These words from Nikita Gill’s “Monsters” appear in the book’s epigraph and nicely sets the reader up for what’s to come. Twelve days before her birthday, Emma begins to suffer from terrible insomnia. She is slowly losing time and is compelled to do the same things her mother did right before she went mad.

Pinborough starts off at a very harrowing but controlled slow pace. She set the scene so well - too well, maybe? Foreboding creeps in: a sense that this is not going to end well for this happy little family. (As I got to the final quarter section of the novel, I got a sense that Pinborough had started off with one viable plot line in mind, then decided to trash her ending and inject this totally off the wall summation into the mix?Paramount+ has announced casting for new drama series Insomnia, an adaptation of the novel of the same name by bestselling author Sarah Pinborough, which will debut on Paramount+ in the UK in 2024.

Sarah Pinborough’s latest thriller, INSOMNIA, is being compared to her 2017 masterpiece, BEHIND HER EYES, which Netflix turned into a binge-worthy miniseries. Does it live up to the hype? You bet it does! Myself and BYO Films are really excited to be working alongide Left Bank on Insomnia,” said McClure. “It’s a very different role for me. Sarah Pinborough has written such an exciting script. We have a fantastic cast, crew and production team all set for a very fulfilling few months ahead.” I have been intending on reading a Sarah Pinborough book for some time but have never gotten around to it, so this was my first. I have no idea about her other books, but this one was a winner! Mostly written from the first person Emma's point view we follow her thoughts and feelings as she tries to establish whether she is going insane or someone or some people are messing with her. I didn't expect much from this one, but found myself fully pulled in, until the conclusion (and indeed the core concepts) which really annoyed me, despite them making sense of sorts. I can see why many will adore this read and many will think it's ultimately just a weak overall idea, but I'd like to think that we can all agree that the narrative voice of someone feeling on the brink and the suspense around her reality and the people she interacts with was pretty good? A 6 out of 12, Three Star read for me :) Overall: Even though I find some explanations a little exaggerated, the high tension, the suspense and mystery’s unfolding, gripping and riveting storytelling were great. Most of the characters are definitely annoying but at least I loved Emma!McClure will play successful career woman Emma Averill, who fears she might be losing her mind, when her hard-won dream life starts to turn into a nightmare. A couple of weeks before her fortieth birthday Emma stops sleeping — just as her mother had done right before she suffered a violent psychotic breakdownon the night of her own fortieth birthday. The story line seemed to be going in one direction, but, as usual, in an effort to come up with a spectacular twist, all credibility went out the window towards the end. When she is accused of murdering her mother, a chain of events is set into motion that threaten to upend Emma’s perfect life. Tom Cullen ( The Gold) will play Emma’s loving husband Robert, whilst Smylie Bradwell ( Wisting) and India Fowler ( The Nevers) play Will and Chloe, Emma and Tom’s children. Leanne Best ( Bolan’s Shoes) joins the cast as Emma’s estranged sister Phoebe, who shows up in town without a word of warning, whilst Corinna Marlowe ( Hysteria) is Emma’s mother Patricia.

Snakes eating their own tails, indeed! And to top it off, at the very end, a massive breach of the solicitor/client confidentiality rules - this just blew this wild, meandering story off the plausibility grid for me. Possibly my favorite of Pinborough’s yet, and that’s saying something. It’s an absolute rollercoaster of a ride: twist upon twist, expertly handled. I actually gasped out loud several times. So atmospheric and sexy… A triumph!" — Lucy Foley, New York Times bestselling author , on Dead to HerWhile I am not 100% satisfied with the reveal, it is more plausible than the plots of many of her previous thrillers. I disliked Emma’s blatant favoritism of her younger son and the gaslighting trope is becoming overused in thrillers. Once again, the epilogue is unnecessary.