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Nowhere Man
...a gripping, edge-of-your-seat thriller... Wealthy stock trader Michael Hunt is a secretive man with a past he's not even shared with Sonya, his university professor wife. But Sonya is forced to start piecing it together when Michael suddenly goes missing leaving her with millions in debt, a bank foreclosing on their Sydney beach house, and many unanswered questions. And when the global financial crisis erupts, Sonya's world gets even bleaker... Until she stumbles on some strange files... files that will change her life forever . . . The key to repaying her debts... and to finding Michael... at least to why he left... and why he lied. Using the files, Sonya risks everything. Her journey through reeling stock markets, a love-triangle murder and conspiracy takes her from Sydney to Princeton University to ask a famous physicist to help her unlock the mystery. Sonya's hunt for Michael becomes a search for herself. ... if only she knew what he knew...
384 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
3 people are currently reading
80 people want to read
About the author
John M. Green
15 books29 followersWhen it dawned on John that what got him up in the morning was writing, not his day job, he quit the job. That was after 30 years in executive life. He was then an executive director in a leading investment bank. Earlier, he’d been a partner in 2 major law firms, and a director of a publishing house. ABC Radio says John's thriller-writing has "the sophistication of John le Carré and the pace of Jeffrey Archer."
His novels are: Nowhere Man, a financial thriller with a futuristic twist.
Born to Run, a political thriller about a US presidential election that gets derailed by murder, terror & treason.
The Trusted, an eco-cyber-thriller: When saving the planet means destroying it!
John's also a well-known business writer and commentator. His pieces have appeared in a variety of Australian and overseas publications including: ABC Drum Online, Company Director, Business Spectator, The Australian, The Australian Financial Review, The Age, The Bulletin, and the UK’s Financial Times.
As well as writing, John's on the governing council of the National Library of Australia, is a board member of two stock-exchange-listed corporations and not-for-profits, as well as a co-founder of Pantera Press. He lives in Sydney with his wife, a sculptor.
John is currently working on his next thriller, due for release in 2016.
His novels are: Nowhere Man, a financial thriller with a futuristic twist.
Born to Run, a political thriller about a US presidential election that gets derailed by murder, terror & treason.
The Trusted, an eco-cyber-thriller: When saving the planet means destroying it!
John's also a well-known business writer and commentator. His pieces have appeared in a variety of Australian and overseas publications including: ABC Drum Online, Company Director, Business Spectator, The Australian, The Australian Financial Review, The Age, The Bulletin, and the UK’s Financial Times.
As well as writing, John's on the governing council of the National Library of Australia, is a board member of two stock-exchange-listed corporations and not-for-profits, as well as a co-founder of Pantera Press. He lives in Sydney with his wife, a sculptor.
John is currently working on his next thriller, due for release in 2016.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
January 8, 2011
I can’t believe that I can’t find a negative review of John M Green’s novel Nowhere Man on the internet, other than a few meaningless ones that just say things like ‘blah’. Maybe John M’s a really nice bloke and no-one wants to hurt his feelings or maybe, as I’ve read in the newspaper, selling books is all about marketing these days and he has the resources to manipulate what can be easily found on search engines. Or maybe because he’s a powerful, wealthy lawyer and investment banker it’s best to keep on the right side of him.
I bought Nowhere Man a few days ago at the exorbitant price of $36.99 (surely a mistake I now realise) after my sister told me she’d heard really good things about it. I had to stay home to rest a sore back so was able to read it all pretty much in one sitting, which I usually find is a great way to read a ‘thriller’. I don’t remember ever being so disappointed by a novel. The characters are shallow and their motivations confusing, the plot is poorly constructed, so many things go unexplained and so many threads of the story go nowhere.
The first part, setting up the story, was reasonably interesting so I did keep reading but overall the story reminded me of some of the compositions I used to write in primary school where, at seven or eight, I could set up a basic sort of plot but had no idea how to finish it and had to opt for the ‘and then I woke up and found that it was just a dream’ ending.
I can see why publishers found the plot ‘absurd’ and rejected it, forcing John M Green to do his own publishing. Most of the people I can think of who would enjoy a ‘financial thriller’ would be very put off by the supernatural elements of the plot – I think this is a jarring contradiction in style.
I bought Nowhere Man a few days ago at the exorbitant price of $36.99 (surely a mistake I now realise) after my sister told me she’d heard really good things about it. I had to stay home to rest a sore back so was able to read it all pretty much in one sitting, which I usually find is a great way to read a ‘thriller’. I don’t remember ever being so disappointed by a novel. The characters are shallow and their motivations confusing, the plot is poorly constructed, so many things go unexplained and so many threads of the story go nowhere.
The first part, setting up the story, was reasonably interesting so I did keep reading but overall the story reminded me of some of the compositions I used to write in primary school where, at seven or eight, I could set up a basic sort of plot but had no idea how to finish it and had to opt for the ‘and then I woke up and found that it was just a dream’ ending.
I can see why publishers found the plot ‘absurd’ and rejected it, forcing John M Green to do his own publishing. Most of the people I can think of who would enjoy a ‘financial thriller’ would be very put off by the supernatural elements of the plot – I think this is a jarring contradiction in style.
September 6, 2011
I read this while travelling, and i quite enjoyed it. Lent by my husband, who wasn't all that enthused by it, i didn't expect much, but enjoyed every moment of it. The only bit i wasn't that keen about was that they seemed to be forcing some sort of spark between the lead female character and that professor guy, but it just wasn't believable considering they both seemed to still be in love with their respective absent spouses. But the book was enjoyable, if you aren't expecting much.
September 12, 2011
I’m not sure how I feel about this book but it’s only worth maybe 2 or 2 and a half stars. While it was mindless and an easy read, it wasn’t exciting the conflict was over very quickly and love interest attempt failed. It wasn’t worth reading.
September 14, 2010
I started reading this and was a bit uncertain but then the story drew me in and I ended up liking it. The only criticism being Green could have fleshed out the character Michael a bit more and why/how he got involved in his dealings.
April 6, 2012
Nowhere Man is the successful debut novel from Australian author John M. Green and is set in Sydney. The novel begins with Sonya returning from her early morning run only to find husband Michael has left her, leaving a mysterious note on the bed for her to find.
We soon learn that Michael was a very private man working from home and trading on the stock market. When Sonya discovers his private computer files, she realises Michael has been keeping secrets from her the entire time they've been together.
Looking at his letter with fresh eyes, Sonya begins to suspect Michael may not have left her voluntarily and sets out determined to find the truth.
Nowhere Man is an economic thriller with a science fiction twist and the plot and pace had me turning the pages well into the night.
I thoroughly enjoyed Nowhere Man, and look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
We soon learn that Michael was a very private man working from home and trading on the stock market. When Sonya discovers his private computer files, she realises Michael has been keeping secrets from her the entire time they've been together.
Looking at his letter with fresh eyes, Sonya begins to suspect Michael may not have left her voluntarily and sets out determined to find the truth.
Nowhere Man is an economic thriller with a science fiction twist and the plot and pace had me turning the pages well into the night.
I thoroughly enjoyed Nowhere Man, and look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
October 6, 2010
I loved this book. it's a real 'can't put it down' book. the characterisations are wonderful, especially the hero Sonya and her lawyer, and also the physicists from Princeton. how Sonya gets out of her debt hole is both clever and exciting. the twist at the end really got me thinking. the cover says this writer is better than Michael Crichton. he's at least as good!
October 13, 2010
I really got engaged with the main character, Sonya Wheen, a deserted wife left in a deep hole. But she is smart and has a bit of help from some very surprising software. I didn't see the twist at the end coming. Great writing and premise, and a very satisfying read. I've bought it as a gift for a couple of friends too.
August 25, 2012
An awesome read paying homage to H.G. Wells "The Time Machine" and incorporating time travel, quantumphysics and super computers in a very modern way. My friend bought me this book while in Australia & I throughly enjoyed it and felt it was a great read.
October 16, 2017
I was immersed at the beginning ..but the story got a little peculiar for me to enjoy.
December 31, 2023
I found this book on my Kindle this week. It was downloaded in 2013 but I had never read it, so I gave it a go.
Early in the book, I realised that the writer had some experience in finance. He was up on industry adages about financing boats, planes and other things. Meetings with bankers and lawyers were solid depictions of what happens in real life.
He was accurate in explaining financial matters, which is something that most authors struggle with.
An internet search showed that the author had been employed by a major investment bank for some years. Interesting. Similar background to me. Looking forward to this.
What followed was a very strange mix of high finance, time travel, detailed spreadsheets, awkward love interests, unconvincing action scenes, and quantum computing. The characters were not especially likeable and their motivations were not interesting. The plot was thin and unbelievable and appeared to have been conceived as the author went along. The ending was feeble and unsatisfying.
A picky thing - at times the book had graphics of computer error messages and transcripts from newspapers. On the Kindle, it was impossible to read the graphics.
By the end, I wished that the time travel component of the book was real so that I could get back the last four days reading time. Maybe even go back 10 years and not download it at all.
Early in the book, I realised that the writer had some experience in finance. He was up on industry adages about financing boats, planes and other things. Meetings with bankers and lawyers were solid depictions of what happens in real life.
He was accurate in explaining financial matters, which is something that most authors struggle with.
An internet search showed that the author had been employed by a major investment bank for some years. Interesting. Similar background to me. Looking forward to this.
What followed was a very strange mix of high finance, time travel, detailed spreadsheets, awkward love interests, unconvincing action scenes, and quantum computing. The characters were not especially likeable and their motivations were not interesting. The plot was thin and unbelievable and appeared to have been conceived as the author went along. The ending was feeble and unsatisfying.
A picky thing - at times the book had graphics of computer error messages and transcripts from newspapers. On the Kindle, it was impossible to read the graphics.
By the end, I wished that the time travel component of the book was real so that I could get back the last four days reading time. Maybe even go back 10 years and not download it at all.
December 4, 2025
Overall, I liked the book enough. I feel like the main character, Sonya, is a bit more well developed than other characters I've been reading about in other books recently. But, as mentioned by others, there are story lines that don't feel like they go anyway and I generally feel like the ending didn't resolve much for me. In fact, it feels like the exact reason why time travel would be an issue. Regardless, I would like to know a little more about what happened with other characters like Rene or more info about where Michael had been taken. I have my own ideas on that one but I'm not totally sure. It's also unclear to me why Sonya would go from being totally careful about Know-ware, to being willing to boot it up on an airplane among lots of people other than just blaming the alcohol.
Ultimately, the beginning of the book hooked me deeply and I really enjoyed it. The middle got me a little lost for a moment, like I missed something (when Sonya went to NY) but it was easy to catch up. The end just felt a little hurried.
I would absolutely read one his other books though. My understanding is that this was an early work.
Ultimately, the beginning of the book hooked me deeply and I really enjoyed it. The middle got me a little lost for a moment, like I missed something (when Sonya went to NY) but it was easy to catch up. The end just felt a little hurried.
I would absolutely read one his other books though. My understanding is that this was an early work.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 23, 2017
I enjoyed this book immensely. It has a sci-fi element that might be off-putting for people expecting a thriller. It's a classy sci-fi element because it's a classical literary twist as well. To say any more would spoil it. Perhaps too clever and unexpected for some, if you let go of any preconceptions of what the book is about it's a great read.
January 2, 2017
LOVED this book... couldn't put it down!
September 23, 2015
Straight away I was captured by the story, voluntarily going along for the ride as Sonya tries to unravel what happened to her husband, Michael.
I held my breath with her as she discovered the disk; share traded herself out of financial ruin and slowly came to grips with her loss while still believing that Michael is alive. I understood her need to find the love of her life and found the premise of Know-Ware intriguing but then, for me, the book lost its way towards the very end.
Sam was too one dimensional; the homage to H.G. Wells' Time Machine depicting Michael as the time traveler from the book disappointed me as I had been looking forward to Michael's back story and his association to the technology he stole. Who was he; had he invented it; stumbled upon the knowledge etc.
What a blow to Sonya when she realised the truth and good on her for not forgiving Michael. But I kept thinking with Michael having atoned for his deception by saving Sonya's life and countless others - what happened to Sam's copy of Know-Ware.
I held my breath with her as she discovered the disk; share traded herself out of financial ruin and slowly came to grips with her loss while still believing that Michael is alive. I understood her need to find the love of her life and found the premise of Know-Ware intriguing but then, for me, the book lost its way towards the very end.
Sam was too one dimensional; the homage to H.G. Wells' Time Machine depicting Michael as the time traveler from the book disappointed me as I had been looking forward to Michael's back story and his association to the technology he stole. Who was he; had he invented it; stumbled upon the knowledge etc.
What a blow to Sonya when she realised the truth and good on her for not forgiving Michael. But I kept thinking with Michael having atoned for his deception by saving Sonya's life and countless others - what happened to Sam's copy of Know-Ware.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 15, 2013
While keen to read this story by a new author, initially it didn't hold my attention enough to complete it before I read two other books. The time thing, which I usually find fascinating and very attention holding, left me when I completed it this morning feeling 'what the hell happened there?!' I found it difficult to follow and the little teasing mentions of Michael left me frustrated. Unusual for me, but I just can't work out what happened...
January 17, 2017
So disappointed I didn't maintain the pace with this book. I think if I had a more thorough understanding of how the financial markets work and the effect the GFC and Sept 11 had on the markets themselves I may have enjoyed it more. Still it was an easy holiday read
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 3, 2010
A good page turner but a little let down, in my opinion, by the ending
May 20, 2020
This book had moments of clarity but was swamped by average writing & a rubbish plot
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews