None Shall Sleep

None Shall Sleep
Written by Ellie Marney
Mature Young Adult, Thriller, Mystery
Published September 2020
400 Pages
Thank you to Allen & Unwin
Add to Goodreads
★★★★★
Interviewing convicted juvenile killers for the FBI leads Emma Lewis and Travis Bell on the hunt for a serial murderer who targets teenagers. A riveting young adult thriller that will keep readers on the edge of their seat from start to finish.

It's 1982, and the innovative FBI Behavioural Science section is breaking new ground. Emma Lewis and Travis Bell, two teenagers with valuable skills, are recruited to interview convicted juvenile killers for information on cold cases.

When they're drawn into an active case targeting teenagers, everything starts to unravel. Over Travis's objections, Emma becomes the conduit between the FBI and an incarcerated serial killer, nineteen year old Simon Gutmunsson, who is a super intelligent sociopath. And although Simon seems to be giving them the information they need to save lives, he's also an expert manipulator playing a very long game.

Can Emma and Travis stop a serial killer on the loose or will they fall victim themselves?
Eighteen year old Emma Lewis continues to endure the psychological trauma of being held captive, the sole survivor of man who abducted young women as wives. Now studying forensic psychology at University, Emma is about to embark on a landmark venture with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, adolescents recruited to interview adolescent sociopaths to help understand the psychological motivation of their crimes. Emma is a determined and resolute young woman, intelligent, perceptive and resilient. She's reluctant to join the Federal Behavioural Science Unit, tempted by the prospect of accelerating her education. 

Travis Bell is the son of a decorated police offer, killed in the line of duty by a sociopath killer, now pursuing a career in law enforcement. Travis has been recruited by the FBI and alongside Emma, plans to make the most of the opportunity he's given to forge a career and honour his father's memory. Travis and Emma are strangers, brought together by circumstance but form a tentative and platonic friendship over their shared experience, Emma's abduction and Travis' father killed by Simon Gutmunsson. They share moments of attraction but their working relationship and budding friendship was lovely, seeing them trust one another without the complications of a romantic relationship. Both Travis and Emma are healing and given the circumstances of the investigation, I'm thankful their connection remained purely platonic.  

Simon Gutmunsson, he's charismatic and under any other circumstances, even endearing. Ellie Marney created a likeable sociopath and I'm equally parts delighted and horrified. Simon is known as The Artist, he doesn't consider himself in the same lowly league as a sociopathic killer, he artfully killed his victims as a calling card, proud of his extracurricular activities. Simon is highly intelligent and curious about Emma, alluding to the current murderous spree by the unknown assailant. The FBI hope by understanding juvenile killers like Simon, they'll be able to profile and catch the current serial killer, using Emma and Travis at bait to see what Simon knows.

The killings are brutal. We're given a glimpse into the mind of the killer as he strings up his victims and performs ritualistic killings. It's terrifying and creates an incredibly urgent storyline, using the cryptic innuendo provided by Simon and applying his insights to the current, open case before the killer strikes again. Holy shit. None Shall Sleep is creepy, downright terrifying but balanced with moments of tenderness and a gentle and tentative friendship. 

This is next level Marney, a little bit batshit, pee yourself while reading and jumping at shadows for the next three months. Outstanding!

14 comments

  1. I love her books so I'm really excited to read this - the waiti list was like 7 weeks when I put it on hold and I think I'm getting closer now. I like that it features a platonic relationship and I'm here for the batshitiness of it all!

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    1. It's absolutely brilliant, the psychological aspects are so incredibly written and researched. Simon Gutmunsson is terrifying and charismatic, I could read a book based on his horrendous crimes and he would still be likeable. It's disturbing. I can't wait to see what you think of it!

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  2. I FORGOT ABOUT THIS BOOK. I really wanted to read it and now after reading your review I want it more even more. I love the "likeable sociopath" because I've always been intrigued by different ways sociopaths work to manipulate people.

    I wonder if I can find the audio! Also Im surprised that this is YA!

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    1. It's mature young adult, new adult crossover. The characters are eighteen. It's absolutely brilliant Amber, probably one of the best psychological thrillers I've read in years.

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  3. I love when the villains in books are a little bit...likeable or charismatic, or however you want to say it. It makes it intriguing. I have this one actually - bought a copy recently - and I'm even more excited to finally read it. Hopefully I'll have time this month because it would make a lovely Halloween read.

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

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    1. It would be brilliant for Halloween! It was almost impossible to put down and I loved that there was an attraction and companionship without romance. I'm really hoping this becomes a series, it was amazing!

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  4. I’m usually not into thriller/suspense novels but even this sounds good! The cover is so creepy I can’t look at it for too long lol. I like how Travis and Emma are just friends and working together; it’s rare in YA to see guys and girls remain friends without the drama of a romance or breakup.

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    1. Exactly! We need more platonic friendships. It's clear they're attracted to one another but there's no tension or complicated romance, they both have enough going on and sociopathic killers isn't exactly a romantic setting. It's a brilliant read and I'd love to see what you think of it!

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  5. Oh my, this sound brilliant -- and it's interesting she chose to set it in 1982. This reminds me of Mindhunter given its darkness -- have you watched that?

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    1. I haven't but I've heard it's brilliant! I loved that it took place in the eighties, back then investigations relied less upon technology and more killer profiling and old school investigations. It was one of the aspects about this one that I loved. That and Simon. Why did she create a likeable sociopath! I feel dirty.

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  6. I don't think I'll be sleeping if I read this book! I do like horror, and this sounds like the kind that is combined with a mystery in some way and form as well. And it certainly doesn't shy away from the nitty gritty D:

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    1. I don't often read horror and would probably consider this a psychological thriller with horror elements but it was absolutely brilliant Olivia. I loved Ellie Marney's Every series but she's taken her writing to an entirely new level. This was chilling and I loved every moment!

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  7. YAY - I was a huge fan of her Every series and I absolutely adored this. It had 80s vibes and Silence of the Lambs vibes and I hope there will be a sequel!!

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