Reviewed by Annika
TITLE: Lay Your Sleeping Head
SERIES: Henry Rios Mysteries #1
AUTHOR: Michael Nava
NARRATOR: Thom Rivera
PUBLISHER: Audible Studios
LENGTH: 7 hours, 44 minutes
RELEASE DATE: March 4, 2020
BLURB:
A completely revised edition of the first Henry Rios mystery, The Little Death, Lay Your Sleeping Head introduces Michael Nava’s singular protagonist, gay Latino criminal defense lawyer Henry Rios. Rios, beset by personal and professional problems, begins a passionate affair with the black sheep heir to a great California fortune who tells Rios an improbable tale of murder and sexual predation in his wealthy family. When the young man is found dead of an apparent drug overdose, Rios begins an investigation that ultimately reveals much more than that his lover’s death was murder.
REVIEW:
I have so many feelings. This book utterly enraptured me. I loved everything about it, the gentle pacing, the plot and characters and I loved the narration. Do not be fooled by this book. It might start out and masquerading as a sweet romance novel, but it’s anything but. There are many twists and turns that will play with your emotions in the best and worst way, and in the end you are left as an emotionally wrung out puddle, desperate for more.
This book is set in the early 80’s where Henry Rios was a criminal defence lawyer who just lost a death penalty case where his client was innocent. It was the last straw that broke his proverbial back and he realised he needed a change. That change came in the form of a beautiful white boy (figuratively speaking, the man was 26) in a great deal of trouble legal and otherwise. The sparks fly between them from that first meeting in an interrogation cell, and with every meeting they get more and more involved. But Hugh is troubled, he has a lot of secrets and lies and a fantastic tale about abuse and murder, addiction and solicitation. He’s on a mission to bring the man who’s responsible for his family’s deaths down.
The romance between Henry and Hugh had all the hallmarks of insta-love. They had an instant connection and recognition, they were quick to fall for each other. But at the same time it didn’t feel like it. It felt like they belonged together, they complimented each other. Neither man perfect, both haunted in different ways – but they had this inherent understanding of the other. They quieted each other’s ghosts.
Henry was flawed, human. We meet him when he’s down, watch him stumble, fall and rise again – only to start the cycle over again. There was no rose coloured shine near this book. It was gritty, emotional without being dramatic. It’s a book everyone loving gay mysteries should give a try, because I don’t think it gets better than this.
Sometimes it’s a good idea to read the blurb before jumping into a book, and sometimes it’s better not to in order to get the full impact of the story. This time I both I didn’t read the blurb, and I did. I saw recommendations and raving reviews and ratings and figured I needed to know what the hype was about, as for the blurb I figured I would know what the book was about soon enough and to jump into it with an open mind. By pure chance, when I was about a third into the book I did read the blurb. And I’m both sad and glad that I did. Glad to know what to expect so that it wouldn’t utterly destroy me (especially since I’m listening to the book at work and people might wonder why I’m sobbing away rivalling a crying baby), at the same time the events didn’t have the same shock-value as it might have had, had I not read it.
Thom Rivera was the perfect choice of narrator for this book. He was absolutely fantastic in every way imaginable – and I’m not exaggerating even a little bit. The pacing, enunciation was spot on, not to mention he had a wonderful and pleasant voice, one I’d happily listen to for days on end. Rivera captured Hugh’s sassiness and flirty nature, just as he captured Henry’s beaten down demeanour and fascination with Hugh. He has many different voices to distinguish between the characters, they are consistent and match with the character’s personality. I also have to say his female voices are also very credible and well done. He’s a narrator I want to listen to many, many times more.
After listening to this book I am sure of one thing; I definitely need to listen to the next book as soon as possible. I might be slightly addicted. Highly recommended.
RATING: 
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