Adler-Olsen’s second book featuring Detective Carl Mørck of Department Q (the Cold case division) and his delightfully unorthodox sidekick Assad, this is tipped to be as big as “The Killing” and “The Girl…”, when it is screened next year (it is currently being filmed by the makers of the Stieg Larsson movies).

Kimmie lives a fractured life on the streets of Copenhagen, avoiding the police and almost everyone else. She is being hunted and knows that if she is found it can only end one way. Meanwhile, Mørck has received a file about a murder which took place 20 years ago. Who left the file on his desk? And why? Is the person in prison for the murder really guilty?

Verdict: Shades of Steven King in that it is a well-written, but disturbing, murder mystery and one which will probably translate well to the screen, especially if some of the violence is toned down, but altogether too gory for me. I preferred his previous book “Mercy. ***