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The Sleeper Lies
ONE WINDOW, THREE LIES
I step forward, breathing fast. Movement. I force myself to take another step. I think about all of it, all of the deaths and all of the accidents and all of the pain. And I know what I need to do.
ONE WINDOW
It’s March 2018, and the country is covered in snow. Roads are impassable, shops are running out of food, and official advice is to stay indoors. Marianne lives on her own and works from home, so this isn’t a problem. Until she wakes one morning in her house in the middle of nowhere and finds footprints trailing all across her garden. Half-asleep, she is at first curious. Then she realises the footprints stop at her bedroom window, and curiosity gives way to unease. Who was looking in at her, while she was asleep?
THREE LIES
As the big freeze worsens and the stalker begins to leave disturbing mementoes, Marianne’s thoughts go back two decades to the schoolyard outburst that tore her childhood apart. Old feuds resurface, and the mystery of her mother’s death is pulled back into focus. Marianne begins to see patterns – is there a link between her stalker and the true crime story she’s been obsessively researching, or does the answer lie closer to home?
24 DAYS
In the end, 24 days is all it takes for everything to come crashing down.
I step forward, breathing fast. Movement. I force myself to take another step. I think about all of it, all of the deaths and all of the accidents and all of the pain. And I know what I need to do.
ONE WINDOW
It’s March 2018, and the country is covered in snow. Roads are impassable, shops are running out of food, and official advice is to stay indoors. Marianne lives on her own and works from home, so this isn’t a problem. Until she wakes one morning in her house in the middle of nowhere and finds footprints trailing all across her garden. Half-asleep, she is at first curious. Then she realises the footprints stop at her bedroom window, and curiosity gives way to unease. Who was looking in at her, while she was asleep?
THREE LIES
As the big freeze worsens and the stalker begins to leave disturbing mementoes, Marianne’s thoughts go back two decades to the schoolyard outburst that tore her childhood apart. Old feuds resurface, and the mystery of her mother’s death is pulled back into focus. Marianne begins to see patterns – is there a link between her stalker and the true crime story she’s been obsessively researching, or does the answer lie closer to home?
24 DAYS
In the end, 24 days is all it takes for everything to come crashing down.
400 pages, Paperback
First published February 6, 2020
924 people are currently reading
3459 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 227 reviews
February 13, 2020
The snow is unrelenting. Streets and roads are impassable. Stores are closing. People are warned to stay home.
Marianne works from home, so this snow is not bothering her at all. What does bother her though are those footprints outside her home and especially leading to her bedroom window and then fading away. Who was watching her while she slept?
It only gets worse from there. Her now nightly visitor is leaving things for her to find ... an old doll, a rotten apple and more. And what is with that white face in the window? What's strange is that these things cause her to think about and remember things from her childhood. Are they related?
She's also a fellow member of a group of like-minded people who consider themselves amateur sleuths. They all have an interest in true crime and right now they are looking into a serial killer that has never been caught. According to all the information they have amassed, what's happening to Marianne is very much like what the serial killer did before he murdered his victims.
The cops don't seem to think it's anything more than youngsters pranking her, but certainly not a serial killer on the loose. And that's when Marianne starts her own dangerous investigation.
Here is a nicely paced story interspersed with Marianne's flashbacks. Her previous boyfriend was not a very nice man .. a bit controlling, a little abusive. He and their neighbor were at odds with each other, playing tit for tat for every wrong-doing. The neighbor's son is her age and is responsible for blowing up her childhood, such as it was. The plot is complex, but is easy to follow as the multiple story lines start converging.
Many thanks to the author / BookSirens for the digital copy of this crime fiction/thriller. Read and reviewed voluntarily, opinions expressed here are unbiased and entirely my own.
February 12, 2020
Quickly engrossed with this novel, I could not quite see how the story would progress. It felt different, it covered multiple time frames and even countries. In short, it was a great find and a proper five-star read.
There’s multiple narrative threads running through this story. In present day, we follow Marianne, who discovers someone is visiting her bungalow whilst she is sleeping at night. How does she know? The deep snow that has fallen means she can see the footprints. And when they finish outside of her bedroom window, that’s enough to freak anyone out. Things take a turn for the worse when strange gifts start arriving at her doorstep. When it becomes apparent that this mysterious stalker even has access to her home, Marianne does not know where to turn.
Besides this, readers gradually learn about Marianne’s past relationship with American author, Ray. At first, it was not clear how this story was connected to the present, so I enjoyed how the writer gave gradual clues. Furthermore, the story takes a European twist by heading to Denmark – the birth place, and final location, of Marianne’s mother. Here, we learn that Marianne’s mother did not simply disappear and that there is more to this story than Marianne was originally lead to believe.
All of these seemingly separate elements gradually become mixed together and I enjoyed how the web became more complex. I felt like Marianne: an amateur “sleuther” who was looking for answers. As I became increasingly involved in the narrative, I felt as desperate as Marianne and yet frustrated that the truth was not so forthcoming.
I think it was the two settings that made this thriller stand out from the rest. Undoubtedly it became more interesting and I appreciated the ambiguities that came with the story moving to Denmark. Indeed, it symbolised the lack of certainty that Marianne herself felt: both in her own bungalow in Ireland and then in Europe.
As the story developed, I was keen to see the novel’s conclusion. I had some idea of where the story was headed, but the writer still maintained the element of surprise and the unexpected. This was a great piece of storytelling and I relished in the twists and turns that came from the narrative.
I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
There’s multiple narrative threads running through this story. In present day, we follow Marianne, who discovers someone is visiting her bungalow whilst she is sleeping at night. How does she know? The deep snow that has fallen means she can see the footprints. And when they finish outside of her bedroom window, that’s enough to freak anyone out. Things take a turn for the worse when strange gifts start arriving at her doorstep. When it becomes apparent that this mysterious stalker even has access to her home, Marianne does not know where to turn.
Besides this, readers gradually learn about Marianne’s past relationship with American author, Ray. At first, it was not clear how this story was connected to the present, so I enjoyed how the writer gave gradual clues. Furthermore, the story takes a European twist by heading to Denmark – the birth place, and final location, of Marianne’s mother. Here, we learn that Marianne’s mother did not simply disappear and that there is more to this story than Marianne was originally lead to believe.
All of these seemingly separate elements gradually become mixed together and I enjoyed how the web became more complex. I felt like Marianne: an amateur “sleuther” who was looking for answers. As I became increasingly involved in the narrative, I felt as desperate as Marianne and yet frustrated that the truth was not so forthcoming.
I think it was the two settings that made this thriller stand out from the rest. Undoubtedly it became more interesting and I appreciated the ambiguities that came with the story moving to Denmark. Indeed, it symbolised the lack of certainty that Marianne herself felt: both in her own bungalow in Ireland and then in Europe.
As the story developed, I was keen to see the novel’s conclusion. I had some idea of where the story was headed, but the writer still maintained the element of surprise and the unexpected. This was a great piece of storytelling and I relished in the twists and turns that came from the narrative.
I received an advanced review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
July 28, 2025
“If you love something, set it free.”
Did I think this novel would haunt me like it did? Not fucking way. I don’t really like stories that occur during storm events or plots involving lots of snow as a way of no escape (OK, maybe Never Lie, by Freida was one of my favorites, but it’s the only exception).
And here there’s no one exclusive plot to chill us during a nonstop page-turner argument, there’s a lot more than just a simple story. Let me tell you this: When you think that the loose ends are being tied up and the plot is coming together, shake your head for a moment, and focus. There’s a major reason to be drawn into this atmospheric narrative.
“The story centers on Marianne, who, during a severe winter storm, discovers mysterious footprints outside her bedroom window. This unsettling discovery leads her to believe she's being stalked. As the stalker's actions escalate, Marianne is forced to confront long-buried memories and unresolved issues from her past.”
I loved the Nordic tales and the way they get into the main plot, and the characters are all very well-developed. The nostalgic Irish and Danish sceneries and the complex network between the many different stories. And the slow pace of the narrative process adds a layer of depth and tension to the eerie chronicle. I simply love this book and I highly recommend it
Did I think this novel would haunt me like it did? Not fucking way. I don’t really like stories that occur during storm events or plots involving lots of snow as a way of no escape (OK, maybe Never Lie, by Freida was one of my favorites, but it’s the only exception).
And here there’s no one exclusive plot to chill us during a nonstop page-turner argument, there’s a lot more than just a simple story. Let me tell you this: When you think that the loose ends are being tied up and the plot is coming together, shake your head for a moment, and focus. There’s a major reason to be drawn into this atmospheric narrative.
“The story centers on Marianne, who, during a severe winter storm, discovers mysterious footprints outside her bedroom window. This unsettling discovery leads her to believe she's being stalked. As the stalker's actions escalate, Marianne is forced to confront long-buried memories and unresolved issues from her past.”
I loved the Nordic tales and the way they get into the main plot, and the characters are all very well-developed. The nostalgic Irish and Danish sceneries and the complex network between the many different stories. And the slow pace of the narrative process adds a layer of depth and tension to the eerie chronicle. I simply love this book and I highly recommend it
June 30, 2025
~2.5~
This was a rather disappointing read. I've come to expect more from Andrea Mara.
The Sleeper Lies is a slow book, a sleepy book if you will. I wasn't bored, not exactly, but there was never a moment when I went, oh wow, and became fully engrossed in the story.
I couldn't stand the female protagonist, Marianne. She was weak, whiney, and worked against her own self-interests. If you suspect a serial killer is after you, you pack up quietly and abscond to some far-off destination. You don't stay in the house where someone is watching you and leaving you messages of hate.
The plotline around Marianne's mother's death was interesting enough. I especially liked the chapters set in Denmark.
However, the timeline was wonky, and I got confused as to WHEN something was happening. Initially, I thought Marianne had just broken up with her ex, but that wasn't the case.
Speaking of the ex, the secondary, but still prominent, plot dealing with Marianns's ex-boyfriend was pretty lame, and the final reveal was even worse.
I refuse to believe someone would go to such great lengths to stalk a person who was only tangentially involved in a given event. It seemed really far-fetched.
The ending was abrupt, and the author also introduced a half-baked, entirely irrelevant romance between Marianna and a neighbor she was friends with as a kid.
Rounding up, because the book wasn't terrible, just meh.
This was a rather disappointing read. I've come to expect more from Andrea Mara.
The Sleeper Lies is a slow book, a sleepy book if you will. I wasn't bored, not exactly, but there was never a moment when I went, oh wow, and became fully engrossed in the story.
I couldn't stand the female protagonist, Marianne. She was weak, whiney, and worked against her own self-interests. If you suspect a serial killer is after you, you pack up quietly and abscond to some far-off destination. You don't stay in the house where someone is watching you and leaving you messages of hate.
The plotline around Marianne's mother's death was interesting enough. I especially liked the chapters set in Denmark.
However, the timeline was wonky, and I got confused as to WHEN something was happening. Initially, I thought Marianne had just broken up with her ex, but that wasn't the case.
Speaking of the ex, the secondary, but still prominent, plot dealing with Marianns's ex-boyfriend was pretty lame, and the final reveal was even worse.
I refuse to believe someone would go to such great lengths to stalk a person who was only tangentially involved in a given event. It seemed really far-fetched.
The ending was abrupt, and the author also introduced a half-baked, entirely irrelevant romance between Marianna and a neighbor she was friends with as a kid.
Rounding up, because the book wasn't terrible, just meh.
November 8, 2020
Living alone can be peaceful but also dangerous as this woman discovers when she awakens one snowy morning and sees deep footprints leading up to her bedroom window. By the depth of the prints she knows the watcher had stood there for a long time…just watching her sleep. This person didn’t just happen upon her cabin as it is literally in the middle of nowhere. The author, Andrea Mara didn’t just pull this account out her head and put it down on paper…it is based on a true event that happened at her Dad’s snow covered garden… and that no one could explain. Meet the main character, Marianne who is a True Crime fan as well as member of various online forums for “armchair detectives”…. people who try to investigate crimes and missing persons cases via the internet. Her two worlds’ are on a collision course that no one can stop. It’s a story within a story that takes the reader on a journey from a small community set in the Wicklow Mountains of Ireland to a small town in Denmark. The atmosphere is unnerving and there is a permanent chill in the air throughout that has nothing to do with the snowstorm.
February 20, 2020
The Sleeper Lies by Andrea Mara
Good twisty and riveting book! There is alot going on in this book, characters are well fleshed out and definitely worth getting to know, some you like others you don't however they all play apart. Did not see the ending....loved this book, keeps you guessing and makes you want to read faster to get to the truth behind the Sleeper Lies! I received a free advance copy and leave my own opinion.
Good twisty and riveting book! There is alot going on in this book, characters are well fleshed out and definitely worth getting to know, some you like others you don't however they all play apart. Did not see the ending....loved this book, keeps you guessing and makes you want to read faster to get to the truth behind the Sleeper Lies! I received a free advance copy and leave my own opinion.
January 26, 2020
Thank you to BookSirens. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Another great mystery from Andrea Mara and Poolbeg. This book was full of unsolvable mysteries with lots of twists and turns. The setting was like another character. The time changes were fitting and not difficult to follow as they sometimes are in this type of book. There was only one strange POV change that I would have liked to see handled better. On a non-book review note, it was interesting to see the shout-out to WebSleuths and Tricia Griffiths and the reference to distinctly American crimes and serial killers.
Another great mystery from Andrea Mara and Poolbeg. This book was full of unsolvable mysteries with lots of twists and turns. The setting was like another character. The time changes were fitting and not difficult to follow as they sometimes are in this type of book. There was only one strange POV change that I would have liked to see handled better. On a non-book review note, it was interesting to see the shout-out to WebSleuths and Tricia Griffiths and the reference to distinctly American crimes and serial killers.
February 7, 2020
Thank you to BookSirens for the advanced review copy for free. I’m leaving this review voluntarily.
I enjoyed Marianne’s story. Flashbacks to her ex boyfriend Ray. Past and present views of Allen and Jamie. Interesting background characters round out a wonderful story.
Marianne has a fascination with true crime due to her mother’s unexplainable death.
Marianne begins being tormented by a mysterious visitor leaving clues in the forms of innocent or cryptic gifts or signs left behind. The tension builds.
Then suddenly we’re in Denmark exploring Hanne’s (Marianne’s mother) death.
It’s a travel through time.
A story within a story, I felt could have been its own novel. A fantastic secondary plot, but I was anxious to get back to the arsehole taunting Marianne’s Irish country home. This was only a minor distraction and why not the 5th star. The ending tied it together loosely and satisfied my expectations for how the story should have ended.
I don’t know why but I absolutely adored Allen. Something about grumpy, cantankerous, beer loving, old Irishmen-reminds me of my grandpa.
Thanks for taking me on a trip through the countryside of Ireland and into Denmark. I’ll definitely be looking for more books by Andrea Mara.
I enjoyed Marianne’s story. Flashbacks to her ex boyfriend Ray. Past and present views of Allen and Jamie. Interesting background characters round out a wonderful story.
Marianne has a fascination with true crime due to her mother’s unexplainable death.
Marianne begins being tormented by a mysterious visitor leaving clues in the forms of innocent or cryptic gifts or signs left behind. The tension builds.
Then suddenly we’re in Denmark exploring Hanne’s (Marianne’s mother) death.
It’s a travel through time.
A story within a story, I felt could have been its own novel. A fantastic secondary plot, but I was anxious to get back to the arsehole taunting Marianne’s Irish country home. This was only a minor distraction and why not the 5th star. The ending tied it together loosely and satisfied my expectations for how the story should have ended.
I don’t know why but I absolutely adored Allen. Something about grumpy, cantankerous, beer loving, old Irishmen-reminds me of my grandpa.
Thanks for taking me on a trip through the countryside of Ireland and into Denmark. I’ll definitely be looking for more books by Andrea Mara.
July 24, 2020
The Sleeper Lies by Andrea Mara grabbed my attention from beginning to end. Which meant that not much sleep happened for me until I unravelled this PERPLEXING and CREEPY mystery.
Thanks to Poolbeg Press for giving me for giving me a copy of this book for review consideration. As always, no matter what the source of the book, you get my honest, unbiased opinion.
FIRST LINE OF THE SLEEPER LIES BY ANDREA MARA:
“I don’t know what a dead body looks like.”
5 THINGS I LOVED ABOUT THE SLEEPER LIES
The tense atmosphere. Marianne lives in an isolated cottage, cut off from people by the snow, and a stalker is leaving sinister clues about their presence. I was SHOOK just reading about it.
Parts of the book are set in Denmark. And included Nordic folklore stories which added a whimsical element and I thoroughly appreciated how well the tales fitted in with the plot.
Online sleuthing facebook groups. I’ve no interest in true crime so this was truly eye opening for me and made for an unusual and absorbing side plot.
A very tangled and complex story which had me perplexed
The slow burn reveal (which I often hate) was excellently executed. I felt so anxious and curious and downright spooked that the pacing had me slap bang in the middle of the action right along with Marianne.
This is one of my favourite books that I’ve read this year, and I don’t think I can say more than that.
WHO SHOULD READ THE SLEEPER LIES?
I highly recommend this book to you if you enjoy creepy, tense, slow burn mysteries. Fans of authors such as Liz Nugent, Jo Spain and Patricia Gibney might also enjoy.
Thanks to Poolbeg Press for giving me for giving me a copy of this book for review consideration. As always, no matter what the source of the book, you get my honest, unbiased opinion.
FIRST LINE OF THE SLEEPER LIES BY ANDREA MARA:
“I don’t know what a dead body looks like.”
5 THINGS I LOVED ABOUT THE SLEEPER LIES
The tense atmosphere. Marianne lives in an isolated cottage, cut off from people by the snow, and a stalker is leaving sinister clues about their presence. I was SHOOK just reading about it.
Parts of the book are set in Denmark. And included Nordic folklore stories which added a whimsical element and I thoroughly appreciated how well the tales fitted in with the plot.
Online sleuthing facebook groups. I’ve no interest in true crime so this was truly eye opening for me and made for an unusual and absorbing side plot.
A very tangled and complex story which had me perplexed
The slow burn reveal (which I often hate) was excellently executed. I felt so anxious and curious and downright spooked that the pacing had me slap bang in the middle of the action right along with Marianne.
This is one of my favourite books that I’ve read this year, and I don’t think I can say more than that.
WHO SHOULD READ THE SLEEPER LIES?
I highly recommend this book to you if you enjoy creepy, tense, slow burn mysteries. Fans of authors such as Liz Nugent, Jo Spain and Patricia Gibney might also enjoy.
February 19, 2020
After a long, long time finally a winner.Twisty, claustrophobic and dark this book captivated me from the get-go.The who and why kept me guessing till the end.Many time frames and storylines and enough characters that you are never really sure who is the culprit.Plot was complex and believable and surprising.The true crime element was a delicious touch for a truecrime junkies as myself. Master class in slow burning mysteries.I'm gonna read now all author's novels.
July 11, 2021
Sorry guys I know this book got great reviews but I wasn’t impressed. Thought it far too slow . Far too much to do with Denmark and didn’t like the characters at all . Didn’t find it chilling or suspenseful . Disappointed really
January 28, 2020
Whew. This book is complicated. There are so many stories in it. It starts with Marianne who lives a way out of town and finds footsteps in the snow outside her bedroom window. It probably doesn't help that she's part of a group of internet sleuths trying to solve a serial killer case. The commonalities in the serial murder case start showing up around her house, marks on the window frame, little "gifts," etc.
This is interspersed with flashbacks of Ray, the old boyfriend, a writer who gets into a rather childish tit for tat with Alan the next door neighbor, a gruff and somewhat antisocial codger with a son Marianne's age, Jaime.
When Alan wants to build a b&b on his property, Ray objects to the planning committee. When Alan let's out his sheds to people down on their luck, Ray reports him, forcing the tenants back out on the street. Through all of this, Alan responds with dead animals in the porch, trash fires on the property and other pranks.
At the same time as Ray, Marianne goes to Denmark to search out her maternal grandparents and researches her mother's death which has some similarities to the case her internet sleuths are investigating. That turns out to be quite a mystery with it's own twists and turns. Her grandmother is alternatingly welcoming and rejecting.
So ahead ten years, someone is threatening Marianne with things left on her property vaguely reminiscent of the exchange between Ray and Alan. Jaimie and Marianne rekindle a friendship that was damaged by the Ray/Alan feud. Marianne makes another trip to Denmark researching her mother's death and trying to create a relationship with her grandparents. She finds a most disturbing history. Ray, who had gone back to the US is in Ireland promoting his novel based on his time with Marianne.
All the loose ends are tied up, but it is quite a ride. I'm not entirely sure the subplot of the mother's murder in Denmark adds to the book. It is interesting and could probably be a book on its own if fleshed out a bit more, but it is a lot of story just to add to Marianne's stress level.
Overall, I enjoyed the book with all its twists and turns and confusion.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is interspersed with flashbacks of Ray, the old boyfriend, a writer who gets into a rather childish tit for tat with Alan the next door neighbor, a gruff and somewhat antisocial codger with a son Marianne's age, Jaime.
When Alan wants to build a b&b on his property, Ray objects to the planning committee. When Alan let's out his sheds to people down on their luck, Ray reports him, forcing the tenants back out on the street. Through all of this, Alan responds with dead animals in the porch, trash fires on the property and other pranks.
At the same time as Ray, Marianne goes to Denmark to search out her maternal grandparents and researches her mother's death which has some similarities to the case her internet sleuths are investigating. That turns out to be quite a mystery with it's own twists and turns. Her grandmother is alternatingly welcoming and rejecting.
So ahead ten years, someone is threatening Marianne with things left on her property vaguely reminiscent of the exchange between Ray and Alan. Jaimie and Marianne rekindle a friendship that was damaged by the Ray/Alan feud. Marianne makes another trip to Denmark researching her mother's death and trying to create a relationship with her grandparents. She finds a most disturbing history. Ray, who had gone back to the US is in Ireland promoting his novel based on his time with Marianne.
All the loose ends are tied up, but it is quite a ride. I'm not entirely sure the subplot of the mother's murder in Denmark adds to the book. It is interesting and could probably be a book on its own if fleshed out a bit more, but it is a lot of story just to add to Marianne's stress level.
Overall, I enjoyed the book with all its twists and turns and confusion.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 27, 2020
This is Andrea Maras third thriller, I have read them all, and they are all good, but this is "really" good. I definitely did not see that ending coming.
If you like reading thrillers/crime novels, you will not be disappointed by this book, which got me out of a reading slump.
Highly recommended.
If you like reading thrillers/crime novels, you will not be disappointed by this book, which got me out of a reading slump.
Highly recommended.
October 25, 2023
I'm torn between 3.5 stars and a 4 for this book. I highly enjoyed this, it had me hooked within the first few chapters, and I quickly found myself becoming addicted. Not gonna lie, I struggled walking past windows at night after this story! My only qualm with this author is, as is the case with her other books that I have read, the big twist is often only revealed in the last 10% of the book which means it often all feels rushed towards the end. That being said, this was a great read and gave me everything I love in a thriller.
February 18, 2020
My Rating ~ 4.5*
‘One window
Three Lies
24 days is all it takes'
The Sleeper Lies is the latest novel from Andrea Mara. Having just been published on February 6th with Poolbeg Press it is garnering plenty of praise from across the writing community and beyond, with Roz Watkins, author of Dead Man’s Daughter, describing the book as “creepy, twisty and unsettling, with relatable characters and a truly gripping plot.”
The Sleeper Lies is a story contained in a story taking the reader on a journey from a small community set in the Wicklow mountains to a small town in Denmark.
March 2018 and Marianne is housebound due to a big freeze. Living in a remote part of Wicklow, Marianne is unfazed by the weather warnings. She works from home, she can stock up locally, if necessary, by walking to her local village, and she has her online sleuthing community to keep her company. Waking up to a winter wonderland, Marianne looks out her window, initially taken aback to see footprints outside her house. Marianne suspects the postman, a kindly neighbour perhaps, but when the realisation kicks in that these footprints lead right to her bedroom window, Marianne is suddenly afraid. As more snow falls, the footprints are covered up but Marianne knows what she saw.
The house Marianne now lives in was her family home. Following the death of her father, Marianne returned from her city life and settled back in to living in such a rural setting, as her work was flexible and easily managed remotely. Marianne is constantly filled with reminders of her past and the history that is hers. The house is full of memories, both good and bad. After a few unsettling months Marianne was beginning to enjoy life again…until now.
As the days pass, Marianne receives other sinister messages, all small but enough to cause her concern. With the local police informed, Marianne attempts to continue with her day-to-day life but she starts to rethink her past and a possible connection with these recent rather threatening happenings. Marianne loves amateur sleuthing, so although concerned she is also intrigued about what is going on. As Marianne begins to pull back the covers of her past, she is about to make some very frightening discoveries.
Andrea Mara has interwoven multiple narratives throughout The Sleeper Lies, with red-herrings aplenty to capture and keep the reader’s attention. As mentioned at the beginning of my review, The Sleeper Lies contains a story within a story so full concentration is required to avoid confusion. To be honest I almost felt that the secondary story would have made an excellent stand-alone in it’s own right so I guess it’s fair to say that the reader is getting double the thrill when reading this book!!
The atmosphere is unnerving, in particular scenes from Denmark. There is a permanent chill in the air throughout. Marianne’s character is well fleshed out as her stress levels rise and she is faced with many lies and some dreadful truths. There is more than one unsavoury character in the story which helps add to the overall disturbing element and keeps the reader alert at all times.
The Sleeper Lies is another highly enjoyable read from Andrea Mara. Packed with suspense and lots of chills The Sleeper Lies is a complex and threatening tale. A foreboding, dark and very atmospheric read.
‘One window
Three Lies
24 days is all it takes'
The Sleeper Lies is the latest novel from Andrea Mara. Having just been published on February 6th with Poolbeg Press it is garnering plenty of praise from across the writing community and beyond, with Roz Watkins, author of Dead Man’s Daughter, describing the book as “creepy, twisty and unsettling, with relatable characters and a truly gripping plot.”
The Sleeper Lies is a story contained in a story taking the reader on a journey from a small community set in the Wicklow mountains to a small town in Denmark.
March 2018 and Marianne is housebound due to a big freeze. Living in a remote part of Wicklow, Marianne is unfazed by the weather warnings. She works from home, she can stock up locally, if necessary, by walking to her local village, and she has her online sleuthing community to keep her company. Waking up to a winter wonderland, Marianne looks out her window, initially taken aback to see footprints outside her house. Marianne suspects the postman, a kindly neighbour perhaps, but when the realisation kicks in that these footprints lead right to her bedroom window, Marianne is suddenly afraid. As more snow falls, the footprints are covered up but Marianne knows what she saw.
The house Marianne now lives in was her family home. Following the death of her father, Marianne returned from her city life and settled back in to living in such a rural setting, as her work was flexible and easily managed remotely. Marianne is constantly filled with reminders of her past and the history that is hers. The house is full of memories, both good and bad. After a few unsettling months Marianne was beginning to enjoy life again…until now.
As the days pass, Marianne receives other sinister messages, all small but enough to cause her concern. With the local police informed, Marianne attempts to continue with her day-to-day life but she starts to rethink her past and a possible connection with these recent rather threatening happenings. Marianne loves amateur sleuthing, so although concerned she is also intrigued about what is going on. As Marianne begins to pull back the covers of her past, she is about to make some very frightening discoveries.
Andrea Mara has interwoven multiple narratives throughout The Sleeper Lies, with red-herrings aplenty to capture and keep the reader’s attention. As mentioned at the beginning of my review, The Sleeper Lies contains a story within a story so full concentration is required to avoid confusion. To be honest I almost felt that the secondary story would have made an excellent stand-alone in it’s own right so I guess it’s fair to say that the reader is getting double the thrill when reading this book!!
The atmosphere is unnerving, in particular scenes from Denmark. There is a permanent chill in the air throughout. Marianne’s character is well fleshed out as her stress levels rise and she is faced with many lies and some dreadful truths. There is more than one unsavoury character in the story which helps add to the overall disturbing element and keeps the reader alert at all times.
The Sleeper Lies is another highly enjoyable read from Andrea Mara. Packed with suspense and lots of chills The Sleeper Lies is a complex and threatening tale. A foreboding, dark and very atmospheric read.
February 10, 2020
4.5 stars
Review to follow.
Review to follow.
February 24, 2020
A thoroughly enjoyable page-turner. Mara deftly weaves two mysteries, past and present, leading the reader a merry dance along the way...
February 7, 2020
*I voluntarily reviewed this book from the Publisher.
This book blew my mind and is already topping my list for thriller of the year! Engaging characters and an addictive plot kept me hooked to the point that my whole morning passed in the blink of an eye and suddenly it was time for the school run.
Marianne lives alone in her childhood home in rural Co. Wicklow where your closest neighbour lives a short drive away and solitude can be bliss. But when a snowstorm hits Ireland, this peaceful place takes on a very sinister edge when footprints appear in her garden and stop under her bedroom window. Who would want to watch her while she sleeps and why? As the footprints continue to appear and more threatening behaviours start to surface, could the answer lie in the past? Because tragedy struck Marianne's life early on when she was just a baby and her Danish mother was murdered while visiting her parents. Is there a serial killer on the loose, ready for his next victim? Or could it be a past relationship that went badly wrong causing problems for many? As Marianne knuckles down to discover who is threatening her, one thing is for sure, she is not going to take this lying down.
THE SLEEPER LIES by Andrea Mara is her third book and my favourite so far. I have always loved it when we get heavy snow because it's rare in Ireland but after reading this book, it definitely won't have the same cosy feel!!
The characters are well-drawn and I enjoyed how the story moved from past to present, opening up Marianne's life and her mother's life in ways that were very unexpected and compelling. Andrea Mara has a unique way of loading every page with a subtle tension that you feel slowly taking you over as you read until you are physically reacting to what is happening on the page - when Marianne's heart was pounding with fear, mine was too - and what a superb talent that is.
THE SLEEPER LIES puts the thrill into thriller and I loved not knowing what was going to happen right up to the very end. Superb storytelling, excellent characters, and a fresh, exquisite plot that really shocked me to my core,
THE SLEEPER LIES by Andrea Mara is everything you could want in a great book, so buy it now.
This book blew my mind and is already topping my list for thriller of the year! Engaging characters and an addictive plot kept me hooked to the point that my whole morning passed in the blink of an eye and suddenly it was time for the school run.
Marianne lives alone in her childhood home in rural Co. Wicklow where your closest neighbour lives a short drive away and solitude can be bliss. But when a snowstorm hits Ireland, this peaceful place takes on a very sinister edge when footprints appear in her garden and stop under her bedroom window. Who would want to watch her while she sleeps and why? As the footprints continue to appear and more threatening behaviours start to surface, could the answer lie in the past? Because tragedy struck Marianne's life early on when she was just a baby and her Danish mother was murdered while visiting her parents. Is there a serial killer on the loose, ready for his next victim? Or could it be a past relationship that went badly wrong causing problems for many? As Marianne knuckles down to discover who is threatening her, one thing is for sure, she is not going to take this lying down.
THE SLEEPER LIES by Andrea Mara is her third book and my favourite so far. I have always loved it when we get heavy snow because it's rare in Ireland but after reading this book, it definitely won't have the same cosy feel!!
The characters are well-drawn and I enjoyed how the story moved from past to present, opening up Marianne's life and her mother's life in ways that were very unexpected and compelling. Andrea Mara has a unique way of loading every page with a subtle tension that you feel slowly taking you over as you read until you are physically reacting to what is happening on the page - when Marianne's heart was pounding with fear, mine was too - and what a superb talent that is.
THE SLEEPER LIES puts the thrill into thriller and I loved not knowing what was going to happen right up to the very end. Superb storytelling, excellent characters, and a fresh, exquisite plot that really shocked me to my core,
THE SLEEPER LIES by Andrea Mara is everything you could want in a great book, so buy it now.
March 26, 2021
4.25
This book was so fast-paced and had me hooked!
Honestly, between the pandemic and the aspects of female vulnerability being forefront in the news recently, I could not have read this book at a better time. In light of both of these circumstances, it became so much more poignant and real for me.
This is the first book I have read by Andrea Mara and I will definitely be picking up more by her. I really enjoyed her writing style and the sense of unease she conjured throughout, along with all the tangles and twists she included, all of which make me want to buy another from her immediately.
The only thing negative I have to say about it is that the ending felt a little rushed and could have benefited from a few more chapters but apart from wanting more book, I really enjoyed this and would recommend.
This book was so fast-paced and had me hooked!
Honestly, between the pandemic and the aspects of female vulnerability being forefront in the news recently, I could not have read this book at a better time. In light of both of these circumstances, it became so much more poignant and real for me.
This is the first book I have read by Andrea Mara and I will definitely be picking up more by her. I really enjoyed her writing style and the sense of unease she conjured throughout, along with all the tangles and twists she included, all of which make me want to buy another from her immediately.
The only thing negative I have to say about it is that the ending felt a little rushed and could have benefited from a few more chapters but apart from wanting more book, I really enjoyed this and would recommend.
Read
July 20, 2025DNF at 46%
I have decided I want to work through this authors back list and she has about 3 books including this available on KU!
“During a severe snowstorm, Marianne discovers footprints leading to her bedroom window, triggering a haunting investigation into past traumas and her mother’s death.”
I thought that this was okay to start off with. It was very slow burn but it was also creeping me out and giving me the chills!
However, as I read on and on, more plot development is added to the story, and instead of becoming more invested, I felt myself getting bored.
This is I believe one of her earlier works and her writing has definitely come on a long way since then!
I was planning to read until the end but just before the half way point I just had to DNF, life’s too short!
I have decided I want to work through this authors back list and she has about 3 books including this available on KU!
“During a severe snowstorm, Marianne discovers footprints leading to her bedroom window, triggering a haunting investigation into past traumas and her mother’s death.”
I thought that this was okay to start off with. It was very slow burn but it was also creeping me out and giving me the chills!
However, as I read on and on, more plot development is added to the story, and instead of becoming more invested, I felt myself getting bored.
This is I believe one of her earlier works and her writing has definitely come on a long way since then!
I was planning to read until the end but just before the half way point I just had to DNF, life’s too short!
March 6, 2022
3.5 stars. This book had me hooked from the start with its atmospheric setting and a feel of mystery. There’s many stories within the book so I was trying to see if I could work out what was going to happen in at least one of them, but alas, I did not! I would have given 4 stars but dropped half a star as my attention waned a little in the middle but overall, a great read.
October 1, 2024
How on earth did anyone love this book?!? It’s painfully slow, has too many characters, the timelines were muddy and hard to distinguish, and the story itself was flat and not at all compelling.
I was expecting this one to have an average rating of 3 stars at best. What did I miss?!
I was expecting this one to have an average rating of 3 stars at best. What did I miss?!
April 30, 2020
This was an exceptional book! From start to finish "The Sleeper Lies" was beautifully written, engaging and very memorable! I've never read anything like this and I was hooked from page 1. I did not guess the "twist" at the end. There are two plots within this books and it made for a very interesting read. I loved this book so much; the setting, the characters, the pace, the plot, that as soon as I finished it I immediately ordered two more books from this author.
Seriously, this was a well paced, well planned and well written thriller with a tight plot and believable characters. I honestly could not fault a single paragraph. I would highly recommend this book for anyone who is looking for a book to devour in no time!
Seriously, this was a well paced, well planned and well written thriller with a tight plot and believable characters. I honestly could not fault a single paragraph. I would highly recommend this book for anyone who is looking for a book to devour in no time!
September 16, 2024
4.5 wow! I was completely surprised by that ending, and honestly had no idea it would all tie up the way it did. I loved having multiple mysteries confusing me all the way through. A great thriller!
February 16, 2020
It took me a while to get into this book unlike The Other Side of the wall, because there are two stories but rather than being woven into one through past and present narration they run consecutively from one to the other, but once the book reverts to the present (halfway through) the tension does not let up. It's twisted and nail-biting, and though I guessed who the baddie was early on this did not distract from what was an exciting, terrific read. I cannot wait to read more from Andrea.
June 20, 2025
Loved this - gripping but grounded somehow. A fab thriller.
January 14, 2022
4.5*
Wow. This story is one of the most well-written, developed mystery/thrillers I’ve ever read. There are so many interwoven stories, and yet the short chapters kept me completely engaged the entire time, constantly thinking of this book when I wasn’t reading it. The ending definitely threw me, and there were plenty of plot twists and red herrings to enjoy from this. It honestly felt like I was reading almost 3 different books in 1, but in the best way. I definitely want to check more from this author’s backlist, because this was simply fantastic.
Wow. This story is one of the most well-written, developed mystery/thrillers I’ve ever read. There are so many interwoven stories, and yet the short chapters kept me completely engaged the entire time, constantly thinking of this book when I wasn’t reading it. The ending definitely threw me, and there were plenty of plot twists and red herrings to enjoy from this. It honestly felt like I was reading almost 3 different books in 1, but in the best way. I definitely want to check more from this author’s backlist, because this was simply fantastic.
June 20, 2025
There's books that are slow burns and then there are sloooooooow, tedious burns like this.
April 2, 2022
In a small village of Ireland, Marianne lives in an old family house after her dad passes away. After a heavy snow, she finds footprints outside her window and when she wakes up at night, she sees a white face staring at her but then it is gone. So she reports it to the police, but they are not taking her seriously. Meanwhile, she finds a note from her mother, who is dead when she was a baby, saying that she couldn’t bare the situation any letter, she felt like a caged bird. The note brings back memories, her memory of trying to get to know her danish grandparents and finding out the murderer of her mother. Marianne is also involved in an online, all the members are the ordinary people who interest in true crimes and try to find more clues for he cold cases, they are especially interested in a case Called the Blackwood Strangler.
The story is written mainly from Marianne’s perspective, including stories from the past and the present, I really liked the plot, it seems very promising, but somehow I just was that intrigued for the two thirds of the book, it’s a shame, I really wanted to like it. Might be a result of having too many threads in one book so the development for one story in too slow. That said, the last part was fast paced and quite thrilling. There are some good twists, too.
The story is written mainly from Marianne’s perspective, including stories from the past and the present, I really liked the plot, it seems very promising, but somehow I just was that intrigued for the two thirds of the book, it’s a shame, I really wanted to like it. Might be a result of having too many threads in one book so the development for one story in too slow. That said, the last part was fast paced and quite thrilling. There are some good twists, too.
February 20, 2020
The Sleeper Lies contains a story within a story and what a set of stories they are! The 'secondary' story I suppose you could call it could easily be a story on its own merit, so yes, its double the story.
The story is very atmospheric but the scenes set in Denmark definitely hit the spot! There is a permanent chill in the air throughout.A very well developed character, Marianne keeps the tension up as she discovers more lies and as we go through the story there are enough dodgy people to keep you guessing until the end.
The Sleeper Lies is my first book by Andrea Mara. Absolutely jam packed with suspense and tension. I shall be looking for more of her books. I received an ARC for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.
The story is very atmospheric but the scenes set in Denmark definitely hit the spot! There is a permanent chill in the air throughout.A very well developed character, Marianne keeps the tension up as she discovers more lies and as we go through the story there are enough dodgy people to keep you guessing until the end.
The Sleeper Lies is my first book by Andrea Mara. Absolutely jam packed with suspense and tension. I shall be looking for more of her books. I received an ARC for free and am leaving my review voluntarily.
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