"Countdown" by Johan Ottosen is a thrilling rollercoaster ride that will keep readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. As a fan of Dan Brown and Stieg Larsson, I found Ottosen's blend of historical intrigue, geopolitical drama, and fast-paced action utterly compelling.

The story revolves around journalist Kurt Østergaard and former UN weapons inspector Søren Storm, who find themselves unraveling a conspiracy that could shake Denmark to its core. Ottosen's characters are well-developed and relatable, particularly Kurt and Storm, whose personal stakes add depth to the high-stakes plot. The inclusion of Storm's pregnant girlfriend, Birgitte, and her enigmatic mother, Bodil, enriches the narrative, creating a web of interconnected storylines that keep the tension high throughout.

One of the standout aspects of "Countdown" is its meticulous research and integration of real historical and mythological elements. From Norse mythology to Mayan prophecies, Ottosen weaves these threads seamlessly into the narrative, providing a fascinating backdrop to the modern-day thriller. The vivid descriptions of Copenhagen and Greenland add a strong sense of place, immersing the reader in the story's setting.

While the pacing is generally excellent, there are moments where the plot becomes a bit convoluted with the numerous threads and characters. However, this complexity also contributes to the novel's richness and makes the final revelations all the more satisfying. The translation by Sinéad Quirke Køngeskov is smooth and engaging, preserving the tension and excitement of the original Danish text.

Overall, "Countdown" is a highly enjoyable read for fans of international thrillers. Ottosen's ability to combine historical detail with a gripping modern plot makes this a standout novel in the genre. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a suspenseful, well-crafted story that will keep you guessing until the very end.

Countdown is an exciting political thriller set in Denmark. There was an incredible amount of research done that really makes you feel like you are in the adventure with the characters as they weave and move about trying to solve the mystery. If you would like to read a face-paced story in a beautiful country, this book is for you.

I'm trying to remember this book because I tried to get it put on Goodreads but it wasn't put on when I read it. That's four books ago. What I can remember is the story of a man committing suicide in a park after sitting down by a mother and child and saying "forgive me". It revolves around this incident, the whole story. It's about attacking the royal family and destroying them on their yacht. When all the characters in the story have foiled this plot they meet their royal majesties. It's much more involved than this but Johan takes you there through his plotting with the story and it was a really good read. Remember the man in the story that commits suicide, it's key.

"Countdown" by Johan Ottosen is a fast-paced thriller that reminded me of Dan Brown's "The Da Vinci Code" as it weaves historical intrigue and political turmoil together. It has all the ingredients that I love in a captivating thriller!

The story follows Søren Storm, who worked with the Danish security intelligence service, and Kurt Østergaard, a journalist who stumbles upon a mysterious message from his stepfather with clues to unearthing a conspiracy that could shake the country to its core. There are a few other characters that you follow, but these two were the most entertaining. The book has a few too many characters and unfortunately, a few plots became a bit too convoluted. Ottosen breaks the chapters down into small bites, allowing the reader to dash through the story, keeping a high-paced tempo so the reader is never bored.

The one aspect of the book that caught my eye was the incredible research that went into this book. Ottosen provides rich descriptions, creating a vibrant, living world with his words as the reader is transported from the streets of Copenhagen to the wilderness of Greenland. Each chapter provides a QR code that links the reader to various, real places via Google Maps. This allows you to get immersed in the story as you can picture yourself with the aid of this resource. The research that went into Norse mythology and Danish history and culture was also incredibly captivating.

Countdown by Johan Ottosen is a gripping novel that effortlessly blends Norse mythology, Mayan prophecies, ancient mysteries, and geopolitics to create a pulse-pounding thriller that was hard to put down! While the book may suffer by being a bit overstuffed with characters and plot threads, it ultimately comes together in a truly satisfying way.

A rollicking read that I can easily see being made into a film or tv series. This is the first book of a trilogy and involves journalist Kurt Ostergaard’s discovery of clues left by his stepfather that will shake Denmark to its foundations. At the same time Soren Storm, a former UN weapons inspector, ends up joining Kurt to try and uncover the truth from the past that those in power want to keep hidden.
There are many layers and sub plots that keep the narrative propulsive and the reader glued to the page. Partly based on Denmark’s real life history and weaving together aspects of Norse mythology and Mayan prophecies, this is a great read.

Johan Ottosen has all the makings of the next big thriller writer, but this book highlights that he's still on the journey to being a great writer. The prose is clumsy and the book overall could do with another round of copyediting. There are also too many topics and themes covered which makes it quite confusing, and the sex scenes are skip-these-pages awful, just incredibly sophomoric.

But there's a seed of a really great thriller in "Countdown" that makes it worth slogging through the stories of the various members of the Danish Intelligence Service and other miscellaneous characters as the tale slowly and gradually unfolds. To an ending that is a shameless "buy my next book to find out what happens" because *nothing* is resolved, there's not even an attempt to wrap up a single storyline. An author like James Patterson or Stephen King can pull that off without alienating their readers, but Mr. Ottosen might want to focus on standalone books that have recurring characters rather than cliffhanger endings.

Am I mixed on this book? Yes, I am. Will I read the sequel? Not at this point, though I will continue to keep an eye on Johan Ottosen's career to try another one of his novels in a few years.

Great thriller with international intrigue and parallel plots.
Soren Stone is a former UN weapons inspector called in when stolen radioactive material shows up at
a murder scene.
At the same time. Kurt Osteggarrd, a well-respected and award-winning journalist is left enticing
and confusing info when his stepfather dies which sends him off on a hunt for ancient parchment
deciphers and on an intersecting course with Stone's weapons hunt.
Murder and mayhem follow in a very intriguing and winding plot.
Great and very interesting character builds and two plots that almost seamlessly cross.
A little too much on the parchment trail but still a very, very good read.

This is the beginning of a Scandinavian thriller series set in Denmark and I found myself liking it but with some exceptions.

I love the setting but the plot of the book seemed a little scattered. You know something bad is going to happen but you are not sure what or whom is behind it. I felt there were too many characters but don’t let place or people’s names deter you. A little editing may be all this needs. My interest never wavered and I found myself diving into the story with gusto to the very end.

Speaking of the ending, I will patiently hang on until the next in the series is published. This ending…….

Recommended.

First book by Johan Ottosen I have read and certainly wasn't disappointed.
Part one of a trilogy and on the basis of this one, I can't wait to read the others.
Extremely well written with believable characters, well researched facts, suspenseful storyline with a race against time.
Just when you think you've guessed where the story is going, there's a twist.
A very worth five stars

4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really good fast paced thriller! Looking forward to book #2! I was really invested in the stories and characters as it all came together in the end! My only complaint were the seemingly unrelated graphic sex scenes early on that had no point nor did they advance the plot. Strange.

Journalist Kurt Ostergaard receives a mysterious parchment after his step dad’s suicide that leads him to a conspiracy of the highest level.

Investigator Soren Storm gets involved in tracking a plot to destroy the royal family and a tense search for radioactive materials and the perpetrators.

I loved the settings in Copenhagen and Greenland and the Norse mythology and Mayan prophecies woven into the telling of the story.

Thank you NetGalley and HOI publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A fast paced political thriller set in Denmark with mystical elements. The first of a trilogy and fans of Dan Brown and Scandnavian authors will enjoy especially as there is a filmic quality to the pace.

Countdown is initially a little bit difficult to follow as there are quite a few characters that in principle do not mingle. As the story progresses though everything starts to make sense, the author has put a lot of research to write it in which he mixes past, present, fiction and reality all in good measures. The story is fast-paced, well-written, with beautiful descriptions of people, place, feelings, and is a must for the readers who enjoy the genre, I certainly loved it, and I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
I thank Mr. Ottosen and NetGalley for the copy of this book.

My thanks to the author, NetGalley and the publisher for the free review copy.
This review is based on my reading this story and my honest feedback about it.
4.5 stars for me.

This is a fast paced thriller and follows a well trodden path. The style and format reminds of the da vinci code but Johan has got the story well rolled up and served with panache.

I particularly loved the idea of providing a GPS location at the head of every chapter that takes one quickly to the location on a map, in my case google maps. This innovation helped me in keeping abreast with the story without having to look up locations online.

Johan has put together a coherent conspiracy theory bound together in the story with religion as a corner post. It progresses in small short chapters that keep the ball rolling with enough history and culture thrown in to keep the reader interested and asking for more and a serious reader with enough to sink the teeth into. Somewhere the author has an eye open for the book to be translated into the big screen with proper portrayals. The story moves smoothly and the action and activities are well choreographed. I also got a feel of northern Europe with the comfortable setting of particular adult scenes which go beyond what I have normally read in a mainstream thriller, almost pornographic in feel. That it doesn't effect the books flow is a credit to the author and the deft editing. At places it does feel as if he is trying too many things but overall the content is engrossing.

There are two protagonists, one is a journalist, Kurt who gets caught up in a story as he receives a message from the dead, his step father who has diseased. The conspiracy draws him in along with Storm, our other lead who is an intelligence officer. The conspiracy envelops the ancient mysteries of the Mayas and also the Norse myths and brings all together in a palatable soup, which threatens the pillars of the state.

Fantastic reading this one.
Recommended.

Danish intelligence receive information of the high risk of a dirty bomb threat at the worst time possible. The largest gathering of people are expected to attend the Queens Jubilee with time running out to apprehend the perpetrators before carnage ensues. Two different storylines emerge with no apparent link. A weapons inspector, highly skilled in dangerous missions is called upon to investigate a potentially catastrophic event yet struggling to focus on job in hand whilst simultaneously supporting his hugely pregnant partner. A journalist meanwhile is hot on the heels of what he believes to be a mystery that could become the best kept secret of the century. Weaving a complex storyline of Danish culture and nail biting action the clock is furiously ticking whilst the two protagonists struggle to find answers and prevent a catastrophic loss of life which has the potential to destroy Denmark. A 5* thoroughly enjoyable and complex book with several elements that that writer slowly uncovers in the search towards a mind blowing conclusion. Many thanks to author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

This was really well done, it had that historical fiction feel that I was looking for and enjoyed how good everything worked. The characters felt like they belonged in the time-period and enjoyed how good the characters were written. It left me guessing and wanting to read more from Johan Ottosen.