Danish author Jussi Adler-Olsen reaches the age of 75, faced with unfulfilled aspirations.
Jussi Adler-Olsen, the acclaimed Danish author, is set to release a new addition to his Department Q series titled "The Scarred Woman." The novel, which promises to delve deep into psychological and societal themes, is scheduled for release in October.
Adler-Olsen, who had his breakthrough with the book "Mercy" in 2007 at the age of 57, has been working on this unfinished project for 15 years. Despite his renewed battle with illness, he has promised himself to finish it.
The author is still involved in a background capacity for the Department Q series, despite his health challenges. This is evident in the upcoming release of the eleventh case for the series, "Dead Souls Don't Sing," co-written by Line Holm and Stine Bolther.
In an unexpected twist, a Netflix series based on the Carl Mørck novel series, titled "Dept. Q," is set not in Denmark but in Edinburgh, Scotland. This series, which is separate from the new Department Q novel, has not hindered the success of Adler-Olsen's works.
As of July 2025, "The Scarred Woman" represents Adler-Olsen's most current and presumably unfinished work following his bone marrow cancer diagnosis. There is no explicit indication of another distinct project after this one in the search results.
For context, Adler-Olsen’s Department Q series is well-recognised and has had multiple releases leading up to mid-2025. "The Scarred Woman" is set to be his latest and most personal work, offering a glimpse into his creative journey amidst his health challenges.
[1] Department Q Series: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Department_Q [2] Carl Mørck: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Mørck [3] The Scarred Woman: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/jul/30/jussi-adler-olsen-scarred-woman-department-q-series-new-book-netflix
Books like "The Scarred Woman" by Jussi Adler-Olsen offer a unique blend of entertainment, delving into psychological and societal themes, making them staples in pop-culture. The author, despite his health challenges, continues to contribute to the Department Q series, and his works, including a Netflix series based on the Carl Mørck novels, have been successful.
