Still in the last stages of recovery from an operation involving a brain tumour, Chief Inspector Odd Singsaker is back at work. He has had many changes in the past year and likes being back on the job as he still suffers from memory issues on occasion and worries about being ready. Given his condition, might he miss a vital clue or connection? Will his ever-ready notebook help him overcome his condition?

Singsaker gets called out at 4 a.m. to investigate the murder of a lovely young woman found in the snow-covered park at Ludwig Daaes Gate with what at first look appears to be a slashed throat. Near her, the police find an antique music box, complete with a lovely ballerina and a unique tune. Why would anyone stage a murder scene as strange as this?

With his background as an educator and journalist, Jørgen Brekke has the eye for detail and pacing that makes DREAMLESS a very captivating read. While Dreamless follows Brekke's first novel WHERE MONSTERS DWELL, I am sure his fans will be happy to continue with this latest offering involving Chief Inspector Odd Singsaker. As DREAMLESS is my first exposure to Brekke's books, I can attest that this novel can also easily be read as a stand-alone mystery. Now having read DREAMLESS, I really want to read his first book as I am quite taken with Singsaker as a protagonist.

DREAMLESS starts in Stockholm in 1767 with a high stakes card game that results in the eventual murder of a key player in the game. Then the following chapter moves us to contemporary city of Trondheim in Norway where Chief Inspector Odd Singsaker of the Violent Crimes and Sexual Assault team of the Trondhem police seeks to solve this very unusual murder case.

Shifting back to 1767, the story introduces the first Police Chief for the small town of Trondheim. Nils Bayer likes to indulge in a good drink as much as he relished getting his position as Police Chief. Yet, while Bayer's and Singsaker's styles and times differ significantly, both police investigators are determined to solve the murders confronting them, no matter the challenges involved. Both face only the smallest of clues. What is it that links these crimes?

While many of the characters in DREAMLESS are quite unusual, they come very quickly and realistically to life as their reactions and motivations are true to themselves. Brekke's talents also extend to his ability to creative plot the storyline between the mysteries several centuries apart. If you like unusual police related stories, you will definitely want to grab a comfy chair and let DREAMLESS take you on an exciting journey to Norway. I can assure you while DREAMLESS may be tough to read at times, especially when the victims are held captive, DREAMLESS will be even harder to put down as the story is so captivating! Do check it out!