Sleepwalker by Karen Robards

Author: Karen Robards

Publisher: Gallery

Date of Publication: December 2011

It’s not that Micayla Lange is afraid of the clinking she hears coming from the first floor of the empty McMansion she’s house sitting for her uncle Nicco. She’s a cop, after all. It’s just that finding out her boyfriend was cheating on her was enough drama for one night. Now she’s alone on New Year’s Eve, wearing flannel pajamas and wielding a Glock 22 as she zeroes in on the unmistakable source of the sound: Uncle Nicco’s private office.

Jason Davis steals things for a living, so unexpected developments are a natural part of the job. Getting caught red-handed by a hot, pigtail-sporting police officer in what is supposed to be a gangster’s deserted house is just one more twist in the game. Kind of like finding incriminating photos in Nicco Marino’s safe, only to discover the cop—and the security cameras—have gotten a real good look at his face.

Unfortunately for Mick, she also got a good look at the damned pictures. Her “uncle” might love her like family, but if he knows she’s seen evidence that implicates him in the murder of a city councilman, she doesn’t like her chances. Which is why she’s having a hard time reconciling her professional instincts with what she is rapidly concluding is an inescapable fact: She’s about to help a criminal get away with a suitcase full of stolen money. And she’s going with him.

Mick and Jason’s race for their lives hurtles them through the dangerous Michigan wilderness on speedboat and snowmobile. As their adventure heats up and their enemies close in, Mick is torn between her duty to the force and the combustible passion engulfing her and her unlikely partner in crime. She’ll have to turn Jason in sooner or later…if they survive. But will they ever get a second chance at love?

Was Sleepwalker the best book of Ms. Robards that I have read? Not really, but I did enjoy it.  Micayla and Jason have a very instant attraction to each other, despite being on opposite sides of the law.  I loved Jason's character.  I could actually understand his motivation for why he became a thief and didn't really fault him for it.  Micayla's character was a nice change from the naive virginal women I have been reading about lately.  She is tough and not afraid to go after what she wants.  I liked that.  Their banter was very amusing at times.  I could definitely see them as a couple.

Overall, the mystery was pretty good.  It takes place over about 3 days, so it is pretty fast paced.  There are a couple of twists that kept me guessing.  I had two issues with the book.  One, I had a really hard time believing that Micayla never figured out that Uncle Nicco was a big time mob guy and that her bosses in law enforcement never tried to use their relationship to their advantage.  That part really didn't fly with me.  What did she think he did for a living and why all the big goons for security?  The other thing that grated on my nerves was Micayla's nickname.  Every time she was referred to as "Mick", I kept picturing a guy in my head.  It is a guy name after all.  I'm not a fan of nicknames in general, but using a guy's name for a girl nickname drives me batty.

 The audio version was pretty good.  I think most fans of Ms. Robards will want to give this one a try.