The Sleepwalkers

A Novel

By: Scarlett Thomas

Narrated by: Raphael Corkhill, Kit Griffiths

Patricia Highsmith meets The White Lotus in this surprising and suspenseful modern gothic story following a couple running from both secretive pasts and very present dangers while honeymooning on a Greek island.

“Fantastically gripping…this is fiction roaring on all cylinders.” —The Guardian
“A work of peculiar gonzo genius…Thomas takes a glamorous late-capitalist setting, with rosé and catamarans…and warps it into a story that is surprising, humane and political to its bones.” —The New York Times

Still reeling from the chaos of their wedding, Evelyn and Richard arrive on a tiny Greek island for their honeymoon. It’s the end of the season and a storm is imminent. Determined to make the best of it, they check into the sun-soaked rooms of Villa Rosa. Already feeling insecure after seeing the “beautiful people,” the seemingly endless number of young models and musicians lounging along the Mediterranean, Evelyn is wary of the hotel’s owner, Isabella, who seems to only have eyes for Richard.

Isabella ostensibly disapproves of every request Evelyn makes, seemingly annoyed at the fact that they are there at all. Isabella is also preoccupied with her chance to enthrall the only other guests—an American producer named Marcus and his partner Debbie—with the story of “the sleepwalkers,” a couple who had stayed at the hotel recently and drowned.

Everyone seems to want to talk about the sleepwalkers, save for Hamza, a young Turkish man Evelyn had seen with some of the “beautiful people,” as well as the “dapper little man”—the strange yet fashionable owner of the island’s lone antiques and gift shop she sees everywhere.

But what at first seemed eccentric, decorative, or simply ridiculous, becomes a living nightmare. Evelyn and Richard are separated the night of the storm and forced to face dark truths, but it’s their confessions around the origins of their relationship and the years leading up to their marriage that might save them.

“Vibey, dark, and weird” (Allie Rowbottom, author of Aesthetica), and also very funny, The Sleepwalkers asks urgent questions about relationships, sexuality, and the darkest elements of contemporary society—where our most terrible secrets are hidden in plain sight.

Critic reviews

"Raphael Corkhill depicts Richard’s weaknesses as they contribute to the unraveling of his marriage. Griffiths and Corkhill effectively deliver the disturbing backstories of both characters. Passages that describe disturbing circumstances are expertly delivered by Griffiths in a mesmerizing tone and tempo."

the premise of story was not explained

repetition of train of thought. boring and weird. it never told the sleepwalker story. i.e. what the subjects were supposed to be filming.

interesting

it was kind of hard to follow at times but it eventually made sense. I am still not sure what happened

Lack of coherent storyline

Overly verbose, rambling, disjointed, …. and, ultimately a waste of time. It doesn’t even qualify as an acceptable beach read.

Confusing audiobook

I feel like this audiobook version is confusing, and might make more sense on paper. Stylish and entertaining just found myself lost in the end. Fun descriptions and cool concept for a book

Don’t do it, not worth it!

Do not waste your credit on this book ! not erotic not anything not worth your time!