Sleep When You're Dead

by Judith O'Reilly

In thirty-six hours, thousands of innocent people will die. There's not a second to waste. And no time for sleep...

MICHAEL THE PERFECT MI5 ASSET. Ruthless, brave, loyal and, best of all, disposable. The bullet lodged in his brain means he could die at any second.

Now, undercover in a doomsday cult on a remote Scottish island, he has thirty-six hours to stop the mass murder of thousands of people.

But in the world of the indoctrinated, Michael soon realises that everyone is a potential enemy. He's used to his own life hanging by a thread – never before has it come so close to snapping.

403 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 13, 2022

About the author

Judith O’Reilly's claim to fame is that one of her books was a Radio 4 Book of the Week. As far as she's concerned that's as good as it gets.

Judith has written three books. Her latest book is called Killing State and is out in November. It's a commercial political thriller and her first novel – at least the first one she's allowed to leave the house without her. She likes to describe it as a Lee Child meets Robert Harris, with a young and very British action hero and compelling and dynamic female characters. She may be the only person who ever thinks that. We'll have to see.

Judith's a former political producer with BBC 2’s Newsnight and ITN’s Channel 4 News, and a former education correspondent with The Sunday Times where she also covered politics, undercover reporting and general news. She still writes for The Sunday Times.

Her two non-fiction books were called Wife in the North and A Year of Doing Good (both published by Viking Penguin, in 2008 and 2013 respectively). Wife in the North reached number three in the UK bestsellers’ chart and was in the top ten for five weeks. It was also a top ten bestseller in Germany. It sold into ten countries, was serialised by The Sunday Times and the Daily Telegraph, was a BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week (has she mentioned that already?), and was based on Judith’s eponymous blog which was named as one of the top 100 blogs in the world by The Sunday Times. Judith’s blog is credited with kicking off the popularity of domestic blogging in the UK. For A Year of Doing Good, she did a good deed a day for a year. It did not make her a better person. She has taught memoir and blogging at Newcastle University, and occasionally advises on strategic communications. Most of all though, she writes and drinks a lot of tea. Occasionally, she shakes things up and drinks covfefe.

Reviews

[Ceecee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Michael North #3
4-5 stars
If you like your thrillers fast then this series is a perch yourself on the edge of your seat but make sure your firmly strapped in kind. This time the dream team of former covert assassin and MI5 agent North, Fangfang Yu a teen computer genius and Norths best friend Padraig ‘Pug’ Donne find themselves up to their necks in all kinds of bad and distinctly ugly. After a shocking incident in London, North‘s boss Edmund Hone sends him to the farthest reaches of the Outer Hebrides to the island of Murdo to infiltrate a cult the leader of which has all kinds of deadly intent. However, of course it’s not that simple as there’s also a shadowy American corporation, let’s add in the CIA, and oh what about some organised crime?! What North encounters is jaw dropping in its depth as national and international security is at stake and Murdo proves to be a very lively place with all kinds of evil skulduggery afoot. It’s a dizzying plot array but somehow, very cleverly, Judith O’Reilly pulls it off!

Well, you can’t fault the exhilarating excitement and sheer entertainment value of a Michael North political thriller. There are thrills and spills every minute, with traps, snares, hard men, violence and some absolutely epic scenes, think Hollywood and then some! Some scenes definitely require the infamous disbelief suspenders but they are creative and dramatic without a shadow of a doubt. Michael North must’ve been a cat in a previous life, in a kill me once, kill me twice kind of a way to say nothing of the bullet lodged in his brain from his army days. Oh, did I forget to mention that?! He sure finds trouble or does it find him? However, you can’t help but relish it all and I really like North, he has an honour code and is exceptionally brave. He is ably supported by Fangfang and Pug who are both terrific characters and extremely likeable. Hone not so much, well he’s a spook after all and you can’t trust them as far as you can throw them!!

The plot goes at warp speed so you need to keep up, there are welcome infusions of humour to lighten moods (thank you) and it escalates to what you think is the end which is definitely OTT but it’s also very good. One scene (in the sea) literally makes me hoot with laughter it’s so good!

This series is a really enjoyable one, there are always elements of believability lurking at the heart of the plot and several things here I’m quite prepared to believe WILL happen one day, quite possibly sooner than we may think.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Aria and Aries for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third Michael North thriller book. Too much? Possibly, this one is very OTT and quite bonkers but since I’m already heavily invested in the series I put all that aside and hung on for the wild ride. I do think it is better to read the earlier books first though to get the best experience of these wonderful characters.

In this very convoluted story Michael seems to have gotten in over his head. Michael is an ex soldier and former government killer for hire. Now he works for the one-eyed man who simply goes by Hone. Hone heads up a secret squirrel group known as Friends of Cyclops and it’s even more shadowy than MI5. Also on the team is Fang Fang Yu a 15 year old genius computer hacker. There are other wonderful characters - Fang Fang’s granny Po. The ugly but loyal giant man known as Plug and in this book they collect more allies. Which is a good thing as Michael faces his toughest challenge yet.

He is sent to the remote Scottish island of Murdo which is home to a cult called the Narrow Yett (the Yett being a kind of gateway). This is a cyber cult in which leader, Enoch, tells his followers that we are all just a computer simulation and, on the appointed day (2 days from now) they will pass through the Yett and enter a new simulation. Of course he means for them to die for that to happen, and the whole thing is to broadcast to the world. Michael is sent to the island to single handedly stop this occurring. Of course nothing is as it seems. There are many other interests on the island that Michael hasn’t been told about including a criminal money laundering operation and a secretive US satellite launching site.

Fang Fang does her usual poking around gathering info that might be useful for Michael but this time she slips up and the CIA are onto her. She has to make a deal with the devil. But things are still not as they seem. How many times can one man cheat death? I should have counted but I didn’t. I’m happy to say there will most likely be at least one more book in this series because things are still not as they seem. The pace was relentless and very, very fast. If you like high octane action books this will be right up your alley. Many thanks to Netgalley and Aria & Aries, Head of Zeus for the much appreciated arc which I reviewed voluntarily and honestly.

[Karen Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

The description for Sleep When You're Dead could have been written with me in mind; an elite assassin, a deadly cult and a multinational setting? Yes please! This is the third book in the Michael North series and despite not having read the previous novels, I didn't think twice about reading it. My only regret is waiting this long to discover this series, I loved everything about it and Jude O'Reilly is definitely going to become a must-read author for me. The balance between bringing new readers up to speed without frustrating returning fans is handled superbly and I soon become completely invested in both the current plot and the ongoing character arcs, which left me desperate for more and determined to read the earlier books.
The tense opening is an immediate attention-grabber; a brutal, shocking act of terrorism in London culminating in a terrifying, dangerous head-to-head would more often be the conclusion to an action thriller but this is just the beginning. One of the most interesting aspects of Michael North's character is the bullet lodged in his brain which could kill him if it moves. It has understandably coloured his outlook on life but he doesn't have a death wish. He wants to live a long life but if that isn't going to happen then he wants the time he has left to matter. Working within the Friends of Cyclops section of MI5 as a government agent gives him purpose but it also means he is disposable. Consequently, his boss, the utterly ruthless Hone, can ask him to do whatever he wishes, regardless of the risk because doing his duty is what gives North meaning. There's a fascinating hospital scene early on which cleverly introduces some of the most important people in his life and makes it clear who actually cares for him. This is a high-octane thriller but there's warmth here too; it never becomes sentimental but there's a sense of family which is really quite moving, particularly given the insights we are given into North's childhood.
It's his upbringing which ultimately leads to him agreeing to defy doctor's orders and to head to the fictional remote Hebridean island, Murdo where a charismatic cult leader is preparing a devastating attack. North is tasked with infiltrating the cult, whose beliefs are completely ridiculous and therefore totally believable. The extreme acts perpetrated by some of its followers make it clear that North is likely to be putting himself in danger but it's only when he heads to Scotland that it really becomes evident what jeopardy he faces – and it's not just the members of Narrow Yett who he needs to be wary of. North obviously has a tactical mind but is also driven by his emotions and a strict moral code which ensures he cannot turn his back when he witnesses aggressive behaviour. His journey to Murdo is certainly eventful and after the exciting opening, it's quickly evident that this is going to be a breathless rollercoaster ride which will test him – and the nerves of the readers – to the very limit.
North is ably supported by brilliant teenage hacker, Fangfang Yu and former cage-fighter, Padraig 'Plug' Donne, and these characters are so beautifully brought to life, I loved them both. Fang, in particular, has an intriguingly chilling storyline of her own, which I wish I could say is thankfully totally fictional but I fear may not be as unlikely as we'd like to believe. The multilayered storyline might be concerned with the deranged actions of one man but it's also a gripping exploration of how organised crime gangs and the merciless, shadowy world of national security both exploit the vulnerable or unwary. It's definitely not a comforting read, especially when naked ambition is thrown into the mix too.
As North reels from one violent encounter to another, my heart rate was scarcely given a chance to recover before the next dramatic confrontation but there's one scene which really is the stuff of nightmares and so well written as it's actually a quieter moment and yet the tension here is almost unbearable. The inevitable climax is excellent; nail-biting, horrifying and emotional, and there are yet still more revelations which means the next book in the series can't come soon enough.
Sleep When You're Dead is a complex, intelligent, compelling action thriller – I highly recommend it.

[Cathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sleep When You’re Dead is the third book in the author’s Michael North series, the follow-up to Killing State and Curse The Day. I haven’t read either of the previous books but I can reassure readers like myself who are new to the series that it won’t affect your enjoyment of Sleep When You’re Dead. The author provides interesting nuggets of information about the back stories of the main characters and the events which have brought them together in order to bring new readers up to date. In view of the latter, start with the first book if you’d like to read the entire series.

Michael North is definitely an all-action hero. ‘Trouble is what he was made for.’ In the course of the book, he survives death by drowning, falls from high places and various other forms of potentially lethal violence, including a close encounter of the poisonous kind. He possesses razor-sharp instincts which is just as well because he finds himself in plenty of perilous situations in the course of the book. In fact, ‘plenty’ is quite possibly an understatement. The reader is frequently reminded of just what North is up against and how little time there is for him to achieve the mission he has been given which really ratchets up the tension.

Although a trained assassin, I liked that North is not a one-dimensional character. He had a difficult start in life, experiencing violence and cruelty as a child, and is no stranger to personal loss. As a result, what has become his ‘family’ – teenage computer whiz, FangFang Yu, Padraig ‘Plug’ Donne, a six-foot-seven ex-cage-fighter turned East End undertaker, and Granny Po – mean a lot to him. ‘Now he had things to live for. People to live for.’ He’s a chronic insomniac, ruefully observing, ‘Sleep was overrated. He figured you could sleep when you were dead’ and at least it cut down on the nightmares. You might expect the fact he has a bullet lodged in his brain which could end his life at any minute might make him a cold-hearted killer but in fact it’s the exact opposite. It makes him want to use whatever time he has left to do good in the world, namely getting rid of bad guys.

North’s boss, Hone, is the exact opposite. He’s a sinister, detached figure – a ‘creature of the shadows’ in the words of one character – who has secured North and FangFang’s services by a combination of threats and manipulation but seems entirely without any sense of responsibility towards them. To him, they are disposable assets, useful partly because of the deniability of their actions. A character you’ll love to hate!

One memorable character is Lucy, a vulnerable woman whose situation is depicted with insight and compassion by the author – never has a Post-It note been so poignant – but whose experiences provide some of the most chilling and unsettling scenes in the book.

The various strands of the plot, which include political and financial corruption, religious fanaticism, a doomsday cult, sex trafficking, drug smuggling and the activities of shadowy government organisations, are skilfully woven together stopping just short of ‘everything but the kitchen sink’ territory.  It’s an explosive cocktail of mind-bending conspiracy theories that question the line between reality and artificiality and give a glimpse into a terrifying potential future.

Sleep When You’re Dead is a fast-moving, imaginative and skilfully plotted action thriller whose pace doesn’t let up until the final page. The book’s conclusion, with a key character in jeopardy, sets up the story neatly for a further instalment.

[Wendy(Wendyreadsbooks) Robey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Right from the very beginning this is such a fast paced gripping read. I hadn’t read any of the previous North books from Judith o’reilly but this can be read completely standalone.
The tension builds as we find out more about the cult on Murdo and the many links with satellites, defence strategies and the relationships between America and the UK - the many strands keep the story moving along at such a pace and I loved the interactions between the main characters. Fang in particular was a favourite of mine - so young but such a clever mind and so strong, she was the fountain of all information for North and always seemed so much older than her years.
I’ll definitely be looking out for the previous books in the series and would certainly like to see more of
North and Gang again.

[Jacob Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve followed Jude O’Reilly’s Michael North series since the beginning and I am a huge fan of these books. Sleep When You’re Dead is the third book in the series, and as with Jude’s previous novels, it opens with a bang and the pace does not drop at all throughout the novel. You do not, however, need to have read the previous books to enjoy this one, but I highly recommend that you do, particularly if you enjoy high octane thrillers.

Michael North is such an interesting character. He is a man who can die at any moment, with the bullet that is lodged in his brain, and if it moves at all, it’ll kill him. Perhaps this is the reason why he is willing to take risks, knowing that just a slight nudge of the bullet will leave him dead, what else has he got to lose? In this book, Michael North is being sent to investigate a cult on a Scottish Island, the leader of which is preparing something big. Jude O’Reilly opens the novel in a big way, that really sets the scene for the focus of the rest of the novel, and the story kept me utterly hooked. I wanted to know what was going on, on this island. Jude O’Reilly creates a mysterious atmosphere surrounding the island so well, and I felt as though I was part of the action that was taking place there.

What I really like about these books is Michael’s relationship with Fang, like Michael, she is another fascinating character in this series and Jude O’Reilly brings them to life so well on the page. You can feel how much Fang doesn’t want North to come to harm, and I think she would much rather it be the case that he was out of the way of danger.

There is real tension as Michael North delves further into what is going on the island. You can feel that he is racing against time to stop what is about to happen, and I had no idea how things were going to pan out, but I was rooting for him to succeed in his mission.

Sleep When You’re Dead is an action packed thriller and it is really entertaining. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I’ve definitely said this before, but I would love to see this books adapted into a film. I can’t wait to see where Jude O’Reilly takes her characters next.

[Tex · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Sleep When You’re Dead” (SWYD) is by British author Jude O’Reilly and is the third novel in the Michael North series.

A remote island of the Scottish Hebrides, a strange doomsday cult, a US tech company, and a vicious Glaswegian gangster - put them all together and it’s the basis for an action packed high speed race against time mission for MI5 asset Michael North.

For me the key reasons for my enjoyment of SWYD are:
* The plot - will have the reader guessing how each of the storylines connect with each new revelation. But even when things become more clear O’Reilly throws in another element that (while foreshadowed) will still surprise
* The atmosphere - regardless of the setting O’Reilly sets the right tone and description for the reader to become immersed
* The pacing - excellent. Starts at 100 miles per hour maintains its urgency throughout with superb combination of action, stealth, and discovery all while racing against the clock
* The characters - each is plays their role perfectly; you have the classic archetypes but not one of them is one dimensional. The right level of background is provided for the characters specific to SWYD which provide context and credence to their actions and motives without getting in the way of the story. For those returning characters even more colour and depth is added to them
* The writing style - easy to digest and incredibly engaging SWYD is a book that will grab your attention from the first sentence and won’t let up until the final page
* The ending - superb. Could read as an either a series conclusion or the lead in to the next book (I know which I’d prefer it to be!!)…and if there is to be another instalment in the Michael North series then it’s on my TBR list already

Finally it should be noted that while there are some references to events from the previous books SWYD can be read as a stand alone novel - but the background knowledge will further enhance the enjoyment of the book.

SWYD is another winner for O’Reilly and gets 4 computer simulations out of 5.

[Tripfiction · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thriller set on fictional MURDO (Hebrides)



Sleep When You’re Dead is the third book in Jude O’Reilly’s Michael North thriller series. The first two are Killing State and Curse The Day – both set in London. They are all excellent reads…

Sleep When You’re Dead is a quite complex book. Michael North has a bullet lodged in his brain and is an operative without fear. He is sent ‘under the radar’ by the UK government to investigate the strange happenings on the fictional Hebridean island of Murdo. He leaves behind in London his associate, Fangfang, and some dubious but very loyal friends. Fangfang is a 15 year old Geordie lass and an absolute genius at all things to do with computers and technology. The island is inhabited by a doomsday cult and its charismatic leader. They believe the universe is like a computer game where you move from one level to the next… and the portal to the next level opens in the next couple of days. What most of the cult do not know is that the leader’s plan is to kill them to enable the portal to open successfully. North has to prevent this happening – probably by killing the leader himself. The cult are supported on the island by a Glaswegian gangster and his very violent accolades. No one quite knows why… (though North finds out)

And then there is a parallel story. A team of American contractors are also on the island. They are ostensibly building a platform from which to launch low orbit commercial satellites, but what else are they are up to? Fangfang hacks into the systems of their parent company, and discovers things that no one is supposed to see. They are frightening.

The book moves at pace to a violent conclusion with a twist.

A thriller that is absolutely recommended to anyone who likes them fast and furious. I do.

[AM SMOLANDER · Rating 5 out of 5]

Today, is my spot on a blog tour arranged by Sophie Ransom for Sleep When You’re Dead by Jude O’Reilly. I received a hardback book to read for this tour and I’m glad I took part on this blog tour as I really enjoyed reading this thriller. It was a high octane thriller full of action. Every single page of this novel was full of action and fast-paced. I didn’t want to put this thriller down once I started it, I stayed up late reading this novel at night time and picked it up again first thing in the morning, because of this I would describe this novel as simply unputdownable.
I really liked the setting in this novel, both London and the remote Scottish island. I also liked the main character and how brave agent North was in this novel. He truly had a tough job and very dangerous too. I’m very upset that I haven’t read the previous novels in this series, as I know I’d love them. I’m definitely adding this author in my to-read-list, and I’m hoping to read her other thrillers in the near future.
I really liked the author’s writing style, and the fact that this thriller was so action-packed page after page. This novel was thrilling, exciting, fast-paced and a very entertaining read. I liked how contemporary and modern the storyline was; this novel was filled with a scary cult, villains, computing geniuses and hackers, satellite technology and rockets, and very dangerous secrets and people in high places. I’m giving this novel 5 stars as it gripped my attention and interest from page on and never let me go until I had finished it. I loved this novel and I know that other readers will love it too.

[Surjit Parekh · Rating 5 out of 5]

My thoughts about Judith O’Reilly’s Sleep When You’re Dead displays that unique pulp mix of motion and emotion that is both compelling and revealing. The stakes have never been higher. This is a nifty, edge-of-your seat thriller with an intricate plot and jaw dropping twists. The concept of the book has been rolled out extremely well, and comes across as totally feasible and practical; that is its main power. Judith O’Reilly’s writing is thoughtful, focused and never goes off-track. In fact, with Sleep When You’re Dead Judith take’s the Michael North series to a whole new level. The story of Judith O’Reilly’s Sleep When You’re Dead begins with Michael North is the man you call when there’s nothing left to lose. He executes every mission with determination, skill and a certain amount of flair. There’s just one problem: the bullet lodged in his brain. If it moves, he will die – and so will the mission. Now North’s been sent to infiltrate a doomsday cult on a remote island off the coast of Scotland to stop the terrorist attack its leader is planning on the mainland. Together with teen hacker FangFang, North must face down the forces of evil on behalf of his country. On the whole, Judith O’Reilly’s Sleep When You’re Dead is a high-octane thriller that works big time. This one has style and substance, both, besides dazzling action, stunning international locales and stylish execution. This is, without doubt, Judith O’Reilly’s best book till date. Sure shot Blockbuster.

[ACottageFullofBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Michael North has been sent undercover to a remote Scottish island to infiltrate a cult who are just hours away from murdering thousands of innocent people.

North is an MI5 agent with a difference, he has a bullet lodged in his brain that could kill him at any moment. This gives him a ruthless mentality, but also means some see him as disposable and will let him be pushed to the limits. In his defence, is teenage computer expert Fangfang Yu, who will do anything to keep her friend safe even if that means breaking many laws.

North and Fangfang join together, but when they uncover a shocking link connecting the cult to a major defence organisation, Fangfang life also becomes at risk too.

This book is completely addictive to read and I was engrossed from start to finish. Sleep When You’re Dead is the third book in the Michael North series, but it also reads well as a standalone novel.

This is a gritty and fast paced book that I did not want to put down. Highly recommended for fans of thrillers.

[Renko Dekker · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book will be published on the 13th of October. I received it from @headofzeus via @netgalley .

We follow Michael North who works as an agent for MI5 and who gets an undercover job on a remote Scottish island to infiltrate in a cult. He only has 36 hours to stop what the cult has planned to do. He has some help but after some shocking discoveries they are being threatened from the government side as well.

I couldn't really get into this book. It was said to be a high-speed rollercoaster action thriller but it lacked the actual thriller part. There was a decent amount of action in it, but the story wasn't moving that quickly enough and, to be honest, not actually that believable. I know it's fiction, but still. It should be plausible, or at least somewhat. The characters were decent but not more than that.

Just 2,5/5⭐

[julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Michael North is the man you call when there's nothing left to lose. He executes every mission with determination, skill and a certain amount of flair. There's just one problem: the bullet lodged in his brain. If it moves, he will die and so will the mission.
Now North's been sent to infiltrate a doomsday cult on a remote island off the coast of Scotland to stop the terrorist attack its leader is planning on the mainland. Together with teen hacker FangFang, North must face down the forces of evil on behalf of his country.
Book 3 a Michael north thriller
Really enjoyed this book totally recommend
Thank You NetGalley and Aria & Aries

I just reviewed Sleep When You're Dead by Jude O'Reilly. #SleepWhenYoureDead #NetGalley

[Andy Wormald · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has to be contender for thriller of the year, explosive, adrenaline fuelled, action packed, this book has it all, it hits the ground at a pace and is relentless in keeping the pace going right to the end, it is one addictive read that had absorbed throughout

The opening sequence shows the dramatic intent of the story, you are instantly engaged, in a high energy chase scene where the stakes couldn’t be higher, straight away the author has grabbed your attention, the job then is to keep the reader hooked, this is where the author takes the reader on a journey with a quality of writing in which the chapters are constructed not only to keep the story flowing at a fast pace, but also to give the reader jaw dropping, heart in the mouth moments of suspense and drama.

There are passages throughout where you will hold your breath anticipating what maybe to follow again the author heightens the tension at the right moments

For all that this is an action packed book, you have to have characters which the reader can relate to and which the give the story the realism required, here the author brings us characters which standout for differing reasons, North who thanks to having a bullet lodged in his brain, is never sure when his last move maybe, this for me adds an interesting dynamic to his character, one in which he can be fearless in the pursuit of the task at hand, but there is also a side in which he wants to live, though at times he doesn’t always think through the consequences of his actions, he looks out for those he cares about and those around him,

For every hero you need a bad guy and the book is packed with those, the way they are written though, you can picture them in your head, believing in them and the actions they take in pursuit of their goals, the standout character for me though is fifteen year old Fangfang Yu, clearly a genius, again though at times her years show her fears giving her a certain vulnerability, not a person to be underestimated though, it is clear as you read that you can see the way she and North respect and look out for each other.

In someways the book is almost written in two parts, North on Murdo Island and Fangfang back in London being his eyes and ears, the two threads wonderfully inter connect, the author has crafted a plot line, gritty, pacy and dramatic and executed it with aplomb on the page,

Overall you have an action packed high intensity read, with a plot that due to the timeframe ensures that the action keeps moving at slick pace, the author has pulled of a masterpiece in thriller writing, however, it is also a read with real heart and emotion, which ask questions and gives the reader pause for thought

This is superb storytelling with characters who can be related to, guaranteed to keep the reader entertained, for me Jude O’Reilly is one of todays foremost thriller writers

A definite highlight of the reading year, and one which comes highly recommended 5*

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my introduction to the fabulous Jude's writing and I wasn't disappointed. During lockdown I won my name as a character in one of Jude's upcoming books, and Sleep When You're Dead is that book! I am a big fan of thrillers so I looked forward to getting my hands on a copy. Jude had been so thoughtful during her writing process, checking character traits with me - were they OK etc. By the time I got my hands on the book I devoured it. Great storyline and characters, and a fast, pacy read. Loved it!

[Toby Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having thoroughly enjoyed book 2 I picked up this Michael North adventure with high hopes. They were not unfounded, this is a as fast paced, cleverly plotted and full of action and humour as you would expect.
Every character builds on what you know of them growing into a cast you want to spend more time with. Even the new "bad" guys have scope to come back and cause chaos for our heroes in future installments.

Definitely looking forward to seeing where North ends up next.

[Diane Saul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Michael North is an assassin and spy. He has a bullet in his brain that can’t be removed but if it moves it could be fatal. He is sent undercover to a cult because they are planning an event that could kill a lot of people. His job is to stop them. I had trouble getting into this book but eventually it caught my interest. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

[Linda Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sleep When You’re Dead is a fast paced, action packed story that simply doesn’t let up. I found it gripping and exciting.

My full review can be found on the My Weekly magazine website https://www.myweekly.co.uk/category/f...

[Rami · Rating 3 out of 5]

Millä ilveellä tämä on "A Financial times 2022 Thriller of the Year"?

Kovaa tässä mennään, heti ykkössivulta alkaen, mutta siinä se sitten onkin. Muuta ei ole tarjota. Tai ei, onhan kirjassa toki myös iso nippu kliseisiä henkilöhahmoja teini-ikäisestä kiinalaishackerista alkaen.

[Aria 88]

Listened to first four hours then skipped to end

[Fiona Erskine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Better than Bond - Michael North is licenced to kill in service of his country. He may be smart, fit and deadly efficient, but North is no cold blooded assassin. He has a hard head (with a bullet in it) a warm heart and a fine moral compass. He rescues waifs and strays and Scottish boatmen, making him perfectly endearing.
Of course, the real star is Fang Fang Yu with her bubblegum, teenage attitude and cyber skills. It is the pairing of the two - Fang and North (along with Granny Po and Plug) - that sets this series apart.
There's a moving cameo appearance from Lucy Sampson that reminds us we're in the hands of a fine writer amid all the crash, bang & wallop.
The baddies are larger than life, all the better for hissing at.
This is a terrifically entertaining roller coaster ride of an adventure that keeps up a furious pace from start to finish.
My favourite in the series so far, it works well as a stand alone.
Bonkers, but I loved it!