Well… that was a twist I didn’t see coming!

I started Anna O as an ebook, but I can say without a doubt that I enjoyed the audiobook so much more. The English narration felt completely natural, fitting the UK setting perfectly, and the multi-cast performance brought so much energy and clarity to the story. It made the pacing easier to follow and kept me engaged, especially during the slower or more complex moments.

I genuinely loved this audiobook. The production was excellent, and the narration elevated the entire experience. A dark, twisty thriller that kept me guessing — and listening. Highly recommend giving it a listen over a read if you’re torn between the two!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to listen and review.

Book Review: Anna O by Matthew Blake
Genre: Psychological Thriller / Crime Fiction
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

Matthew Blake's debut novel, Anna O, is a gripping psychological thriller that delves into the enigmatic case of Anna Ogilvy—a young journalist who, after allegedly committing a double homicide, falls into a mysterious coma dubbed "resignation syndrome." For four years, Anna remains unresponsive, earning her the moniker "Sleeping Beauty" from the media. Enter Dr. Benedict Prince, a forensic psychologist specializing in sleep disorders, who is tasked with awakening Anna to stand trial for her supposed crimes.
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Blake masterfully intertwines themes of consciousness, guilt, and the subconscious mind, drawing readers into a narrative that questions the very nature of culpability. The novel's strength lies in its intricate character development, particularly the dynamic between Anna and Dr. Prince, whose own past harbors secrets that parallel the case he's investigating.
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Critics have lauded Anna O for its atmospheric tension and thought-provoking premise. Doreen Sheridan of Criminal Element describes it as "a dark, twisty, and shocking mystery," placing Blake alongside renowned authors like Gillian Flynn and A.J. Finn. However, some reviewers, such as those from The Straits Times, have noted that the novel occasionally leans towards an overly academic tone, potentially hindering its pacing.
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Despite minor critiques, Anna O stands out as a compelling exploration of the human psyche, blending medical intrigue with a suspenseful narrative. Blake's meticulous research into sleep disorders and psychological phenomena adds depth to the story, making it a must-read for fans of cerebral thrillers.

I’ve been wanting to read Anna O by Matthew Blake ever since it came out in 2024, so I was thrilled to get the chance to listen to the audiobook through NetGalley—thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity in exchange for an honest review.

The premise is definitely intriguing: Did Anna O commit murder in her sleep? And since that night, she hasn’t woken up. It’s up to forensic psychologist and sleep crime expert Dr. Benedict Prince to bring her back to consciousness so she can stand trial.

Anna O fits neatly into the psychological thriller genre, which has exploded with similar titles over the past decade. Does it bring something new to the table? Kind of. Through Ben’s narration, we get a deep dive into the world of forensic psychology and sleep disorders, which adds a fascinating layer. But I’ve read quite a few books with a similar vibe, so the story didn’t feel especially groundbreaking to me.

While the characters each bring their own perspective to the case, I never felt fully pulled into the story. There were moments of suspense, but I missed those big, jaw-dropping cliffhangers that keep you up at night. The pacing was solid, but the mystery unraveled gradually and predictably—I actually saw all the twists coming well before they were revealed.

That said, Anna O is still a solid thriller. It just didn’t quite hit the mark for me in terms of originality or emotional impact. However, the audiobook narrators did a fantastic job bringing the story to life, and I’d definitely recommend experiencing it in audio format if you’re curious.

I avoid books with any hint of insomnia (I get fed up with the whole ‘I’m just so tired’ scenario on repeat) but thought it might be interesting to give the opposite scenario a try. Well, I’m delighted to say that I’m fully on board with the whole ‘are they ever going to wake up’ storyline. Anna O is a fascinating story, told in an interesting and compelling way. I was immediately engaged and, despite there being a lot going on with multiple POVs, many characters, different timelines and journal entries, I found it easy to follow and captivating. My only slight criticism is that it felt a little too long and repetitive in places but the ending (which I had to go back and listen to again as I thought it was so good) more than made up for it.

I would highly recommend listening to the audiobook version. Each of the narrators were brilliant and the excellent narration and seamless production absolutely enhanced my enjoyment of the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK Audio for the audio ARC.

The audiobook's narration was great in taking us through this mystery/thriller, with the voices fitting the characters.
This book includes an intriguing concept with solid writing and a compelling atmosphere that pulls you in from the start. The psychological themes and mystery elements are well-executed, and the shifting perspectives across chapters add depth and variety to the storytelling. The plot twists are well-placed and keep the tension alive.

However, the pacing tends to lag in places, especially in the latter half, and the atmosphere—while immersive—sometimes feels overwrought. Characterization is a mixed bag: while the main male character is central to the story, his self-importance becomes grating, and some of the female characters feel underdeveloped or inconsistent in their motivations. Greater insight into their reasoning would have added much-needed depth.

Despite these flaws, Anna O is a compelling blend of psychological thriller and murder mystery that will appeal to fans of the genre. A good read overall, even if not without its shortcomings.

A very enjoyable book filled with twists and a mass of interesting information and facts into sleeping disorders.

I enjoyed seeing each new chapter being told from the different characters' perspectives - it certainly leads you to second guess yourself while trying to figure out who the unreliable narrator is!

There has been a lot of online hype about this book, and I certainly think it has been well-deserved.

Perfect for fans of The Silent Patient, Anna O is filled with mystery and intrigue with plenty of twists and turns along the way.

The book started off very slow for me, I could have fallen asleep myself whilst listening as at first I couldn't get into it at all. I considered whether it would be a Dnf but did continue, and it DID get better around the 50% mark.

The narration was good, but there were so many character changes that at points I struggled to follow along with so many diverging points of view. I do feel as though had I been physically reading this one, I would never have gotten through it, but that is more a me problem than the fault of the book itself.


Rating rounded up to 3.5 stars.

A bit of a slow burner and I found some parts at the beginning a bit boring but it redeems itself at the end.
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK Audio for letting me review this ARC audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

For me this was a bit of a slow burner but well written and I enjoyed the narration. Look forward to more by this author

I was lucky enough o receive a review copy of the audio book from Netgalley.

This Tory has an intriguing concept - a suspect who is fast asleep and cannot answer for her horrific actions. But who is Anna O and why did she murder her two best friends in cold blood.

In fact, there are many references to Truman Capote’s classic, as well as frequent quotations from Shakespeare throughout the novel - so many that is can feel a little heavy at times.

However, I was captivated by the story from the start. The narrators are very easy to listen to, and the story unfolds with as many twists and turns as you would expect from this genre. A good listen.

Anna O is a well written, complex, thought provoking novel which will keep you on your toes to the very end. Unfortunately, as is often the case in these types of books there wasn't one pleasant character amongst the cast. That, alongside the fact that it seemed to be rather drawn out made it rather depressing.
The narrators were all very good.

Wanted to love this after all the good things I've heard, just found it convoluted and dragged out. One of those where the author likes to share with you all the exciting research they have done.

Good selection of narrators did help this one along.

Great thriller and a mystery that keeps you guessing till the end. Multiple POVs and multiple characters all with their own version of what’s actually happened.

Anna O is a thrilling and twisty read with a unique presence - the culpability of someone who commits murder whilst asleep. I have been looking to read it for a while, and jumped on the opportunity to listen to the audiobook.

I thoroughly enjoyed the many psychology references throughout, both implicit and explicit. The concept of a forensic sleep psychologist was compelling and made for a really creative storyline. The author was supremely generous with red herrings and twists, making this a truly engrossing read. The ending was a surprise for me, and I enjoyed watching the threads unravel for the big reveal.

While the story got a little bogged down for me in the second half, overall this was a well paced, engagingly written and absorbing read. The narration truly elevated the story, with the production feel of a true crime radio play from the 20’s. The narrators brought the full cast of characters to life, and drove the build up of suspense with each chapter.

I would recommend this for anyone looking for a wonderfully twisty thriller with an intriguing psychological storyline.

Thank you HarperCollins UK Audio for a this ALC. Opinions expressed are my own.

I listened to the audio version and enjoyed the narration throughout. Well paced and easy to listen to. I was fascinated by the premise of the story; is it possible to commit murder whilst asleep, basically. Sounds preposterous and as I missed the book first time round, the audio title seemed a good way to catch up. Well, this is a real thriller. Right from the outset there’s a sense of displacement and unreality. Anna, is alleged to have killed two of her friends…but was she sleepwalking? She was found, sleeping with the murder weapon and has been asleep ever since so can’t recount events. It sounds so implausible, but I was hooked right from the outset. Under a huge cloak of Government secrecy, Ben, a forensic psychologist specialising in sleep disorders, is brought in at the dead of night to investigate. Anna is in a secret clinic run by a colourful character and Ben is aided by his ex wife, a DCI who is looking at the criminal aspect. There are different timelines and POVs and this is a very clever multi layered thriller that kept me listening through most of the night. It’s very much a slow burn, with back story to the main characters revealed bit by bit as attempts are made to awaken the sleeping beauty. There are twists and I enjoyed the moral dilemma of culpability whilst indisposed along with the actual mystery. Very satisfying all round and a different take on the psychological thriller..
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an audio version of this title.

I really enjoyed listening to this book. The narration was fantastic and I couldn’t stop listening. I really enjoy the go between the different characters. It had me guessing until the end. I good paced book.

3 - 3.5

I couldn't wait to start listening to this audiobook. As a lifelong insomniac (my first foray into sleep studies was age eight) I find anything with this premise fascinating.

Initially I was absolutely gripped by this story and the multifaceted narration is excellent. The relationship between the lead protagonists twists and turns in a satisfying tangle. However, for me after about halfway I felt that a. There was a lot of repitition happening and, b. There seemed to be convolutional red-herrings at every turn. Instead of adding to the intrigue I began to find them irritating.

On the whole this was an enjoyable 'read' but not one I'd revisit. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this ARC which was very much appreciated.

This was really fast paced and I couldn’t stop listening! A great story but the ending wasn’t for me!

A complex, twisty, mind-messing psychological thriller with shades of 'The Silent Patient'.

Anna O is thought to have murdered her two friends on one sinister evening four years ago but she can't be convicted of the murders as she has remained in a deep sleep since that fateful evening.

Dr Ben Prince, a sleep expert is brought in, working along his side-kick nurse Harriet, to try and wake Anna from her slumber so she can stand trial. Further cast members include Ben's ex wife and young daughter, his clinical supervisor, Anna O's parents and mystery characters related to a similar case 20 years previously.

A slow burner initially and some concentration is required as this is told across multiple time lines and from several different points of view but it is worth the effort! The narrator does an excellent job of portraying all the different characters to create a very immersive experience.

I am grateful to the publishers and NetGalley for an advanced listener copy of this recommended psychological thriller.

Anna O tells the story of Dr. Benedict Prince, a forensic psychologist and an expert in the field of sleep-related homicides. He is fascinated by the infamous 'Anna O' case, where a young girl stabbed two people to death and hasn't woken up since. When Anna herself is transferred to his sleep clinic and he is tasked with trying to wake her up so she can stand trial, things start to take a dark turn.

I was intrigued by the premise of this book as it was something a bit different to what I usually read. It brought up some really interesting questions about culpability for crimes when unwell and about justice.

The book was largely written across two timeframes, with one telling Anna's version of events from the past and the other from Benedict's point of view in the present. I did enjoy the other chapters of the story from other points of view as well as the summing up at the end, set in the future.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and thought it was written well.

My thanks to NetGalley and the Publishers for sending me this ARC in return for an honest review.