Today I'll be reviewing Sleep, Savannah, Sleep by Alistair Cross. Sleep, Savannah, Sleep focuses on Jason Crandall, a recent widower who uproots his life as a marketing agent in LA to move to sleepy Shadow Springs to become a massage therapist, bringing his son and daughter with him. It's not long till he crosses paths with Savannah Sturgess, "a beautiful socialite who has half the men in town dancing on tangled strings." But when Savannah goes missing, everyone is suspect, and Jason is suddenly ensnared in the secrets of Shadow Springs.
I'm usually not one to read mystery novels, although I did pick up a novel or two of Nancy Drew as a little kid. So I was a bit skeptical of Sleep, Savannah, Sleep at first because I wasn't sure what to expect. By the end of the book, there was still a few things I wasn't so sure about it, but it definitely made a good impression on me for mystery novels.
So first, I'll talk about my critiques of the novel. One of the things I noticed was there was a few well-worn cliches applied throughout the book. For example: The aggressive, muscly, jealous husband. The creepy witch woman. The old cat lady. The moody teenager. The beautiful. blonde girl who sleeps around. Another problem I had was with the mild misogyny found throughout the novel. I know many will dismiss it as "boys will be boys", but I've said this before and I'll say it again: just because a book has a male main character doesn't mean they have to be sexist, even if it's subtle. For example: "Jason glanced at the blonde, hoping she wasn't the gift. On the other hand..." and "Jason had to make conscious efforts not to ogle her." Okay, we get it. She's pretty, get over it. And at one point in the book, Jason tells Savannah how she should act and what she should do with her own body, which is a big no no and another cliche. My final issue is that the book sometimes violated the essential rule of writing: show, don't tell. What I mean by this is that throughout the book, the author tells the reader "she looked like trouble" or "he seemed suspicious", instead of showing these traits through actions or dialogue. If the author allows the reader to infer about characters rather than simply telling them, it creates a much better effect.
I'm usually not one to read mystery novels, although I did pick up a novel or two of Nancy Drew as a little kid. So I was a bit skeptical of Sleep, Savannah, Sleep at first because I wasn't sure what to expect. By the end of the book, there was still a few things I wasn't so sure about it, but it definitely made a good impression on me for mystery novels.
So first, I'll talk about my critiques of the novel. One of the things I noticed was there was a few well-worn cliches applied throughout the book. For example: The aggressive, muscly, jealous husband. The creepy witch woman. The old cat lady. The moody teenager. The beautiful. blonde girl who sleeps around. Another problem I had was with the mild misogyny found throughout the novel. I know many will dismiss it as "boys will be boys", but I've said this before and I'll say it again: just because a book has a male main character doesn't mean they have to be sexist, even if it's subtle. For example: "Jason glanced at the blonde, hoping she wasn't the gift. On the other hand..." and "Jason had to make conscious efforts not to ogle her." Okay, we get it. She's pretty, get over it. And at one point in the book, Jason tells Savannah how she should act and what she should do with her own body, which is a big no no and another cliche. My final issue is that the book sometimes violated the essential rule of writing: show, don't tell. What I mean by this is that throughout the book, the author tells the reader "she looked like trouble" or "he seemed suspicious", instead of showing these traits through actions or dialogue. If the author allows the reader to infer about characters rather than simply telling them, it creates a much better effect.
Those critiques aside, the novel did manage to keep me entertained throughout the entire book. I liked how Savannah didn't disappear until halfway through the novel, which allowed the characters to be introduced and a sense of suspense to build beforehand. I also liked the use of the trial and conviction to make it seem as if the case was over, when really it had only begun. And, as I always do in mystery novels, I suspected everyone besides the actual murderer. Travis, Jason's love interest Hallie, Jason's friend Coop, even Jason himself. Everyone except for the murderer. The end of the book was shocking. To put it simply, I was shook. I won't spoil who did it, but the reveal was the best part of the book because it explained so much about that character that I had previously misunderstood. The anger issues, the lack of empathy, the frustration with Jason for pursuing the case, everything. Of all the characters, the murderer was the one I least expected but also the one who made the most sense.
Overall, while I did have some issues with the book, I did really enjoy it and I suggest it to anyone who enjoys a good mystery, with some romance, family issues, and a bit of the supernatural.
Finally, I'd like to thank the author for providing me with a copy of the book! It was an enjoyable read.
Keep reading everyone!
Colleen
Overall, while I did have some issues with the book, I did really enjoy it and I suggest it to anyone who enjoys a good mystery, with some romance, family issues, and a bit of the supernatural.
Finally, I'd like to thank the author for providing me with a copy of the book! It was an enjoyable read.
Keep reading everyone!
Colleen