If You Knew Me

by S.P. Miskowski

In this twisted psychological thriller from acclaimed horror author S.P. Miskowski, a novice reporter walks a perilous tightrope between ambition and obsession.

Parker Dillon can’t win. Just as she’s trying to start her journalism career, her aunt sells the website where she works, and the new owner is keen to replace employees with AI. But her luck seems to turn when she discovers an intriguing cold pitch buried in her aunt’s files.

Ann Mason claims she did something terrible and never got caught. She’s also weirdly infatuated with a long-forgotten TV star. Desperate for a spectacular feature, Parker tracks Ann from Seattle to her home in Arizona. But as she interviews neighbors, coworkers, and friends, her quarry grows increasingly elusive, and her story turns deadlier than she ever imagined.

Parker can’t shake the feeling that she’s the subject, not the author, of this macabre piece—the prey, not the hunter. The more she learns about Ann’s obsessions and drives, the more it’s like looking in a cracked mirror. And Parker’s not sure she likes what she sees…

Genres: Horror, Thriller, Audiobook, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Psychological Horror, Fiction

361 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 23, 2025

About the author

S.P. Miskowski is a recipient of two National Endowment for the Arts Fellowships. Her books have received four Shirley Jackson Award nominations and two Bram Stoker Award nominations. Her second novel, I Wish I Was Like You, won This Is Horror Novel of the Year 2017 and the readers' choice Charles Dexter Award from Strange Aeons.

Her stories have been published in Nightmare Magazine, Vastarien, Cosmic Horror Monthly, Supernatural Tales, Black Static, Identity Theory, and numerous anthologies.

She is represented by Danielle Svetcov at Levine Greenberg Rostan Literary Agency.

Author site:
https://spmiskowski.wordpress.com/

Reviews

[Sadie Hartmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title/Author: If You Knew Me by S. P. Miskowski
Format Read: Gifted audiobook on NetGalley
Pub date: September 23rd, 2025
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer (Amazon Publishing)
Page Count: 365
Affiliate Link: https://bookshop.org/a/7576/978166253...
Recommended for readers who enjoy:
- Horror/Thriller/Mystery/Suspense/Crime
- Dual Narratives/Mixed Media like Reddit threads, text messages, letters and emails
- Strong FMC/Queer rep/Lesbian
- Getting in the mind of a highly functional sociopath
- Intricately detailed and plotted HIGH STAKES thriller/mystery with a rising body count
- Unexpected twists & turns
- Books set in the PNW (WA and OR)
__
Minor complaints:
- The audiobook is my recommended format but the reddit section was almost unbearable with the narrator transcribing the post usernames, down/up arrows, and time stamps. I could not wait for that section to end. It would have been much more effective to not include those for the sake of the listener vs. the visual reader
- A few times I think we got lost in the weeds with a little too much backstory or context, but not enough to affect my overall experience. I love this level of more than enough details and context than not enough or underdeveloped characters.
-

Final recommendation: 
I could not stop listening to this book. It had me in its grip! I love the Parker Dillon and the Ann Mason chapters equally and for very different reasons. S. P. Miskowski is one of my favorite authors. I have been reading her work for a long time.
Knock, Knock/The Worst is Yet to Come/I Wish I Was Like You/Delphine Dodd/and The Best of Both Worlds. Miskowski has a flare for character-driven storytelling with in-depth character work, easy to invest in narratives, and highly specific details that feel cinematic while reading. This triller was both disturbing and hilarious at times--Ann Mason is hysterical--one moment she's shocking the hell out of me with her mania and the next, she's doing something totally out-of-pocket that's wildly entertaining.
I loved being in the Pacific Northwest too.
Oh, and the Hollywood stuff
Comps: I Wish I Was Like You by S. P. Miskowski, Senseless by Ronald Malfi, The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward, Gillian Flynn thrillers

[Carla Remy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Looking for a career in journalism, Parker (female, not Richard Stark’s Parker) pursues a woman named Ann who first seems agreeable then becomes weird and creepy. This book goes on to become a very creepy page turner.
I like books about non professional crime fighters and non professional criminals. This hit all the marks for me.

[Lezane_Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you Knew Me - S.P. Miskowski

3.75 ⭐️

Summary - If you like to know who the killer is but it intrigues you what goes on in their psyche, this is the perfect choice.

The story follows Parker which is a journalist that came across a letter that was written by Anne to her childhood hero that played an actor on popular crime TV show. However, Anne also believes that she is weirdly part of this world and is totally obsessed with the show. In the letter that was written to her hero somehow came across Parker’s desk and she decided to do a story on Anne and her past and some very odd mysterious deaths.

What I liked - The story kept you glued to find out what is going on in Anne’s head. She is a very strange character that has the weird god-like complex and she determines what is acceptable and not. She does however need to be institutionalized very early in her life which her parents did see but certain events happened. I liked Parker’s character but I find it strange that she didn’t see this person as bad news.

What I didn’t like - I listened to the audiobook and to follow both Parkers’s and Anne’s story got quite confusing with all the different characters. It was also frustrating that all the usernames of conversations that happend on a platform space was read with every response.

This would be perfect for:
- Thriller fans
- ⁠Psychological intrigue
- ⁠Suspense

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC!

[Kay Oliver · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a solid read with an intriguing premise that caught my attention. However, the pacing was all wrong for me and made it hard to get into the story. It was slow to the point useless, and tension never reached any climax, which was really disappointing.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Audio for the ARC!

If You Knew Me is a sharp, unsettling psychological thriller that digs into how well we ever truly know the people around us and how dangerous that gap in understanding can become. From the very first chapter, S.P. Miskowski crafts an atmosphere that brims with unease, blending everyday realism with a creeping sense of dread.

The audiobook narration enhanced the reading experience, pulling me in and keeping me invested. The multiple perspectives and character voices worked well in audio, though at times the usernames and digital conversations became a little confusing to follow. Still, the shifting layers of identity and perception were an integral part of the story’s tension it mirrors how messy and fractured online lives can feel.

What worked best for me was the psychological depth of the characters. These aren’t simply players in a thriller; they’re flawed, complicated people carrying secrets, resentments, and desperate hopes. Watching them collide against one another created a slow burn suspense that built to chilling revelations. While there were moments where the format made me pause to reorient, the writing was strong enough to keep me hooked until the end.

This is a book for readers who enjoy character driven suspense, unreliable narratives, and a story that forces you to question what’s real and what’s a façade. Miskowski balances intimacy with menace in a way that lingers long after finishing.

[JewlsJoys · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. This psychological thriller follows Parker, an unemployed journalist looking for a career building story after finding a letter from Anne in her aunt's things. I was intrigued by the premise and was looking forward to a suspenseful thrill. DNF 50% in and have yet to experience any thrill. The story is slow, the emails feel like filler with no true substance in between (maybe would've been improved if the reader witnessed Parker's take in things throughout reading them), and Anne just seems like a lonely, obsessed fan. I just couldn't push myself to read anymore.

[Kenna · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was disappointed in If You Knew Me by S.P. Miskowski. While it’s billed as a psychological thriller, I found it slow, tedious, and ultimately ridiculous. I hated every character. The pacing dragged, with long stretches that felt like filler rather than suspense. By the time the story began to pick up, I had already lost interest because the tension never really built in a meaningful way.

The story is about Parker Dillon, whose aunt's debunked website receives a message from someone confessing to a terrible crime. Parker decides to chase down the lead, traveling across states in pursuit of the story. Unfortunately, the woman who wrote the pitch letter is an unreliable narrator, at best. Oh, and she's obsessed with a television character.

I usually love a quirky character, but I couldn't like this one in any way. I gave this book one star.

[Danielle R · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was invested with If You Knew Me, the psychological thriller by S.P. Miskowski. Parker is a journalist who lost her job at her Aunt’s online magazine company. Feeling bad her Aunt gives her one last job to do at her home as she goes on vacation. Parker agrees and started her last “job” of sorting through old articles that were never published. She stumbles upon Ann’s article and that’s where the ride starts! The unhinged and startling build up of Ann’s character kept me hooked! Page after page I was stunned by how more unhinged it was getting before finally all coming to an “end”. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it for any thrill psychological suspense fans out there! Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer & S.P. Miskowski for the advance copy!

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐

This twisted psychological thriller takes the familiar cat-and-mouse setup and gives it a dark, unnerving edge. Parker Dillon, a struggling journalist, stumbles across a pitch from Ann Mason—a woman who claims to have done something terrible and gotten away with it. Intrigued, Parker follows Ann’s trail from Seattle to Arizona, desperate for the kind of feature story that could launch her career. But as she digs deeper, it becomes clear that Ann’s story isn’t just about the past—it’s about Parker too. What begins as an investigation turns into a perilous game of obsession, reflection, and dread.

I’d actually call this closer to a 3.75⭐ read because the pacing was off. The first half is a slow burn that I mostly enjoyed, but the last 20% dragged unnecessarily—it either could have been cut or woven in more effectively. The inclusion of letters and recordings was an interesting choice, but not always successful. The first letter in particular was far too long and threw off the rhythm. I generally enjoy multimodal elements in thrillers, but here they didn’t fully deliver—I wanted more genuine access to Ann’s psyche. The tapes were entertaining, but they felt editorialized, crafted to manipulate Parker rather than showing us Ann’s true thoughts.

That said, Ann Mason was a standout character—chaotic, frightening, and often hysterically entertaining. One moment she’s shocking you with her mania, the next she’s doing something so absurd you can’t help but smirk. Parker, by contrast, grated on me; her entitlement and whining made her harder to root for.

Where the book shined was in its psychological depth. These aren’t cardboard thriller characters—they’re messy, flawed, and layered, colliding in ways that felt unsettling and real. The suspense came from watching those cracks widen until everything collapsed.

If You Knew Me is sharp, eerie, and thought-provoking—a thriller about obsession, control, and the terrifying unknowns lurking in the people around us.

Thank you to S.P. Miskowski, Thomas & Mercer, and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Thomas Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

A propulsive, engrossing thriller. I really enjoyed the mix of narrative styles, using audio transcripts and letters to deliver some of the story from the antagonist Ann Mason's point of view. Excellent storytelling from Miskowski to utilise aspects of the modern freelance journalism scene and some of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. But the real stars of the book are the main characters Parker and Ann. The extent of Ann's disconnect with reality unravels along with the mystery of her past and her obsession with a washed-up TV star. And Parker makes for a compelling counter to Ann, while also mirroring Ann in some of her decision-making. The similarities between the two is even more intriguing than the differences and it makes for a fantastic read.

[Bookaholic__Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ADORED this book cover and Id be a liar if I said it didn't influence me grabbing it. But this book is so much more than a pretty cover, she's harboring some dark and disturbing secrets. "If you knew me" is a fantastic obsession fueled tale.

The pacing is a little a slow but I think it suited this story well.

This was a great listen and I'm really glad I had the opportunity to listen to it early.

I received a copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Katie Holder · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Brilliance Audio for the advance audiobook copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was a strange and unusual read. The story leans more toward character study than plot, which made some sections feel slow or meandering. At times it wasn’t especially profound or memorable, but there was still something about the writing and the characters that kept me engaged enough to see it through.

The audiobook narration was a highlight. The two different points of view came across clearly, with distinct voices that helped keep the shifts in perspective easy to follow.

Overall, while not a standout read for me, this may appeal to readers who enjoy slower, character-driven stories with a touch of an uncanny mystery.

[Katasha Bailey · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book has no ending, the writing just stops. 48% there was a 6 word email and 3 sentences later she said "those seven words haunted her" and I wanted to throw my kindle. I should have stopped, especially when she kept referencing covid and then copy/pasted an entire fake reddit thread.

i recieved an advanced copy of this book from netgalley and I regret it.

[Steve Stred · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Huge thank you to S.P. for sending me an advanced digital copy of this one!*

Fandom.

Six letters that when put together in that way form a work that seems to hold so much more weight than it should. I should know. As – perhaps – the world’s most prominent fan of Canadian author Andrew Pyper, I’ve seen the stereotypical idea of how people view fandom with almost every single Pyper post I make. And I get it. Stephen King’s Misery set the table for what horrible rabid fandom can look like and with the rise in stalking and obsession that has seemingly ramped up over the last decade (which I presume is directly related to the proliferation of social media), I understand why people post Annie Wilkes memes/gifs or send them via DM’s when I post stuff.

And that perfectly highlights the double-edged sword of fandom. There’s an expectation now that people go too far, that people grow obsessed and with unchecked mental health issues often associated with extreme fandom, not only does it become an expectation, but it also becomes an ‘I told you so’ mentality after the fact.

Case in point is ‘If You Knew Me.’ This book is a powerful examination of what unchecked mental health issues multiplied by obsessive fandom looks like. It reminded me a lot of the movie ‘The Fan,’ which starred Robert de Niro and Wesley Snipes. If you’ve not seen it, I highly recommend you do.

In that movie, it’s a fan obsessed with a sports star. In this book, it’s a fan obsessed with a former TV star. And with the way this one unfolds, Miskowski does a phenomenal job of unsettling us readers.

What I liked: The book follows Parker, a recently unemployed woman who longs to be a writer, but hasn’t found that story yet. While housesitting at her aunt’s place, who formerly owned a large online magazine company, she finds a story pitch that was sent in and unopened. Inside, she finds Ann Mason’s story, detailing something she did as a teen, something awful, but she only told one other person – the former lead in a short-lived detective show that she loves.

From there, Parker travels to Ann’s place in Arizona in the hopes of interviewing her. Once there, Ann’s left and Parker begins to find cracks in Ann’s story.

Miskowski deftly interweaves Ann’s dictated storyline with Parker’s interviewing of those around Ann – a neighbour, a former employer – and it works far more efficiently than a lot of mixed media/epistolary style books have for me. It allows the reader to effectively see the chaos inside Ann’s head, while also connecting with Parker.

The first half of the book smoothly rolls along. But the second half. The second half is a full sprint towards an ending that seems foretold but unexpected. I kind of knew what would be coming, but all the while Miskowski kept things so schizophrenic on Ann’s side, that I just didn’t know for sure, wasn’t 100% in what I thought I knew and that amplified the tension.

The ending/epilogue was also a really great use of mixed media but also a snarky look at online commenting and internet trolls.

What I didn’t like: There were two things of note for me. The first was that it took me a minute to get into the epistolary aspect of the novel. I often struggle with storytelling in this style and it took a bit for my brain to get on board.

The second was that there’s a bit later on about Parker’s grandma that is necessary to the story and Parker’s narrative, but for me at least, it seemed to take some steam off the train that was thundering down the track.

Why you should buy this: I for one can’t wait to see this book all over Tik Tok. I can’t imagine this won’t be in every second video about what psychological thrillers had the poster up all night finishing it. This is a book that could be categorized very easily as ‘propulsive.’ It never lets up, never allows you to take a breather to figure out all the chess pieces that are moving in the background and the fact that Miskowski describes a half dozen episodes so fully of a fake TV show shows the depth and detail that go into everyone of her novels.

This one is a taut, nerve-wracking thriller that absolutely blew me away and reinforces why Miskowski is a living legend. Get on this one, you’ll not be disappointed.

[TheLisaD · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delusional is the word that immediately comes to mind when describing Ann, the central figure in If You Knew Me. But to leave it at that would be an understatement, because S.P. Miskowski gives us so much more than just the portrait of a woman unraveling. What Miskowski crafts is a layered, unsettling, and deeply immersive character study that pulls readers into the fragile yet volatile world of Ann’s mind, while also weaving in themes of memory, identity, and the lengths to which people go to protect their version of the truth.

From the very beginning, Ann is a character you can’t quite trust, but that’s also what makes her so fascinating. She is unreliable yet oddly magnetic, drawing you into her perception of events even as you question every word and action. Watching her navigate relationships, secrets, and the consequences of her choices creates an atmosphere thick with unease. There’s a claustrophobic quality to her perspective, as if we’re locked in her head with her, unable to escape until the final page. That sense of being trapped inside a reality that doesn’t always add up is where Miskowski’s brilliance truly shines.

The pacing of the story is deliberate, keeping you slightly off balance while urging you forward. Each new revelation or shift in Ann’s behavior makes you wonder what’s real and what’s a carefully constructed illusion. The narrative thrives on tension—not always explosive or dramatic, but a quieter, psychological tension that creeps under your skin. By the time you realize how tangled Ann’s world has become, you’re in too deep to turn away.

Miskowski’s prose is elegant yet razor-sharp, perfectly suited to the story she’s telling. She has a way of describing Ann’s mental state that feels authentic without ever slipping into caricature. Instead, Ann is fully human, complex, and tragically flawed. Her delusions aren’t just a plot device; they are the heartbeat of the novel, making every interaction and every decision carry a sense of unease.

Beyond Ann’s character, the book also explores larger questions about obsession, vulnerability, and the secrets we all keep hidden. It asks us to consider how much of our identity is constructed and how easily that construction can crumble under pressure. It’s both intimate and unsettling, the kind of story that lingers long after you’ve put the book down.

If You Knew Me is not just a psychological thriller—it’s a haunting exploration of perception and truth, told with chilling precision. It’s the kind of novel that crawls into your mind and refuses to leave, reminding you of how fragile reality can be when seen through the eyes of someone like Ann.

This is a book that demands to be read in one sitting, not because it’s fast-paced, but because it’s impossible to step away from the dark, layered world Miskowski has created. For readers who love psychological depth, flawed characters, and stories that blur the line between truth and delusion, If You Knew Me is an unforgettable experience.

[Nicole Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

“If You Knew Me” by S.P. Miskowski is a slow-burning, psychologically rich story that reads like a character study wrapped in a mystery, laced with dark humor, and infused with subtle dread. It’s not a thriller in the traditional sense (don’t expect high-octane twists or page-a-minute pacing) but rather a cerebral, disquieting journey into obsession, delusion, and the blurred lines between truth and performance.

The story centers on Parker Dillon, a journalist recently laid off after her aunt's small media company is sold. While cleaning out old files in her aunt’s office, she finds a strange and unsettling letter from Ann Mason, a woman claiming to have committed an unforgivable act. Intrigued by the potential of an exclusive story, Parker embarks on a cross-country investigation that takes her from Seattle to Arizona to California. But what starts as an ambitious pitch quickly turns into a personal unraveling.

Ann, as we come to learn, is a deeply unreliable narrator. Much of her character is revealed through her obsessive fan letters to a washed-up TV actor who once played a detective—letters that serve as both confessions and fantasy. Through these epistolary elements, Miskowski masterfully shows us a woman untethered from reality, consumed by parasocial relationships and self-delusion. Ann sees herself as an investigator, a wronged party, a tragic heroine—anything but the disturbed and dangerous figure we come to suspect she truly is.

The book alternates between Parker’s grounded but sometimes meandering search and Ann’s increasingly unhinged inner world. Parker herself is a likable and relatable anchor to the story, and her budding LGBTQ+ romance adds a refreshing softness amidst the tension. Still, the pace can lag, especially toward the end, and I found Ann’s long letters and inner monologues slow or repetitive. However, these details do paint a disturbing yet eerily believable portrait of someone lost to their fantasies.

What’s most compelling is the ambiguity: Is Ann dangerous, or simply deluded? Is her story real, exaggerated, or entirely fabricated? Miskowski never gives us clear answers, and that’s exactly the point. The ending may feel unresolved or even underwhelming to some, but it fits the book’s tone—quietly unsettling and frustratingly real.

Overall, “If You Knew Me” isn’t just a mystery; it’s an exploration of the stories we tell ourselves, the lies we believe, and the hidden menace behind seemingly harmless obsessions. With layered characters, understated suspense, and elegant prose, S.P. Miskowski delivers a story that lingers long after the final page. It’s a perfect fit for readers who enjoy character-driven fiction with a psychological edge and don’t mind a few open-ended threads left dangling.

[Sarah Jensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review: If You Knew Me by S.P. Miskowski

S.P. Miskowski’s If You Knew Me is a gripping psychological thriller that weaves together obsession, ambition, and the haunting weight of the past. Set against the backdrop of a small, eerie town, this novel delves into the fractured psyche of its protagonist, Parker Dillon, as she navigates a dangerous tightrope between uncovering the truth and losing herself in the process.

Premise & Themes
Parker Dillon, a novice reporter adrift after losing her job and sense of purpose, stumbles upon a chilling story in the seemingly quiet town of Skillute. As she digs deeper, the line between journalist and subject blurs, revealing dark secrets that mirror her own unresolved traumas. Themes of identity, voyeurism, and the corrosive nature of obsession are explored with Miskowski’s signature atmospheric tension.

Strengths & Highlights
-Unreliable Narration: Parker’s perspective is masterfully unreliable, drawing readers into her paranoia and moral ambiguity.
-Atmospheric Dread: Skillute’s claustrophobic setting amplifies the novel’s unsettling vibe, reminiscent of Shirley Jackson’s work.
-Psychological Depth: Miskowski excels at dissecting her characters’ vulnerabilities, making their descent into darkness feel inevitable yet tragic.
-Pacing & Suspense: The plot unfolds like a slow-burn nightmare, with twists that feel earned rather than gratuitous.

Areas for Improvement
Some readers may find Parker’s choices frustrating, and the ending’s ambiguity—while thematically fitting—might leave those craving resolution unsatisfied.

Score Breakdown (Out of 5)
-Character Development: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) – Parker is complex, though secondary characters could be fleshed out more.
-Plot Cohesion: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) – Tightly plotted, with a few lingering questions.
-Emotional Resonance: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ (4.5/5) – Haunting and visceral.
-Setting & Atmosphere: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5) – Skillute is a character in itself.
-Originality: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) – A fresh take on psychological horror.
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5) – A must-read for fans of Gone Girl’s tension or Sharp Objects’ psychological depth.

Perfect For:
-Lovers of unreliable narrators and slow-burn thrillers.
-Readers who enjoy small-town settings with big secrets.
-Those who appreciate horror that lingers in the mind.

Acknowledgments:
Thank you to NetGalley and S.P. Miskowski for providing an advance review copy of If You Knew Me in exchange for an honest review.

Note: Miskowski’s work (like Knock, Knock and I Wish I Was Like You) often explores similar themes of isolation and dark introspection. If this novel unsettles you in the best way, her backlist is worth exploring.

[Abhilasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Creepy, compulsive, and deeply unsettling — a thriller that gets under your skin and stays there.

If You Knew Me by S.P. Miskowski is a masterclass in building slow-burning tension that ignites into full-blown psychological chaos. The story follows Parker — a woman looking to break into journalism — as she stumbles across a chilling story pitch left unopened by her aunt, the former owner of an online magazine. Intrigued by the confessional nature of the letter, Parker follows the trail to Ann Mason, a reclusive woman with a mysterious past and a deep obsession with a short-lived detective TV show.

What begins as a quirky investigative mission quickly spirals into a nightmarish descent. Ann, initially polite, becomes unnerving and unpredictable, and what follows is a deeply disturbing portrait of obsession, fractured identity, and the dark side of fandom.

I love books that feature non-professional detectives and criminals — everyday people caught in extraordinary, often terrifying situations. This hit all the right notes for me.

Miskowski’s ability to blend traditional narrative with epistolary elements — letters, transcripts, dictated recordings — worked brilliantly. It gave me strong The Fan vibes (the Robert De Niro/Wesley Snipes film) and, of course, shades of Misery. But this isn’t just derivative homage — it’s a fresh, original exploration of how fandom and mental illness can dangerously intertwine.

The first half hums along at an intriguing pace, but the second half? It’s an absolute sprint. I had a sense of where it might go, but Miskowski throws enough curveballs to keep you second-guessing until the very end. The epilogue, especially, is a sharp, satirical jab at internet culture, trolls, and performative commentary — a perfect, eerie close.

A few minor gripes: it took me a moment to settle into the storytelling format, and there’s a subplot about Parker’s grandmother that, while thematically relevant, slightly disrupted the otherwise taut pacing.

That said, this book blew me away. It’s propulsive, chilling, and sharply written. I fully expect this to be a TikTok favorite among psychological thriller fans — the kind of book that keeps you up late and leaves your mind buzzing. Miskowski proves once again why she’s a legend in the genre.

Highly recommended if you love:
🔪 Unhinged female characters
📺 Obsession with old TV shows
🧠 A deep dive into fractured psyches
🌀 Narratives that spiral out of control

[Corinne’s Chapter Chatter · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was a bit of a slog to get through, and that came down to two main issues: the prose itself and the audio narration. Right from the start, I had a feeling this would be a tough listen—my ears just didn’t mesh with the vocal performances by narrators Mia Hutchinson-Shaw and Coleen Mario.

When it comes to the narration, the biggest challenge was that the voices didn’t seem to fit the characters they were portraying. At one point, there was a middle-aged-sounding woman voicing a middle schooler, and it just didn’t land—my brain couldn’t reconcile the voice with the character. I’m not entirely sure which narrator handled which sections, but I think it was Mario who spoke with an incredibly slow, drawn-out cadence. It felt like wading through molasses. Hutchinson-Shaw fared a bit better—her voice had a more youthful quality, and although her pacing was also on the slower side, it didn’t feel as unnatural or grating as her co-narrator’s.

As for the story itself... I struggled. The characters weren’t particularly likable or engaging, and the plot never really grabbed me. It leaned heavily on far-fetched details that felt more like filler than anything that pushed the story forward. At times, it almost seemed like the book was trying to be edgy or provocative just for the sake of it, rather than serving the narrative in any meaningful way.

In the end, I don’t think reading the eARC would’ve made much of a difference for me. The writing and pacing issues were just as present on the page as they were in the audio. All in all, not a great match for me—on either front.

I fortunate to receive a complimentary ALC from Brilliance Audio via NetGalley, which gave me the opportunity to share my voluntary thoughts.

How I Rate
Because I mostly read ARCs, I focus on how I think fellow readers with similar tastes will respond. I sometimes round up or down based on pacing, prose, or overall impact, and I try to keep my personal preferences from weighing too heavily.

⭐️ 1 Star – Finished, but not for me; I never DNF ARCs.
⭐️⭐️ 2 Stars – Struggled due to writing, content, or editing issues.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 Stars – Decent read with untapped potential; recommend with some reservations.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Stars – Really enjoyed it and would recommend for several reasons.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars – Exceptional; lingers in my mind well after reading. A story I’d gladly revisit.

[Milt Theo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rarely have I been so much invested in a book. This is psychological horror at its best, though it's plotted as a thriller: it's brimming with escalating tension and dread, it manages to convey perfectly the psychological and mental tensions of the main characters, it doesn't hold back on personal details or hurtful reminiscences, with the result that when the reveals start coming, they hit fast and hard.

It's not a novel built on twists, however: the true value of the book lies in the terrific story the author has to tell, a story about lying, obsession, and the lack of human connection. The way that the plot develops out of quite meager means, the narrative spiraling around two women so different from each other, with a full sense of an accident waiting to happen, was simply genius! The reading experience the book delivers was without precedent, the insight into a mind devoid of empathy and moral compass unrivaled in almost all books of its kind.

The premise is not easy to summarize in a spoiler-free way, but I'll try: Parker, an ambitious young reporter just out of a job, stumbles upon a weird piece of work, an old letter by Ann, a fourteen year old girl, addressed to her favorite 90s tv series actor, and written in a bizarre, very personal, confessional mode. Indeed, in the letter, she confesses a crime. Parker has never read anything like this before, so she decides to track down the girl, now a woman in her late thirties. What she doesn't know is that the woman is an unpredictable mess - and that's putting it midly, if not misleadingly! What follows is an immensely dark chronicle of Parker trying to hunt down Ann, and Ann trying to bring closure to matters left unresolved since her teenage years.

The ending is a nightmare - or the fulfillment of a dream. It took me totally by surprise, defying any rational expectation. There has to be a better way to describe it, but I'm unable to find it amidst the singularly nuanced depiction of repression, distortion of truth, and paranoia, uncannily combined with hints of hope and resilience, with which the book ends.

The story will live in my mind for a long, long time. Do yourself a favor and pick it up ASAP!

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky to receive an advance copy of this book. I am not an official book reviewer and I’m not sure if there is a protocol for writing a review under these circumstances. I am an official reader and since joining Goodreads in 2007 I have written a review for every book I have read. I write reviews for myself but I realize that others may see them so I rarely provide plot details. Typically the more I like a book, the shorter my review. That said, my review of If You Knew Me will be short.
There are two narrators, two women from very different backgrounds with two very different families though both were dysfunctional in disparate ways. Each woman lives her life with her own self-created albatross. Ann is a narcissistic psychopath who functions in the real world based on lessons learned by repeatedly watching a not very good TV detective series canceled years before this story begins. She is socially inept and delights in imagined cruelty to almost everyone she encounters. Even the most charitable among us could not muster any empathy for her but she was certainly the more intriguing of the two characters; I was more eager to read her side, or more appropriately, her version of the story. Parker’s narration is more reality based even as she colors her telling with her emotions and her perceived shortcomings. Parker is at least sane and is the more reliable narrator so I appreciated her perspective on events. But Parker can be whiny and insecure and her oh-woe-is-me tone makes her rather unlikeable. Fortunately, characters don’t have to be likeable to make for a good story, indeed liking characters too much can get in the way. Ann and Parker are unequally unlikeable and their individual stories are a tad boring. But when circumstances bring them together their conflicting stories are interlaced and like them or not, you are invested in how it will all end.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

God, this was a tough one. The main character Parker is very nearly insufferable, a lesbian hobosexual nepo baby who gets a job writing for her aunt's website, the aunt who then also houses her and gives her additional paid work when the website gets sold off, and also leaves a credit card for her which Parker then uses to fly out of state on a basically insane whim while she's supposed to be housesitting. This does not stop Parker from moping around about the death of online journalism, and Parker's mopiness in turn does not stop a random woman from falling in love with her just in time for Parker to neatly U-Haul it from her aunt's extremely nice house to this woman's bed.

Parker's POV aggravatingly framed the much more interesting story about Ann, a middle-aged psycho whose sections come in engaging epistolary and recorded form. Ann's sections would bump this book up to more of a 2.75 except for how the story basically fractures to pieces at the end. It also drove me nuts that Ann agreed to the story and then bailed by never answering Parker's texts and but then still somehow got angry at Parker for also bailing? I know Ann is crazy but that made NO goddamned sense. And what was her goal with Betty? Was she just going to randomly kill her in the cemetery? Like, what? Also, could Betty at any point have had a personality other than inexplicably instantly supportive girlfriend who sometimes embroiders? I don't understand the reasons why anybody behaved the way they did, which is annoying because there were very interesting ideas about the modern true crime industrial complex that should have and could have been explored if Parker weren't such a nothing character. This just could have been so much better, the ingredients were absolutely there. Disappointing!

My thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Bandit · Rating 2 out of 5]

Miskowski is a very good horror writer. I've read a couple of her books and was definitely impressed. Enough to pick up this thriller of hers. Which, lamentably, turned out to be a dud.
To clarify, the author can write. This comes across clearly across genres. It's more the matter of choosing what to write. And this read like it was chosen (either by the author of her agent) to very specifically fit into the current market - a sort of write-by-numbers approach, checking every box along the way.

The result is a predictable and bland "female thriller," where all the character are women (if a man is there, he's evil), and there's some kind of a pursuit and manipulation and old secrets slowly coming to light. Oh, and the lesbian diversity boxes are checked too. Well through of the author.

It starts with a dogged journalist who randomly sets off on a completely unconfirmed potential story only to find out that the source of it has unsurprisingly stood her up. She then proceeds to spin her wheels a bit before returning home and moving on, only to find out the case isn't done with her yet. Why? Because she happened to stumble on a genuine psychopath who is out there rewriting her story, in blood.
So you have a not particularly interesting protagonist, an unhinged and utterly charmless antagonist, a jumbled together method of storytelling, a rather predictable plot, and a tediously drawn out ending.
Average at best and thoroughly steeped in genre cliches, this one is sure to find its audience. But it definitely didn't do much for me. I don't blame the author, everyone needs a paycheck, so people pander and write what sells. But I also don't want to read it either.
Thanks Netgalley.

[Suesyn Zellmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story was different, that’s for sure. Parker Dillon lost her job working for her aunt’s website when the company was sold. Now she can’t afford her apartment, and she has no other work lined up. She’s temporarily staying at her aunt’s house and cleaning up the remaining company files to keep herself busy. She finds a pitch someone mailed in a few years back, and after reading it, she’s instantly intrigued. The writer, Ann, claims she did something unforgivable and is ready to tell all. She contacts the writer and immediately sets out to meet and interview her. Perhaps this story will set her on a new career path and show that she’s got what it takes to discover new talent.

But something’s a bit…off about Ann. She disappears before Parker even arrives in Arizona to interview her. She claimed to be so excited about meeting Parker, so what happened? And why does it seem like she’s ghosting her? But Parker’s determined to stay on the story and figure out what Ann really did and what her true intentions are.

Ann is an odd character. What the reader has to determine is if she’s harmless or if there’s a more sinister side to her hiding deep inside. Or maybe not so deep! Is she a liar, or is she simply deluded? You kind of go through the story, taking everything in her narrative with a grain of salt. I flew through the pages, wondering how everything would work out. Not everything was explained by the end, which was a bit disappointing, but it does make the story more realistic. It’s certainly not your typical mystery, which made it all the more entertaining for me.

[Lape · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a ride this was!
It starts with Parker Dillon, a journalist whose career is on life support after her aunt’s business in Seattle gets sold. While cleaning out old files she finds a strange letter from a woman named Ann Mason, a supposed confession to a terrible crime and decides to chase the story.

But Ann isn’t just elusive, she’s unnerving. What follows is a tense, twisty game of cat and mouse across several states, with Parker always one step behind a woman who may be more dangerous than she seems.

Ann is one of the most compelling and deeply unsettling characters I’ve come across in a long time. Her letters to a ‘has been’ TV actor and who she remains disturbingly fixated on, are both heartbreaking and chilling. Through these obsessive, confessional writings, it becomes clear that Ann is untethered from reality. But what’s truly unnerving is the uncertainty: is she simply a lonely, deluded woman or is she something far more dangerous?

I loved how skillfully Miskowski leaves room for interpretation. The story resists neat conclusions, inviting you to sit with the unease and draw your own assumptions. And the use of the epistolary format adds a raw intimacy to Ann’s voice. It felt like reading someone’s private, unfiltered thoughts, which added more context to the story.

If you love dark, character driven thrillers with unreliable narrators, slow burn mysteries with a creeping sense of dread, If You Knew Me absolutely delivers.

Many thanks to Thomas and Mercer for access to the digital ARC copy via NetGalley in exchange for honest feedback.

[Christine HorrorReaderWeekend · Rating 4 out of 5]

If You Knew Me
A Novel
by S.P. Miskowski
Narrated by Mia Hutchinson-Shaw; Coleen Marlo

Out of work and at loose ends, journalist Parker discovers a letter written by Ann Mason, an odd outsider who confesses to killing a bully in middle school.

Parker reaches out to Ann and offers to tell her story.

This naive and spontaneous offer sets off a series of connections, actions, reactions, misunderstandings and miscalculations. Parker and Ann think they are doing one thing, when each has a very different goal.

Ann Mason is a comedic loser, a bitter and obsessed woman with no ability to read social cues but with an uncanny and dangerous ability to understand others’ weaknesses. She is delusional and angry and wants her story told. Her chapters were my favorite parts of this story, unpredictable and tense.

When Parker quickly learns that Ann may not be a reliable witness to her own life, she decides to move on. Ann is unforgiving and turns her irrational obsession towards Parker. I found this book to be a fascinating character study and a chilling thriller.

It was also an awesome audio production (besides the too literal Reddit post narration!) with two narrators for Parker and Ann. Very well done.

Thank you NetGalley and Brilliance Publishing for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Spencer · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you Knew me is a psychological thriller that follows Parker, a journalist working for her aunt’s company. Her job is lost when the company is sold, but her aunt helps support her by giving her the task of sorting through and disposing of the company files. She comes across a strange letter from Ann Mason, which inspires her to write a story on the unusual woman. This is the start of a story about obsession, truth and identity.

I loved this book, I found the characters well developed and complex, I enjoyed how as the story unfolded, the characters history and development moved alongside the plot, driving motivations and the story forward in an engrossing way.

I especially enjoyed the epistolary aspects of the book, making it seem more realistic, it pulled me into the story effectively and made me feel involved in Parkers investigation and Anns obsessions.

The writing is fantastic, beautiful prose without being overly flowery and descriptive, it was easy to read yet intricate enough to enjoy and ruminate over.

This is a great book for fans of thrillers, slow burn reads, and character led stories.

Thanks to NetGalley and S.P. Miskowski for the ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

While cleaning out files at her aunt's business in Seattle that has been sold, Parker Dillon thinks she has found her career salvation after reading a letter from Ann Mason, who wants to confess to a serious crime. Parker thinks this could be a compelling story to write that could jump start her career but there is one big problem. Ann does not take disappointment lightly and everyone eventually disappoints her.

Trying to interview Ann turns into a life changing journey for Parker that she didn't see coming. From Seattle to Arizona to California, Parker is always a few steps behind Ann, who seems to be playing a cat-and-mouse game.

Ann also has a had a lifelong obsession with an actor, Van Slate, who starred as a detective in a cheesy TV series. Much of the story is told through her fan letter confessions to him which gives us the ability to see Ann as an innocent in a twisted way.

The ending left an opening for a sequel that I hope will happen. Ann still has more to tell.

I highly recommend If You Knew Me if you like original stories, dark humor, plot twists and a look at what happens to unsuspecting people who are unfortunate enough to cross paths with the Anns of this world.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

S.P. Miskowski’s If You Knew Me is a tense, quietly unnerving ride that explores ambition, obsession, and the thin line between story and storyteller. At its core is Parker Dillon, a fledgling reporter trying to stay afloat in a shifting digital landscape—until she stumbles upon a chilling confession that promises the breakout story she desperately needs.

What unfolds is a psychological thriller with teeth. Parker’s investigation into the enigmatic Ann Mason takes her from Seattle to the sun-scorched corners of Arizona, but the deeper she digs, the murkier things become. Miskowski crafts eerie symmetry between these two women—both driven, both haunted, both perhaps not so different—and the result is a slow-burn suspense that crawls under your skin.

There’s a noir-like mood to the prose: taut, stylish, and dusted with dread. And while the mystery is compelling, it’s Parker’s creeping realization that she might be chasing her own shadow that gives the novel its emotional bite.

If you enjoy thrillers that don’t just twist but reflect, If You Knew Me is an elegant—and unsettling—portrait of the stories we tell and the selves we hide.

Thank you to SP Miskowski, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Makayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

If You Knew Me by S.P. Miskowski — 3.5⭐

Thank you NetGalley and Brillance publishing

This audiobook was a very different kind of thriller—more unsettling and cerebral than twisty or action-packed. The story follows Parker, a struggling journalist, who stumbles across a strange old pitch from a woman named Ann Mason. Ann claims she’s done something terrible, and Parker, desperate for a story, decides to investigate. What starts as a simple lead quickly spirals into something darker and more disorienting as Parker follows Ann’s trail across states, digging through interviews, letters, and old memories.

I liked how the narrative blurred the lines between fact and fiction, obsession and truth. At times it felt like I was listening to a true-crime podcast unfolding in real time, which made it both creepy and compelling. That said, the pacing could feel uneven—some sections dragged while others gripped me completely.

The narration worked well, capturing the eerie, layered tone of the story and making the “document” and interview style sections easy to follow.

Overall, If You Knew Me is an unsettling and unusual listen, perfect if you like character-driven mysteries that leave you questioning what’s real and what isn’t.