Sleep When You’re Dead | Jude O’Reilly
Sleep When You’re Dead opens in dramatic fashion and simply doesn’t let up throughout. It’s a fast-paced, exciting narrative that holds the reader spellbound.
The pages simply fly past as the story alternates between North and Fang’s perspectives, spiralling into a vortex of peril, intrigue and threat.
Certainly there are moments when a willing suspension of disbelief is required, but Sleep When You’re Dead is so exciting that the reader does so without hesitation.
As well as a breathtaking speed, Jude O’Reilly infuses her story with a dry wit and black humour that provides light relief so that the reader has chance to catch their breath.
The story is layered and disturbing.
From international political relationships, through money laundering, espionage and murder that leave the reader’s brain reeling, to the more prosaic family relationships and a grandmother’s love for her granddaughter that all feel identifiable and realistic, Jude O’Reilly provides something for every reader making Sleep When You’re Dead a gripping read.
The remote island setting of Murdo is perfect for the narrative. It’s bleak, dangerous and challenging – exactly like the mission North finds himself in. Jude O’Reilly leaves the reader wondering just what might be happening on other, real islands.
When the threads of the story are drawn together, the reader is left feeling convinced and rather unnerved. There’s a chilling authenticity about the reasons that have led North to this point.
Fascinatingly, North is unconventional, often quick-tempered, violent and rash, yet the reader is firmly on his side even when his brand of morality is far outside accepted norms.
It’s quite disturbing to find yourself so completely on the side of a man with little compunction about murdering an adversary that you actually to want him to kill someone!
This has the effect of making you question your own morality.
However, balancing the negative aspects of his character, North has a softer side, particularly with regard to Fang, Mia and Rowan, that makes him feel well developed and rounded, ameliorating his more violent responses.
I thoroughly enjoyed this adrenaline-filled, action-packed story and really wish I’d met Michael North sooner. Sleep When You’re Dead is an excellent standalone story not to be missed and I’ll be sure to read the previous books in the series too.
Pick up this week’s bumper issue of My Weekly to enjoy a powerful short story by Jude O’Reilly, plus lots of useful tips and uplifting reading. £2.35 from newsagents and supermarkets.
