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4.29 AVERAGE
4.29 AVERAGE
Dark and deeply atmospheric modern noir. Despite coming into the Aidan Waits Thriller series at its last instalment, I barely noticed that I was missing anything. Instead I was instantly drawn to the mysterious and unlikely "hero", Detective Aidan Waits. It was easy to be drawn into the sometimes disturbing world of Aidan Waits, filled with complex and compelling characters. Knox writes with mystery, dark humour, and intelligence. He winds the plot, crafting subtle clues and hints throughout the novel masterfully. A truly compelling novel.
This book is fantastic. I couldn't read it fast enough. A gritty, dark, twisty story. I need to read Joseph knox's other books. Absolutely brilliant.
The Sleepwalker is the third book in the dark and gritty DC Aidan Waits series set in Manchester; it follows Sirens and The Smiling Man.
Martin Wicks is dying in an abandoned ward in a public hospital following 12 years of incarceration after the murder of a mother and her three children, a crime so disturbing that it earnt Martin the nickname, “The Sleepwalker”. Aidan and his partner DI ‘Sutty’ Sutcliffe are tasked with guarding Martin 24/7 during his final days, hoping to extract from him a deathbed confession as to the location of Lizzie’s body, the only Moore child that they didn’t find. On Aidan’s watch, Martin indicates he has something to say to Sutty so Aidan disappears into the night to track him down. However, Martin doesn’t get his chance as a devastating well thought-out and executed plan leaves not only him dead but one police officer fighting for his life and another one dead. Not one to be outdone by this apparent attempt to silence Martin, Aidan uses the snippet of information he did hear to find out the truth about the murders of the Moore family which takes him on a dangerous journey…but if anyone is up to the task, then it is definitely Aidan!
Aidan is a fabulously flawed character who you cannot help but like. He is most definitely not your classic detective protagonist which makes this book a really compelling read. Aidan literally trusts no one, is damaged by past events and still fighting those demons today. Following Martin’s death, Aidan comes off the nightshift and is partnered with Naomi Black, a young enthusiastic constable who Aidan doesn’t know whether he can trust so tries to shake her off at every available point.
The Sleepwalker is a complex plot with many layers which continue to draw the reader in. I really liked Joseph Knox’s writing style and the voice that he gives Aidan throughout the book. Told mainly in short sharp chapters, it is incredibly easy to get lost in the narrative. The Sleepwalker is set in Manchester, the perfect location for this dark noir read with its dark streets, abandoned buildings and shady characters around every corner.
The Sleepwalker can most definitely be read as a standalone as there is enough back story to bring new readers along (like me, I have the previous books on my bookcase waiting patiently…hangs head in shame!) but I think that it would be beneficial to really understand the crap that Aidan has been through by reading the series in order. I have really enjoyed this book and intend to go back to the start as I want to know more.
The Sleepwalker is a dark and twisty read…just fabulous!
Martin Wicks is dying in an abandoned ward in a public hospital following 12 years of incarceration after the murder of a mother and her three children, a crime so disturbing that it earnt Martin the nickname, “The Sleepwalker”. Aidan and his partner DI ‘Sutty’ Sutcliffe are tasked with guarding Martin 24/7 during his final days, hoping to extract from him a deathbed confession as to the location of Lizzie’s body, the only Moore child that they didn’t find. On Aidan’s watch, Martin indicates he has something to say to Sutty so Aidan disappears into the night to track him down. However, Martin doesn’t get his chance as a devastating well thought-out and executed plan leaves not only him dead but one police officer fighting for his life and another one dead. Not one to be outdone by this apparent attempt to silence Martin, Aidan uses the snippet of information he did hear to find out the truth about the murders of the Moore family which takes him on a dangerous journey…but if anyone is up to the task, then it is definitely Aidan!
Aidan is a fabulously flawed character who you cannot help but like. He is most definitely not your classic detective protagonist which makes this book a really compelling read. Aidan literally trusts no one, is damaged by past events and still fighting those demons today. Following Martin’s death, Aidan comes off the nightshift and is partnered with Naomi Black, a young enthusiastic constable who Aidan doesn’t know whether he can trust so tries to shake her off at every available point.
The Sleepwalker is a complex plot with many layers which continue to draw the reader in. I really liked Joseph Knox’s writing style and the voice that he gives Aidan throughout the book. Told mainly in short sharp chapters, it is incredibly easy to get lost in the narrative. The Sleepwalker is set in Manchester, the perfect location for this dark noir read with its dark streets, abandoned buildings and shady characters around every corner.
The Sleepwalker can most definitely be read as a standalone as there is enough back story to bring new readers along (like me, I have the previous books on my bookcase waiting patiently…hangs head in shame!) but I think that it would be beneficial to really understand the crap that Aidan has been through by reading the series in order. I have really enjoyed this book and intend to go back to the start as I want to know more.
The Sleepwalker is a dark and twisty read…just fabulous!
A riveting crime/mystery perfect for fans of Jo Nesbo's Harry Hole or Chris Brookmyre's Jack Parlabane characters.
Aidan Waits is as damaged a police officer as you can get and the author writes him so well that he feels authentic and the reader can really connect with him. Despite his flaws and rule bending you can't help but empathise with him and root for him to succeed. The other characters are loveable/abhorent/intriguing too and the story really comes to life as you engage in their tales.
There were some unexpected twists (although I partly guessed Esther's story very early on) that keep the pace going.
I actually have the first book in this series on my to read pile so will definitely be going back to it. Can't wait to see what is next in store for Aidan Waits after this too.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and author for this advanced read copy.
Aidan Waits is as damaged a police officer as you can get and the author writes him so well that he feels authentic and the reader can really connect with him. Despite his flaws and rule bending you can't help but empathise with him and root for him to succeed. The other characters are loveable/abhorent/intriguing too and the story really comes to life as you engage in their tales.
There were some unexpected twists (although I partly guessed Esther's story very early on) that keep the pace going.
I actually have the first book in this series on my to read pile so will definitely be going back to it. Can't wait to see what is next in store for Aidan Waits after this too.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and author for this advanced read copy.
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Also amazing
I was so excited when I was sent a copy of The Sleepwalker by Joseph Knox, the third in his Aiden Waits series, and I shall tell you for why: because Knox has quickly catapulted himself right to the top of my favourite crime writers list, a spot I suspect he's going to hold onto for a while.
This guy, this guy who has only published these three books is a really really good writer, this is the kind of crime fiction you dream about reading, the kind you wish all of the books were like. It's dark and atmospheric and so well-thought out and beautifully constructed. This is book three in the series now so we know Aiden, we know he's a fucked up little anti-hero that we want to shake as much as we wish we could protect him and we know, we just know that some of his choices are going to be super questionable. It's not even a spoiler to say that they are. Aiden's line between right and wrong isn't blurry, it's been erased. I adore him.
So the premise is this: Aiden is still on the nightshift, he's still working with Sutty and there's still not much love lost. They're assigned to keep a watch on a dying serial killer in the hope he'll fess up to where a body is buried before he dies but somebody kills him before he gets the chance, Sutty is injured in the attack and Aiden is left to pick up the pieces. Throw in another officer who's more than a little bit shady, blackmailing him, a new partner who he might have feelings for, Zain bloody Carver (again) and some woman who keeps phoning him up asking him to come and help out with the mother who abused him when he was a child and you have this book, which might seem like it's a lot but which actually, because Knox is such a masterful writer, is actually just the perfect amount.
This book is tense and fast-paced and snappy but also still gorgeous in the atmosphere is builds and the way it unfolds. It's twisty and turny and it makes you clench your fists as you think 'oh, god, please no' and then sends you spinning in another direction, and once again it sucker punches you right in the feels as you watch Aiden's life unravel around him as he tries to do this version of the right thing.
It's set in Manchester again, which is an added bonus for me because - and I say this every time - I love the familiarity, I love being able to picture where the action is unfolding and whilst i'm sure I'd love these books if the were set in Timbuctoo, I certainly love them more because they're set on my doorstep.
And the ending.
I'd love to say this was a fitting end to the trilogy but that would be a lie because I just want more. I don't want this series ever to end. I think because whilst you'll find this book in the crime fiction section, it, like Sirens and The Smiling Man is so much more than that - it's a look at human nature, and it's a fantastic character study
This guy, this guy who has only published these three books is a really really good writer, this is the kind of crime fiction you dream about reading, the kind you wish all of the books were like. It's dark and atmospheric and so well-thought out and beautifully constructed. This is book three in the series now so we know Aiden, we know he's a fucked up little anti-hero that we want to shake as much as we wish we could protect him and we know, we just know that some of his choices are going to be super questionable. It's not even a spoiler to say that they are. Aiden's line between right and wrong isn't blurry, it's been erased. I adore him.
So the premise is this: Aiden is still on the nightshift, he's still working with Sutty and there's still not much love lost. They're assigned to keep a watch on a dying serial killer in the hope he'll fess up to where a body is buried before he dies but somebody kills him before he gets the chance, Sutty is injured in the attack and Aiden is left to pick up the pieces. Throw in another officer who's more than a little bit shady, blackmailing him, a new partner who he might have feelings for, Zain bloody Carver (again) and some woman who keeps phoning him up asking him to come and help out with the mother who abused him when he was a child and you have this book, which might seem like it's a lot but which actually, because Knox is such a masterful writer, is actually just the perfect amount.
This book is tense and fast-paced and snappy but also still gorgeous in the atmosphere is builds and the way it unfolds. It's twisty and turny and it makes you clench your fists as you think 'oh, god, please no' and then sends you spinning in another direction, and once again it sucker punches you right in the feels as you watch Aiden's life unravel around him as he tries to do this version of the right thing.
It's set in Manchester again, which is an added bonus for me because - and I say this every time - I love the familiarity, I love being able to picture where the action is unfolding and whilst i'm sure I'd love these books if the were set in Timbuctoo, I certainly love them more because they're set on my doorstep.
And the ending.
I'd love to say this was a fitting end to the trilogy but that would be a lie because I just want more. I don't want this series ever to end. I think because whilst you'll find this book in the crime fiction section, it, like Sirens and The Smiling Man is so much more than that - it's a look at human nature, and it's a fantastic character study
A well written, dark and engrossing thriller that kept me hooked till the last page.
It's the first book I read by this author and won't surely be the last.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
It's the first book I read by this author and won't surely be the last.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
The Sleepwalker is the third crime thriller in the DC Aidan Waits series, however, I feel that this is both Knox's most accomplished and most compulsive story to date. Each instalment can be read independently without issue but starting at the beginning is recommended. Troubled soul Detective Waits is relegated to guarding duties where he will need to provide protection to dying serial killer, Martin Wicks. However, in the hope that Wicks is about to open up about the location of his last victim Waits' partner Sutty is conducting an interview with him inside the hospital. But things go from bad to worse when they are ambushed by an unknown intruder who Waits chases from the area.
Scalpel-sharp and ever-observant Knox is a master of the form. What attracts me to his books, in particular, is they are just so original and well crafted and they each exude a rare dark sophistication that is lacking in most of the genre today. Gritty, gripping and perfectly plotted and paced, we learn more about protagonist Aidan, whose life is little more than hoping he can hold onto his job, alcoholism, drug abuse and an assortment of mental health issues. To top things off he has largely unresolved family problems and another police employee is blackmailing him. It's sad to say but he is reflective of many people currently.
I am sure that both long-time fans and those newly inducted will find much to enjoy throughout this thriller. Once you begin you are invested in the story and I found myself feverishly turning the pages. It concludes in a shocking and spectacular manner which I found most satisfying, and this is both an unforgettable novel and series. A fantastic addition to the Manchester Noir sub-genre. Absolutely captivating and terrific. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Doubleday for an ARC.
Scalpel-sharp and ever-observant Knox is a master of the form. What attracts me to his books, in particular, is they are just so original and well crafted and they each exude a rare dark sophistication that is lacking in most of the genre today. Gritty, gripping and perfectly plotted and paced, we learn more about protagonist Aidan, whose life is little more than hoping he can hold onto his job, alcoholism, drug abuse and an assortment of mental health issues. To top things off he has largely unresolved family problems and another police employee is blackmailing him. It's sad to say but he is reflective of many people currently.
I am sure that both long-time fans and those newly inducted will find much to enjoy throughout this thriller. Once you begin you are invested in the story and I found myself feverishly turning the pages. It concludes in a shocking and spectacular manner which I found most satisfying, and this is both an unforgettable novel and series. A fantastic addition to the Manchester Noir sub-genre. Absolutely captivating and terrific. Highly recommended. Many thanks to Doubleday for an ARC.
The Sleepwalker by Joseph Knox is the third novel involving Manchester Detective Aidan Waits. In the novel, Waits and his partner Sutty have been detailed to guard and attempt to locate the remains of a murder victim from a tight-lipped convicted murderer as he lays dying in a hospital ward. Over the years, Martin Wick, the convicted murderer, has had numerous attempts made upon his life while imprisoned and from the time of his arrest has denied murdering anyone, let alone the family he was accused of killing.
As the story moves forward, after an attack upon Wick, that also ends up causing serious injury to Sutty, Waits is assigned a new partner and as ordered by his boss and nemesis Superintendent Parrs, tasked with conducting a shadow investigation into what happened.
Knox has brought back previously introduced characters and continues to build upon their personalities. These characters include Naomi Black, Parrs and Zain Carver. Knox also introduces another realistic villain, as well as continues to show ordinary humans can be as vile and stomach-churning villains as any imagined, supernatural, comic book like villain.
Knox combines other plot threads that include departmental politics, the suicide of a young woman police officer who's remains have never been found and the question of whether or not Wick's actually murdered the family he was accused of killing. Along the way, Knox also tells a tale with results that do allow the reader to bond with the fictional characters.
To tell more would reveal spoilers.
Knox's novels are gritty and highly recommended. It is suggested the novels be read in order. Those who enjoy the novels of Adrian McKinty and Alan Parks should also enjoy the novels of Knox.
As the story moves forward, after an attack upon Wick, that also ends up causing serious injury to Sutty, Waits is assigned a new partner and as ordered by his boss and nemesis Superintendent Parrs, tasked with conducting a shadow investigation into what happened.
Knox has brought back previously introduced characters and continues to build upon their personalities. These characters include Naomi Black, Parrs and Zain Carver. Knox also introduces another realistic villain, as well as continues to show ordinary humans can be as vile and stomach-churning villains as any imagined, supernatural, comic book like villain.
Knox combines other plot threads that include departmental politics, the suicide of a young woman police officer who's remains have never been found and the question of whether or not Wick's actually murdered the family he was accused of killing. Along the way, Knox also tells a tale with results that do allow the reader to bond with the fictional characters.
To tell more would reveal spoilers.
Knox's novels are gritty and highly recommended. It is suggested the novels be read in order. Those who enjoy the novels of Adrian McKinty and Alan Parks should also enjoy the novels of Knox.
Reviewed at Crime Fiction Lover https://crimefictionlover.com/2019/07/the-sleepwalker/