Are You Sleeping

Josie Buhrman has built a new life away from her traumatic past, living in New York under a different name and keeping her history hidden from her boyfriend. The murder of her father, her mother's subsequent disappearance into a cult, and her estrangement from her twin sister Lanie are secrets she hopes to leave behind. A popular investigative podcast reopens the decades-old murder case, questioning the conviction of the man imprisoned for killing Josie's father. The podcast gains momentum and attracts national attention, forcing Josie to confront both her family's painful history and her sister's role in the original investigation. As media scrutiny intensifies and family tensions resurface, Josie must return home and face the complex web of relationships and memories she tried to escape. The story moves between past and present as new information emerges about the night of the murder. This psychological thriller explores how trauma shapes identity and questions the reliability of memory and truth in an era of viral media sensations and public investigations.

Readers found this thriller engaging but predictable. The podcast/true crime angle resonated with fans of Serial and similar shows, with many noting it captured the ethical questions around true crime entertainment. Liked: - Fast-paced narrative style - Realistic portrayal of social media's impact - Complex family dynamics - Audiobook performance Disliked: - Slow middle section - Unrealistic coincidences in plot - Main character described as "whiny" and "frustrating" - Resolution felt rushed - Too many subplots Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (22,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (1,200+ ratings) LibraryThing: 3.5/5 (400+ ratings) "The podcast transcripts added authenticity but interrupted the flow," noted one Amazon reviewer. Multiple Goodreads reviews mentioned the book works better as a commentary on true crime culture than as a mystery novel. Several readers compared it unfavorably to similar books like "Sadie" and "Six Stories."

Sadie by Courtney Summers A murder podcast investigation intertwines with the story of a missing girl searching for her sister's killer.

The Family Plot by Megan Collins A true crime-obsessed family confronts their own dark history when a body is discovered on their property.

The Night Swim by Megan Goldin A podcast host covering a rape trial uncovers connections to an unsolved drowning from twenty-five years ago.

I'll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara A journalist's investigation into the Golden State Killer becomes a meditation on obsession and the cost of pursuing justice.

If I Disappear by Eliza Jane Brazier A podcast listener turns amateur detective when her favorite true crime host goes missing.

🎙️ The novel's podcast format was directly influenced by "Serial," the groundbreaking true-crime podcast that revolutionized the medium in 2014 📚 The book was later adapted into the Apple TV+ series "Truth Be Told" starring Octavia Spencer and Aaron Paul 🖋️ Prior to becoming an author, Kathleen Barber worked as a lawyer, and her legal background helped shape the procedural elements of the story 👥 The complex dynamic between twins Josie and Lanie was inspired by Barber's fascination with twin psychology and the unique bonds between identical siblings 🔍 The novel was published under two different titles - "Are You Sleeping" in North America and "Truth Be Told" in some international markets, aligning with its TV adaptation