I was drawn to the cover and the title of the book The Nothing Man and wow the story didn’t disappoint.. This book is really clever and quite unique. You are reading a book within a book as the story builds. It really is a fast paced chilling thriller. It is quite intense and all consuming and you seriously won’t be able to put it down until you get to the very end, I have read Rewind by the same author but this book is something else and to me puts the author on the map of top psychological thriller writers.

Eve Black has written a true crime book about the serial killer nicknamed The Nothing Man and her obsessive search to find the man who killed her family. Jim is a bored, ageing, department store security guard and he is reading this book. Jim finds the story is making him very angry, especially the descriptions of the killer as he is the Nothing Man.

Will Eve discover the Identity of the Nothing Man or will he get to her first to tie up loose ends?

*Many thanks to Catherine Ryan Howard, Atlantic Books and NetGalley for arc in exchange for my honest review.*
A good debut which takes a true crime as the background for its plot.
The only survivor of a murder after eighteen years writes and publishes a book aimed at getting the culprit's interest and apprehending him. The narration is interesting as its both the book content and the murderer himself. Such novels are never masterpieces to me, however, this one was a perfect weekend read with a thrill.

Wow! The description of this book immediately appealed to me and I wasn't disappointed in any way. It is a story of the lone survivor of a serial killer who struck in 5 different houses in Cork in increasingly violent attacks. Eve ( shortened from Evelyn) was 12 at the time and her Mother, Father and younger sister were all murdered. She only escaped, she thought, because the killer did not know that she had locked herself in the bathroom. After this crime, the killer never appeared to strike again.
The effect of this traumatic event on her life is really well explored and explained. . It takes her many years to deal with what has happened to her and her family but, eventually she joins a creative writing course and an empathetic and insightful tutor encourages her to write her story. She submits 1000 words and, from then on, her life takes on new meaning. Her 'story' is published, posted and discussed in various strands of the media. She then meets a publisher who suggests she expands the 1000 words into a book.
Eve decides do take on this challenge, knowing how difficult it will be for her but, it is pointed out to her, there may be people who will read it and who will know things that they had not realised were important to the case (it is revealed that Eve has a couple of clues which she has never told anyone). She is introduced to a policeman (Ed) who has put off retirement, to try to catch the 'Nothing Man' - so called because he has never left a single clue which might have led to an arrest. Ed points out that, even if they catch the killer, unless he confesses they will not be able to charge him.
Working their way through hundreds of documents Ed and Eva review all the cases and do some more investigation of their own. Finally, Eva is ready to write the book which becomes an instant best seller with her being interviewed on chat shows and in all the papers as well as attending well-publicised book signings. The Nothing Man attends one of these and is introduced to Eve.
The ending of the book took me totally by surprise - unexpected facts and events - leading to a satisfactory ending.
It was hard to remember that this was fiction, it is so well written as an account of how she pursued her quarry. I read this in one sitting - staying awake until 2am - as I just had to know what would happen in the end.
A marvellous read and an author who I will be looking out for in the future.

I have read a lot of thrillers, particularly crime thrillers but this is the first book I have read by Catherine Ryan Howard.
The Nothing Man is the story of Eve Black, who is a survivor of the serial killer aptly named The Nothing Man, as he never leaves any evidence behind and as a result, has never been caught. Eve was the only survivor when her family was killed. Now grown up, she has written a book about her experience and her determination to bring the killer to justice.
This book is the first book I have ever read that is written in this particular style and it has taken me a while to decided if it is annoying or genius on the authors part.
I am used to books that is written in multiple points of view and this is no different. This book is written from the point of view of Eve, Jim (aka The Nothing Man) and the reader of Eve’s book (which for me flips between putting us as the reader and from the point of view of Jim as the reader)
Essentially it’s a book within a book so I guess it is kind of genius on the authors part but it did take some getting used to.
The Nothing Man is also the first book I have read that reveals the killer in the first chapter which is unusual but necessary for this particular story.
This book is certainly creepy and twisted. It will have you checking your doors and windows multiple times before you go to bed. Highly atmospheric, had me jumping at shadows and keep me guessing to the very last page.

Thank you to NetGalley for gifting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

30 year old Eve survived a vicious attack on her family when she was 12 years old. Her parents and younger sister Anna were murdered in their homes by a man nicknamed The Nothing Man.
Years later Eve write a book about the murders and The Nothing Mans other victims in the hope that it would help solve the case and finally bring justice to the victims.
I'm a huge fan of Catherine Ryan Howard, her book Rewind was my favourite read last year. The Nothing Man is possibly even better than Rewind.
I loved that we are reading the story through Jim, The Nothing Man's perspective in that he is reading the book that Eve has written.
Jim is an angry, dissatisfied 63 year old ex guard and supermarket security guard now and bored with life in general. He realises that Eve wont stop until she has discovered his identity and he must do something to stop her.
This is a creepy, twisty, psychological thriller that you wont be able to put down. It will have you guessing until the very last page. I highly recommend this.
Thank you to Netgalley and Atlantic books for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

Well written with a surprising ending. A riveting read with lots of twists and turns and perfectly paced. You won't be able to put it down, it will keep you hooked right to the end.

I adore Catherine Ryan Howard's books and this was easily my favourite.

This was so cleverly put together. You're essentially reading a book within a book. It's a must for true crime junkies and murderinos alike.

It's also such a enjoyable quick read as the book switches from the POV of the victim who wrote the book to the killer who is reading the book about himself.

Full of clever little twists which help tie up all the little strands of the story right at the very end.

A must read for fans of true crime and thrillers.

The Nothing Man terrorised the people of Cork, beginning by attacking young women in their homes and eventually murdering a young family. And then he stops. The press and the police call him the Nothing Man as they have nothing on him, he leaves nothing behind. Jim Doyle is an ex Garda working as a security guard but he has a secret, he is the Nothing Man but his secret is about to be exposed. Eve Black the only survivor of the attack on the young family has written a book about her life and the other victims. Her plan is to find the Nothing Man.
This is a book within a book. It is filled with tension as you see what exactly he did and you wait to see what he will do next. I read it in two days, an excellent read.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review

I enjoyed the style of this book with the story being told from both the attacker & the victim’s point of view.
This was a slow burner for me however I’m so glad I stuck with it as I thoroughly enjoyed the latter part.

Explosive!

That’s the best word to describe The Nothing Man. I don’t know how I didn’t die reading this...I was holding my breath for most of it! Scary and atmospheric.

Brutal but I loved it!

I really enjoyed the story and the authors way of writing . Entertaining and twisted , everything I love In a book !!I would like to read more by this author !!

If you like true crime books you'll love this one. It's a fiction book, yes, but it's a true (false) crime book inside a mistery book. We get the killer reading about himself and the victim writing about him, and it's original and interesting, a good way to pass the time.

I have read all of Catherine’s books and this is by far my favourite. A book within a book is my favourite kind of read. Eve Black was the only person in her family left alive 20 years ago when an intruder entered their house and killed her parents and little sister Anna. After decades away from the press, Eve has written The Nothing Man, her detailed look at the person who caused murder and destruction in and around Cork county. But someone is reading Eve’s book – and he is the Nothing Man. Realising how close to the truth Eve is getting, Jim Doyle, supermarket security guard, has to stop her. Could it be time for the Nothing Man to make a reappearance? The detailing of both books is so exact, and you don’t want to get up and do anything else other than read this book (that’s how I felt!). You feel the tension rising throughout and I would urge anyone who loves thrillers to read this. Wonderful work.

I really enjoyed the way this story was set out. Eve's family were brutally murdered when she was a child. 20 or so years later she has now written a book about it and the rest of the killings. The killer is reading the book, so we go between Eve's 'real life' story and the killer, now an old man, finding out what she knew about everything.
A very enjoyable story indeed.

*4.5 STARS *

30 year old Eve Black decides to write a book about the night her Mum, Dad, and 7 year old sister Anna were murdered in their own home in the city of Cork in Ireland. She does so in the hope that it will jog someone’s memory, generate new leads, and hopefully bring the killer to justice 18 years after it happened. Eve, 12 years old at the time of the murders, only escaped the same fate because, as her family’s attacker struck, she was already in the bathroom and continued to hide there after hearing strange and frightening sounds. The Garda couldn’t find a single trace of evidence at the scene of the crime, and for that reason the killer became known as the Nothing Man, also the title of Eve’s book.

63 year old supermarket Security guard Jim Doyle, is particularly fascinated with Eve’s memoir, he wants to ascertain just how much she really remembered about that night, because Jim IS the Nothing Man. He realises that Eve won’t stop until she discovers his identity, and he might just have to do something about that! Also, what really irks him, is the fact that he believes the general public would be much more interested in what HE has to say seeing as how he committed that crime and many others!

Alternating between the past and the present, this is a terrific read, with some memorable characters, whose backstories are told in great detail. The storyline simply demands one’s attention, and is really difficult to put down. Jim Doyle, ( the Nothing Man) is given a voice, but boy his words will chill your blood!

‘ The Nothing Man’ is the second novel I have read from Catherine Ryan Howard, and I can see it very much has her stamp on it. She has a very distinctive style. The stories she writes are clever, serial killer themed and based in Ireland.

This one is written with narrative alternating between Jim, an ex police and former serial killer (now shopping centre security guard) and Eve, the sole survivor or one of his attacks some 20 years previously.

Jim discovers than Eve has written a book about his crimes as the notorious ‘Nothing Man’ and the narrative is largely told through Jim reading the book Eve has written. This is a pretty cool and unique concept in itself and I applaud the author for her success in really making this work!

This story certainly had me checking the back doors in my house were locked, as it was necessary a little gruesome in places!

I liked the insights into the character of Jim, the subtle exchanges between the main characters, and enjoyed learning some serial killer trivia along the way!

Overall a great novel from a very promising author, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this novel.

Well what can I say about this book, it was one of the best books I have read in a very long time! It intrigued me from the first page and I stayed up to read it in one sitting. Absolutely moving, thrilling and no holds barred storytelling. The feelings it erupted in me kept me awake. It’s not often I read a book and have the reaction that I have had. A must read !!!!!!!!! #NetGalley #TheNothingMan

This offers itself as a book within a book. Eve Black is the survivor of an attack which left both her parents dead as well as her younger sister. After many years she has started to come to terms with this and writes this “true crime” memoir about her expriences partly as a cathartic process. Jim Doyle, now a security guard comes across the book when it is published. He is compelled to read it. Some years previously he was “The Nothing Man” - the killer of Eve’s family. He acquired the name when the police admitted that they had nothing on this serial killer.

The book consists of “Eve’s story” about the murders and her subsequent life. It takes some time before she decides/is encouraged to write about her experiences. This leads to her investigate all the crimes that seem to have been committed by the Nothing Man and then publishing her results. The other side of the book is the narrative that concerns Jim’s reading of the book. This is signposted simply and effectively by changing the font size so we know who we are with.

I found that this really had a feel of a true crime non-fiction story. I’ve read a few of them and there were times when I simply forgot that this was fiction. You are then reminded that the seriall killer is reading along with you…! I found this eerily convincing in the end. Eve was every bit a survivor and victim. Early on Jim was coldly disinterested. This changes as he reads more.

This book grabbed me from the start. For me it seems like a genuinely original piece of fiction. It was tense and convincing. One of the best books I've read in quite some time and I'd be fairly sure it will be one of my books of the year. I’d suggest that anyone who enjoys a decent crime read might like to take a look at this one.

The Nothing Man by Catherine Ryan Howard
Thanks @netgalley @cathryanhoward and @atlanticbooks for my arc
Publication date 20th August 2020
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Another incredible story from one of my favourite authors. As always this book is intense and suspenseful and very unique in the way it is written. I literally couldn’t put it down and at times I was terrified reading at night. The book alternates between past and present and we also hear the killer’s side of the story which is fascinating, frightening and insightful. Fantastic story. Highly recommended xxx

This is a slow burner. Written from the point of view of Jim, it tellsthe story of the family of Eve being killed 18 years earlier. She is now grown up and has written a book about being the surviver of this tragedy .
Jim seems to think he is invincible, he is now working as a security man in a shopping centre and is destainful about practically everyone he is involved with. The reader knows from early on in the book that he is the killer, the book is more about him believing that he will never be found out and thinking that he has the upper hand in the situation.
The story built up slowly and cuminated in a believable and suspensful situation towards the end though I found the slow build up too drawn out at times.
I did not feel any sympathy for any of the characters, may be because these were portrayed from Jim's point of view (and he is not a nice man) . I am not sure whether it was intentional, but my copy had a lot of blankpages which were presumably from the book written by Eve. I found this distracting and it didn't add anything to the story as far as I was concerned . Particularly irritating at the end because I`ve finished the book thinking that there is more to the story ?!
I did like the writing style and would read more by this author,


Thanks to Net Galley for an ARC of this book in exchange for a free copy of this book