Anna O
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Joining the ranks of Gillian Flynn, A. J. Finn, and Alex Michaelides, Matthew Blake delivers the thriller of the year: a dark, twisty, and shocking mystery about a young woman who commits a double murder while sleepwalking, and then never opens her eyes again.
ANNA O WILL WAKE UP THE WORLD
What if your nightmares weren’t really nightmares at all?
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 budding twenty-five-year-old writer with a bright future. Then, one night, she stabbed two people to death with no apparent motive—and hasn’t woken up since. Dubbed “Sleeping Beauty” by the tabloids, Anna’s condition is a rare psychosomatic 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. But he must be careful treating such a high-profile suspect—he’s got career secrets and a complicated personal life of his own.
As Anna shows the first signs of stirring, Benedict must determine what really happened and whether Anna should be held responsible for her crimes.
Only Anna knows the truth about that night, but only Benedict knows how to discover it. And they’re both in danger from what they find out.
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Anna O by Matthew Blake is a mesmerising, psychological thriller. I loved the premise of this novel: A woman accused of killing two of her best friends but then falls into a deep sleep. Did she murder them in cold blood, or was she sleepwalking at the time and not in control of her actions? Guilty or innocent? And how can you prove it either way?
Blake's writing is hypnotic! I also found it quite poetic at times. I loved the references to other texts in the book, such as Truman Capote's In Cold Blood, as well as the mention of Medea, Anna O theory and resignation syndrome, to name a few. I did find myself researching a lot, and then getting stuck into these fascinating subjects.
The story is told mainly through Ben's point of view. Ben is a sleep expert and works in a sleep clinic in Harley Street. However, there are also chapters dedicated to Anna O's notebook, as well as Dr Bloom's case notes and some other characters. I have to admit I couldn't predict the outcome of this thriller. It took me completely by surprise and I loved the twist and turns. A fantastic book from start to finish. I did take my time reading it purely because I wanted to savour every page and not miss anything, but I also got caught up in my own research along the way.
Anna O is a phenomenal debut novel. This is one to add to your TBR pile.
