Picture this: Someone is watching you, he knows your every move, every plan you make and every word you speak. He refuses to be ignored, taunting you with terrifying messages in an attempt to obligate you do his bidding! Scary right?

😱 That's the premise behind this absolutely chilling thriller! John Nicholl really knows how to get a reader's pulse racing. ☠️🔪

In Anonymity we meet Mia, an author and mom with a 4yr. old daughter. Mia receives terrifying taunting emails that immediately put her on edge. The sender, although anonymous, knows personal details about Mia no stranger should know - unless they are watching her. As the internet stalker's threats intensify, Mia begins to unravel. At the advice of her sister she turns to longtime family friend DI Gravel for help.

Gravel is at a low point in his life. Having recently lost his wife and still on medical leave as he recovers from a heart attack, he spends his days drinking and smoking in excess. Knowing he needs to work to be able to move forward he decides to help Mia. Though Gravel is typically uncouth and rough around the edges I felt real pity for him in this book. There was so much hurt, heartbreak and raw emotion in his scenes. It really left me reeling.

Nicholl reveals the stalker early on in this one. I'm not typically a fan of this strategy but it works here. The main arc here is not about guessing who the stalker is. It's about the sickening cat and mouse game he plays with Mia. As outside observers we know exactly what is happening but it's a nail biting, tense ride. Instead of distracting from the thriller, it adds a heightened layer of trepidation. It was like watching a slasher movie where you find yourself yelling at the screen for characters not to go in a room or run the other way because you know what awaits them.

The plot escalated to an ending that I did NOT expect (maybe because I went into this one blind!). Nicholl knows how to create a spine tingling story. This one gripped me from beginning to end and left me feeling a bit heartbroken.

Thank you to John Nicholl, Bloodhound Books and Netgalley for an arc in exchange for my unbiased, honest opinion.