I can honestly say the audiobook of ‘Mr Nobody’ has seriously enhanced my life over the 3 joyous days it took me to get through it!

From the synopsis and first chapter I thought this was going to be a ‘slow burner’, but I was pleasantly surprised to find it ramping up a notch in the opening chapters - by chapter 25 I was utterly hooked - hanging on to Catherine’s every captivating word!

We are introduced to ambitious Psychiatric Consultant, Emma, who is every bit the intelligent and successful young professional.

When an esteemed colleague calls out of the blue, he advises Emma he has put her name forward to work on a pioneering case - a rare ‘fugue’ patient who mysteriously appeared on a beach, mute and with apparently no memory of who he is, or his life to date. Emma all but jumps at the opportunity - the only draw back being that the case is situated in the home town she mysteriously and abruptly left over a decade previously. Reasoning that her appearance has changed sufficiently in the intervening years, and with a new name, Emma accepts the case and relocates her life accordingly.

Over the course of this book we are slowly and tantalisingly revealed the secrets of Emma’s past, who this mysteriously patient is and how he knows disturbing things about Emma’s past that no-one else is privy to.

This story gave me shivers in parts, it is SO mysterious and well executed in terms of what is revealed and when. The plot is clever, unpredictable and most definitely twist-filled! Undoubtedly a 5* listen!

That author, Catherine Steadman, narrated this book herself makes perfect sense when a read through her biog reveals she is an esteemed actress. As such it is no surprise that she narrates her own work superbly well, knowing better than anyone when (and how to use her voice) to add that delicious suspense! Her voice is also in equal parts soothing and beautiful, making it a joy to listen to.

My thanks to Netgalley, author/ narrator Catherine Steadman and publisher for the opportunity to review this audiobook in exchange for an advance copy.

Mr Nobody is read, and read very well by the author Catherine Steadman. She has a very pleasant voice and is obviously as skilled in this as she is in writing.

The novel takes us from the expected outcome to the totally unexpected both in it's journey and it's conclusion but it took me a while to be drawn in especially with the retrospective as well as current narrative at the beginning but it soon picked up pace and I was hooked.

Ms Steadman uses extremely evocative descriptive language but I did feel that, at times, she was too clever and the drama could have been driven home with slightly less bulk.

There were some serious twists and turns and I defy anyone to work it all out for themselves although I was left with a number of questions pertaining to the plot and felt a little disappointed by the conclusion. Overall all it was very well written though and whatever the term might be for an audio 'page turner'.

This review will go live on 25 August:

Hi and welcome to my review of Mr Nobody!

Naturally I had to check out the new audiobook selection on NetGalley and when I encountered Mr Nobody I didn’t think twice before I hit that request button, having enjoyed Something in the Water last year.

Catherine Steadman clearly has a thing with water, this time a man is found on a beach in Norfolk, hypothermic and with a head wound, no identification, unable to speak and with no recollection of who he is. Quickly dubbed “Mr Nobody”, he fascinates press and hospital staff alike, and before long, neuropsychiatrist Emma Lewis is asked for her expert opinion. Emma has done research and written papers about people who seemingly had the same condition as Mr Nobody, so who better to assess if this is a veritable fugue or a man malingering for some yet to be discovered reason.

However, Emma is not keen to return to Norfolk, where she grew up and where something happened that was so big and bad that she had to move away, erasing as much from her past as she possibly could, even her name. This case though? She can’t walk away from that. So she throws caution to the wind and heads to Norfolk anyway, ignoring her misgivings.

In my opinion, Mr Nobody is an expertly paced novel. Is there action from the very first page? No, not quite, but I did feel the tension from the get-go, urging me to keep on listening. I was properly intrigued by Mr Nobody, by Emma’s past, and by the connection they somehow seem to have, I wanted to unravel theirs pasts and their secrets. I also very much enjoyed the psychology bits.

Ms Steadman uses a… let’s call it a trope for lack of a better word, that I’ve been noticing more and more this year, but this time I didn’t see it coming and it was wielded in a surprising way, so I quite liked that. I do want to add that if you need your stories to be hyper realistic, you might want to skip Mr Nobody, as I did have to suspend disbelief somewhat, but regardless, it did work for me and I loved it.

Mr Nobody is narrated by the author. I always like the idea of a book being narrated by its own author, as no one knows better how to voice the characters and the events than the one who wrote them. She doesn’t tweak her voice to differentiate between characters but it’s always clear who is talking and what is happening. She also does an apt American accent for two of the characters and there are some “special effects” for phone calls and police radios. I loved her voice and accent, and I enjoyed her narration in general, although there was a bit of a recurring dry mouth situation, but not to the extent that it constantly bothered me.

Mr Nobody was a quick, entertaining audiobook to me, it lived up to the expectations I got from the blurb and I will definitely read Ms Steadman’s next thriller, although I might choose to read it and not listen to it.

Thanks to Simon & Schuster Audio UK and NetGalley.

I'd read a few negative reviews about Mr Nobody but I don't know why. I thought this was a gripping tale and I was engrossed the entire way through. Dr Emma Lewis was an excellent character, we got so much from her and her back story. I was particularly interested in Matthew's diagnosis as I have a pituitary tumour, complicated by tumour apoplexy. Luckily, every time it bursts I don't get a 'reset' but it was a fascinating element of the tale. For me it was a well thought out, intricately detailed story that was gripping throughout with likeable and relatable characters. The ending was taut and satisfactory. I was concerned when I saw the author was also the narrator, but Ms Steadman did an excellent job. Another string to her talented bow. Mr Nobody is well worth listening to and I'm delighted to recommend it.

An excellent psychological thriller, brought to vivid life by the narrator, the author herself. Really enjoyed the book when I read it. This audio version added further nuance to the storyline so was a wonderful extra layer.

Catherine Steadman’s reading of her novel ‘Mr Nobody’ brings elements of this story alive. An actress as well as a published writer, she certainly allows the dialogue to ring true.
The central character. Dr Emma Lewis, a neuropsychologist who grew up in Holt and has long since moved away, is asked to take on the case of ‘Mr Nobody’, a man who is found on beautiful Holkham beach, his memory apparently washed away with the tide. As the narrative develops, not only do we learn more about him but we also find out about Emma’s past, who she really is and why her family are so anxious about her return to Norfolk.
However, despite the mysteries to be unravelled, ‘Mr Nobody’ did not grip this listener. The description of the North Norfolk coast, the market town of Holt and other real-life settings do not do justice to the uniqueness of the area. Such an unusual – or perhaps incredible – storyline needs to be anchored somewhere that feels very real if the listener is to suspend their disbelief. Equally, despite the reader’s professional rendition of the story, the character portrayals do not feel particularly individual. Emma is a vehicle through which to describe events rather than the embodiment of a troubled, talented, ambitious woman.
This is a very long listen and, unfortunately, the time invested did not pay the dividends I would have liked – that of a really memorable storyline, peopled by convincing individuals, in a place that is a living picture.
My thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Audio UK for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for a fair review.

3.5 stars
This was the first book I’ve read by the author and I’ll definitely be reading her others. I liked the writing style and the first half was intriguing and gripping. Then it became rather unbelievable and slightly confusing in places, with some unanswered questions. The ending was also disappointing. However, the narration was great and added enjoyment to my listening experience.

The narrator and author of this audible book, CATHERINE STEADMAN is EXCELLENT! I was hooked from chapter one with her haunting, clear, precise diction which made the book so enjoyable.

Dr Emma Lewis, a neuropsychologist with a past and we eventually gain insight as the chapters progress. Emma has been asked to take over the care of a patient, Mr Nobody, found wandering on a beach in Norfolk and has no memory of how he got there or what his name is. He has been given the name Matthew for the present. As the chapters continue, I was intrigued to find out what has happened to Matthew and a lot more is revealed about Emma and her past. Catherine's narration really works in this audible book and as author and narrator she knows her characters so well and this comes through her voice and the story. Captivating, exciting, compelling, I found myself '' in the action'' as Catherine narrated so well. I found the book a little long for me but was happy to complete the 12-15 hours of this book.

I would recommend this audible book and give a 4 star rating.

I WANT TO THANK NETGALLEY FOR THE OPPORTUNITY OF READING AN
ADVANCED COPY OF THIS AUDIBLE BOOK

This story is about Emma. Emma is a neuropsychiatrist who is invited to look after a patient who was discovered on the beach and has no memory of who he is or how he ended up where he was found. The case has attracted the attention of the press. It soon becomes clear that the man who the hospital name Matthew knows something about Emma and the past that she is trying to hide.

This was quite a slow burn story that failed to hold my attention. I listened to this on audiobook which is read by the author. The author read this really well and I really enjoyed the parts were the narrator did the other voices especially those that were the result of telephone calls. I just wish that I had enjoyed the story more.

A man is washed up onto a beach in North Norfolk, and seemingly has no memory of who he is or how he got there. Dr Emma Lewis is called in to treat him. She has the expertise required despite her relative youth but has her own reasons for not liking being in that part of Norfolk - and her family are also against her being there. These reasons are going to gradually reveal themselves.

Catherine Steadman wrote the book and narrated it: I was a little nervous about this, to begin with, as it's not usually a good sign but Ms Steadman has a good range of voices (both male and female) and the pacing is good. There's also the advantage that this isn't another layer of interpretation intruded between the author and the reader and I would happily listen to more from her.

I would also happily have listened to more of this book but only about a third of the book was supplied for review purposes: it was infuriating to get so far into what looked like a promising book and for it to then be curtailed. I wish I could give a higher rating but I've no idea of how the story ends and if the audiobook lives up to its original promise.

Brilliant and original. A slow burner but is doesn’t feel drawn out or boring (well the audiobook version anyway) - Emma doesn’t even meet Mr Nobody until a third into the book. This is full of mystery; both with Mr Nobody’s real identity and the little snippets of Emma’s past. The mystery deepens as they start interacting with each other and Emma tries to diagnose the cause behind Mr Nobody’s (or Matthew has he’s started calling himself) amnesia. There are multiple viewpoints giving you different aspects of the story and this is a fascinating and thrilling ride as Emma battles the quandary that is memory. The audiobook version is a cracking ‘read’. Steadman knows her story, its characters and all the nuances. Particularly as she reads each character’s voice, embodying their individuality.
⚠️ Reader caution and spoiler ⚠️ Deals with suicide so vulnerable readers beware.

Mr Nobody by Catherine Steadman
Audiobook provided for review via NetGalley
4 Stars
This is the second book by Steadman that I have read, the first I wasn’t too keen on the content but I liked her writing style, so when I heard about her new book I wanted to give it a try.
Mr Nobody is set in a coastal English town, and when a man is found lacking any identification and no memory of who he is or how he got there – Dr Emma Lewis, a neuropsychiatrist is brought in to treat him. However, this means returning to the place of her childhood and what happened to her there, and why she left.
This definitely has a Broadchurch feel about it, the coastal location, the ensemble of characters. It was very atmospheric. I tend to enjoy thrillers when a character has to return to a location of their past. Something about revisiting childhood makes for a great thriller setting.
The characters also felt more relatable than in Steadman’s previous novel. I rooted for Emma, wanted to discover her past, cared what happened next for her. I was waiting for more of a twist with her, but I’m also glad that wasn’t used as an easy ending. I anticipated a Gone Girl situation at one point and I think if that had happened it would have seemed gimmicky.
How to judge thrillers? For me, if I don’t see the twist coming then fair play. I tend to be able to figure most things out and if I can’t call it then the author has done a good job. Though I expected a twist, when the one in this novel came I did audibly gasp – I hadn’t called it and what more can you want from a thriller?
I’m really pleased to have enjoyed this so much more than Something in the Water. I knew Steadman had potential and in this book she definitely improved. I’ll be on the look for more of her work in the future.
In terms of audiobooks, this has a good production, use of voices and effects made for a convincing read of the novel and overall have nothing to fault it for.

Dr Emma Lewis is a Neuro Psychiatrist who has specialised in memory loss. She asked to take on the case of Mr Nobody. A man found injured on a cold Norfolk beach with no memory of who he is or what he is doing there. Is his memory loss retrograde amnesia or dissociative Fugue in which she has a particular interest.
Emma questions whether she should take the case. She left the area over 14 years ago, under a cloud and with a new identity. Is it safe for her to return and what drove her away in the first place.
I loved the narrator of this book who was also the author. However, her voice drove me made with the feeling that I knew her. Googled the name and found she was an actress from Downton Abbey.
Hats off to Catherine Steadman. With the scientific knowledge detailed in the book I would have said she was a medic.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

The first 70% of this book was so good. I was hooked and wanted to know what happen. I think the audiobook format helped with that as the characters confusion was all you were receiving and it forced you to slow down. The ending of this book was plot twist after plot twist. Yet in my opinion no understandable explanations were offered.
I got access to this book through netgalley as an audiobook.