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ANONYMOUS: A Madison Kelly Mystery
Finally, a thrilling mystery about a female private investigator--written by a female private
The note was threatening enough--but its link to two cold cases and a sinister unseen presence sends P.I. Madison Kelly on a frantic search for the truth.
Madison Kelly, a San Diego private investigator, arrives home to a note stabbed to her front Stop investigating me, or I will hunt you down and kill you. The only problem? Madison hasn't been investigating anyone--she's been taking time off to figure out what to do with her life. But how does she prove a negative? The only way to remove the threat is to do exactly what "Anonymous", the note writer, is telling her not to investigate to see who left it. Could this have something to do with the true crime podcast she's been posting about, and the missing girls?
The girls went missing, two years apart, after a night at the clubs in San Diego's famed Gaslamp Quarter, and Madison had been probing the internet for clues. She discovers that someone has been one step ahead of her, monitoring her posts to prevent her from getting too close. Soon Madison's investigation brings up more questions than are the disappearances connected? Are the girls dead or did they just walk away from their lives? And who is Anonymous, the person who will stop at nothing to keep Madison from learning the truth?
As she closes in, so does Anonymous. A thrilling mystery set against a backdrop of the coffee houses and surfer culture of San Diego, California, Anonymous follows Madison as she searches for the answer to the girls' disappearance, culminating in a terrifying climax where the hunter becomes the hunted—and Madison is running for her life.
“Breck’s captivating debut and series launch ... readers will look forward to seeing more of this tough, competent detective. ” — Publishers Weekly
“A brave heart that deserves a sequel.” —Kirkus Reviews"A major debut that is not to be missed."—Providence Journal
"A strong mystery and plot...[For] fan[s] of Sue Grafton's mysteries."—Manhattan Book Review
"An intensely drawn mystery with a hard-edged but beautifully realized lead character." —Jay Roberts, Mystery Scene, Favorites of 2020
"Anonymous is an emotionally-wrought, angst-riddled, drop-dead terrific tale cut squarely from the cloth of Lisa Gardner and Harlan Coben. Elizabeth Breck introduces us to savvy and seasoned private detective Madison Kelly who finds herself probing a mystery in the past to solve another in the present to splendidly successful results. This is mystery/thriller writing of the highest order, as riveting as it is relentless." —Jon Land, USA Today bestselling author of the Caitlin Strong series
"Anonymous has suspense, action, and investigation that's believable, carried out by an appealing and very human female investigator in one of the most beautiful towns in the country. This will be the start of a terrific series.” —Thomas Perry, New York Times bestselling author of the Jane Whitefield series
“A smart, tough female protagonist, a unique plot, fast-moving prose written with a steady hand and a startling conclusion make this superb debut novel from real-life PI Elizabeth Breck a must read.
The note was threatening enough--but its link to two cold cases and a sinister unseen presence sends P.I. Madison Kelly on a frantic search for the truth.
Madison Kelly, a San Diego private investigator, arrives home to a note stabbed to her front Stop investigating me, or I will hunt you down and kill you. The only problem? Madison hasn't been investigating anyone--she's been taking time off to figure out what to do with her life. But how does she prove a negative? The only way to remove the threat is to do exactly what "Anonymous", the note writer, is telling her not to investigate to see who left it. Could this have something to do with the true crime podcast she's been posting about, and the missing girls?
The girls went missing, two years apart, after a night at the clubs in San Diego's famed Gaslamp Quarter, and Madison had been probing the internet for clues. She discovers that someone has been one step ahead of her, monitoring her posts to prevent her from getting too close. Soon Madison's investigation brings up more questions than are the disappearances connected? Are the girls dead or did they just walk away from their lives? And who is Anonymous, the person who will stop at nothing to keep Madison from learning the truth?
As she closes in, so does Anonymous. A thrilling mystery set against a backdrop of the coffee houses and surfer culture of San Diego, California, Anonymous follows Madison as she searches for the answer to the girls' disappearance, culminating in a terrifying climax where the hunter becomes the hunted—and Madison is running for her life.
“Breck’s captivating debut and series launch ... readers will look forward to seeing more of this tough, competent detective. ” — Publishers Weekly
“A brave heart that deserves a sequel.” —Kirkus Reviews"A major debut that is not to be missed."—Providence Journal
"A strong mystery and plot...[For] fan[s] of Sue Grafton's mysteries."—Manhattan Book Review
"An intensely drawn mystery with a hard-edged but beautifully realized lead character." —Jay Roberts, Mystery Scene, Favorites of 2020
"Anonymous is an emotionally-wrought, angst-riddled, drop-dead terrific tale cut squarely from the cloth of Lisa Gardner and Harlan Coben. Elizabeth Breck introduces us to savvy and seasoned private detective Madison Kelly who finds herself probing a mystery in the past to solve another in the present to splendidly successful results. This is mystery/thriller writing of the highest order, as riveting as it is relentless." —Jon Land, USA Today bestselling author of the Caitlin Strong series
"Anonymous has suspense, action, and investigation that's believable, carried out by an appealing and very human female investigator in one of the most beautiful towns in the country. This will be the start of a terrific series.” —Thomas Perry, New York Times bestselling author of the Jane Whitefield series
“A smart, tough female protagonist, a unique plot, fast-moving prose written with a steady hand and a startling conclusion make this superb debut novel from real-life PI Elizabeth Breck a must read.
277 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 27, 2025
About the author
Elizabeth Breck
9 books85 followersELIZABETH BRECK is a state of California licensed private investigator who writes the Madison Kelly Mystery series. A native Californian, "Harriet the Spy" was her favorite book as a child, so it was no surprise when she grew up to become a PI. She has worked mainly in the field of insurance investigations, making her the real-life version of Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Millhone. In 2013 she went back to school, earning a bachelor’s degree in writing, summa cum laude, from the University of California San Diego. Currently there are two books in the Madison Kelly Mystery series: "Anonymous" and "Double Take." They each stand alone, but if you want to read them in order, start with "Anonymous". The books are available wherever you buy your books, including audiobooks and ebooks. If you enjoy holding the printed book in your hand, she hopes you'll buy from your local bookstore--who would love to see you! She lives with a black Labrador named Hubert who is her best friend.
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