Anna O - by Matthew Blake (Hardcover)

About the Book

"The world will know her name. The average person spends 33 years of their life asleep. But, in this mysterious shadow world, how can we ever know who we really become? In 2019, Anna Ogilvy was a budding twenty-five-year-old writer with a bright future ahead of her. Then, one night, she stabbed two people to death with no apparent motive and hasn't woken up since. Her deep sleep is known by neurologists as 'resignation syndrome', a rare functional psychosomatic disorder. The tabloid press dubs her 'Sleeping Beauty'. Fast forward to the present day. Dr. Benedict Prince is a forensic psychologist and an expert in the field of sleep-related homicides. As a consultant at The Abbey, a sleep clinic based in London's infamous Harley Street, he has studied patients who are held on murder charges; but they have no memory of their crimes. As Anna shows the first signs of stirring, Benedict must determine what really happened that night and whether or not she should be held criminally responsible for her actions when she finally wakes up. Only she knows the truth about that night, but only he knows how to discover it"--

Book Synopsis

#1 International Bestseller

GMA Buzz Pick - A Today Show Pick - A People Magazine Pick

"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 author of The Maid and The Mystery Guest

Joining the ranks of Gillian Flynn, A. J. Finn, and Alex Michaelides, Matthew Blake delivers the psychological 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. In this gripping suspense novel, 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.

Review Quotes

"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

"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)

"This one gets in your head. I may never sleep again."

- J.D. Barker, New York Times Bestselling author of Behind a Closed Door

"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

"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

"Lionel Shriver's new novel advances a coherent vision of the contemporary world." - Irish Independent

"Steeped in mythology, psychology and true-crime lore, Blake's cliff-hanger features a young woman who's been asleep since she murdered her two besties four years earlier. Now it's time to wake up Sleeping Beauty . . . and unleash a cascade of twists likely to outfox all but the sharpest thriller mavens." - People

"Like blockbusters such as The Maidens and The Girl on the Train." - The Washington Post

"Anna O delivers one gasp after another as it moves relentlessly towards its surprising and remarkably persuasive finale." - The Anniston Star

"The most talked about thriller of 2024." - Today Show

"Uproarious." - Mail on Sunday

"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 ever 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 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

"An irresistible concept beautifully executed--certain to be one of the year's best thrillers." - Lee Child

"Once you pick it up, there's no putting it down. Layered and grandly operatic in scope and tension." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"Anna O has cast a spell . . . which is partly a testament to Blake's deft hand with characters. Prince is a fascinating unreliable narrator; the question of whether he's merely annoying or something more sinister becomes a potent source of suspense. By the novel's . . . twist-filled conclusion, I was . . . more than a little surprised." - Los Angeles Times

"Entirely gripping . . . . Truly page-turning." - New York Post