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The Sleepwalkers

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The Sleepwalkers

By: Scarlett Thomas
Narrated by: Raphael Corkhill, Kit Griffiths
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About this listen

A Simon & Schuster audiobook. Simon & Schuster has a great book for every listener. Espionage Genre Fiction Horror Literary Fiction Literature & Fiction Spies & Politics Thriller & Suspense

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Critic reviews

‘Clever, emotionally resonant, packed with startling twists and dark turns and very funny indeed, this is fiction roaring on all cylinders.’ Guardian

'Gloriously dark and tangled . . . clever . . . I highly recommend it.' Observer

'A dark, twisty, savagely humorous plunge into a cauldron of toxic relationships . . . as well as a mystery loaded with menace, this is a smart, layered, stinging look at power and its abuse.' The Times

‘Through her bold storytelling, “The Sleepwalkers” becomes a work of peculiar, gonzo genius. … Thomas takes a glamorous late-capitalist setting, with rosé and catamarans, and shreds, twists and warps it into a story that is surprising, humane and political to its bones.’ New York Times

‘Thomas tells her story with the craft and cunning of an Aegean sorceress. … [S]he can make metafiction not just smart but fun. Once more she earns her place in a postwar British canon of playfully serious mavericks that runs from Muriel Spark and Brigid Brophy to Nicola Barker and Ali Smith.’ Spectator

‘Like a darker, funnier The White Lotus, The Sleepwalkers is horrifying in the best possible way. I loved every moment of it.’ James Smythe

‘The Sleepwalkers is brilliant, savage and hilarious. The voice is so strong and so distinctive from the get-go, so bold and pitilessly funny. There is no whingeing here, just a fearless takedown which I read through in a single streak of pure delight. This is Scarlett's best yet, and I don't say that lightly.’ Bidisha Mamata

'The Sleepwalkers is never-endingly surprising and full of keen observations on relationships, politics, and art. Thomas makes real life so fraught with meaning, it feels hauntingly supernatural. A twisty Gothic tale of vertiginous depths and haunting power.' Sandra Newman, author of Julia

'This original thriller has plenty of surprises.' Good Housekeeping

'An attractive summer holiday read', Independent

‘Muriel Spark’s disreputable niece.’ Spectator

‘She's a genius.’ Douglas Coupland

‘Thomas has the mesmerising power of a great story teller.’ Financial Times

‘One of the most startling, unpredictable writers of her generation.’ Scotsman
All stars
Most relevant
I found that the narration was clear but some words were mispronounced.
the story was rambling and did not tie together well. the characters did not act coherently and many of the supporting cast were not developed or explored. the supporting cast were more used to fit the haphazard plot.
I did finish it but do regret the purchase.

lightweight

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A very slim story drawn out for hours. The monotonous narrator delivers the story in a combination of staccato babble. Dreadful.

Overwritten and overwrought

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I enjoyed it a lot, but I know some of my friends would be so annoyed with or irritated by the main character, they would not read or listen to this novel.

Marmite

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Difficult to get into this story. Overrated in the reviews generally. Lots of unanswered questions but by the time it end I’m not sure I cared enough!

Dreadful narrator. Is it AI?

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I cannot believe that the narration is not AI or at least in some way AI enhanced. It’s pretty much unlistenable with its stacatto style and mispronunciation. Audible shouldn’t be making this sort of material available for sale

AI narration appalling

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