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Sleep Walk
Jamie Brock is trying to put his life back together. After being horrifically burned in a welding accident and enduring months of rehab, nightmares, and sleepwalking, he returns to Ron’s Auto, his longtime employer, and the site of his disfigurement. A skilled mechanic and the garage’s resident “good guy,” Jamie is welcomed back by its owners, Ron and Rosemary, their daughter Lena—who has long nursed a crush on Jamie—and wise-cracking mechanic, Mike. The garage resumes its old rhythms and Jamie’s connection with Lena blossoms. But all is not as it seems.
Before long, people begin to disappear in the small town of Pincher Creek, Alberta. People connected to Ron’s Auto. Suspicion falls on Jamie, whose sleepwalking becomes increasingly disorienting. Disturbed by his inability to account for what he does during the night, Jamie, with the help of Lena, starts to investigate himself. What he discovers is darker—and more tragic—than he could have imagined.
In Sleep Walk, Charles Johnston gives us a story reminiscent of early Stephen King: an ordinary man in a working-class milieu confronted by the unimaginable. Blending elements of mystery, Gothic horror, and psychological realism, and written with urgency and suspense, Johnston asks how well we can ever know each other—and ourselves.
Before long, people begin to disappear in the small town of Pincher Creek, Alberta. People connected to Ron’s Auto. Suspicion falls on Jamie, whose sleepwalking becomes increasingly disorienting. Disturbed by his inability to account for what he does during the night, Jamie, with the help of Lena, starts to investigate himself. What he discovers is darker—and more tragic—than he could have imagined.
In Sleep Walk, Charles Johnston gives us a story reminiscent of early Stephen King: an ordinary man in a working-class milieu confronted by the unimaginable. Blending elements of mystery, Gothic horror, and psychological realism, and written with urgency and suspense, Johnston asks how well we can ever know each other—and ourselves.
- GenresHorror
120 pages, Paperback
Published February 4, 2026
About the author
Charles Johnston
1 book1 followerCharles Johnston is a screenwriter with twenty-five years of experience, mostly in children’s television. He has won two awards for screenwriting: Best Screenplay Short at the 2004 Shriekfest Film Festival and Outstanding Writing in a Children’s or Pre-School Children’s Series at the 2015–2016 Daytime Emmy Awards. Besides writing, he enjoys yoga, cooking, playing guitar, and recently obtained a private investigator license.
Charles lives in downtown Toronto with his wife, Alex, and his son, Max. Find out more about his work at charlesjohnston.ca.
Charles lives in downtown Toronto with his wife, Alex, and his son, Max. Find out more about his work at charlesjohnston.ca.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
April 22, 2026
Jamie was badly burned and disfigured in a welding accident at work. After taking some time off for his physical body to heal, Jamie is finally ready to go back to work. Jamie wakes up wearing his uniform and gloves with no recollection of putting them on.The next day, Jamie wakes up covered in cuts and someone from work turns up missing...Could Jamie be involved?
Holy sh*t! And I mean that in the best way possible. Sleep Walk is an unsettling and fast-paced horror gem. This book is very well written. It is very descriptive and I constantly felt like I was watching a movie in my head. Jamie is a good guy and his scars go far beyond the physical. Some scars leave marks on our souls.The scenes where Jamie is watching himself from a go-pro recording are genuinely creepy and unsettling. I would have liked a little bit more from the ending but honestly it fit the story perfectly. Overall, Sleep Walk is an excellent and creepy read. 5 stars from me!
Holy sh*t! And I mean that in the best way possible. Sleep Walk is an unsettling and fast-paced horror gem. This book is very well written. It is very descriptive and I constantly felt like I was watching a movie in my head. Jamie is a good guy and his scars go far beyond the physical. Some scars leave marks on our souls.The scenes where Jamie is watching himself from a go-pro recording are genuinely creepy and unsettling. I would have liked a little bit more from the ending but honestly it fit the story perfectly. Overall, Sleep Walk is an excellent and creepy read. 5 stars from me!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 22, 2026
A truly spectacular horror story. If I had one complaint, it’s that it’s a short read and I could’ve read on for three times the length. I felt like I was reading bits of Christopher Golden mixed with Steven King.
The story was well thought through, the characters likable and interesting. I found the MC to be fascinating. His timeline of events is superbly structured. I appreciated the occasional hint of where the story might be heading as it progressed.
I’ll never look at sleepwalking the same!
The story was well thought through, the characters likable and interesting. I found the MC to be fascinating. His timeline of events is superbly structured. I appreciated the occasional hint of where the story might be heading as it progressed.
I’ll never look at sleepwalking the same!
May 6, 2026
after returning back to work after a horrific accident, a mechanic must investigate himself when his co-workers start to go missing.. unable to recount his whereabouts on each of those nights, he decides to record himself sleep and soon realises he has begun to sleepwalk….
super short, eerie af and a must for horror fans 👻 it’s around 100 pages long so won’t take up much of your time but i would’ve happily read more! some of the scenes are truly creepy and this would be a perfect spooky season read.
super short, eerie af and a must for horror fans 👻 it’s around 100 pages long so won’t take up much of your time but i would’ve happily read more! some of the scenes are truly creepy and this would be a perfect spooky season read.
April 23, 2026
This book had me absolutely hooked with its amazing horror story! The plot was well thought out and it seems like the progressed at just the right pace!
The main character was so lovable and it was very interesting to see him realize things about himself as the story progressed.
I do wish there would have been a bit more to read but I loved it regardless!!
The main character was so lovable and it was very interesting to see him realize things about himself as the story progressed.
I do wish there would have been a bit more to read but I loved it regardless!!
April 22, 2026
This was a great, quick psychological thriller, with some horror elements. It is set in Pincher Creek, Alberta, just some small-town vibes and close community. Someplace where the unthinkable happens to one young man in a small town garage... and then things get interesting. Thank-you, FriesenPress and Charles Johnston, for this complimentary copy. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
April 23, 2026
Sleep Walk falls into that eerie mix of horror, mystery, and thriller—a combination that usually pulls me in right away. And to be fair, this book did keep me turning the pages. But at the same time, it left me with mixed feelings. Let’s start with what worked. The story has a genuinely interesting and promising premise. There’s something unsettling about the idea at its core, and it creates a strong sense of curiosity early on. Even when I started to feel like I knew where things were going, I still wanted to keep reading partly because I was hoping to be proven wrong, and partly because the writing itself has that “just one more chapter” kind of pull. That’s not easy to do, and I think it says a lot about the author’s ability to keep readers engaged.
That said, one of my biggest issues with the book is how predictable some of the elements feel. Certain clues and situations come across as a little too obvious, especially if you’re already familiar with horror tropes. There are moments and patterns that strongly hint at what’s happening, and instead of building suspense, they kind of give things away too early. As someone who reads and watches a lot of horror, I found myself recognizing these signs right away, which took away some of the tension.I also felt like the story leaned too heavily on the main character when it came to the disturbing events. While there are other characters involved, their experiences don’t feel as impactful or as developed. It would have added more depth and definitely more mystery if multiple characters had equally unsettling experiences. That kind of balance could have made the story feel more unpredictable and layered. In terms of horror, though, there are moments that stand out. Some scenes rely less on being explicitly explained and more on letting the reader piece things together. Those were actually my favorite parts—the kind that make you pause and think, “Wait… WTF?” That subtle, creeping horror works really well when it shows up, and I wish there had been more of it throughout the book.Where the novel struggles a bit more is in balancing its genres. It clearly aims to be a mix of horror, mystery, and thriller, but for me, the mystery and thriller aspects didn’t land as strongly. The story feels more like it leans into straightforward horror, and even then, it doesn’t fully take advantage of the suspense and twists that could have made it more gripping.
Despite these criticisms, I don’t think this is a bad book. In fact, I still found it engaging enough to finish, and I can see the potential in its plot. It’s the kind of story that feels like it could have been even more powerful with a bit more unpredictability and depth.
At the end of the day, I have a lot of respect for the author and the effort that goes into creating a story like this. Not every book will land perfectly for every reader, and that’s okay. I still believe Sleep Walk is worth checking out—especially if you enjoy horror and don’t mind a more straightforward, easy-to-follow narrative.
That said, one of my biggest issues with the book is how predictable some of the elements feel. Certain clues and situations come across as a little too obvious, especially if you’re already familiar with horror tropes. There are moments and patterns that strongly hint at what’s happening, and instead of building suspense, they kind of give things away too early. As someone who reads and watches a lot of horror, I found myself recognizing these signs right away, which took away some of the tension.I also felt like the story leaned too heavily on the main character when it came to the disturbing events. While there are other characters involved, their experiences don’t feel as impactful or as developed. It would have added more depth and definitely more mystery if multiple characters had equally unsettling experiences. That kind of balance could have made the story feel more unpredictable and layered. In terms of horror, though, there are moments that stand out. Some scenes rely less on being explicitly explained and more on letting the reader piece things together. Those were actually my favorite parts—the kind that make you pause and think, “Wait… WTF?” That subtle, creeping horror works really well when it shows up, and I wish there had been more of it throughout the book.Where the novel struggles a bit more is in balancing its genres. It clearly aims to be a mix of horror, mystery, and thriller, but for me, the mystery and thriller aspects didn’t land as strongly. The story feels more like it leans into straightforward horror, and even then, it doesn’t fully take advantage of the suspense and twists that could have made it more gripping.
Despite these criticisms, I don’t think this is a bad book. In fact, I still found it engaging enough to finish, and I can see the potential in its plot. It’s the kind of story that feels like it could have been even more powerful with a bit more unpredictability and depth.
At the end of the day, I have a lot of respect for the author and the effort that goes into creating a story like this. Not every book will land perfectly for every reader, and that’s okay. I still believe Sleep Walk is worth checking out—especially if you enjoy horror and don’t mind a more straightforward, easy-to-follow narrative.
April 20, 2026
What happens when your subconscious has a grudge? That’s the question Sleep Walk explores in a tight psychological thriller novella about a man, Jamie, who perhaps isn’t as forgiving about the accident that almost took his life and left him with scars—in more ways than one.
This was a disquieting read from start to finish. The writing is very descriptive and at times I could almost picture what was happening, which made it all the creepier.
The opening paragraphs hook you in with vivid imagery about Jamie’s near-death experience of being set on fire. From there, the story kept its fast pace and I didn’t want to put it down, but parts of the writing were, personally, too unsettling to keep reading once it got dark.
The ending leaves a few things unanswered but also wraps up the main story quite chillingly. This is one of the few novels where I feel like I wanted a few extra chapters, but also couldn’t imagine more, as where and how the story concludes feels appropriate. I think anyone who is a fan of gothic horror would enjoy this.
Thanks to NetGalley and FriesenPress for the digital copy for review.
This was a disquieting read from start to finish. The writing is very descriptive and at times I could almost picture what was happening, which made it all the creepier.
The opening paragraphs hook you in with vivid imagery about Jamie’s near-death experience of being set on fire. From there, the story kept its fast pace and I didn’t want to put it down, but parts of the writing were, personally, too unsettling to keep reading once it got dark.
The ending leaves a few things unanswered but also wraps up the main story quite chillingly. This is one of the few novels where I feel like I wanted a few extra chapters, but also couldn’t imagine more, as where and how the story concludes feels appropriate. I think anyone who is a fan of gothic horror would enjoy this.
Thanks to NetGalley and FriesenPress for the digital copy for review.
May 4, 2026
Actual rating: 3,5 stars
Sleep Walk is one of those books with a premise that hooks you from the first chapter to the very last page. The writing has that addictive quality that makes it hard to put down, with a steady pace that keeps you turning pages.
The tension is consistently strong, and the atmosphere works really well for a horror novella. However, some elements of the plot felt a bit too predictable. I kept waiting for a twist that would completely shift the story, but it never quite came, which made certain moments less impactful than they could have been.
One thing I really appreciated was how the author trusts the reader to piece things together rather than spelling everything out. It adds to the eerie tone and enhances the horror, though it does leave a few threads feeling slightly unresolved.
I also wish the ending had offered a bit more closure. That said, the length felt just right, nothing dragged, nothing felt unnecessary, and I was never bored.
Overall, a solid horror novella that is definitely worth a read.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Sleep Walk is one of those books with a premise that hooks you from the first chapter to the very last page. The writing has that addictive quality that makes it hard to put down, with a steady pace that keeps you turning pages.
The tension is consistently strong, and the atmosphere works really well for a horror novella. However, some elements of the plot felt a bit too predictable. I kept waiting for a twist that would completely shift the story, but it never quite came, which made certain moments less impactful than they could have been.
One thing I really appreciated was how the author trusts the reader to piece things together rather than spelling everything out. It adds to the eerie tone and enhances the horror, though it does leave a few threads feeling slightly unresolved.
I also wish the ending had offered a bit more closure. That said, the length felt just right, nothing dragged, nothing felt unnecessary, and I was never bored.
Overall, a solid horror novella that is definitely worth a read.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
March 19, 2026
A chilling, thrilling read about Jamie, a victim of a horrible accident who returns to the garage where it happened. Though he seems to have forgiven anyone who may have been involved in it, people start to disappear mysteriously, and thanks to his newfound sleepwalking affliction, Jamie starts to wonder... could he somehow be responsible?
This is a tight, lean horror/thriller that had my heart pumping from the opening horrorshow of the accident, all the way to the nail biting end where all is revealed. This is territory that Stephen King loved to play in, but Mr. Johnston has given it a real lived in vibe that puts you in the boots of all the characters, the good, bad, and ugly, of this small town in Alberta.
Highly recommend!
This is a tight, lean horror/thriller that had my heart pumping from the opening horrorshow of the accident, all the way to the nail biting end where all is revealed. This is territory that Stephen King loved to play in, but Mr. Johnston has given it a real lived in vibe that puts you in the boots of all the characters, the good, bad, and ugly, of this small town in Alberta.
Highly recommend!
May 1, 2026
this is a great horror novella! its fast paced and emotional, with likable characters too. most of the characters feel like real people despite the short length of the story (oftentimes, short stories fall flat in character building for me). the premise is interesting and would make a really intriguing movie!
however, it was a bit predictable at times, and i felt like it was lacking some lore surrounding the sleepwalking—maybe this is part of the beauty of this novella for others, but i would’ve been more interested in getting details regarding why this was happening.
i’m always happy to read something short, spooky, and with a fun final girl, and i’d recommend this to anyone who enjoys these aspects too!
however, it was a bit predictable at times, and i felt like it was lacking some lore surrounding the sleepwalking—maybe this is part of the beauty of this novella for others, but i would’ve been more interested in getting details regarding why this was happening.
i’m always happy to read something short, spooky, and with a fun final girl, and i’d recommend this to anyone who enjoys these aspects too!
May 23, 2026
Really enjoyed reading this super short and fast-paced novella! The plot was gripping and the eerie vibes were consistent throughout. Once things started to seem ‘off’ around chapter 3, I couldn’t put the book down.
One thing I will say is I wish the ending felt a little bit rushed and undeveloped for me, but as a whole I enjoyed the book!
I would definitely recommend this to anybody who wants to read a quick, short thriller/horror story.
Thank you so much for the ARC!
One thing I will say is I wish the ending felt a little bit rushed and undeveloped for me, but as a whole I enjoyed the book!
I would definitely recommend this to anybody who wants to read a quick, short thriller/horror story.
Thank you so much for the ARC!
April 2, 2026
A super entertaining, engaging thriller. Hard to put down and riveting throughout. An interesting twist on the horror genre that recalls the best of Stephen King while maintaining a distinct atmosphere and personality all its own. Highly recommended for fans of dark, moody horror or taut, twisty thrillers!
February 25, 2026
Fantastic, chilling read by an Emmy-award winning screenwriter. I couldn't put it down until I finished it, and now I can't stop thinking about it. The characters are so vivid, they practically jump off the page. 10/10, highly recommend!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews