It pains me to write this review and not just because, after 10 volumes and 17 years, the excellent Department Q Series comes to an end. It was hard because I didn’t love it. Long-running series usually include one novel in which the hero is falsely accused and locked out of the investigation. I’m not a fan of this trope. Locked In brings the overarching story of Carl Morck and his peripheral involvement in the nail gun murders to a close. I couldn’t remember some of the details, but it wasn’t hard to figure out what was happening. Adler-Olsen recaps just enough to remind readers without falling into repetition. It was also nice to see how far the main characters have gone, from Assad cleaning the dingy basement office to him kicking everyone’s butt; and Rose turned into the backbone of Department Q. But, while it was nice to see many secondary characters back, some of them fall by the wayside and disappear in the middle of the book. It makes sense that they’re brought back only to say goodbye so there’s no need to keep them long. But there are other characters who are new, and get introduced only to be forgotten without a resolution to their subplot. A MacGuffin is painfully inserted as a plot device but it’s forgotten in the middle of the book with no repercussions. One of my favorite things about the series was how the author planted a clue as a throwaway line in the middle of a random chapter that then became huge in the end. This is not the case here. I loved the ending, which reminded me of why I enjoyed the series so much. So we bid adieu to Carl Morck in a bittersweet ending, knowing that we can always go back to the beginning to revisit all his cases.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/PENGUIN GROUP Dutton | Dutton.

I can't believe Department Q has solved its last case! In an exceptionally satisfying conclusion, Adler-Olsen has pulled together all the loose strings and reinvigorated so many previous characters in this final adventure.

I must confess that I found the beginning a little dense. There are a LOT of perspectives and a lot of new (and old!) characters who have their own tales to tell in order to bring everything to a head. I started reading these books a decade ago, and there were so many details that got muddied and lost in that time. I never felt like I was having difficulty following things though, which I chalk up to the author's magnificent skill at providing just enough information to remind you of the essential bits of previous cases and interactions. I'm sure it's a different read if you go into them all straight through and suspect I'll have to do that one of these days to see what I missed.

The chapter-by-chapter perspective shift was, at times, dizzying and did occasionally slow the pacing for me - from about 25% in until about the 50% mark. From there on out I literally flew through the story as revelations, secrets, lies, and more Assad-isms came flying at me fast and furious. I LOVED the way things played out. I did not see the ultimate Big Bad's identity coming at first, and when I finally figured it out (just in the nick of time, as was the case with Carl), I was delighted by the obfuscation and subterfuge that filled the previous novels.

This was a marvelous series. I'm sad to see it end, but it ended so beautifully that I can't be upset - and will just have to wait to see what magic Adler-Olsen comes up with next!

This is one of my favorite series and this book is amazingly good.

Department Q is back again but without their illustrious leader. Carl Morck has found himself where he always sends the bad guys….behind bars, and set up in such an intricate way there appears there is no way out. Don’t underestimate his coworkers in the Department and those whom are alive today due to his extraordinary detective skills. Together they will band together in a thrilling police drama with enough action to keep you reading long past your bedtime.

Will Carl be exonerated? Will the real culprit be exposed? Tighten your seatbelt!

Highly recommended!

An intricate mystery with several plot lines and a cast of hundreds. This book takes a lot of brain power to keep track of the many threads and characters running through it. Department Q has always been a fascinating part of the police in Denmark. Carl has been imprisoned. From there, we are taken on a long hike to find out what that is all about. Tied up nicely at the end.

Fans of Department Q will enjoy this installment of Detective Carl Morck. Morck is accused of many things and is a sitting duck in prison. He has been framed and now he doesn't know who he can trust.

Locked In is the thrilling final chapter in Jussi Adler-Olsen's acclaimed Department Q series following the journey of Detective Carl Mørk and his team. Over the previous nine novels Mørk has led the cold case division of Copenhagen's police, solving some of the most harrowing crimes with the help of his quirky yet brilliant staff: Assad, Rose, and Gordon.

In this gripping conclusion, Mørk finds himself ensnared in a web of deceit and danger. Arrested on charges framed by long-buried evidence mysteriously discovered in his attic, Mørk awaits trial while behind bars. As he becomes a target for elimination within the prison, the stakes are higher than ever.

Meanwhile, his loyal team at Department Q races against time to uncover the truth and clear his name. Their quest for justice is bolstered by characters from previous cases who come forward to aid Mørk and protect him from the looming threats.

True to the tenor of the series, “Locked In” offers a breakneck pace and thrilling plot twists. Adler-Olsen masterfully ties up all the loose ends from earlier books, delivering a satisfying and dramatic conclusion to the Department Q saga.