![]() |
|
Wake Up Dead
By Christopher Bonn Jones
Salvo Press
Reviewed by Annette Gisby, author of Silent Screams
Ever had a strong feeling of déjà vu? You're not alone. Mason Brooks has everything, a successful scientist, he is doing research into non-REM sleep and he has discovered an interesting thing. Contrary to what his peers think, people do dream in non-REM sleep, but not just any dreams, they can dream the future. Using his new found skills, he woos one of his students, the beautiful Monica Westbrook. He doesn't love her, he just wants her as a possession, someone he can show off.
Unfortunately, his dreams have been taking a darker turn of late, dreams in which Monica finds out how she's been tricked and dreams of his death. His death dreams seem inextricably linked to a man named Paul Montana, a perfect stranger to Mason. But for Mason, having perfected his skills, even knowing the future, enables him to change it and he cheats death, but for how long? He invites Paul Montana into his home, ostensibly to help him with his research, but in reality to try and keep the man close to him for Mason feels that if he knows what Paul is up to, he can't be the instrument of his death.
What he didn't bargain for was for Paul to fall in love with Monica and she with him. And just who is it will die according to his dreams? For even though Mason can dream the future, he has a blind spot - after nine p.m. he is as much in the dark as the rest of us. And just what could be so important that Paul needs to see him after this time?
This is a well paced novel, with a love triangle so complicated you are never left wanting for suspense. The novel is full of twists and turns and keeps you wondering, will Mason kill Paul, will Paul kill Mason, what about Monica? She's playing both ends against the middle and you feel there can never really be any winners here. Monica seems to be after money, and doesn't seem to care which man she gets it from. Throw in a jealous Mason, a gun and a bracelet that keeps appearing in Mason's dreams and you know things are not to going to be pretty. The ending is surprising and expected at the same time, maybe I've been dreaming the ending all along.
My one gripe would be that Mason was painted as a bit of a caricature of a mad scientist, and that tends to grate on me a bit as my husband is one and he isn't mad at all - well only a little.
All in all a good read.