I enjoyed Cat Steadman's debut novel last year, so I jumped at the chance to read a NetGalley copy of her new suspense, Mr. Nobody. Neuropsychiatrist Dr. Emma Lewis has been called in to evaluate the possible amnesia case of a man found wandering the beach. If she can scan his brain and get him to speak, she thinks she can prove a state of fugue, true amnesia. But the patient does remember something...her real name.

Emma has a past and she thinks that Nobody may help clarify the mystery she can't unravel, if only he can remember. And it's especially urgent now that it's become apparent someone is watching her. Is he the key? Or is he just another red herring?

I'll admit, I was a bit skeptical when Mr. Nobody's true identity and the way he had been living was revealed. It didn't seem terribly plausible to me. Then again, since when have thrillers been plausible? I was glad that Steadman didn't wait too long to reveal Emma's tragic past, as hidden tragedy only revealed at the last minute is so overdone at this point. She gave me the details early on so that I could really feel Emma's confusion and urge to uncover what Nobody does or doesn't have to do with her childhood.

The last two twists? Made the book worth reading. 3.5 stars, rounded to 4

Welcome to the disappointment palace! There is no vacancy for riveting thriller you’re looking for! Sorry! You had a bad start for the busy season.

I know when you spend your time with the beach, you noticed “Something in the water” and you enjoyed your experience with that book and I know you love short term memory loss, amnesia stories! For compensation: maybe you should request more upcoming thrillers and if your fairy godmother NetGalley likes your credit score, wow sorry reading performance, they may send you some better stuff (Or you may choose better stuffs dumbass! And stop dancing! This is not celebration. You hit your head at the 3 starred-nope it’s not even 3 star worthy, let’s say 2.5 and rounded it up for honoring the memory of the previous book of the author- mediocre train which moves to Switzerland.)

At the beginning I was so sure I found something so intriguing, delicious and exciting. A man opens his eyes at the seaside, having no idea who he is and what he is doing there. So the authorities bring Dr. Emma Lewis for solving the mystery and bringing the man’s memory back. Wait a minute! Maybe he knows something more about himself. Hey, could he also know more about doctor’s past, the secrets she kept about her childhood and her family?
Well, I think first half of the book was crazy train ride. I didn’t want to stop reading. I carry this book glued to my body like a regular internal organ. My appointment with dentist was so entertaining because I was laughing so hard with excitement and flipping the pages without hearing anyone. ( My doctor forgot me locked in his office but I didn’t care. I had my laughing gas and this great book) But when we move to the second half I started to hear the alarm bells blaring in my head. This book could end in a twisted and surprising way or shit hits the fan and it loses its direction and makes you curse about the nonsense ending. Unfortunately second option happened. The ending… arrgghhkk… yes the ending made me bring out the inner green giant ( of course I consumed 4 cups of Americano so I was green giant with shaky hands!) and I kept punching the wall and screaming: “What did you do? Why did you screw things up?”

And yes: my dreamy, riveting reading turned into semi-disaster: 5 starred reading turned into one star. So my average score fell to 3 stars ! It was really promising start and disastrous ending journey for me! Like going to honeymoon at Turk and Caicos Islands and trapped in your hotel room because of never ending rain. (Wow!
Sorry that’s my honeymoon but at least I had a freezer full of alcohol and my husband watched at least 30 soccer games so both of us were so happy, delighted, over the moon! Yes it was not as bad experience as the book gave me.)

Overall: I was so close to love this book and gave so many shiny stars (I planned to buy a star and name with this book after my third glass of Malbec. Thankfully in the morning I reconsidered my decision.) but end of the book hurt my feelings.

I still want to read more works of the author because I enjoyed “something in the water” and of course first half of the book, two POVed story-telling were great. It’s normal to expect more from a talented author but fingers crossed I know I’m gonna love the next book.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine Books for sharing this ARC COPY in exchange my honest review.

❤️Review❤️
To start I would like to thank @netgalley and Ballantine Books for allowing me to review this book for you.

If you remember, back in June I read Something in the Water and really enjoyed it! When I heard Catherine Steadman was coming out with a new book I knew I had to read it! Mr. Nobody was one of the first books I requested when I decided to start reviewing books for NetGalley again.

Unfortunately this book really was not for me. I found the pacing to be a little slow. This book is very well researched and it shows. Almost a little too well haha.

This story follows a man who shows up on a beach with no recollection of who he is or where he’s from. It also follows a psychiatrist who is put on the case to help figure out what is going on with this man. We also know that she has a past she is hiding from.

I definitely think there are readers out there that will really enjoy this book.

This book is for you if you:
1) Like thrillers with a memory loss component
2) Like psychology and psychologist perspectives
3) Brain development and how it works intrigues you.

I don’t regret reading this. I look forward to continuing to try Catherine Steadman’s books in the future.

This book is released January 7, 2020.

#suspense #memoryloss #psychology #Mrnobody #catherinesteadman

Mr. Nobody by Catherine Steadman
This was a great read!

What if you woke up with no idea of who you were? Where you were? No idea of your past?

Dr. Emma Lewis is renowned in her field of psychiatry. She is innovative and progressive with her research. When she is contacted by a colleague regarding a man who appears to have washed up on the beach with zero recollection of anything, she is eager to take the case. However, in taking the case, she will have to relocate to the one place she does not want to return to.

Follow Dr. Lewis on her own journey of discovery and she tries to help the man on the beach, “Mr. Nobody” figure out his own past. Are some secrets better left hidden? Once they are uncovered, there is no going back.

Pick this book up. You won’t be disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced reader copy at my request.

Well-paced and thoroughly engrossing, this psychological thriller puts a man who remembers nothing in the hands of a young neuropsychiatrist who is trying to hide her past in Norfolk, England. Steadman can create characters you care about. Even when a good guy turns into a bad guy, the reader will have sympathy. I’d love to have more stories about the Nurse Ronda and Dr. Lewis as well as the policeman, Chris Poole. I really cared about the three of them. From the ending, though, I assume this will be a stand-alone book, but I’d still like the three of them for friends.

I really enjoyed this book! It was a bit of a slow start, but once things took off, it was very quick-paced and exciting! Anything having to do with abnormal psychology is something I will likely enjoy, and this was no exception!

I loved the characters in this book - which is not something I often say. From Rhoda, the sweet nurse to Officer Poole and even Mr. Nobody himself. I just really enjoyed their personalities and how they moved the plot along by the way they interacted.

I also loved the creepy back story and how everything ends up coming back full-circle in a way.

Were there plot holes and some spots that were too unbelievable? Sure. But they weren’t so crazy to make me dislike the story.

This book definitely makes me want to read Steadman’s Something in the Water!

I wasn’t a fan of Something in the Water. I actually had higher hopes for this title. I dnf past the weird start to the book.

A man washes up on a British beach, with no memory of who he is, or how he got there.

Is he the perfect study of retrograde amnesia or fugue? Or is he lying?

Dr. Emma Lewis is asked to take on the case.

But, why is the government so interested in “Mr. Nobody”? (dubbed Matthew by a caring nurse)

And, why is this case so secretive that Dr. Lewis must sign a Non disclosure agreement, and risk her own secrets being exposed?

I was left with some unanswered questions, and not in a “there must be a sequel coming” way..

At times, I was completely intrigued, but through much of the book I wanted to skim, so although Matthew’s identity surprised me, the pace was just too slow for me to rate this over 3 stars..

Though, I sometimes love a slow burn, in this case, the therapist/patient story fell a bit flat...especially when compared to “The Silent Patient” which I read and loved earlier this year.

The challenge of being a debut author whose first book is quite successful is the bar for the second novel is very high. It’s a blessing and a curse for the author. This one fell a little flat for me - between a 2 and a 3 star. A main character that I didn’t care much for and an anticlimactic ending. The plot line was slow (compared to the thrilling pace of Something In The Water). We’ll need to hang tight and see if this author can get back to that thriller pace she achieved in her first novel.

Emma Lewis is neuropsychiatrist, who is surprised when she's asked to work on a case for a newsworthy patient. Dubbed "Mr. Nobody," he's a man found on a British beach, in wet clothes and without any identification. He won't speak and the hospital staff are all drawn to him. But for Emma to take the case, it means returning to a place that she left fourteen years ago in disgrace--a place she's worked to leave behind and erase any signs of herself from.

"Why can't I remember? Why can't I remember my name? The weight of what this means bears down on him with each cold snatched breath he takes. Fear pumping through him, primal and quickening. Oh God. It's all gone. His world shrinks to a pinhead and then dilates so wide, suddenly terrifyingly borderless."

This book started out like gangbusters. Alternating between Emma and Mr. Nobody, whom the hospital staff quickly dubs Matthew, I was drawn in immediately. Who on earth is Matthew, why can't he remember who he is, and what is his deal? But there were a few issues. Emma clearly has a backstory. Yes, something happened to her fourteen years ago. To me, this is the equivalent of "vaguebooking"--you know when someone posts something on Facebook or social media: "Something horrible has happened. Oh woe is me." And then all their friends have to either guess, or say "Oh I'm so sorry," but the poster never actually tells you what happened? I'm sorry, but in books, after a while, dragging this all out is too much. Just freaking tell us what happened to you, Emma, or stop alluding to it!

So Emma and Matthew, of course, surpass patient/doctor boundaries, finding each other fascinating. There are, accordingly, twists in the book. Some, I will hand it to Steadman, are pretty darn good. Much of the book is quite readable and moves at a good pace--Emma's allusions to her past not withstanding. It's certainly intriguing. There are some interesting side characters: a local police officer and his nosy reporter wife; a benevolent nurse, etc. Emma's kind and patient brother.

But then the ending and biggest reveal comes along and eh. I found it a little anticlimactic. After all we've been through together, Emma?! I don't know. I was hoping for more, especially after all the fuss about Something in the Water, which I still haven't read. (I know, I know. It's on my TBR.)

So, in the end, this is an intriguing one. The plot is definitely original, I'll give you that. But throw in a slightly irritating main character and a somewhat disappointing ending and it was a 3.5 star read for me-just barely.

I was eager to read this new psychological thriller by Catherine Steadman. I had thoroughly enjoyed her debut book, “Something in the Water”. Regrettably I was somewhat disappointed. The prologue seemed to set the tone for a gripping story as it began. An injured handsome man unable to speak is found on a beach with no identification nor memory of who he is. Dr Emma Lewis, who is a Neuropsychiatrist is called in to assess and treat the patient. Dr Lewis has secrets of her own. “A man with no memory and a woman with too much”.

The storyline was original and had a lot of interesting medical information about memory loss and how the brain functions. However, as the novel progresses, the suspense died down, and it became slow and drawn out. Additionally, the storyline became disjointed and confusing as it evolved. I felt the main characters lacked development and I really couldn't know and understand them as well as I should have. The final twist and wrap up of the ending was dissatisfying and anticlimactic.

Ms Steadman builds suspense by revealing only a few details at a time. Details about what went on in Dr Emma’s past and about her patient, Mr. Nobody. This is a different kind of psychological thriller. I found it hard to put down. .

WOW! What a fantastic book.
Its been a long time since I can say a book grabbed me from the first page.
This is one of those books. Once I started I had a very hard time putting it down. It kept me engrossed through the whole story. I would have read it all in one sitting if I didn't have to sleep. This was very intriguing and a terrific story line with very interesting and likable characters. It has just the right amount of different things going on in the story to keep one wanting more. I read Catherine Steadman's other book Something in the Water and that was also amazing. So happy there are authors that can entertain me this much. You will enjoy this book. Highly recommend it!

Dr Emma Lewis is fascinated when she's given the opportunity to examine a man who washed up on a beach in Norfolk- is he really in a fugue state? Norfolk holds peril for her; her secret spools out very slowly (and turns out to be, honestly, less awful than it might seem from the early clues). The man, named Matthew by Rhoda, the only person in the hospital able to calm him, has secrets too. It's told mostly from Emma's POV. You'll learn a bit about memory and neuropsychiatry (always a plus) . No spoilers but know that Steadman has left breadcrumbs for the answers Emma seeks. This one pulled me in quickly, kept me reading and then, to be honest, felt a tad false at the end. That's not to say that I didn't enjoy it. I did- immensely. Emma's a good character, as is Rhoda, and the writing is delightful. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I'm looking forward to Steadman's next one.

Mr. Nobody shows up a beach and has no recollection of who he is and what has happened to him. Emma Lewis, a doctor with a terrible family secret, is sent to care for Mr. Nobody in her old hometown. What proceeds is a terrible twist of fate for everyone.

This book delivered! I've become quite jaded with thrillers lately but this novel has The Silent Patient vibes and definitely gave me the creeps with the twisted ending. The author definitely did her research with the diagnostic/medical part of the book and that made it so realistic. What if people like Mr. Nobody exist?

One plot line that I wish connected was Emma Lewis' family trauma and Mr. Nobody. Their backgrounds were really just coincidental but I felt it would have had more of an impact on the story and finally closure for Emma if they actually were connected that way.

A man washes up on an England beach, with no knowledge of who he is, where he came from, or why he’s there. He has something important written on his hand, and there is a person he knows he has to find, because she is the only one who can help him, but he doesn’t know why. The man is quickly dubbed Mr. Nobody by the media, and he is brought to a local hospital for assessment, where his symptoms baffle the medical staff, especially because he apparently is also incapable of speaking. Who, exactly, are they dealing with? A man who goes on to exhibit extreme abilities to deflect dangerous situations, without knowing HOW he knows how to do so.
Neuropsychiatrist Emma Lewis is called upon to treat Mr. Nobody. Emma is so involved with her work—and uninvolved with anything else—that she hasn’t watched any of the media coverage, and has no idea who her patient is. She comes to discover that not only is her patient famous with the media, but she also must travel to her childhood hometown in order to treat him, a town she and her family fled after a horrific tragedy. Emma Lewis was not Emma Lewis back then, and her old identity is at risk of being discovered.
This gripping psychological thriller by Catherine Steadman unfolds a story of a woman who escaped her past, and now is running headlong back into it. As Emma tries to treat her patient, she feels a deep connection to him, and is disturbed that he knows things about her past that have been long since buried. How can he know these things? What was this terrible tragedy she fled from? This novel builds the suspense up slowly, and the reader desperately wants to find out what IT is, the terrible night that Emma will never forget, which changed the course of her entire life.
I highly recommend this novel: pub date January 7, 2020!
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for an advance reader copy of Mr. Nobody, in exchange for an honest review.

After reading Steadman’s debut novel last year, I was excited to dive into her sophomore novel, Mr. Nobody. As someone with a background in psychology, I found the premise of a man with memory loss, not knowing who he is, incredibly intriguing. While I found this an enjoyable read, something was missing for me. The story went in so many different directions and got very confusing towards the end. I’m still processing exactly what happened. As someone with a psychology and medical background, I enjoyed the premise but for someone that doesn’t know a lot about the brain or memory loss, this could be confusing. Some things are explained but others are not. It may be helpful to look up terms while you’re reading it. Overall, an enjoyable read but nothing that stands out to me at this time. In comparison to Something in the Water, this is completely different. Give it a go if the synopsis appeals to you! 3.5 stars rounded down to 3.

Thank you to Catherine Steadman, Netgalley, and the publisher for providing me with a free copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley for my arc. I really wanted to like this book but I just couldn’t get into it at all and didn’t finish. It was really disappointing because I love her 1st book, “Something in the Water”. Q

I loved this author's debut novel. The opening sequence still sits in my head. This one also has a gripping opening but not as effective. I feel for the author as it is hard to follow a smash with another one. I would not go so far as to call this a sophomore slump but it was hard to stay engaged. Not sure if I cared enough about the main character to find out her secret. The romance seemed not believable but sort of thrown in. There were some confusing twists at the end but everything just fell flat to me.

Catherine Steadman impressed me with her debut novel, Something in the Water and this book didn't disappoint. I was hooked from the beginning of Mr. Nobody. Some of Emma's choices frustrated me and there was an underlying hint of mystery. I enjoyed learning about the parts of the brain as Dr. Emma Lewis learned more about Mr. Nobody. This is also a story of family history, and small town gossip. Overall I enjoyed this book. Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the opportunity to read this book!