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According to the author biography in the book flap, Mark Billingham started working on the U.K. alternative comedy circuit. Sleepyhead is the author's first novel. It is not a comic novel, but a serious and dark, English procedural with some of the most original ideas ever written. If one word can be used to describe this book, it is this one Wow! There is a Machiavellian lunatic out on the streets who has killed at least three women. He considers them all failures, but his masterpiece is 24-year-old Alison Willetts. She is currently a patient at a local English hospital completely paralyzed by a stroke caused by this madman. Alison is completely aware of all her surroundings, suffering from no brain damage. The problem is that she is completely paralyzed, left alone with her thoughts, and there is no hope for recovery. Detective Inspector Tom Thorne will be in charge of this investigation. This cop has been tortured from events that happened several years ago and is now haunted by the victims of this killer. He befriends Dr. Anne Coburn, Alison's physician. They will work together to stop this nut before he hurts anyone else, but it will come at too big a price for all of them. Mark Billingham deserves to be nominated for every possible mystery award for the writing of this book. The book has very few characters dealing with dialogue more than anything else. What stands out from this book is Alison's thoughts throughout the novel. She might not be able to move, but she has a lot on her mind. The characters in this work are strongly developed and we get to see what motivates them to work for justice. Sleepyhead is a great roller coaster ride that deserves a high praise. It is one of the most original novels for 2002.
Reviewed by Angel L. Soto, November 2002
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