Erbarmen

"Mercy" is the first volume of a crime series by Copenhagen-born author Jussi Adler-Olsen. Special investigator Carl Mørck from Department Q and his colleague Assad are tasked with solving long-unsolved cases. "Mercy" tells the story of young parliament member Merete, who mysteriously disappears from a ferry. Initially classified as an accident or suicide and filed away, Merete is not dead. She is held captive in a concrete dungeon and psychologically tormented by a voice from a loudspeaker. Carl Mørck's assistant Assad digs up the case file, and the team begins their investigation. Jussi Adler-Olsen narrates the torment of Merete and the investigative efforts in two parallel storylines. Why is the young woman being held captive? This is a question that the voice from the loudspeaker repeatedly asks. Merete, do you know why you are here? She cannot explain it. Does a message overlooked at the beginning of the investigation help the police solve the mystery? Or does the memory of Merete's brother, who was also on the ferry, return? And can the investigators find Merete in time? One thing is certain: Jussi Adler-Olsen leaves no doubt that the perpetrator behind the loudspeaker's voice knows no mercy.