Sleepyhead cover art

Sleepyhead

Tom Thorne, Book 1

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Sleepyhead

By: Mark Billingham
Narrated by: Mark Billingham
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About this listen

The classic first novel from Mark Billingham introduces DI Tom Thorne in a unforgettable and terrifying case that changed crime fiction forever.

Alison Willetts has survived a stroke, deliberately induced by a skilful manipulation of pressure points on the head and neck. She can see, hear and feel but she is completely unable to move or communicate. In leaving Alison Willetts alive, the police believe the killer's made his first mistake.

Then DI Tom Thorne discovers the horrifying truth: it isn't Alison who is the mistake, it's the three women already dead.

Thorne must find a killer whose agenda is disturbingly unique, and Alison, the one person who holds the key to the killer's identity, is unable to say anything . . .

©2001 Mark Billingham (P)2018 Hachette Audio UK Action & Adventure Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Psychological Thriller & Suspense Suspense Exciting Scary Fiction

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Critic reviews

'One of my favourite authors' Harlan Coben

'A terrifically stylish debut novel' Independent on Sunday

'The next superstar detective' Lee Child
All stars
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Excellent book best one I've enjoyed for a while. Narrator was excellent. Very good.

Sleepy head

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This is my first book in this D/I Thorn series. Although I guessed the killer half way through the story I still found myself unable to stop listening
Well worth the credit. Onto number two.

Edge of your seat

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A great gritty murder thriller. Very well read. Thoroughly believable characters and enough twists and turns to satisfy.

Very enjoyable

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it was an easy listen but just lacking a bit.of.emotional depth for me. if you like crime stories, get it.

liked it.

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Enjoyed it and found it gripping in parts especially towards the end. I found the style a bit long winded and irrelevant at times. overall I enjoyed it.

Good plot

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A great book well written well researched and excellently narrated by the author , I look forward to the next one

great read

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I really enjoyed this book.
The story line was imaginative & intriguing and wonderfully narrated as always by Mark Bellingham.
I did guess the “whodunnit” towards the end but that certainly didn’t spoil my enjoyment

Excellent

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This was ok, I could imagine a bbc version of it made.

It was predictable and the main characters weren’t to my taste. Maybe folk a little older or could relate to them and their views (im 38) but for my part it seemed dated and they weren’t likeable and a bit cheesy, especially when the author tried to make them cool or develop younger characters.

I’m not a big crime fan so maybe this just wasn’t for me but I must say, I probably won’t be following the DI Thorn series or the authors other work

Crime fodder

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Given the high ratings and prolific output of this writer I was really looking forward to this one. But … felt the main character didn’t add up, thought the writing heavy with description that went on one image too many and the plot just … well weak! Such a shame and not for me.

Disappointing

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captivating story with complex characters which kept you guessing. I'd worked it out with 3 chapters to go but still a surprise.

an interesting introduction!

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