NOTES FROM NOWHERE: Cryptic Latin. A defiant city. A man still bleeding from an old war. | A Novella About Almost Being a Spy

by A. Dixit

Cryptic Latin. A defiant city. A man still bleeding from an old war. In the shadowed streets of London, history whispers through the stones, and every corner hides a secret. Notes from Nowhere follows Matt, an ordinary man drawn into extraordinary circumstances, where secrecy is currency, and anxiety his reward. Between cryptic messages, hidden notes, and unseen forces, he navigates a city that refuses to forgive the past. It is a story of observation, subtle espionage, and the quiet tension of a life almost entangled in danger. This novella is a meditation on vigilance, secrecy, and the faint pulse of adventure lurking just beneath the surface of everyday life. For readers who love dry humour, historical puzzles, and the thrill of near-spycraft, Notes from Nowhere is a story of intrigue that lingers long after the final page. Cryptic Latin. A defiant city. A man still bleeding from an old war.
In the shadowed streets of London, history whispers through every stone, and nothing is ever as ordinary as it seems. Notes from Nowhere is a short thriller novella that blends mystery, historical intrigue, dry humour, and near-spycraft into a tightly crafted, atmospheric read.

Matt is an everyday man pulled into extraordinary secrets—coded messages, hidden notes, and shadowy watchers—as London’s past bleeds into its present. What begins as a small curiosity turns into a quiet, unsettling game of observation and survival.

Perfect for readers who
• Short mystery thrillers
• Quick reads under two hours
• Historical puzzles and cryptic clues
• Spy-adjacent stories without the clichés
• Dark humour and subtle psychological tension

If you love stories with hidden messages, conspiracy threads, and a protagonist who almost becomes a spy, then Notes from Nowhere is a sharp, immersive novella that lingers long after the final page.

97 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 3, 2025

Reviews

[Ricardo Medina · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quiet mystery that lingers in the mind

I read this book thanks to my Kindle Unlimited subscription, and it turned out to be a surprisingly memorable experience. Notes from Nowhere is a short read, but it carries a strong emotional and atmospheric weight. I finished it quickly, yet the story stayed with me long after, thanks to its calm, almost unsettling tone. The London setting feels shadowed and watchful, blending everyday routines with something slightly off beneath the surface.

Matt is a compelling main character—tired, observant, and quietly anxious in a very human way. I enjoyed being inside his head, especially the dry humor and self-awareness that balance the growing unease. The Latin quotes and cryptic notes scattered throughout the chapters add an extra layer of intrigue, giving the story a thoughtful, almost intellectual edge.

This is not an action-driven thriller. Instead, it relies on mood, ambiguity, and small details that slowly gain importance. What impressed me most is how much the book achieves in so few pages, leaving you thinking about identity, secrecy, and what remains unsaid.

[akshay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of Notes from Nowhere and ended up finishing it in one sitting. It’s a short read (about 2 hours), but it has this strange, quiet atmosphere that stays with you—almost like the sweet aftertaste of coffee. The mix of everyday London life with these odd Latin notes and bits of financial tension felt very different from the usual thrillers I read.

Matt as a character comes across as weary, slightly paranoid, and unintentionally funny in that dry, British way. I liked following his thoughts more than I expected to. The story doesn’t try to be loud or action-heavy—it’s more about the slow creep of unease and that feeling that something is a bit “off” just beneath the surface.

I enjoyed it, especially how small details ended up mattering more later. Overall, a good first attempt, and I’m curious to see where the author goes from here.

[Belinda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A mystery that weaves the old with the modernized.

I am a language (any language) buff, so each chapter starting with a quote in Latin and Latin peppered throughout was extra appealing. This was the first debut novel that did not require editing...which made it extra easy and pleasant to read. The story itself was engaging and the mystery drew you in and kept you hooked. Very enjoyable read!

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

good short book!

Notes from Nowhere is a compact yet engaging read that I finished in about an hour. Despite its brevity, the book creates a strong sense of mystery through its quiet. The cryptic notes and London setting draw you in quickly, making it hard to put down.
What stands out is how the story relies on ambiguity and mood, leaving the reader thinking long after it ends. It’s an ideal read for anyone who enjoys thoughtful, open-ended mysteries and wants something brief but memorable.

[Lisa Guerrero · Rating 5 out of 5]

Compelling Read

A haunting but thoughtful story that will stick with you long after it ends. It was short but very impactful. I felt as though I was being pulled into the shadowy city that had a philosophical take on identity, loyalty, and what it means to live between truth and secrecy. Such an incredibly compelling read.

Merged review:

A haunting but thoughtful story that will stick with you long after it ends. It was short but very impactful. I felt as though I was being pulled into the shadowy city that had a philosophical take on identity, loyalty and what it means to live between truth and secrecy. Such an incredibly compelling read.

[R Greyta · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quiet, intelligent thriller that lingers long after the final page

Notes from Nowhere by A. Dixit is a brilliantly atmospheric novella that proves you don’t need explosions or over-the-top spy tropes to create real tension.

Set in the shadowed streets of London, the story follows Matt—an ordinary man slowly pulled into a web of cryptic messages, historical echoes, and unsettling observation. What I loved most is how subtle this book is. The danger is never loud, yet it’s always present. Every note, every glance, every fragment of history feels deliberate and meaningful.

The writing is sharp and controlled, with dry humour woven seamlessly through moments of unease. London itself becomes a character—defiant, watchful, and steeped in secrets that refuse to stay buried. The themes of vigilance, secrecy, and lives shaped by old wars are handled with intelligence and restraint.

This is near-spycraft at its best: quiet, psychological, and deeply immersive. If you enjoy short thrillers, historical puzzles, coded clues, and stories where the tension creeps up on you rather than shouts, this novella is an absolute gem.

Highly recommended—and one that stays with you.

[Razvan-Gabriel Popa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well‑written book that makes excellent use of its unreliable narrator, Matt, a survivor of the tube attacks in London. His scars aren't physical, but rather psychological, and they are the driving force behind this story that'll keep you guessing. Are ruthless agents of the secret services exploiting his trauma and slowly turning him into their weapon? Which of the people around him are genuine friends and which are handlers? Or is he simply delusional, imagining threats, connecting dots that are not there, and drifting dangerously close to killing someone? There is only one way to find out...

[Russell Stoewe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Describing this book overly takes away some of its impact. It's manic and circular, often returning to previous threads in a way designed to confuse the reader as much as it does the main character. I will say that it is well-written and structured in the end, and its abbreviated length means you get to the author's intent before it loses you.

A unique short-ish story that will likely stick with me for some time.