An interesting premise for a story and I was intrigued to see how it would play out. Although very slow at times towards the end it gathered momentum and I got dizzy with the many twists and turns. Overall was too long and could have done more to keep me hooked.

Thank you, Harper Collings UK and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Spoiler: when the blurb mentioned this book "will keep you turning pages past your bedtime", it was not a lie.

For someone who doesn't read thrillers very often, this book felt like a perfect mix between true crime and psychological fiction. It kept me hooked (almost) from start to finish, and I was definitely up too late reading it.

Firstly, the setting of the book was amazing and felt very real. Anna Oglivy, a young, wealthy, educated woman killed her best friends while allegedly sleepwalking. Nobody can get answers about it because, plot twist, she has been asleep for the past four years. It is now up to sleep expert Dr Benedict Prince to wake the one ironically referred to as "The Sleeping Beauty". The structure was done very well, it was filled with moving perspectives from Dr Prince, other people involved in the case, and even Ana's own diary. It builds up to multiple plot twists that left me gasping.

Beneath the plot, there was an important reflection on the psychology of sleep and how media is able to change the narrative. This was what I enjoyed most about the novel. I loved the deep dive into the psychology, the why behind it all. Sure, it has some artistic liberties, but the story is framed so well into the way we sensationalise things, which often ends up altering the truth in the eyes of the public.

A very fun and compelling read. The writing did get a bit slow towards the middle, and I could have done without the last plot twist, but it was still a great time. In the end it all elevated the story and made it very enjoyable.

What happens when we go to sleep?
Anna O, a young journalist, brutally murders her two best friends whilst asleep and then doesn't wake up for years.
Stuck in a comatose state and with no signs of stirring, Dr Benedict Prince, sleep psychologist is tasked with waking Anna in a bid to finally put her on trial but the truth is far more twisted than anyone could suspect.
What happened that night, and who knows the real truth?

I found the topic of sleep in this book really interesting, especially with it being used in a crime/thriller context. I enjoyed all of the twists and turns and references to true crime, but overall it felt quite drawn out.
I took a bit of a break in the middle of reading this, so perhaps this didn't help, but I didn't feel like the ending was a satisfying enough conclusion for me.
Without adding spoilers, I felt like a lot was left unexplained. What was behind the things that happened when Anna was younger? Did I miss an explanation for that? What was the real end goal with the murders? Surely it didn't really have the intended effect?
The book began with so much intrigue and promise and by the middle I was beginning to lose sight of what it was for.

Overall, I found this interesting and I would recommend it to anyone interested in crime / thriller books as the plot was enough to keep me interested, but for me, it was a bit of a slog to get to that conclusion and I ultimately didn't find the end worth it.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harpercollins for giving me an ARC of this book.

“Anna O hasn’t opened her eyes for four years.

Not since the night she was found in a deep sleep by the bodies of her best friends, suspected of a chilling double murder.

For Doctor Benedict Prince, a forensic psychologist on London’s Harley Street, waking Anna O could be career-defining. As an expert in sleep, he knows all about the darkest chambers of the mind; the secrets that lie buried in the subconscious.

As he begins Anna O’s treatment – studying his patient’s dreams, combing her memories, visiting the site where the horrors played out – he pulls on the thread of a much deeper, darker mystery.”

This was a quick and easy read. The premise of the book was really good and it had an enticing start, which drew me in. The first couple of hundred pages were really good and I was immersed, although it did start to drag a little from there. Unfortunately I managed to guess the ending, but still enjoyed the ride!

Thank you to HarperCollins UK and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

I'd seen so much noise and hype about this book so was really excited to read it, but found it fell a little flat for me. I liked it but didn't think it was remarkable or merited the buzz.

Great book...
Very interesting and intense... thans netgalley for sharing this book with me.....
I can't wait for the next book of the author

Anna O explores the psychology of sleep and asks the question if we commit a crime in our sleep are we culpable for that crime?

I was immediately drawn into the story and loved the writing style of multiple points of view and mixed media. I was intrigued as to how the story would progress and really enjoyed the exploration of psychological conditions and the treatment of patients suspected of or convicted of crimes.

The final twist was compelling and satisfying.

Unfortunately this book wasn’t for me. I loved the premise but I just felt I couldn’t get into it and didn’t feel excited to pick it back up. I think people will enjoy this but I didn’t finish it. I will maybe come back to it at a later date though.

*Possible spoilers*

i was SO excited for this book. The premise sounded like something i would love, and it has been so hyped up on bookstagram that i couldn’t wait to get into it… but it just fell completely flat and if it wasn’t an ARC, i would have DNFed it.

Basically, if you have read The Silent Patient, then you have read this book. they are so similar in more ways than one, so it felt like i was reading a book that i had already read :(

(thank you so much to HarperCollins UK for the EARC 🫶🏻)

Dr Ben Prince is given the case of a lifetime, to try to wake up Anna O, the woman who killed her friends before falling asleep and not waking up. Anna is a controversial figure. Some say she's innocent, others think she did it and is escaping justice by pretending to be asleep. Ben gets closer to waking her up and can no longer decide if she is innocent or not, but he still wants to get to the truth.

This was one book I was very excited about this year. I loved the unusual premise: a sleep doctor turned sleuth with a witness who can't be woken up. But sadly, this is another one of those books that I really liked, right up until near the end when I progressively got more and more annoyed with it.

Something I will say for it; I loved the writing. It was fast-paced, with multiple points of view which I thought blended well together and created a really addictive read.

I also very much enjoyed the character of Ben. He's a bit naïve and more than a little too trusting for his own good, but, to me, quite likeable.

If you love a fast-paced thriller, I would still recommend it to you and I will definitely read more books from this author in the future.

Anna O, the central character in the novel, is a young writer who unknowingly commits a double murder while sleepwalking. She then slips into a comatose state. Dr. Benedict Prince, a forensic psychologist, embarks on the daunting task of awakening her to unravel the truth behind that ominous night. The book skillfully intertwines a suspenseful and shocking mystery, captivating readers long into the night.
This is a great read if you like twists and turns, and I highly recommend it.

I was looking forward to reading this one.
But, by 17% I realised I was not going to finish it.
I found it boring. - sorry.

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 writer with a bright future. Then, one night, she stabbed two people to death with no apparent reason then went to sleep and didn't wake up she has been Dubbed “Sleeping Beauty” by the tabloids, Anna’s condition is suffering from a 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. As Anna shows the first signs of waking up, Benedict has to decide is Anna really guilty and should be held responsible for her crimes. Only Anna knows the truth about that night, but only Benedict knows how to discover it. Will the truth put them both in danger

Initially I did struggle to get into this one and felt a bit lost at the start but once it got going I was hooked a very intriguing story. This was fast paced with a short chaper format that would worked so well. The final twist had my jaw hit the floor and I was not expecting it at all. Would definitely recommend picking this up and giving it a try.

Thank you to Netgalley, Harper Collins Uk and Matthew Blake for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

I’d seen so much hype about this thriller and wasn’t sure if it would live up to expectations but Anna O was clever with plenty of twists and turns to keep you wondering what would happen next.

I really enjoyed this, a thriller with a slightly different take as the main suspect has been asleep for the last four years. Told from different perspectives I felt it flowed well and had plenty of twists and turns. Clearly well researched, a clever story, well written.

This book honestly gave me chills! It’s a fantastic mystery and will have you gripped from the first page until the last !
If you’re looking to completely get lost in a story then look no further!
Would highly recommend

I loved the premise to this book, found it really intriguing, so getting the chance to read the ARC had me grinning wildly.

Unfortunately I didn't quite hit the high notes for me.

I was completely hooked for the first third of the story bit then it seemed to just slow down and never really pick up the pace again.

I also get frustrated with books that have that constant repetition and sadly this one falls into that category. I found myself skim reading over some paragraphs to just get past what I'd already learnt previously.

I enjoyed the different perspectives from the different POVs and timelines, that helped massively with the narrative. The characters are well executed and relatable echos is a big positive for me.

It's a really unique storyline that is dark and somewhat creepy which I loved, it just unfortunately lost its pace for me and didn't fully grip me solidly.

Great storyline which I know others with absolutely adore and it won't put me off trying this author again.

Thanks to netgalley and Harper Collins UK for the ARC.

Absolutely loved it! Thought the premise was super intriguing and it really lived up to the hype and delivered.

Wow, what a book, I absolutely loved it! The storyline is engaging and kept me interested in what would happen next. I thought I’d worked it out but was very pleased to discover I was wrong! I definitely recommend this one. Thank you #netgalley

Anna O. by Matthew Blake


This is the debut by Matthew Blake.


Can a person be held responsible for the actions they take while they are asleep. There are so many secrets and equally as much suspense with Dr Benedict Prince is in the middle of it all.
Murder, mayhem, friendships, family relationships which are not what they seem.
The premise of this one was really good and the first third of the book had me hooked, it tailed off for me and didn't quite hit the mark for me.
Matthew's characterisation showed depth and intrigue, and the premise of the story is riveting but I feel there could have been a lot more done with it. It became quite repetitive.
As I said before there were parts that were very repetitive which made it drag and I’ll be honest I skim read some of these bits as I didnt feel as they added to the story much. I felt like the story did become quite messy in places. There has obviously been quite a lot of psychology research that has gone into this and for that reason I did keep reading. There were twists and turns throughout the book that have obviously been well thought out.
This is definitely a good debut and I will keep my eyes opened for more from Matthew Blake.