Sleepless Nights

Romance, Mystery & Thrillers, General Fiction

By Norwood Holland

Publisher : Windmill Books Ltd.

ABOUT Norwood Holland

Norwood Holland
Norwood Holland is a freelance writer, lawyer.  He received his law degree from Howard University School of Law and earned a BA in English at Fisk University where he studied under the renowned Harlem Renaissance author Arna Bontemps.  A Washingtonian he favors D.C.'s local color in his  More...

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Description

Trial attorney Drew Smith a solo practitioner takes on a client charged in heinous robbery and a string of murders. While frolicking with an exotic dancer Smith battles a midlife crisis, and complicating things he discovers the dancer has a dangerous and tenous connection with his client. Chocked with romance, violence, and courtroom drama.

This story was inspired by DC 2003 Colonel Brooks Tavern murders. A shocking case in which a former employee returns to murder three employees in a botched robbery.

Karen Browne Anderson: Norwood, Congratulations on your first release. I read "Sleepless ..." from cover to cover yesterday. Swept up in the story, I found it difficult to put the book down. Looking forward to the rest of the series.
 
Lorena Sabbs: Finished the book today, it was a great read. I have some new friends now, so I am anxious to see what will happen with them next. Good job Norwood.
 
Theresa Williams-Stoudamire: I finished it and thought it was very well written and loved the story line. You did an excellent job and I can't wait for the next one.

Kathleen Wills:  "Finished "Sleepless Nights" last week. It was a good read. I have to say I enjoyed it far more than the last vacuous, formulaic, sell-out novel I read ("The Long Fall") by Walter Mosley."

Dana Micheli - Writers In The Sky  -  Book Review:  5 Stars  « « « « «

Amidst the Cherry Blossoms and historical monuments of Washington D.C., a gritty drama is unfolding. Norwood Holland’s novel Sleepless Nights took me on a journey of life in the underbelly of our nation’s capital. Holland’s minimalist prose and authentic dialogue paints a vivid picture of the dark side of the American dream.  Throughout the book I was struck by the irony that this story of loss, poverty and destruction was taking place against the backdrop of a city famous for the freedom and prosperity it symbolizes.

Sleepless Nights is the story of three young men whose horrible crime threatens to unravel their friendship and change the course of their lives—and the lives of those around them--forever. It seems like Tyrone Jones, Gustavo “Gee” Garcia and Jean “Jinx” Legere have been friends forever. More than friends, they are an urban family, bound together by deprivation and a life lived on the streets.   But lately, Gee is feeling the pull of a different life, a better life. He is going to college and works at the Farragut, an upscale D.C. eatery.  But his pursuit of success is causing a fissure in the once rock-solid bond he shares with Jinx and Tyrone.

Jinx is on the edge. Years of neglect by his drug-addicted mother have left him hopeless and angry. He sees no way out of the life or the neighborhood. I could feel the sadness and desperation in him as he committed the crimes. I could feel the loneliness in him as well, even when he was threatening his victims or manipulating Gee.

At the center of the story is the handsome and well-to-do Drew Smith.  As one of D.C.’s hottest criminal attorneys, Smith has built his career on helping people outrun their demons. He, however, has a few demons of his own, including an ex-girl friend he still loves and a son who doesn’t know he exists. More than anything else, I found this story to be about Drew’s chance at redemption.

From the streets and strip clubs of inner-city D.C., to the packed courtroom of a homicide trial, Sleepless Nights is a gripping, edge-of-your seat drama that will keep you glued to every page. The only good part about reaching the end was when I learned that Sleepless Nights is only the first installment in the Drew Smith series!  I look forward to seeing more of Drew Smith in (hopefully) the very near future.   Amazon Reviews

Beth Turpin Adkins:  Norwood, just finished reading my copy of Sleepless Nights. It was a great read and I thoroughly enjoyed it! . Great job!"