Sleepers

John Milton, Book 13

By: Mark Dawson

Narrated by: David Thorpe

Length: 9 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's summary

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

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.

Quite well done

Perhaps the best of the series thus far...If you like any of the previous then I think you will find this to be of your liking. One thing, ok two things, that I appreciate this author doing is making Milton human and also making the story near to reality.

Big fan of the series

If you hadn't started this series this may be a good place to start. it is a prequel that filled in a few blanks. It takes place a very short time before the first book in the series. It is, also, a very good book on it's own. The action is great but I really enjoy being in the head of people who are elite at what they do. I could not reccomend this series more.

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.

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.

Love John Milton..

This was a good book that should have been written a long time ago, since it's all about how John Milton was a drunk when he was in Group Fifteen. However, better late than never. It was still a really good read.

This was all about Russia, the murder of two retired Russian agents and the man who was having all these men killed in order to protect his young-agent-mistress. AND about a Russian double agent in the SIS and an American agent in Russia.

One romantic scene that was fade-to-black and the F-bomb was used 17 times.

As for the narration: David Thorpe was as wonderful as ever.

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!

This book should have been book 1.

Melton Left group 15 in Book 1! So I’m really confused. Why did you do this?

Another great book but...

I did enjoy this book but I felt that there was an element missing. The story seemed to go much faster than the previous novels. I would like to read more stories about John Milton’s past such as training and other missions. The narrator is amazing.

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!!!

Superb Milton backstory...

Sleepers takes us back to when Milton was Number 1 at Group 15. At this point he is harbouring a desire to get out of his line of work, and finally admits to himself that he needs help for his alcoholism.
The main plot line focuses on a retired former Russian spy-turned-defector, who received plans for a secret Russian plane. He wants help in getting his daughter into the UK, and offers the plans in return. The Russians soon find out what has occurred, and quickly despatch a couple of sleeper agents to silence those involved. Milton and Pope are soon on the hunt of the agents,and those who sent them, and a pursuit across Russia results.
A great story, and really interesting to see Milton in full flight in his Group 15 role.
Superbly narrated by David Thorpe.

Classic Milton

It was nice to get some back story of million before the cleaner
I wanted to listen in one sitting but listened in two days
The narration is excellent and no Spoilers it's a good story with plenty of action and could be listened to before the cleaner and deserves to be a best seller

Not what I was expecting

After listening to the first 12 books over the past 12 months and being quite sold on the character and storylines I must admit to disappointment with this book. I like the way he has tied the story in to give the origins of his need to escape from the life that he led but by the end of the first 2 hours I was wondering if I was listening to a John Milton book.

It is always nice to start with background information but I was ready to delete the book and return it in exchange for one of the short stories because I was bored to tears before the story got any substance relevant to Milton.

This could have been a seven hour book and still have been too long.

I will wait for the next book with a little more doubt than I have in the past and wait for a few reviews before purchase I think. I had been really looking forward to this book beforehand.

rubbish

I feel compiletely cheated. I thought that this was a follow on from book 12....

WRONG.
This book just went back to the point where Milton decides he's had enough and why. we already knew that!!!
complete waste of a credit. .
don't waste your credit

Rather disappointing and uneven story

Despite the topical story, I found this latest in the John Milton series rather disappointing. I was looking forward to my favourite vigilante doing his thing but this one went back to when he was still in his previous "job" and tried to explain why he decided to quit. The bad (mainly Russian) characters were 2 dimensional stereotypes and much of the story didn't make sense and had to be "explained" at the end. I could see why the Skripal affair would pique the interest of writers like Mark Dawson but I would have been happier if he had spent a bit more time working the plot out. Sadly, not his best.

Confused

Mark Dawson is a great author. I've listened to all of the books in this series but only managed to get part way through this one. I listen to audio books mainly on short car journeys and when I go to bed. These listening periods might only be for 15 maybe 30 minutes at a time so I need a plot and characters that can be easily remembered. This book with the umpteen Russian character's completely confused me and thus I gave it up as a bad job. Come on Mark get back on track!!

Great book, John Milton never surprises us!

Another Book from the John Milton series exceptionally well narrated by David Thorpe.. just when we think John can’t do another story Mark Dawson finds one which is topical, well researched & believable, keep them coming loads of life in John still.!

Another great “John Milton” classic

Great story. If you are a fan and have read all the books, this is just perfect to read. Loved it - thank you

Topical storyline

A good storyline which was very topical. We obviously know Milton Survives this mission which takes away sone of thr mystique.

Good book.

Excellent as usual

Great story, surprises and theatre, Milton at the beginning, can’t wait for the next one