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3.46 AVERAGE
3.46 AVERAGE
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Last year I read Steadman’s debut novel, Something in the Water, which I really enjoyed, so I was looking forward to this new one published earlier in the year.
Mr Nobodystarts with a handsome man washed up on a Norfolk beach who cannot remember his name and has no ID on his person. In fact, he has no memory at all. A young neuropsychiatrist from London, Dr Emma Lewis, is drafted in to determine if he is faking it, but Dr Lewis has her own mysterious past, having been in a witness protection program for the past 14 years, and the decision to accept the job is a risky one.
The author plays her hand carefully, drip-feeding information bit by bit, so the doctor’s back story doesn’t become clear until you are two-thirds of the way through the novel, making this a proper page-turner. There are enough hints that the amnesiac may also have a dodgy past — perhaps he was an assassin or a spy or worked for the military in some capacity.
Unfortunately, this curious medical mystery goes a bit over-the-top toward the end and heads into psychological thriller territory with a wholly unbelievable denouement. Up until the 80% mark (yes, I read this on a Kindle) I really enjoyed the story, but it was let down by a ludicrous ending that tied up all the loose bits too neatly, a common fault of the genre, I guess. And at 400 pages, it was far too long…
Mr Nobodystarts with a handsome man washed up on a Norfolk beach who cannot remember his name and has no ID on his person. In fact, he has no memory at all. A young neuropsychiatrist from London, Dr Emma Lewis, is drafted in to determine if he is faking it, but Dr Lewis has her own mysterious past, having been in a witness protection program for the past 14 years, and the decision to accept the job is a risky one.
The author plays her hand carefully, drip-feeding information bit by bit, so the doctor’s back story doesn’t become clear until you are two-thirds of the way through the novel, making this a proper page-turner. There are enough hints that the amnesiac may also have a dodgy past — perhaps he was an assassin or a spy or worked for the military in some capacity.
Unfortunately, this curious medical mystery goes a bit over-the-top toward the end and heads into psychological thriller territory with a wholly unbelievable denouement. Up until the 80% mark (yes, I read this on a Kindle) I really enjoyed the story, but it was let down by a ludicrous ending that tied up all the loose bits too neatly, a common fault of the genre, I guess. And at 400 pages, it was far too long…
Matthew was found on the beach with injuries to him and yet he has no idea who he is or where is home. It's a case of no identity. Dr. Emma Lewis was brought in as one of the top researcher to correctly diagnose him. Yet, Emma also has a dark background that she does not want any one to know, especially now that she have put it all behind her.
I find that the story base on medical background intriguing. Fugue diagnose is rare and few in between. However, the scientific part of diagnosing Matthew was very bare. One CT scan, one fMRI, and a few conversations just doesn't make me believe that she was really trying to do any type of research. I find Emma's dark background is very insignificant to the story. Emma went back to a town that is next to the town where she grew up and fled from. It seems that her background was added to create more to the mysteriousness of the story, without actually bringing much to the story as a whole. I would have like to see the story of Matthew's background developed more than Emma's background. The story seems to float on top and no one character was ever truly dug deep and explored.
For example, the story never really explain how Matthew came to know the background to Rhonda's story. That was skim over. So why bother with writing Rhonda's backstory? Which definitely was irrelevant and had no connection whatever so to the story line.
In the end, the story doesn't leave me wanting more as it does come to a close; however, it's not a strong story where it leave me satisfy.
I find that the story base on medical background intriguing. Fugue diagnose is rare and few in between. However, the scientific part of diagnosing Matthew was very bare. One CT scan, one fMRI, and a few conversations just doesn't make me believe that she was really trying to do any type of research. I find Emma's dark background is very insignificant to the story. Emma went back to a town that is next to the town where she grew up and fled from. It seems that her background was added to create more to the mysteriousness of the story, without actually bringing much to the story as a whole. I would have like to see the story of Matthew's background developed more than Emma's background. The story seems to float on top and no one character was ever truly dug deep and explored.
For example, the story never really explain how Matthew came to know the background to Rhonda's story. That was skim over. So why bother with writing Rhonda's backstory? Which definitely was irrelevant and had no connection whatever so to the story line.
In the end, the story doesn't leave me wanting more as it does come to a close; however, it's not a strong story where it leave me satisfy.
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Minor: Gun violence, Violence
This book has so many twists and turns that it kept my attention. A little hard to follow at times, but overall a good book.
This book was much better & more thought out than Something in the Water. It had a bit of a slow start but then moved on at a good pace. The ending took a unexpected & quick turn, but it was satisfying.
I wish it had a few more twists along the way and answered some sub-plot questions, but the ending blew me away.