A Cure for Insomnia

No disrespect to Robert McCammon but his latest book keeps putting me to sleep. Don’t get me wrong, it’s actually quite interesting. The Queen of Bedlam takes place in 17th century New York. Matthew Corbett, struggling to make it as a magistrate’s clerk, witnesses a murder by a serial killer known as the Masker. He is drawn into solving the mystery, and finds his life threatened, not by the Masker, but by the villainous Professor Fell, an adversary worthy of Sherlock Holmes. The book is peppered with atmospheric details of city life of that time; ramshackle buildings, food served at meals (sweetbreads in mustard sauce or grilled lamb with pickles anyone?) and characters as intriguing as their names: Hudson, Greathouse, a madam called Polly Blossom, and Marmaduke Grigsby. So with all the unique characters and plot turns why do I keep falling asleep? I don’t understand it but I can only read for 45 minutes before my eyes start drooping, even when I read in the middle of the day! So what do you have to lose? Even if it doesn’t help you sleep, you still have a terrific book to read.