Thank you to Netgalley and Inkubator Books for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I loved this book so much that I read it in one sitting. I just had to know what was going to happen. I loved the storyline and all the twists in this book. I would definitely recommend this book.

Ian Blackwood’s The Sleepwalker is a razor-sharp psychological thriller that plunges readers into the crumbling psyche of Dr. Ellie Thompson—a woman whose nightmares may no longer be confined to sleep. With an eerie, slow-burning tension and an unreliable sense of reality, Blackwood masterfully blurs the line between waking life and madness.

Ellie is a compelling and complex protagonist, a doctor losing control of her mind and her world. As inexplicable injuries, disappearing messages, and eerie coincidences mount, her paranoia becomes contagious. Every character around her—from her evasive husband to her unnervingly interested psychiatrist—feels like a potential threat. And the deeper Ellie digs, the more chilling the truth becomes.

Blackwood weaves a tale that’s equal parts psychological disintegration and suspenseful mystery, with a final twist that lands like a punch to the gut. The Sleepwalker is perfect for fans of Gone Girl and Behind Her Eyes—a haunting, clever, and utterly immersive thriller that keeps you questioning what’s real until the very last page.

This was an interesting premise, definitely kept me hooked, and was a whodunit right up until the end. The flashback chapters were a good addition and provided helpful depth.

There was a lot of back-and-forth as the main character tries to “eliminate” suspects and a very obvious intention to mislead the reader. I sort of disliked all the characters at some point and found them all so unreliable that even when all is revealed, I thought there still might be another twist coming.

Overall a fun and entertaining read! Thanks to NetGalley & Inkubator Books for the ARC.

The Sleepwalker by Ian Blackwood is a psychological thriller that plays with perception, memory, and the fine line between reality and delusion. The premise is gripping — a man with a mysterious sleep disorder becomes entangled in a chilling series of events he may or may not be responsible for. It’s the kind of setup that promises tension, twists, and sleepless nights (in the best way).

Blackwood’s writing is atmospheric and eerie, with an almost cinematic quality that pulls you into the protagonist’s hazy, unreliable world. I appreciated the slow-burn pacing early on — it built suspense without giving too much away. The blend of psychological unraveling and potential supernatural elements kept me turning pages.

However, the second half lost a bit of that initial grip. Some twists felt more confusing than shocking, and a few plot threads didn’t fully land or were left a little underdeveloped. I found myself needing more clarity and emotional payoff by the end. Still, the concept is strong, and Blackwood’s voice has real potential.

Recommended if you enjoy:
• Unreliable narrators
• Sleepwalking or dream-related thrillers
• Dark, twisty, and cerebral narratives

A solid debut with haunting vibes — I’ll definitely be watching to see what Ian Blackwood does next.

This book will be devoured in seconds by my students! This psychological thriller had me on the edge through every chapter, piecing together the mystery alongside Ellie. At times, I felt I was Ellie, I was so immersed in the story. Every twist and turn were completely unexpected, especially the shocking reveal of one particular character. A gripping, unforgettable read!

2.5/5 stars
Content:
Ellie has a problem. The monster in her dreams has come to life.
Dr. Ellie Thompson has always been haunted by her nightmares. But now they're bleeding into reality. She wakes to find there really is glass in her foot, a knife under her pillow.
How is this possible? Is she sleepwalking?
When threatening messages appear on her phone and then vanish, when incidents she vividly recalls prove to be imaginary, Ellie begins to wonder if there is something more sinister afoot. Is someone doing this to her, trying to drive her mad?
As her grip on reality slips away, Ellie suspects everyone around her. Her distant husband with his unexplained absences. Her obsessive ex who can't let go. Even her psychiatrist, whose connection to one of her own medical cases raises disturbing questions.
As Ellie fights to discover if these terrors come from inside her own mind or from someone outside, she will finally draw close to the truth. A truth more horrifying, more shocking, than even the worst of her nightmares…

Review:
This book was fine but didn't catch me. I didn't get the typical thriller feeling of being on edge and needing to know more.

I thoroughly enjoyed this! I thought it was tense, but also had quite a good plot. I also thought the monologue throughout the book was from a completely different individual, so SUPER interesting twist there. Loved it! I loveeeee when book end completely differently than you had expected! Good job Author Ian Blackwood 👏🏻

Amazing debut!! Kept me on my toes, very gripping and unsettling in a good way! Thank you NetGalley and publisher for early arc

A must read for lovers of psychological thrillers. I devoured this book! I could not put it down!!

The author does a fantastic job weaving a narrative that keeps you questioning reality and keeps you guessing all the way to the end!

The novel follows Dr. Elle Thompson as she struggles with her marriage, anxiety, depression and eventually nightmares. Elle begins sleepwalking and soon begins questioning whether what she is experiencing is a dream or reality and if she is going crazy.

I love the switch between reality and sleepwalking, so that readers also begin questioning what is reality right along with the character.

Overall a very creepy, psychological thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

This psychological thriller kept me guessing until the very end! Just like the main character, Ellie, I was never sure what was real and what wasn't. You're constantly questioning who's telling the truth. The plot twists were intense! Definitely a must-read if you like mind-bending mysteries. So concerning how manipulative some of the characters were to the FMC! Thanks to Inkubator Books and NetGalley for the ARC opportunity for my honest unbiased opinion.

The Sleepwalker
I found the plot gripping and at times a bit unsettling, but in the best way. The epitome of psychological thrillers, it’s not for the feint of heart but if you can handle the darkness, you will love it.

Some bits felt a little far-fetched, but overall I really enjoyed this thriller. Good pacing and it kept me on my toes. Made me question what was going on for sure.

Great read… took me awhile to get into but once I did it was so twisty I really enjoyed it!. I was t too sure where it was heading for a bit…. But when the story unfolded it came together well!!

A book about sleepwalking and nightmares? Yes, please. Following Ellie on her journey through madness was fascinating and kept me hooked from the beginning. For a fairly new author, Ian Blackwood told a great story, and told it very well. The book was creative, and had a storyline that I have not heard about very often. The characters were relatable, and felt real to me, and I enjoyed getting to know them. The twists kept coming, and I was not able to predict the plot twist. Overall, I believe that the book was great and suitable for thriller lovers everywhere.

I really liked this book. Something about not knowing the difference between reality and dreams is so creepy and interesting to me! The author did a great job with each character and how they tie into each other as well. Great twist and a quick read as it kept me hooked!

I had no idea this was a debut. It certainly didn't read like one!

I was sold immediately from the prologue and then was on 'do not disturb' mode until I'd finished the book! I couldn't put it down!

Unnerving and intense, Blackwood takes us into the depravities of gaslighting and abuse as one woman is forced to question the integrities of the man who 'loves' her.

Pace is fast, the plot keeps you guessing and the characters clever, with deceit and duplicity written all over them.

Brilliant book!

Definitely an author whose future books I'm ready for!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of The Sleepwalker.

A new to me author, and I definitely loved this! All the twists had me guessing so many different theories, and I was totally unsure until the ending. I felt like this was really well written, and a great read if you enjoy whodunnit mixed with psychological TWISTS!

This was absolutely fantastic. Riveting, mysterious, suspenseful, unpredictable, and so twisty. I was hooked! I loved putting the pieces together between two POVs and the ever increasing creepiness. And with Ellie's descent, slowly skipping out of reality and logic, readers are stuck with an unreliable narrator that really stirs things up.

"Where do you go when you close your eyes?"

The Sleepwalker by Ian Blackwood is a tense and engaging psychological thriller that explores hidden trauma, the complexities of memory and sleep disorders.

Dr. Elle Thompson is highly respected in her field, married to her husband Nick, and she seems to have a life that many only dream about. But all of her peace and quiet comes to an end when Elle starts having nightmares. Ever since her parents tragically died when she was younger, Elle has been haunted by these reoccurring dreams. But now her nightmares are back and more intense than ever. Pretty soon Elle begins to question her sanity when she can no longer distinguish reality from her nightmares. Add in a mysterious stalker and Elle's fragile grip on reality starts to falter. Can she figure out who is doing this to her, or will she be stuck in this nightmare forever?

This was a strong start that got progressively creepier and ominous as we moved throughout the book! With the dual POV between an unknown person and Elle, you get to piece together the story in a way that will leave you wanting more! I love a good unreliable narrator trope and this one did not disappoint! I will definitely be looking out for more by Ian Blackwood!

Thank you to NetGalley, Ian Blackwood, and Inkubator Books for this ARC! Publication date is May 18th 2025.

Absolutely loved it! Such a good story! This is the perfect book to get you reading again and out of a slump