Customer Reviews

Sleeping With Strangers (Gideon Trilogy 1)

5 star:		(68)
4 star:		(35)
3 star:		(16)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

APOOO Rating: 4.5 stars
Sleeping with Strangers (SWS) by Eric Jerome Dickey is a fast-paced, action-packed thriller filled with intrigue, mayhem, and suspense. They call him Gideon. A name he claimed after his first professional hit. A childhood tragedy taught him the meaning of self-defense, the streets taught him survival. Gideon is a hit-man, who is good at his profession and highly sought after by others. Whether his skills are needed for a cheating spouse, jealous business partner, or a dissed rapper he is one of the best for the job. But, a hit gone wrong might be his last job and cost him his life. As suddenly, the hunter becomes the hunted and everyone around him becomes a suspect including the two strangers he meets on a trans-Atlantic flight and is interested in bedding. Will these women be friend or foe...or turn out to be just like Thelma? Who is Thelma you ask? You must read the book to find out! Five words regarding SWS: DON'T SLEEP ON THIS ONE.

SWS is a book you will want to read in one sitting! Dickey had me with the prologue, but the ruthless characters, tight plotting, vivid imagery, smooth pacing, electrifying tension and conflict kept me reading until the very end. Once I began reading, I quickly became captivated by the storyline and could not turn the pages fast enough. Dickey's metaphors and similes, as well as foreshadowing, kept my eyes glued to the pages as I anxiously waited to see what would happen next. Dickey does not disappoint with SWS.

SWS proves that Dickey is a force to be reckoned with as he continues to move into noir storylines and away from strictly relationship and sister friend novels. However, he strategically interjects romps between the sheets throughout the storyline and includes enough bedroom action to keep even loyal fans entertained. When it comes to writing, Dickey is in a league of his own...and right there with the talented tenth. He is a writer whose worst book is still better than the best book from many other authors. As he continues to step out-of-the-box and write noir storylines, I hope to be along for the ride. I must admit that I did not like the cliffhanger ending, even thought I knew this book was a two-part deal, because I wanted to know what happened next...NOW! That said, I anxiously await the sequel, Walking with Enemies, due out this summer (August 2007).

Reviewed by Yasmin
APOOO BookClub

I've been a fan of EJD for some time and I've read all of his novels. I agree with some reviewers that his style has changed a bit, but I really appreciate seeing the diversity in his talent.

I don't usually like suspense novels and I'm not a fan of graphic violence, but because this was an EJD novel, I picked it up without hesitation. I apprciated the change of location (so many of his books took place in LA in the past). I loved the book and I can't wait for the sequel. I think this novel may attract some new fans. I'm encouraging my husband to read this one.

The cliffhanger at the end was great. I completely expected NOT to have a resolution, that's why this is clearly a two-part novel.

I don't think that the sex scenes were trashy or out of context. EJD is known for his graphic writing, but he always keeps it in context. It did not take away from the plot and I feel it helped me learn more about the characters.

When I'm looking for a well-written novel with an intelligent plot, I can always count on EJD. Unfortunately, many other black writers have reduced themselves to weak story lines and stereotypical characters. I appreciate that EJD shows diversity in his writing style and diversity in his characters.

This is my first book by EJD. The only one whose subject matter interested me in the least. So I had no expectations going in except it should be a good story with great characters. SLEEPING WITH STRANGERS succeeded in the latter but failed at the former. EJD has created a cast of interesting characters whose stories the reader wants follow, but there is no story. Essentially, this book reads like one vignette after another with little effort in going anywhere specific or fast. The characters come across as merely drifting from one event to another. And the author overuses coincidence to keep the story going.

Just what is this novel supposed to be? A character study? Well, then what character are we studying, Gideon or Bruno? If one, then why include the other at all? A relationship novel? Who are the participants? Gideon and? Arizona isn't around long enough. Mrs. Jones is just passing through. Lola is inconsequential. Thelma, we hardly meet her. Bruno and Tebby? Both are overall pretty inconsequential as well. Is it a thriller/action story? Then where's the story? None of the characters seem to be trying to *do* anything specific, achieve anything. The descriptive blurb says it's about one hit man pursuing another. If there are 40 (of the 320+) pages depicting this, I would be surprised. It's not even clear why Gideon is the flight in the first place. Is he on the run? Just "laying low"? Why England of all places?

Given that SWS's "sequel" is soon to be published, what we have here (hopefully) is a long-winded introduction to the story. This is not how a series is written. EJD's editor should have pointed that out. The amount of character background here is enough to fill at least 5 properly written series books. Unfortunately, there's not much else. This was a draft that somehow got published. (And the typos prove it.) Once the sequel is published, then we'll (hopefully) have a complete novel--at the cost of 2 and with twice as many pages,

I've given SWS 3 stars and not less because the characters are indeed interesting, if not completely believable (Mrs. Jones is so distraught over the end of her relationship that she jumps on a transatlantic flight with no luggage. What time she doesn't spend crying, she's reading explicit erotica? Revenge/desperate sex I can believe, but the erotica? No way. That's definitely a man's fantasy. Plus, she could stop to pick up her passport, but not pack a bag?) Anyway, what action scenes there are were very much edge-of-your-seat scenes. Too bad there were so few. The author instead chose to expend his effort on sex, pop culture references (so many that you wonder if these folks have any original thoughts), racial commentary (US vs. Europe), his knowledge of European (especially London) Geography, and foreign languages. All impressive, but they do not make a story all on their own.

Is it worth reading? Yes. Parts were very enjoyable. But wait until after the sequel is published and then borrow the two from the local library.

After getting himself involved in the middle of a Tupac/Biggie-like rap artist battle, contract killer Gideon just needs some place to lay low while the heat from his last kill cools down. On his flight to London he encounters two beautiful and mysterious women: Mrs. Jones, a soon-to-be-divorcee who can't seem to stop crying, and Lola Mack, an aspiring actress and working masseuse who is flying to London to meet up with her ex. In the aftermath of a bloody hit, Gideon isn't sure who he can trust and is immediately suspicious of both women. He comes to London hoping to escape anyone who might be looking for revenge, but instead finds himself involved in more drama, lies, and intrigue than he'd planned. When Mrs. Jones and Lola keep turning up to ruin his otherwise perfect getaway, everyone becomes a suspect while Gideon tries to figure out who he can trust.

Sleeping with Strangers will be an adventure for long-time Dickey fans. It's darker than his other books. The plot is more sinister. The hero is more an anti-hero than someone you'd like to meet. A departure from the expected like this one could spell disaster for a lesser known author, or one not as skilled and talented as Dickey. Lucky for him he had both the skill and talent to pull it off. Sleeping with Strangers was a thrill ride from start to finish. I couldn't wait to see what would happen next. In fact, the worst thing about this book is its unresolved ending and the fact that I'll have to wait four months to find out what happens next.

Though I'm used to the angst-filled dramas that have become Dickey's calling card over the last few years, I enjoyed every moment of this hard-edged thriller. I'd highly recommend it to any Dickey fan who was doubtful if they'd like it--you will, his style and charisma are still there, it's just the genre that has changed. I'd also recommend it to new Dickey readers, though I will admit it isn't his best work. For some of his more gripping fiction, I would suggest checking out Milk in My Coffee or Genevieve.

More like 2.5 stars. I must agree with another review. I miss EJD's old style of writing. It was those novels that made me a fan. I believe that every artist should change the style once in a while but his old style of writing is what set him apart from all of the other writers. Now, he seems just like the other writers with the explicit sex scenes. The story line wasn't interesting to me. It is a story about contract killers. The ending was horrible. The cliff hangar didn't leave me longing to know what will happen next. I know there is a sequel coming out in August. I'm not so sure that I will rush out to get it.

SLEEPING WITH STRANGERS by Eric Jerome Dickey
August 12, 2007

Amazon Rating: 4/5 stars

Earlier this year, I read Eric Jerome Dickey's latest novel SLEEPING WITH STRANGERS. This novel is different from his usual fare, because this time it takes place in London. The main character is a contract killer and gets involved with two women as he journeys from the United States to Great Britain. The book is fast paced and is probably one of his raunchiest books yet.

I won't put this on my list of favorite Eric Jerome Dickey books, but I think for fans this is a must read. What I find interesting is how Dickey continues to evolve as a writer, and when I had him pegged, he turns around and publishes something completely different.

Readers should note that the sequel to SLEEPING WITH STRANGERS should be out any day now, titled WAKING WITH ENEMIES. This is a first for Eric Jerome Dickey, to have two books out in the same year.

I was thrown off by the TYPE of book that EJD was now doing with this series, but it was a welcome change of pace and in my opinion he still delivers. This was a crossover book that was suspenseful and action packed. I felt as if I was reading a John Patterson book with EJD's own spin on things. The characters kept my attention throughout and because there was some crossover from one of his previous stories, it gave a deeper insight into that character. I read the book in three days while vacationing abroad. I look forward to the sequel.

Chicago Author, Darrin Lowery

I was misled by the reviews of this book. I am mad I bought it. This book is horrible! Too much unneeded information. I had to skip to the end I was sick of hearing about British people and how they live and what they're saying who cares! Stick to the story! Not a good one Eric, very disappointed.

I've read almost all of EJD's books and for the most part I have enjoyed them, except this one. It's about a contract killer named Gideon. This book is all over of the place with dream sequences, stories straight out of the newspaper/radio, ( the Star/BuckWild NYC radio story, that got STAR fired, how original was that?), the rap "wars" (Tupac/Biggie, again, not an original concept) and the Hunter (Gideon) becoming the Hunted. It also contains charactors from his other books, i.e. Scamz and Arizona to name a few.

EJD takes the readers to London, Trinidad, N. Carolina, Flordia, Holland and Texas, back and forth, its exhusting! There are scenes with strange women on a plane, kids complaining to their killer Poppa's about the breakfast cereal, child abuse, murder, revenge, ministers, military, failed marriages etc. etc. etc!!! OH VEY! The book just seems like a mish-mash of little stories thrown together. It's not nearly as good as Thieves' Paradise or Drive Me Crazy, which are in the same genre, but pretty good.

EJD makes Gideon's story seem like our anti-hero was entering little snippets into his journal, but never really going anywhere with it; just starting and stopping with small entries. It's like Gideon was showing his sensetive side; all the while thinking up new ways to kill...cause he NEVER kills the same way twice, purging his guilty soul, re-inacting previous hits in his mind and trying to come to grips with his troubled childhood (of course he had one!).

Although the sex scenes were HOT, they held very little emotion, they were not "love" scenes like the ones in EJD's previous books, (but don't fret because, you guessed it, Gideon is a fabulous lover, as I'm sure all contract killers are, with lots of experience with whores and grifters).

But alas, EJD just didn't make me "want" to really care about the charactors or what happens to them. Gideon is somewhat interesting, but this book didn't do his charactor justice. If this tale were WRITTEN better, I might have actually rooted for Gideon.

The "ending" was not an ending at all...it was just a chapter closing, forcing the reader to buy the next installment to find out what happens next...should anyone care. Shame on you for that Mr. Dickey. It took me over 2 weeks to reluctlenty finish this book and I only did so because I paid over $[...] for it. PLEASE Mr. Dickey, go back to what you know best...relationship novels...I miss them!!!

I was a big fan of Eric Jerome Dickey at one point and then I decided to give Mr. Dickey a rest. Once I picked up "Sleeping with Strangers" I thought Mr. Dickey is back with an incredibla novel as usual.

At first, it was a slow start, but as I continued to flipped the pages a little light began to come through, and before I knew it I was completly done with the book. Overall good read can't wait to see what the sequel holds.