This is a near-perfect mystery/thriller. A tad anti-climactic at the end, but an engrossing ride for the most part.

Thanks to the publisher and to Netgalley for supplying this copy for review.

This is the best serial killer mystery I’ve read in quite awhile. I don’t want to give too much of the great plot (and twist) away, but it is told in alternating viewpoints: a book about the killer written by a surviving victim who was a child when it happened, and the thoughts of the killer as he is reading the book. Though many thrillers like to say they are unputdownable, this one actually is. I loved that the primary focus was on the strength and resilience of the victim, and the killer was shown as basically a weak little petulant man who needed to feel strong by killing women. It’s too bad more serial killers aren’t seen as they really are and are given mythical status (a subject the book also addresses). This book also has a fantastic and very rewarding ending. I would give this book more than five stars if I could! Definitely going to seek out more books by this author ASAP.

WOW! That was really good. A book within a book. Did not want this one to end. One of the best, unique thrillers I’ve read.

Thank you @netgalley and @blackstonepublishing for this eARC.

Excellent literary technique of seamlessly placing a story within a story. As the serial killer reads the story of his work, the sole survivor (and author of the book the murderer is reading) seeks to find justice/closure.

The Nothing Man by Catherine Ryan Howard was one of the most gripping books I have ever read in my life and that’s saying a lot because I read a lot of books. Eve Black is the sole survivor of a horrific tragedy that involved the murder of her entire family by a serial killer when she was twelve years old. Despite best efforts, the killer was never found.

Two decades later, Eve decides to write a crime memoir regarding the tragedy and the serial killer, Jim Doyle, happens to come across the book unexpectedly and reads it, reigniting all the rage in him over again. He is determined to stop his identity from coming out as a result of this book being published.

We are taken back and forth Eve and Jim’s perspectives and it is absolutely fascinating. This book is a slow burn, and the suspense is breath-taking. If you’re big on studying the minds of serial killers and how they work, as well as the clever investigations that take place trying to connect the dots between their horrific crimes, then this one is for you.

I was actually disappointed that the book ended, knowing that it will be quite some time before I get to read something written by Catherine Ryan Howard again. She is truly an amazingly gifted writer and I cannot wait to see what she comes out with next.

It’s been years since the serial killer known as the Nothing Man killed Eve Black’s entire family. Only 12 at the time, she has become obsessed with finding the man and making him pay for ruining her life. She’s even written a book about him, a book the killer has read, and now he’s determined to make Eve pay.

The Nothing Man by Catherine Ryan Howard is one of the most intriguing stories that I've read in quite some time. This book tells the story of a serial killer in Ireland who was never caught. He was dubbed The Nothing Man because he never left behind any evidence at the crime scenes. The Nothing Man has been dormant for 18 years and has not killed since he murdered 3 members of the Black family. Only 12 year old Eve Black survived The Nothing Man's final attack. Now, at age 30, Eve has written a book about The Nothing Man and she publicly vows in the book that she intends to identify The Nothing Man. Jim Doyle is working as a security guard when he sees the book The Nothing Man on sale at the store that he is working in. He is shocked to see a book written about his other name because it is written about him. As he reads Eve's account of his attacks and her search to reveal his true identity, Jim begins to unravel. Does Eve solve the mystery and identify a serial killer or will The Nothing Man make a return to silence Eve once and for all?

First of all, I have to say that I loved that the book had an embedded story. While we were reading from Jim's point of view, he was reading Eve's book and we were able to get the story from her point of view. This was a very creative way for us to get both points of view. Eve's story was written as if it were a true crime story and it seemed very real, plausible, and was well done. She also speaks about how serial killers have been mythologized and are seen as being evil geniuses or crazed madmen, but in reality they are people who have failed in many aspects of their own lives and the only thing they were truly successful at was in taking the life of others. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It was a fresh take on a psychological thriller without a lot of the usual very overplayed tropes. It was refreshing! The story line was riveting and the characters were believable. I read this in one sitting because it was that good. The only thing that I didn't like is that I didn't want it to end. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes thrillers and/ or people who like books with serial killers, especially from the view point of the serial killer.

The Nothing Man was one of the most unique books l have read in a long time. The premise is that a woman who survived the attack on her family 20 years ago writes a book about her experience and her quest to identify the man who attacked her family. The twist of The Nothing Man is that the man who attacked her family is reading her book along with the reader of Catherine Ryan Howard’s book. This builds the tension gradually as he realizes she probably knows who he is. I loved the concept of a book within a book. Catherine Ryan Howard is a new favorite author of mine. I look forward to her next one!

A LOT OF SOMETHING GOING ON WITH THIS NOTHING MAN!!!

So what if it's been over 20 years since the murders and assaults occurred. There's no statute of limitations on murder. There certainly isn't any statute of limitations on the fury and rage that's been building up inside of Eve Black since she was twelve years old and became the sole survivor of the Nothing Man's last known attack, which killed her entire family. The serial killer known as the Nothing Man was never caught. Eve, now in her 30's, plans to rectify that.

She publishes a book, a tell all about her experience that awful night, including his attacks on previous victims as well. She teams up with a detective who worked the original cases and they continue the investigation themselves. She is determined to find and catch the Nothing Man once and for all and she believes her book will help her do exactly that. As her book achieves wide success it ultimately catches the eye of the man himself. The Nothing Man decides he must read her book.

The story is told from the Nothing Man's POV as he is reading Eve's book, and then alternates with excerpts from Eve's book. It is a fantastic storytelling method. Kudos to the author on this unique method! It made for a compelling experience for the reader. I really enjoyed switching back to see the killer's reaction after each excerpt. What it's like for him to read about himself like this? Was it getting to him? Was he upset or nervous? Was he going to go after Eve to finally finish what he started? The reader got to be inside his head for all of that! Fascinating!

This was a great ride!! A bit anti-climatic at the end, but overall a well done suspenseful novel! I will be looking to see what else this author has written!

*Thank you to Blackstone Publishing via NetGalley for the digital review copy!