Sleepers

John Milton, Book 13

By: Mark Dawson

Narrated by: David Thorpe

When a Russian defector is assassinated in a sleepy English seaside town, Group Fifteen agents John Milton and Michael Pope find themselves in a rush to uncover the culprits and bring them to justice.

Their investigation leads them to Moscow and a confrontation with Directorate S, the agency responsible for seeding Russian sleeper agents around the world. When lies and double crossing mean that no-one is what they seem, the two agents - alone and without backup - struggle to achieve their goals under the most dangerous of circumstances.

Set one week before the opening of The Cleaner, this compulsive thriller turns back the clock to Milton as a barely functioning alcoholic, still tormented by the ghosts of the men and women he has killed in the service of his country. Milton must fight his own demons as well as the Russian assassin sent to eliminate him. Will he be able to complete his mission and escape with his life?

©2018 Mark Dawson (P)2018 Audible, Ltd

great story

wraps up all the previous books! cant wait for the next one. I will be sad when the series is over

A younger John Milton

Those who follow this excellent espionage series will quickly realize that Sleepers goes back into a period of a younger John Milton's life before he left the Group 15 espionage agency. Up until this novel the Milton series was in chronological order of John Milton's life. The author explains why if a short afterward. I wish he had brought back Beatrix Rose also, Although now long dead she remains my favorite Mark Dawson character.

I seemed to me that the last several novels in the John Milton series while quite good were not up to Dawson's prior standards. This one definitely is. Narrator David Thorpe was excellent as usual.

Mark Dawson's Latest Triumph

Mark Dawson has written a believable and vibrant tale based on the backstory of his John Milton character; not an easy feat to achieve after having written 12 previous novels. This story does not disappoint.

Dawson's gift, especially in the military, suspense, thriller, espionage genres, is creating characters that bring relevance and relatable human traits. Every component of a Dawson story adds value while avoiding gratuitous elements only for their shock value. His stories live.

Dawson's research and knowledge of his subject carry throughout all of his works; Sleepers included. I now measure all other writers in these genres by Mark Dawson's rule. There are a few who measure-up, but not many. Dawson has raised the bar for my reading pleasure.

David Thorpe's delivery is perfection, providing the personality and voice masterfully to all of the characters, and yes, David Thorpe is John Milton for me.

I suggest you read some (if not all) of the John Milton stories before you read Sleepers. Why? Because in hindsight, since I have read all of the Milton stories, Sleepers has engaged my heart more profoundly with my love of the Milton character, and drama. It brilliantly supports the meaning of his life--in the now.

P.S. John Milton stories are not just for male readers. As a woman, I appreciate the heart Mark Dawson successfully delivers within the suspense and intrigue of his stories and their characters. (I know, what a female thing to say! And I'm proud of it.)

Congratulations to Mark Dawson. I picked up Sleepers, and couldn't stop reading until the last word in your After Word!

Well written

This book is well written and engaging. I enjoyed it as I have many of the others in this series.

Mark Dawson has written another great novel!

The author has written another great novel with plenty of intrigue and suspense! The narration is superb, bringing the characters to life!

Taunt Thriller

Hugs John Milton fan!!! It was interesting to go back into his past, but felt that had been covered in the series. Seems more like Thorpe used this book as a personal platform. However, this does not in anyway take away from the plot and characters. Edge of your seat suspense and plenty of gritty action. Hoping this is not the end of number one!!!

John Milton is one of my favorite anti-heroes...

This story was a bit more tame than the previous books. As usual, Mlton gets involved with a stubborn-headed women who makes his job a bit more difficult (for some reason Dawson likes the name Jessica alot). Looking forward to getting back to the older and wiser Milton in the next installment.

Entertaining incompetence

These Milton books are entertaining, but Milton has got to be one of the most incompetent operatives there is. Almost without exception, his planning, tactics and execution are quite bad. And his hand to hand skills and gun tactics are stunningly horrific.

The entry into the house by the three clowns from group 15 was woefully incompetent and horribly planned, and even more horribly executed.

But I get it, the authors of these books have no clue - even apparently the ones claiming to have been special forces guys themselves - and are just producing entertainment. These books are entertaining, so I’ll call it a success.

But it be nice if the author would put more thought into the reality of these things. I mean, all you do is write, for Christ’s sake. Think a bit more.

It’s like watching Breaking Bad or Ozarks, where every single character is a moron who thinks they’re a genius. And you just want to hit yourself in the face with a coffee table as you watch or read.

That entry by the three operatives into the house (won’t spoil it) was unbelievably badly planned and executed. I mean, breathtakingly horrific incompetence.

But, as far as I can tell so far, the people who do this stuff in real life suck just as bad. You can suck pretty bad with other guys doing the cover ups. Special forces are much much closer to special ed. If we’re honest. They can just run a bit longer than you can. And maybe shoot more accurately at paper targets or people who are sleeping or standing really still. They’re highly insecure men who therefore allow other grown men to physically and mentally abuse them so that they can tell themselves that they’re tough.

So I do find these books entertaining. I like mysteries and thrillers…cuz their mysterious and thrilling! But I feel that idolizing the alleged bad ass special forces Black op assassin is sad and comical.

Anyone is smart enough to figure out how to commit a crime. If they really want to. We the readers generally aren’t interested in committing crimes.

But you don’t need to be a government or military wind up toy to do any of this. You just need to have a target and think about how to reach the target. Then you prepare. Pretty simple! No ritual abuse or need to know or non disclosures needed!

Sometimes these books get a bit nauseating, but they are entertaining. Everyone’s a moron. But I suppose so is everyone in real life, including me.

This is a long awaited prequel.

Dawson can go back as far as he likes in John Milton's life I'll read every one. This one is prime Milton, fast, clever and full of twists to keep you turning pages. Loved it.

Milton at his best

Once you read or listen to 1 Milton book you will be hooked for life