Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Sleepyhead  By  cover art

Sleepyhead

By: Mark Billingham
Narrated by: Mark Billingham
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $14.52

Buy for $14.52

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

The classic first novel from Mark Billingham introduces DI Tom Thorne in a unforgettable and terrifying case that changed crime fiction forever.

Alison Willetts has survived a stroke, deliberately induced by a skilful manipulation of pressure points on the head and neck. She can see, hear and feel but she is completely unable to move or communicate. In leaving Alison Willetts alive, the police believe the killer's made his first mistake.

Then DI Tom Thorne discovers the horrifying truth: it isn't Alison who is the mistake, it's the three women already dead.

Thorne must find a killer whose agenda is disturbingly unique, and Alison, the one person who holds the key to the killer's identity, is unable to say anything . . .

©2001 Mark Billingham (P)2018 Hachette Audio UK

Critic reviews

'One of my favourite authors' Harlan Coben 

'A terrifically stylish debut novel' Independent on Sunday 

'The next superstar detective' Lee Child

What listeners say about Sleepyhead

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    5
  • 4 Stars
    4
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    7
  • 4 Stars
    1
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    5
  • 4 Stars
    3
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

No Reviews are Available
Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Jude Uk
  • Jude Uk
  • 04-09-20

Confused!

Not usually this confused but I just couldn’t get a handle on what was what

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Queen Janey
  • Queen Janey
  • 01-03-19

Great Listen

Well written and narrated. One of best audio books I have listened to. Will be looking for more by this author

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Mrs C
  • Mrs C
  • 03-12-21

Thoroughly enjoyed

First book I have read/listened to from this author and was hooked from the first chapter. Detective Thorne is a very engaging character. He has flaws and attributes in equal measures. I’m not sure if it was meant to be humorous or not but Alison’s character was really funny at times - loved the accent. I’m already looking forward to reading more of Tom Thorne. I really hope it’s the same narrator for the next book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Mr Christopher J O'Connell
  • Mr Christopher J O'Connell
  • 08-01-19

Very enjoyable

A great gritty murder thriller. Very well read. Thoroughly believable characters and enough twists and turns to satisfy.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Anonymous User
  • Anonymous User
  • 10-23-20

Gripping & Terrifying

Gripping and terrifying, brought to life off the pages by Mark himself. Kept me guessing right to the end when tears were shed.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Pianogoon
  • Pianogoon
  • 07-30-20

Crime fodder

This was ok, I could imagine a bbc version of it made.

It was predictable and the main characters weren’t to my taste. Maybe folk a little older or could relate to them and their views (im 38) but for my part it seemed dated and they weren’t likeable and a bit cheesy, especially when the author tried to make them cool or develop younger characters.

I’m not a big crime fan so maybe this just wasn’t for me but I must say, I probably won’t be following the DI Thorn series or the authors other work

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Kirstine
  • Kirstine
  • 07-01-19

Engaging if unbelievable

I enjoyed this book and the imaginative crimes. It would be a spoiler if I say why the perpetrator of the crimes is unlikely to have the knowledge and skills necessary. It's the first in the Tom Thorne series; a series that I think improves with time. The author narrates his own words with skill.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Mr T N Austen
  • Mr T N Austen
  • 03-31-21

Good but not brilliant

The story is actually quite a good idea, it is a little predictable but is still enjoyable. The down side was the narration was not as good as some I've heard and I felt sometimes it jumped between characters without me realising. Overall though not bad.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Bugzy
  • Bugzy
  • 12-11-20

Good plot

Enjoyed it and found it gripping in parts especially towards the end. I found the style a bit long winded and irrelevant at times. overall I enjoyed it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for AS-MC
  • AS-MC
  • 11-11-20

Professional Reviewer Gets Read To

Loved it. It was really rememorable. The narrator/author has a great voice. If only I didn't fall asleep when read to. Hopefully my next read, 'How To Wake Up Next to Cillian Murphy' will have a similar result as 'Sleepyhead'.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Elizabeth
  • Elizabeth
  • 01-18-19

Enthralling

A fabulous plot, well thought out and cleverly written. I thoroughly enjoyed Sleepyhead and look forward to the rest of the series.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Julie K
  • Julie K
  • 04-05-21

Kept me guessing until the end!

Another brilliant book from Mark Billingham. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Looking forward to the next book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Coljar
  • Coljar
  • 02-07-19

gripping until the last 3 chapters

needs a more believable ending .last chapters a bit mundane . ending yucky.slow, obvious but overall entertaining !

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Valerie
  • Valerie
  • 07-30-22

Drink anyone?

It’s not a particularly engaging cast of characters, but if murder mysteries are your thing then this might work well for you. I was really surprised by how much drinking everyone does - it’s a constant plot point. Drink, hangovers, more drinking, well it just seemed ott to me. But maybe that’s the culture in London and I don’t live in the UK so really I have no idea. The author reads the story and he is an excellent narrator, so that part works well. He has tried for an original motive for the murders as well, also quite interesting. The investigator fixated on someone he dislikes as the prime suspect, well that part was a bit clumsy. Overall a reasonable read.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Mim
  • Mim
  • 07-24-22

Slow moving

I know this is a popular series but it bored me. I didn’t end up finishing it, I just googled the end.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Anonymous User
  • Anonymous User
  • 05-28-21

Great Listen

I thoroughly enjoyed this! Interesting plot, good detailed story and great narration. Would definitely recommend.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Anonymous User
  • Anonymous User
  • 04-11-21

first book I could not finish

I just found this unbearable. could not connect with any characters and the storyline was just hard to find.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!