This was one of those books to which I listened and was able to see the movie of it in my mind. It’s going to make a *great* film.

As a novel it was a little too wordy for me. Lots and lots of explanation. Lots of it. Including a big section in which the murderer explains and explains and explains how they did it.

Overall, I feel the author achieved their aims and I know exactly the friends and colleagues to whom I’ll recommend this book (because they will *love* it). And I will look forward to the TV or film adaptation because I know that is going to be great.

I was intrigued by the subject of this book which seems really dark and thrilling with the characters taking care of the famous Anna O, sleeping beauty killer who have secrets and connections to the famous woman. That being said, it jumps all over the place with the different characters, journal entries that it was hard to keep track of what year it was since I was listening to the audiobook. The narrators did a good job of making the characters feel real and while the story seemed messy, they are not to blame. It had interesting bits and when I got closer to the end when all the players revealed their secrets and who was actually behind it all and who got blamed for something they didn't do, though all of them were guilty of something, it was entertaining. This could have been better and sadly fell short for me.

Clever, complex and compelling. Official Rating ~ 4.5 ⭐️

The audio really allowed me to get fully immersed into this unique novel.
With each character having their own narrator it really brought their side of the story to life and gave them their own distinct personalities. I especially enjoyed Ben’s as throughout you can feel his melancholy and the toll this career defining case took on him.

I enjoyed how you are fed the information and the clever timing of when it switches perspective and format. I, like everyone, was trying to piece it all together so I could answer the question we start this story with; Is she innocent or guilty? 🤷🏼‍♀️
I quickly had my suspicions, which were correct but I never once saw the twists that came.

I also like the fact that it’s written in such a way it gave the illusion that it itself is a REAL true crime story, one you’d easily find articles about either online or in the newspapers. Absolutely brilliant.

And of course I loved that I was right not to trust a certain character. It made me feel smart! 😂

There was an aspect about the ending that I didn’t like but can’t explain without spoilers.

I do have a physical copy but that was just used when I wanted to highlight key moments, quotes or to document my theories.

Thank you, Harper Collins UK Audio for the audiobook via NetGalley.

What a rollercoaster of a book this one is. A woman goes into a (almost) never ending sleep after murdering her two best friends. As a sleep specialist is given free rein to use an experimental technique to wake her we learn the dark history behind events. But did she really commit the murders? Was someone else involved? The tales that unfold are bound in lies and mystery. The twists are plenty. The final twist you will probably guess early on but it doesn’t take away from its impact.

I have read this book previously and thought it was great so this time thanks to NetGalley I listened to the audiobook.

Firstly all the narrators were perfect and presented the book perfectly.

The story can be complicated to follow, it is filled with suspense of the highest kind, with each chapter you feel as though the story is becoming clear but then with the next your back to square one.

A great book that I would definitely recommend

Having read the blurb about this book, I was keen to “read” the audiobook of this psychological thriller. However, although the narration is excellent, I found it a very difficult book to get into. The first part was very slow moving, and with no appealing, likeable characters. The plot became more and more complex as the book progressed, so much so that I rushed to the ending less for the big reveal than just to finish the thriller.

As someone with a keen interest in psychology and the mysteries of the mind, I was immediately drawn to “Anna O” by Matthew Blake. The blurb piqued my curiosity, especially with the intriguing question of whether Anna O was truly guilty or innocent—a classic case everyone knows, but with a fresh twist.
My overall impression is that this is a slow-to-medium-paced psychological thriller, a kind of whodunit told from angles I haven't encountered before. The pacing is slow-burning, especially in the first half, as it takes its time building character backgrounds. I appreciated the detailed insights into Ben Prince, a sleep specialist whose research revolves around waking long-term coma patients by over-stimulation, and Anna O herself, whose diary entries added depth and mystery to her character. The inclusion of “suspect8”, a blogger stirring up online speculation, added a modern twist that kept things interesting.
The setting felt well-realised—mainly centred around the hospital, Ben’s home, and The Farm. I had a good sense of the geography and timeline, which helped me stay engaged as the story unfolded. Once the narrative shifted into the second half, I found myself more eager to piece everything together. The plot twists, even if I suspected them, were satisfying and well-executed, culminating in a revealing finale.
The narration was, without a doubt, a highlight. Dan Stevens, Hannah Curtis, Sarah Cullum, and Christine Rendel each brought something unique to their parts, making the audiobook a highly immersive experience. Their performances added a layer of authenticity and kept me hooked, even when the story felt a bit sluggish at times.

That said, I did find the plot somewhat overly complicated at points, with twists that sometimes felt repetitive rather than surprising. The pacing, especially in the first half, struggled to maintain momentum and occasionally dragged, which dampened the tension I was hoping for.
Overall, “Anna O” is an intriguing concept with strong narration that elevates the experience. While the story’s complexity and pacing issues held it back from being a top-tier thriller, I still enjoyed the journey, particularly the atmospheric narration and the thought-provoking questions about sleep, consciousness, and guilt.

When I requested Anna O, I was very intrigued by the blurb that Matthew Blake had left on NetGalley. I have an interest in psychology and weird things that the mind/body can do.

My general overview of the book is that it’s a slow to medium paced psychological thriller. A who done it, and from an angle I’ve never read before. The ARC that I read on my kindle wasn’t set out great, but feel that this was more of a formatting issue as Matthews name kept appearing in the middle of the page. After a few chapters, I ignored it completely.

The storyline, I found was slow burning. Giving a background to the main characters. Ben Prince, a sleep specialist who built a thesis of waking people up from long term sleeping/coma patients by giving them hope through over stimulation. And of course Anna O, a patient, possible criminal who murdered 2 people on an outting.

Anna O background was written in the form of diary entries which bulked her character out and another mysterious characters of @suspect8, a blogger who seems like rattling up the online community of what happened with Anna O. Was she really asleep while she committed these murders?
The world building is mainly centred around the hospital , Bens home and The Farm, where the nurses took place. I felt like I had a good sense of the area., how far things were and time. The narrative picks up from the second half of the book abs I did find that I wanted to read more and more to find out what had actually happened. The pieces of the puzzle drop nicely into place at the very end. Even if you did figure out the plot twist. It’s still a very good one..

This book is narrated by Dan Stevens; Hannah Curtis; Sarah Cullum; Christine Rendel and they all did a great job keeping this book engaging and compelling.

3.5 for story graph rounded up to 4 for other review sites.

Anna O had an intriguing concept that initially drew me in, but as the story unfolded, I found the execution somewhat lacking. The plot was overly complicated, with too many twists that felt repetitive rather than engaging, which ultimately made the pacing feel sluggish. While the core premise had potential, the narrative struggled to maintain momentum, and at times, it felt like it was dragging rather than building tension.

That said, the audiobook experience was a saving grace. The narrators were perfectly matched to the book’s tone, bringing depth and authenticity to the storytelling. Their performance enhanced the atmosphere and made the listening experience far more immersive than the storyline itself might have allowed.

Overall, while the book had its merits, particularly in its concept and narration, the convoluted and slow-moving plot prevented it from fully delivering.