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Colleen T. (Lakewood, CO)
"Where Monsters Dwell", by Jorgen Brekke
"Where Monsters Dwell", by Jorgen Brekke, was an excellent murder-mystery story. I really liked the main characters and the author did a great job of bringing all the characters to life. I was immediately immersed in the story line, that of murders in the US and in Norway and how the murders are connected. The author brought many story points into the novel and was able to bring it all together in a way that had me continually guessing as to "who done it". The ending was satisfying and I encourage everyone to try this author out. However, I could find only this novel translated into English.
Mary H. (Phoenix, AZ)
Current day monsters still exist.
This book is a good mystery in all respects. There is a lot going on trying to juggle two timelines, many characters and some gruesome situations, but as the story progresses you really want to read through to the end. I enjoyed the way the author tied two similar stories together and chose personalities of very different detectives to create a solid story.
This book would be perfect for a book club that likes mysteries. There are more than enough details to discuss concerning each character and the 'whodonnit?' and the why?
Diane P. (Deer Park, WA)
Where Monsters Dwell
Where Monsters Dwell is a strong debut novel from Norwegian author Jorgen Brekke.
Alternating between the sixteenth and present day. Berrke weaves a story of the practice of medieval anatomy with the present day fascination with a rare book The Book of Johannes, which appears to be written by a medieval serial murder.
In the present two murders occurs, one at the Edgar Allan Poe museum and one at a famous library in Trondheim, Norway. A connection between the two murders is made and American homicide detective Felicia Stone travels to Trondheim where she meets police inspector Odd Singsaker.
Together, Stone and
…more Singsaker follow the clues to find a serial murderer, who is using The Book of Johannes as a guide murder his victims.
What I liked about this book was everyone is a suspect. Brekke presents well defined characters and a gripping but rather slow paced tale of both serial murderers. For me there was a sense of suspense that kept me reading. While the book is gruesome, I found the characters to be more upbeat than in some the other Scandinavian mysteries. If you enjoyed this book you would probably like James Thompson's Inspector Kari Vaara series. (less)Two murders, one in Virginia and one in Norway, are seemingly connected and two detectives embark on the quest to solve the crimes complete with flashbacks to the 16th century. While I am not a fan of present day murder mysteries, the addition of the 16th century flashbacks intrigued me. The story moves at a good pace keeping the reader interested, but as with some books translated from the author's original language, the dialogue is stilted and forced in parts. I imagine this book will do well on general best-seller lists.
Lisa R. (Salem, OR)
Not for the Faint of Heart
This book is definitely not for the faint of heart. It includes graphic violence, but the mystery was good, and the story kept me attentive. I did have an idea who the killer was, but the author did a good job of not really making it apparent, and in tying the pieces all together for the finish. I would recommend it to hardcore police procedural fans. There were definitely some odd characters in this book. I'm not sure I've read a book in my recent memory where there were some many flawed characters, or those with physical problems. This story felt very true to life in it's setting, although I personally felt
…more that the romantic aspect of the story was a little overdone and unrealistic. It didn't really add to the story itself in my opinion. (less)Those of you who wait impatiently in anticipation of the next intricate mystery will want to locate a copy of Brekke's international bestseller,
Where Monsters Dwell. This challenging novel asks the reader to 'operate' in two time periods (1528 and 2010) and three locales (Bergen, Norway/Trondheim, Norway/Richmond, Virginia), all in pursuit of solutions to a perplexing set of crimes. I must admit, as a reader, that the first 100 pages prompted me to keep a current listing of character name and locale within easy reach. However, after that point, this story took off like a rocket.
All in all, the mystery is
…more compelling, the characters are effectively fleshed out and the conclusion, intriguing. Block out some solid time in your reading schedule to try this one on for size. As for me, Brekke joins my lengthening list of solid international mystery writers along with Mankell, Lackberg and Nesbo. (less)This was a slow-building read thriller that is never boring or conventional. The story is full of troubled characters that span centuries. The main character is the Johannes Book, and as we learn about the characters we learn more about the book and its importance.
Lesley F. (San Diego, CA)
Where Monsters Dwell by Jorgen Brekke
Detectives public or private, murder, and mystery - that's my candy jar. This one is a killer! Not meant to be first of a series, but other stories from this author would be a great thing. Special congratulations to the translator, Steven T. Murray. Easy to read and one that cannot be put aside for mundane chores until complete. Caveat: as is more and more common these days, graphic gore prevails. Drops my rating to a 4. But hubby will no doubt love it!
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