Office politics become deadly serious in this tense Danish thriller. Set in a fictitious genocide research centre, the story focuses on Iben, Malene and Anne-Lise, three co-workers in a small office. When Iben and Malene receive death threats, suspicion turns to a Serbian war criminal who they are investigating. Or could it be someone closer to home?

Recorded on location in Copenhagen, The Exception includes some of Denmark’s leading actors such as Lisbeth Wulff, a regular character in Borgen; award winning television and stage actress Stine Stengade; Charlotte Munck, a regular in Follow the Money; and Jakob Oftebro, rising star of Nordic cinema and and television with lead roles in The Bridge and the hit Danish television series, 1864.

In this Danish/English collaboration for BBC Radio 4’s Reading Europe series, radio drama producers Anders Lundorph and Polly Thomas co-dramatise the book as well as co-producing it. Anders and Polly have worked together before for BBC Radio 4, on The Unexpected European in 2006 and Borgen: Outside the Castle in 2013.

Episode 1: The Email
Iben and Malene receive death threats at work. The police investigate and the most likely culprit seems to be Mirko Sigic, a Serbian war criminal they have both researched. However, tensions build in the office and, as mysterious accidents occur, no-one is safe from suspicion.

Episode 2: The Dream
The atmosphere in the office worsens as suspicion now falls on Anne Lise as the source of the threatening emails and other alarming incidents. When Malene and Rasmus split up, no one could forsee the terrible consequences.

Episode 3: The Reality
Iben and Anne Lise have become close, while Malene is increasingly isolated after the mysterious death of her boyfriend Rasmus. The police close their investigation into the threatening emails and the office goes back to normal – until Mirko Zigic, Serbian war criminal, gets in touch.