Mercy: Jussi Adler-Olsen

She scratches at the walls until her fingers bleed. But there is no escape. She doesn`t know how long she`s been there. She vows not to go mad. She would rather die.

Copenhagen detective Carl Morck has been taken off homicide to run a newly created department for unsolved crimes. His first case concerns politician Merete Lynggaard, who vanished five years ago.

Everyone says she`s dead. Everyone says it`s a waste of time. He thinks they`re right.

But she isn`t dead . . . yet.

Can they save her in time?