Jussi Adler-Olsen


Carl Valdemar Jussi Henry Adler-Olsen is a Danish writer of crime fiction, as well as a publisher, editor, and entrepreneur.
Jussi Adler-Olsen made his debut as a nonfiction writer in 1984, and as a fiction writer in 1997.

Early life

Born in Copenhagen, he was the youngest of four children and the only boy. Son of the successful sexologist and psychiatrist Henry Olsen, he spent his childhood with his family in doctors’ official residences at several mental hospitals across Denmark. In his late teens, he played in a couple of pop groups as lead guitarist. He graduated from high school in Rødovre, and studied medicine, sociology, and film making until 1978.
After a managerial career, he began to write full-time in 1995.
Adler-Olsen's novels have been sold in more than 40 languages. Outside Denmark he has enjoyed particular success in Norway, Germany, and the Netherlands, being a frequent visitor on the top of the bestseller lists, e.g., on The New York Times Paperback bestseller list. Adler-Olsen's books have been on the bestseller lists in numerous other countries including Austria, Iceland, France, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

Film adaptations

Kvinden i buret was adapted into a Danish film by Zentropa in 2013, titled The Keeper of Lost Causes in English. It was the top box-office film in Denmark in 2013. A sequel, a film adaptation of Fasandræberne, was released in 2014. Flaskepost fra P came out in 2016, also by Zentropa. In 2018 Journal 64 was released, titled The Purity of Vengeance in English. All four films star Nikolaj Lie Kaas as Carl Mørck and Fares Fares as Assad.

Theater