First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, Johan Ottosen, and BooksGoSocial Audio for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

Always eager to find a new author, particularly one with a Scandinavian background, I turned to the first novel in this trilogy by Johan Ottosen. The book is what I might call a translated popular fiction piece, depicting a number of adventurous settings and keeping the reader in the middle of the action. A former UN employee, a journalist, and a curious woman all fill the pages with their respective perspectives on a mystery that has both historic and modern-day aspects. A great launch of the series that has me eager to get an English copy of the next book in the series.

Denmark awaits the official celebration of the Queen’s Jubilee, sure to be as exciting as it is anticipated. However, something darker lurks in the shadows, which begins when a man commits suicide on a park bench a few years ago. Journalist Kurt Østergaard will stop at nothing to uncover the truth behind his stepfather’s apparent suicide, though he worries there is something more to the event. He’s soon made aware that a mystery that could turn Denmark and the world on its head is about to be unleashed. All this tied to the recent discovery of a calendar dating millennia in the past, which has an End of Days moment in the not too distant future.

Meanwhile, former UN weapons inspector, Søren Storm, is trying to come to terms with the upcoming birth of his child, an event he has long anticipated. However, his girlfriend, Birgitte, wants him out of her way as she prepares for the impending arrival. When news comes across Storm’s radar about a plot to attack the jubilee with a dirty bomb, he cannot sit idly by. He must act and ensure that all Danes are safe, as well as the many ignitaries who are on their way to Copenhagen.

When Storm and Østergaard join forces, they discover a chilling truth that will have to be stopped in short order. Nothing is certain and neither man can waste a moment. Pulling on their respective experiences, they will have to locate the culprits and neutralise things before they get out of hand. Unbeknownst to the public, the jubilee could be the extermination of massive numbers, with a larger plan that has been forecasted in this 5000 year old document. Ottosen delivers a stellar thriller that is sure to keep the reader hooked and wondering where things are headed in the second novel.

I enjoy the discovery of great authors, particularly those who present strong stories for all to enjoy. Johan Ottosen provides readers with a great launching pad with this novel, introducing them to history, thrills, and just the right amount of humour. The story works well with a strong narrative base, leaving the reader to bask in the various twists and excitement. This helps propel things forward and keeps the reader hooked as they learn more about the various characters. Numerous perspectives thrive through the various eyes of those who play key roles in the story. I am eager to see how each grow as the series progresses. Plot points prove useful and pave the way for a great story, complemented by short chapters to keep the momentum going. The surprises that await the reader fuel a superior reading experience and I am pleased to have discovered it. I await locating an English translation of the next novel, to continue the adventure.

Kudos, Mr. Ottosen, for a great start to the adventure!

Countdown, is no misnomer—time is of the essence, and Ottosen masterfully creates a sense of urgency that leaves readers almost breathless.



Johan Ottosen's Countdown is a gripping blend of political intrigue, action, and suspense that keeps readers on edge from start to finish. The Danish author crafts a story that delves into themes of conspiracy, power, and the fragility of global peace, making it a must-read for fans of intense, high-stakes thrillers.

The narrative weaves through several interconnected threads, including political corruption, religious extremism, and covert operations, all culminating in a nail-biting race against time. Ottosen’s ability to juggle multiple perspectives and plotlines is commendable, and he ties everything together with precision.
Strengths

Fast-Paced Action: The relentless pace of the book mirrors the ticking clock of its central plot. Ottosen wastes no time plunging the reader into the action, and the energy rarely lets up.
Global Scope: The novel's international setting and wide-reaching conspiracy provide a cinematic quality. The author also provides a feature on his website that shows where the story is taking place on a world map.
Thrilling Realism: Ottosen’s meticulous research shines through in the story's details, from the political dynamics to the technical aspects of the impending threat. This adds a layer of credibility that heightens the stakes.
What I didn't like
Needless Sex Scenes: I am not shy when it comes to romance and "smut". In this book, however, it didn't serve a purpose. It's not like Storms marriage is purely physical, you can tell by the other scenes that they have a beautiful relationship. Plus she's pregnant, the audience already knows what has to be done for that to happen.
So Many Characters: This is more of a disadvantage of audiobooks. After a handful of characters it gets really confusing to keep them all straight. This is where having a full cast is helpful, but I understand that is not feasible. That being said the narrator handled it well and I was able to catch up easily.
I would rate this as 4/5 stars. If you’re looking for a high-octane read that will keep you turning the pages late into the night, Countdown is worth adding to your reading list.

I really enjoyed how this mystery is steeped in historical context and real world events whilst still being fictional. The audiobook also directs you to a website which has the Google maps links for the places that are mentioned in each book which I thought was a really nice unique idea. Once the plot starts to take hold the story moves along at a good pace and with the chapters being so short it’s really easy to binge several chapters at once. The one downside to the audiobook is that there are lots of different character POV’s and with the chapters being so short it’s sometimes tricky to keep up with who is doing what, aside from that the narration is fantastic. If you enjoy adventure/mystery books then you’ll enjoy this one too.

Thank you NetGalley for the copy of this audiobook

On paper this is right up my street it is a great political thriller and I was just engrossed in the story. What put me off completely was the explicit sex scenes and I just had to fast forward these bits when listening to it so it spoilt the enjoyment of the book. I am not a prude but these were too much for me especially listening to it on devices where the rest of the family could walk in.

The Countdown is a fast paced thriller about a conspiracy that will have huge implications to live as they know it in Denmark. It was evident that a lot of research that went into this book. The historical & environmental descriptions were fantastic and I felt like I was there as I was reading.

This is the first book in The Mirrin Bank Trilogy by Johan Ottosen. It has been translated from Dutch into English and I am hopeful they will translate the other two because I need to know what happens. The cliffhanger left me wanting to start the next book asap.

Johan Ottosen is often compared to Dan Brown. The see the similarities and enjoy both authors.

Jeffrey Machado did an excellent job with the narration.

Thank you to NetGalley & BooksGoSocial Audio for letting me read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I love a good thriller with a Nordic setting and Norse mythology elements, and I was immediately intrigued when I came across the audiobook version of the first book of this Danish thriller series. The blurb sounded like exactly the action-packed and thrilling ride I was craving, and I couldn't resist listening to Countdown straight away. The blurb compares the series to Dan Brown and Stieg Larsson, and I can definitely get behind this comparison. It won't be for everyone, but if you enjoy this type of book this is a series to keep in mind.

The premise of Countdown is without doubt excellent and it shows that the author spent a lot of time researching the different topics. I especially loved the GPS locations offered at the beginning of each chapter, where you could then take a look exactly at where each chapter takes place. This first book is mainly set in Denmark, but also visits a couple other countries along the way. What I could appreciate was the incorporation of Danish history and Norse mythology elements, as well as references to other historical facts along the way. It gave the story a more authentic feel (although sometimes it did slow down the pace a little).

I enjoyed my time in general listening to Countdown, and there is no doubt that the plot is eventful. That said, I did find it a bit hard to keep track of all the different characters in play... Although I suspect it would have been easier if I had read the book instead of listening to it. The multiple POV structrure I had similar issues with, although I can't deny that it became easier to keep them all apart after a while. Kurt and Storm are probably the most important POVs of the bunch, or at least they seem to appear most often.

One of the things I struggled most with was that some descriptions (especially of bodily functions) were way too graphic and the sex scenes made me want to bleach my ears. Yes, they were THAT bad and they didn't add anything to the plot either. I wasn't a fan of how female characters in general were described... It might just have been that this story was written mainly with a male audience in mind, but still. Another letdown was the ending, or rather where the book stopped as there was no proper ending to speak of and everything was left wide open in a humongous cliffhanger. I'm never a fan of cliffhangers, but this just felt like a book was split in half instead of two proper sequels.

As for the audio... The narrator had a voice that was easy to listen to and as a result I ended up listening for long stretches at a time. A full cast audio would have been even better for this story with its many POVs, as some POVs were easy to mix up... But as a solo narrator, Jeffrey Machado did a solid job and I mainly enjoyed my time listening to this audiobook (with the exceptions of those graphic descriptions, but then again this has nothing to do with the narration itself).

While I did end up having mixed thoughts about Countdown, as a whole I'm still glad I took the time to read it. I wish there would have been more of a proper ending and less graphic descriptions in certain scenes, but the premise itself also offered lots of action and intrigue and I loved the Norse mythology/Danish history elements.

A conspiracy of epic porportions, a maze of clues and for fans of Dan Brown? Immediately, yes.

Countdown had big boots to fill however it didn't really start to get going until 45% in. It was highly detailed in places at the expense of us really getting to know the main characters Kurt, Storm and Birgitte. Personally I could have done with less of the 2 chapters of very detailed sex between Storm and Birgitte and more of who they are as people. That lack of detail made it hard to be invested in them. Kurt enjoys red wine (and vomiting apparently), we learned a lot obout his step dad, not so much about him.

When it did get going though, the pace became fast without feeling too rushed - until that ending...

The narration was good, Jeffrey Machado managed to perfom distinct enough voices that the characters didn't become muddled for me. If he narrates the other books, I hope someone tells him how to correctly pronounce "quay"..

Countdown is the kind of book that completely pulls you in—it’s got that easy, immersive style where you feel like you’re right there in the room with the characters. From the very first page (or first few minutes if you're listening to the audiobook), it grabs your hand and doesn’t let go. You feel every racing heartbeat, every desperate exclamation, every puzzle that needs solving. The secrets, the urgency, the race against time—it’s all there, and it’s relentless.

One of the coolest extras? The author provides QR codes and links (available via email from Johan Ottosen’s website) that let you explore real-world locations from the book. I loved being able to drop into street view and see the places described—it adds an interactive layer that most books don’t offer, and it makes the experience even more immersive.

That said, fair warning—this book doesn’t shy away from gritty, graphic detail. If you’re squeamish about bodily functions, just be aware that there are some explicit descriptions early on. But if that doesn’t bother you, Countdown delivers a gripping, high-stakes thriller that keeps you hooked until the very last moment!

I am becoming more and more obsessed with end-of-the-world stories!

Countdown is the kind of book that completely pulls you in—it’s got that easy, immersive style where you feel like you’re right there in the room with the characters. From the very first page (or first few minutes if you're listening to the audiobook), it grabs your hand and doesn’t let go. You feel every racing heartbeat, every desperate exclamation, every puzzle that needs solving. The secrets, the urgency, the race against time—it’s all there, and it’s relentless.

One of the coolest extras? The author provides QR codes and links (available via email from Johan Ottosen’s website- www.johanottosen.com) that let you explore real-world locations from the book. I loved being able to drop into street view and see the places described—it adds an interactive layer that most books don’t offer, and it makes the experience even more immersive.

That said, fair warning—this book doesn’t shy away from gritty, graphic detail. If you’re squeamish about bodily functions, just be aware that there are some explicit descriptions early on. But if that doesn’t bother you, Countdown delivers a gripping, high-stakes thriller that keeps you hooked until the very last moment!

This had all the potential to be the next Clive Cussler thriller, however with all the different characters and religious aspects, I only made it about 30% through in 3 days so I had to give up. The concept is great, just not my cup of tea!

If you like Dan Brown you will love this.

When journalist Kurt Østergaard's stepfather dies, he leaves behind clues to a devastating secret that could shake Denmark to its core. As Kurt investigates, he uncovers a chilling conspiracy reaching the highest levels of power.

I devoured this book in a day! It is a fast paced book that will keep you on your toes throughout. Originally released in print in 2012 it is now being released in audiobook format.

There are a lot of threads/characters to keep track of in this book and that would possibly be made easier in print than in audiobook format. But as this is book 1 of the series it has to set the scene for this book and the later ones in the series. That's not to say a lot of them aren't tied together in this one, they are.

It blends ancient mysteries, geopolitic and Norse mythology effortlessly.

Whilst the narrator threw me a bit in their pronunciation of a few words it is a great listen.

Thanks to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for the audiobook ARC.