The Deep Sleep: 200 Word Reviews #6

The Deep Sleep By Tyson Gaunt is a perfect example of how exceptional work can be found by small authors, who do not get nearly enough recognition.

On a dark night when the rain sings it’s dirge, a young woman hurtles from her balcony to the death that waits on hard concrete below. What follows is a gritty noir about an even grittier police officer that unravels a tangled web of depraved misery, which has already wrapped too many in its fetid bands. Each chapter adds layers to the history and horror, revealing a mystery that spun my head and my soul. No punches are pulled, and man, do some of them hit hard.

In sleek, death-soaked prose, Gaunt weaves this complicated and layered story about love, loss and hope(lessness) in a compelling way. The tone and texture of the setting are extremely vivid, drawing on a brutal and gothic aesthetic. However, I personally found them a bit oppressive by the end, which I suppose is the point, since I will never forget my time in Gravesend.

Nevertheless, I highly recommend The Deep Sleep to anyone who enjoys a gritty murder mystery where a new horror waits on every page.