Reviews
With depth of characterization...a narrative pace that's fast but never rushed--and a shattering climax--Brekke creates a novel of startling originality, one that makes some other thrillers look like products of a cookie cutter. Discerning readers will find it spellbinding...Quoth the critic, give us more., "An addictive, suspenseful present-day crime thriller peppered with expertly-researched historic chapters--is it any wonder I loved this book?" - Raymond Khoury , New York Times bestselling author of The Last Templar "History pulses with life and excitement in this chilling and foreboding read. Jorgen Brekke delivers what thriller readers crave, or at least what this thriller reader craves-action, history, secrets, conspiracies, and international settings. Couldn't ask for anything more." -Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author of The King's Deception "Engrossing… this mystery is perfectly grim without being bleak and is a welcome addition to the popular 'Nordic noir' subgenre" - Library Journal "The buildup to each murder is extraordinarily well done and almost unbearably suspenseful." - Booklist "Brekke's big-boned debut thriller, spanning two continents and 500 years, delves into the unholy connections between a pair of monstrous killings in Norway and the U.S…. While the two sorely tried cops toil on unaware of the big break that will bring Felicia to Trondheim, Brekke provides increasingly disturbing flashbacks to the creation of the Johannes Book, a 16th-century collection of aphorisms and medical information bound in human skin, which figures in both murders. The sleuths are sympathetic and the atmosphere suitably sinister...Grim and tense." - Kirkus " The next Stieg Larsson? Norway's Jorgen Brekke should be in the running, with his original and suspenseful debut novel Where Monsters Dwell… A killer debut, in every sense of the word, and a book you will want to read in one sitting, preferably not right before bedtime." - Bookpage "It is almost unbelievable that this is Brekke's debut novel. The story moves seamlessly between 16th-century Europe and present-day Virginia and Norway, and the mystery is intricate… as it moves through time and place. Brekke's characters are developed with depth, making readers feel both empathy and sympathy toward them." - RT Book Reviews (4.5/5 stars), "An addictive, suspenseful present-day crime thriller peppered with expertly-researched historic chapters--is it any wonder I loved this book?" - Raymond Khoury , New York Times bestselling author of The Last Templar "History pulses with life and excitement in this chilling and foreboding read. Jorgen Brekke delivers what thriller readers crave, or at least what this thriller reader craves-action, history, secrets, conspiracies, and international settings. Couldn't ask for anything more." -Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author of The King's Deception "Engrossing… this mystery is perfectly grim without being bleak and is a welcome addition to the popular 'Nordic noir' subgenre" - Library Journal "The buildup to each murder is extraordinarily well done and almost unbearably suspenseful." - Booklist "With depth of characterization...a narrative pace that's fast but never rushed-and a shattering climax-Brekke creates a novel of startling originality, one that makes some other thrillers look like products of a cookie cutter. Discerning readers will find it spellbinding...Quoth the critic, give us more." -Richmond Times-Dispatch "Brekke's big-boned debut thriller, spanning two continents and 500 years, delves into the unholy connections between a pair of monstrous killings in Norway and the U.S…. While the two sorely tried cops toil on unaware of the big break that will bring Felicia to Trondheim, Brekke provides increasingly disturbing flashbacks to the creation of the Johannes Book, a 16th-century collection of aphorisms and medical information bound in human skin, which figures in both murders. The sleuths are sympathetic and the atmosphere suitably sinister...Grim and tense." - Kirkus " The next Stieg Larsson? Norway's Jorgen Brekke should be in the running, with his original and suspenseful debut novel Where Monsters Dwell… A killer debut, in every sense of the word, and a book you will want to read in one sitting, preferably not right before bedtime." - Bookpage "It is almost unbelievable that this is Brekke's debut novel. The story moves seamlessly between 16th-century Europe and present-day Virginia and Norway, and the mystery is intricate… as it moves through time and place. Brekke's characters are developed with depth, making readers feel both empathy and sympathy toward them." - RT Book Reviews (4.5/5 stars), Brekke's big-boned debut thriller, spanning two continents and 500 years, delves into the unholy connections between a pair of monstrous killings in Norway and the U.S.... While the two sorely tried cops toil on unaware of the big break that will bring Felicia to Trondheim, Brekke provides increasingly disturbing flashbacks to the creation of the Johannes Book, a 16th-century collection of aphorisms and medical information bound in human skin, which figures in both murders. The sleuths are sympathetic and the atmosphere suitably sinister...Grim and tense., "Let it be said at once: Jørgen Brekke has written one of the best debut crime novels this reviewer has ever read. THE REALM OF GRACE is simply a phenomenal crime!" Anders Mehlum Hasle, Sande Blad "Almost impossible to put down… Everyone should run and buy this!" Kulturspeilet "A promising debut." The Evening Post (Norway) "Here Jørgen Brekke largely created the perfect novel." Gjengangeren (Norwegian newspaper), "An addictive, suspenseful present-day crime thriller peppered with expertly-researched historic chapters--is it any wonder I loved this book?" -- Raymond Khoury, New York Times bestselling author of The Last Templar "History pulses with life and excitement in this chilling and foreboding read. Jorgen Brekke delivers what thriller readers crave, or at least what this thriller reader craves--action, history, secrets, conspiracies, and international settings. Couldn't ask for anything more." -- Steve Berry, New York Times bestselling author of The King's Deception "Engrossing... this mystery is perfectly grim without being bleak and is a welcome addition to the popular 'Nordic noir' subgenre" -- Library Journal "The buildup to each murder is extraordinarily well done and almost unbearably suspenseful." -- Booklist "With depth of characterization...a narrative pace that's fast but never rushed--and a shattering climax--Brekke creates a novel of startling originality, one that makes some other thrillers look like products of a cookie cutter. Discerning readers will find it spellbinding...Quoth the critic, give us more." -- Richmond Times-Dispatch "Brekke's big-boned debut thriller, spanning two continents and 500 years, delves into the unholy connections between a pair of monstrous killings in Norway and the U.S.... While the two sorely tried cops toil on unaware of the big break that will bring Felicia to Trondheim, Brekke provides increasingly disturbing flashbacks to the creation of the Johannes Book, a 16th-century collection of aphorisms and medical information bound in human skin, which figures in both murders. The sleuths are sympathetic and the atmosphere suitably sinister...Grim and tense." -- Kirkus " The next Stieg Larsson? Norway's Jorgen Brekke should be in the running, with his original and suspenseful debut novel Where Monsters Dwell... A killer debut, in every sense of the word, and a book you will want to read in one sitting, preferably not right before bedtime." -- Bookpage "It is almost unbelievable that this is Brekke's debut novel. The story moves seamlessly between 16th-century Europe and present-day Virginia and Norway, and the mystery is intricate... as it moves through time and place. Brekke's characters are developed with depth, making readers feel both empathy and sympathy toward them." -- RT Book Reviews (4.5/5 stars), Engrossing... this mystery is perfectly grim without being bleak and is a welcome addition to the popular 'Nordic noir' subgenre, It is almost unbelievable that this is Brekke's debut novel. The story moves seamlessly between 16th-century Europe and present-day Virginia and Norway, and the mystery is intricate... as it moves through time and place. Brekke's characters are developed with depth, making readers feel both empathy and sympathy toward them., An addictive, suspenseful present-day crime thriller peppered with expertly-researched historic chapters--is it any wonder I loved this book?, The next Stieg Larsson? Norway's Jorgen Brekke should be in the running, with his original and suspenseful debut novel Where Monsters Dwell... A killer debut, in every sense of the word, and a book you will want to read in one sitting, preferably not right before bedtime., History pulses with life and excitement in this chilling and foreboding read. Jorgen Brekke delivers what thriller readers crave, or at least what this thriller reader craves--action, history, secrets, conspiracies, and international settings. Couldn't ask for anything more., "Let it be said at once: Jørgen Brekke has written one of the best debut crime novels this reviewer has ever read. Where Monsters Dwell is simply a phenomenal crime!" -Anders Mehlum Hasle, Sande Blad "Almost impossible to put down . . . Everyone should run and buy this!" - Kulturspeilet "A promising debut." - The Evening Post (Norway)"Here Jørgen Brekke largely created the perfect novel." - Gjengangeren (Norway)