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The Sleeper
‘Peace on earth and mercy mild...’ But there’s no mercy here. There is no telling how long the body has been down in the cellar, rising as the water level rises...
In a wintry seaside resort an old woman goes missing from her residential hotel for the elderly, the inappropriately named Happy Haven. And in a remote farmhouse not far away, the Moon family gathers for Christmas. Clover Moon, the farmer’s wife, looks forward to the forthcoming festivities with quiet desperation and dread.
What terrible events from the past are coming back to haunt them? As gales and blizzards cut off the power and maroon the Christmas gathering, where did the body come from which is swept into the farmhouse cellar by the rising flood water? In Gillian White’s dark and disturbing world, where nothing is quite as it seems, a mystery from the past becomes a terrifying ordeal in the present, and a traditional family Christmas turns into nightmare.
In a wintry seaside resort an old woman goes missing from her residential hotel for the elderly, the inappropriately named Happy Haven. And in a remote farmhouse not far away, the Moon family gathers for Christmas. Clover Moon, the farmer’s wife, looks forward to the forthcoming festivities with quiet desperation and dread.
What terrible events from the past are coming back to haunt them? As gales and blizzards cut off the power and maroon the Christmas gathering, where did the body come from which is swept into the farmhouse cellar by the rising flood water? In Gillian White’s dark and disturbing world, where nothing is quite as it seems, a mystery from the past becomes a terrifying ordeal in the present, and a traditional family Christmas turns into nightmare.
380 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
14 people are currently reading
143 people want to read
About the author
Gillian White
20 books34 followersGillian White (b. 1945) grew up in Liverpool, England. She has written sixteen novels under her own name, which are known for suspense, Gothic thrills, and satiric views of contemporary society. She also writes historical romance under the name Georgina Fleming. She lives in Devon, England.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
November 9, 2013
If ever there was an antidote to a Merry Christmas, this book is it! Set during a wintry Christmas, in the middle of a storm the electricity goes off while Violet Moon is visiting her son and daughter-in-law at the farm she owned and ran with her now dead husband William. Away from her cosy house and her séances she holds Violet Moon is dreading Christmas on the farm which once meant so much to her...
This is a fantastic study of human life, but don't expect to find fluffy nice characters within the pages of this book. The Sleeper has a collection of people trapped in lives they don't want to be in, those looking for others to provide their happiness, those who want to turn back time, and too many who think they can orchestrate a different future. Jealousy, suspicion and dastardly deeds are the presents for Christmas this year.
At the same time at The Happy Haven Hotel in Torquay one of the elderly residents is missing. No family is known of and no clue to where she may have gone to, her roommate is concerned and the police are called...
With the roots to this unhappy Christmas originating in some part in the past the reader is let in on events involving Violet and the loss of her mother over fifty years previously. The narrative to this book is unusual using a narrator viewing events as a whole inviting the reader to question each person's actions, thoughts and adding pertinent information to enrich those tales being told in the present.
I really enjoyed this most claustrophobic of novels, the isolated farmhouse with its aga, candles and a pervading darkness hiding more than anyone would have expected.
This book, reminiscent of those written by Barbara Vine, was first published in the 1990's. Open Road Media has re-published this book, and others by Gillian White, for the kindle. Excellent news for anyone who hasn't had the pleasure of this talented writer before, or those of us who missed some titles the first time around.
I received a free copy of this book in return for my honest review.
This is a fantastic study of human life, but don't expect to find fluffy nice characters within the pages of this book. The Sleeper has a collection of people trapped in lives they don't want to be in, those looking for others to provide their happiness, those who want to turn back time, and too many who think they can orchestrate a different future. Jealousy, suspicion and dastardly deeds are the presents for Christmas this year.
At the same time at The Happy Haven Hotel in Torquay one of the elderly residents is missing. No family is known of and no clue to where she may have gone to, her roommate is concerned and the police are called...
With the roots to this unhappy Christmas originating in some part in the past the reader is let in on events involving Violet and the loss of her mother over fifty years previously. The narrative to this book is unusual using a narrator viewing events as a whole inviting the reader to question each person's actions, thoughts and adding pertinent information to enrich those tales being told in the present.
I really enjoyed this most claustrophobic of novels, the isolated farmhouse with its aga, candles and a pervading darkness hiding more than anyone would have expected.
This book, reminiscent of those written by Barbara Vine, was first published in the 1990's. Open Road Media has re-published this book, and others by Gillian White, for the kindle. Excellent news for anyone who hasn't had the pleasure of this talented writer before, or those of us who missed some titles the first time around.
I received a free copy of this book in return for my honest review.
Read
July 29, 2011what a delightful find. A good creepy story set at Christmas time and full of evil family secrets gradually revealing in a snowed in landscape.
August 21, 2023
Depressing. Not interesting enough to subject myself to this much depression.
February 19, 2024
This is a dark story, dark in the deepest sense, because no character comes out untarnished. Set at Christmas in Devon in the 1990s, there is no respite with the festivities. Couplets from carols begin most chapters, their sole aim to contrast with the bleak inner lives of the protagonists. A woman has gone missing from a hostel; a medium channels spirits connected to Torquay’s sad and lonely residents; a body is found in a farmhouse cellar, lifted by the flooding caused by an atrocious snowstorm; and Clover Moon, unhappy with the farming life she’s married into, fears her unloving mother-in-law might be taking her dislike of her to the next level.
This is a bleak, remorseless tale in a stark style that gripped me from start to finish. There are enough clues to work out where it’s heading, but that doesn’t diminish its relentless, driving hold on you.
This is a bleak, remorseless tale in a stark style that gripped me from start to finish. There are enough clues to work out where it’s heading, but that doesn’t diminish its relentless, driving hold on you.
May 20, 2022
Having read 2 of Gillian White's books and thoroughly enjoyed them I was really pleased when this book was free to read through Audible. I only made it to the end of chapter 2 the reader Lynn Jenson is awful to listen to and her voice and way of telling the story grates. I may try reading this the conventional way but for now this is on my struggled to like shelf! I would be interested to hear what other people who have read the book (rather than listening to it on audible) thought of it 🤔
October 21, 2021
I’m really unsure on this book: I found the audible narration so bad that it jumped to about 6 different accents in a paragraph therefore I totally struggled to follow the story at all.
I hate giving a bad review, if I’d been able to read in physical form in may be a totally different review. Sorry.
I hate giving a bad review, if I’d been able to read in physical form in may be a totally different review. Sorry.
March 23, 2020
Not a bad story but I really didn’t like the reader. Way overdone.
November 15, 2013
When the snow lay round about...
Christmas at Southdown Farm is always an uncomfortable time for Clover Moon, since her disapproving mother-in-law Violet comes visiting. But this year’s even worse than usual. Firstly, Clover has realised she’s deeply unhappy with her life and is in a permanent state of rage. And secondly, someone appears to be trying to hurt her, perhaps even kill her. Clover is sure that Violet has finally lost her senses and become dangerous. Meantime Miss Bates, a resident of the nearby Happy Haven home for the elderly, has disappeared. As the worst snow for decades continues to fall, the farm is cut off without phone or electricity and fears for Miss Bates’ safety grow…
Each Gillian White book seems to be stylistically different to the others. There are some things that do link them – the excellent quality of the writing, the creation of rather quirky characters, good if sometimes far-fetched plotting and an undercurrent of humour, though that shows up more in some than in others. This book has all of those things. White’s description of the isolated snowbound farm is chilling in more ways than one, as we see Clover’s husband battle the elements to look after his herd of cows while trying to prevent the house from being flooded by the overflowing river, not to mention dealing with the dead body that’s floated into the cellar along with the floodwater. The humour is quite muted, but comes through blackly at points, and the plotting is fairly complex, though to be honest I’d more or less guessed both what had happened and what the outcome would be by about the halfway point.
The characterisation is White’s real strength and she’s assembled a strong cast here. We learn through flashbacks of Violet’s unhappy early life when her widowed father married the archetypal wicked stepmother. Clover is shown as an unstable drama-queen, quite unsuited to be a farmer’s wife, as Violet pointed out well before the wedding. We see Fergus, tied to the land by his family’s expectations, trying to please everyone and failing. The manager of Happy Havens is a middle-aged woman, fearing that she will have to give up her freedom to look after her aging and not-terribly-lovable old father. And the one likeable character is Miss Kessel, the worried friend and roommate of the missing Miss Bates.
While I found this a clever and well put together tale, the unlikeablity of most of the characters prevented me from feeling really engaged with the story. White has also used the ‘omniscient narrator’ device, never a favourite trick of mine; and this particular narrator has a technique of interjecting sly little asides that I found rather annoying. The earlier timeline of Violet’s childhood was much more interesting to me than the gathering of rather unpleasant and self-obsessed people in the present-day farm. But all of these points are a matter of personal taste rather than a real criticism of the writing. Overall, I found this another well written and quirky tale - not quite White’s best, but still enjoyable and worth reading.
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, Open Road.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
Christmas at Southdown Farm is always an uncomfortable time for Clover Moon, since her disapproving mother-in-law Violet comes visiting. But this year’s even worse than usual. Firstly, Clover has realised she’s deeply unhappy with her life and is in a permanent state of rage. And secondly, someone appears to be trying to hurt her, perhaps even kill her. Clover is sure that Violet has finally lost her senses and become dangerous. Meantime Miss Bates, a resident of the nearby Happy Haven home for the elderly, has disappeared. As the worst snow for decades continues to fall, the farm is cut off without phone or electricity and fears for Miss Bates’ safety grow…
Each Gillian White book seems to be stylistically different to the others. There are some things that do link them – the excellent quality of the writing, the creation of rather quirky characters, good if sometimes far-fetched plotting and an undercurrent of humour, though that shows up more in some than in others. This book has all of those things. White’s description of the isolated snowbound farm is chilling in more ways than one, as we see Clover’s husband battle the elements to look after his herd of cows while trying to prevent the house from being flooded by the overflowing river, not to mention dealing with the dead body that’s floated into the cellar along with the floodwater. The humour is quite muted, but comes through blackly at points, and the plotting is fairly complex, though to be honest I’d more or less guessed both what had happened and what the outcome would be by about the halfway point.
The characterisation is White’s real strength and she’s assembled a strong cast here. We learn through flashbacks of Violet’s unhappy early life when her widowed father married the archetypal wicked stepmother. Clover is shown as an unstable drama-queen, quite unsuited to be a farmer’s wife, as Violet pointed out well before the wedding. We see Fergus, tied to the land by his family’s expectations, trying to please everyone and failing. The manager of Happy Havens is a middle-aged woman, fearing that she will have to give up her freedom to look after her aging and not-terribly-lovable old father. And the one likeable character is Miss Kessel, the worried friend and roommate of the missing Miss Bates.
While I found this a clever and well put together tale, the unlikeablity of most of the characters prevented me from feeling really engaged with the story. White has also used the ‘omniscient narrator’ device, never a favourite trick of mine; and this particular narrator has a technique of interjecting sly little asides that I found rather annoying. The earlier timeline of Violet’s childhood was much more interesting to me than the gathering of rather unpleasant and self-obsessed people in the present-day farm. But all of these points are a matter of personal taste rather than a real criticism of the writing. Overall, I found this another well written and quirky tale - not quite White’s best, but still enjoyable and worth reading.
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, Open Road.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
November 1, 2017
As daylight becomes shorter, there is nothing so comforting as a good novel. “The sleeper” set in the dark days of December leading up to and including Christmas certainly fills the bill. To say this novel is atmospheric is an understatement. An isolated Devon farm during a winter storm, a family gathered to spend the holidays together, and…. a body.
Originally published in hardcover in 1998 this novel is now newly available through Open Road Media in ebook format. I was given a copy via NetGalley in exchange for this review.
This novel is told from three different perspectives. We have the perspective of Clover Moon, the farmer’s wife, mother of two teenage daughters, and one deeply unhappy woman. Never really cut out for the farming life she has inherited through marriage, Clover is bitter. She feels having her mother-in-law Violet as a house guest during Christmas week is putting her under even more stress than the holidays already entail. Clover has never lived up to Violet’s expectations for her beloved only son and finds fault with myriad things Clover does making Clover feel inadequate and an unsuitable wife. It is only with the help of her best friend Diana – who is also staying over Christmas – that Clover can cope with her mother-in-law.
We also have the perspective of Violet, a widow, who remembers her entire married life on this farm. Hers was a very different existence there as she worked alongside her husband and was a true helpmeet who strived to make the farm a success. Upon William’s death, she moved to the tourist town of Torquay where she now has a small bungalow. She holds seances there and has a regular group visit her bungalow to attend them. Also, Violet had a tragic childhood with a trauma that would scar even the most strong minded.
Thirdly, we have the perspective of Valerie Gleeson, a hotel manageress in Torquay. Her hotel residents are mostly elderly and just days before Christmas one of them goes missing…
Family secrets, mounting family discord, and a busy dairy farm to run during a power outage all serve to ratchet up the tension.
Gillian White ties the three narratives together seamlessly with an ending that will please readers of Ruth Rendell, Margaret Yorke, Frances Fyfield and the like.
Originally published in hardcover in 1998 this novel is now newly available through Open Road Media in ebook format. I was given a copy via NetGalley in exchange for this review.
This novel is told from three different perspectives. We have the perspective of Clover Moon, the farmer’s wife, mother of two teenage daughters, and one deeply unhappy woman. Never really cut out for the farming life she has inherited through marriage, Clover is bitter. She feels having her mother-in-law Violet as a house guest during Christmas week is putting her under even more stress than the holidays already entail. Clover has never lived up to Violet’s expectations for her beloved only son and finds fault with myriad things Clover does making Clover feel inadequate and an unsuitable wife. It is only with the help of her best friend Diana – who is also staying over Christmas – that Clover can cope with her mother-in-law.
We also have the perspective of Violet, a widow, who remembers her entire married life on this farm. Hers was a very different existence there as she worked alongside her husband and was a true helpmeet who strived to make the farm a success. Upon William’s death, she moved to the tourist town of Torquay where she now has a small bungalow. She holds seances there and has a regular group visit her bungalow to attend them. Also, Violet had a tragic childhood with a trauma that would scar even the most strong minded.
Thirdly, we have the perspective of Valerie Gleeson, a hotel manageress in Torquay. Her hotel residents are mostly elderly and just days before Christmas one of them goes missing…
Family secrets, mounting family discord, and a busy dairy farm to run during a power outage all serve to ratchet up the tension.
Gillian White ties the three narratives together seamlessly with an ending that will please readers of Ruth Rendell, Margaret Yorke, Frances Fyfield and the like.
October 30, 2013
I did not like this book... I found the writing style incredibly unbearable to read. The author writes in a choppy and conversational tone that I found difficult to get into. I felt that I was constantly struggling to remember who was narrating at the moment and what was going on in the story because the writing style was so difficult to follow.
On top of that, none of the characters seemed very likable or relatable. All of the characters seemed like they were incredibly negative and I found myself disliking all of them just because of their negativity.
After reading this book, I definitely wouldn't read anything else written by this author.
I received this book for review purposes via NetGalley.
On top of that, none of the characters seemed very likable or relatable. All of the characters seemed like they were incredibly negative and I found myself disliking all of them just because of their negativity.
After reading this book, I definitely wouldn't read anything else written by this author.
I received this book for review purposes via NetGalley.
October 14, 2011
4/10
Well on the cover it promised a dark, disturbing story. But I was bored.
I wanted to give up a few times and it was only to couple of twist in this tale that saved this book from having only 1 star.
This is a Christmas tale of voices and ghosts of the past. One family, lots of secrets and paranoia. Three murdered people and it all starts with a body in a farmhouse cellar found during a big storm and from there it just gets worse for all the family members.
Not a fan of this book and I won't be looking for any more books from this author.
Well on the cover it promised a dark, disturbing story. But I was bored.
I wanted to give up a few times and it was only to couple of twist in this tale that saved this book from having only 1 star.
This is a Christmas tale of voices and ghosts of the past. One family, lots of secrets and paranoia. Three murdered people and it all starts with a body in a farmhouse cellar found during a big storm and from there it just gets worse for all the family members.
Not a fan of this book and I won't be looking for any more books from this author.
June 6, 2014
This book was certainly not a light read. Christmas should be fun and happy. A time of goodwill. Not in this area, the local elderly rest-home is missing a resident. The Owners are more worried about their secret coming out. The Moon family are having a family Christmas with best friends and Granny. Now add a isolating snow storm , some evil secrets, a body in the cellar, mysteries accidents and everyone is on edge. The past is coming for you Violet Moon!
October 26, 2013
I thought this book sounded really good but after a few pages I was ready to give up. I persevered but was disappointed with it. I found it hard to follow and often didn't realize who was talking. All a bit farfetched and convoluted.
March 4, 2015
Very well written, and scary. Full of unreliable narrators, and pretty awful characters. Laughed that two of the nastier characters, are named Clover and Violet, after pretty flowers. This would be a great story to be produced by BBC, and then shown on PBS Masterpiece Mystery.
August 8, 2011
I thought this book was a ghost story but it was c..p! The only thing going for it is that it was set in Torbay!
Want to read
April 8, 2012I registered a book at BookCrossing.com!
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11025559
http://www.BookCrossing.com/journal/11025559
February 20, 2015
Actually the fact that I'm reading this book for nearly 15 years show how much it is doll and hard to read
August 28, 2014
Rating: 3.5 stars
January 25, 2017
I didn't like this story. It jumps around and never really connects.
April 3, 2016
good twist of the story at the end but I found it very difficult reading not very interesting to keep you reading
January 23, 2016
Great book. Gillian White is good!
December 11, 2016
Overall an enjoyable read, not as tense or spine-tingling as I had hoped but enough mystery and atmosphere to keep me enthralled.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews