The Nothing Man is an incredibly well-written thriller that actually has me floored by how truly good it is. The story is a book within a book and the execution is phenomenal. Eve Black is writing a true crime memoir about her search for the man who killed her family nearly two decades ago. Jim Doyle is a supermarket security guard reading Eve's book with a sort of obsession because he is the man who killed Eve's family. He is the Nothing Man. And now the question is..who will catch who? Because Jim can't possibly let Eve find out the truth and she's getting very close.

This story is outstanding. Seriously go pick up a copy now with several hours to spare because you will be drawn in and unable to put the book down until the end. Highly, highly recommended!!

When is a true crime story not a true crime story? When it’s The Nothing Man by Catherine Ryan Howard.

This whirlwind of a novel takes the reader through the experiences of Eve Black, the sole survivor from the night the serial killer dubbed The Nothing Man murdered her family. But also reading her account is security guard Jim Doyle, The Nothing Man himself, years after his final brutal attack. And as he reads Eve’s account and investigation into the cold case that shocked the nation, he becomes angry. So angry, he could kill again.

I was obsessed with true crime as a teenager, fascinated by what made killers tick, and I devoured this book in the same way I pored through those accounts in the 90’s. At times I almost forgot it was fiction until the author transported us back to our sneaky view of the real killer and his reactions.

I wondered early on whether a particular twist may be employed at the end and although I guessed correctly, it didn’t diminish my enjoyment at all. This is a captivating book from start to blistering finish.

Perfect for fans of the Netflix series Making of a Murderer or the Audible podcast Evil Has A Name.

I had heard a lot of great things about this book so was very excited to receive an ARC and I can now say that for me it lived up to all the hype. A well thought out, clever and unique thriller that draws you straight in. Brilliantly written. I absolutely loved this book from start to finish. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

Ingenious concept expertly deployed by a first class crime writer. From my very recent discovery of her work, Catherine Ryan Howard has shot into my list of favourite authors. "The Nothing Man" is a book within a book - how fabulous?! I wouldn't want to get on the wrong side of Howard. Her imagination, planning and attention to detail is frankly terrifying. Catherine Ryan Howard is not only a brilliant writer of fiction, she clearly knows her subject inside out. "The Nothing Man" is a stunning example of excellence in contemporary crime fiction. I loved it! One for fans of Steve Cavanagh and true crime memoir. Note to author: Please, please, please start a podcast!

What an absorbing read - I had to check that it was fiction and not based on fact!!! What an original way to present this tale. We know from the start who The Nothing Man is - and he is reading a book that has been written about him!! He is an aggressive, unpleasant, self-serving character and this is so well portrayed.
A very clever tale with many surprises despite the fact we know who he is. Well written, well crafted, well worth reading. A solid 4 star read!
Many thanks to Netgalley/Catherine Ryan Howard/Atlantic Books for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

This book blew me away! The Nothing Man is a book within a book. As a 12 year old Eve Black survived an attack by the Nothing Man in which her parents and sister all died. Now an adult she decides to write a book in the hope that someone's memory might be jogged and the Nothing Man might finally be caught.

We get to read Eve's book, along with her thoughts, and her narrative alternates with that of the Nothing Man, whose identity is revealed right at the start. The way the story unfolds is pure genius. I was totally hooked, so far on the edge of my seat that I almost fell off, and couldn't stop listening. The characters were all memorable with realistic back stories.

Catherine Ryan Howard is a superb story teller and I can't wait to read her back catalogue.

Another brilliant thriller from Catherine Ryan Howard, I read this over two sittings as I could just not put it down! The narration of this book is pretty unique, and the characters are so realistic, and for me, this really added to the creepiness of the story.
All in all a must read thriller, that I wouldn't recommend reading just before you go to sleep!

Absolutely loved this book, brilliantly written as a book within a book and I thought it was so well done.
Loved how it flashed back and forward to then and the present and filled in the back story before getting to the ending.
I was totally gripped and could have finished in one sitting if not for life getting in the way, as it was I finished in a couple of days and now I'm gutted it's done.
Jim was so well written to be utterly unlikeable and I liked that i was kept guessing right to the end.
Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for my eARC in return for my honest review.

This is a crime mystery that features two central characters, the serial killer and his surviving victim.

Jim Doyle is a Supermarket Security Guard who has a dark past. 18 years ago he had killed his last victims, the family of Eve Black as he was 'The Nothing Man.'

Eve Black is the only surviver of a brutal killing spree by 'The Nothing Man.' Now, at age 30, she wrote a memoir of her life as a survivor of the dreadful ordeal because she longs to get justice for her family.

The only question we're left wondering is will she catch him or be caught herself? This is like an intense game of cat and mouse but who is whom.

Cleverly, the book is written as a book within a book by the author. We get a better insight into both of the central characters.

I think I would have preferred reading a paperback as I liked to go back and forth to reread sections.

I received an e-book from Netgalley.

Absolutely brilliant. Gripping, so much going on and very, very addictive reading. I enjoyed this book so much I’ve bought a copy for a friend.

This was a very unusual presentation of a story. It is two stories within one as it tells the story From the view points of both the survivor (Eve) and the murderer (Jim). It is a complex psychological thriller which to say the least is creepy and terrifying, resulting me having difficulties in sleeping after i read this book. The author has created a completely believable set of scenarios that as I reached the end I was convinced that this was in fact a factual true life story as it was so well written. The characters were so easy to identify with and feel their emotions.
Great book by a great author.

WOW! Prepare to be terrified and enthralled by the latest novel from Catherine Ryan Howard. In The Nothing Man, Jim Doyle is a security guard working at Centrepoint shopping mall, Douglas, Ireland. Now in his sixties, (apologies if I’ve misremembered his age) he is living a dull but seemingly ordinary existence apart from one significant fact. Hiding in plain sight he is The Nothing Man, the subject of Eve’s Black recently published book, detailing the five attacks he carried out during his reign of terrror in the county of Cork. She is the only survivor of his last attack which culminated in the death of her parents and seven year old sister Anna. Just twelve years old at the time, Eve has only now confronted her past, twenty years later, writing in specific detail about events that have continued to flummox the authorities. In part due to the encouragement of her English professor,Eve has written about these cases in the hope that the killer will be brought to justice. It’s when Jim becomes aware of the presence of Eve’s book on a book stand in the store where he patrols that this story comes alive.

Simply but effectively alternating between Jim’s daily life in the present and details of his past attacks as read through his own eyes, I found myself fixated yet terrified as the narrative unfolds. Writing from the culprit’s experience of reading about himself as the killer lent a refreshing angle to what would otherwise be your average thriller; it is a book within a book. Deeply unsettling , I was on the edge of my seat all the way through reading of Jim’s reign of terror across Cork. Five vicious attacks involving rape and culminating in the murder of Eve Blacks parents and sister, the details of which I won’t divulge for fear of spoiling the storyline, form the basis of Eve’s book. Not only has she gone to great lengths to recount these horrendous attacks, dredging up memories she’d rather keep buried but she highlights the frustrations of the Gardai unable to find any clues as to his identity, hence his nickname The Nothing Man. I wanted to know why and how he chose his victims and equally why he stopped. This is spine chillingly good!

Characterisation is everything in this novel so it stands to reason Jim will come under intense scrutiny. Amongst my many thoughts swirling around my brain was whether there is ever a conflict between his killing persona and that of his interactions between wife Noreen and daughter Katie. Jim’s dark side is definitely in evidence in terms of some of his interactions with his neighbours, his boss and his wife but on the whole he seems to function as an ordinary average man, a killer hiding in plain sight. The narrative made me question whether someone like Jim assumes an alter ego in order to hunt his prey as that’s how he came across to me, a Jekyll and Hyde type who is only just managing to contain his inner monstrous self. His reactions to certain passages in Eve’s book really illuminated his character, so I felt a degree of authenticity was present even though I know he’s only a figment of the author’s imagination and fortunately have never encountered such an individual! I couldn’t help wondering if Eve Black hadn’t written her book and made it publicly known she intended to find him, would Jim Doyle be carrying on his normal everyday life as a security guard? I’d love to know the author’s answer to this question!

I loved how the title not only represents Jim’s nickname but the type of person he really is. Eve’s dialogue with a leading authority on serial killers is interesting and pertinent, debunking the myth that they are highly clever people; instead they are found to be average ordinary and dull, disliked by many and in Jim’s case deeply misogynistic. Exactly like the loser Eve believes him to be.

Naturally, the knowledge that Jim Doyle is The Nothing Man right from the beginning is always going to take away a certain amount of tension, which would be present in bucketloads had the author chosen to write from the victims points of view. However, I think the tension is still present in the way that we learn of Jim’s five attacks. I imagined I was rooted to the spot, inside Jim’s shed peering over his shoulder as I read of his monstrous behaviour with escalating horror. In short, reading this book within a book is morbidly fascinating. I couldn’t shake the sense that I shouldn’t be enjoying this as much as I did!

Something else to consider when weighing up the merits of this novel is whether the reader learns enough of Eve’s character given that the primary focus is on Jim. Personally I didn’t think the narrative suffered from having the culprit under the spotlight rather than the victim. We learn enough about how Eve has suffered going forward in life, through details of the attack in her own words. To understand that it’s only now she’s ready to confront that fateful episode is all I felt I needed to know. In taking the decision to tackle her own feelings, investigate all the attacks and thereby possibly discover the killer’s identity takes courage, commitment and a devil may care attitude. Did I think her actions were potentially dangerous and foolhardy? Most definitely yes but I could understand her determination to succeed where An Garda Siochana had failed.

The inclusion of Garda Ed Healy who has made it his lifelong ambition to solve these cold cases I thought was a nice touch. Working closely with Eve, painstakingly searching for any clue previously missed made me feel Eve was not alone, despite still grieving the loss of her family. How his involvement in the investigation past and present and his relationship with Eve plays out is another interesting strand to contemplate.

I’m a huge fan of this author’s writing and The Nothing Man lived up to my high expectations. I found the premise and the way it’s been executed to be very clever and with an absolute knockout punch towards the end I think this novel is nothing short of brilliant. Chilling and compelling I’m glad I read most of this in daylight hours! My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read.

The Nothing Man is an absolutely fantastic read, one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. It’s a murder mystery, a story of recovery and survival, an author’s narrative on how to write a book, it is so many stories all rolled into one. It was unpredictable, well written and thoroughly enjoyable. I loved the references to all of the Cork place names. It made it all the more real. The author really showed The Nothing Man as a despicable, worthless, vile individual. I loved the words of wisdom from Dr. Weir too. I enjoyed guessing the effect that they would have on the killer. This really is a great read, one of a kind. I can’t wait to read more from Catherine Ryan Howard.

Catherine Ryan Howard writes a hugely engrossing and entertaining novel in this gripping thriller full of suspense and menace.

Eve Black was the only member of her family to survive an encounter with a serial attacker, at twelve years old. The killer was dubbed the Nothing Man because he didn't ever leave any clues behind. Now in her 30s, writer Eve has written a memoir about the Nothing Man, his many victims and her experience with him on the dreadful night he killed her family. Eve is obsessed with identifying the man who destroyed her life, and believes her book will help to achieve this. When supermarket security worker, Jim Doyle, spies the book and starts reading it, he becomes more and more rage fuelled with every page, because he is the Nothing Man and he realises that Eve has become dangerously close to working out the truth...

Catherine Ryan Howard delivers an unrestrained and exuberant story of menace and destroyed lives. The Nothing Man is beautifully plotted and told in alternating storylines by Jim and extracts from Eve’s book, an original method that really worked for me. It is a cracking story and a book that I revelled in all the way through. An extremely powerful book, the killer's modus operandi is spectacularly vicious and audacious, making for intensely creepy, riveting reading. Full of tension and bringing no disappointments, the author wonderfully wraps things up in the fabulously twisty finale.

An exemplary thriller that I'm very happy to recommend.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Atlantic Books/ Corvus via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

I found this to be an incredibly tense and fascinating read. I’ve read a few by this author and have never been disappointed. This story was really interesting with a sold plot and With well written characters.

Jim Doyle is at his job as a supermarket security guard when he comes across a book about The Nothing Man, a masked rapist and murderer who terrorised Cork almost twenty years ago. This book fascinates and alarms him in equal measure... because Jim is The Nothing Man.

Like myself, Catherine Ryan Howard is clearly a huge true crime fan, and she entwines real true crime cases into this story making it feel more real and creepy. I just loved it (as I did 'Rewind') and I won't hesitate to recommend it to everyone I know.

Thank you, #NetGalley and Atlantic Books for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Nothing Man terrorised County Cork in 2001. His crimes, all perpetrated in the victims’ homes began with assault and escalated to rape and murder. His final attack, on the Black family, left only one survivor, Eve. Now, after years of trauma, Eve Black has written about her investigation into the identity of the Nothing Man.

In the book, she interviews the survivors of the Nothing Man’s attacks and draws together previously unlinked strands of evidence to form a picture of the man who earned his nickname as there was literally nothing pointing towards. He was never caught, there were never any suspects at the time. With luck, this book detailing his crimes and new theories will help jog people’s memories.

It makes a fascinating, essential read – especially if you are the Nothing Man.

Catherine Ryan Howard is an author who I’ve been lucky enough to follow from the beginning of her writing career. Distress Signals was one of the most impressive debuts that I’ve seen, and the follow up, The Liar’s Girl, played some interesting games with expectations. Rewind, her third book, showed some real experimentation, with the various chapters being presented out of chronological order, but rose above the apparent gimmick to show some genuine clever plotting coupled with engrossing writing. And that experimentation in format continues in The Nothing Man.

To clarify, half of the book (written in a distinct font from the other half, so the reader won’t get confused) is a true crime story about The Nothing Man – well, “true” crime I suppose because just in case you weren’t clear, the whole thing is a work of fiction. However sandwiched between sections of that book are the reactions of Jim, a security guard, and his horror when he sees, in the book department of his workplace, a new book with his old name plastered all over the front of the book. Unable to stay away from the book, and concerned as to what Eve may or may not have discovered about him, Jim begins to read…

Again, something that may be viewed as a gimmick instead becomes a truly original book. I’m not one to read true crime books, in part because of the potential glorification of serial killers, but Catherine here, via Eve’s voice, makes a clear point that this isn’t what should be done. “Eve”’s book concentrates on the victims and the process of trying to find the Nothing Man, rather than dwelling on the horrors of his crimes. There’s one book that I do mean to get round to, Michelle McNamara’s I’ll Be Gone In The Dark, which I believe takes a similar tack and is cited as an inspiration for this.

I won’t go into details about how the story progresses, but it’s worth noting how impressive it is how both stories keep the reader engrossed. It’s very easy in dual narratives for one aspect to be more gripping than the other, but that is certainly not the case here. The Nothing Man is a truly original crime novel, but is far more than just a clever concept. Catherine Ryan Howard creates a perfect marriage between an original concept, engrossing writing and a twisty thriller that is guaranteed to keep the reader gripped from beginning to end.

Many thanks to the author for the review copy. The Nothing Man is out tomorrow, August 6th in hardback and ebook.

Stunning book. What an exhilarating and tense read. I struggled to sleep peacefully the characters were very sincere and wel meant and this added depths unexpectedly. Thankyou

I need to read this again because while it was a heart-stopping ride, I wasn't able to recall everything after reading it way before this review. I loved Catherin Ryan Howard's other book Distress Signals and was eager to read this one. There have been a slew of books titles the "Insert here" Man and I was worried it would be too similar to all of those. How I was wrong to worry.

This is essentially a book within a book. The Nothing Man is written by a woman named Eve who was the sole survivor of someone who murdered her entire family years ago. The book has gained traction and it seems everyone is reading it, including the Nothing Man.

The Nothing Man is angry. Angry that Eve got away and is telling his story. Who will survive the final battle between the victim and the murderer? That's for you to find out!

This was such a great concept!

Eve is the only member of her family to survive when 'The Nothing Man', a notorious Irish serial killer, break into her family home. Eighteen years later she decides to write a book about her experience in hopes new clues and evidence will surface so she can finally get closure and the justice her family deserves.

This is a book within a book. We get read excerpts from her novel so we get a lot of background about the murders, like a good true crime book. However, The Nothing Man himself is also reading the book at the same time. So we get to see all his dark and twisted thoughts at the same time.

I did enjoy this overall, but I felt that we did get too much excerpts from the book and not enough of The Nothing Man narrative. This took away from the story for me, and lost a bit of suspense. I also thought the scene when they finally came face to face was a bit rushed.

I did really enjoy what the author did in respect to victims, by highlighting that we never remember the victims names just the name of the serial killer. This then gives them the power they long for.

A really strong debut novel and I would like to read more from the author in the future.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atlantic books for providing me with a copy to read.