From a Dead Sleep by John A. Daly is a fast reading suspense book that surprised me so much, I had to finish it in one sitting. Of course, I failed but this is truly one of my fastest reads ever.
Sean Coleman is the prototype of man I could never befriend. No determination to make something out of life, gambling, and drinking. Really, who needs this! You can imagine that I was thrilled to read how Sean lost the staring contest to a large jack-rabbit after another drinking adventure. While trying to literally get back up, he sees a man on a bridge. The man is clearly going to jump but before that he also shoots himself. The way that he does that makes it clear that he wants his suicide to be treated as a murder.
As Sean tries to get the authorities involved to help solve this mystery his abrasive personality and the family history prevent anything from being seen in the correct light. Sean has a reputation of sending the cops on chases that only have a foundation in Sean’s mind. And that mind was often directed by alcohol and not reason.
We meet the local cops and the families involved. We see how Sean is determined to prove everyone wrong. This time, this time for sure, he is going to show them that there was more to Sean Coleman than debt and bad hygiene. And he succeeds … but not before many others die.
The book takes us through Colorado and Michigan. We learn about crime and how some people rolled from one job into the other until they were stuck and saw no way out. We learn that fidelity and loyalty in those circles are based on fear and self-preservation.
The story has multiple layers and until the plot unfolds the book keeps you awake.
John Daly describes his scenes in such detail that you can see it in front of you. Nature, rock formations, facial characteristics, and weapons, it seems that there is nothing this author cannot describe. I look forward to reading more books. You can follow John on Twitter.
Highly recommended reading.
I received a free copy of this book through the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
[…] reader may not like the character at all. I told him that after reading “From a Dead Sleep” by John Daly I was disgusted by the main character who was presented in the beginning of the […]