I couldn't engage with this. I found myself zoning out and not caring about the characters. I think it was the narration that put me off but honestly I couldn't tell you anything that happened in the book to know if it was the plot either

An interesting book that reminded me of the Dirty John series. Seemed a bit far fetched at times but it is a true story, which is shocking. I have admiration for Carolyn for getting her story out and also having the bravery to do so and leaving her relationship.

I’m sorry but I just didn’t enjoy this book - it’s boring and the characters are un likeable. DNF at 21%

Wow this was a lot of fun to listen to. The narrator was really good and made the book that much more enjoyable. I love true stories and learning and letting people tell their story. This was no different. Her story was fascinating and I didn’t know about it until listening to this book. It’s unbelievably awful what she’s been through but I believe it’s helped raise awareness about it.

This story was absolutely fascinating and horrifying at the same time. I was totally gripped and the fact that it was an account of a true story just made it all the more interesting. In fact, had it have been a piece of fiction I think might have thought it was a little bit too far fetched.
Personally I wasn’t a fan of the narrator’s style of narration, but I didn’t dislike it enough to put me off listening.
A fascinating insight into some of the human psyche and a great read.
My thanks to e, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this book in return for an honest review.

I love true crime stories and I often binge watch crime documentaries on Netflix. So naturally I was drawn to this audiobook. 

Sleeping with a Psychopath is split into two parts, the first one describing how Carolyn Woods met Mark Conway who swept her off her feet in 2012 and pretended to be MI6 spy and a rich Swiss banker leading an extraordinary and extravagant life. I couldn't stop listening to this part and found it utterly horrifying how Mark Conway whose real name is Mark Acklom fraudulently took £850k from Carolyn and left her penniless with credit card debts. 

The second part of the book focuses on the police investigation of the crime and the court trial. While I was eager to find out whether the police managed to catch the conman and what happenedto him, I found the second half of the book a bit too drawn out with a lot of criticism directed at the police from Carolyn's side, even if justly so.

I'd 100% recommend listening to Sleeping with a Psychopath as I bet that throughout the book most readers will be asking themselves whether they could fall victim to a similar crime. 


Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately I couldn’t finish this book. I listened to the audiobook and found the narrator difficult to listen to and she didn’t hold my attention. The story was also a bit lack lustre and didn’t quite ring true. I know it was based on a true story, i just think it’s been embellished a bit too much.

This book was very god, I liked the analysis of the psychological traps psychopaths use to bring their victims to them. I thought the story was mostly well written and entertaining, however I lost interest the last 25% or so, as it was too detailed.

I think the narration was good, but the way the Mark messages were read out felt a bit forced, wanting him to sound evil and blunt. Psychopaths are actually very charming so I doubt that's how he sounded.

Overall, however, I liked listening to the book.

Thank you NetGallery and HarperCollins for gifting me this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

If this was fiction I'd probably be saying it is too far fetched and would never happen. But, unbelievably, this is a true story! I vaguely remember hearing about the story on the news, but reading Carolyn's account of what happened to her in this book really shocked me.

How could a confident 54 year old woman be taken in by a conman like Marj Acklom? At first I thought she must be stupid because it seemed obvious what he was doing. But she fell in love and we do silly things when we're in love. He was a very clever psychopath who took in many other people, starting when he was just a schoolboy. A lesson for us all, I think.

Bravo to Carolyn for finally getting out of the relationship and for her tenacity in ensuring that Acklom went to prison, and for telling her story in the hope that perhaps it might save others from being taken in by such evil conmen.

Oh my gosh, this is such a frustrating book. I was constantly wondering how Carolyn fell for the outrageous stories Mark fed her. Totally unbelievable. Carolyn meets Mark and they end up in a whirlwind romance during most of which Mark isn't actually present. He feeds Carolyn stories of him being a secret agent, in MI5, going overseas on dangerous missions, doing huge property deals and so on. She comes across as an intelligent and sensible woman. How did she end up believing it all? The amount of times I scoffed whilst listening to this book was ridiculous. But then on the other hand it could also prove just how charming and cunning Mark was, even right to the bitter end. Unfortunately Carolyn didn't come across as very likeable which made it difficult to sympathise with her however it's impossible to admire her honesty in discussing how she was conned and manipulated. It must have been so difficult to speak about it all knowing that people would likely judge her negatively, and as a reader it really is hard not to do that. I was conflicted throughout the whole of the book finding it both ridiculous and fascinating at the same time. I think that it was actually written well and the timeline was clear, the narrator did an excellent job with the audiobook and overall it was an easy listen that grabbed my attention.

I was excited to read this book. I wanted to know more about the whole thing. However i cant help but feel a little flat, its not a non fiction book i would be rating to others unfortunately. I wanted to like it but i struggled

This true story is a shocking reminder of how trust can be broken and that there are people in the world who manipulate for purely selfish gains. Carolyn Woods shares her story of how a conman was able to influence and control her life. I was interested with he references to psychopathic traits at the end of chapters and how the author was able to relate them to Marks' behaviour. I have heard many positive reviews about the book but the audio book didn't have the same impact on me.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really didn't feel that this worked in this audiobook format. The narrator did not suit the memoir style content and actually made feel minimal sympathy for the victim. The story itself was interesting however many comments by the author are very questionable, especially those about the #metoo movement and anti depressants.

This is a seemingly inconceivable story , but unfortunately it’s a true story and not a work of fiction .
Carolyn Woods is taken in by conman Mark Acklom , he portrays himself as a rich man living a dare devil life style , when the truth is that he’s a fraudster moving on from one victim to the next.
Carolyn begins a relationship with Mark and this is where her nightmare begins , family and friends show initial concern for Carolyn, which she brushes aside. The fraudster begins to control her life telling her what to wear , what to buy , making promises that are inevitable broken and leaving Carolyn £850,000 lighter in her bank balance.
This reads like a work of fiction , but coercive control is a legitimate tool used by narcissists and psychopaths. Mark Acklom seems to fit all the criteria of a psychopath, causing Carolyn psychological harm whilst not inflicting physical harm. Leaving her a shadow of her former self.
I read this and could see how it would unfold, but what left me dumbfounded was Carolyn’s fight for justice and the lack of help she received from the police , this really needs to be addressed.
The book was well written in the style of a memoir and I found the narrator easy to listen to. A perceptive read , and leaves you wondering what if?
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK Audio.

** ARC provided by Netgalley via the publisher in exchange for an honest review. ***

An interesting book which I think will ring a few bells with 'Dirty John' viewers. I feel like you see headlines about people being conned out of their money but often dismiss the victims as fools. I thought this book was great at displaying how master manipulators actually work and exactly how you end up falling for the nonsense they spout.

Whilst the author refers to being gaslighted & coerced into her decisions during this abusive relationship, which appear to be abusive behaviours she has learned about after the fact, she seems to only wish to learn about things that directly impact her. She has a go at the #metoo movement., why? Her dealings with police officers on her case were supposedly showing their lack of action, however, the author came across as difficult to deal with with a superiority complex. It makes the book hard to rate as it was good in some parts and irritating in others.

Interesting true crime memoir.
Carolyn Woods thinks she finds the man of her dreams in Mark Conway.
As the story progresses though the twists and turns read like a thriller, but this is a memoir of an actual occurrence.
Carolyn lends Mark money and agrees with his way that he wants their relationship to progress. She gets more isolated from friends and family and spends increasing amounts of time waiting for Mark to show.
This book tells how Mark found his way in Carolyn's life and the devastation he leaves behind. It also tells of Carolyn's fight for some justice.
It truly does portray the life of a psychopath.
This book is well written and well narrated.
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley in allowing me to listen to in return for a review.

This was about Carolyn Woods who had been conned by a psychopath of around £850,000.

I listened to the audiobook thanks to Netgalley.

This was narrated by Carolyn Woods herself and was her true account of what had happened. This was really sad book interesting because you could see a first-hand account of a survivor of not only a con, but deep emotional and psychological abuse. You got to experience her emotions and distress and pain.

I would highly recommend this book.

Whilst this is a fascinating and disturbing true story which really blew my mind. I struggled with the audio version as I really did not feel the narrator suited the story and it actually made me have little sympathy for the victim. There was nothing wrong with the narrator her voice and manner just didn’t suit this story in my opinion.
What this guy got away with is truly the type of story you would see on a movie screen. It was very sad to hear about the deep depression that Carolyn ended up in due to the way this man played with her head and emotions.

I received this from Netgalley in return for an honest review.

I spent a lot of this book being shocked and annoyed tbh. If I have to hear "Bubba" or "Baby" one more time I genuinely might scream and unfortunately I had very little sympathy for anyone in the book.

Sleeping with a Psychopath by Carolyn Woods Narrated by: Jan Cramer. A true story of love and deception told by the woman whose life was destroyed by a seductive conman, Mark Acklom. The British Dirty John.
This was a book I wanted to listen to. or read and I was so chuffed I had this book to listen to. However, I was so disappointed with this audiobook. I can sadly say I struggled with the narrator Jan Cramer - she was awful!!! 2/5
I am a big fan of audio books but she was not the right person to tell this story!

I ended up reading this book which was so much better - Shame though.

Big thank you to the publishers .Harper Collins, and to Netgalley for my copy.