| Title | : | Mr. Nobody |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1524797685 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781524797683 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 320 |
| Publication | : | First published January 7, 2020 |
Mr. Nobody Reviews
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Welcome to the disappointment palace! There is no vacancy for riveting thriller you’re looking for! Sorry! You had a bad start for the busy season.
I know when you spend your time with the beach, you noticed “Something in the water” and you enjoyed your experience with that book and I know you love short term memory loss, amnesia stories! For compensation: maybe you should request more upcoming thrillers and if your fairy godmother NetGalley likes your credit score, wow sorry reading performance, they may send you some better stuff (Or you may choose better stuffs dumbass! And stop dancing! This is not celebration. You hit your head at the 3 starred-nope it’s not even 3 star worthy, let’s say 2.5 and rounded it up for honoring the memory of the previous book of the author- mediocre train which moves to Switzerland.)
At the beginning I was so sure I found something so intriguing, delicious and exciting. A man opens his eyes at the seaside, having no idea who he is and what he is doing there. So the authorities bring Dr. Emma Lewis for solving the mystery and bringing the man’s memory back. Wait a minute!
Maybe he knows something more about himself. Hey, could he also know more about doctor’s past, the secrets she kept about her childhood and her family?
Well, I think first half of the book was crazy train ride. I didn’t want to stop reading. I carry this book glued to my body like a regular internal organ. My appointment with dentist was so entertaining because I was laughing so hard with excitement and flipping the pages without hearing anyone. ( My doctor forgot me locked in his office but I didn’t care. I had my laughing gas and this great book) But when we move to the second half I started to hear the alarm bells blaring in my head. This book could end in a twisted and surprising way or shit hits the fan and it loses its direction and makes you curse about the nonsense ending. Unfortunately second option happened.
The ending… arrgghhkk… yes the ending made me bring out the inner green giant ( of course I consumed 4 cups of Americano so I was green giant with shaky hands!) and I kept punching the wall and screaming: “What did you do? Why did you screw things up?”
And yes: my dreamy, riveting reading turned into semi-disaster: 5 starred reading turned into one star. So my average score fell to 3 stars ! It was really promising start and disastrous ending journey for me! Like going to honeymoon at Turk and Caicos Islands and trapped in your hotel room because of never ending rain. (Wow! Sorry that’s my honeymoon but at least I had a freezer full of alcohol and my husband watched at least 30 soccer games so both of us were so happy, delighted, over the moon! Yes it was not as bad experience as the book gave me.)
Overall: I was so close to love this book and gave so many shiny stars (I planned to buy a star and name with this book after my third glass of Malbec. Thankfully in the morning I reconsidered my decision.) but end of the book hurt my feelings.
I still want to read more works of the author because I enjoyed “something in the water” and of course first half of the book, two POVed story-telling were great. It’s normal to expect more from a talented author but fingers crossed I know I’m gonna love the next book.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine Books for sharing this ARC COPY in exchange my honest review.
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I take no pleasure in writing reviews for books I found less than thrilling, but unfortunately Mr. Nobody by Catherine Steadman ticked only a few of my boxes. Perhaps it is having read too many books in the genre, but I found the pacing to be slow to the point of crippling, and the climax lacked the twists and turns I expected based on the author's previous novel,
Something in the Water. If you enjoy psychological thrillers that feature amnesia storylines, this might work well for you, and I encourage you to give it a try for yourself. The cover is stunning, and I will definitely give the author's next book a try.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy via NetGalley. -
When a man is found on the beach-side claiming no memory of how he got there and unable to give his name, the media goes a flutter! Help is needed to unravel the mystery, enter Dr. Emma Lewis!
But to travel to this small village where “Mr. Nobody” washed up presents some major challenges for the good doctor. Turns out she has a past there. One she desperately hopes to put behind her. The looming question is, will everyone else play along and do the same.
There are two types of thrillers.
One, where all the pieces of the puzzle are cleverly laid out for you. Leaving you to put the pieces together. And if done correctly, you’re sure to reach an explosive ending that will leave you shocked and out of breath. Citing a mantra of, “What the blip did I just read!?”
Type two thriller is one that takes you on a journey until you reach a satisfying conclusion. The author then takes the final few chapters to review. Running back through the story-line, guiding you along the road-map of how you got from point A to point B. Which of course is not as thrilling.
As you may have guessed this one fell into that second category.
I really wanted to love this one. It was just quite vanilla. I felt the characters didn’t have enough depth for me to connect with them. And frankly, the explanation at the end was a bit too convoluted for me to follow along.
A buddy read with Susanne.
Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group Ballantine and Catherine Steadman for an ARC to read and review. -
2.5 stars, rounded up
Catherine Steadman scored big with Something in the Water, although it wasn’t a particular favorite of mine. But I was still curious to see what she would do with her sophomore effort. The book opens with a man awakening on the beach, wounded, with only hazy memories. Among the missing memories are how he got there and what his name is. Dr. Emma Lewis is brought in to oversee his case. She wants to see if this is truly a fugue state, a case of Retrograde amnesia, the loss of all personal memories.
I’m not a big fan of books where the main character is privy to information that isn’t shared with the reader. Here, we quickly learn that something happened in Emma’s teen years that caused the family to move away and change their names. But we aren’t told what. It soon becomes apparent that Mr. Nobody knows what has happened as well.
Despite the irritation at the author’s little trick of misinformation, the book moves at a fast clip and kept my interest. The book is written so that Mr. Nobody’s sections are written in the third person and Emma’s in the first person. At times, it feels that she’s almost talking to the reader. It allows the author to slip in little psychological bits of knowledge, like defining blindsight. His sections bring you forward from the time he is discovered, hers don’t start until after he’s been in care for six days and she’s brought in to consult. So, there is initially a back and forth jostling in the time.
There are other characters which also kept my interest. In fact, my favorite part of the book was the drama between Chris and Zara and I wish their story had played a bigger part overall.
So, I was all happy with this book until about 80% in when it completely falls apart. The ending was so nonsensical that all my earlier happiness with this book just disappeared. Seriously, I would have graded the first part of the book 4 stars and the ending at 1.
My thanks t netgalley and Random House for an advance copy of this book. -
Something In the Water was a 5 star read for me that blew me away. When given the chance to read Catherine Steadmans new book Mr Nobody I jumped at the chance. While for me this one wasn’t as addictive as her first book, I still really enjoyed it. It took me a while to get into the story but once I did I was really sucked in and wanting to know how it would end. Every time I thought I had it worked out it twisted again. The ending was a little bizarre and over the top and not at all how I saw it going
A man is found on a beach in Norfolk with no identification. He is. It speaking and appears to have no memory. He is taken to hospital and is soon the talk of the media. Doctor Emma Lewis never thought she would return to the beach town she grew up in. But when she is asked to help Mr Nobody she has to face her past. She is an expert in this field and is intrigued by the man. Who is he, where did he come from and what is going on in his brain?
Thanks to Simon and Schuster Australia and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. ALl opinions are my own and are in no way biased -
A man washes up on a British beach, with no memory of who he is, or how he got there.
Is he the perfect study of retrograde amnesia or fugue? Or is he lying?
Dr. Emma Lewis is asked to take on the case.
But, why is the government so interested in “Mr. Nobody”? (dubbed Matthew by a caring nurse)
And, why is this case so secretive that Dr. Lewis must sign a Non disclosure agreement, and risk her own secrets being exposed?
I was left with some unanswered questions, and not in a “there must be a sequel coming” way..
At times, I was completely intrigued, but through much of the book I wanted to skim, so although Matthew’s identity surprised me, the pace was just too slow for me to rate this over 3 stars..
Though, I sometimes love a slow burn, in this case, the therapist/patient story fell a bit flat...especially when compared to “The Silent Patient” which I read and loved earlier this year..
Thank You to Netgalley, Ballantine Books and Catherine Steadman for the digital ARC I received in exchange for a candid review! This title will be released on Jan 7, 2020! -
This book blew me away!! I can't believe the reviews are so split! I noticed though that i said similar things about this authors first book (Something in the Water,) so I'm thinking it might just be a writing style thing. For me though, i found this book totally engrossing. I mean i was on the edge of my seat rooting for Dr Emma, & for Mr Nobody. There were other characters too, (2 i loved, & 1 not so much) that were really done well, fleshed out "whole" people. & the past especially was seamlessly woven in, not boring or forced. I was obsessively curious & then even once i knew what was going on, still hooked right till the last page. I know the reviews are iffy but I'd say to please give it a shot for yourself, I'm so glad i didn't pass it up!
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Emma Lewis, 30 years old - lead consultant neuropsychologist- works in a busy London hospital.
She specializes in the field of memory loss.
She also spent fourteen years trying to forget one awful night from her childhood village in Norfolk.
She had entered a witness protection program, years ago.
Emma wants to accept a prestigious job which would send her back to Norfolk.
She’s terrified at the thought of going back to where she fled, but wants to be the head honcho on the high profile ‘Mr. Nobody’ case......
a case that the government had the upper power.
Emma needed to sign a confidential non-disclaimer waiver agreement - in order to work with a patient she was qualified for.
Of course we wonder why.
A noticeable familiar theme stands out... similar to
Gillian Flynn’s thriller, “Sharp Objects”, where the protagonist returns home - in part-to face her own damaged family history.
Emma will do the same.
Mr. Nobody has no memory of who he is - why he was soaking wet, freezing, barefoot - washed up like a fish on the sand from the ocean.
It was a chilly winter day on Holkham Beach in Norfolk.
Mr. Nobody notices a name written on his hand....
seems clear that he’ll ‘remember’ it, then quickly wipes it off.
My ‘first’ interest ... was the ‘setting’.
I’ve been to the UK, but never to Holkham Beach ( my loss)...it’s looks gorgeous.... with miles and miles of sand, pine trees and dunes. Swimming, though, is not recommended. I liked the lovely beach atmosphere.
A little fun tidbit: Gwyneth Paltrow walked this beach in the movie, “ Shakespeare in Love”.
Regardless of Emma’s fear to return to Norfolk, she takes the job of working with ‘Mr. Nobody’, ( they named him Matthew).
Early diagnosis suggests Matthew was suffering from retrograde amnesia (RA), dissociative fugue.
The onset of RA is usually caused by an accident or disease. It can be a temporary condition or it can be permanent.
Or....
Matthew could simply be a ‘Mr.Nobody-liar.
The two protagonists: Emma and Mathew develop a
an uncommon Dr./patient relationship.
Matthew knows things about Dr. Lewis... things that happened in her past.
Emma knows about her past, too, but readers are left in the dark about both of their past histories.
Emma’s chapters are written in first person.
The other chapters, written in third person narrated by Matthew.
The supporting characters, (a police officer, ( Chris), his wife/journalist, ( Zara), and a nurse, ( Rhoda), add to the overall story but clearly have issues of their own.
Some of the side drama was more interesting than the main story.
Everyone had issues - everyone had a back story.
Potentially there was a fascinating medical/memory/ psychological-thriller-tale to be told ....with a strong beginning.
Unfortunately, a very slow pacing kicked in and never seemed to find its ground.
It was as if the writing itself sabotaged it’s own story....leaving behind a
moronic preposterous ending.
2.5 >> stretching to 3 stars -
Emma Lewis is a leader in her field of memory loss and is chosen to work on a case that will challenge her to determine the diagnosis — is it retrograde amnesia, fugue or lying. It will require her to return to her home town, which she and her family changed their names and left 14 years ago. But Emma knows it’s a big opportunity for her career because these cases are so rare.
This perfect offer out of the blue, this opportunity, the chance I’ve been waiting for. But I’d have to go there? Why does it have to be there of all the places in the world? I’ve spent fourteen years of my life trying to get away from that place, what happened there, and now … now I find out that the only way forward, the only way out, is back.
...if I’m honest, it scares me. My face out there connected and connected and connected until it all leads back to that one night. The night when my whole world was shattered and it was easier to just throw the whole thing in the trash than try to fix it.
Both main characters have issues with the past — Emma hides her past whereas Mr. Nobody has no past. He was found on a beach and has no memory of who he is or where he came from. It’s up to Emma to determine whether she can help him to remember. But she is having problems of her own.
His world shrinks to a pinhead and then dilates so wide, suddenly terrifyingly borderless. He has no edges anymore. Who is he? He has no self. He feels the panic roaring inside him, escalating, his heart tripping faster. His mind frantically searches for something—anything—to grab a hold of, his eyes wildly scanning the landscape around him. But there is no escape from it, the void. He is here and there is no before. There are no answers.
I’ve been so focused on putting those pieces—and you—back together again that somewhere along the way I came apart at the seams.
What a fun ride this was! It had all the elements of a great psychological thriller — suspense, mystery, twists and turns, hard to put down, kept you guessing, etc. I was in the minority with my response to Steadman’s previous work (Something in the Water). It just didn’t float my boat! (LOL). I was hesitant to read another book by Steadman but ultimately decided to take the chance and I am so glad I did.
Mr. Nobody grabbed me right from the start and kept me turning the pages as fast as possible. The premise was fascinating and the execution did it justice. This is a compelling story that you won’t be able to put down. I thought I had figured some of it out but I was happy to learn I was wrong. Mr. Nobody is a unique story that you won’t feel you’ve read before. The premise is fascinating and the execution does it justice.
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine Books and NetGalley for an advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review. -
4 - 5 stars. Title is Mr Nobody!
A man in his forties is found on beautiful Holkham Beach, Norfolk on a winters day, he’s soaked to the skin, he’s freezing cold and has no shoes on. He has no memory of who he is or how he got there - just fleeting thoughts and something written on his hand which he removes. Dr Emma Lewis is in her early 30’s, is a neuropsychologist and she is asked by a more experienced and well known American specialist to investigate. Does Mr Nobody have retrograde amnesia from a brain injury or is it a more rare psychological trauma or fugue? The story is told principally from Emma’s point of view and Mr Nobody. Emma is very conflicted about taking the case because of something in her past which occurred in Norfolk but she decides to overcome her fears of returning to the area in the hope that something good can come out of something bad.
The novel has dual mysteries- who exactly is Mr Nobody (christened Matthew meaning gift from God), what is wrong with him and what lurks in Emma’s past. Do they connect in any way? If so, how and why. This well written story is both intriguing and fascinating, there is tension and excitement which kept my interest throughout. The author keeps tantalising the reader with little snippets of information and I lapped it up!
The setting of Norfolk (Holkham, Holt, Burnham Market etc) adds greatly to the atmosphere, there are some very good scenes especially on the beach. The characters are good and very likeable with the exception of journalist Zara Poole who is career driven and doesn’t think of consequences in the pursuit of a story and making a name for herself. I really like the fascinating science and medical information, for example about fMRI’s, the science of the brain which is so well explained for this science numpty!
Overall, a good read. There are some sections that are maybe a bit over dramatic and I am uncertain whether what happens to Mr Nobody (no spoilers!) is indeed possible but the concept is so original that it doesn’t matter if it is or isn’t. The climax is exciting and probably not achievable for a normal human (ok for a Hollywood stunt person!) but it is so creative that artistic licence wins the day! Recommended.
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the ARC. -
2 Stars
A Man is found on the beach. When he awakes he has no memory of who he is. Is it retrograde amnesia or fugue state?
Emma Lewis is one of the leading Doctor in her field for memory loss, retrograde amnesia and fugue state. Called upon to help, she cannot say no. It would mean everything to her career.
The Government is hot on the man’s tail. Could that have anything to do with his medical state?
To be frank, what happens with man is well, absurd. My eyes were rolling and frankly, I have no words. What I can say is that this was creative to say the least.
This was a buddy read with Kaceey!
Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and Catherine Steadman for the arc.
Published on NetGalley and Goodreads on 2.23.20. -
Ms. Steadman’s debut, “Something in the Water” was one of my first NetGalley reads. I loved it, so I was excited when I saw her second book on NG!
The story of Dr. Emma Lewis and Mr. Nobody really peaked my interest at times, but ultimately left me with too many questions. The premise and writing are fantastic and I think the story had the potential to be really great. But it was bogged down with too many details and the ending didn’t do it for me. It didn’t have the “thrill” factor that keeps me engaged and wanting to flip the pages.
I’ll admit my expectations were high after reading her first book, so I was disappointed in this one. It looks like I might be in the minority on this one.
Thank you to NetGalley, Ballantine Book and Catherine Steadman for this digital ARC, in exchange for my honest review!
#NetGalley #MrNobody #Thriller
@CatSteadman
My Rating: 3.5 ⭐️’s (rounding down to 3)
Published: January 7th 2020 by Ballantine Books
Pages: 320
Recommend: Yes, but you might be disappointed if you read her first book. -
You settle into your reading nook, warm cup of something in your hand, winter outside the window (well, in California, that's relative, but still...), and start reading a thriller with a good pedigree and an intriguing cover. Perfect way to spend a January day. Until you reach a point in your reading where you've stalled so completely, you have to struggle to keep going. But going you must since it is a review copy and you've got to be fair. Well, to be fair, Mr. Nobody starts beautifully, atmospherically, intriguing, but after umpteen references to "What Happened Then," plus so many conversations that start "Er," tedium in large measure sets in. Others have jacked up their star awards because that beginning is so good, but I'm giving the lowest possible rating because of the disappointment and the incredibly silly denouement.
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A man is found on a Norfolk beach. He has no identification on him and is unable or unwilling to speak. Who is this man? How did he come to be on this beach and why is he not communicating with anyone? As the media gets hold of the story they dub him Mr Nobody. Rhoda a nurse at the hospital to which he is taken gives him the name Matthew. Neuropsychiatrist Dr Emma Lewis is called upon to assess this patient. Such a high profile case would make her well known. Ambition for her career wants this. But there is also a problem, as to assess him she would need to return to the place she left fourteen years before. Since then she has had a change of name and managed to do her best to erase all traces of her past. Dare she go back? But the temptation to investigate this case is just too much. Despite her misgivings she goes. But what will it mean for Emma? Can she help this patient? And how does this mystery man seem to know so much about her and her early life?
The story is told from the man’s point of view and also that of Emma’s and that makes for engaging reading. It’s particularly interesting hearing about dissociative fugue states as well as the way the memory can at times play tricks. I found the incident about the lost in the mall experiment on page 168 and people’s responses to it fascinating. For much of this novel I was thoroughly intrigued. But then it started to veer off into areas I found hard to accept. Some of the ending chapters and events I found too far-fetched. A lot of eye rolling went on. I questioned whether the actions were even possible. However others may not have as much a problem with it. But it did pull my rating down.
I have a feeling this is going to be one of those books that some people really respond to and others not so much. So best to make up your own mind on this one. There were also a number of errors in the text where words were misplaced or omitted. Hopefully this will be fixed before the published copy goes out. My thanks go to Simon & Schuster for my uncorrected proof copy to read and review. Because of the ending three stars was the best I could give this despite my interest in earlier chapters of the book. -
I liked the author's first book, “Something in the Water”. Unfortunately, her second book was an example of disappointing nonsense in which the reader is just strung along by the ridiculous plot. I feel like I was led on a wild goose chase. I can’t really explain how annoying this book was without spoilers, so I’ll hide the rest of this review.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. -
A man is found on a beach is Norfolk. He does not know who he is or why he is there. The only thing he remembers is the name of the woman who found him. A well known neuropsychiatric, Dr. Emma Lewes has been called in to assist investigating this case, but in doing so, she will be returning to the village of her childhood that she had fled from when something bad had happened. But "Mr Nobody" appears to know certain things about her, even though he can't remember things in his own past.
This st5has a slow pace and in parts, it seemed to drag on a bit. It does have an interesting take on amnesia and whether people can fake having it. The author has done her research into memory loss before writing this book. The final reveal was a bit disappointing and the ending was rushed. There are several twists as the story unfolds. I could not warm to any of the characters who were complex. The loose ends were all tied up nicely by the end of the book.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Simon and Schuster and the author Catherine Steadman for my ARC in exchange for an honest review. -
There are quite a few twists and turns in this story and I was intrigued right from the beginning. Emma is a neuropsychiatrist who specialises in memory disorders. She is presented with a case that appears to be exactly what she has been working toward.
In proceeding further it appears that the case may be linked with a past that she has tried very hard to bury.
I cannot say too much without giving this away but I was really enjoying this and then a bit disappointed with the way it all ended up. I think it became a bit over the top and this detracted a little.
Still a good read, thank you Simon & Schuster for the paperback ARC that I received. -
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This is such a bummer for me. I really loved Steadman’s debut novel, Something in the Water (though I’m chalking up about 33% of that to the audiobook narration which was fucking stellar,) so I was eager to get my hands on her follow-up, Mr. Nobody.
But… *fart noises*
This isn’t the first time I’ve been disappointed by a sophomore novel and it won’t be the last, but it’s still a bummer.
Mr. Nobody is the most vanilla – and slightly annoying – thriller I’ve read this year.
I know I can get a bit spicy like chicken wing sauce when I write negative reviews, but then there are times like these when I’m just mopey that I didn’t like something.
I’m Eeyore writing this review right now.
That might change the further I get into writing this. Sometimes I can work up a bad attitude from nothing. It’s like magic.
Dr. Emma Lewis, a neuropsychiatrist, is brought in to consult on a patient who is experiencing serious amnesia (fucking amnesia plots, ugh.) The man, who claims to have no idea who he is, washed up wounded on a beach in a small town that Emma has a history with. To do her job – to ascertain if Mr. Nobody, called Matthew by hospital staff, is faking or not – Emma must travel back to Norfolk and confront the past she had hoped to put behind her. And of course, Emma and Matthew start to blur those pesky lines between patient and doctor.
There is something about the tone of the writing that makes this less a thriller and more contemporary with elements of mystery. It’s pretty flat in terms of excitement. The summary blurb is more suspenseful than the actual novel.
The opening of this was pretty gripping, but once you get into the guts of the story the pace slows to a sedate crawl. Like a turtle on Ambien. Any interest I had in the mystery of “who is Matthew?” and “what is going on with Emma?” was suffocated to fucking death by the plotting and scene structure.
There's an effort to create some sinister questions - to keep an eerie mystery alive between the chunks of boringness by giving Emma a vague sordid past, but it was so delicately played I just didn’t care. Instead of getting her Sarah McLachlan on and building a mystery around Emma’s secrets, Steadman gives you basically nothing and drags Emma’s mystery out for an inordinate amount of page time. I mean, you get some answers, but they were answers that raised even more questions.
Being vague and being mysterious are not the same fucking thing.
The MC, Emma, had a weird vibe. She’s puffed up to be a star in her field, a super smarty-pants, but she never really does anything to convince you that’s true. It’s all telling, no showing. And for a grown woman who is apparently a big fucking deal in her career, she spends far too much time thinking about her father, her childhood, a dude she hasn’t seen since her school days and trying to say things that are specifically meant to cement her role as an unreliable narrator. There were moments that did not come off as natural, but gimmicky. I would have preferred a little more focus on the more important aspects of the plot that would have facilitated better pacing.
It’s just a personal preference, but I prefer grown-ass female characters who are not still hung up on high school boyfriends. I also prefer for male characters to be interesting because they are fleshed out and layered in their creation, not just because they’re handsome and different and that’s supposed to be enough.
But the real bummer for this novel is the ending because one: meh, and two: WHAT?! With so much mysterious vagueness created, and so many hints dropped to ensure the reader believes something big is coming, by the time Matthew’s identity is discovered it was super anti-climatic. As Matthew reveals more about his intentions and intent with Emma, my not caring turned into hardcore eye-rolling that might have sprained some optic muscles.
It was so ludicrous (and I’m not talking about the iconic rapper/Fast and Furious actor,) that my suspension of disbelief literally snapped and sent me plummeting to an early bookish death.
The writing quality is good - I do like Steadman as an author overall - but the pacing is slow, the characters missed the mark and the ending was too ridiculous to be believed. Mr. Nobody probably should have stayed a mystery to me.
⭐⭐ | 2 stars -
Emma Lewis is neuropsychiatrist, who is surprised when she's asked to work on a case for a newsworthy patient. Dubbed "Mr. Nobody," he's a man found on a British beach, in wet clothes and without any identification. He won't speak and the hospital staff are all drawn to him. But for Emma to take the case, it means returning to a place that she left fourteen years ago in disgrace--a place she's worked to leave behind and erase any signs of herself from.
"Why can't I remember? Why can't I remember my name? The weight of what this means bears down on him with each cold snatched breath he takes. Fear pumping through him, primal and quickening. Oh God. It's all gone. His world shrinks to a pinhead and then dilates so wide, suddenly terrifyingly borderless."
This book started out like gangbusters. Alternating between Emma and Mr. Nobody, whom the hospital staff quickly dubs Matthew, I was drawn in immediately. Who on earth is Matthew, why can't he remember who he is, and what is his deal? But there were a few issues. Emma clearly has a backstory. Yes, something happened to her fourteen years ago. To me, this is the equivalent of "vaguebooking"--you know when someone posts something on Facebook or social media: "Something horrible has happened. Oh woe is me." And then all their friends have to either guess, or say "Oh I'm so sorry," but the poster never actually tells you what happened? I'm sorry, but in books, after a while, dragging this all out is too much. Just freaking tell us what happened to you, Emma, or stop alluding to it!
So Emma and Matthew, of course, surpass patient/doctor boundaries, finding each other fascinating. There are, accordingly, twists in the book. Some, I will hand it to Steadman, are pretty darn good. Much of the book is quite readable and moves at a good pace--Emma's allusions to her past not withstanding. It's certainly intriguing. There are some interesting side characters: a local police officer and his nosy reporter wife; a benevolent nurse, etc. Emma's kind and patient brother.
But then the ending and biggest reveal comes along and eh. I found it a little anticlimactic. After all we've been through together, Emma?! I don't know. I was hoping for more, especially after all the fuss about Something in the Water, which I still haven't read. (I know, I know. It's on my TBR.)
So, in the end, this is an intriguing one. The plot is definitely original, I'll give you that. But throw in a slightly irritating main character and a somewhat disappointing ending and it was a 3.5 star read for me-just barely.
I received a copy from Random House/Ballantine and Netgalley in return for an honest review.
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Unfortunately, this really dragged. I liked Steadman's "Something in the Water", which I thought was quite entertaining, but this one had fairly bland characters and a plot tat felt too drawn out and not terribly original. I have to say, though, I am generally not a fan of amnesia premises, so that might have been a clue to that I might not like this from the start. Oh, well, on to the next one!
Find my book reviews and more at
http://www.princessandpen.com -
Oh. My. Gosh. This book! You need to read it! Yes, you! And you, and you too! I have never had such a wild and stunning reading experience as I did reading Mr. Nobody. Catherine Steadman is an absolute master of her craft!
Mr. Nobody grabbed my attention first from the title and then by its premise. A man washes up on the shore of a small English town. He’s soaking wet, shoeless, and injured. Most importantly, he has no memory of who he is or what happened to him. Intrigued yet? I was.
I have never really cared for mysteries and was picky with thrillers because so often they’re too predictable or you figure it all out halfway through. Not with this book! Not at all! I am truly blown away but the amount of skill and talent that went into weaving such a complex and unpredictable story. Again and again Steadman throws out a red herring and you think ahh, this is where it’s going. Or even woah, so that’s it? Only to have the story take yet another twist. Twist after twist after twist in this one. Even to the very end I didn’t know what was going to happen. In fact, even when I thought I had finally reached the end and things were going to wrap up from there, it still wasn’t the end at all! This was such a blast to read. I could not put it down and repeatedly fell asleep late at night just trying to force myself awake to keep going. I actually ultimately finished it at 4am and was completely blown away and then just utterly hyped at what a phenomenal read this had been!
I highly, highly recommend this one to absolutely everyone including and maybe especially those who don’t often read or don’t think they like this genre. So, so good! Crazy, amazing good! -
Mr. Nobody by Catherine Steadman the story of an unknown man found on the beach who has no memory of how he got there and a doctor sent to treat him that is trying to hide her past.
This is a slow burning story, unfortunately it failed to hold my interest.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster UK for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review. -
The first part of this book was really good. The mystery of who "Mr Nobody" is and how he ended up on the beach captivated me from the start and made me keep reading. Then two things happened that made this book just an ok read overall.
One is--I really hate it when everyone else in the book knows something that the reader does not. Emma has some sort of giant secret from her past that has forced her to change her name and move away, now she is back in her home town after a number of years and is frightened that it will all come out again. And when it finally does...I was underwhelmed with the information and wondered why the author drug out the reveal for so long.
The second thing was that the conclusion to the mystery about Mr. Nobody/Matthew was just bizarre and a really strange, pretty much unbelievable resolution. I didn't buy it at all, it almost seemed like one of those crazy movie-of-the-week shows from the 80s or a very bad Lifetime movie. I love a good amnesia story but this one's conclusion was just bad.
Maybe Steadman's books are just not for me, this is the second one of hers that I've read and been not terribly impressed with the plot line.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own. -
The beginning of Nr. Nobody held so much promise. I was intrigued by the premise of amnesia and possible fugue state. Who is Mr. Nobody and what secrets does he hold? Dr. Emma Lewis senses something familiar. Does she know him? Is he someone from her past, or is it all wishful thinking? Seeking to unravel the mystery, I was enthralled with the possibilities of where the story was going. Unfortunately, the ending left me somewhat disappointed. The plot didn’t go the way I had hoped. Questions were answered, but I was still left wanting more. I enjoyed Something in the Water, and am looking forward to The Disappearing Act. This was not a complete letdown, I just wanted more twists. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
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2.5 stars
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3.5 stars.
A man with no memory is found on a deserted beach by a dog walker. Is it a state of retrograde amnesia, a fugue, or even worse, could he be faking it? Wanting to avoid a scandal like they had in the past when they came across ‘The Piano Man’ the government brings in Emma, a neuropsychiatrist. In all of the country she’s one with the most expertise in this field.
I found it fascinating to read about the different possibilities and always find the mind to be such curious thing, and I was wondering if it was possible that Mr. Nobody had a hidden agenda. Does he really have no memory? Is he a good guy or a bad guy? His very decisive actions in a moment of crisis in the hospital speak volumes about his past even without an identity, or so it seemed, and what was even more mystifying is that he seemed to recognize Emma. Could he be connected to her past in some way? A past that she hates to think about and even made her contemplate taking the job – a once in a million opportunity – in the first place. She feels guilty about her past too but about what exactly is information that slowly trickles in over the course of the novel.
Emma is drawn to this mystery man who’s soon dubbed Matthew by hospital staff, but despite the tests she’s running she’s unable to explain how he knows so much about her. The tension mounts when people find out about her and her past – which we’re still much in the dark about at that point – and she doesn’t feel safe anymore. The confusion is all around until the most shocking truth about Matthew finally comes out.
Mr. Nobody was a pacey thriller which kept me firmly in its grip. The suspense was brilliant and I was guessing all the way throughout the book. The ending was definitely twisty but felt a tad over-the-top for me and I was a little disappointed that a character who I found quite clever could turn into someone so stupid. I’m sure most readers won’t have a problem with that twist though and will be delighted with its orginality so don’t let me stop you from finding out for yourself!
One thing is for sure, Mr. Nobody certainly isn’t a nobody. He’s very much somebody and you’ll know it when you read this novel. -
I adored Something In The Water so I leapt into Mr Nobody with huge anticipation and it delivered on every level for me – tense and twisted, a cleverly unfolding plot, a hint of spookiness and beautifully written.
A man is found on a Norfolk beach. He doesn’t know who he is or what happened but he knows he has to find her. But find who? Enter Dr Emma Lewis, a specialist in the fugue field, a dark past haunting her return to her childhood county. Can she find the truth?
This is as twisted as you like and so pacy even as it is considered and compelling. As events unfold it is utterly gripping and utterly baffling, a delightfully intelligent mystery that defies expectation many times.
The last few chapters are rock and roll as everything comes to a head and the truth is revealed, the setting is immersive and haunting throughout and this is one of those books that sends you down the proverbial rabbit hole. Anyone for croquet?
Excellent. I adored it. Highly Recommended. -
I really enjoyed the first half and then some of the novel. I liked the characters of Emma, Rhoda, and and I was intrigued by "Mr. Nobody" or Matthew, as he later became known. But then it fell off the tracks for me, seemed very rushed, and in the end I was unsatisfied.
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This one fell down at the final hurdle for me, which took it from 5 to 4 stars. So still overall a VERY strong read, but there was something in the final climax that I found less satisfying. But! Generally this is a nicely character driven suspense novel with some pulse pounding turning points. I hesitate to call them twists--this isn't really a thriller that pulls the rug out from under you on anything (part of why I loved it a tick less). But there ares some solid character-based turns that ratchet up the conflict/tension nicely.
I really connected with Emma, the primary character, and found her particular backstory compelling. It's built up very well--you know Emma used to be someone else, and something so bad happened in her hometown at a teen that she and her family had to change their identities. The case of Mr. Nobody, a potentially groundbreaking fugue case, will force Emma to return home and risk being discovered. The tension of exactly what happened built nicely up to about the middle, and then the reveal was super engrossing.
Emma's chapters are first person, and then there are some third person chapters capturing other POVs--Mr. Nobody, nurse Rhoda, police officer Chris, and Chris' wife/journalist Zara. In some of these chapters there's a bit of 3rd person POV head hopping, but it was only noticeable once or twice, not a deal breaker. Generally these other 3rd person POVs are clearly there for narrative function (so we get insight into something important happening), but they're not as good/effective as Emma's sections. Emma I felt like I knew and cared about. Rhoda too, actually. But everyone else is underdeveloped, which only really matters in the case of one of them, which I'll place in a spoiler tag.
Speaking generally, the series of reveals at the end make sense, but just weren't what I was expecting? So I was still able to enjoy it on the book's terms, just I couldn't let go of my own expectations. Up to the very end I kept expecting a late game reveal that would speak to one of my thoughts/guesses, and it simply didn't happen. Which is fine, but I expect other regular thriller readers will find the ending a tiny bit pat.
Mr. Nobody will appeal to suspense fans who enjoy character driven procedural-type stories. It's very well written-I was impressed with the prose several times; nice level of detail and it was a pleasant read. (If that makes sense? Some books the prose is just a tick more enjoyable on a technical level.) The soap level is turned up to about 7. I would have simply liked that dial turned up to 10. -
3.5 ⭐️ Since this is more of a mystery than a thriller I suggest going into this one blind. This book isn’t perfect, there are a couple inconsistencies & I’m not sure in the end how plausible it is. However, it has two things going for it: first, I did the audiobook & Catherine narrates herself. Normally I find that’s not a good decision on the author’s part but this author is a well known actress & she does an excellent job. Second, the way the story unfolds really worked for me. I started & finished this in one day because I had to know what happens. I’m curious what everyone is going to think of this one. I think readers who only dabble in this genre are gonna love it. I think the die hard thriller readers are going to fall between 3-4 stars like me. This book ticked a couple boxes for me on my reading challenges & I actually think this one is better than her first. I’m not mad at it 🤷♀️
