Where Monsters Dwell

Written by Jorgen Brekke

Narrated by David Menkin

A murder at the Edgar Allan Poe Museum in Richmond, Virginia, bears a close resemblance to one in Trondheim, Norway. The corpse of the museum curator in Virginia is found flayed in his office by the cleaning staff; the corpse of an archivist at the library in Norway, is found inside a locked vault used to store delicate and rare books. Richmond homicide detective Felicia Stone and Trondheim police inspector Odd Singsaker find themselves working on similar murder cases, committed the same way, but half a world away. And both murders are somehow connected to a sixteenth century palimpsest book—The Book of John—which appears to be a journal of a serial murderer back in 1529 Norway, a book bound in human skin.

A runaway bestseller in Norway, Jørgen Brekke's Where Monsters Dwell has since sold to over fourteen countries. Where Monsters Dwell is the most awaited English language crime fiction debut in years.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Macmillan Audio
• Release date: Feb 11, 2014
• ISBN: 9781427251589

Jorgen Brekke

Jørgen Brekke, born 1968, was raised in Horten, Norway and studied at the University of Trondheim. Trained as a high school teacher, he has most recently worked as a freelance journalist. He lives in Trondheim with his wife and three children. His first novel, was on the Norwegian bestseller lists for four months and has been sold in twelve countries.

Reviews for Where Monsters Dwell

[aztwinmom · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A well-written mystery that catches your interest from the very beginning, this story is not for the squeamish. It is very dark and the characters are tragic and flawed, but very human and real. As horrific as the murders are, the mystery draws you in and keeps you reading long into the night.

[knittingmomof3 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Where Monsters Dwell by Jørgen Brekke is the first of the Odd Singsaker mysteries and is brilliant. Two very similar and grisly murders occur in Richmond, Virginia and Trondheim, Norway which are both linked to a 16th century book. Richmond homicide detective Felicia Stone and Trondheim police inspector Odd Singsaker join forces to unravel the mystery of these grisly murders. Where Monsters Dwell is an exceptional debut, filled with gruesome historical facts, flayed bodies, and a rather unique and twisted puzzle to solve. Brekke does an exceptional job at keeping the reader guessing and has created fantastically complex characters in this fast paced mystery. Where Monsters Dwell was a book I could not put down and I eagerly await Brekke’s next Singsaker novel.

[dgrachel · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Blerg. I really want those hours of my life back. I read this for book club, when I struggled with my first selection, and I’m sorry I didn’t stick to the other book. I’m sure part of the issue is the translation, but I have real issue with the plot and characters, too. The misogyny is rampant and there were elements that were just completely ridiculous. I found myself rolling my eyes a lot. The female characters were continually falling into bed with male characters. Random plot points would be dropped and there were details that I still don’t understand why the author felt they were necessary. Apologies to my postal book club members who have to read this book after me. It’s too late to pick a different book.

[hardboiled-1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

While I found the overall plot intriguing I found its execution sorely short on delivery. The sensationalism of the murders fell dismally short in light of the superficial characters and the scatter-gun approach to plot left me more than once questioning whether to put the book down. There was just enough there to keep me reading but that interest didn't materialize until after half way through. The use what I can only characterize as "sex for sensationalism" was off putting and totally unbelievable especially since it happened not just once but twice with different women. Put it all together and you're in much better hands sticking with Larsson, Nesbo, et al.

[shetreadssoftly · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Where Monsters Dwell by Jørgen Brekke is a highly recommended murder mystery for fans of Thomas Harris' The Silence of the Lambs.

Originally published in Norway, Where Monsters Dwell by Jørgen Brekke follows a serial killer who is discovered through the investigations into two murders. The crimes are eerily similar - both involve flayed corpses with the heads removed - only one murder is in Richmond, Virginia, while the other is in Trondheim, Norway. Clues in both crimes show a connection to an old, rare book. Investigators in this mystery are Richmond homicide detective Felicia Stone and Trondheim police inspector Odd Singsaker. But at the heart of the book is the story of the rare Johannes Book and a set of knives. It was an odd collection of texts from the 1500s, written on parchment by a mendicant monk, who seems to know a lot about anatomy.

The plot itself, with its multiple narratives, is complicated but most readers are going to be able to follow the action and keep the characters straight. Storylines include those in Richmond, Trondheim, and from the original writer of the rare book, starting in 1528. Where Monsters Dwell opens with the murder of a mother and child and then jumps back in time to 1528 before returning to the present. These transitions from place to place and back and forth in time continue throughout the book, keeping all narratives moving along at an equally frantic pace.

This is a well written, intelligent mystery. Brekke provides a plethora of information and clues for the reader, along with one character, Siri, who gives actual mini-lectures on how to evaluate a crime novel. Where Monsters Dwell reads smoothly, so I'm assuming that there were no problems in translation. There are a few little descriptions/comments to which those living in the USA might object or at least shake their heads.

There are parts that are disturbing and gruesome, so this may not be a good choice for those who prefer cozy mysteries. There are also several sexual scenes that seem gratuitous and don't really add to the actual plot. There were a few times when descriptions made me shake my head, such as this description of Felicia: "She’d recently passed thirty, but she still looked young." Really? Maybe that is because she IS young.

In the end this is a satisfying mystery. Hopefully we can look forward to more novels by Brekke translated from the Norwegian since it appears that this might be the start of a series featuring Felicia and Odd as an investigative team in Norway.

Disclosure: My Kindle edition was courtesy of St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, via Netgalley for review purposes.

[annbury_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

grest read. imaginative take

[rowingrabbit · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Stieg Larsson did more than just give us the great Millenium series. He opened the door for translations of other Scandinavian authors like Jo Nesbo, Jussi Adler-Olsen & now Jorgen Brekke. This is not for the faint of heart but it's a fast paced thriller that will keep you turning the pages. Who knew human skin could be so versatile.
It begins by telling the story of mendicant monk in 1528 Norway. In chapters alternating with the present, we learn of his life & how his actions contribute to a string of horrific murders committed in present day. Johannes spent an itinerant childhood travelling with Olav the beard cutter, a mysterious barber/surgeon. Olav's knives were his pride & joy & eventually the two settle in Venice where they become assistants to Master Alessandro, a ground breaking anatomist. But Johannes' travels are far from over & his life will change dramatically.
In present day Richmond, VA, we meet Efrahim Bond who has worked at the Edgar Allan Poe Museum for over 20 years. He has a secret. He recently discovered hidden writing on vellum used to bind a book by Lord Byron. It has the potential to shock historians & make him famous but unfortunately, he won't be around to enjoy it. He's found one morning hanging off a statue of Poe with his throat cut, decapitated & torso flayed.His skin is missing.
This is the first big case for homicide investigator Felicia Stone. After battling substance abuse as a young woman, she ended up a cop like her dad. Suspects & motive are hard to come by but there is one weird clue. Bond sent a piece of the Lord Byron book for analysis & it turns out the vellum was human skin, not calf.
Meanwhile in Trondheim, Norway, we meet Jon Vatten. He was a promising academic until his wife & son disappeared 5 years ago. Now he works as a security guard at the Gunnerus Library, famous for housing the Johannes Book. It's the diary of a 16th century monk bound in fine vellum. Some of the pages are missing but it's renowned for accurate drawings of human anatomy. It's locked in a special vault & when Jon & Siri, the new librarian, open the door one day they find more than the book. Gunn, her predecessor, is lying on the floor decapitated with her torso flayed. Her skin is missing.
Chief Inspector Odd Singsaker has just returned to work following brain surgery & his memory is not what it was. He catches the case & realizes Gunn & her husband Jens are neighbours of his. So is Jon who he investigated 5 years ago in the disappearance of his family.
Jens is an archeologist who found the Johannes Book during the dig of a mass grave near Fossum & had it donated to the library. Many of the human remains bore similar marks of a violent death.
Eventually, Felicia & Odd become aware of the murders in the other's country & hook up to compare notes. Several people have ties to bot places including one from Felicia's past. They all want the book for one reason or another but in the uproar after Gunn's death, it's missing. Odd & Felicia dig deeper & discover hidden plots & lies that keep the reader guessing as to which of the characters is responsible for the crimes. Everyone seems to have a hidden agenda & while investigating the murders, mysteries from the past will also be resolved.
There are many peripheral characters but the story revolves around Felicia & Odd. They are compelling people, both dealing with personal issues while facing increasing danger as they get closer to identifying the killer. I liked these two & wanted to see them overcome their private fears. The author uses their relationship to contrast the differing cultures & police procedures.
But this is Scandinavian noir. It's a dark, at times bleak story of gruesome murders & a truly twisted killer. It's also a cautionary tale of how you can never really know someone & appearances can deceive whether it's the 16th century or the 21st. One of the most fascinating parts of the novel is following the Johannes Book, a central character in itself, as it touches lives over the course of 400 years. The author uses it to remind us if you don't know history, you are condemned to repeat it. In the final pages, the reader learns the truth behind the book in a nice little twist that would have really ticked off the killer.
There are some passages of dialogue that seem a bit stilted but could be due to blips in translation. This is the first of a series featuring Odd & Felicia and I'll definitely pick up the next one to follow their stories. Be prepared for some "eewww" moments but if you enjoy intricate thrillers with compelling characters & a great historical element, this is for you.

[purseproblm · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I received an advanced reader edition of this from the publisher via BookBrowse's first impressions program. This is one of those situations where I wish half stars existed. I would give it a 3.5.

[dtchantel-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I'm not sure what happened in Norway that suddenly started producing all these wonderful, talented mystery and suspense authors, but whatever it was, I hope it keeps happening.

Jorgen Brekke is another one to put on your list of absolute "must-reads." Although it's rather strange to say that a book as vivid, creepy, scary and graphic as "Where Monsters Dwell" was a delight to read, that's absolutely what this reading experience was.

Interspersed with a rich, historical background story, nothing detracts from the fast-moving, suspenseful and engaging narrative of the present-day murder mystery. Odd Singsaker has to be one of the more unique and compelling detectives I've read about in a long time and as you walk with him through the labyrinthine progression of the case, you find yourself liking him more and more.

As Odd's counterpart in the United States, Felicia Stone is every bit as intriguing a character. And when their two cases come together and these fellow investigators finally meet and collaborate, the novel just reaches an even higher level of enjoyment.

If you're thinking that you've reached your limit on Scandinavian authors, think again, and make sure you put Jorgen Brekke's "Where Monsters Dwell," as well as any future installments, on your reading list immediately.

[bookswoman · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Thrillers are not my first choice in sub-genre for my mystery reading. However, when a book is strongly recommended by the people on DorothyL I often give it a try. For this book I am very glad that I did.There are so many good things about this book it is hard to describe. There are murders in both Virginia, USA and Trondheim, Norway both in 2010. There are flashbacks to the 1500's with things eerily similar to what is happening in 2010. There are a couple emotionally damaged detectives on both sides of the Atlantic working their cases and a group of suspects. All of this is happening in the exclusive world of book collecting and book binding, for very ancient and rare books.Brekke has written an amazing book, keeping all those threads going and weaving them together into a story that drags you along at breakneck speed.

[lostinalibrary · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I have a theory about why the Netherlands has such a low incidence of violent crimes – they purge all their violent tendencies and dark desires in their literature. A case in point is Where Monsters Dwell, the debut novel by Jorgen Brekke of Norway. In this fast-paced thriller, a series of crimes occur which are separated by 5 centuries and two continents but which are linked by a book. The book, written by a monk in the 16th c., details his studies and discoveries in human dissection and anatomy, making it one of the earliest books of its kind and a prize for any museum or collector. But what makes it even more sought after is the fact that it is bound with human skin.The novel opens with the murder of Efrahim Bond, curator of the Edgar Allen Poe Museum in Virginia, who was first knocked unconscious and then flayed alive. As Homicide Detective, Felicia Stone is investigating the crime, she stumbles upon another crime in Norway that occurred very close in time to the first murder and is eerily similar. A woman’s flayed body was discovered in a locked vault at the Gunnerus Library in Trondheim, Norway. The novel moves back and forth between these two crimes as well as a third crime which occurred several years previous in Norway and is linked to their main suspect who works at the Gunnerus. As these crimes are investigated in the present, increasingly disturbing facts are revealed about the 16th c book and its creator.Where Monsters Dwell is one heck of a dark and disturbing debut novel. The story is complex as are the characters and the fast pace and plot twists kept me guessing right until the big reveal at the end. It should be noted, however, that this is definitely not a tale for the squeamish; at times, it is downright creepy and the murders are, to say the least, graphic and gruesome.

[maneekuhi · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I think this book is a bit over-rated. It's good, there was a lot I enjoyed, but there was a lot that put me off as well. First the cons: Our hero, Odd Singsaker, is a cop, recently back on the force following removal of a brain tumor. He is also a grandfather. He is a grandfather who manages to have sex with two very attractive 20-30 year old women whom he has just met in the last two weeks. Where's the con in this? A grandfather? Come on. About a quarter to a third of the book flashes back if you will to the 1500's following a knife wielding barber/dissector/surgeon and a young boy. The very popular thirty year flashbacks are one thing, but 500 years? No thanks. There is a missing persons case 5-7 years old that turns out to be a murder, but the motivation for the crime is rather lame; I think it's unfortunate that this wasn't developed further and linked more closely to present events. Finally there was too much instruction once again on serial crime - I'm beginning to feel that I could teach the FBI course based on all the novels I've read. Too much "I went to a course..." and "I read somewhere..."The pro's. Interesting to team two people from different locations ( Norway and Richmond ! Virginia) to solve a crime; Richmond cop Felicia flies to Trondheim. I wish more time had been focused there. I liked the info on Poe, and I will likely drive down to Richmond to visit the museum down there some day as a result of having read this book. There is a cute reference to Harry Hole in the story, a tip of the hat if you will. Otherwise, a by the book police procedural.I saw a reference to Thomas Harris in one of the other reader reviews and there is similarity on some key plot points but Brekke's book has nowhere near the level of tension and tight plotting that Harris's books have. Not sure if I'll read the sequel.

[rgazala_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Jørgen Brekke adds his interesting and grisly police procedural "Where Monsters Dwell" to the wave of Scandinavian thrillers that have intrigued readers since the explosive popularity of Stieg Larrson's "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," and its two "Millennium" sequels. In this novel, disturbing copycat murders at museums in Richmond, Virginia and Trondheim, Norway spur investigations that do not long remain bifurcated by the Atlantic. After exhausting her leads in the States, Virginian detective Felicia Stone jets to Norway to marshal limited resources with her Norwegian counterpart Odd Singsaker. They join to uncover a twisted scheme whose tendrils slither as much among ancient scalpels and "The Book of Johannes," an esoteric16th century tome, as they do in the present. As is fairly typical of this genre, Brekke's principal characters are both deep and deeply flawed, as well as various shades of lonely and damaged. They're also very interesting, as is the deadly maze Brekke constructs to torment them until the story's end. At times the writing is wooden (likely attributable to the translation from Norwegian into English), and the pacing drags, but overall "Where Monsters Dwell" is a satisfying diversion for admirers of authors like Larsson, Nesbo, Theorin, et al.

[cathyskye · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

After reading Where Monsters Dwell, I learned that it was a bestseller in Norway, and I can see why. From the chilling opening scene to the very end, this book has something for everyone: a fast pace, a strong sense of place, a dash of history, a truly puzzling investigation, and three very memorable characters. One of the characters calls the investigation a "cabinet of curiosities," and it is. There's no apparent reason for either of the murders; strange little facts about book binding, book preservation, and rare books keep cropping up but seem to have no place in the search for the killers; there are plenty of people to interview... but which of them could be suspects? What ties this book together are the two police officers: Odd Singsaker and Felicia Stone. Their backgrounds, their work ethics, their personalities are strong and nuanced, and I was thrilled to see that we'll (hopefully) be able to read further books in the series. Another character I also enjoyed was Siri Holm, a new employee at the library in Trondheim. Siri, with her collection of crime fiction and cataloging of solutions, was a bit of a free spirit. She had her own agenda, but she also added a bit of needed humor to the story.Another thing that I wanted to mention is more personal preference than anything else. In so many of the other Scandinavian crime novels I've read, it seems as though every time the detective leaves a building, his exact route-- each street and highway from Point A to Point B-- must be listed. I think of it as the GPS Factor. That's all well and good for residents and speakers of the language, but for those of us who are reading in translated editions, such detail is mostly wasted and only serves to make us stumble and stagger as we attempt to pronounce all those names. It was such a pleasure to read this book and discover that Brekke only gives general directions when his characters are out and about.For me Where Monsters Dwell was slightly marred by a rather Hollywood ending, and I did wish that more of the sixteenth-century serial murderer's story had been used, but it's still a top-notch read. I most definitely am looking forward to more!

[katyas_26 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Book Info: Genre: Mystery/ThrillerReading Level: AdultRecommended for: Fans of mysteries that are not easily solved, thriller/suspense novels, Scandinavian fictionBook Available: February 11, 2014 in hardcover and Kindle format Trigger Warnings: murder, torture, sexual assault, drug abuse, overdose, attempted suicideAnimal Abuse: little boy throws cat into river to test the “cats always land feet down” hypothesis; he did not mean to harm the cat, but the cat was swept away in the current and out to sea, where it presumably drowned; the kid also held the cat by the tailMy Thoughts: This is the first book in the Odd Singsaker series, which is very popular in Norway. Odd is an interesting character. We meet him as he returns to work for the first time since having a tumor removed from his brain. He has lost a lot of his memories as a result. In fact, all the characters are excellent, full of quirks and qualities that make them human and relateable.This is done so well that it was impossible for me to figure out who the killer was prior to it being revealed. There are just so many twists and turns, red herrings sprinkled in with the clues, that the mystery was kept mysterious right up to the ending.Many of the characters were quite tragic. Felicia and her sexual assault in high school, Odd and his broken family, Vatten and the loss of his wife and child... This gives additional depth and interest to each character that really helps to fill them out.This isn't as dark as some Scandinavian fiction I've read, but it is certainly as good quality as any of them. If you enjoy mysteries that are difficult to crack, suspense/thrillers, and Scandinavian fiction, then definitely watch for this one.Disclosure: I received an ARC from the Amazon Vine program in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.Synopsis: A murder at the Edgar Allan Poe Museum in Richmond, Virginia, bears a close resemblance to one in Trondheim, Norway. The corpse of the museum curator in Virginia is found flayed in his office by the cleaning staff; the corpse of an archivist at the library in Norway, is found inside a locked vault used to store delicate and rare books. Richmond homicide detective Felicia Stone and Trondheim police inspector Odd Singsaker find themselves working on similar murder cases, committed the same way, but half a world away. And both murders are somehow connected to a sixteenth century palimpsest book—The Book of John—which appears to be a journal of a serial murderer back in 1529 Norway, a book bound in human skin.