Department Q Books in Order

by Jussi Adler-Olsen · 10 books · ⭐ 4.61 average rating · Updated 2026-07-11

Mystery

A prickly Copenhagen detective banished to the basement reopens Denmark's coldest cases with his mismatched partner.

Here is the complete Department Q reading order — all 10 books by Jussi Adler-Olsen, in the order you should read them:

Publication order (recommended)

  1. The Keeper of Lost Causes(2011)
  2. The Absent One(2012)
  3. A Conspiracy of Faith(2013)
  4. The Purity of Vengeance(2013)
  5. The Marco Effect(2014)
  6. The Hanging Girl(2015)
  7. The Scarred Woman(2017)
  8. Victim 2117(2020)
  9. The Shadow Murders(2021)
  10. Locked In(2024)

Good news: for this series, publication order and chronological order are the same — just read straight down the list.

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Frequently asked questions

How many books are in the Department Q series?

There are 10 books in the Department Q series by Jussi Adler-Olsen, beginning with The Keeper of Lost Causes (2011) and most recently Locked In (2024).

What is the first Department Q book?

The first book is The Keeper of Lost Causes, published in 2011. That's where new readers should start.

Should I read Department Q in publication or chronological order?

Publication and chronological order are identical for this series, so just follow the list.

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