I thought that by choosing Mr. Nobody as my first read of 2020 I would start the year with a bang. It turns out I’ve started with a fizzle. Though the initial premise is intriguing enough and at the beginning I couldn’t help turning the pages to find out what was going on, soon I was bored out of my mind. The plot drags at a glacial pace and nothing truly exciting or shocking happens right until the last quarter when it takes a turn into nonsensical territory (I found the twist to be downright ridiculous). At least the writing was good enough for me to want to try the author’s first book.

Read Catherine Steadman's Something in the water and loved it
unfortunately did not enjoy this as much
I didn't feel a connection with the characters
found it slow at times and even though I completed it, I did lose interest at times.

Thank you netgalley, Catherine Steadman and Simon & Schuster UK

Thank you Catherine Steadman, Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for the ARC of Mr Nobody in exchange for an honest review.

This is a captivating and entertainer read, several late nights unable to put it down. It has an interesting plot set in Northern England in winter. The character development is very well done. After many years working in a health care, I was impressed by the accuracy of the procedures indicative of good research. I look forward to further books by Catherine.

Actual rating: 2.5 stars.

The premise of this book sounded great, and I really enjoyed the first half of it. I liked the shift between Emma's and Matthew's point of views, which were set in two slightly different timelines, and I was curious to see what was the connection between them. The second half, however, wasn't very good. The plot started dragging quite a lot, and the final reveal was quite absurd. I also think the climax was way too dragged: after we found out what was happening there were many pages which slowed down the tension and just weren't needed.
I would try this author again, but sadly this book didn't convince me.

When a man is found on a Norfolk beach, drifting in and out of consciousness, with no identification and unable to speak, interest in him is sparked immediately. From the hospital staff who find themselves inexplicably drawn to him; to international medical experts who are baffled by him; to the national press who call him Mr Nobody; everyone wants answers. Who is this man? What happened to him? Neuropsychiatrist Dr Emma Lewis is asked to assess the patient. This is her field of expertise, this is the chance she’s been waiting for and this case could make her name known across the world. But therein lies the danger. Emma left this same small town in Norfolk fourteen years ago and has taken great pains to cover all traces of her past since then. But now something – or someone – is calling her back. The more time she spends with her patient, the more alarmed she becomes.

This is such an enthralling, clever and original read. I was hooked from the start and utterly gripped throughout. Who is Mr Nobody and who is Emma Lewis really? Two questions that really got me thinking and coming up with different scenarios as I read. I have to admit to being a bit disappointed with Emma's secret, personally I wanted something else. However, the truth about Mr Nobody is dangerous, startling and is revealed at the perfect time.

Not only is the plot incredibly thrilling and extremely original, a large portion of the read focuses on neuropsychiatry, an area of medical science that fascinates me and I loved throwing myself into Steadman's explanations and theories. For me, this was more than a thriller, there are so many elements to it and they really got me thinking and I had multiple theories running through my head whilst reading this. Perfect.

A book such as this needs to have strong characters and you cannot get much stronger than Emma. I adored her! Her story is heartfelt, her life is interesting and I enjoyed getting to know her and seeing how she changes as the book does. Mr Nobody is equally as interesting, Steadman has written him perfectly, just enough likeability, a lot of intrigue and a suggestion of danger that keeps you on edge.

'Mr Nobody' is a unique, enthralling thriller that I simply adored. This features some fascinating elements as well as many secrets that come tumbling out. Definitely a book to be recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster UK for an advance copy.

I'd heard a lot of positive things through NetGalley and Amazon about Catherine Steadman so I thought I would give this a try. The premise sounded intriguing - a man is brought into hospital after being found on a Norfolk beach. He cannot remember who he is or how he got there. A specialist doctor is called from London to treat him, but it seems that her past and his identity are linked.

This is a well-researched and engaging book - there is lots about the science of amnesia as the main character is a neuropsychiatrist and a lot of the story is told from her perspective. There are other narrators too, including a nurse who is an interesting character - I would have liked her to be more involved. However, I don't think this book really grabbed me as I thought it would - I found some of it far fetched or not fully explained, particularly the bits around who was controlling the whole operation and how and why. I was expecting a tense and twisty thriller, but I got a slightly uneven narrative. I did read it quickly, keen to know what happened, but I'm not sure it fully delivers.

As a quick and interesting read, I would recommend this. It's engaging, the characters are well-drawn and there are some very tense bits that will keep you powering on through to the end. However, it doesn't quite hit the spot in terms of a satisfying thriller.

A man is found on a beach in Norfolk. He dies not know who he is or why he was there. The only thing he remembers is the name of the woman who found him. A well known neuropsychiatric, Dr. Emma Lewis has been called in to assist investigating this case, but in doing so, she will be returning to the village of her childhood that she fled from when something bad had happened. But "Mr Nobody seems to know certain things about her, even though he cant remember his own name.

Thisnstorynhas a slow pace and in parts it seemed to drag on a bit. It does have an interesting take on amnesia and whether people can fake having it. The author has done her research into memory loss before writing this book. The final reveal was a bit disappointing and the ending was rushed. There are several twists as the story unfolds. I couldn't warm to any of the characters who were complex. The loose ends were all tied up nicely by the end of the book.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Simon and Schuster and the author Catherine Steadman for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited to get an eARC of this book, as I loved Catherine Steadman’s debut novel. :Something in the Water”

But I found this one a little disappointing, the writing is great. I just couldn’t seem to engage with the story. The premise sounded good. A man waking up on the beach, wounded, very little memory, he doesn’t know who he is, or how he got where he was found. Dr Emma Lewis is brought in to oversee the case, is this retrograde amnesia, meaning his memories could come back overtime. Emma thinks he is lying or knows more than he is saying.

We don’t know what happened to Emma when she was younger, but we know something happened, which meant her family moved away from the area, as well as changing their names. So for Emma to go back could be risky. The reader has no idea what happened but it seems Mr Nobody does. Are they connected in some way?

The pace is good, the story keeps moving, Emma’s story is written from first person POV, and Mr Nobody’s is third person, along with a few other characters, nurse Rhoda, Officer Chris and his wife/journalist Zara. The time frame tends to go back and forth Mr Nobody’s is from when he is discovered, but Emma’s comes in after he has been their for six days, mainly when she is called in to consult.

This is not what I would call a thriller, no big plot twists, as is normally seen, Personally for me the end was a total disappointment, I expected something so different to what was given and it just didn’t really make sense, there were other options that would have worked so much better. Also would have just made you go wow I never saw that coming.

Overall a good read, well written, it is suspenseful, but at times confusing and you really have to stay with it. I was just slightly disappointed with this one. But I will look out for the authors next book. Others may feel differently about this.

Thank you to #netgalleyand #Simon&Schuster for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest, fair and unbiased review.

I had high expectations for this book as I thoroughly enjoyed Catherine Steadman's previous novel. At the start I was intrigued by who this unknown man could be, however, I felt that the story fell flat. There were aspects of the story that were unnecessary and I was left with many unanswered questions at the end.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Absorbing and engrossing - a must read for those that enjoy an intelligently written first-class thriller

Catherine Steadman's "Mr Nobody" captivated me from the first page, and before I knew it I had finished the book in near enough record time. I am not a fan of thrill-a-minute-crash-bang-wallop type of thrillers packed with gimmicks galore for the sake it. So this novel was right up my street. This is a psychological mystery/thriller that lives up to its name and then some. There are two mysteries at the heart of the novel: who is Mr Nobody, obviously, and who is Neuropsychiatrist Dr Emma Lewis? The first mystery we take for granted, given that the question of Mr Nobody's identity is the anchor for the unfolding plot. The second is less straightforward, given that we only know at the outset that some terrible happened in Norfolk which led to Emma and her family entering a witness protection programme. The two main protagonists of the novel are thrown together when Emma, a specialist in the marginal field of neuropsychiatry, is called upon to determine the source of Mr Nobody's amnesia. Hunting the elusive unicorn that is a true fugue state - amnesia precipitated by some psychological trauma, Emma jumps at the chance to take on the mysterious case of 'Matthew' or Mr Nobody. Steadman, with the expertise of a true proponent of this genre, draws us into the twin mysteries of doctor and patient identities with a deftness of touch that is sometimes lacking in other novels of this type. Steadman's un-jargon like jargon about neuropsychiatric disorders even encouraged me to google fugue states! It is no easy feat to invest a layman reader like myself in the mysteries of organic and non-organic memory disorders, but much to my amazement Catherine Steadman managed to peak my interest in this too. Not forgetting the satisfying mystery at the heart of the novel, which does not disappoint. "Mr Nobody" is the product of an intelligent, fiendishly clever mind. With her expertly constructed narrative, impeccable pacing and perfectly calibrated prose, Ms Steadman has rapidly become one of my favourite authors. I look forward to hearing more from her in the future.

Summary:
When a man is found on a Norfolk beach, drifting in and out of consciousness, with no identification and unable to speak, interest in him is sparked immediately. From the hospital staff who find themselves inexplicably drawn to him; to international medical experts who are baffled by him; to the national press who call him Mr Nobody; everyone wants answers. Who is this man? And what happened to him?

Neuropsychiatrist Dr Emma Lewis is asked to assess the patient. This is her field of expertise, this is the chance she’s been waiting for and this case could make her name known across the world. But therein lies the danger. Emma left this same small town in Norfolk fourteen years ago and has taken great pains to cover all traces of her past since then.

But now something – or someone – is calling her back. And the more time she spends with her patient, the more alarmed she becomes.

4.5 Stars

A man is found on a beach in Norfolk, drifting in and out of consciousness. He has no ID, and no memory of who he is or how he got there.  Even after being all over the news nobody has come forward as recognizing him.  Neuropsychiatrist Dr Emma Lewis has been waiting for a case like this her whole career, it could make her known across the world in her field.  There's a problem though.  The small town where Mr Nobody was found is the same small town that Emma left fourteen years ago, in a protected persons scheme. It is imperative that she isn't recognized.  Emma takes the case anyway, but is stunned to find that Mr Nobody knows things about her that nobody should. Who is he, and how does he know so much about her past?

This is the first book I've read by Catherine Steadman, so I didn't have any particular expectations going in.  I really enjoyed the read though, and am likely to look at her other books now.

I found the story very easy to get into.  We meet Mr Nobody very early on, and the idea of a man knowing nothing about who he is or where he came from is incredibly intriguing.  I also found the level of detail on memory loss disorders in the first few chapters really interesting.  Steadman explains things in a way that non medical people can easily understand, but without over simplifying it too. 

I liked the characters that Steadman has created here.  Emma shows a strength of character by returning to a place she once ran from, and risking her privacy and identity to help someone.  Matthew (or Mr Nobody) was an enigma.  I had a lot of questions about him and whether he was genuine or not.  Much as I wanted to trust him there was something telling me not to.  Throughout the book there is a strong sense that something is not quite right, but you just can't quite put your finger on what that is.

Although the mystery of who Mr Nobody is forms the main thread of this story, the sub plot with Emma's past and what happened there adds an extra level to the book.  I liked that not everything was tied up in a neat little bow with all of the questions answered at the end of the book, it made things much more believable.  Don't get me wrong, the ending is satisfactory, it just reminds you that sometimes in life there isn't an answer to things.

The only negative I really had is that I did have some bits of the story that didn't really fit, such as why Emma had to sign a non disclosure agreement to work with Matthew, and who was driving the investigation really.  It didn't feel like that side of things would happen unless there was concern that the mystery man was a spy or some such like.  It just seemed a bit odd and didn't align with the rest of the story.  It was a minor drawback all in all though and didn't really impact my enjoyment of the book.

I was impressed with this, it was an enjoyable read and I definitely hadn't picked the ending.  It's a slow burn rather than a fast pacedthriller, but it will keep you guessing until the end.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster UK for an arc in exchange for an honest review

In her second novel, author Catherine Steadman delivers a tension packed psychological thriller. When a man with no memory is found on a british beach, neuropsychiatrist Dr. Emma Lewis is asked to assess the patient. While being a case that could make her career, the fact that she has to go back to her hometown, which she left after some big scandal fourteen years before, could also mean the end of it if her past comes to light.

This is not the typical thriller with lots of twists and turns every other page, but a slow brewed mystery. On one hand, we delve into Mr. Nobody's mind to find out if he is really amnesiac or he's malingering, who he is and how he came to be on that beach; and on the other hand there's the mystery of Emma's past, not really knowing till the end if it's related to Mr. Nobody's story.

The tension keeps building through the pages, specially cause we don't learn about Emma's backstory till halfway through, and we get to experience the sense of danger she does with Mr. Nobody's revelations about her.

Congrats to the author on making all the neurological and psychiatric talk enjoyable, as it could have turn into a bore.

Based in all the clues left out by the author I had a theory in my head about who Mr. Nobody could be, but I was totally wrong. While being satisfaying I would have like for some of those clues to be tied in at the end, not being merely red herrings.

All in all a pretty satisfaying read that will keep you wondering till the end.

Thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster UK for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley for sending me a copy of this book to review before publication. It was a great read!
A man washes up on a beach in Norfolk, disorientated and with no memory of who he is or how he got there. He is taken to hospital with a head injury, and Dr Emma Lewis is called out from London to assess him, as she specialises in unusual memory conditions.
Emma is wary of going to Norfolk as she was brought up there but had to leave and assume a new identity elsewhere following a family tragedy. The story of Emma's troubled past gradually unfurls in the course of the book, alongside the story of Mr Nobody, who is given the name Matthew. There is an attraction between Emma and Matthew, but the relationship becomes increasingly creepy as it seems that Matthew is connected in some way to Emma's past. The suspense gradually increases, reaching a tense climax at the end.
This is a really good read for suspense fans, with an interesting subject and great setting in East Anglia. Highly recommended!

Absolutely loved this thriller! The writer has a beautiful and seamlessly flowing narrating style and I literally could jot put the book down.

Edge of your seat tingly thriller following the story of a man found on a Norfolk (UK) beach with absolutely no memory at all. Jump to busy NHS doctor, Emma, who is approached by an American neurologist and asked to investigate Mr Nobody. She likes the idea of using her specialist training but likes it less when she discovered where the patient is - a town she left years ago. Each chapter is told by one of the two main characters. Whilst this is fine, especially as Emma typically used the first person and Matthew (as Mr Nobody became) the third person. What was less satisfactory was that the time framed jumped back and forth as well. The twists and turns developed nicely and with appropriate suspense. More characters entered the scene to confuse matters deliciously. It did drag a little towards the end, well, rather didn't drag but got a bit tired with yet more revelations of similar kinds. however, the ending was unexpected and reasonably satisfactory. The characters were well-written as was the medical story - at least it seemed perfectly feasible and plausible, again until almost the end although I never really felt for them. Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster UK for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

It is hard to believe this was written by the same person who wrote the excellent debut Something in the Water.
While that book had solid character development, a believable (even if a tad contrived) plot, and good writing, this was completely the opposite.

It was a chore to read this and I confess I had to skim a bit because I was bored beyond tears and would never finish it otherwise. The writing is amateurish, all in first person present tense, which is hard to do well and wasn't here, adding another layer of trouble to an already weak story.

It's not even that the story is unbelievable, but that I fail to see how would anyone care if it is or not possible, given how dull it all seems as you read. It is all tell, repeatedly, never ever show. The reader is treated as an inferior being who needs a lot of help to understand or remember the most basic things.

The dialogue is painful to witness, specially between the protagonist and her brother. Not a single exchange between them rang true, not one. All sounded like teenagers forced to be at stage in the end of year high school play. Improvising.

As for the two mysteries… oh my. The main one, the one that titles the book, is convoluted but the author seemed to believe that by shoving medical jargon down the reader's throat all through the novel we would trust it was all possible or at least be intimidated enough by her medical knowledge not to defy it. Well, tbh I have no idea if this condition exists or is correctly presented here but a) I don't care enough to google about it and b) throwing supposed facts at your reader over and over sounds pedantic and often leads to irritated readers.

Finally, I hope the many, many typos, repeated words, and grammar issues are all corrected before publication because there was a distracting high number of them.

I'd like to thank NetGalley and the Publisher for providing me with and ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I would like to thank Netgalley and Simon and Schuster UK for an advance copy of Mr Nobody, a stand alone thriller set in Norfolk.

When a man washes up on a Norfolk beach he becomes a bit of a mystery as he is unable to speak and appears to have lost his memory. Worried about a hoax neuropsychiatrist Emma Lewis is seconded by the authorities to investigate.

I enjoyed Mr Nobody which is, at times, a tense read based on an interesting premise. There are several curiosity inducing strands to the novel, like why Emma moved from Norfolk and assumed a different name and why are the authorities so interested in Mr Nobody that Emma has to sign a non disclosure agreement? There is a third strand that becomes apparent as the novel progresses but I’m keeping quiet about that one to avoid spoilers. These strands create interest and arouse the curiosity in the first half of the novel but it’s the second half where the action ramps up and events start to get hectic. It gets quite exciting but I found it difficult to swallow my disbelief as events unfolded and finally decided that I liked the first half better with its suspense and ability to entice the reader into speculation.

Personally I didn’t take to Emma Lewis who seems an odd mixture of competence and neurosis. There are reasons for this but it doesn’t strike the right notes. I have no further explanation for this feeling it’s just there. The novel also gives the reader a good look at Mr Nobody as the narrative switches mainly between him and Emma. He’s a difficult one with no backstory but I was almost laughing by the end of the novel at his real story as there is so little attempt at realism.

Mr Nobody is a good read which I can recommend.

This book has some intriguing elements; a handsome man with no memory, a Dr. with a hidden past and an unscrupulous reporter who is determined to be the person to break the story, no matter what the cost. And yet I am a little conflicted now that I've reached the end. The relationship between Chris and Zara felt really throw away and I think it was a missed opportunity not to have focussed on this a little more. The relationship between Emma and Matthew was much more nuanced, with the patient-doctor relationship treading a fine line between acceptable and unethical and the excitement that she has about treating his groundbreaking case tempered by what he seems to know about her past. This was really well written, and the tension ebbed and flowed in a fantastic way. This made the final reveal all the more disappointing. What had been sophisticated and compelling became a generic overly tenuous and deliberately shocking conclusion. What really drove this home was the fact that he<spoiler>could have just phoned Emma and asked her for a second opinion instead of constructing an elaborate game</spoiler>

I would like to thank the publishers and Netgalley for an advanced copy in return for an honest review.

A body of a man found on the beach. Mr Nobody. How did he get there? Where did he come from? Who is he? I found it slow to unfold and drowned on where I began to lose interest sadly.

A good read with a lot of suspense. Overall I enjoyed this book. I thought though that it was confusing in places. I liked the plot idea and the writing style but felt that the book could have been a bit shorter.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.