I’ve read a few books with really original plots recently but I think this one stand out.
Anna O is an infamous young lady who was found lying between two people who had stabbed to death. She was asleep, and four years later she still is.
The judiciary wants to put her on trial, but first they need to get her into a fit enough condition to stand trial.
They have her moved to the Abbey sleep clinic on Harley Street and place her under the treatment of Dr Benedict Prince, who has recently published a paper on Resignation Syndrome. (That had me reaching for Google and spending a good hour reading about the syndrome)
From there the plot splits between several characters.
Benedict himself.
His ex wife, who was the first Police Officer on the scene of the murder.
Anna O’s Mom, an ex Shadow Minister, now Vicar , who was, and is, more interested in saving her own reputation than that of her daughter.
Anna’s Dad, a Banker who has little in common with his wife or daughter.
Lola, a blogger and armchair detective that is linked to Anna, and possibly the murders. Her online persona is @Suspect8. Insinuating she was at the scene.
The plot is brilliantly woven from the outlook of each of these characters.
It’s a battle for the truth. Is Anna O a murderer, or a convenient scapegoat.
Can Benedict rouse her from her sleep and have her sufficiently compos mantis enough to tell her story.
The Publishers Gumph
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.
What I thought
It’s a real page turner of a book. I’d never heard of Resignation Syndrome before, and I’ve found out that it’s a relatively newly diagnosed condition, but I can see many more authors using it as the spine of a plot.
The plot itself is really good and with one exception I didn’t second guess where the story was going.
At 448 pages it’s a bit long but not a page is wasted.
I can’t wait to see what Matthew Blake writes next.
nigeladamsbookworm 