I’ve seen quite a lot of excitement about this novel on Twitter (X) and was pleased to see it on NetGalley. I requested it quickly
This novel is a strange story of a murderous who becomes incapacitated and seemingly sleeps for years, and a psychiatrist is appointed in order to try and wake her up to stand trial. We gradually discover that there are further links between the psychiatrist and the patient and the book is a mystery Looking into the original murder Resignation syndrome appears to be a real condition usually affecting children of asylum seekers. Where patients become lethargic eventually shutting down and apparently asleep. The treatment appears to be removing the children from the family. Although there is some suggestion that successful immigration status may cause improvement
The unnamed child of undetermined sex seems to be an important part of the mystery, and it’s starting to irritate me 3/4 of the way through .
I found the book all a bit confusing and left me feeling very confused and disorientated , perhaps this was the intention of the author. I personally didn’t really like having my emotions manipulated like this I didn’t really enjoy reading the novel.
Although the characterisations of all the people in the novel seem realistic for relationships, both past and present seem to me to stretch the imagination somewhat.
The author does have a clear easily read writing style It wasn’t a difficult book to read although I personally had trouble following some of the relationships.

I read an early copy of the novel on NetGalley, UK. The book is published in the UK on the 1st of February 2024 by HarperCollins, UK, Harperfiction
This review will appear on NetGalley, UK, Goodreads, and my book, blog, bionicSarahsbooks.wordpress.com

After winning the ‘bidding war’ for this title the publishers clearly have big plans for Anna O, which they describe as ‘The biggest new crime thriller novel for 2024 from an astonishing literary fiction voice’

With over 280 reviews on Netgalley it’s been made available to a lot of readers and the reviews are decidedly mixed so far: a lot of 5-star reviews and a lot of 2/3. I can see why: there are good things about it – primarily the pitch (“She’d committed the crime of the century – but nothing and no-one could wake her from the nightmare.”) and the opening couple of chapters which caused so much publisher interest. Several of the reviews (and blurbs) talk about ‘the stunning twist’ and ‘a plot that keeps you guessing’. Whether the average reader will agree with that will depend on the individual – and, to a degree, how much they read in the genre, I think. There were things I liked about the book – it is an interesting premise and the opening set up is strong. Overall, however, I have to say, this didn’t work for me.
Without spoilers, the ‘twist’ of who the murderer and mysterious ‘patient X’ were are pretty easy to guess from very early on – partly because of the limited cast size, partly because it was the ‘type’ I’d read many times before. It’s true that there are a lot of ’twists’ before the final reveal is made, but whether you feel these are genuine or that it is laboured/ cheats will depend on you.

Personally, I didn’t care for some of the tropes/ cliches (depending on how generous you wish to be) like the character who figures things out but will only say in person (Oh-oh!)…the obfuscation overuse of pronoun for a key element of the book and the author’s habit of ending chapters with melodramatic lines (“As an adult her eyes are never open,” says Emily, “As a child they were never shut. That’s how the nightmare began”) or suggesting ‘action’ (“She is here to bury me”, “I am about to break bread with a killer” etc) that don’t then materialise quickly enough, For me, it became a bit monotonous. And while it’s nice to have a book that ties up its complex strands, here I felt the climactic reveal was too long and very much a breaking of the prime writing advice ‘show don’t tell’
The author has clearly done a lot of research into sleep research and uses it throughout the book – whether the reader thinks this adds to the story or slows the plot down will depend on them: clearly it has divided reviewers so far. There are a lot of cultural references and touch points (it’s a brave author who references Hitchcock so much) which again may appeal to some readers but, particularly around the mythology slowed the story down for me.
Overall, I can see why the book received such interest from publishers but personally (and I recognise I may be in the minority here), I found some of the plot details and logic difficult to go with – particularly around the protagonist’s background (or lack of it) and circumstances. Having said that, I have no doubt this book will do phenomenally well – from the author’s acknowledgements I’m guessing it’s already on its way to being a tv/ movie – and I’m sure many people will really enjoy it, I’m just sorry I didn’t ‘get it’ more. Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for the opportunity to read for an honest review.

Anna O by Matthew Blake

This thriller is coming out in February 2024. I was delighted to get an advance copy from HarperCollins. I had seen some rave reviews here & was dying to read out.

The blurb tell us that Anna Ogilvy hasn’t opened her eyes for four years. Not since that night on the farm, where she was found asleep with a kitchen knife in her hand, her clothes bloodstained, the bodies of two close friends lying close.

She’d committed the crime of the century, but nothing or no one could wake her from the nightmare.

What did I make of it? It started off with so much intrigue - it’s a fantastic premise. The pacing is excellent and I was certainly captivated enough to fly through it.

Unfortunately, I found the medical aspects of this overwhelmingly distracting and detracting from the story. Her presentation did not make any medical sense and presented no physiologically plausible context for her continued existence. I may not have been the right audience for this book.

If you don’t think too much about the realities you may very well get swept away in this snappy thriller. I was a big fan of Anna’s mother in particular who is a very memorable character, a powerful politician who turns to religion in the wake of Anna’s notoriety. I did see the breadcrumbs laid in terms of the later reveals of the book.

This book looks set to be a popular one in 2024. It’s wasn’t for me but I seem to be the outlier. Thanks again to harper Collins for an advance e-copy of this book.

This book is very well written and I thoroughly enjoyed the complex story and the characters of Ben and Anna. I was engaged throughout and the premise of the storyline was excellent. What let the book down for me was the twist ending. For me personally, it didn't work and spoiled the enjoyment the story had built. I'm sure many readers will find it a clever twist and it will be touted as a twist you won't see coming (which you won't) but for me it wasn't a satisfying twist. The ending felt rushed and I felt very frustrated and disappointed. The twist doesn't come until near the end and up until that point I was fully invested in the story and the characters. For that reason I am giving it three stars. I really did enjoy the unique premise, the characters, and the entire plot and the mystery of the murders. it was simply the plot twist at the end that didn't work for me.

Even though everyone is talking about the book, I did not find it that entertaining. There were too many characters with confusing stories and too much back and forth. I did lose the plot at times so definitely not the book for me.

I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest review of the book. On the whole I really enjoyed this book, although it did feel like the ending was quite a drawn out affair. Great twist at the end. I really liked the characters in the book and felt their stories were told well.

WOW!! 😲
There are a lot of great books out there but there's not a lot of really original stories and Anna O is definitely one of the latter.
Can people be held responsible if they commit acts of crime while sleepwalking?
At least 68 cases of sleepwalking murder have been used as a defense, leaving a jury the task of deciding whether a murder committed while asleep means criminal responsibility for the unfortunate sleepwalker.

There are a lot of references to Greek Mythology in the book in particular Medea; references to 'In Cold Blood' by Truman Capote and also references to Freud. (interesting fact Freud was fascinated by a case of hysteria that was treated by the physician Josef Breuer. It was the case of Bertha Pappenheim or better known as Anna O)

August 30th, 1999
August 30th, 2019

The first is the date that Sally Turner aka the Stockwell Monster was found dead in her cell. It was ruled as suicide.
Sally was accused of murdering her two stepchildren with a kitchen knife but she claimed to have no memory of the attack and used the legal defence of insane automatism or sleepwalking. She was found not guilty by reason of insanity and sentenced indefinitely to a hospital in Berkshire.

The second date is the day that Anna Ogilvie, patient RSH493 also called Anna O, was found covered in blood and the bodies of her two friends, each with 10 stab wounds, close by.
Surely this cannot be a coincidence. Are these cases related?

To complicate things further, when they found Anna she was asleep. Four years later she is still in a state of sleep and has been diagnosed with resignation syndrome. (Resignation syndrome also called traumatic withdrawal syndrome is a catatonic condition that induces a state of reduced consciousness; a functional neurological disorder)
Dr Benedict (Ben) Prince is an expert in sleep and someone who studies people who commit crimes when they sleep. He is tasked with trying to wake her up.
Will he succeed and what will the consequences be if he does?

It is a story about deceit and the ultimate betrayal.
It is the story of Anna O, Sally Turner, Ben Prince, and Patient X.
It's about Sleeping Beauty and her Prince...

I can see why this has been dubbed as one of the most anticipated debuts of 2024.
It is an intelligently written book with a fascinating plot that will keep you on the edge of your seat from the first to the last page.

With the author's background as a screenwriter, the story comes alive on the pages and it will make a brilliant movie.
This one is definitely unputdownable!

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins UK for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion

I really enjoyed this story of a sleep disorder specialist who wants to crack the crime of the century. It is a very suspenseful story yet at the same time is a real slow burner. The story is told through the eyes of Benedict as well as flash backs to Anna’s life and varying diaries and newspaper articles. This gives the story an interesting dynamic as you almost feel that you are discovering the truth alongside Benedict.

The characters are a mixed bunch of people, all of whom have secrets they are hiding. The more we delve into the mystery the more blurred the lines become between good and bad as motivations are revealed and backstory appears.

As is the case with all good stories there are plenty of twists and turns along the way. Anna’s homelife is revealed through her diaries and we gain an understanding of the Sleeping Beauty. Whilst there were some bits that felt a little repetitive and padded out, overall this was a really intriguing read that I can imagine being a huge success when it comes out next year.

A traditional tale for the 21st century. When Dr Prince is asked to try and wake up the suspected murderer, Anna O, nicknamed Sleeping Beauty he knows this could make or break him as a professional. As she begins to awaken, Benedict is consumed by curiosity - did she kill her friends or is there a more sinister explanation? As he investigates, secrets abound and the story teases and tantalises the reader, reaching an unexpected climax.

Can you commit a crime in your sleep?
With homicidal sleepwalking, insane automatism, non-REM parasomnia or homicidal somnambulism, a person may unconsciously commit murder while sound asleep.  
Anna O., the perpetrator of a double murder “escapes” persecution by falling into a near catatonic state, upheld for four years. The powers that be want her concious to bring her before court for trial. She is transferred from a secure mental hospital to a Harley Street sleep clinic. Enter the dishy Dr Prince (yees, slightly tired allusion to Sleeping Beauty) to “wake” Anna Ogilvy.
Where the plot initially had some momentum, it slowed to amoebic pace a quarter in. The various references and quotes of type “look-how-well-read-I-am” and (why?) Harry Potter references contributed nothing to the story and soon became annoying.
Those lengthy ruminations by Dr Ben Prince became tiresome and in the end I did not really care who had done what to whom.
Squeaked in at three stars since the subject is interesting. Plot needs severe nipping and tucking.

📚 Anna O by Matthew Blake 📚

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

What if your nightmares weren’t really nightmares at all? What if you could kill someone in your sleep and not remember anything? That’s the premise of this gripping thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat.

Anna Ogilvy is a young writer who allegedly stabbed her two best friends to death while sleepwalking four years ago. Since then, she has been in a coma-like state, dubbed “Sleeping Beauty” by the media. Dr. Benedict Prince is a forensic psychologist who specializes in sleep-related homicides. He gets the chance to treat Anna and find out the truth behind her crimes. But as he delves deeper into her mind, he realizes that there is more to Anna than meets the eye. And he might be in danger from what he discovers.

This book was a roller coaster of twists and turns that kept me guessing until the end. The author did a great job of creating suspense and tension, as well as exploring the fascinating topic of sleep and its effects on the brain. The characters were well-developed and complex, especially Anna, who was a mystery within a mystery. I also liked the dual perspective of Anna and Benedict, which gave me insight into both of their thoughts and motivations.

If you’re looking for a book that will keep you up at night, look no further than Anna O by Matthew Blake. It’s a dark, twisty, and shocking read that will make you question what you know about yourself and others. Just don’t read it before bed 😉

Yes! A book I really got stuck into and didn’t want to finish… this is one I’ll be re-reading, recommending & purchasing :)
I was hooked from reading the blurb on this and I’m so so grateful to Netgalley for allowing me a copy ⭐️
Highly recommend to all!!

Thank you to Net Galley for allowing me to read this as an ARC.
A woman is accused of a double murder but has fallen into a coma like state. A sleep expert and psychologist is tasked with bringing her out of her slumber in order to face trial.
I mostly enjoyed this book. The story and concept is unique and definitely catches your eye. Matthew Blake can definitely write and it's fair to say he clearly did thorough research for this novel. For me personally, there was far too much descriptive writing, much of which could have been left out and not changed the story. I feel the book could be condensed. I got to the stage I felt it was dragging on needlessly without making a point. Even the twist at the end, albeit clever and I didn't guess it, really didn't come out as well as it should have because it took so long to explain it and it really didn't need to. The end result being I didn't feel as though I had it clear in my head because it felt so convoluted. I would still recommend this as an interesting read though.

This is a solid literary thriller about a really interesting topic. I enjoyed the different timelines and povs, though I must admit I strongly favoured Anna's chapters! She is such a good character and the author did an amazing job with her. I know this book will be compared to The Silent Patient a lot, but it's completely different in style and story.

Sleep is often a rarely examined aspect of every day life but on completing this read it definitely gave me food for thought! The concept of actions whilst sleeping is represented in other literature and film but I felt this book still offered a good exploration of the topic that gave different insight and areas for exploring. The book kept me wanting more by using short chapters that left details open.

A gripping, original thriller - truly didn't want to put this book down and delay getting to the truth of this epic tale. Twists and turns at every chapter have you guessing to the very end. A unique concept and the psychological theory behind sleepwalking and culpability expertly weaved throughout kept me glued to the story - and afraid to put it down to sleep at night! I loved this book and will be recommending to everybody, a fascinating story incredibly well written.

I picked this up as it sounded really up my street. A sleeping beauty, accused of murder, but no-one knows the true story as she hasn't woken up since.

And the first few pages had me hooked. But as I carried on reading it seemed to be unfocused and a little meandering. I felt there was a lot of padding for Ben and that not a lot was happening. I DNF at 20% as I felt that it was too slow for my tastes, and by then Ben was getting to me so I needed to put it down.

I'm sure it is other peoples cup of tea, just not mine.

I wanted to love this book so much but I struggled with it instead! It was so slow moving that it bored me which is always a massive no-no when reading! I found it really hard to want to pick up and read. I didn’t take to the ‘sleep expert’ either. This just wasn’t for me sadly.

Thank you to NetGalley for letting me read this Crime Thriller by Matthew Blake. Was she awake or asleep when the murders of her best friends were committed. After being asleep for 4 years, sleep expert Dr Benedict Prince take on the job of waking her up. I found this quite an intriguing storyline and enjoyed the twists.

I wish I had some nicer things to say about Anna O as the premise of the book intrigued me.

Unfortunately, it's about 300 pages too long and easily could have fit into a novella.

There are continuity errors throughout, the writing style seems to jump all over the place and the errors towards the end (as well as the abrupt ending) make it seem as if the book just made it in under the deadline.