On an early morning in January, in the depths of winter, a man washes up on a beach in Norfolk with an unexplained head injury and no recollection of how he ended up there. The only thing he does know is that he needs to find the woman whose name is written on his hand.

The attractive mystery man, in his forties with thick dark hair, brown eyes and a shadow of stubble across his chin, captures the interest and imagination of the local townsfolk. Unfortunately the press also catches wind of the incident and he is branded as Mr Nobody.

Mr Nobody, or Matthew as he’s called by the concerned hospital staff, also grabs the attention of well–renowned neurosurgeon Richard Groves who assigns his case to Dr Emma Lewis, an expert in the field of fugue – a loss of awareness of one’s identity, often coupled with flight from one’s usual environment, associated with certain forms of hysteria and epilepsy.

There’s just one snag, in order for Emma to treat the unknown man, she has to return to the area she grew up in and confront the past she fled from fourteen years ago. Yet, this is the chance she needs to further her career as a neuropsychiatrist and make a name for herself, but she will have to risk her life and her family’s. Subsequently we need to unravel three mysteries – Emma’s past, Mr Nobody’s past and how the two are connected.

Catherine Steadman is known for her role as Mabel Lane Fox in the popular, British series Downton Abbey, but debuted as an author in 2018 with the psychological thriller Something in the water. Both books have a cinematic quality to them, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Mr Nobody, like Something in the water, might end up on television. Steadman’s own involvement in film and her visual style of writing is undoubtedly not coincidental.

She frames scenes and situations in vivid and intricate detail, but this approach does drag out and breaks the speed of the plot, which could potentially lose the readers’s interest. The attention to the visual is immediately evident within the first few pages of the book when the narrator explains what the impact of an accident would be on the human body:

“I hear the thick packed meat sound of our faces connecting with the dark matte-grey plastic of the dashboard and then, instantly whiplashing back into our headrests with blunt force. A cranial impact”

Ironically, I also found the explanatory information on psychiatry and neurology interesting. It adds to the authenticity of the story, but at times it’s taken just a smidge too far. Readers who enjoy a slower pace and more detailed descriptions will savour Steadman’s style of writing. I was just too impatient and wanted to find out everyone’s secrets.

Mr Nobody is full of twists which keeps us stumbling around in the dark for most of the book. Up to the end we wonder about the man’s identity and whether he faking it or if he truly has memory loss. And then there’s his inexplicable knowledge of Emma’s past life. It will leave you will a multitude of questions, but luckily these are neatly wrapped up in the end.

The premise for this novel is so intriguing and mysterious with a unknown man found wandering a beach in Norfolk, apparently with no memory of who he is and how he got there.
Mr Nobody had me hooked from the very beginning, wondering how this storyline would unfold. I know in reality there have been cases of this sort but the writing felt original and imaginative. Dr Emma Lewis, highly respected in her field, and determined to prove her worth is extremely flattered to be the doctor ‘chosen’ to work with the patient who becomes known as Matthew. She believes she is capable of helping him discover his identity; the only downside being that in order to do so she will need to return to Norfolk, a place she has tried so hard to forget, a place that holds VERY bad memories.
Sound intriguing?? I definitely thought so and found this book hard to put down, so eager was I to discover the secrets Emma desperately needs to keep hidden and who Mr Nobody really is.
As events unfold you realise Emma’s backstory is quite heartbreaking which made me like her all the more. Clearly an intelligent, driven woman she doesn’t want to let her past control her feelings and ruin this professional opportunity. But the plot thickens with each turn of the page with media attention surrounding Mr Nobody proving a challenge and unwanted intrusion.
I found the science behind loss of memory fascinating as too the questionable nature of press coverage and the lengths some reporters will go to to bag their scoop.
So far so good! I was thinking that this book would certainly merit a five star review as I felt invested in the outcome but somewhere along the way, perhaps three quarters through, events began to feel rather far fetched as well as slightly confusing. Whilst I admire the author’s capability for creativity, the bounds of incredulity were stretched beyond belief, particularly the end scenes between Emma and Matthew. Having such high hopes it felt like just as you are approaching the finishing line, a clear winner, someone comes out of nowhere to pip you to the post! Maybe I felt a little bit let down and disappointed. The positive side to this statement is that I couldn’t possibly have guessed the path this storyline would go down so I still recommend fellow readers to pick this book up and see what they think. The relationship between Matthew and nurse Rhoda is quite touching as too is the very final scene between Emma and Matthew. I think the setting perfectly adds to the disturbing, creepy nature of this relationship between doctor and patient.
I will also now seek out Catherine’s debut novel as the writing is well paced and engrossing.
My thanks as always to the author and publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read in exchange for an honest review.

I LOVED THIS! I was gripped from start to finish, and though it was excellent. Mr Nobody effortlessly uses neurology and psychiatry to weave a complex, twisty thriller which will keep you guessing genuinely from start to finish.

The thing which intrigued me from the start was the similarities between the Taman Shud man, the Piano Man, and other similar cases of people re-appearing with no identification, memory, or explanation of how they came to be there. This novel is like a 'what if' exploration of elements of the cases which the average citizen won't ordinarily gain access to, told through the eyes of the specialist engaged to solve the mysteries of the fugue state and determine whether he's really lost his memory or whether he's a malingerer.

This was so so so so good and I would heartily recommend.

If medical-style psychological thrillers give you a buzz, then you must read Mr. Nobody, the latest novel written by Catherine Steadman. Even though, I had yet to read any of this fabulous author's earlier work, I hoped I was going to be in for a treat with this one and it was magnificently good.

When a man with a head injury and no memory appears on Holkham Beach in Norfolk, England in the middle of Winter, people are fascinated by his story. Who is he? Where did he come from? Why can’t he remember anything?

Dr Emma Lewis is a forerunner in her field of memory loss and is chosen to work on a case that will challenge her to determine the diagnosis. The case will require her to return to her hometown in Norfolk, from where she and her family fled fourteen years ago, as well as changing their identities. But Emma knows this job a massive opportunity for her career...

In Mr. Nobody, bestseller Catherine Steadman explores the peculiarities of the mind in a mesmerising and chilling tale of mystery, harboured secrets and fear. The story is written principally from Emma’s point of view and Mr Nobody, making the story altogether extremely intriguing. Catherine Steadman's characterisation is incredibly impressive, especially as I was allowed an insight into Emma's past and this made an unusual contrast with Mr Nobody whose personal history is unknown. The author explores the psyche of her characters with great conviction, making them credible and plausible.

I particularly liked the author's portrayal of Emma though she displayed tendencies towards recklessness. Each character had a part to play in the story and all of them came across as being good, bad, or both, which made this a believable read. Everyone had different motives and reasons for their actions, thoughts or behaviour. Mr. Nobody brought me no disappointments, capturing my attention from the beginning to the final word. Catherine Steadman created an underlying sense of trepidation that was totally gripping. I appreciated the tautness of the plot, the twists and revelations, and the overall quality of the writing. As the second half opened, my interest never wavered as the story barrelled its way towards a wonderful denouement. I have found another favourite psychological thriller writer in Catherine Steadman and I cannot recommend Mr. Nobody highly enough.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my request, from Simon and Schuster UK via NetGalley and this review is my own unbiased opinion.

Last year I read Something In The Water by Catherine Steadman and thought that it was a thrilling and engrossing page turner so jumped at the chance to read Mr. Nobody. There are some similarities in the two books; they both feature a female protagonist, there’s a big old mystery and loads of intrigue. In this book our protagonist is Dr.Emma Lewis, a neuropsychiatrist who is asked to work on the case of Mr. Nobody, a man who was found on a beach with no memory of who he is. The thing is, the beach is in her hometown, a place she hasn’t been to since she was a teenager as Something Very Bad happened and she and her family were forced to leave.

Intrigued by the case she decides to return back to the place she ran from 15 years earlier. The unknown man is a curiosity and very quickly the hospital is under siege by the press desperate to find out just who Mr. Nobody is. But is all as it seems? Does this man genuinely not remember anything or is he faking?

There are two mysteries at the core of this book; who is the man and what happened in Emma’s past? These two strands weave around one another with Emma finding herself being challenged both personally and professionally. Matthew, as Mr. Nobody comes to be known, seems to know things about her that he shouldn’t and she becomes increasingly disorientated and off-kilter.

Catherine Steadman pushes her characters to their limits, throwing challenges at them like grenades. For both Emma and Matthew the biggest challenge is that of memory; she is trying to escape hers whilst he is trying to remember his. The dichotomy between past and present was so interesting to read about. Ultimately this is a book which explores memory, it’s reliability and it’s impact upon us.

This is a pretty solid page turner of a thriller. I was intrigued by the premise and Catherine Steadman is so good at dropping little twists here and there which create more and more questions that have to be answered. I did have to suspend belief a little at times especially towards the end of the book but overall it worked. I think I perhaps preferred Something In The Water but still recommend Mr. Nobody for a bit of pure unadulterated escapism.

Thank you to Netgalley for this advanced reader's copy. Superbly twisty psychological thriller. A must read!

My thanks to Simon & Schuster UK for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Mr Nobody’ by Catherine Steadman in exchange for an honest review.

A man is found on a Norfolk beach, dazed and confused, unable to speak and no identification. There is a great deal of interest in him, including from the press, who have dubbed him Mr Nobody. He is being treated in a nearby hospital.

London based neuropsychiatrist Dr Emma Lewis is approached to assess the patient. While this is her field of expertise and the opportunity that she’s been waiting for to make her reputation, there is danger in this assignment. Fourteen years ago Emma had left this same small Norfolk town under a cloud and attending this patient could expose her past.

This was an intriguing premise that certainly drew my attention and delivered on it, providing some excellent OMG! moments. It contains a fair amount of information about neurophysiology and the way the brain and memory works alongside a satisfyingly twisty plot that kept me guessing.

As the novel was already published, I obtained its audiobook edition, narrated by the author, to listen alongside reading the eARC. Steadman is an established British actor and proved an excellent narrator.

I now plan to add her debut novel, ‘Something in the Water’, to my TBR list.

To begin with this book intrigued me and I really wanted to know Matthew's story. But unfortunately the end let me down, especially the red herrings that seemed unnecessary.

A man is found on the beach with no memory of who he is. Dr Emma Lewis is called in to help the man but it means returning to a place she ran away from, to a life she has left behind. She returns but soon her past is coming back to haunt her and mr nobody seems to know it.

This was an interesting story with a clever plot line. It jumps around at the start from Emma learning about the case to mr nobody waking on the beach. I found the story steadily building to an ultimately chilling ending. It was well written and ended in a way that I actually thought worked well for the story. The scientific details are not too overwhelming but added depth to the story. I liked Emma from the start and her strength and dedication added to her character. A really good story.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC of this book
I tried, I really tried to get into this book but unfortunately it wasn't for me.. The story didn't get my attention but the book was well written. I am sure others will like this but sadly not me.

This book took a long time to get going but when it did finally get going I must admit that it did not hold my attention. It was well written but it did nothing for me. Saying that I am sure other readers will enjoy it more just not for me.
I would like to thank the author, publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.

A man is found on a deserted beach , he has no memory as to who he is and why he is there . A doctor who specialises in fugue states is called in to assess his condition , but he apparently recognises her and calls her by her first name Marn , which she has not used for many years since the apparent suicide of her father . She is now called Emma and although she has come back to the area where this happened she does not want to be recognised , however a policeman sent to protect her remembers her from her schooldays .His wife is a reporter on the local newspaper and after seeing his mobile with a message from Emma on it suspects he is having an affair with her . She sees the name Marni on the reply and breaks the story which endangers Emma's security . The lost man who has been named Mathew by the hospital escapes and is found by Emma who he then takes hostage and reveals that he has killed a number of people to steal their identities over the years , but cannot remember his own real name and that he thinks she is the only one who can help him . The story unfortunately seemed too contrived to ring true and at times was too long winded to give pace to the story .

I really really enjoyed this psychological thriller!

At the start I wasn't sure about this one, it took a while to get going and I wasn't really keen on the writing at the start.

But then things got going and they really got going.

Some people have criticised this book because of the technical psychological jargon in here. As a psychology student, who has studied the brain, the language used was nothing unfamiliar to me. However, I can appreciate if you haven't studied the brain this book may feel a bit info dumpy

I loved the premise. I thought it was really unique and different. I love a good medical thriller, and this one is definitely up there with my favourites.

There was lots of twists and turns throughout. It was tense and pacey.

There was also a underlying mystery which I was hooked by and I really wanted to find out more about.

As a psychology student I find the brain fascinating and even though I know this is fiction I found it really interesting to read and really liked how this book focused on the brain etc.

Overall, I think this is a great little medical thriller. Highly recommend

TW: suicide and discussions around mental health particularly PTSD

This is an entertaining mystery about a man with memory loss who is found on a Norfolk beach. Though he appears to not remember who he is or why he is there it seems that he does know other things, particularly about Doctor Emma Lewis who is assigned to his case..

I found this book to be very slow paced at times but even so I whizzed through it in just a couple of sittings. I probably preferred the author's earlier book if I'm being completely honest, but this was still a very enjoyable read with a decent mystery and well drawn characters.

My mind is reeling, I didn't see that coming at all. Just wow, what a book and almost certainly will be a content for one of my top books of the year.

This was the first book I've read by Catherine Steadman, and I will happily admit that it was the cover that first drew me towards the book and then I read the blurb and thought it sounded quite interesting.

Well nothing could have prepared me for book. It's definitely one best read without any prior knowledge. From the first chapters I could tell there was a rather impressive quality to the writing. As I continued reading I realised that the book was getting under my skin. I doubt I'll be forgetting it for a while. And despite needing to urgently get on with some work I read the whole of the second half of the book in one sitting oblivious to real life.

This is a fascinating look at memory and how the brain works, it is clear that the author has done vast amounts of research into the topic and everything is present in a really accessible way.

The two main characters well I wanted to know about both of them. Dr. Emma Lewis is clearly hiding her past and we get glimpses of it from time to time. Whereas the man, found on a beach and now being treated by Emma, is a mystery. The first chapter from his point of view where it describes so clearly how it feels to have no memory, no clue of who you are, but yet knowing you need to find someone, and can still do assorted motor skills, is rather disconcerting. And I found I had a great deal of empathy towards him.

It's a quick paced story that kept me on my toes, kept me guessing and thinking. I was completely hooked on this story, Easily the best book I've read so far this decade. I definitely will be looking out for more from this author. I predict I may just have a book hangover now, I just can't get over how fabulous this was.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

A man wakes up on a beach, disorientated and without a clue who he is or how he got there. The only clue he has is a word written on his hand. We, the reader, are not privy to what this word is so the mystery begins from the start for us. Dr Emma Lewis, a consultant neuropsychiatrist is called in to assess this patient, but from the beginning it is clear this is not an ordinary case. She is sworn to secrecy and non-disclosure. As she meets Mr Nobody (named Matthew for the time being) she is completely discombobulated when he utters her name. The name she was forced to change because of an event that happened many years before. How does he know her real name? Have they met before? As the mystery deepens, Emma finds herself returning to her childhood home in order to lay to rest the demons that haunt her. But this return visit sparks alarm for Emma as she realises that Matthew had to have been at her home as she recalls a conversation they had previously.

This tense and fast-paced novel builds to a spine-tingling crescendo that brings together all the strands of the story. No spoilers here but it is definitely a book that you won't want to put down until you have all the answers.

**Review**
Mr Nobody by Catherine Steadman
‘He wants to remember. She needs to forget’
A man is found on a Norfolk beach with no memory. He does not know who he is or why he is there. Enter neuropsychiatrist Emma Lewis, who is tasked with diagnosing and treating him. As she helps uncover the truth, memories of her own past that she would rather stay buried begin to resurface.
This had all the makings of a great thriller. The first 40% was really intriguing and enjoyable, with just the right amount of suspense. It gave me the same vibes as ‘The Silent Patient’ did, and I thought I was in for a treat.
But unfortunately after this point, it all just got a little bit silly! I feel it lost its way and got messy. It became over complicated and ended with a bizarre conclusion. Not one for me but some may enjoy.
In conclusion, I enjoyed 40%, but was disappointed by 60%, therefore it is only 2 star read for me.
Thank you to @netgalley for this advanced copy to review.
Publication date: 01/02/20

There’s something about books featuring severe memory loss or warping that I’m drawn to, so with a description that included ‘he wants to remember. She wants to forget’, I requested this intriguing sounding thriller on NetGalley.

A man washes up on a Norfolk beach with no memory of his life or who he is. There are no clues or leads to answers and he’s taken to hospital. He is named Matthew by the media and speculation circulates as to who he could possibly be -a criminal, immigrant, a missing person? When top neuropsychologist Dr Emma Lewis is enlisted to examine him, she realises that this is possibly a once-in-a-lifetime, rare case of fugue. However, treating Matthew means revisiting her past, confronting the horrors that have haunted her for 14 years and it seems that this mysterious man may know more than he claims…

There are quite a few examples of information dumping throughout the book and I feel like this may have affected Emma’s likeability. She has this air of superiority about her that created a distance between me and her and I just couldn’t warm to her at all sadly. This meant that a lot of the emotion I was supposed to feel towards the end didn’t manifest and therefore it all fell a bit flat.

It is creepy in some parts. On the whole, the novel isn’t terribly clever but there are moments of suspense and foreboding that scared me. Steadman is very good at descriptions of place and I was able to find myself inside Emma’s dark remote woodland cottage without much effort.

I did enjoy the mystery of who Matthew really was. There could have been more slowly-fed clues that would have propelled the narrative a little faster but I was interested enough to find out his true identity. At one point, I thought he might be some kind of supernatural being and I actually think this eventuality would have been more interesting than the one it landed on. He has an ethereal quality to him and an intelligence that seems to rival Emma’s. His actions and way of speaking began to remind me a little of John Coffey in The Green Mile, which is probably what led me to believe that he wasn’t exactly of this world.

By the end of the book, Emma learns that she needs to slow down and realise that there is more to life than work. Although not a unique moral, it’s a noble, important one and definitely an uplifting inspiring note to end on.

Mr Nobody is full of repetition that I’m pretty sure could have been avoided with more thorough editing. For example, the nonsense cliche of ‘letting out a breath I didn’t know I was holding’ was used at least four times that I can remember. It’s also very slow-paced for a thriller, which could definitely leave some readers giving up before the halfway mark. Unfortunately, I was disappointed overall because I was expecting something a bit more unique but the mystery was intriguing enough to keep me reading.

It seems that nothing happens in this book for a long time and it didn't keep my attention.
It's well written but it was not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

I thought that by choosing Mr. Nobody as my first read of 2020 I would start the year with a bang. It turns out I’ve started with a fizzle. Though the initial premise is intriguing enough and at the beginning I couldn’t help turning the pages to find out what was going on, soon I was bored out of my mind. The plot drags at a glacial pace and nothing truly exciting or shocking happens right until the last quarter when it takes a turn into nonsensical territory (I found the twist to be downright ridiculous). At least the writing was good enough for me to want to try the author’s first book.