Publication Date: January 2, 2024
“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 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.
THE WORLD WILL KNOW HER NAME
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.
A double homicide. An alleged murderer in a coma-like sleep for four years. A forensic psychologist specializing in sleep-related homicides.
These ingredients come together to form a crisp English thriller penned by Matthew Blake. Anna O tells the story of young Anna Ogilvy, who allegedly confesses via text to murdering two friends while on a family trip and then falls into a deep sleep.
Dr. Benedict Prince gets called in to do what other experts have failed to do: wake the sleeping beauty. Ben’s personal life is filled with chaos centered around his failed marriage to the lead investigator on the murder case and shared custody of their child.
What ensues is a journey into the human brain to delve into whether the mind can control the unconscious body. Told in first person from Ben’s perspective, there are alternating chapters from the past credited to Anna’s Notebook along with other featured characters.
The action cranks up as Ben takes a deep dive into Anna’s case. The murder of his boss adds intensity, providing the perfect opportunity to build in a deeper plot.
As a psychological thriller, Anna O fires on all cylinders, throwing out red herrings and capitalizing on fine details that later morph into key points. The twisty ending packs a powerful punch that will leave you reeling.
Matthew Blake is a London-based author who has also worked as a screenwriter with the BBC, ITV Studios, and numerous other UK indies.
