3 Stars!
When I picked up a copy of No Sleep Till Wonderland by Paul Tremblay, I have to admit that I had made a mistake. It was not a mistake to pick up this book. It could be a very good book. But I have to admit that I mistook the author for a different author I had not read in a while and realized this as I started the novel. That being said, there is nothing wrong with reading someone new so I was hoping to find a story that would capture my imagination.
Nothing is coming easy for Mark Genevich. He is being forced to attend therapy session for his narcolepsy in order to keep a roof above his head and his private detective business barely running. Even worse, he not only dislikes the therapy sessions but they are not working and his narcolepsy is getting no better. When he meets Gus, he seems to have found a sympathetic friend and the two bond over a couple alcohol-fueled days. Then Gus asks for what seems a simple favor: just keep an eye on a friend who is being pursued by an overenthusiastic suitor. It seemed simple at first glance. It would soon lead to murder.
When the evenings surveillance leads Mark to an apartment building on fire, he leaps into action to try to help out. Unfortunately, his narcolepsy kicks in leaving him without much memory of the events and a suspect in a police investigation. The plot thickens around him leaving his head spinning as he is approached on all sides by people that seem to have different angles into the strange events. When all is said and done, Mark learns that all was definitely not what it seems and he finds himself set up to take the fall for a murder he did not commit and that is only if he can make it out alive.
I did experience some confusion at the beginning of this novel as I did not realize that it was a sequel. This did lead me to miss some of the context for the novel and maybe not get as deep an understanding of the characters as I would have if I read the first novel. I do not know, though, that it is absolutely necessary to read the first. The writing is slick and it was easy to get into the flow of the story. I did feel as if I was missing something in Mark’s character but not enough to ruin the story. I could catch up with a lot of it as the story progressed and it only made the first pages a little clunky due to no fault of the author. Once I settled in, the book became a quick read that just kind of swept me through the narrative until the end.
There is something to be said for slick prose and a story that races by. This certain describes No Sleep Till Wonderland. I was through the story before I knew it. The problem, though, is that the book was too shallow for it to really drive me in. Instead of becoming invested in the story, I just kind of watched it flow by. There were things that were certainly interesting but nothing that really reached out to grab me. I also found the characters, including Mark, to be a little shallow and his narcolepsy almost became a crutch as the story went on as it seemed more of a way to cop-out of a tough situation than a real ailment for the character. I enjoyed the book but I also wish that it could have been much more. And I really think it had the potential to be so if the writer had chosen to dig in and fill the story out. As it stands, No Sleep Till Wonderland is a diversion for a couple hours that provides some entertainment but falls short of achieving all it was capable of achieving.
I would like to thank William Morrow and Custom House and NetGalley for this review copy. No Sleep Till Wonderland is scheduled to be released April 20, 2021.
Josef H, Reviewer
Amanda D, Reviewer
