Sleeping with Strangers

Starred review from February 5, 2007
After a brutal hit in Tampa on high-profile rapper Big Bad Wolf, contract killer Gideon, the star of this fast-paced thriller from bestseller Dickey, jets to London for his next assignment. On the plane, paranoia brewing just beneath his poker face keeps him wary of two mysterious passengers who could be either harmless squares or hired guns out to avenge Big Bad Wolf's murder. This constant uncertainty over who's in the game and who isn't keeps Gideon—and readers—on edge as Gideon navigates London's underworld and pursues a personal vendetta. Dickey occasionally shifts away from Gideon's point of view to that of another hit man who has just received his next contract: Gideon. The plot is taut, fast and bold—total blockbuster entertainment, replete with an abundance of sex, violence and James Bond touches. A tense cliffhanger caps a wild ride. The next installment is due in August, which for many readers won't be soon enough.

March 1, 2007
Gideon took his name from the hollowed-out Bible the preacher was holding when Gideon killed him. Assassin Gideon's goal is to make a million dollars so he can retire, and until then no contract is too distasteful. Bruno is also a hit man, one beset with domestic worries, and he is on a surefire collision course heading straight to Gideon. Suspenseful right up to the cliff-hanger ending, gritty, graphic, and often gory, best-selling Dickey's latest high-tension tale is a serendipitous mix of lust, longing, and murder. Quirky details and observations pepper the pages and pop up in conversations--"Miss Universe was from Lobatse, Botswana"; "Takes two days to drive across Texas." And the pacing is amazing; action scenes are often broken down into rapid-fire one-sentence paragraphs, and the essence of each character is captured in a few brief sentences. Not only will Dickey's many readers be thrilled to see a new novel, this one is also sure to create new fans. Watch for the rest of the story in " Waking with Enemies," due out August 2007.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2007, American Library Association.)