Sleepyhead cover art

Sleepyhead

 Preview
LIMITED TIME OFFER

3 Months Free

$8.99/month after 3 months. Cancel anytime.
Get this deal
Offer ends on 29 July 2026 at 11:59 AEST.
More purchase options

Sleepyhead

By: Mark Billingham
Narrated by: Mark Billingham
Get this deal

$8.99/month after 3 months. Cancel anytime. Offer ends on 29 July 2026 at 11:59 AEST.

Buy Now for $25.49

Buy Now for $25.49

The classic first novel from Mark Billingham introduces DI Tom Thorne in a unforgettable and terrifying case that changed crime fiction forever.

*THE LATEST TOM THORNE NOVEL WHAT THE NIGHT BRINGS IS AVAILABLE IN AUDIOBOOK NOW*

Alison Willetts has survived a stroke, deliberately induced by a skilful manipulation of pressure points on the head and neck. She can see, hear and feel but she is completely unable to move or communicate. In leaving Alison Willetts alive, the police believe the killer's made his first mistake.

Then DI Tom Thorne discovers the horrifying truth: it isn't Alison who is the mistake, it's the three women already dead.

Thorne must find a killer whose agenda is disturbingly unique, and Alison, the one person who holds the key to the killer's identity, is unable to say anything . . .

'One of my favourite authors'
Harlan Coben

'A terrifically stylish debut novel'
Independent on Sunday

'The next superstar detective'
Lee Child©2001 Mark Billingham Crime Thrillers Modern Detectives Mystery Police Procedurals Psychological Thriller & Suspense Suspense Fiction
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1
All stars
Most relevant
Another brilliant book from Mark Billingham. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Looking forward to the next book.

Kept me guessing until the end!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I like a totally different murder mystery and this fit the bill. Wow. Didn't see that coming! I have a whole new author to check out now. Highly Recommended.

Excellent and Unexpected

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
It’s not a particularly engaging cast of characters, but if murder mysteries are your thing then this might work well for you. I was really surprised by how much drinking everyone does - it’s a constant plot point. Drink, hangovers, more drinking, well it just seemed ott to me. But maybe that’s the culture in London and I don’t live in the UK so really I have no idea. The author reads the story and he is an excellent narrator, so that part works well. He has tried for an original motive for the murders as well, also quite interesting. The investigator fixated on someone he dislikes as the prime suspect, well that part was a bit clumsy. Overall a reasonable read.

Drink anyone?

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Main character was interesting, a little slow at times. Will listen to next book in the series.

Bit too much medical detail

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
A fabulous plot, well thought out and cleverly written. I thoroughly enjoyed Sleepyhead and look forward to the rest of the series.

Enthralling

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.