Martin Swan

The Real Narcos is a fast-paced British comedy crime novel that follows the wildly accidental rise of Barry Pindle, an unemployed former carpet salesman suffering from narcolepsy, who somehow becomes the most feared man in Manchester's criminal underworld. After falling asleep during a support-group meeting, Barry finds himself holding a mysterious bag full of cash when armed gangsters burst into the room.
A series of misunderstandings convinces hardened criminals that Barry is a legendary mastermind known only as "The Sleeper." As rival gangs, police detectives, social media influencers, and even mafia bosses become obsessed with him, Barry struggles to understand why everyone believes he's secretly running a criminal empire. Joined by an equally dysfunctional group of narcoleptic friends-including the perpetually exhausted Kelly, spreadsheet-loving Tariq, and Norman, a man who takes advice from a pigeon named Malcolm-Barry is dragged into a chaotic world of gang wars, exploding warehouses, mistaken identities, viral fame, and increasingly absurd criminal conspiracies.
As a mysterious impostor dressed in yellow Crocs uses Barry's identity to manipulate Manchester's criminal organizations, Barry must uncover the truth before a city-wide gang war erupts. Unfortunately, doing so is difficult when he keeps falling asleep at the worst possible moments. Combining the absurdity of The Office, the criminal misunderstandings of Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, and the heart of a classic underdog comedy, The Real Narcos is a laugh-out-loud adventure filled with eccentric characters, escalating chaos, and one unlikely hero who never wanted any part of it.
Perfect for readers who enjoy: British comedy Crime capers Humorous mysteries Absurd adventures Lovable underdog characters Satirical takes on social media and modern celebrity