This is such a unique storyline - a ten year old murder being "reconsidered" on a podcast. Great characters and mystery!

After the murder of her father, betrayal by her twin sister Lanie, and her mother’s self-imposed exile to a cult in California, Josie Buhrman changes her name and begins a new life thousands of miles away from Elm Park, Illinois. Her boyfriend of five years, Caleb, believes that Josie’s parents are dead and she was raised by her aunt, and Josie doesn’t know how to tell him about her family’s tragedies. The combined forces of an investigative reporter’s podcast revisiting her father’s murder and her mother’s suicide bring Josie back to Elm Park, where Josie must find a way to reconcile her past and present.

I’ve always disliked those reporters that stick a microphone in a traumatized person’s face to ask them how they feel…how do you think they feel? They’re frightened and hurt, at the very least. Poppy was one of those reporters, ambushing and flattering in order to get people to tell whatever they knew to promote her podcast, providing someone their fifteen minutes of fame. This is an exciting, fast-paced read, sure to keep you guessing.

I could definitely understand why this novel would be compared to Serial and I think that was a fair assessment. It really gave me insight on how the people who are a part of these in real life must feel to have it dredged up again and on display for everyone to see. The characters in the book were engaging, some likeable, others not. It kept me engaged and wanting to read more. There was something missing for me to take this to a full 5 stars, but I think for a book compared to a cultural phenomenon it could have been way worse. Well done on a solid book!

* I received this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review *

This book sounded great in the description, but once I got into it, I didn't love it. I thought the twists and turns were predictable. I did like the way she incorporated the podcast into the novel, that was well done.

Are You Sleeping is a fast faced and intriguing debut novel that is sure to be a hit with many readers. The author tells the story in a unique way as well which sets it apart from some of the other mysteries that are floating around the booksphere today. This unique storytelling ability is sure to make the novel a top contender when it comes to peoples favorite of the year.

With that, I thoroughly enjoyed this one and am excited to see where the author goes from here. I will definitely be on the lookout for any future releases from here and I think many readers will feel the same way.

I cruised through this book it was so addicting. It was like Gillian Flynn's Dark Places meets the Serial podcast. This is the exact type of book I enjoy reading, so I was excited to read this before publication.

The book is a combination of learning about Josie's life, figuring out who murdered her father, and amateur investigative journalism through excerpts from a Serial-like podcast and social media. It was a unique concept, and I look forward to more of Barber's writing.

I loved diving into back stories and trying to understand the different aspects of the Buhrman family. I enjoyed learning about the twins (Josie and Lanie) as they were growing up and how they interacted in present day. I appreciate how original the stories and characters are, and I couldn't put the book down. It was a fast-paced read that put your mind in a million different places - both present and past - and I enjoyed the thrill ride.

Sadly, the ending was somewhat predictable, but the story continued to develop and explain completely new things even if you figured it out in advance. Definitely recommend!

*Thank you to Netgalley and Gallery Books for the ARC, for which I have given an honest and unbiased review*

Very light beach read.
Character development light
Not recommended

Josie Buhrman has spent the last ten years trying to escape her family’s reputation and with good reason. After her father's murder thirteen years prior, her mother ran away to join a cult and her twin sister Lanie, once Josie’s closest friend and confidant, betrayed her in an unimaginable way. Now, Josie has finally put down roots in New York, settling into domestic life with her partner Caleb, and that’s where she intends to stay.

The only problem is that she has lied to Caleb about every detail of her past—starting with her last name.

When investigative reporter Poppy Parnell sets off a media firestorm with a mega-hit podcast that reopens the long-closed case of Josie’s father’s murder, Josie’s world begins to unravel. Meanwhile, the unexpected death of Josie’s long-absent mother forces her to return to her Midwestern hometown where she must confront the demons from her past—and the lies on which she has staked her future.

I found this book engaging, quickly got into it and was keen to know more about the mysterious background to the sisters' situation. I liked the extracts from the blog and social media that were interspersed between chapters - they were an outside commentary on the review of the historic murder case and were believable and added interest. With a few twists along the way that kept me guessing about the identify of the murderer, the novel came to a satisfying conclusion.

I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.  These are my own opinions.  Thank you to Net Galley, the publisher and the author.

Are You Sleeping is an intense story that will keep you reading way past your bedtime.

Her father brutally murdered, her mother joined a cult, and her sister married her high school sweetheart.

When a podcast brings up harsh memories, sisters Josie and Lanier need to find the truth.

I voluntarily read an ARC of this book provided by the publisher and NetGalley.

I actually checked goodreads when I was about 10% into this book to see if I had read it before because it seemed so familiar. I hadn't and I kept reading. Fairly predictable, it is part murder mystery, part coming of age (very late) story. It once again reflected how much the past influences the future. The pages kept turning and ends seemed to get tied up. I've read better and I've read worse.

Despite a vague sense of hovering contrivance (could it be the framing device of someone re-investigating a cold case on the internet? Polly is a heel and desperate to go viral with it all - not very attractive, but this is what initially drives the whole piece .. her re-examination). But over that hump, the book reads like a shot - a peaceful life with her boyfriend (albeit he does not know it all), the daughter of a murdered man lives with her boyfriend, denying her twin sister's existence. And we learn why - it's all wound up with her witnessing what happened to her father, pointing the finger at a neighbour and suffering their mother's abandonment of them to a cult. She's dead now and the twins find they need each other - after the years when the accused has been in prison and Josie is estranged from her sister, it will all cler up now - or will it? Her twin has a daughter who is repeating the same estrangement she'd had with her sister (and mother) - so history repeats itself and in the end of this novel, things are sorted but can never be the same. I read it all in one amazing gulp.

Are you sleeping by Kathleen Barber starts with a creepy phone call at 3 am that unsettles Jo and brings back buried memories of her sister who she hasn't seen in ten years. Not long after the phone call Jo hears about a podcast started by Poppy Parnell. Everyone is talking about it. Poppy Parnell is an investigative journalist who is using her podcast to look at evidence and uncover the truth of who murdered Jo's father ten years earlier.Jo and her partner, Caleb live in New York. Jo has changed her name and Caleb does not know about her family.
This is a psychological thriller mystery full of secrets, lies and family relationships.

As a fan of SERIAL’s first season, the premise of this book drew me right in, and I was eager to delve into the twisty ups and downs of following a murder case in which all may not be as it seems. ARE YOU SLEEPING did not disappoint. By exploring the family with the lost loved one, this story deepened my understanding of how harrowing it must be to have the past dredged up and exposed for the world to pick apart and criticize. I became completely absorbed in this clever novel and could not put it down. Highly enjoyable. #justiceforjosie

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! Are You Sleeping has been compared to Serial (audio Podcast) hosted by Sarah Koenig, and Ruth Ware's In a Dark, Dark Wood which I absolutely devoured in one sitting, so it took no convincing for me to read this book! Are You Sleeping is told from the alternating viewpoints of Josie, who suffered unspeakable trauma as a child, and Poppy Parnell, annoying investigative journalist determined to reinvestigate the murder of Josie's father thirteen years prior. Josie has distanced herself from her past with layers of lies for her own protection, but Poppy's (a character you love to hate) podcast goes viral. Suddenly, Josie has no choice but to reveal herself and fears losing her boyfriend, Caleb, when the truth is revealed. Though a twisty, satisfying thriller, Are You Sleeping is also about relationships, redemption, and the power of forgiveness.

3.5 stars

Thank you to net galley and the publisher Grove Atlantic for the ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

The format of the book really engaged me. Narrative mixed with excerpts from the podcast, tweets and discussion threads felt really topical and Kathleen Barber raises questions around the media and social media, and its intrusiveness into ordinary peoples lives. This then raises the issue of perception, and whether the truth is what matters, or whether the perception of the truth is more important.

The 10 year old mystery of who killed Chuck Buhrman and whether it was the boy convicted for the crime is re awakened with a hugely successful podcast by the terrier-like journalist Poppy Parnell. We see the repercussions of this on his surviving family, in particular the daughter Josie, who had managed to create a new life for herself and, to a lesser extent, her twin sister Lainie. When Josie has a meltdown which manifests in the haircut and colour from hell, this felt like such a relatable moment.

As Josie starts to question what she remembers about the night her father was killed, and just how well she remembers her family, the truth about the night in question starts to emerge. The plot ticks along at a great pace, and this was a quick and enjoyable read.

I would have liked to have known more about Lainie, instead the reader only sees her though the medias eyes, or through Josie's hurt. Sometimes the pair behaved inconsistently, which rather than suggesting a nuanced relationship, actually felt confusing. Some of their actions also felt disingenuous and simply a way to drive the plot forward.

However, this was an advance copy, so there may be differences in the released version.

I would definitely be interested in reading more by this author .

Perception.

And how exactly do we arrive at our view of the world and all of its clingy entanglements?

Is it purely ours to hold within or has it been tainted and smeared with the handprints of others?

Kathleen Barber presents her story of Are You Sleeping through the lense of social media. Poppy Parnell, an investigative reporter, is resurrecting a murder case from 2002. It involves a beloved college professor from Elm Park College in Illinois. Although the murderer has been convicted and serving his sentence, Poppy feels that there is more to this story.

Enter josie Buhrman. Josie is the victim's daughter who has purposefully embraced the anonymous lifestyle of New York City. She's made no contact with her twin sister, Lanie, in over ten years. Lanie has made sure of that with quite the betrayal from years ago. Josie lives with her boyfriend, Caleb, who is presently working in the Congo. She met him while traipsing through Europe and Africa on her avoidance tour.

But there's plenty of breadcrumbs left behind on this Josie trail. Poppy eventually locates Josie and pursues her with her relentless podcast. Josie has erected stone walls in the form of jagged lies in regard to Caleb. He has no idea about her backstory until this "orphan's" mother dies and she must return to Elm Park. The jig is up and it's time for Josie to face the music and the sister she left behind.

Are You Sleeping had all the makings of quite the read. Kathleen Barber created a story lined with all the intrusiveness of social media into our lives topped off with the subjective nature of the human eye. What exactly is our own truth and how much of it is brushed with the strokes of other's verbal involvement? How easily are we swayed by another's words?

I know that there are and will be much higher reviews for this one. The element of "time" did me in. Barber sets out a loop that has widened over the years in this novel. To cinch it back in was a cumbersome undertaking for the reader. Of all the gin mills in all the world, Poppy picks this one. The actions taking place in the finale were so contrived. The tension at this place point was not due to a surprise element, but it was more in question of how to get all the disjointed pieces back in the box.

This is a debut novel for Ms. Barber. I'd like to take another spin around the block in her next one for sure. She has the makings of a successful author.

I received a copy of Are You Sleeping through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Gallery Books and to Kathleen Barber for the opportunity.

3.5 stars

I loved the concept of this book. The storyline was interesting and fresh. It was a well written, easy read that held my attention throughout. I thought the ending was a little obvious but I still enjoyed the journey to get there. I'd recommend to serious mystery readers.

This book is an all-nighter because the reader will definitely want to finish it in one sitting. Written in first person, the reader is drawn into the story of Josie Buhrman and the past she would do anything to forget. However, the past always finds a way of creeping back into the present and the reader is transported on the journey to solve the mystery a la who shot J.R. Ewing. Great read.

When I finished the book, the first thing I did was breathe deeply. The second thing I did was to check to make sure this was actually an ARC and not a book I had purchased, because the quality was so high. (I read--and abandon--quite a lot of bad ARCs.] I loved the book. I loved Josie and OMG Caleb is amazing. I could empathize with Lanie, and I find Aunt A and Ellen to be beautifully done, multilayered and complex and so very human.

In fact, this was a human story about human beings, all of them, flawed and painful as they sometimes might be. I loved everyone. No one was the caricature of a villain (I hate books where the villain is transparently easy to hate). I found Poppy Parnell to be a bloodthirsty vulture, but at the same time, she did what an investigative reporter does, so she's a wash. I don't have to like her to respect her.

Five stars, well earned. I look forward to more from this author.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the interspersed podcast transcripts, tweets and Reddit threads. Over the past three months I’ve read a lot of thrillers and many have blurred into each other. But not this one!

I feel the story could have added one more twist at the very end. In fact, I was disappointed it didn’t end as I had wanted. Would have been five stars then!