I'll Sleep When You're Dead

by E.A. Aymar

Tom Starks has spent the three years since his wife’s murder struggling to single-handedly raise their daughter, Julie, while haunted by memories of his dead spouse. When he learns that the man accused of her murder, Chris Taylor, has been released from prison, Tom hires a pair of hit men to get his revenge. But when the hit men botch the assassination, Tom is inadvertently pulled into their violent world.


And now those hit men are after him and his daughter.

320 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 30, 2013

About the author

Booklist wrote, of multiple Anthony Award-nominated E.A. Aymar’s most recent thriller, WHEN SHE LEFT, "This would appeal to fans of Elmore Leonard...with high-stakes violence tempered by humor and disarmingly sympathetic antiheroes." In 2025, WHEN SHE LEFT was chosen by PEN/Faulkner as one of three books for their prestigious DC Reads program. His previous thriller, NO HOME FOR KILLERS, received praise from the New York Times, Kirkus, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, and was an instant Amazon Bestseller. THEY'RE GONE was published to rave reviews in Publishers Weekly, Kirkus (starred), and named one of the best books of 2020. A frequent contributor to the Washington Post, Aymar is a former member of the national board of the International Thriller Writers and an active member of Crime Writers of Color and Sisters in Crime. He was born in Panama and now lives and writes in the DC/MD/VA triangle.

E. A. Aymar also runs a popular and well-regarded newsletter called Crime Fiction Revolution featuring upcoming top crime fiction novels, interviews, and monthly prizes for subscribers.

Reviews

[Ryan]

Great Book

This is a great example of a hard boiled crime novel. It tells the story of Tom Starks (a widower, single dad, and college professor), who decides to take revenge on the man who murdered his. It was a very good story, and l inked the main character, althouh he more fit into the anti hero or vigilante category. The book is very good too with a few good twists and a great ending.

[Caroline Bock · Rating 4 out of 5]

I usually don't read novels like E.A. Aymar's terrifically subversive crime thriller, I'll Sleep When You're Dead. But one thing grabbed me: Tom Starks, the main character, the husband of a murdered wife, Renee, the father of adopted Julie, the tormented lover of Alison, is an adjunct English teacher at a community college in Baltimore seeing revenge on his wife's murder. It's the last part that hooked me—an erudite, frustrated teacher of English composition and lit turned revenge-seeker (as a former adjunct English professor, I could feel his pain:). There's a lot of required twists and turns, some predictable, especially toward the middle of the novel. But, overall, E.A. Aymar's novel is a fun, frothy, literate read— a terrific summer choice for anybody, but it may be particular delight for those teachers of required composition and lit courses out there! This is the first in a trilogy... and I'll be eager to read more!

[Mary Overton]

I once heard “noir” defined as “sleazy people in sleazy situations.”
E.A. Aymar’s thriller, “I’ll Sleep When You’re Dead” is a fresh twist on noir - a painfully square and squeaky-clean guy sucked into sleaze that he never realized was around him all along.
“‘I know you’ll do the right thing,’” reassures our hero’s friend, but “He couldn’t have been more wrong …”
Over and over, our hero tumbles, fumbles, and skids into situations far outside his league, his life collapsing as things go from bad to worse to catastrophic, but always with a surprise for the characters and for the reader. The ending has that satisfying feel of being both unexpected and inevitable.

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really solid thriller. This had all my favorite things: good characters, fast-moving plot, funny and poignant at the same time. I loved the way the violence was treated here: very no-nonsense, very stark and real. But though there is a lot of serious suspense going on, there is also a charming humor here that balances the book out. The main character is really likeable in his ineptness. He botches up everything, but with good intentions. He tries to be funny and fails miserably. But his heart is always in the right place, and you find yourself rooting for him fiercely. I am looking forward to the second book!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s something very special about this book. I don’t know if it’s the addictive voice, the unusual characters, the comically violent situations, or the off-the-wall humor that I like best but it all works beautifully. Tom Starks is a community college professor who teaches English. He’s a widower and has a stepdaughter that he’s adopted. Tom is haunted by the murder of his wife and when he discovers her killer is being released from prison, what does this English professor do? Naturally, he hires a couple hitmen to kill him. Of course, things don’t go well for Tom once he crosses this ethical line, but what could end up being a predictable thriller turns out to be an enjoyably offbeat tale of revenge. Definitely picking up the sequel.

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

The quirky mystery thriller, "I'll Sleep When You're Dead", reminded me so much of "Three Graves Full" where another unassuming protagonist bumbled his way into danger. There is something about a story where the plot seems to happen innocently that makes reading it infectious. For the last three years, Tom Starks mourned his wife who died after a brutal and random attack. Starks was determined to kill her murderer, who was recently released from prison, until he realized he could hire someone to perform the killing for him. Unfortunately, the clan he hired to kill his wife's murderer soon targeted Tom!

There was a humorous element to the story that made it fantastic! The easy writing made this was a very quick read for me. I loved every aspect of the story: Tom's relationship with his daughter and his boss, Tom's dark and secret rendezvous with a mystery woman, and his interactions with the members of his family. All these relationships made Tom likable because he seemed to be an average guy. The author's inclusion of a discussion of "The Count Of Monte Cristo" that Tom led in his community college class was an easy way for the author to raise metaphors and symbolism present in the main story. Things did sort of happen quickly and without much buildup, but that was part of the book's charm.

I am really excited to read the next two books!

[E.M. MacCallum · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m always up for a thriller and this one is a little psychologically twisted. So, of course, I liked it.

It all begins and ends with Tom Starks and his grief over the murder of his wife. While most people move on, Tom is stuck in a vortex of emotions. Sometimes he is so angry he almost seems numbed to the outside world and is constantly feeding his pain. So when an opportunity arises to take revenge, Tom hires assassins, which is where everything goes wrong.

I really did like how E.A. Aymar made us understand more of Tom through Edmundo in the Count of Monte Cristo. Tom isn’t a big, fuzzy-feely guy so pointing out bits of the story with his students reflected back on him and his predicament. Tom struggles to find himself and in doing so puts a lot of people in danger and a lot of things in perspective. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not all doom and gloom. There are ironically funny moments and witty dialogue that adds to the dark humour and keeps the characters interesting.

It says this is a first of a trilogy though this book can stand on it’s own quite easily. I would like to find out if Tom becomes like Barbos and if Chris Tayler will ever know the truth, so I’m down for a second or third book.

[Melissa B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book through Goodreads First Reads.

Once I got into this book, I couldn't put it down. There was no sleeping after I finished it, my heart was beating too fast! Fast paced, definitely exciting, a story that draws the reader into the depth of the action!

[Christina Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

quite easy to read - would definitely read other books by this author.

[Evin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This thriller will have you sitting on the edge of your seat, wondering what exactly the main character will do next! I won't say more because I don't want to spoil it, but a good read!

[Marie]

I'll Sleep When You're Dead sounded like an interesting book so I decided to enter the first-reads giveaway and to my surprise I am a winner! Looking forward to reading this book.

[Valerie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Fantastic title. The plot itself was decent and I like the concept of the main character but it was poorly executed. Pun intended.

[Mark Petry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book. I love it when there not only is a dramatic climax but then the story keeps going and gives you even more...and more...

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. You've got this really serious subject matter, but a quirky voice I couldn't get enough of. It should appeal to fans of Christopher Moore.

[Robert Luke · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not for me.... the writing style in staccato phrases irritates and makes it difficult to enjoy.

[Donna · Rating 2 out of 5]

Liked the plot twists and clever humor (dialogue between characters in final chapters). I enjoyed this quick read but the writing style/sentence structure was a turnoff. Death by ellipses and commas.