XMAS Anonymous: A Christmas Psychological Thriller Novella

by Samara Cove

This Christmas, the stalker is far too close.

Photographer Ivy Frost lives for capturing the perfect portrait—until her Secret Santa starts obsessively capturing her. It begins with a letter, then escalates to emails, texts, and more. She’s lonely but these unsettling messages prove she’s never truly alone. The stalker, fixated on the perfect life they never had, knows intimate details about Ivy’s past and stays uncomfortably close to her present.

As the messages grow darker, Ivy’s paranoia spirals. With Christmas around the corner and nowhere to hide, she’s forced to face the terrifying possibility that her greatest admirer may also be her deadliest threat.

This fast-paced psychological thriller novella will leave you breathless, questioning who’s watching and what secrets are behind the lens.

Genres: Christmas, Novella, Psychological, Thriller

128 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 10, 2024

About the author

Samara Cove is a psychological thriller author whose debut novel, filled with dark twists and suspense, is set to release in December 2024. Originally from the West Coast, Samara now lives in Texas, trading ocean views for endless BBQ. When not plotting fictional thrillers or hanging out with her family, Samara can be found trying (and usually failing) to keep houseplants alive or watching Tiny Kitchen on YouTube “for research.” She believes the only thing more suspenseful than her novels is waiting for the coffee to brew in the morning.

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made me want to look over my shoulder! It was a gripping tale of obsession, deceit, and a stalker’s letters that sent a chill down my spine! It was great!

[Rachel Browning · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Xmas Anonymous” by Samara Cove, is a gripping novella that struck the perfect balance between mystery, thrill, and eerie, stalkerish vibes for me. From start to finish, it kept me on the edge of my seat, with each twist and turn ratcheting up the suspense. The creepy atmosphere, combined with a chilling sense of being watched, added an unsettling layer to the story. The pacing was spot-on, and the shocking twist at the end left me speechless. It was a highly entertaining, quick read—perfect for anyone who enjoys suspenseful, spine-tingling holiday tales.

[Kelli Santistevan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This fast-paced psychological thriller novella will leave you breathless, questioning who’s watching and what secrets are behind the lens.

I read this book on Kindle Unlimited. I enjoyed this book.

[courtney small · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as an Arc read:


Xmas Anonymous is a book that starts with Ivy a lady who owns and runs a local photography studio. Some letters to Ivy stating how much they admire her. These letters being more personal than any letter she has ever received from even her boyfriends Ivy is intrigued. Her friends though already tell her how many red flags these letters are sending. Through these letters you will learn about Ivy and her way of life, is she really as good of a person as this secret Santa writer states? When Ivy realizes she’s actually in danger she tries to seek help, but will it come in time? Who will the last photo be in this novella released by a new up and coming author Samara Cove!

[VDKeck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ivy Frost is a single small town photographer. She is flattered and more than a little interested when she receives the first letter from an Anonymous Secret Santa. But, when they keep coming, each more frightening than the last, she realizes that her life could be in danger. With no help from the police and not much support from her friends, she lives in the terror of not knowing who is obsessed with her and which day might be her last.

Samara Cove is a master in the art of storytelling. She produces characters that are well-developed and believable. The tight storyline unfolds at a rapid pace leading to a dynamite ending that will shock and surprise you. This is a must-read for everyone wanting a Christmas novella that will thrill and excite you in less than 100 pages.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Grace Lynch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh wow… that got real close…

Well we can’t spoil a book right? Especially because this story is a thriller. That’s whole whole point, the not knowing. There are a few Christmas stories for us people that like a fast pace-not so cutesy tale. Odd isn’t? Considering there is a Christmas song harmonizing about “scary ghost stories, and tales of the glories of Christmases long, long ago.” An actual trend from the Victorian era was dark Christmas stories. Now, when we think of Christmas themes we often think of rom coms. Should we blame Chevy Chase? Or is It’s A Wonderful Life not so wonderful?

[Ken Finlay · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Xmas Anonymous” is sick and twisted - just what I need to cheer me up as I indulge (as every December) in Christmas-themed books.
Photographer Ivy Frost has put extra effort into this Christmas as she tries to boost her flagging studio.
She's had to let all of her staff bat one go, and it's going to be tough work, but she reckons she's got a good chance of making it a success.
If it weren't for the pesky stalker who keeps sending her anonymous letters professing undying love.
And the writers seems to know an awful lot about her, too much so!
It's too short to fully develop the fear factor, but it makes for a pleasant change from unrelenting happiness.
3 Stars.

[Ciara Hartman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twisty little stalker novella

If you want a short thriller to read, this was a good one! It’s fast paced and a bit unnerving. I thought I kinda had it figured out partway through, but at the end, a little twist I didn’t see coming. So I was kinda right, but kinda not. Lol. - I first read this authors work when I discovered The Sisterinlaw, which has become my top fave thriller! Her writing style reminds me very much of Freida McFadden and I am looking forward to reading her next full length book, How To Make Your Neighbors Disappear!

[Princess · Rating 4 out of 5]

I already saw the twist coming when one of the characters was revealed to have allergies, but what I didn’t fully understand was how true Jenny’s claims about Ivy really were. The stalking aspect of the story was a bit creepy, yet it was also the central force driving the plot forward. I enjoyed the story despite it being a short read, and it left a strong impression on me. Because of this, I plan to continue reading more books by this author. Next on my list is her book titled How to Make Your Neighbors Disappear. 💯❤️

[Kerri Topping · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one starts with the end, so you know what’s going to happen, then goes back to the beginning. Ivy is a small town photographer with a stalker and I definitely didn’t see this one coming. I enjoyed this fast paced thriller and the way the chapters alternating between Ivy’s point of view and letters from her stalker.

[Mackenzie Berry · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun short story of a creepy stalker during the holiday season. It was a very fast paced story, exactly what I was looking for on a short car trip.
I think I would have like this story more and been able to rate it higher if it was not a short story. I loved the plot, but you don’t get a clear picture of characters or situation in such a short story. I did have a very good idea of who was the stalker, but having another little twist in there made the story so much more enjoyable!
Overall if you are looking for a fun short story to read in a couple hours, I would definitely recommend this one. It flips POV of the main character to letters or messages she is receiving by a stalker.

⚠️ TRIGGER WARNING ⚠️
-stalking
-gaslighting
-violence
-Murder
-Bullying

[Josh Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ivy is a good photographer. She is capturing people’s best images for Christmas. One day she gets an anonymous letter from a stalker, who’s watching her every move. The secret Santa stalker loves Ivy and is willing to do anything to be with her. Will the stalker take things too far? This is a quick novella read and perfect for this time of year!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[ᒪᗴᗩᕼ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐

Christmas novella • psychological thriller • stalker vibes • photography • twisty

I'll give this 3 stars on a curve, mostly for the twist. For me, it felt like this was only part of a story, and, to be fair, a lot of short stories do. So, it’s maybe more of a me thing.

🎙️ For relatively inexperienced narrators, the performance was quite good.

•My Score 5.51/10•

[Sara Morrisey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun little thriller Novella. Great twist at the end! Samara has great character development even in her shorter reads. Enjoyed this book. Definitely try it for a quick, fun holiday read!

[Candy Turk · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novella was fantastic! Loved the back and forth chapters from both points of view. The storyline really flowed. I will definitely find other books from this author. Highly recommend for others to read!!!

[Sarah * Between the Lines Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Samara Cove writes great fast paced thrillers.
This one kept me on the edge wanting to keep reading to find out who this Xmas Anonymous was.
I had my suspicions and surprisingly I got it right.
Recommend this quick read especially with just a couple of days left for Christmas!

[Tjaša Kirn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was so good that I was actually sad, that it was so short! The intensity is really hard, and on top of that, I couldn't believe it who the killer is! And who the secret santa is. Very good short story. Read it

[Jolene · Rating 5 out of 5]

📸 𝑰𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂 𝑪𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒎𝒂𝒔 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒂 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒘𝒊𝒔𝒕, 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒂 𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕 𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒊𝒄𝒆. 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒇𝒂𝒔𝒕-𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒆𝒅 𝒑𝒔𝒚𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒐𝒈𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒉𝒂���𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒉𝒐’𝒔 𝒘𝒂𝒕𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒘𝒆𝒍𝒍 𝒘𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒖𝒔. 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒂 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒎𝒊𝒙 𝒐𝒇 𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒊𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝒄𝒉𝒆𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒅𝒂𝒓𝒌 𝒎𝒚𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒚!

[Acadia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fast paced and comes with an interesting twist on top of an entire cast of red flag characters. I did find it difficult to follow whos who in the friend group, but overall enjoyed this short and sweet stalker novella. I would for sure be interested in seeing what else this author has in store. A perfect little kick start to my holiday season reads!

[Yolanda | yolandaannmarie.reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

A secret admirer in the form of a stalker, a photographer who gets herself killed, and a pair of disgruntled friends/ex-employees.
The letters were cringey but the twist was good. I wasn't expecting the queer rep!

[Talk_smut_to_me · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5⭐️
Hmmm I’m not sure about this one. I bit predictable but hey it’s a novella so can’t really complain. I was intrigued by the story line for sure but the whole dynamic of all the girls was awful and tedious to read through.

[Summer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super stalker and major red flags type of story.

[Gill Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent novella; love the way it's written, and the suspense the author creates. It certainly keeps you guessing, and has some great twists.

[Ava · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great short-story thriller! Intense and unputdownable. My new favorite author.

[B · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Haley Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fun and creepy short story to read for Christmas. Love the twists as always with her writing

[Diana Dunlap-lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. Didn’t see the ending coming. Definitely a twisted Stalker book

[Kelsey Pelagio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and thrilling Christmasy read. A struggling photographer gets an admirer and a stalker. She is later found murdered in her own studio. Who could have done such a thing?

[Vanessa Hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good quick read

[Miche Delport · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great storyline got me invested in the book I could be a 4 star if the book was a bit longer. But overall I liked it.