Thank you to Net Galley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of Anna O by Matthew Blake!

I have mixed feeling afterwards. Despite it being a thriller, I felt it dragged on. When I thought it had come to an end, there was still some twists left, and I honestly have no idea why we needed that last twist. It was a bit too convenient.

A slow burning and twisty psychological thriller that reads like a cross between true crime and fiction. My new favorite description "faction".

The focus of the story is a phenomenon known as resignation syndrome. The main character, Anna Ogilvy, purportedly killed two people, wrote a confession, and promptly fell asleep. She's been in that state for years. Now, the powers that be want to wake her and bring Anna to trial. Forensic psychologist, Dr. Benedict Prince, is an expert in sleep disorders and Anna O is transferred to his clinic for a new method of treatment in the hope that he can wake the sleeping beauty. No spoilers.

So many characters and so many different points of view providing lots of detail lull the reader into believing they can figure out the truth of Anna's story. Did not work for me and I was quite surprised at several turns of the page. Just when I thought I had the gist, I found out that I definitely did not. Just don't bother and let the author string you along dropping hints and pieces here and there and let it all unfold in due course. Yes, the pacing was a bit slow and at times things drug a bit, but I feel like it all came together so well. I think an incredible debut and will definitely look for this author's future books. I liked the subject of sleep disorders and the clinical information as it showed a lot of research behind the scenes. More interesting is the question of how culpable someone should be for their actions if in the throes of something that they cannot control, don't choose, can't predict. Psychology, psychiatry, mental health -- perceptions of what goes on in the mind as separate from the brain. Something that happens in the psyche is as real as functional neurological disease. All great topics for discussion.

I enjoyed the book and thank the publisher for the e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend. I read along while listening to the audiobook of this title and appreciated the different narrators as they brought the story to life.

I absolutely loved the premise of this book, and Matthew handled it like a master. Is it ironic or apt that I lost sleep reading it? Check out Matthew's episode of the Killer Author Club at www.killerauthorclub.com/killer-episodes

Thank you, NetGalley, for an e-ARC of Anna O by Matthew Blake.
"Anna O" is a gripping psychological thriller about a woman who commits a double homicide while sleepwalking and then falls into a deep sleep. With suspenseful twists and turns, the story keeps readers on their toes, although it may drag in parts. The ending comes as a surprise, making it a thrilling read for fans of the genre.

This was a case where the premise sounded way better than what the book actually was for me. Parts of this dragged on for me and I think it was because it felt repetitive. The twist was also fairly obvious for me so overall a bit of a letdown.

ANNA O. is one wild ride. Blake gives his readers everything you could possibly imagine and more within these pages. The twists, turns, and misdirections are rampant. Just when you think you have a hold on what is going on, the story takes a pivot into a whole new lane.

I have mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, I was completely addicted and needed to find out how it would all end. Dr. Prince, Anna, and the cast were layered and complex. Nothing is ever quite what it seems within this one. With every reveal, there is another underlying hidden truth. And this is what pushed me to continue reading. However, there are moments with some of the characters and twists the narrative takes which seem a lot. It was almost like the author couldn’t help but put every thriller trope and trick in this one book.

For some reason, I think this is a book people will love or not be into. I, personally, fall somewhere in between. The tension and development of the story were unique and kept me reading. And yet… some moments left me scratching my head. Did it really just go there? Is this happening right now? All questions that popped into my head during the last half of the book. In the end, I am happy I read the book and met people in Anna Ogilvy’s orbit. But, wow, it was one crazy trip into the rabbit hole.

Audiobook Note: The audiobook narration truly helped me with this book. The narrators, Dan Stevens, Hannah Curtis, Sarah Cullum, and Christine Rendel, propelled the narrative forward much more than just the words on the page did. Listening to part of ANNA O. allowed me to get into some of the more crazy twists that came further into the book. Listening was just more addictive than reading at that point.

Can a person commit a crime while they are asleep? Can someone who is suffering from resignation syndrome ever wake up? If they do, will they have any memories of the crime they committed? Are they innocent or guilty of the crime? These are all great questions and make for a compelling mystery/thriller.

I understand why some of these review are all over the place. The mystery takes a time to unfold, introducing characters who feel a bit two dimensional. A little to much Non-Fiction and the pacing feels off. I will try more from Blake, but this one missed the mark for me.

I had high hopes for Anna O, but unfortunately it missed the mark for me. I struggled to get into it (putting it aside at least twice) and found myself bored at times throughout.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
“I’m sorry. I think I’ve killed them.”

Holy moly, this book is absolutely mind-blowing! The moment I laid my eyes on the cover, I knew I was in for a thrilling ride. This twisted psychological thriller revolves around Anna O, also known as Sleeping Beauty, who's accused of killing her two best friends while sleepwalking. But wait, it gets even more intense - she's been asleep since the murders, which is four years! I love my sleep, but that’s a bit extreme.

To face trial, Anna must wake up, so she's brought to The Abbey Sleep Clinic, where people pay big bucks to alleviate their psychic demons and finally get some sleep. The story is told from Dr. Prince's perspective, with Anna's diary entries peppered throughout. And let me tell you, those diary entries are the absolute best! With other intriguing characters weaving in and out of the story, the plot is full of mind-bending twists that will leave you on the edge of your seat until the very end. My head was spinning with anticipation and ready to pop open like a Jack-in-the-Box before the author finally revealed the shocking truth! And let's not forget about the exploration of the intricaces of friendship and family.

Although it's a bit lengthier than my usual reads, I couldn't put this page-turner down. Trust me, you need to get your hands on this one ASAP! It’s unforgettable.

Thanks to Harper for providing this complimentary ARC through NetGalley and LibroFM. As always, all opinions are my own and are left voluntarily.

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Benedict Prince is a forensic psychologist who specializes in sleep disorders. He has written about individuals who allegedly committed crimes while asleep, but later had no memory of their misdeeds. This is a controversial topic, and the strange case of Anna O polarized mental health experts and the public. When Anna Ogilvy was twenty-five, she and her well-to-do family went on a retreat with Anna's friends, Indira Sharma and Douglas Bute. The outing ended tragically when Anna apparently stabbed Indira and Douglas multiple times. Also shocking is what happened next. Anna fell into a deep sleep and has not opened her eyes for more than four years.

Now, a representative of the Ministry of Justice wants Price to use his knowledge of involuntary extended sleep or “resignation syndrome" to awaken Anna so that she can stand trial. Benedict is torn. On the one hand, he wants to perform a miracle that will earn him acclaim. On the other hand, if he wakes Anna up and she is subsequently brought before a judge and jury, is he violating his mission to help his patient?

"Anna O," by Matthew Blake, has an intriguing premise, but the author takes us down too many crooked pathways before the big reveal. Furthermore, few characters in this book are likable. Anna has a troubled and violent past. Her parents are self-centered and indifferent to her needs. Ben, whose marriage has crumbled, whines a great deal and is slow to pick up on obvious clues. The book is suspenseful for the most part, but it falls apart in the closing chapters. There are villains aplenty in this novel, and Blake inserts enough red herrings into his convoluted story to keep us guessing. It seems that he is more interested in surprising us than in concluding his grim tale plausibly.

“I’m sorry. I think I’ve killed them.”

Can a person commit a crime while they are asleep? Twenty-five year old Anna Ogilvy is accused of killing her two best friends while sleepwalking right before she falls into a deep sleep for four years. She then becomes known as the infamous Anna O case and needs to be woken up in order to stand trial. Can someone who is suffering from resignation syndrome ever wake up? If they do, will they have any memories of the crime they committed? Are they innocent or guilty of the crime? Forensic Psychologist Dr. Benedict Prince is an expert in sleep related homicides and believes he can wake Ann O. But did she really commit the murders? Or was it patient X, the child of a notorious serial killer? Who is patient X?

The publishers promote Anna O as the thriller of the year, but it doesn’t quite deliver. I can see why readers seem to be polarized with their ratings. This slow burn mystery takes a very long time to unfold, introducing characters, but not fully developing them. The science is well-researched, but reads more like a Non-Fiction book about Resignation Syndrome than a thriller. The plot also feels very contrived to make it fit a narrative, rather than a good story being developed into a satisfying ending. It takes a very long time to pull this twisted tale of Sleeping Beauty and the prince together, but it does lead to several clever twists.

Anna O is a decent debut with an intriguing premise, but hopefully Blake will figure out how to more seamlessly blend his research into a nail biting thriller.

3.5/5 stars rounded up

Now available!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper publishing for the ARC of Anna O in exchange for an honest review.

I couldn't get into this book and it was a DNF. I don't think it's fair to the author to give a rating unless I've read most or all of a book, but I see NetGalley requires it. The outdated Harry Potter references and references to women being heavy put me off. It's also a daunting length and I wasn't intrigued enough to continue. While the premise seemed interesting and I bought into the hype enough to request it, this book just didn't deliver for me.

I absolutely love the premise of Anna O, and I thought the setup in early chapters worked really well. I was interested in all of the points of view and thought the author wove the past and present together well. The idea of a sleepwalking murderer finally awakening after 4 years, was utterly compelling. However, the narrative bogged down a lot in the middle and the end dragged. I was a bit frustrated with issues that were raised and then left unaddressed for much of the novel. So, all in all, I'd say an A+ on the premise, but the execution was a bit lacking for me.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book. I heard about this book in a webinar that I was watching for work and it came highly recommended. I love the mystery/thriller genre and I especially love when a book shocks me at the end. This book did that. What I didn't like about this title is that there is a reader note at the beginning and it said something along the lines of this book being rare in how the story doesn't flow as expected. I wish I didn't read that bit because I was thinking about "how is this story different" in the beginning and it took away some of the overall enjoyment of the book.

Forensic psychologist Dr Ben Price is not entirely surprised when he’s called in to consult on the infamous affair of Anna O. A renowned sleep researcher, his primary place of employment is the Abbey Sleep Clinic, an ultra-private facility where the wealthy go when they’re not getting enough rest and do not want to advertise that problem. He has also long been considered a reliable resource by various crime-fighting agencies, so when he gets an urgent but secretive phone call one night from his boss at the Abbey, he’s more than ready to take on the case.

Four years ago, a promising young journalist named Anna Ogilvy was found asleep in her cabin in a luxurious forested resort. She had messaged her influential parents, who were also at the resort, an odd note of apology. Worried, they had come to check on her and found her covered in blood. Shortly after, the bodies of her two co-workers were discovered in their own cabin, apparently stabbed to death by the sleeping Anna.

Anna had long had a history of sleepwalking and, more worryingly, a history of violence while doing so:

QUOTE
I look at Anna’s thin, peaceful face. I think of the stories [her mother] told me: the kitchen knife plunged into the dog’s flesh, the pretend hunt the following day; the calculation with which Anna stole the items from the housemistress’s flat at boarding school; the terrifying attack in the Athens hotel room, bludgeoning her own mother with demonic fury.

I imagine living a second life without knowing how or why. Human beings can endure so much pain but no more. At some point the body and the mind hibernate, protecting themselves. It’s called resignation syndrome for a reason.
END QUOTE

Resignation syndrome is the technical term for Anna’s condition, a rare neurological disorder where the brain enters a state of deep sleep for a prolonged period of time. She had seemingly fallen asleep after the stabbings, and has proven entirely resistant to being woken up since. This illness of hers has put the justice system in a confounding position: they can hardly take her to trial in this state, but Amnesty International is making noises about prosecuting the government’s treatment of her as inhumane. As such, the Ministry of Justice wants Ben to attempt to rouse her, transferring her from prison to the care of the Abbey for this very purpose. If Ben succeeds in waking her, she’ll finally be able to stand trial.

For Ben has recently submitted a paper claiming to be able to reverse resignation syndrome. More provocatively, he’s stated that he can cure Anna specifically. After his paper comes to the attention of the government, Deputy Legal Director Stephen Donelly from the MoJ presses him on his claims, wanting to hear more about his methods. Ben explains:

QUOTE
[‘]The common feature across all continents and timelines is that patients suffer from resignation syndrome when confronted with the total absence and removal of hope.’

‘Like the children in Sweden?’

I nod. The best known case of resignation syndrome is still from the refugee communities in Sweden. Children emerging from hell in Syria and the Middle East slept for months and sometimes years, waiting as their asylum claims went through multiple appeals.

I continue, ‘For the children who got better, it was usually because they regained hope of some kind. They were no longer at risk of being deported and forced back into the abyss of their old lives.[‘]
END QUOTE

While Donnelly is understandably dubious at the idea of hope being Ben’s entire plan, he has little other choice, only reminding Ben that Anna’s stay at the Abbey is highly classified. Ben is at first thrilled to be able to take a crack at this infamous case, but the longer he tends to Anna, the more doubts he has concerning what he might be waking her up for. Could she truly be guilty of such hideous crimes? Or is there a sinister conspiracy lurking in the shadows, doing everything in its power to keep her asleep so that someone else can get away with murder?

This was a twisty psychological thriller that explores that liminal space between waking and sleeping, while introducing startling new elements of how the unconfronted past always comes back to haunt you. Ben’s viewpoint chapters are interspersed with entries from Anna’s diaries, as well as the perspectives of various other interested parties. Watching how his mission unfolds from attempting to wake Anna to getting to the entire truth of what happened that fatal night is a compelling ride that any seasoned crime reader knows can only end in bittersweetness at best.

There are a slew of new books being released in the first few weeks of January 2024. The one I've hearing the most about, is Matthew Blake's debut novel, Anna O. The novel is already set for publication in thirty territories!
Ok, what is it about Anna O that has triggered such a response? Have you heard about crimes being committed by those who sleepwalk? This alone had me going down a (fascinating) rabbit hole. Is it truly possible that someone would have no inkling of what they've done whilst asleep? Even murder?

Lead character Anna can't tell us or her doctors as she never woke up from the night in question. The night two people died was four years ago. Years! Dr. Benedict Prince thinks he can awaken Anna O with his new protocol.

But Benedict is not the only one interested in the case of Anna O. Armchair detectives will not let the case fade way. Anna O's family, friends, enemies and the law, all want her to wake up and provide answers. The other person the reader hears from? Yup, we are privy to Anna O's thoughts, memories, past and what led up to the 'right now'. There are also many supporting players, each with their own secrets tightly tucked away.

Blake does an incredible job of toying with the readers. What's true? What and who should we believe? I like to think that I'm pretty good at sussing out the perpetrator in a plot. This time I (happily) I didn't. There are a number of twists that were really well done. But, I truly did not see that last twist coming at all!! Kudos Mr. Blake!

It's hard to believe this is a debut novel. I can't imagine what Blake will write next - but I'll be waiting for his book.

Wow! My head is spinning from all the twists and turns in this psychological thriller. Anna Ogilvie is a 25 year old writer and entrepreneur who one night inexplicably murdered two friends, apparently while sleepwalking, then slips into a deep sleep from which she hasn’t awakened in 4 years. Dr. Ben Prince is an expert in sleep disorders who is asked to try and wake Anna up so she can stand trial. And yet in order to solve the crime, people need to examine events that happened 20 years earlier.

THE WORLD WILL KNOW HER NAME

What if your nightmares weren’t really nightmares at all?

We spend an average of 33 years of our lives asleep. But what really happens, and what are we capable of, when we sleep?

Anna Ogilvy was a budding twenty-five-year-old writer with a bright future. Then, one night, she stabbed two people to death with no apparent motive—and hasn’t woken up since. Dubbed “Sleeping Beauty” by the tabloids, Anna’s condition is a rare psychosomatic disorder known to neurologists as “resignation syndrome.”

Dr. Benedict Prince is a forensic psychologist and an expert in the field of sleep-related homicides. His methods are the last hope of solving the infamous “Anna O’”case and waking Anna up so she can stand trial. But he must be careful treating such a high-profile suspect—he’s got career secrets and a complicated personal life of his own.

As Anna shows the first signs of stirring, Benedict must determine what really happened and whether Anna should be held responsible for her crimes.

Only Anna knows the truth about that night, but only Benedict knows how to discover it. And they’re both in danger from what they find out.

I enjoyed this psychological murder mystery thriller. It was entertaining and suspenseful keeping me riveted to the story and its suspects during my holiday break. The information on sleep and its impact on our lives was well researched and an interesting subplot to the mystery itself. I may have guessed correctly and predicted part of the mystery, but was kept intrigued until the end. This debut packed enough punch to keep me interested.
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 3.5/5 stars

This psychological thriller novel has a very intriguing premise - a young woman, Anna Ogilvy, is accused of murdering her friends with her eyes wide open and her brain still asleep - and she hasn’t woken up since. In other words, murder while sleepwalking. This is a complex, thoughtful thriller with references to Greek mythology, psychology, and sleep-related disorders.
The story is told from multiple points of view, including diary entries, which provide insights into the characters. There were some very good multiple twists, particularly near the end, and the ending itself was well done. This novel kind of reminded me of The Silent Patient.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Harper for this e-arc.*