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A Novel
by Matthew Blake
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.
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.
"Blake never lets the reader, or his hero, get comfortable, delivering one game-changing twist after another. The exhilarating results are likely to shock even seasoned thriller fans." —Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Layered and grandly operatic in scope and tension." —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"A riveting, unsettling crime novel that will keep you turning pages well past your bedtime. Is Anna O a sleeping beauty or a sleeping killer? Matthew Blake's tension-filled thriller is as elusive and mysterious as sleep itself." —Nita Prose, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Maid and The Mystery Guest
"An irresistible concept beautifully executed—certain to be one of the year's best thrillers." —Lee Child
"An audacious, inventive mystery, a thriller of ideas, and—here's irony for you—a novel about sleep to keep you up late. Anna O reads like a dream but unsettles like a nightmare; the premise is original, the writing stylish, and the payoff unforgettable. You won't forget her name." —A.J. Finn, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Woman in the Window
"A wickedly stunning work. Blake's experience as a screenwriter is on full display here as he ramps up the suspense and carves out his cast of wonderful characters with the skill of a real pro. The twist is one of the best I've read and ranks right up there with The Silent Patient. Sure to be wildly popular and to have fans clamoring for Blake's next work." —David Baldacci
"Anna O sits at the pinnacle of psychological suspense! It's a nonstop thrill ride through the darker sides of the human mind, filled with plot twists galore and populated by characters who are utterly real and undeniably appealing. This novel is written in the voice of a natural-born storyteller." —Jeffery Deaver
"Anna O takes a spellbinding look at a sleeping disorder that sounds like the stuff of horror movies ... With masterful control over a large cast of characters plus a plot that keeps you guessing, Blake proves to be at the top of his game with this story. Reminiscent of The Silent Patient in the best ways." —Stephanie Wrobel
This information about Anna O was first featured
in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.
Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Matthew Blake is a London-based author who has also worked as a screenwriter with the BBC, ITV Studios, and numerous other UK indies.
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