Customer Reviews

The Restless Sleep: Inside New York City's Cold Case Squad

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Although I enjoyed reading "The Restless Sleep" very much and will recommend it to friends, I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because of the organizational format of the book. Instead of following each one of the four intriguing cases to its conclusion, Horn divides the cases between several chapters. The large number of names becomes confusing and readers may find themselves flipping back to previous chapters about a particular case to refresh their memories about who was who in the 1951 Sanseverino case, the 1988 Diefenbach case, the 1977 Stapleton case, or the 1996 Leon/Martinez case. The book is wonderfully "real" and informative, but I will recommend skipping chapters, reading about one case in its entirety first before moving to another one. I think that will make for a smoother reading experience.

I mean that literally. Horn's book was one of those where I'm in bed reading, it's way past my bedtime, and I keep thinking "Just one more page..."

Here's what you get between the covers: real, sometimes flawed heroes, and heartbreakingly real vicitims, and the very real and therefore sometimes flawed process by which the murderers are tracked down and brought to justice. There are a number of unsolved murder stories that loop back and forth and over and through each other, and the book's structure makes that work. It's a page turner that defies expectations.

Or, put simply: an excellent read.

A disclaimer: Horn is gripping for reasons already noted on this page: her aptitude for getting deep under the skin of her subjects, and bringing that depth deep under the skin of her readers. Her captivating voice and yen for the finer details of procedure, of files, of inventory. Her compassion for the dead and use of the book as a eulogy for them.

Et cetera.

But: here's what's absolutely remarkable about it. Walking around the streets of Brooklyn (and though The Restless Sleep is local to New York, these stories can be dropped onto any city, really), you feel you've been treated to a history lesson, a detailed reminder of the ghosts in the buildings, under the streets, in the waters around you. This morbid niche of history helps comprise the breathing pulse of a city, and this is the moral lesson here.

And: what matters most-- it's simply a great read.

I couldn't put this book down. Horn writes with great feeling, knowledge and insight about the victims, suspects and police investigators involved in each of the real life cold case stories she tells. She expertly navigates the complex web that connects all of the participants to create a rich experience that reads like the best fiction.

I couldn't put this book down! Horn keeps the suspense going among the cold cases she follows. Her descriptions of the detectives involved are colorful and put you inside of their heads and their lives.

I had to put the book down at times because I was so into the horror of the cases. But it was worth it. Highly recommended true crime!!!

I read this book in one night! However, I also agree with some of the other "reviewers", the author jumped around a bit. Explaining the Rico Act had nothing to do with the story about the young off-duty cop that was killed. I have a deep respect for the men and women who try to solve these cold-cases. They help bring peace to the victims and their families. If you enjoy true crime and good detective work, this book is for you.

I have one problem with this book. Too much of the "F" word in the first few chapters. Not quotes of what others say, but injections of the author's personal thinking. "F" this & "F" that. It's way too much, but vanishes after a while. It's a "what in hell is that all about?" experience. Otherwise the book is well-written, interesting, and holds your attention most of the time. It's not a keeper but I enjoyed reading it.

"Horn's gripping writing and palpable sense of outrage ensure that its narrative trail never runs cold."
Entertainment Weekly

" ... there is rarely a dull page as Horn portrays her colorful band as they challenge the perplexing past."
Baltimore Sun

"These cases haunted Horn, and because of her masterful storytelling, they are quite likely to haunt her readers, too." San Francisco Chronicle

"Horn captures with crackling intensity the work of cops who investigate long-unsolved homicides."
Kirkus Reviews (Starred)

"Several notches above the typical reporters insights into the realities of criminal justice."
Publishers Weekly (Starred)

"Horn proves herself a top-notch journalist, delivering stories from inside the New York Police Departments Cold Case Squad--the nations largest office devoted to solving forgotten murder cases."
New York Magazine

The author does a great job of introducing us to some of New York's finest, but her writing style is a bit hard to follow. She writes like she's some type of tough New York city cop herself, rather than objectively. I got the feeling that she had her own political agenda throughout the text. Great idea for a book but writing could have been much, much better.

As the former Commander of The Bronx Homicde Task Force, I found this book to be "right-on" as it applies to the politics of the NYPD
I am the author of Practical Homicide Investigation, which is considered "The Bible" for homicide investigators. Restless Sleep could very well be used as a frame of reference for those detectives dedicated to the investigation of cold cases. The reality of big city police administrations and big city police egos as they impact the investigative process were excellently presented, explained and documented within this book. I would certainly recommend this book.