Although I really liked the first book in the Department Q series (The Keeper of Lost Causes), I didn't like this one as much. Too much time was spent with the sadistic "bad guys." I would have preferred more chapters from Carl Morck's point-of-view. I missed his sarcastic humor from the first book. It's there, but it's dour. Assad still makes for a great sidekick, and what little the reader learns about him invites even more mystery. I'll read the next book in the series. I just hope it gets back to what made the first one such a great read.