Jussi Adler-Olsen
Carl Valdemar Jussi Henry Adler-Olsen (born 2 August 1950) is a Danish crime fiction writer, a publisher, editor, and entrepreneur, best known for his Department Q series. He made his debut as a nonfiction writer in 1984, and as a fiction writer in 1997.
Jussi Adler-Olsen

Lesekreis · CC0
- Full name
- Carl Valdemar Jussi Henry Adler-Olsen.
- Born
- 1950. · Copenhagen.
- Nationality
- Kingdom of Denmark.
- Occupation
- writer, composer and editing staff.
- Fields
- crime.
- Known for
- The Keeper of Lost Causes, The Absent One, A Conspiracy of Faith, The Purity of Vengeance, The Marco Effect, The Hanging Girl, The Scarred Woman and Victim 2117.
- Honours
- Harald Mogensen Prize, Glass Key award, De Gyldne Laurbær, Honorary craftsman, Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog and Barry Award for Best Novel.
- Languages
- Danish.
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Carl Valdemar Jussi Henry Adler-Olsen (born 2 August 1950) is a Danish crime fiction writer, a publisher, editor, and entrepreneur, best known for his Department Q series. He made his debut as a nonfiction writer in 1984, and as a fiction writer in 1997.
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Note VALÉORINE
Jussi Adler-Olsen (born 1950) is a composer, crime fiction writer and editing staff, among other activities, of Danish nationality. The composer was born Carl Valdemar Jussi Henry Adler-Olsen in Copenhagen. Jussi Adler-Olsen lived in Lillerød and Valby.
Among the works are A Conspiracy of Faith, Department Q, The Absent One and The Hanging Girl, among others. The work spans crime and crime literature. Languages used include Danish. Honours include Barry Award for Best Novel, De Gyldne Laurbær and Glass Key award, among others.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 26 September 2026
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wikidata · Q930301 · wikipedia · Jussi Adler-Olsen
In this article
Biography
Biography
The recorded working language is Danish. Subjects and genres recorded for the work are crime. Residence is recorded at Lillerød and Valby. Works named in the authority record are The Keeper of Lost Causes, The Absent One, A Conspiracy of Faith, The Purity of Vengeance, The Marco Effect and The Hanging Girl. Distinctions recorded are Harald Mogensen Prize, Glass Key award, De Gyldne Laurbær and Honorary craftsman.
Born in Copenhagen, he was the youngest of four children and the only boy. Son of the successful sexologist and psychiatrist Henry Olsen, he spent his childhood with his family in doctors' official residences at several mental hospitals across Denmark. In his late teens, he played in a couple of pop groups as lead guitarist. He graduated from high school in Rødovre (1970), and studied medicine, sociology (passed History of Modern Politics), and film making (exam.art.) until 1978. After a managerial career, he began to write full-time in 1995. Adler-Olsen's novels have been sold in more than 40 languages. Outside Denmark he has enjoyed particular success in Norway, Germany, and the Netherlands, being a frequent visitor on the top of the bestseller lists, e.g., on The New York Times Paperback bestseller list. Adler-Olsen's books have been on the bestseller lists in numerous other countries including Austria, Iceland, France, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. In February 2025, Adler-Olsen disclosed to the Danish newspaper Politiken that he is suffering from incurable multiple myeloma.
Adaptations
Adaptations
Kvinden i buret was adapted into a Danish film by Zentropa in 2013, titled The Keeper of Lost Causes in English. It was the top box-office film in Denmark in 2013. A sequel, a film adaptation of Fasandræberne (distributed as The Absent One in English), was released in 2014. Flaskepost fra P (A Conspiracy of Faith in English) came out in 2016, also by Zentropa. In 2018 Journal 64 was released, titled The Purity of Vengeance in English. All four films star Nikolaj Lie Kaas as Carl Mørck and Fares Fares as Assad. From book no. 5 – Nordisk Film took over the dramatization and Marco Effekten was released in 2021, Den grænseløse (Boundless in English) came out in 2024. In 2024, a television series adaptation for Netflix began filming entitled Dept. Q. The series was released on 29 May 2025, and was renewed for a second season in August 2025.
Theater
Theater
• Spidsrod a theater play in acts – finalist in a major drama competition DramaRama in April 2005. Århus Teater, the Katapult stage. • Erbarmen ("Mercy"), produced in cooperation with Sabrina Ullrich, was a play based on Kvinden i Buret. It premiered in Castrop-Rauxel on 19 October 2013.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Lillerød and Valby.
Residences
Copenhagen.
Birth place
Awards and nominations
• 2010 – Harald Mogensen Prize for Flaskepost fra P. Awarded by the Danish Academy of Crime for Best Danish Crime Fiction. • 2010 – Glass Key award 2010 for Flaskepost fra P. Awarded by the Scandinavian Crime Society (Skandinaviska Kriminalsällskapet). • 2010 – De beste thriller van het jaar 2010 for Kvinden i buret (Dutch: Vrouw in de Kooi) in the Netherlands. • 2010 – Læsernes Bogpris, Berlingske Tidende for Flaskepost fra P. Very prestigious Danish national newspaper. The award is given for all books, not for a subcategory. • 2011 – De Gyldne Laurbær 2011 for Journal 64. Awarded by the Society of Booksellers in Denmark. • 2011 – Won 3rd place Der Leserpreis – die besten Buecher 2011 for Erlösung in Germany. It is the biggest audience book award in the German-speaking area. Readers nominate their favorite books for the annual Leserpreis. • 2011 – Nominated Buchliebling 2011 for Schändung in Austria. (became no. 4) • 2012 – Krimi Blitz Award 2011 for Flaskepost fra P. in Germany. Awarded by Krimi-couch.de on the basis of reader's votes. • 2012 – Prix du Livre Robinsonnais, catégorie Policiers in France. • 2012 – Danskernes Yndlingsforfatter (Bog & Ide) in Denmark. The favorite author of the year in Denmark 2011 as a result of a vote among readers carried out by the bookseller chain Bog & Ide. • 2012 – The Sealed Room Award 2012 for Kvinden i Buret (The Keeper of Lost Causes) in Japan. Given by the Sealed Room Club. • 2012 – Grand prix des lectrices de Elle in the category Policier 2012 awarded in France Kvinden i Buret – in French Misericorde. • 2012 – The Barry Award Best Novel of 2012 for Kvinden i Buret – in the US The Keeper of Lost Causes. • 2012 – Shortlisted to Der Leserpreis – die besten Buecher 2012 for Verachtung in Germany (The Purity of Vengeance) became no. 7. It is the biggest audience book award in the German-speaking area. Readers nominate their favorite books for the annual Leserpreis. • 2013 – Danskernes Yndlingsforfatter (Bog & Ide) 2012 in Denmark. The favorite author of the year in Denmark 2013 as a result of a vote among readers carried out by the bookseller chain Bog & Ide. • 2013 – Årets Lydbog for Flaskepost for P in Sweden. Swedish award for best audio book of the year for Q3. • 2013 – Prix Plume du Thriller international for Miséricorde (The Keeper of Lost Causes) – first place, which is called Plume d'or in France • 2013 – Shortlisted to Der Leserpreis – die besten Buecher 2013 for Erwartung. (became no. 7). It is the biggest audience book award in the German-speaking area. Readers nominate their favorite books for the annual Leserpreis. • 2013 – Nominated to the 2013 International Dublin Literary Award. • 2013 – Prix des Lecteurs catégorie Polar' (France) – awarded by Le Livre de Poche. • 2013 – Martha Prisen 2013 (Bog & Ide – Denmark) – the favorite author of the year in Denmark 2013 as a result of a vote among readers carried out by the bookseller chain Bog & Ide. • 2014 – Coup de cœur de La Griffe Noire (France) awarded during the pocketbook festival Saint-Maur en Poche 21 June 2014. • 2014 – Nominated to The Barry Award Best Novel of 2014 for Flaskepost fra P – in US A Conspiracy of Faith. • 2014 – Le Prix d'honneur Boréales/Région Basse-Normandie du polar nordique for Journal 64 in France. Awarded on 29 November 2014 in Caen, France. • 2014/2015 – European Crime Fiction Star Award (Ripper Award) 2014/2015. Awarded on 17 March 2015 in Unna, Germany. • 2015 – MIMI, dem Krimi-Publikumspreis des deutschen Buchhandels 2015 (Germany) for Erwartung – Marco Effekten. • 2015 – Nominated to The Barry Award Best Novel of 2015 for Marco Effekten – in US the Marco Effect. • 2015 – Nominated to Der Leserpreis Die Besten Bücher 2015 for "Verheissung" in the category "Krimi und Thriller." It is the biggest audience book award in the German-speaking area. Readers nominate their favorite books for the annual Leserpreis. • 2016 – Mystery Lover's Book of the Year – CRIME Award 2015 for The Keeper of Lost Causes (US) – awarded by the Carondelet Branch Library (part of the St. Louis Public Library) St. Louis, Missouri, US. • 2017 – Nominated to the prestigious Publikumspris 2017 by Krimimessen i Horsens – the biggest crime fiction festival in Northern Europe. • 2017 – Honorary Craftsman 2017 awarded by the Association of Craftsmen in Copenhagen. • 2017 – BookStar Award 2017 Festival of European Literature, Macedonia. • 2017 – Nominated to Der Leserpreis Die Besten Bücher 2017 for "Selfies" in the category "Krimi und Thriller." It is the biggest audience book award in the German-speaking area. Readers nominate their favorite books for the annual Leserpreis. • 2018 – Nominated to the prestigious Publikumspris 2018 by Krimimessen i Horsens – the biggest crime fiction festival in Northern Europe. • 2019 – Publikumspris 2019 by Krimimessen i Horsens – the biggest crime fiction festival in Northern Europe. • 2019 – Nominated to Der Leserpreis Die Besten Bücher 2017 for "Offer 2117" in the category "Krimi und Thriller." It is the biggest audience book award in the German-speaking area. Readers nominate their favorite books for the annual Leserpreis. • 2019 – Book of the year 2019 – Saxo for "Offer 2117". • 2019 – Shortlisted to Mofibo Awards for "Offer 2117" in the category "Krimi og Spænding." • 2020 – Babelio Award in the category: "Polat et thriller" in France "Victime 2117" • 2022 – Rheinbacher Glasdolch • 2023 – Shortlisted to Mofibo Awards for "Offer 2117" in the category "Krimi og Spænding." • 2023 – Shortlisted to The Petrona Award for "The Shadow Murders" • 2024 – Nominated to "Publikumspris 2024" by Krimimessen in Horsens – the biggest crime fiction festival in Northern Europe. • 2025 - Nominated to "Vi Elsker Serier 2025" - In the category "Bedste kriminalroman" for "Døde sjæle synger ikke" • 2025 - Martha Prisen 2025 (Bog & Ide – Denmark) – together with Line Holm and Stine Bolther - the favorite author of the year in Denmark 2025 as a result of a vote among readers carried out by the bookseller chain Bog & Ide.
References ==== External links
References ==== External links
* • Jussi Adler-Olsen Interview

Jussi Adler-Olsen at the Frankfurt Book Fair October 2009
Krimidoedel

Schriftsteller Jussi Adler-Olsen auf der Frankfurter Buchmesse
Benutzer:Smalltown Boy · Self-photographed
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Emil Hobolt Mortensen, Jussi Adler-Olsen er syg med uhelbredelig knoglemarvskræft ("Jussi Adler-Olsen is terminally ill with bone marrow cancer"), 1 February 2025 in Politiken. Accessed 30 July 2025.
- 2.Olsen, Mette. Jussi Adler-Olsen vinder krimipris. Politiken. 19 June 2010.
- 3.Jussi Adler-Olsen vinder De Gyldne Laurbær. Danish Broadcasting Corporation News. 27 January 2011.
- 4.Krimi-Blitz 2011 international. Krimi-couch.de.
- 5.Prix du livre et du disque robinsonnais 2012. A Bride Abattue. 2 January 2012.
- 6.Gewinner 2015: Krimi und Thriller. LovelyBooks.
- 7.Gewinner 2017: Krimi und Thriller. LovelyBooks.
- 8.Gewinner 2019: Krimi und Thriller. LovelyBooks.
- 9.Saxo: Book of the Year. Saxo.
- 10.Mofibo Awards: Krimi og spænding. Mofibo.
- 11.Home | Rheinbacher Krimiwoche. Glasdolch.
- 12.Mofibo Awards: Krimi og spænding. Mofibo.
- 13.The Petrona Award 2023 – Longlist.
- 14.Her er de nominerede til Det Vi Elsker Prisen 2025. May 2025.
- 15.The Marco Effect (2021). IMDb.
- 16.O'Rourke, Ryan. Matthew Goode Leads Netflix's Gritty New Crime Drama 'Department Q'. Collider. 6 February 2024.
- 17.Dilillo, John. Dept. Q Is Open for Business. Netflix Tudum.
- 18.Dilillo, John. Dept. Q Is Checking in for Season 2. Netflix Tudum.
- 19.Erbarmen. Westfälisches Landestheater.
Bibliography printed in the source article · 18
- Donna. Groucho & Co's groveste. 1984. 978-87-88287-00-4.
- Donna. Dansk tegneserieleksikon - den store Komiklex. 1985. 87-88287-12-2.
- Donna. Groucho: …en Marx Brother bag facaden. 1985. 978-87-88287-06-6.
- Donna. Videocounter. 1985. 978-87-88287-02-8.
- Lademanns Forlag. Firmaknuseren. 2002. 978-87-567-8958-5.
- Egmont Bogklubberne. Firmaknuseren - later editions published by Politiken Og Hun Takkede Guderne. 2003. 978-87-632-0237-4.
- Aschehoug. Washington dekretet. 2006. 978-87-11-29222-8.
- Politiken. Kvinden i buret. 2007. 978-87-567-8396-5.
- Politiken. Fasandræberne. 2008. 978-87-567-8727-7.
- Politiken. Flaskepost fra P. 2009. 978-87-7065-539-2.
- Politiken. Journal 64. 2010. 978-87-567-9545-6.
- Politiken. Små Pikante Drab published in the book Liv for Liv. 2011. 978-87-567-9791-7.
- Politiken. Marco Effekten. 2012. 978-87-567-9906-5.
- Politiken. Den Grænseløse. 2014. 978-87-400-0859-3.
- Politiken. Selfies. 2017. 978-05-259-5495-8.
- Natrium Chlorid (in Danish). Copenhagen, Denmark: Politiken. 2021. .; English translation: The Shadow Murders (US), 2022 ISBN 978-1524742584 [= Department Q Vol. 9]
- Forlaget AfArt. Sprækken. 2022. 978-87-926-2458-1.
- 7 m2 med lås (in Danish). Copenhagen, Denmark: Politiken. 2023. .; English translation: Locked In (US), 2024 ISBN 978-1529434545 [= Department Q Vol. 10]
References
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reference work
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Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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