The Alphabet House - by Jussi Adler-Olsen (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

In the tradition of Alan Furst, the #1 international bestselling author of the Department Q series delivers his first stand-alone novel, a psychological thriller set in World War II Nazi Germany and 1970s England.

British pilots James Teasdale and Bryan Young have been chosen to conduct a special photo-reconnaissance mission near Dresden, Germany. Intelligence believes the Nazis are building new factories that could turn the tide of the war. When their plane is shot down, James and Bryan know they will be executed if captured. With an enemy patrol in pursuit, they manage to jump aboard a train reserved for senior SS soldiers wounded on the eastern front.

In a moment of desperation, they throw two patients off the train and take their places, hoping they can escape later. But their act is too convincing and they end up in the Alphabet House, a mental hospital located far behind enemy lines, where German doctors subject their patients to daily rounds of shock treatments and experimental drugs. The pilots' only hope of survival is to fake insanity until the war ends, but their friendship and courage are put to the ultimate test when James and Bryan realize they aren't the only ones in the Alphabet House feigning madness.

Millions of fans around the world--and in this country--know Adler-Olsen for his award-winning Department Q series. His first stand-alone, The Alphabet House, is the perfect introduction for those who have yet to discover his riveting work.

Review Quotes

Praise for The Alphabet House

"Adler-Olsen meticulously constructs The Alphabet House...and the stomach-turning evils of Nazi culture to create a pitch-perfect thriller atmosphere."--Booklist

"This is a suspense/thriller to beat them all. Not only does it offer action, but readers will start waiting for the rabbit to jump out of the hat and change everything."--Suspense Magazine

Praise for Jussi Adler-Olsen's Department Q series

"If you like the dark humor, wisecracking, and layered betrayals of Raymond Chandler, then read Adler-Olsen's Department Q series."--Men's Journal

"A tense, pleasurable read."--USA Today

"[A] sordid tale...inspired by actual events during a dark period of Danish history. Ah, but there is more, so much more in this frenzied thriller."--The New York Times Book Review

"This book is not for the faint of heart, but for readers who enjoy dark humor and wisecracking heroes and heroines, you'll love Department Q."--Suspense Magazine

"It can be hard to distinguish Scandinavian crime writers--there are a lot of them, and their names have consonant clusters and umlauts and all that jazz--but Jussi Adler-Olsen is a name to know. In a crowded genre, Adler-Olsen is an outlier."--GQ.com

"Adler-Olsen merges story lines...with ingenious aplomb, effortlessly mixing hilarities with horrors...This crime fiction tour de force could only have been devised by an author who can even turn stomach flu into a belly laugh."--Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"This series has enough twists to captivate contemporary mystery readers and enough substance and background to entertain readers with historical and literary tastes."--Library Journal (starred review)

"When your series relies on cold cases, it's not always easy to craft plots that have both historical interest and an air of urgency, but it's something Adler-Olsen is very good at."--Booklist

About the Author

Jussi Adler-Olsen is Denmark's #1 crime writer and a New York Times bestselling author. His books, including the Department Q series, routinely top the bestseller lists in Europe and have sold more than fifteen million copies around the world. His many prestigious Nordic crime-writing awards include the Glass Key Award, also won by Henning Mankell, Jo Nesbø, Stieg Larsson, and Peter Høeg.