ARE YOU SLEEPING by Kathleen Barber
Release Date: 1 August 2017
My Rating: 4.25/5
Josie has done everything she can to construct a normal life in New York with her handsome and devoted boyfriend. When a true crime podcast dredges up her father’s murder from a decade ago, then goes viral, Josie finds her fragile new world blown apart. “Reconsidered” begins investigating the possibility that the man accused of her father’s murder is innocent. The accused was convicted almost entirely based on eyewitness testimony from Josie’s now estranged twin, Lanie. The podcast, coupled with the sudden, violent death of her mother, forces Josie to return to her hometown and confront her past, her sister, and all that she’s believed in this suspenseful thriller.
What a fantastic premise! A subtle dig at true crime lovers, myself included. We all enjoy speculating about what happened in another’s tragedy and Kathleen Barber makes us see this rabid speculation from another side–the side of the loved ones directly effected by the tragedy. Barber’s characters are solid and developed, the relationship between the twins, their aunt, and cousin is beautiful. Told in part through Josie’s eyes, in transcriptions from the podcast, and in tweets from podcast fans it is a very modern thriller. A fast, suspenseful novel with weight to it. A must read for mystery/thriller lovers and true crime enthusiasts alike.
