“Dept. Q” may have been a surprise hit on Netflix, but I am sure it was no surprise to the readers of Jussi Adler-Olsen’s terrific series. He has teamed up with Stine Bolther and Line Holm for his latest effort, NO SONG FOR THE DEAD, which continues to bring the same top-notch crime-writing that his fans expect.

The prologue, set in November 1989, contains a cruel backstory about a boy named Jakob Solvig, who is tortured and abused by his classmates while on a camping trip. They toss him into the ice-cold lake, even though they are aware he can’t swim, and pelt him with rocks as he struggles to stay afloat. The good news for Jakob is that he will survive this ordeal. The bad news for his adversaries is that he will spend the rest of his life seeking revenge against them.

"NO SONG FOR THE DEAD is a great read and will more than tide fans over until 'Dept. Q' returns for season two in 2027."

This quest plays out in the present timeline of October 2023. The case will land on the desk of Department Q, the underground office that continues to succeed at the cases no one else is able to solve. Carl Mørck used to be the head of this team before his retirement, and he has since moved on to write bestselling novels based on his time there. But when this intriguing case gets on his radar, he is compelled to step in to assist his former colleagues in stopping a killer from striking again.

Stalwarts Rose Knudsen and Hafez el-Assad are joined by a new teammate, French detective Helena Henry. They are unsure about the mysterious Helena, which is fair since she trusts no one herself. However, she proves to be a solid investigator, even if she seems to have the ear of the latest head of their precinct, Terje Ploug. Terje continues to distrust and freeze out the basement-dwelling Department Q members, even though they work as a well-oiled machine and get results.

The initial cold case that begins their involvement in the investigation is the murder of a senior citizen, Ole Horsten, whose death was made to look like a suicide. His wife was found in the basement of a house that was set on fire, and she currently resides in a senior home. Their son Konrad, who is considered a suspect, tells Department Q that he wants answers. All evidence points to a third person being in the house at the time of these crimes.

Carl is welcomed back to the team as a consultant, even though Terje would flip his lid if he knew his old adversary had any involvement in an active case. They get a big lead in the form of an audio tape that secretly recorded the killer during the attack. When Konrad hears it, the tune the perpetrator was humming takes him back to an event from his past that he had hoped was behind him forever.

The killer has vowed to take everything from those who try to take everything from him, one at a time. The only way he will be stopped is if the members of Department Q can uncover some more vital clues, decide if they can trust Helena, stay under the radar of Terje, and create enough intrigue for Carl’s next novel. 

NO SONG FOR THE DEAD is a great read and will more than tide fans over until “Dept. Q” returns for season two in 2027.