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M. J. Hardy

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Sleep, Baby, Sleep Paperback – April 26, 2015

by M. J. Hardy (Author)

4.3 136 ratings

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It is the 1970s in Oakland County, Michigan. For countless middle-class families working for Detroit’s booming auto industry, life is good.

The Detroit suburbs were a great place to raise a family. Excellent schools, beautiful and comfortable neighborhoods with little crime. Violence against children was unthinkable...which makes the sudden abduction and murder of a local teenager all the more shocking. However, when other children begin to disappear it becomes apparent that a greater evil is at work.

Criminal Psychiatrist Dr. Charlie Taylor assists the Michigan State Police in their hunt for the killer they’ve dubbed “the Babysitter,” due to the strange and unusual circumstances behind the murders. Local law enforcement has a decidedly mixed opinion of Charlie, a young woman in a field largely dominated by men. However, she manages to find an ally in Detective Pete West, and as the two draw closer to uncovering the Babysitter’s identity. She and West come across other shadowy and powerful connections that are intimately connected with the murders, drawing a greater mystery to the killer’s identity. Meanwhile, Oakland County residents live in fear, waiting for the next child to disappear.

A riveting account of a community under siege, Sleep, Baby, Sleep fictionalizes the events surrounding the true unsolved Oakland County child killer case.

Print length

426 pages
Language

English
Publication date

April 26, 2015
Dimensions

5.25 x 1.07 x 8 inches
ISBN-10

150585329X
ISBN-13

978-1505853292
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Sleep, Baby, Sleep is an expertly crafted story that enthralled as well as entertained me from the first page. M. J. Hardy, the superb author of Sleep, Baby, Sleep, does not hold back with his epic crime tale, he throws the reader into the plot very quickly so much so that the reader feels as if they need to catch there breath from all the shock and thrills that occurs! These are the best books in my opinion, and so Sleep, Baby, Sleep is already a newfound favorite of mine and a book I, of course, have to recommend!

Sleep, Baby, Sleep is an entertaining, thrilling, exciting read that will take you on a terrifying but captivating journey. Sleep, Baby, Sleep is an engrossing piece of literature that enthralled and enchanted me from the first page; I found this book to be phenomenal and addictive, and I could not put it down book lovers. The pacing of this story was wonderfully written and plotted so that I did not get bored at any given time.
By Aimee Ann, Red Head Book Lover

Sleep, Baby, Sleep by M. J. Hardy was a thrilling read. The addition at the beginning of the true facts of the real case was welcome as it provided enough of a backstory as a lead-in. The story itself is based on the real case but fictionalized and it was done very well. The plot is completely plausible and, because it is based on real events, it was written in an entirely believable way. The characters are excellent; the protagonists are real and relatable while the antagonists have been written with two sides to them - the realistic side the rest of the characters see and the chilling side that becomes evident in their connection to the crimes. This is compelling reading, a gripping tale that will have you on the edge of your seat, rooting for the police and the psychologist to solve it before any more children are abducted. It's a very involved story, not a light read but, I promise you, once you start reading, you are in it for the long haul. Great story, highly recommended for fans of crime fiction and true crime stories. by Reviewed By Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite

Rating - ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5/5
"Sleep, Baby, Sleep" by M. J. Hardy is a suspenseful and thought-provoking read. The story grabbed my attention from the first chapter and didn't loose its charm till the very end. The story is well plotted and narrated neatly. It's hard to maintain such elegance in 430 page long book, hats off to the author! The content is divided into 17 units which are fast paced.

I'm impressed how the author successfully captured the emotions of the victim and their families.
The story contains several supporting characters. The main character is introduced in the beginning, while the main antagonist is hard to guess which increased my interest more in the story. The book is full of suspense. Each chapter sometimes make readers think the case is unfolding, and sometimes the case is going deep. All crimes seemed believable and actions taken to prevent them before it was too late seemed natural.
A must read for every thriller lover! by Pratibha Malav

"M. J. Hardy captures the essence of a historical fiction. His stories offer a detailed authenticity to time and place, social norms, and current events. Then he weaves a story about characters that we come to love and want to befriend along with a captivating "who done it " crime that we are anxious to solve. M. J. Hardy's books are difficult to put down ... I am anxious for the next adventure he will take us on." HT Clark

From the Author

Providing a voice to those who can no longer speak . . . Fictional accounts of real stories with detailed authenticity to time and place, social norms, and current events. Weaves a story about characters that you'll come to love and want to befriend along with a captivating "who done it " crime that we are anxious to solve.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (April 26, 2015)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 426 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 150585329X
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1505853292
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.06 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.25 x 1.07 x 8 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #3,913,687 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #66,871 in Women Sleuths (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.3 136 ratings

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M. J. Hardy

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“When I was growing up, all I ever wanted to be was either a Soldier, policeman, or priest. I wanted to make a positive and lasting difference in those around me. For me, I didn’t want to sleepwalk through my day, week, year, or life, oblivious to what was going on around me. I wanted all my endeavors to have meaning.” Through God’s perfect plan, He has provided me a great life—a self-proclaimed Renaissance man, military, consultant, and author. I was born and raised in the suburbs of Detroit. After graduating from college, I entered the U. S. Army as an Infantry soldier and officer. A veteran with over 22 years of service, I continued my support to the military as a consultant. I now spend my time writing mysteries novels and contemporary short stories, consulting, and spiritual mentor.

How others have described my writing. “M. J. captures the essence of historical fiction. His stories offer a detailed authenticity to time and place, social norms, and current events. Then he weaves a story about characters that we come to love and want to befriend along with a captivating “who done it “ crime that we are anxious to solve. M. J.’s books are difficult to put down … I am anxious for the next adventure he will take us on.” “Disturbingly intriguing.” I describe my stories as very intense, adult themes, accurate fictional accounts of real unsolved murders.

When I’m not doing all of that. I enjoy spending time with my family, praying and meditating, reading, and watching mysteries, especially BBC productions. I also have an active lifestyle; walking, hiking, and most days putting around the house and trying to complete his lovely bride’s latest “honey-do list.” You can also find my work and commentary at these locations.

www.readmjhardy.com

www.readmjhardy.weebly.com

M.J. Hardy (Author of Sleep, Baby, Sleep) | Goodreads

Facebook Page. https://www.facebook.com/readmjhardy

Instagram. readmjhardy

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5

136 global ratings

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Chris

Worth the investment of time and money.

Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2018

Verified Purchase

Sleep, Baby, Sleep has a plausible plot, with just enough of a backstory to avoid getting bogged down in minutia.
The crime(s) are believable and based upon actual events. The main character enters early in the novel, and the main antagonist is revealed slowly throughout, with other antagonists revealed appropriately. Details of the crime are just enough to avoid being unnecessarily lurid.
All of the characters are believable, and the main and supporting characters are people you can identify with.
The main and supporting antagonists have realistic false personas they present to the public and non-antagonist characters, and chilling personalities that fit with the subject matter.
The author adroitly achieved the balance of providing enough background information to illustrate locations, apparel, social status, and accepted prejudices of the time period without drowning the reader in pointless detail. I would imagine that people who grew up in Michigan during this time will find many points of nostalgia that they will personally identify with. Distance runners will recognize the catharsis the main character seeks through running.
Altogether a well written novel from a freshman author.

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Bobby Read

Engaging. Suspenseful. Great read.

Reviewed in the United States on October 14, 2021

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Matt Hardy has a writing style that keeps you engaged. I only put the book down because I had to go back to work. His attention to detail while moving the story along keeps you engaged. The storyline and his ability to develop the characters is mature-it’s hard to believe this was his first book! I look forward to reading his other books.

Reviewed in the United States on September 5, 2020

Verified Purchase

M.J. Hardy did a great job of creating a believable story around real-life events. I was captivated by the characters, the intrigue, and the heartbreak. If you like crime, psychology and human nature, this book is for you.

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CarCisco

Suspenseful and thought-provoking

Reviewed in the United States on July 8, 2015

Verified Purchase

Excellent book! It truly grips the reader. The story is well told and easy to follow. Short chapters move it along at a fast pace. M.J. Hardy manages to keep you on your toes as case after case unfolds. The story line deals with the disturbing subjects of pedophilia and rape - but what is making it even more poignant is the fact that it is based on several horrific real life unsolved cases of the seventies as the basis of this otherwise fictitious book. The author is capturing the emotional effects not only on the victim's families, but also on the characters trying to solve the crimes. As a reader I found myself more and more captivated by the story, rooting for the main characters of criminal psychologist Dr. Charlie Taylor and Michigan state police investigator Pete West to finally succeed in solving the shocking crimes before it is too late.
I found this book to be a real page turner and difficult to put down. Looking forward to another book from M.J. Hardy.

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Dragonfly Dream Reviews

An enjoyable read, but sorely needs to be professionally edited.

Reviewed in the United States on November 23, 2016

Verified Purchase

An enjoyable read, but sorely needs to be professionally edited.

I cannot stress enough the importance of getting your work professionally edited, especially if you are self-publishing. It may seem like an unnecessary expense, but trust me...it's well worth it. Especially if your name, and therefore your reputation as a professional writer, are attached to it.

Sleep, Baby, Sleep is another excellent fictionalized accounting of the real-life events that held my hometown community in the grips of extreme fear during my formative years! I grew up in Royal Oak, MI during the OCCK's reign of terror, and actually attended school with Jill Robinson - the killer(s) second known victim. In fact, her death was especially traumatic for me as, on the very night that Jill was abducted, I was also out roaming the streets of Royal Oak in search of my dad. Had the abductor(s) chosen to hunt only one mile southeast of where they spotted and abducted Jill, it may have been me. This is a chilling thought that has haunted me for going on forty years next month, and has inspired a modicum of survivor's guilt. To this day, the images of these four known victims are etched in my consciousness - especially Jill's.

I am actually in the midst of penning my own fictionalized tome based upon these events. One can call it self-imposed therapy, and I think it may well be a much-needed catharsis for me. I purchased this book as part of my ongoing research, and I'm glad that I did.

The author posits some interesting theories in this book, such as the notion that Jill may have actually been asphyxiated like the others, but that the killer(s) realized that it didn't take when she began to recover at the dump site. This would explain why she was actually killed by a shotgun blast to the face at the scene, and not simply asphyxiated or strangled like the others. When I read that portion, I felt such despair. Had she begun to come to just a few moments later, she may have survived and been able to shed some light on what had happened to her and the other known and possible victims. Kristine Mihelich and Timothy King may also have been spared. We may never fully know, and that is such a desolate feeling.

Another interesting notion is the introduction of a possible female killer in the mix of male pedophiles. This would certainly explain why the children were so well taken care of and throughly cleaned before being dumped. It would also explain why the children probably felt safe getting into a car with a stranger. During that time, women strangers were considered by us kids to be safe, whereas male strangers were usually given a wide berth. Oftentimes, when a male author attempts to write from the perspective of his female protagonist - and antagonist, in this case - the prose can be clunky, awkward and less-believable than if he were writing from the perspective of his own gender. I found this offering to be more passable than most in that regard. Not perfect, but definitely passable.

What I found most vexing about the author's writing is its repetitive nature. For example, using the subject's name in every sentence in a paragraph. It's not necessary and can be tedious for the reader. A qualified editor would have corrected this tendency. There are some other issues that a good editor would eliminate, so suffice it to say, this good book would have been that much better if the author had availed himself of one. Regardless, this book is definitely worth a read.

2 people found this helpful

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Linda Karcher

Wonderfully conflicting feelings

Reviewed in the United States on April 18, 2021

Verified Purchase

This is a long overdue review. I grew up in the 70's where this story takes place. The nostalgia (for anyone growing up during that time) was charming and delightful. However, the book would take you from wonderful childhood memories to horror at the sadistic killings. It was quite the emotional roller coaster ride. Matthew J Hardy is a talented writer. If you like thrillers, and better yet, one that is based on true events, this is a must read.

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MPC

Author Matthew J Hardy does an excellent job of creating a time capsule of the period ...

Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2018

Verified Purchase

Sleep, Baby, Sleep is a compelling fictional tale based on true events in a Michigan suburb in the late 70's. It is a dark and gripping story of a frightening time for residents of Oakland County. Author Matthew J Hardy does an excellent job of creating a time capsule of the period with detailed descriptions and specific locations well known to many of us native to Michigan. He also makes the reader anxiously root for the law enforcement community and specifically criminal psychologist, Dr Charlie Taylor, to solve the crime before other children are victimized. This is not light reading but is very absorbing as any good murder mystery should be. Once you start it you won't put it down.

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