
Member Reviews

Wow Anna O - a story of many parts! This novel kept me guessing from start to finish, I thought I knew where this was heading and it got flipped completely!
Well worth a read!

Dr Ben Prince is a sleep expert. Practicing at The Abbey Sleep Clinic on Harley Street, he has already made a name for himself, working on cases for most major crime agencies. When the Ministry of Justice come knocking, Ben believes that the notorious case of Anna O will take his career to the next level. Already familiar with the original case, Ben’s job now is to try and get Anna to come out of the resignation syndrome state that she has been in for four years, ever since the murder of her two colleagues. When investigations start, Ben feeds back to his friend and Managing Partner, Professor Virginia Bloom, and what he tells her triggers memories of events from her spell working as consultant clinical psychologist in Broadmoor. Bloom realises there is more to this case than first appears.
Phew! This was a toughie. Loved the start but then it became a real chore. Enough psycho babble and ramblings to ensure a good nights sleep! Too clever by half, this was a book trying to impress, rather than entertain, with too many flowery phrases, for e.g “Tenderly get the bathroom mirror to shine”. Ben’s narrative had a very 30’s vibe, although the subject matter dealt with was up to date. However, I learnt the meaning of quite a few new words, so every day’s a school day!
A great idea for story but this version too convoluted and rambling. I want to ask many questions, why did Ben pick up the knife? for one, and though I did finish the book I confess it’s not one for me, but I’m sure others will love it.
I must ask how can a book be marketed as a global phenomenon, when it’s not out until February 2024, over five months away from my reading it?
2.5* rounded down, sorry :(
Thank you NetGalley.

Such a convoluted story that grips you and makes you want to find out the resolution. Beneath all the psychology there is a really sad story.

Already Matthew’s book is being touted as one of 2024's must-reads. Publishing in over 30 territories, I predict a bestseller around the globe. Anna Ogilvy hasn’t opened her eyes in four years, since a worrisome night where she was found, knife in hand, clothes covered in blood, the blood of her two best friends, whose bodies are lying close beside her. Dubbed Sleeping Beauty by her fans – and she’s a lot of fans – she cannot be tried for the crime (and yes, it’s pretty grim) until she wakes up. Wanting to move things along, Anna is moved into a special location where there’s one person who may be able to help. But while no one can take their eyes off the story, it’s clear that we all need to keep our eyes on the truth. Terrifying and gripping equally.

Thanks to Netgalley and Harper Collins Fiction for the ARC of this book.
Sorry to say I was as disappointed with the story as I was with the bland cover of the book and the title.
None of the characters were interesting enough to make me want to find out anymore about them than I already knew. I felt the storyline dragged and I lost my concentration enough to not want to finish the book, but I did.
Not one at all for me, sorry.

I have seen this book doing the rounds all over twitter with very little premise so I just had to know what the fuss was about for myself. Oh boy, Anna O did not disappoint, I started this book almost as soon as I was approved and I just couldn’t stop reading. Matthew Blake really knows how to create suspense and have us on the edge of our seats, slowly feeding us breadcrumbs of juicy information that I just couldn’t get enough of. I had so many theories but honestly was blindsided in the last few pages of this book. I already can’t wait to see what this author publishes next.

An enthralling story where you can't work out if everything is as it should be.
Captivating from start to finish this will leep you guessing.

Asleep for four years. Accused of murder. They need to get her awake to face trial. Enter Dr. Prince, a therapist specialising with sleep disorders. His job to wake her up.
This falls into the not to often used area of being factional. The use of fictional material, with fact based truth.
This is a heavyweight book. Referencing a lot of psychological studies and findings. I know this for fact as I checked them myself. Cross referencing some areas.
Its very well researched, and the writing is just as good. It could very easily have got stuck in psycho-babble. The plot and characters are strong and are able to pull you through the harder reading passages. And some do get bogged down with technicalities, all of which are relevant to the story.
This isn't really something that you can sit down and read in a single sitting. There is just too much going on, and sometimes you just sit down and take everything that is going on, in.
This is well worth the read, and it keeps you on the edge of your seat, right till the very end.
Status: Completed
Rating: 4.9/5.0

I really enjoyed this. I am very fussy with my crime books and this one had me engaged throughout. I have read a couple of reviews that say they figured it out straight away but I felt this is one of the few where I was only a few sentences ahead of the writer. I enjoyed the variety of mysteries: the psychology; the sleep condition; the family event and the relationships Ben forged along the way.

Really enjoyed this. Lots of twists and turns and kept you guessing, although I did guess the ending eventually. But still a really good read and original, although a little frustrating in places.

Having murdered her two closest friends Anna Ogilvy then fell asleep and has been that way for the last four years. Dr. Benedict Prince is a forensic psychologist who has been approached by the Ministry of Justice to determine if the methods he describes in a journal article will be able to wake Anna O.
Anna O by Matthew Blake is a psychological thriller that keeps you on your toes and has your head reeling by the end. Using a variety of media, which allows the story to move between different time frames, we learn the background of Anna O. During an outward bound event she stabbed to death her closest friends and has been unconscious since. Having a history of sleepwalking, it is assumed that Anna carried out the murders while asleep. The big question posed by the novel is can someone who commits a crime while asleep be held criminally responsible? Alongside this other questions such as "Can evil be cured?" and "Is evil inherited?" are also posed.
Enter Dr. Benedict Prince, a psychologist who specialises in sleep disorders and works at The Abbey Sleep Clinic. Through this character, we are given lots of information on sleep disorders, the psychology of the mind and some historical examples of people who have claimed to commit crimes while asleep. All of this is done in laymen's terms to keep the reader involved.
Throughout I kept coming up with different theories about what actually happened, the motives involved and the role of different characters. At times I wondered if it was an act to avoid prosecution, at other times I felt there was some type of conspiracy taking place; at no point was I absolutely convinced I was right. There is also the role that social media has played in the case. Not only has it kept the story alive but it has resulted in two very separate groups, those who believe Anna O is a villain and those who think she's a victim.
The deeper the story delves into the background of the characters you realise that none of them are particularly likeable, the vast majority are motivated by self-interest, and this makes the reader doubtful about their actual involvement in the crime. We get hints early on that something has been covered up.
As the conclusion approaches the anticipation has you holding your breath, the sense of dread is palpable. There are lots of layers to the big reveal, just when you think everything is clear the author adds another twist. This is one of those novels that you want to discuss with others as it raises so many questions.

I have just finished reading this book that I was very excited to receive as from the blurb it sounded right up my street.
It started off well and then it became very slow and I am afraid boring. Even the twists at the end were somehow dull.
I am sure there will be many readers who love it but I am sorry to say that I am not one of them.
I would like to thank Harper Collins UK, Harper Fiction and NetGalley for the ARC for which I have given my unbiased review.

The first 60% of this book had me up late and was 5 star for me. It was engaging, interesting, and the story felt unique. Then the tempo dropped for me. It was clear what was going to happen, and I lost any interest I had in the characters. The last 20% is like a different book, and feels rushed out, and at odds with the first half of the book.
I was gifted the book from Harper Collins UK, Harper Fiction via @netgalley and I was attracted to it by the cover. It is billed as *The instant global phenomenon.*Publishing in over 30 territories. *The thriller that will wake up the nation.
I can’t wait to see if it is a global phenomenon - it definitely has the uniqueness of story and the writing does absorb you, it just has too many layers to it that feel overdone. So starting at 5 stars, I finished it with 4 stars.
It’s published on 1st Feb, 2024

It's an intriguing prospect: a young woman who hasn't opened her eyes for four years, since she was found asleep with a kitchen knife in her hand, her clothes bloodstained, the bodies of her two best friends lying close.
This book is already a phenomenon that will be published in 30 countries.
Anna O, or the Sleeping Beauty as her followers call her, doesn't figure too much in the novel. As Dr Ben Prince starts to make progress in bringing her out of her coma at the luxurious sleep clinic where he works, the drama pivots away from Anna and into a rabbit hole of multiple red herring threads and sub plots that have you reaching for Wikipedia to unravel clues from Greek mythology, Shakespeare and Truman Capote.
I felt the book became a bit too clever for its own good and the pacing deteriorated to a plod. I wanted to love it but ultimately found myself thinking it was a fairly routine thriller.

Wow! This was one complex storyline, at times confusing if you weren´t totally concentrating, but a compelling read. Very intricate, very clever and the ending with Ben, Anna and Clara....wow!
My thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced copy in return for an honest review.

Ambitious and enthralling.
A holding place review as I’ve yet to finish it. That said, I do love the old fashioned feel of the writing, albeit in a modern day setting. Proof that this writer has done his homework and is widely read.

I enjoyed this book. Some parts were really engrossing, but there were a few bits that were a bit confusing.

What a lot of twists and turns! You start with Dr Ben Prince being brought into the Anna O case, a young woman who murdered her two friends whilst sleepwalking...or did she. Ben has the job of trying to wake her up in his sleep clinic with the help of her long term nurse, Harriet. You also get exerts from Anna's diary thanks to a person only known as @suspect8. I was hooked. Who is suspect8, who was potentially x? I loved the style of first person and diary entries, it made it feel more real. Brilliantly written. Would definitely recommend this book and author!

A cracker of a story that had me reaching for Google, and that’s a good thing.
Anna O is locked into Resignation Syndrome, yes that’s why I went to Google, and the plot revolves around whether she’s a murderer or a convenient scapegoat.
Can she be raised from her 4 year slumber, and give her testimony, or will she just be considered guilty.
The public have already made their minds up. It’s an infamous case.
The Sleeping Beauty found lying between two dead bodies
Some have reason to keep her from telling her story, but not necessarily because she’s innocent.
There are others that want her to wake up and talk.
Wow a real page turner that kept me hooked

A gripping thriller with unpredictable twists, gives you ‘The Silent Patient’ vibes. Lots of Harry Potter references for the HP fans, like myself.
Overall, any enjoyable read.