers (De Gyldne Laurbær)
Result: 受賞
Barry Award (Best Novel)
2012
Work: Kvinden i buret (The Keeper of Lost Causes)
Category: 長編
Organization: Barry Awards
Result: 受賞
Barry Award (Best Novel) — Nomination
2014
Work: Flaskepost fra P.
Category: 長編
Organization: Barry Awards
Result: ノミネート
Barry Award (Best Novel) — Nomination
2015
Work: Marco Effekten
Category: 長編
Organization: Barry Awards
Result: ノミネート

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Kvinden i buret (The Keeper of Lost Causes)

2007 Crime novel / Thriller

The first book in the Department Q series; a cold-case unit revisits an old disappearance and uncovers dark secrets.

cold casespast crimesbureaucracy vs. justice
Adaptations
  • [Film] Department Q: The Keeper of Lost Causes (2013)

Fasandræberne

2008 Crime novel / Thriller

Department Q book 2; detectives investigate a series of brutal murders in Denmark.

serial murdertraumadark sides of communities
Adaptations
  • [Film] Department Q: The Absent One (Fasandræberne) (2014)

Flaskepost fra P.

2009 Crime novel / Thriller

The third Department Q novel; a message-in-a-bottle becomes the key to solving a long-cold case.

past violenceredemptionsearch for truth
Adaptations
  • [Film] Department Q: A Conspiracy of Faith (Flaskepost fra P.) (2016)

Journal 64

2010 Crime novel / Thriller

The fourth book in the series; intertwines past child abuse cases with present political pressure.

corruption of powerchild abusepursuit of justice
Adaptations
  • [Film] Department Q: The Purity of Vengeance (Journal 64) (2018)

Alfabethuset (The Alphabet House)

1997 Historical novel / Drama

A WWII-set story about two British pilots shot down over Germany; became a bestseller and adapted for film.

warfriendshipsecret missions
Adaptations
  • [Film] The Alphabet House (film)

Bibliography

  • Groucho: …en Marx Brother bag facaden (1984)
  • Videocounter (1985)
  • Alfabethuset (The Alphabet House) (1997)
  • Firmaknuseren (2003)
  • Washington Dekretet (2006)
  • Kvinden i buret (The Keeper of Lost Causes) (2007)
  • Fasandræberne (2008)
  • Flaskepost fra P. (2009)
  • Journal 64 (2010)
  • Marco Effekten (2012)
  • Den grænseløse (2015)
  • Selfies (2016)
  • Offer 2117 (2019)
  • NATRIUM CHLORID (2021)

Adaptations

  • Department Q: The Keeper of Lost Causes (2013 film)
  • Department Q: The Absent One (2014 film)
  • Department Q: A Conspiracy of Faith (2016 film)
  • Department Q: The Purity of Vengeance (2018 film)
  • Department Q (2025 Netflix series)

Translations of Works

  • Translated into 36 countries (including China, Germany, Japan, UK/US etc.)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Clear, plot-driven proseFast-paced thriller writing
Recurring Motifs
past crimes and redemptionthe dark side of bureaucracy and institutionsinvestigations that give voice to victims

Legacy

A bestselling Danish author best known for the Department Q series; widely translated and adapted into films and television.

Trivia

  • Played lead guitar in several pop groups in his late teens.
  • Compiled Komiklex, one of Denmark's first comics encyclopedias, in the 1980s.
  • Worked in publishing (proofreading, scripts, editorial) before becoming a full-time author.