The Sleepwalkers

by Scarlett Thomas
The Sleepwalkers cover
Good Books rating 3.75
Thriller/Suspense
Technical:
  • ID: 452
  • Added: 2025-09-11
  • Updated: 2025-09-18
  • ISBN: 9781668033005
  • Publisher: Simon and Schuster
  • Published: 2024-04-09
  • Formats: 12
  • Reviews: 4
Buy online
Waterstones
Paperback • £9.99 Hardback • £16.99

In "The Sleepwalkers," Evelyn and Richard arrive on a tiny Greek island for their honeymoon, only to find themselves entangled in a web of mystery and tension. The hotel owner Isabella's unsettling attention towards Richard and the ominous story of a couple who drowned at the same hotel cast a shadow over their stay. Told through a mix of letters, transcripts, and notes, the narrative explores the couple's fractured relationship and the secrets they harbor. This novel blends gothic tropes with contemporary issues, weaving humor, suspense, and psychological intrigue into a complex narrative. Scarlett Thomas uses the exotic setting and a fractured epistolary style to delve into themes of deception, desire, and the darker elements of society, including refugees and human trafficking, making it a provocative and challenging read that asks urgent questions about relationships and sexuality.

Reviews
martinjoneswriter.com · Martin Jones · 2024-10-12
thought-provoking 3.75

The novel is a bold storytelling experiment blending humor, suspense, and metafictional elements that explore how stories are constructed and transformed.

Martin Jones finds 'The Sleepwalkers' to be a bold and experimental narrative that cleverly uses documents like letters and transcripts to blur the lines between story and reality. He admires the book’s playful and unsettling atmosphere, noting how it challenges the concept of truth in storytelling, especially through the subplot of filmmakers altering a tragic story for cinematic purposes. The review appreciates the novel's layered approach and its commentary on narrative construction, making it a thought-provoking read.

Quick quotes

    a bold experiment in storytelling

    a look at how we make stories

    What really happened is no good. A film has other requirements.

duffrunstough.com · 2024-05-21
solid 3.00

The novel showcases Scarlett Thomas's talent for evocative writing and complex characters but ultimately feels uneven, resulting in a solid but not exceptional read.

The reviewer appreciates Thomas's skill in crafting vivid descriptions and multidimensional characters, which enrich the narrative and provide depth. However, despite these strengths, the novel does not consistently maintain its momentum or cohesion, leading to an experience that is engaging yet somewhat flawed. The overall impression is that of a three-star book that is worthwhile but falls short of being truly outstanding.

Quick quotes

    Showcases Thomas's talent for evocative writing and complex characters

    Ultimately feels uneven

    A three-star read

Criminal Element · 2024-04-30
suspenseful 4.00

A surprising and suspenseful modern gothic story, blending elements of Patricia Highsmith with dark humor and a tense atmosphere.

This review positions the book as a modern gothic thriller with a unique blend of suspense and dark humor. The comparison to Patricia Highsmith and the TV series White Lotus suggests a narrative rich with psychological tension and layered character dynamics. The story's setting and mood contribute to an unsettling yet captivating experience, making it an intriguing read for fans of atmospheric and psychologically complex fiction.

Quick quotes

    Patricia Highsmith meets White Lotus in this surprising and suspenseful modern gothic story

    A couple running from both secretive pasts and present dangers

    Tense, atmospheric and darkly funny

Kirkus Reviews · 2024-04-09
ambitious 4.25

A gothic thriller that combines epistolary narrative with themes of secrets, family curses, and social issues, offering a complex and immersive experience.

Kirkus Reviews describes 'The Sleepwalkers' as a fearless and difficult-to-classify novel that uses a letter-based narrative to explore gothic themes like secrets and curses while also addressing broader social issues such as refugees and human trafficking. The interplay between the perspectives of Evelyn and Richard enriches the story, creating a compelling dynamic that draws readers into the isolated and eerie setting. This review praises the novel's ambition and its ability to blend traditional gothic tropes with contemporary concerns, making it a richly textured read.

Quick quotes

    Another difficult-to-classify novel from a seemingly fearless writer

    a novel about secrets, family curses, and the past erupting into the present

    refugees, sex workers, and victims of human trafficking exist in the background and sometimes emerge as full characters

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