I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Anna O by Matthew Blake is a mystery thriller that is set around the basis that people are asleep for an average of 33 years, in which we know nothing of what happened. In that time

Anna Olgilvy is an individual who has done a number of things while she was asleep, including some believe killing two of her friends, however since that time, Anna has been in deep sleep.

Enter this scenario: a sleep clinic on London's Harley Street and Dr. Benedict Prince, a forensic psychologist and an expert in the field of sleep-related homicides, whose ex-wife is in charge of the investigation.

There are times when as a reader you either pick up a book and read the synopsis or even start reading it, when the premises of the novel has a great plot line and idea is different to the usual novels of its genre In Anna O’s case mystery thriller that it grips you as a reader from the start.

The novel will either then go on to be a great read even an all time favourite as it lives up to the start of the novel all the way through, or the book will fall to live up to its start becoming a an average read at best,

The problem with Matthew Blake’s novel Anna O, it falls into the latter of the two choices with a brilliant start and preemies but failing with execution of the story.

As a review I have to say that Anna O is not a bad book, in fact I felt it was better than average with Matthew Blake’s writing style keeping me engaged with the story all the way though.

With the story being told from a number of different perspectives throughout the story including Anna’s herself through her diary.

The major problem I had is that the book is a Mystery & Thriller novel which means that as a reader you would expect to have some mystery to the story.

Unfortunately for Matthew Blake’s novel it felt like the twist and turns you would expect from a novel of this genre to be hidden, felt like Anna O were put in neon lights, with not enough red herrings to dry and disguise them.

Having said that, I would still recommend Anna O to readers of this genre despite its flaws due to the idea of the story and Matthew Blake’s writing style.

Thank you Harper Collins UK for the ARC. Unfortunately this was not for me. Too many characters making HP references. I'm sure this will be a big commercial success.

4.5⭐ 

Matthew Blake's Anna O is a well-crafted, unsettling, layered and suspenseful story. 

A story that explores what humans are truly capable of when we are sleeping. 

After all, as the synopsis states, the average person spends thirty-three years of their lives in bed asleep.

But none of us know what we are really capable of when we are catching some well-earned zzz's.

Which is undoubtedly true for Anna Ogilvy. Who at twenty-five years old, had a bright future ahead of her. Until whilst asleep, she randomly stabbed two people to death. Without any explanation, motive, or reason, and she hasn't woken up since.

That was four years ago, and she has since been dubbed  'sleeping beauty' by the press. Although Anna has a rare medical condition known to neurologists as 'resignation syndrome'.

Which means Anna is yet to be tried for her crime. But Dr. Benedict Price, a forensic psychologist and expert in sleep-related murders, is on hand. As a last hope, to try and treat her and wake her up so she can face the music.

But Dr. Price has to be extremely careful in treating such a high-profile suspect,patient. Especially given his complicated personal life and the substantial secrets he holds in his professional life.

So when Ben makes a breakthrough and Anna starts to stir, he must determine the truth and ultimately decide if Anna should be held accountable.

Yet, being the only person who knows what truly happened and the only person who can reveal that truth isn't all it's cracked up to be. 

Particularly when revealing the truth could be the most dangerous move ever!

And with a plot that is both intricate and complex. Not to mention a brilliantly shock inducing climax. This was a story that kept me riveted. But I did struggle with parts of it and if I'm honest I became lost in the narrative a few times. Which is why I didn't give this story five stars.

However, Anna O certainly delivered on the hype and if you're searching for a psychological thriller. That's dark, twisty, shocking, and unlike anything else you'll read this year. This story is for you.

The premise of this, with murder and a strange sleeping condition and family secrets, was so enticing and Matthew Blake didn't disappoint with his treatment of these themes. There was a dark foreboding feeling laced throughout, especially whenever The Farm was brought up (or visited - I was totally convinced something was going to happen when Benedict and Harriet went there!!) as it was described so well and pulls on our childhood fears of creepy cabins and dark forests.
I've seen people saying that the book is slow, and it is a little, but I feel it was intentionally written this way to prolong the reader being kept in the dark. I was definitely spurred on to keep reading so that I could find answers.
The inclusion of diary extracts from Anna worked brilliantly as a vehicle to lift the curtain just a little more each time they appeared.
I felt that the book was written in a very visual way that will lend itself to film adaptation easily, it also enhanced my feeling of being immersed in the situation right alongside Benedict.
Using different perspectives for chapters and having unreliable narrators (or narrators who didn't know everything) scattered through them was an excellent way to get me constantly flip-flopping about how it was all going to end - the actual ending was one of about four possibilities I had in my head when I got to it. It is a complex story and you need to concentrate on all the different threads but I'm happy to have to be fully present in my reading o long as the story is engrossing enough...and I found this one incredibly engrossing

This was such an addictive and gripping read that I ended up devouring in less that 24 hours. This book had me guessing up until the very end even when I managed to guess one bit early on it never took away from the experience and tense atmosphere. ⁣
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Told in multiple POVs you really get to see all sides of the story and it just added to the mystery of it all. I also loved the fact that my thoughts on whether Anna was innocent or guilty continuously changed throughout as new evidence or information came to light! ⁣
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Honestly a great psychological thriller which has just aided in my desire to devour more this year! I absolutely recommend picking this one up! ⁣
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Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book, it had me guessing until the end.
The ending felt a bit rushed, there were a few bits that could have done with a bit more explanation, but it's difficult to say here without giving spoilers!
I think this story would make the good basis of a film or short series.
Thanks to Netgalley for the chance to read and review.

"The dead came back to life. A ghost became flesh again. The stakes feel even higher now. The puzzle harder to solve. The past is now present."

A strangely compelling mystery full of hidden secrets and a morally ambiguous cast of characters. There was a looming intensity from the get-go, as we wonder what secrets Anna is holding onto in her sleep and waiting along with everyone else to see when she wakes up.

There was a quick, exciting pacing with short chapters and paragraphs that made it feel nervous, impatient almost - although at times it just felt a bit too jumpy to really keep the flow. As we wait to see if Anna can ever stand trial for her accusations, we heard from many perspectives all invested in her story and the different roles and positions of these people made it a very interesting journey, with new views and fresh ideas about the case every step of the way with years-old murders, secret programmes, vigilante reporters and revenge plots all thrown into the chaos to create a dark and twisty conspiracy. The ending was curious, with plenty of clues all slotting together in a somewhat satisfying way but it felt like the story had ended several times, with a lot of repetition and parts of the plot being stretched out in ways that just didn’t make sense - which made the last part of the book a little difficult to read, with just a lot of explaining rather than revealing.

It was definitely an experience trying to form your opinions and a connection with a character you don’t know when you’ll meet - but everyone was confusing in a very interesting way. I found myself a little lost with some of their backstories and motivations, at times it felt there was key information missing but overall there was a great, if dark and confusing cast of characters who you just couldn’t figure out if you could trust them or not. The narration style was shared between characters perspectives and split between now and before - with observant, almost formal storytelling that set the scenes well and captured little details that set the tone of the moment (although far too many Harry Potter references, especially for a thriller)

A highly conceptual, unique idea for a thriller with an intriguing discourse on the mysteries of sleep and guilt.

Well written from the start and an interesting premise. There were definite hints as the story progressed as to the genuine innocence or not of Anna O - a long period of sleep - and two camps in the public about her innocence or guilt. The story keeps a good pace, although one or two events stretch believability (no spoilers).
The story has its twists and turns and is original.
Can't wait to read more by Matthew Blake.
Many thanks to Netgalley/Matthew Blake/HarperCollins UK for a digital copy of this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

Anna O is a mystery that all of the country are aware of. She allegedly killed her two friends and then fell asleep and has been sleeping ever since.
Dr Benedict Prince of the Abbey Clinic, has been tasked by the Ministry of Justice to bring her around so that she can be assessed and taken to trial.
On paper it appears simple. Except that it's not and someone is pulling the strings. What is the connection to a 20 year old murder case? Who are the people behind the blogs?
An interesting book, but I felt it was a bit rushed at the end. I would of liked to know more.

I absolutely loved this book from start to end! I was gripped all the way through. I've never read anything like it before and would love to see this story on the big screen

Rating – 4.5 stars

😵‍💫Anna O has left me in a reverie, a kind of daze or fugue😵‍💫 Who even am I anymore? 😅

Thanks HarperCollins, Harper Fiction and NetGalley for the ARC!

First of all, kudos 👏 to the author for this incredible debut. It's highly accomplished, very well researched, expertly plotted and written with a water tight grip on both the storyline and language.

Synopsis –

The thriller revolves around Anna O, the infamous writer who has allegedly murdered two of her friends before slipping into a state of 'sleep' ever since. She is now the 'sleeping beauty' who is said to have the rate psychosomatic disorder called 'resignation syndrome'. Dr Benedict Prince, a forensic psychologist who specializes in sleep related homicides is the only person who might be able to wake her and the last ever hope of solving this case. But will Ben's own secrets interfere with his treatment and investigation?

Review -

Goodness, this book was seriously confounding! Alternating with Ben's present narrative and voices from the past, including certain 'notes' from a diary, the plot introduces us to Ben's efforts to bring Anna back to consciousness, glimpses into his troubled personal life, as well as Anna's history leading up to the day of the murders.

Dealing with the much debated topic of sleep-related crimes, sleepwalking disorders and related illnesses, Blake constructs a mind-numbing, twisty plot that hovers in the grey area between the guilt and innocence of the accused.

A cloud of enigma is built around Anna and her impossible state of sleep. It was fascinating to delve deep into Ben's world of expertise! I had no idea such psychosomatic disorders existed - resignation syndrome, sleepwalking and dream states! I marveled at his ingenious methods, thoughts and ideas, as he tries to revive Anna from the depths of her own mind.

I loved how the threads crossover, forming complex and multilayered structures entwined with revenge, dark secrets, mean and vicious mind-games.

When they all finally form a cohesive pattern, the result messes with our minds - as we debate over the moral dilemmas it invokes, shocks us with reveals that are insurmountable to expect and conspiracies that are unfathomable. It was all beyond the mental grasp - blurring the already hazy lines between sleep, dream and reality.

If you love a thriller that is based on a unique, utterly stupefying premise and enrapturing concepts, then this book is for you!

Thank you netgalley and the publisher for giving me a copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review. The storyline behind this book I loved it was original and not like anything I’ve read before, however I did not love the book overall. The first half of the book was not gripping and I found it very wordy snd repetative at times. It did a pick up in the second half once Anna woke up the story became more gripping. But I did guess the ending quite early on which I’m surprised it was given away quite so easily

The premise was intriguing but too much going on and the plot is close to being ridiculous at times,

It took me a while to get into this book, but then the twists kept me from putting it down. Told by different characters in different timelines it told the story and the motives until I wasn't sure who was actually responsible for the murders . I have a sleepwalker in the family so I know how they have no idea what they do, though nothing extreme. The ending I did not see coming until a comment made just before the last death. Worth reading in my opinion

Anna O is a psychological thriller that will keep you guessing right till the end. It is necessary to suspend your disbelief in places but if you are able to do this then you're in for a treat. Told through multiple POV's and with the added intrigue of Anna's own journal entry, this book will keep you captivated.

Thanks to Harper Collins UK and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this thought provoking book in exchange for an honest review.

Anna Ogilvy hasn‘t opened her eyes for four years, since she was found asleep holding a knife, having killed her 2 best friends. Ben Prince is tasked with waking her up so she can face a trial.

Supposed to be a thriller, I think, my overall impression of this book was that it was LONG. At one point I thought I was halfway through but was only at 10%. 😬

A few other annoyances with editing and writing style make it a so-so. There was a supposed diary, but it was written in first person present continuous (I am running etc) and who writes a diary like that? There were also case notes from doctors that were present tense and included reflective thoughts about themselves, not the patient. Both read like streams of consciousness thoughts, not what they were meant to be. The author needed different devices to move the plot on.

I was really looking forward to reading this one as there has been so much hype. Although the concept was good and the story being told from various viewpoints which enhanced the read for me but I did find it a little slow pace for me personally. I’m glad I read it though.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for ARC in return for an honest review.

This was a really interesting concept - totally different to anything I've read before. I enjoyed it generally but I'm afraid it didn't blow me away. But I know a lot of customers will be intrigued and love the premise of this one

3.5 rounded down cos it was all a bit messy...
In this book we meet Anna Ogilvy. I say meet, that's not strictly true. We learn about her. We can't meet her as she is asleep, and has been since she stabbed two people to death. There is no clear motive for what she did, and some also think that she was already asleep when she committed the crimes. We also meet (properly this time) Dr Benedict Prince who is a renown forensic psychologist, specialising in sleep related homicides. Are we really responsible for the things we do when we are asleep? Now Anna is showing signs of waking up and that means that she can finally be tried for her crimes. And maybe, we can find out the whys and wherefores...
Now... this book has all the hype thrown at it. And yes, the premise is a cracking idea. But sadly, for me anyway, the execution falls short of my expectation. It's overly complex and a bit messy in plotting. There are the usual clues and red herrings peppered throughout the book, with varying success. But I found it all a bit predictable and the twists too relied on in the sacrifice of other things I need from a book. Characterisation, plotting, pacing... It was also a bit repetitive and was a bit too fantastic at times... And the ending... well. I'd love to spell out all the things I want to about that but it will spoil it for others. Suffice to say I wasn't satisfied.
Now... what did fascinate me was the sleep stuff. The resignation syndrome, and the responsibility aspect. All new things to me in books, and that was why I was really excited about this book.
Now, maybe if I wasn't as excited. If there wasn't the hype. I might have enjoyed it more. Maybe. Possibly. More than likely.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

I really did not like this book. Even though there has been some positive press around this one, I was not impressed at all. Will not be reading this author again in a hurry.
I would advise others to stay away.