While You Were Sleeping

By: Kathryn Croft

Narrated by: Julie Maisey

Length: 9 hrs

Publisher's summary

You wake up to find the man beside you is dead. He is not your husband. This is not your bed.

Tara Logan adores her perfect little family: husband, Noah, and two children, teenager Rosie and 11-year-old Spencer. But her happiness is shattered when she wakes in her neighbour Lee Jacobs' bed, with no memory of how she got there or what happened between them. And worse - he has been stabbed to death.

Convinced she didn't kill Lee, Tara flees home and stays silent, holding her breath as the investigation grips the neighbourhood. But as her daughter spirals out of control and her husband becomes increasingly distant, Tara starts to wonder if someone in her own life knows what really happened that night. And when the police turn their questions towards her, Tara realises she has to find out.

But what will it take to uncover the real story, and can she survive the truth? A gripping, shocking psychological thriller, with a twist that will take you by surprise.

©2016 Kathryn Croft (P)2017 Audible, Ltd

Critic reviews

"A hell of a ride. By the time I reached the nail-biting conclusion I was a nervous wreck, the ending has left me speechless...one of my top reads of 2016. Five stars out of five from me. (I would rate it higher if I could)." ( The Book Review Cafe)

Croft does it again! Outstanding British Mystery!

There are many times I prefer British books and this one is one of my favorites. From the beginning and continuing throughout, this exciting story kept me totally engrossed. It takes many twists and turns. I've listened to author Kathryn Croft's The Stranger Within and enjoyed it as well. While You Were Sleeping kept me listening as soon as I could find free time. The story flows effortlessly and kept me wondering whodunnit. Focusing on several particular persons of interest looking guilty, I thought it just can't be. So many suspects in this suspenseful tale kept my interest and this book is so well-written. The finale is a big surprise! I didn't see that coming. After I thought I knew who the culprit was more than a few times, I was wrong. Croft leads us on the trail off finding the murderer with more suspense and wow! Never saw that coming! What an ending! Never a dull moment; it never drags. Narrator Julie Maisey is superb as she reads with perfection, character's voices, without the annoying he/she said as I've heard in other audio books that is so exasperating. We know who is speaking, she is that good. Lesson learned: Always, always listen carefully through the entire audio sample and read the reviews. Both author and narrator are on the top of my favorites list. I've got Croft's Silent Lies in my wish list. There are times I enjoy mysteries from the view of the family rather than the police and this one is a flawless example. Extremely Highly Recommended!

A Lot Going On!

90% really good, 10% completely implausible. Good characters and interesting twists and turns with just a couple of twists too many. I rolled my eyes a few times at the end, but I enjoyed it.

Another Great Novel

Kathryn Croft delivers yet another gripping psychological thriller with "While You Were Sleeping". I saw several bad reviews but I thought this story was well woven together! Definitely worth a credit!

While you were sleeping

I started this book on Friday and finished it Saturday. It was fantastic! Truly gripping. I really didn't want it to end..

Pretty Good with a hint of annoying

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I didn't hate the book, but I didn't love it. I will say I didn't see it coming (who the murderer was). I hated Mikey, and Leila which I was supposed to but there wasn't enough for me to by into the relationship between the main character and the cop. IT was just all right overall.

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

I think the narrator played a role in my not loving the book, so maybe a different narrator. I think a little more suspense. Also, the writer went on and one about somethings in the main characters head, which was too much at times.

What three words best describe Julie Maisey’s performance?

Okay I guess

Was While You Were Sleeping worth the listening time?

Sure

Long wait to find out who dunnit

This story could've been told in 3 hours rather than 9 long drawn out wasted hours of my life I will never get back. Narration was great story line ok, ending ok, but too long with little meat

Unexpectedly Good

The story is told well and there are many twists and turns enough to throw you off the scent.

suspense

This audiobook lives up to the definition of psychological thriller. From the start, the unexpected becomes the rule. The author causes the reader to believe one suspect did it. No sooner has she made that case then a surprise is revealed. Now you are focused on another. But not so fast. The facts continue to evolve. Great mystery!

What a.ridiculous story!

I only finished it because I had I had a long drive with nothing else to listen to. The narrator is excellent though.

plot holes galore

I could barely finish. the whole thing was nonsensical, with so many plot holes and ridiculous characters.

Enjoyable but I got stuck at "duh really"

Where do I start, part of me enjoyed this whilst the other got stuck with the "duh really"

Tara Logon is married to Noah and they have two children Rosie and Spencer. They live in suburbia and the only grief in their trouble free life is their daughter Rosie who seems to have taken a large bite of the teen angst issues and run with all of them.

All is well until too much wine one evening whilst Noah is in New York she wakes to find herself in her neighbours bed with him and da da dah......he is dead. This is where my disbelief comes in, she gets up, grabs her clothes off the bedroom floor and runs home. In her head is the idea that if no one sees me then it didn't happen.

Where are the forensics, why are the police made to look like they are stupid, why does the lead investigator keep telling her what is happening.

I did finish it but my own disbelief sort of ruined it for me. Sorry.

Arghhh terrible narration

Iv read several books by this author but I waded through 4 hrs of this narration and simply gave up.

Very much a run of the mill domestic murder mystery

The real mystery of the story, how the murder was actually accomplished is never properly addressed. I won't spoil the plot by going into detail on this. It is quite a silly story told in a humdrum manner. Narration is basic but doesn't either add or detract from the overall effect.

Awful, slow, soulless and so far fetched.

Don't waste your money on this one. its more like family drama than a psychological thriller. no thrills here, just a soulless book and another author trying to make money after a one hit wonder!

Dire

One of the worst audio books I’ve listened to in a long time. Don’t bother!

Disappointed with the story

Disappointed with the story felt it was total unbelievable, not what I was expecting from the reviews this book had

Very good, and keeps you guessing...

Initially, I wasn't sure this was going to be my sort of book, however I was very pleasantly surprised. I found the story line compelling, and each twist and turn had me changing my mind as to who murdered Lee on that fateful night.
This is certainly one of those stories that you don't want to put down, and had me finding any excuse to continue listening!
Very accomplished narration from Julie Maisey - very much in keeping with this high quality work from Kathryn Croft.
To sum up: highly recommended!

a good story

good story with an unexpected twist but I found the narration fairly irritating...a personal view obviously

Not great, but ok.

The story has potential, but some of the characters, particularly the lead, are not particularly likeable or relatable. The protagonist is inconsistent, shallow and a bit weak. The story is entertaining overall, but not amazing.

While You Were Sleeping

I really enjoyed this book and kept wanting to listen for extended periods of time (which is always a good sign!) The characters were believable (although two of the women arrange to meet in the vast area of Richmond Park, but they don't elaborate exactly where(!) Why are the people this particular author tends to portray always so darn moneyed (a detached house in Richmond-upon-Thames, South West London anyone?)

Great stuff.