Game More, Pay Less
£3.99

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Sold by Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.. This price was set by the publisher.

Audiobook Price: £11.37

Save: £0.38 (3%)

Read with our free app
You've subscribed to ! We will pre-order your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships and Subscriptions
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet or computer – no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Sarah Pinborough
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Insomnia: A gripping crime thriller from the No.1 Sunday Times bestselling author of BEHIND HER EYES, now a major TV series for Paramount+ Kindle Edition

by Sarah Pinborough (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.1 out of 5 stars 3,176 ratings

**A dream of a thriller from the No.1 bestselling author – now a major TV series for Paramount+**

‘This heart-pounding thriller will have you up all night’ Clare Mackintosh

‘Pinborough writes like an absolute dream’ Richard Osman

_________________________________________________________________

From the outside, Emma has the dream life – a loving husband, a beautiful house, two gorgeous children.

But something is keeping Emma awake.

Scratching at her sanity at 1am.

She’s tried so hard to bury the past, to protect her family. But witching hour loves a secret – and Emma’s is the stuff of nightmares …

FROM THE NO.1 BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF NETFLIX HIT, BEHIND HER EYES

‘Prepare to be totally and utterly blown away by Insomnia. Sarah Pinborough is a twisted genius’ Lisa Jewell

‘Another mind-twisting, genre-bending rollercoaster from Queen of WTF Sarah Pinborough’ Ruth Ware

‘Creepy as all get out – a gaslighting masterclass’ Ian Rankin

‘Pinborough’s unsettling, remorseless psychological thriller is horribly plausible and expertly plotted’ Sunday Times

'Insomnia is a twisted, dark ride that keeps you gripped, unable to look away. Utterly addictive and highly recommended’ Lucy Clarke

‘Don't start this at night – it's guaranteed to steal your sleep’ Cara Hunter

‘One crazy sleepless ride building up to a hideously tense climax. Expertly done – Sarah Pinborough is the queen of unsettling, twisty reads’ Harriet Tyce

'This terrifying thriller about a family under threat from within is a total page-turner’ Gilly Macmillan

‘Absolutely brilliant, completely unputdownable and so satisfying’ Jenny Colgan

‘A whip smart page turning triumph’ Jane Shemilt

Behind Her Eyes was a Sunday Times No.1 bestseller for w/e 04/02/2017

Read more
Previous slide of product details
  1. Print length
    346 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    HarperCollins
  4. Publication date
    31 Mar. 2022
  5. File size
    1.6 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
Next slide of product details
Popular highlights in this book
What are Popular highlights?
Previous page
  1. Memory. We rely on it so heavily for everything we know about ourselves and those around us, but actually we remember so little. Just wisps of emotions or a smell, or a moment. Corrupted files in our heads. Pages missing, torn or burned. Disks unreadable. Memories are like time, constantly slipping from our grasp.
    Highlighted by 34 Kindle readers
  2. Why is the past always so much more alive at night? Ghosts, spirits, ghouls. Memories.
    Highlighted by 18 Kindle readers
  3. She gives me a warm smile full of sympathy and only then do I have the first tightening in my throat that threatens tears. The kindness of strangers will kill us all.
    Highlighted by 9 Kindle readers
Next page

From the Publisher

The shocking new thriller from the Queen of Twists, Sarah Pinborough

'Pinborough writes like an absolute dream' Richard Osman

What's happening to Emma...

‘Guaranteed to steal your sleep’ Cara Hunter

‘Creepy as all get out – a gaslighting masterclass’ Ian Rankin

Why can't she sleep?

'Heart-pounding' Clare Mackintosh

Cross Her Heart
Behind Her Eyes
Dead to Her
Insomnia
Customer Reviews
4.3 out of 5 stars 3,234
4.0 out of 5 stars 25,644
4.1 out of 5 stars 1,644
4.1 out of 5 stars 3,176
Price £9.49 £9.19 £8.27 £6.39
WARNING: Will keep you up all night ***Now a major new Netflix series*** Don’t Trust This Book Her life is perfect. She won't let anyone destroy it. In the dead of night, madness lies... The shocking new thriller from the queen of twists.

Product description

Review

‘INSOMNIA is phenomenal and unputdownable – when I got to the twist I gasped’ Catriona Ward, authof of Sundial

‘If you loved Behind Her Eyes, prepare to be totally and utterly blown away by Insomnia. Sarah Pinborough is a twisted genius’ Lisa Jewell

‘Pinborough writes like an absolute dream about an absolute nightmare. I loved it!’ Richard Osman

‘Another mind-twisting, genre-bending rollercoaster from Queen of WTF Sarah Pinborough’ Ruth Ware

‘Queen of the impossible, this heart pounding thriller will have you up all night’ Clare Mackintosh

‘Creepy as all get out – a gaslighting masterclass’ Ian Rankin

‘Pinborough’s unsettling, remorseless psychological thriller is horribly plausible and expertly plotted’ Sunday Times

'Insomnia is a twisted, dark ride that keeps you gripped, unable to look away. Utterly addictive and highly recommended’ Lucy Clarke

‘Dark, tense and intense, with Pinborough's trademark under-shiver of the uncanny. Don't start this at night – it's guaranteed to steal your sleep’ Cara Hunter

‘One crazy sleepless ride building up to a hideously tense climax. Expertly done – Sarah Pinborough is the queen of unsettling, twisty reads’ Harriet Tyce

'Sarah Pinborough is the master of the unexpected and Insomnia does not disappoint… a total page-turner’ Gilly Macmillan

‘Absolutely brilliant, completely unputdownable and so satisfying – Pinborough just gets better and better’ Jenny Colgan

‘A whip smart page turning triumph’ Jane Shemilt

‘Compelling and alarming with just a touch of the paranormal – very clever’ Catherine Cooper

‘An absolute must-read…The pages fly and the revelations deliver shock after shock’ Joe Hill

‘Well crafted and insanely clever’ C. M. Ewan

'A genuine up all night, compellingly twisty thriller of a book' Araminta Hall

‘A mind-bending read that’s perfect for fans of Stephen King’ Stylist

‘The queen of the psychological thriller’ Prima

From the Back Cover

In the dead of night, madness lies…

Emma can’t sleep.

CHECK THE WINDOWS

It’s been like this since her big 4-0 started getting closer.

LOCK THE DOORS

Her mother stopped sleeping just before her 40th birthday too. She went mad and did the unthinkable because of it.

LOOK IN ON THE CHILDREN

Is that what’s happening to Emma?

WHY CAN’T SHE SLEEP?

Praise for Insomnia

‘Creepy as all get out – a gaslighting masterclass’ Ian Rankin

‘A twisted, dark ride that keeps you gripped, unable to look away. Utterly addictive and highly recommended’ Lucy Clarke, author of The Castaways

‘Dark, tense and intense…don’t start this at night – it’s guaranteed to steal your sleep’ Cara Hunter

‘One crazy sleepless ride building up to a hideously tense climax. Sarah Pinborough is the queen of unsettling, twisty reads’ Harriet Tyce, author of Blood Orange

‘Absolutely brilliant, completely unputdownable and so satisfying – Pinborough just gets better and better’ Jenny Colgan

‘A whip smart page turning triumph’ Jane Shemilt, author of Daughter

‘Compelling and alarming with just a touch of the paranormal – very clever’ Catherine Cooper, author of The Chalet

‘An absolute must-read…The pages fly and the revelations deliver shock after shock’ Joe Hill

‘A genuine up all night, compellingly twisty thriller of a book’ Araminta Hall, author of Perfect Strangers

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08S75DD85
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperCollins (31 Mar. 2022)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.6 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 346 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 0008289123
  • Customer reviews:
    4.1 out of 5 stars 3,176 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Sarah Pinborough

Sarah Pinborough

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Sarah Pinborough is a New York Times bestselling and Sunday Times Number one and Internationally bestselling author who is published in over 25 territories worldwide. Having published more than 25 novels across various genres, her recent books include Behind Her Eyes which will air on Netflix in January 2021, Cross Her Heart, in development for UK television, and 13 Minutes in development with Netflix.

Sarah was the 2009 winner of the British Fantasy Award for Best Short Story and also the 2010 and 2014 winner of the British Fantasy Award for Best Novella, and she has four times been short-listed for Best Novel. She is also a screenwriter who has written for the BBC and is currently working on three TV projects and the film adaptation of her novel The Death House.

Her latest novel, DEAD TO HER and is a dark and twisty, sexy tale of hidden secrets and revenge in high society Savannah and has been sold for TV in the US.

Sarah lives in the historic town of Stony Stratford, the home of the Cock and Bull story, with her dog Ted.

You can follow her on Twitter @sarahpinborough

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
3,176 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review

Customers say

Customers find this crime thriller to be an excellent thought-provoking read with a clever plot and well-developed characters. The book keeps readers engaged until the small hours, with one customer describing it as a fast-paced gripping read.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more

43 customers mention ‘Story quality’35 positive8 negative

Customers praise the book's clever plot and engaging narrative, describing it as an excellent thought-provoking thriller.

"...The repetition of the lyrics and Emma’s tics built up the fear nicely and their were plenty of chilling moments...." Read more

"...Sarah's next novel, as I can be guaranteed an entertaining and gripping read regardless." Read more

"...It’s quite a ride to be honest. Very clever plot. Great book - one I can heartily recommend." Read more

"...bored reading it over and over which was disappointing as the main storyline is good and I liked the characters but 5he repetition was distracting..." Read more

42 customers mention ‘Readability’34 positive8 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as a good page turner that kept them reading until the small hours.

"OMG! What a book. I loved every minute of this thrilling delight, and the denouement, what a revelation...." Read more

"...My first experience I can remember was aged 12. Worth a read." Read more

"...still excited to read Sarah's next novel, as I can be guaranteed an entertaining and gripping read regardless." Read more

"...It’s quite a ride to be honest. Very clever plot. Great book - one I can heartily recommend." Read more

16 customers mention ‘Pacing’14 positive2 negative

Customers find the pacing of the book engaging and extremely tense, with one customer describing it as a fast-paced gripping read.

"...The book grabbed my attention quickly and I read it within 24 hours...." Read more

"...However, it was engaging enough to keep me interested while nursing a virus and stuck at home. Not demanding and a good enough story...." Read more

"...She has a unique ability to take the reader to places that, on the face of it, seem implausible, but in such a compelling and convincing way that by..." Read more

"...and I can’t wait for all her others … Gritty,thrilling and extremely tense . It’s pure genius ...." Read more

5 customers mention ‘Character development’5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book.

"...The main character is a strong, likeable woman who slowly unravels as she creeps nearer to her 40th birthday and impending inherited madness...." Read more

"...This was a well crafted story, with well developed characters...." Read more

"...Characterisation too was brilliant and each sub-plot was beautifully woven into the whole...." Read more

"...Great writing, great characters & great twists. A 5 star read for me, without a doubt. I couldn’t put it down, I had to know what was going on...." Read more

Supercharged psychological thriller!
5 out of 5 stars
Supercharged psychological thriller!
OMG! What a book. I loved every minute of this thrilling delight, and the denouement, what a revelation. I felt Emma’s descent and with the stakes being so high, the nail biting tension sent me flying through each chapter. I couldn’t trust any of the characters which ended with me having a million theories as to what was going on. The repetition of the lyrics and Emma’s tics built up the fear nicely and their were plenty of chilling moments. By chilling, I mean really chilling - they reminded me of scenes in atmospheric horror films. The set up had an authentic feel to it. Emma was a wife, a mother, a colleague and slightly on the lonely side. Then there was this intriguing family history. ‘Insomnia’ is a supercharged psychological thriller, and some! Expect to be fully immersed in Emma’s journey as soon as you open the book and buckle up for a scary thrill ride. After all, what is more terrifying than losing your mind?
Hide
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry, we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Griffy
    5.0 out of 5 stars Supercharged psychological thriller!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 September 2022
    Verified Purchase
    OMG! What a book. I loved every minute of this thrilling delight, and the denouement, what a revelation.

    I felt Emma’s descent and with the stakes being so high, the nail biting tension sent me flying through each chapter. I couldn’t trust any of the characters which ended with me having a million theories as to what was going on.

    The repetition of the lyrics and Emma’s tics built up the fear nicely and their were plenty of chilling moments. By chilling, I mean really chilling - they reminded me of scenes in atmospheric horror films.

    The set up had an authentic feel to it. Emma was a wife, a mother, a colleague and slightly on the lonely side. Then there was this intriguing family history.

    ‘Insomnia’ is a supercharged psychological thriller, and some! Expect to be fully immersed in Emma’s journey as soon as you open the book and buckle up for a scary thrill ride. After all, what is more terrifying than losing your mind?
    Customer image
    Griffy
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    Supercharged psychological thriller!

    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 September 2022
    OMG! What a book. I loved every minute of this thrilling delight, and the denouement, what a revelation.

    I felt Emma’s descent and with the stakes being so high, the nail biting tension sent me flying through each chapter. I couldn’t trust any of the characters which ended with me having a million theories as to what was going on.

    The repetition of the lyrics and Emma’s tics built up the fear nicely and their were plenty of chilling moments. By chilling, I mean really chilling - they reminded me of scenes in atmospheric horror films.

    The set up had an authentic feel to it. Emma was a wife, a mother, a colleague and slightly on the lonely side. Then there was this intriguing family history.

    ‘Insomnia’ is a supercharged psychological thriller, and some! Expect to be fully immersed in Emma’s journey as soon as you open the book and buckle up for a scary thrill ride. After all, what is more terrifying than losing your mind?
    Images in this review
    Customer image
    2 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • yorkshire rose
    4.0 out of 5 stars easy read, bit confusing, but interesting.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 March 2025
    Verified Purchase
    I found the number sequencing and repetition a bit boring, but it was related to the story and turned out to be the main crux.

    I won’t say the book was enjoyable but I read it all. I do feel that everyone has that niggling feeling they have heard a word or sentence , smelled something or been somewhere before , with images just in. And out in a flash, but can’t quite put their finger on it, what or who. My first experience I can remember was aged 12.

    Worth a read.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Danniella Josephine
    3.0 out of 5 stars 3/5 stars - let down by its ending!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 29 September 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I had enjoyed Sarah's previous thrillers - Behind Her Eyes and Cross Her Heart - so I was very excited to read Insomnia. The book grabbed my attention quickly and I read it within 24 hours. Without giving too much away, it started off well but I found I did have to suspend disbelief from around 80% onwards. A little bit different to what I would normally expect of a thriller, but I'm not sure if it worked really. I'm still excited to read Sarah's next novel, as I can be guaranteed an entertaining and gripping read regardless.
    Helpful
     Report
  • lyn
    5.0 out of 5 stars hell of a read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 May 2024
    Verified Purchase
    From start to finish I couldn’t put it down
    Thinking one way (then another twist in the tale leading onto another theory)
    It’s quite a ride to be honest. Very clever plot. Great book - one I can heartily recommend.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Jin
    4.0 out of 5 stars Repetitive
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 9 January 2025
    Verified Purchase
    I understand that the constant mental repetition is meant to convey the main characters insomniac state but it got to the point where I was bored reading it over and over which was disappointing as the main storyline is good and I liked the characters but 5he repetition was distracting me from the point
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars This is a real page turner!
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 26 May 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Only read this because it is about to be televised. A really interesting read, showing how madness can actually not be true insanity. The main character is a strong, likeable woman who slowly unravels as she creeps nearer to her 40th birthday and impending inherited madness. The clever twists and turns keep the reader wanting to just keep reading, to get to the truth if there really is any. How friends, work colleagues and even family can turn away from you when you truly need them most.
    3 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Jackie Forrest
    4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable and kept me reading
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 June 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I don't think this deserves quite all the hype it has received. I bought it a year ago and forgot I had it until the Paramount tv series came out and I thought I would read it. It was an entertaining read, but it certainly didn't keep me up all night. I had guessed who the culprit was but not the reason for her actions and as is so often the case, it was all wrapped up far too conveniently in somewhat of a rush at the end. However, it was engaging enough to keep me interested while nursing a virus and stuck at home. Not demanding and a good enough story. I'd happily read another of her books.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Kaff18
    5.0 out of 5 stars Read it in two sittings
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 September 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Sarah Pinborough has yet again written a tense, original page-turner that is impossible to put down. She has a unique ability to take the reader to places that, on the face of it, seem implausible, but in such a compelling and convincing way that by the end of the book, you'll believe anything! I defy anyone to guess the ending to her stories - refreshingly different. Can't wait to see this on the screen.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Svetlana Frolova
    5.0 out of 5 stars ❤️
    Reviewed in the United Arab Emirates on 14 February 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Very good hardcover book, enjoyed reading it, kept me guessing
    Report
  • Nischal
    4.0 out of 5 stars A good read
    Reviewed in India on 15 November 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Liked the plot,fast paced with lots of twists. Loved it
    Customer image
    Nischal
    4.0 out of 5 stars
    A good read

    Reviewed in India on 15 November 2023
    Liked the plot,fast paced with lots of twists. Loved it
    Images in this review
    Customer image
    Report
  • Amazon Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Intriguing
    Reviewed in Australia on 24 July 2024
    Verified Purchase
    An interesting & intriguing story line. I really enjoyed this book.
    Report
  • Bobba drink
    2.0 out of 5 stars Mmmm idk
    Reviewed in India on 22 December 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I expected so much from this author after her previous book behind her eyes which is my all time fav, but this disappointed me..
    Report
  • Kei - @wellreadintrovert
    4.0 out of 5 stars Psychological Stand Alone
    Reviewed in Australia on 17 October 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Emma Averell, high-powered lawyer has it all. Big, beautiful house, supportive stay-at-home husband and pigeon pair children. But it wasn’t always so perfect. Emma spent most of her childhood in foster care with her sister Phoebe after her mother had a terrible accident. An accident brought on by her insomnia and psychosis right before she turned forty. But now Emma is unable to sleep. She is losing time during the day, also one of the first symptoms her mother showed. Accidents are starting to happen all around her. Is the madness in her blood, just like her mother? Or is she truly beginning to lose her mind?

    Sarah Pinborough’s Insomnia is creepy, mind boggling and completely binge-worthy. Told through the eyes of an unstable women who feels like she is losing her mind, it feels like we will never find out what it truly going on. By casting a huge net of suspicions, you can never settle one way or another on who might be the main culprit, or where the story will end. The beginning however has a very slow build, but once the book gets properly in to motion, you won't be able to put it down. This one will be a hit for you if you love a slow burning psychological experience.
    Report

Report an issue


Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report