I always feel drawn to premises revolving around amnesia. If done right, they have the potential to be intriguing, twisty and tense. Other times they just fall flat, but it’s a chance I am willing to take!

So, you ask, which one was it: an epic psychological thriller, or a dud? Let me begin by saying that this my second attempt at reading this book. I picked it up late last year, didn’t click with it and put it aside. Drawn again to the premise, I recently spotted it among my TBR pile and was very happy to find that the second time around I was quickly drawn into the story. I really liked Dr Emma Lewis, the young, driven neuropsychologist with a deep dark secret of her own in her past. Emma struck just the right balance between vulnerability and ambitious, intelligent career woman. Having some skeletons in her family closet added to the mystery, as I was looking forward to finding out what had made her this reclusive character, when she seemed otherwise young, capable and liked by those around her. Getting two mysteries for the price of one, I thought – bonus!

I also really enjoyed the author’s willingness to divulge some of Emma’s knowledge obtained by her profession, especially related to retrograde amnesia and how the brain functions, as observed in Emma’s mysterious patient Mr Nobody. With this background information, the situation the man has found himself in seemed not only more plausible, but also a lot more fascinating.

The picture painted, and all my senses on high alert as I was trying to unravel some of the strands of the story, I eagerly turned the pages and was loathe to put the book down. Tension mounted as Emma found herself in a secluded house in the English countryside, and her patient appeared to be hiding some mysterious abilities, including the knowledge of some of Emma’s most intimate secrets, even though she has never met him before. Or has she? Chris, a character from Emma’s past, and his wife Zara made for an enigmatic support cast and alternative POV, and I was well and truly hooked. At this stage, anything was possible, and it all looked great.

Then comes the pivotal point in a book that either wraps it up in a satisfying finale or brings out some convoluted twists and farfetched plot points that is the make it or break it moment in the story. Sadly it was the latter for me here. I remember almost groaning at one stage in the story when I realised that the author was trying to inject something unexpected into the plot that totally backfired for me. Which is a shame, because up to that point it could have easily gone either way. Let’s just say that I don’t mind a “killer twist”, a total change in direction the story is taking, as long as I can follow its logic and it is somewhat believable. But after turning the last page, I am still not comfortable with some of the pivotal plot points here.

All in all, MR NOBODY was an intriguing story of a man who finds himself washed up on a beach with no idea who he is and how he got there. With the framework of real facts about the neuroscience behind retrograde amnesia, and an enigmatic main protagonist who is determined to help Mr Nobody discover his true identity, the book quickly drew me in and hooked me. But even though the ending was certainly original and unusual, it left too many unanswered questions and loose ends to bring it to a satisfying close. So it fell a little bit flat, like a pancake cooked just right at the bottom but flipped too vigorously that splattered and crumbled all over the pan. Still edible but not as tasty as it could have been. That said, I really enjoyed the author’s writing style and will definitely read her previous novel INTO THE WATER.

“It’s her. She’s come. For him. He doesn’t know who she is but he knows she is the one he’s been waiting for.”

When neuropsychiatrist Dr Emma Lewis is asked to assess a man found injured and mute on a deserted beach in Norfolk with no memory of who he is or how he got there, she sets aside her reluctance to return to the area in which she grew up for the opportunity to advance her research into fugue states.

Emma’s first meeting with the man the media has dubbed Mr. Nobody, and whom the hospital staff have named Matthew, is a shock to them both. The man seems to recognise her in the moment before he is overwhelmed by a panic attack, mumbling not the name she uses now, but the name she was once known by.

Emma is both panicked, and intrigued, how can this stranger remember nothing of himself, but know who she really is? And what other secrets does Mr. Nobody know?

The narrative alternates between Emma’s first person perspective as she attempts to determine if Matthew is telling the truth about his amnesia, and if so whether the condition is the temporary or permanent result of physical or psychological trauma; and a third person perspective, providing some insight into the thoughts and behaviour of Matthew and a couple of other characters. I think I would have preferred a single or dual perspective though, as I did feel the pace occasionally suffered.

Emma’s an interesting character, Steadman makes it clear early that she has a tragic past, and is skittish about returning to Norfolk. As it happens, I found her secret to be rather anticlimactic, however it does contribute to her vulnerability in the not strictly professional relationship she develops with Matthew.

Matthew’s secrets are quite stunning however, and the latter half of the novel is tense and thrilling as the truth about Mr. Nobody unravels.

Ultimately I’m left with mixed feelings though, while I think Mr Nobody has all the elements of an exciting psychological thriller, Im afraid it didn’t quite come together for me.

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.

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

I found this book to be ok but I really struggled to get into it. It was slow and lacked intensity. I didn't really connect with the characters either.

I loved this twisty edge of my seat thriller from Catherine Steadman. I wasn't a huge fan of her first novel, but this one really hit the mark for me.

I find the human brain fascinating. So the premise of this story, "Mr Nobody", a man found on a beach with no identification and memory, and a young female Neuropsychiatrist (Dr Emma Lewis) being brought in to assess him and determine if he is lying, really appealed to me. What gave this story even more depth and twists, is that Dr Lewis has her own secrets and must return to her home town which she had fled from over 14 years ago after a terrible incident.

Steadman does a great job of revealing the story at just the right pace. She had me gripped from the first chapter and I couldn't predict where things would end up and who Mr Nobody would be. Her writing flowed with ease and there were no loose ends. This was a perfect summer beach read for me.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster (Australia) for an advance e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Catherine Steadman’s debut novel ‘Something in the Water’ was an excellent and exciting tale, gripping and fast-paced. So going by that good experience, I was eager to give her second novel a go.

Unfortunately Mr Nobody did not quite reach the same levels of intensity and pace as its predecessor did for me. It was a lot slower paced, achingly slow in the first 40-50% and I found myself in equal parts drifting off and frustrated that so little had happened. Not to mention the over-use of the plot device where the main character repeatedly refers to a traumatic incident from the past, but the reader cannot find out the details until much later in the book; it makes it really difficult to garner sympathy for the character and in the end, a tool used for building suspense, just becomes a nuisance, and I started to lose interest. I’m really not a fan of this technique...

The remaining 40% was quicker paced and brought along the action, but kind of fizzled out in the end. I mean there was this slow-burn build up, overly detailed and factual at time, and then swish, done, over, finished.

I wanted to like this one more, but it just didn’t do it for me. Thanks to Catherine Steadman, Simon & Schuster (Australia), and NetGalley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.