I really wanted to love this, as I thought the premise and marketing were fantastic. It started off really well, and I was absorbed in Ben’s narrative, but I just found it hard work from about 20% in. Ben’s internal monologue felt manipulated to serve the plot and the twists felt like they were written to order. I still think the idea is brilliant and I am absolutely sure it will do really well.

A really interesting premise for a book - I was quickly pulled into the story.
The middle section was a bit slow and I found myself losing interest a bit but it soon picked back up and the twists kept coming right to the end.
Recommended.

✨Anna O by Mathew Blake ✨

“No one else ever really knew what happened that night, the terrible choices that had to be made.”

Here’s a thing, I’ve got major FOMO and when I saw all the ARCs for this book being sent out, I had to go and requesting from #netgalley who graciously granted me the ARC along with #harpercollins , so thank you very much!

Anna O is due to be published in February 2024 and is already getting lots of publicity around being the next big thriller/mystery. I can definitely see why. This is a story full of twists and reveals, unreliable characters and cinematic settings. I can see it so easily being turned into a bingeable Netflix mini series.

If you were a fan of stories like the Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides and other similar thrillers revolving around psychiatry and hospitals then you will love this. Sadly this wasn’t 100% for me because I prefer things a little less twisty and with some questions left unsolved however that’s personal taste and I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending this to pretty much anyone who dabbles in thrillers.

I can definitely see why Anna O is being hyped so much already and I think it’ll have no trouble filling the best seller shelves at the bookstores! Can’t wait for more people to read it and share their opinions.

#AnnaO

I really enjoyed this book and was completely captivated by its story

This book is 400 pages but it did feel a lot longer not sure why but it just took me a long time to finish it.

The story is dark and very twisty with multiple viewpoints and lots of back and forth

Plenty of twists and turns that kept you on your toes however i did guess who it was but I’m sure the twisty ending will surprise many.

Lots of psychological details which intrigued me especially the condition of Anna

I will look forward to more books by this author

Thank you Netgalley for a copy for an honest review

Anna O by Matthew Blake.

Thank you Netgalley and Harper Collins for the arc for an unbiased review.

The synopsis for this book is fairly minimal, and in many ways, having read the book I can see why. It might put some readers off, not having much to go on, other than an absorbing thriller (which I felt it was), and a small amount of blurb, yet it is a book that has so many twists and turns, I imagine trying to even explain what this book is about in a limited synopsis scenario wouldn't be easy.

But just what was it about this book that I found so gripping?

The premise as a whole was just something that brought a different angle on the mystery of how and why Anna did what she did, and why she was still asleep.
The problem is how do I expand the review without giving much away, because it was so cleverly crafted in my opinion. What I will say, is we have multiple points of view, including diary entries from Anna's past.
The plot did have a lot going on, but I didn't ever feel as it it was convoluted. This won't be to everyone's taste, but if twisty, dark thriller mysteries are something you enjoy, you should definitely read this book.

After the end, it took me a while just to absorb everything and look back to see what clues I saw, and what I might've missed. Or the ones I saw but realised my hypothesis was wrong.

A book I will love to own, and highly recommend. I'd also be giving this book out to friends and family.

Easily 5/5 stars 🌟 🌟🌟🌟🌟

This book came with minimal blurb outlining the story, but what there was intrigued me. Four years ago, Anna Ogilvy was found asleep with a knife clutched in her hand, in bloodstained clothes. The bodies of her two best friends nearby. Nobody could wake her, she remained in a deep sleep, uninjured, with no drugs in her system. She became known as Anno O. Others referred to her as Sleeping Beauty.

We discover that the Ministry of Justice are determined to see if she can be woken, as they want to get her to trial. They involve clinical sleep psychologist Professor Ben Prince in the case. Ben Prince has carried out studies on crimes carried out while sleeping.

I won’t tell any more as I don’t want to ruin the story. This book is one where going in blind is best, as the plot of the story really throws you at every turn. If the story outline had been further explained in advance I likely would have passed on reading this, thinking it not my usual type of read. However, the approach to the story and the way the author keeps us on our toes really makes it a psychological page-turning guessing game! The continual switch in storytelling methods further works to keep the reader trying to detangle the story, with first-person, third-person, and diary entries all used. This was a very clever and unique story, with just a few niggles. Ben was a tad annoying at times, and the continual use of his daughter's nickname was a little grating. The story felt a little drawn out at one or two points, it could have avoided some of the repetition in revisiting scenes. The ending took a little dive off the deep end, but objectively, the entire story is so warped that when you step back, you do wonder if is it really that much of a stretch.

Overall it is a dark and complex psychological thriller with a lot of twists, which will have you questioning when is a crime really considered a crime!

*I received this book for review from NetGalley, but all opinions are my own.

Do not read the reviews!!
Read the book first!!
Not my usual opening to a review but I think it's valid with this book. I started reading it, knowing nothing apart from the name and the cover. Having now read it I'm very glad I went into it with no idea what I was letting myself in for.

It's not my usual genre but I was hooked fairly early on. The twists and turns were believable and it was a ride from start to finish. The end was a surprise and felt a little farfetched but that didn't spoil the book.

4.5 Stars
A captivating, clever and unique premise attracted me to this book.
Told in multiple POVs with first person, third person and diary entries plus several timelines, it was still easy to follow. It has a well developed immersive plot which was interesting and intriguing. The writing style was engaging and the characters were well developed. Overall, a multi-layered and complex mystery thriller with depth and twists. Recommended. Many thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley UK for the ARC.

A compulsive read - had me up all night to finish! I'm a huge fan of Benedict Prince and can't wait to see what other's think when they meet this cast of characters. (Loved Bloom's character too! I'd be interested to read more about her, the center on Harley Street and their dynamic with Ben)

The concept of this book was really gripping and interesting, as a fan of thriller novels it definitely had me hooked.
One of the main characters, Ben, I found quite annoying and self centered but this may have been the point.
Anna was an interesting character and the book did keep me guessing until the end with multiple twists which I enjoyed.
The middle section lacked a bit of pace but overall I enjoyed and would recommend

What a story! I went into this blind since the premise was so abnormally vague but I think it's actually the best way to read this one.

It's so cleverly written and felt a bit like a documentary style with so many aspects and moving parts!

The actual premise for the book is incrediblu unique and original and has clearly been thoroughly researched and though through.

The characters were well crafted and brought to life. It does have quite a slow pace but I think it works for this story because there are so many chapters and so much happening!

This easily stands head and shoulders above other thrillers

Anna O by Matthew Blake

Wow, what a rollercoaster!

As ever, I try to give genuine and honest feedback, both good and not so good.

The idea for this story is intriguing, and pretty original. The book is without doubt well researched and well 'imagined'. There are some great characters involved and the central two, Ben and Anna make this compulsive reading. However, I found this to be waaaay too long a tale, and was surprised but equally disappointed by its ending. I really feel that several alternative conclusions would have been far better and certainly more believeable than the eventual one offered. At times in my opinion very repetetive, and the CONTINUAL mention of Ben's daughter's nickname really started to annoy me after only a few chapters in :-(

I would still recommend reading this as the good definitely surpasses the not so good. Take a trip into this dark and creepy world where you will question what is real and what has been cleverly concocted!

This is one of the best psychological thrillers I've read in a long time. It's almost documentary in style giving the events from the perspective of the different characters in the story. It isn't fast paced but instead builds slowly to a conclusion which I just didn't see coming. The story centres around Anna O who is accused of murdering two of her friends four years previously. The west is that Anna doesn't remember the events of that murder which she appears to have committed in her sleep and hasn't woken up since.

Her case sparks endless media interest not least from the Ministry of Justice, the police and psychology experts. One such clinical psychologist is Professor Prince who has studied the spectrum of crimes committed whilst under the influence of sleep. Co-incidentally, his ex-wife is the senior police officer who attended on the night of the murders. I won't spoil the story but will simply say there are enough twists and turns to keep you page turning until the final reveal. Great book for fans of crime thrillers with a difference.

I went into this book with little knowledge of it which is very unlike me. The synopsis was very short and only indicated that this would be a thriller which would make the world wake up.

Given my pathological FOMO I requested it, was approved and have now finished it.

I won't give too much away, despite my need to know much about a novel before diving in, there is a definite benefit from going in a bit blind.

Long story short, Anna O stands accused of murder. Fairly typical I hear you say and I agree.....expect 1) she was potentially asleep when she committed the crime 4 years ago and 2) she hasn't woken up since. Now I have your attention.........

There were definite The Silent Patient vibes here for me. The sense of the expert trying to solve this mystery and find out once and for all what actually happened that night. The pacing is excellent and the story told from multiple perspectives which works well. The ending is also well written and pulls the story together right at the end.

Definitely an enjoyable read and thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

I was pleased to have the opportunity of reading this book pre publication. However, despite it being set around an interesting subject, of which I had no previous knowledge, it was very drawn out and I couldn’t wait to finish it.

Anna O by Matthew Blake is a suspenseful, gripping, dark novel that has you guessing 'whodunnit' right from the very first page.
Anna - daughter of a politician, magazine entrepenuer is accused of murdering her two friends - however Anna cannot be held accountable for her crimes as she is currently asleep - where she has been since the murders.
Ben - Dr Benedict Prince - is charged with using his research to wake Anna up.
The public is highly invested in Anna's case - as are the Ministry of Justice, Ben's wfe who happens to be one of the lead officers who was first on the scene of the crime.
The story is told from lots of different perspectives, but the most intriguing is Anna's diary entries which take the reader through her possible motive, her struggle with insomina and the events of the fateful night.
It is well written, has a magnificient twist but I did feel there was unessecary repetition - going back over the events again and again without adding any extra detail.

An unusual type of thriller for me personally!
Will look out for more by this author. Thanks for the opportunity to read & review it.

Anna Ogilvy - Anna O or Sleeping Beauty? Did she commit the crime of the century? Who knows the truth? She hasn’t opened her eyes for four years, since she was found, fast asleep, with the dead bodies of her two closest friends close by. Can anyone wake her and discover the truth?
The description of the book definitely intrigued me and I was excited to have the opportunity to read it. It certainly did not disappoint. Written from multiple points of view, the story was cleverly penned and the twists at the end were heart stopping. An excellent read and many congratulations to Matthew Blake, the author.
With thanks to Netgallery and the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC in return for an honest review.

Alot of hype made me request this book,along with the description.
I found the first chapters rather slow and Ben Prince's character did nothing to endear him to me. The reference to his family life indicated rather a self absorbed man contributing little to his wife and child who annoyingly was referee to as KitKat.
The prose was quite engaging but it was not enough to for me to engage with the characters or the plot. I was indifferent to the outcome of whether Anna I did it did not commit the murders.

Honestly, the biggest reason is that this is an ARC currently and the formatting was terrible. Sometimes there were line breaks in the middle of a sentence, or run-on paragraphs. It was nigh impossible to tell who was speaking and my immersion was broken on every page. Even worse - every so often the words “Matthew Blake” and “AnnA O” randomly appear embedded in the text. I get that this is an ARC but it should have been quality checked… at least a skim read, before releasing it to reviewers.

When this book is released to the general public with better formatting, I might give it another go. But for now I simply have neither the patience nor capacity to re-read multiple lines in an effort to work out what is going on.

3 stars because what I did understood of what I read sounded juicy and interesting. I want to know more. But the effort of parsing relevant content right now is too great for me to want to continue reading it in its current state.