The
novel opens with the main character's flashbacks to when he was 7.
All he knew was the life he had with his mother, who made a living
as a prostitute. But it was only after she had him kill for her
that he realized he didn't like her. Always on the run, they fled
from city to city, to a place where the two of them could feel safe
just for a little while.

In his current life he calls himself Gideon, named after the Bible
that is left behind in motel rooms, an inspiration he had while
killing off a high-profile minister. In the opening of the story,
Gideon, now a contract killer, is in London and ends up in bed with
two very beautiful women. But he is also hiding out because someone
out there is trying to kill him. The ladies aren't aware of who he
is; all they know is that they're having a great time sharing this
man in his bed and enjoying extraordinary sex all day and all night
long.

While a good chunk of the book is taken up by sex scene after sex
scene, there is indeed a plot. It involves the murder of a famous
rapper known as Big Bad Wolf, a job that Gideon took care of before
he left the States. In turn, the man who paid Gideon to kill the
artist is now dead. Gideon knows he's next if he's not careful in
doing his best to outrun his assailant. He is aware that a
mysterious man, who had been on the plane to London, is following
him. But so far he has been able to dodge the "man with the broken
nose."

Gideon is having a good time with Lola Mack and Mrs. Jones, but
another woman, Arizona, is on his mind. He has given his heart to
Arizona, who is as tough as they come, but she will not give her
heart to him. She is the one woman he would commit to if he could,
but there is something that is stopping Arizona from taking their
relationship to any higher level.

Eric Jerome Dickey makes his characters come alive in this violent
and steamy novel. The two main killers, Gideon and "the man with
the broken nose," come across as real people who the reader will
empathize with and care about, despite their gruesome profession.
In fact, we learn that the "man with the broken nose" is a family
man who loves his kids, especially his learning-disabled son. He
buys souvenirs for them while hunting down Gideon and killing off
other people he's been paid to take down. The "man with the broken
nose" is just making a living, but what's more, he feels that
Gideon keeps one-upping him. He is trying his hardest to be a
better hit man than Gideon, who has the reputation for being the
best.

Fans of Dickey will notice the increase in sex and violence in this
book. Some may be turned off by it, while others will enjoy the
novel for what it is. I felt there was too much emphasis on the sex
between Gideon and the two women, scenes that didn't add to the
overall plot in any significant way. However, Gideon's relationship
with his mother and his search for her did reveal a lot about his
personality and explained why he became the contract killer he is
today. The contrast between Gideon's love for the two women and his
hate for his mother showed a diverse range of emotions coming from
one man. No fan of Dickey's novels will want to pass up WAKING WITH
ENEMIES.