Review: The Sleepwalker - Ian Blackwood - May 2025 Lately, I’ve been riding a thrilling wave of psychological suspense, and thanks to Zooloo’s Book Tours—who specialize in gripping thriller reads—I’ve discovered some absolute gems. One standout is The Sleepwalker by Ian Blackwood, an ARC I couldn’t put down. This intense psychological thriller reminded me of Anna O by Matthew Blake with hints of Megan Goldin’s Stay Awake —a chilling mix of sleep disorders, unreliable perception, and dangerous secrets. Dr. Ellie Thompson is the kind of protagonist who pulls you in immediately. A successful doctor, Ellie has always battled vivid nightmares. But now, those nightmares are seeping into her waking life. She finds blood on her hands, shards of glass in her bed, and knives under her pillow—without any memory of how they got there. As her grip on reality loosens, Ellie becomes desperate for answers, yet fearful of seeking help. After all, speaking to a therapist could mean suspension from h...

      Review: Anna O - Matthew Blake - January 2024 Thanks to HarperCollins NZ for the ARC. Anna O had captured my attention and I was looking forward to reading it as I had read a few similar titles including A Long Long Sleep by Anna Sheehan and Stay Awake by Megan Goldin. Both books tackled events that caused trauma and the person to either fall into a deep sleep or trouble if they do fall asleep. In Anna O, four years ago Anna was out with her family and friends when a tragedy occurred - two of her friends were murdered and the main suspect was Anna. Shortly after the incident, Anna fell asleep and years later she is still asleep and hasn't awoken. It's like it is stuck in a coma. The police have enlisted the help of the Abbey Sleep Clinic where Dr. Benedict Price works and his mentor Dr. Bloom to try and wake Anna and make her fit for trial. Ben tries various techniques in the present and then in the past timeline, the book from Anna's POV talks about what led up ...