Sleeping Dogs

 Sleeping Dogs: The Awakening

In this techno-political spy thriller, the President of the United States has been targeted for assassination—by his own party’s power structure. A national election is pending and the killing must look as if the opposition party is responsible. Desperate to prevent the crime and avoid an overwhelming defeat, the opposition turns to the only force that can stop it this late in the game—a mysterious hunter-killer team known only as the Sleeping Dogs. This blackest of black ops units was formed to carry out the wettest, most illegal missions. But a U.S. President, fearing exposure of the unit’s existence could spark an international crisis, ordered its members terminated with extreme prejudice. They faked their deaths in a plane crash and went underground. Now, 20 years later, they are asked to leave the safety of their anonymity and risk their lives for their country one more time.

A seemingly unconnected car crash rapidly escalates into a series of plot twists and rising body count involving Russian agents, crooked politicians, Ukrainian gangsters, a billionaire international arbitrageur, a secret society of individuals in the military and intelligence communities, the CIA, a doggedly determined FBI agent, and the six deadliest men on earth—the surviving Sleeping Dogs. Sleeping Dogs: The Awakening combines relentless action, crisp dialogue, fully drawn characters, and thought provoking plot twists. If you enjoy books by David Baldacci, Brad Thor, Lee Child and other best-selling thriller writers, this book is for you!

About The Author:

John Wayne Falbey writes techno-political spy thrillers and adventure novels. His debut novel, Sleeping Dogs: The Awakening, has been endorsed by Compulsory Reads. He also is the author of The Quixotics, a tale of gunrunning, guerilla warfare, and treachery in the Caribbean. A native Floridian and former transactional attorney, he is a real estate investor and developer in Southwest Florida. He invites you to visit him at www.sleepingdogs.biz.

Critical Praise (4.2/5 stars on Amazon):

…a bold, gritty spy thriller…

 - Kirkus Reviews

John's book made me feel like I stepped into a CSI episode with Tom Clancy as the director.

- Andrea Kurian, Orangeberry Book Tours

Sleeping Dogs is definitely a page-turner. The author does an admirable job of painting a realistic picture of how the Sleeping Dog team operates, including their weaponry, evasion techniques and attack scenarios. Special props to the author for noting that a silencer doesn't fully silence a gunshot (almost every show, movie and book gets this wrong).                         

      - Compulsion Reads

Thoroughly researched, and fast paced, this political thriller will provide more than a few wry smiles, as you recognize people and scenarios drawn from today's headlines and political theatre. If, like me, you are a political junkie, you'll love this novel for that reason alone.

       - Suzanne E. Anderson, author of Mrs. Tuesday’s Departure

Discussion Questions:

1.     The six surviving members of the Sleeping Dogs unit have unique characters and perspectives. What, if anything, do they have in common other than their genetic makeup?

2.     Nick Stensen is a serial killer. Does he have any redeeming features? If so, what are they?

3.     The behind-the-curtain political scene is portrayed in Sleeping Dogs: The Awakening as power-driven, dangerous, and far from the public’s usual perception. Do you believe there’s any reality to that portrayal? Discuss.

4.     Brendan Whelan is the main protagonist and leader of the black ops unit, the Sleeping Dogs. As such, he appears to be cold-blooded and relentless. Does he have a softer side? If so, what demonstrates that?

5.     It isn’t a secret that the Soviets spent many decades infiltrating American society and government. Did their efforts dissolve with the fall of the USSR? If not, who, in  today’s world, would stand to benefit from that apparatus and how?

6.     In the polarization and turmoil of today’s national and international scenes, are the members of the Sleeping Dogs unit intended to symbolize or embody hope for a solution? Discuss.

7.     Other than “comic relief”, does Rafe Almeida bring any positive, useful qualities to the unit? If so, what are they?

8.     In the book, the Society of Adam Smith clearly is a fictional organization. Do you believe there actually could be a group of individuals in the military and intelligence communities that is similar? If there is, what might be evidence of their existence?

9.     Is it conceivable that a major political party’s power structure could become so disillusioned and disappointed with their President, and concerned with their ability to hold the White House in an election, that assassination might be on the agenda?

10.    Do any of the characters or story lines appear to mirror the front pages of today’s news? If so, who/what?

11.    Would you characterize the individual Sleeping Dogs as "good guys" or "bad guys"? How would you characterize them as a group?

12.     Can you think of any evidence that may indicate that there actually are individuals who, through their genetic make up, are faster, stronger, smarter than genetically "normal" people?

Sleeping Dogs: The Awakening

by John Wayne Falbey                                                 

Publication Date (original): June 16, 2012

Publication Date (newly revised and updated): TBA

Genres: Fiction, Suspense, Thriller 

Paperback: Original—346 pages; Revised and Updated—TBA

Publisher: The Falbey Group, LLC          

ISBN-10: 978-0-9855187-1-4

ISBN-13: 978-0-9855187-0-7

Availability: PrintAmazon, Barnes & Noble, CreateSpace, Ingram, Baker & Taylor. eBookAmazon, iBooks, Nook, Smashwords, Kobo.

© John Wayne Falbey 2018 All Rights Reserved