The Signature Line

by Nicole Annbury

The Year of Self is a program many women have manifested. However, for some, the only way out is through death.

The dark reality of Dr. Carmella Carey becomes exposed as her facade of a feminist therapist comes to light. When she promotes her controversial therapy program on TV, it draws the ire of a disgruntled men’s rights advocate, Dylan Foster. When his threats go unheeded, his actions become breaking news.

She built an empire. He plans to tear it down.

A serial killer is after the women in Dr. Carey's program, and the threats are getting closer to her, but she dismisses them. Dylan harbors anger towards the women in the program and specifically wants to find his ex-girlfriend, who was an early follower of Dr. Carey’s. An assistant and a lawyer joined Dr. Carey’s team; however, neither can control their boss or her actions.

The ultimate price for power and control.


Dr. Carey has a secret life that she keeps hidden from the women of the Year of Self. As Dr. Carey's empire grows and Dylan's mission intensifies, they find themselves on a collision course, each seeking their own version of freedom, power, and revenge.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Psychological Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Murder Mystery

311 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 13, 2026

About the author

Nicole Annbury is a writer of dark fiction in the thriller, psychological suspense, and mystery genres.

She currently lives in Indiana with her husband and three cats. When she's not writing, she enjoys nature walks, true crime documentaries, reality TV viewing and going on drives with her husband.
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Reviews

[Courtney Tew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nicole has done it again! What a thrilling second novel with some of the most interesting, despicable characters. No one is safe in this book, which keeps you on the edge of your seat! Dr Carey runs a women’s self improvement program that she runs as more of a cult, and as the book progresses we meet more members of this program who are not finding the results they were promised. The rules are insane, as is Dr Carey. This group catches the eye of Dylan- part time mens activist full time loser. His sole “ mission” is to stop Dr. Carey and put women back where they “ belong”

If you like fast paced thrillers this one is definitely for you! There are many POVs which keeps it interesting, never knowing exactly what will happen next.

Can’t wait for more from Nicole Annbury!!

[Rachel Browning · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Signature Line” by Nicole Annbury is an intense, edge-of-your-seat thriller that hooked me from the very first page.
Dr. Carmella Carey has built a powerful empire around The Year of Self, a controversial therapy program promising transformation for women—but beneath her polished feminist façade lies a far darker truth. As a serial killer, Dylan, begins targeting women involved in the program, the tension escalates fast.
What makes this story so compelling is the collision of power, control, obsession, and revenge. Carmella’s refusal to acknowledge the danger closing in around her only heightens the suspense, while Dylan’s rage-fueled mission adds an unsettling psychological layer. This story is full of secrets, manipulation, and morally gray characters at every turn.
Dark, gripping, and thought-provoking, The Signature Line kept me glued to the pages from start to finish. A chilling exploration of ambition and the ultimate cost of control—this one absolutely delivers.

[Chapters_with_VDKeck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Y’all, if a self-help empire and a true crime podcast had a messy, ambitious baby, it’d be The Signature Line by Nicole Annbury.

Dr. Carmella Carey is out here on national TV selling her “Year of Self” like it’s salvation in a blazer — polished, poised, perfectly branded. But those cracks? They’re spreading faster than gossip at a church potluck. Behind the empowerment glow is a woman who likes control a little too much.

Enter Dylan Foster — bitter, obsessed, and stewing like sweet tea left in the sun. When women tied to Carmella’s program start turning up dead, his threats go from keyboard noise to breaking news real quick. Meanwhile, the frazzled assistant sees too much, the lawyer can’t rein her in, and that ex-girlfriend angle? Oh, it’s personal.

Annbury’s writing is sharp and cool, almost clinical, which makes the tension feel icy and precise. The power struggle crackles like grease in a hot skillet — you can practically smell something burning.

Four stars because I wanted one more twist to send my earrings flying, but baby, this one struts. Slick, tense, and juicier than porch gossip in July. 🍑🔥

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Welcome to your new life. I will be your guide to becoming free from shackles society has placed on you. Won’t you join me?

Story about a woman’s Year of the Self program & a man obsessed claiming she took men’s power & is determined to get it back. He is the Cutthroat Caller.

The very first line in the prologue reels you in & you can’t wait to get into the meat of the story. “Dear Dr. Carey, You are a vulgar bitch.” On the other hand, you will not see the ending coming.

With loathsome characters this book is filled with lies, deception, obsession, revenge, hatred, mind control, addiction, rejection & murder. Let’s not forget about the power of a cult & a psychopathic serial killer that create psychological turmoil throughout the story.

Favorite Lines:
“She was great at viewing the world through her peripheral vision, afraid to turn to the side & give the world too much.”

“…Carmella learned as she got older that self-esteem was a powerful drug. If you had it, you were golden. If you didn’t, you just might get stuck with a loser.”

Thank you to the author for including me on her ARC Team. Can’t wait for her next novel.

[Simone · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Signature Line is packed with revenge, control, and obsession, pulling you into a dark and compelling story from the very first page. Told through multiple POVs, the narrative is sharp, twisty, and expertly layered, keeping the tension high throughout.

The writing is flawless and utterly captivating, making it impossible to put down. The storyline is tight and suspenseful, with twists that genuinely caught me off guard and added depth to an already gripping plot. Every reveal feels intentional and satisfying.

A smart, intense read that keeps you guessing until the very end—highly recommended for fans of psychological suspense and dark thrillers.

Thank you Nicole Annbury and KM Lit Services for my eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[LitWithBritt27 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of those reads where almost everyone is unlikeable, and that’s what makes it work. So many POVs took me a bit to settle into, and the tension builds slowly at first. But once the story finds its footing, it becomes engaging and hard to put down. Every perspective adds another layer to the power struggles at the center of the book.

This is a story about control. Men versus women. Women versus men. And women exploiting other women under the guise of empowerment. I don’t read a ton of cult centered thrillers, but this one pulled me in. If you enjoy psychological thrillers with multiple POVs and cult dynamics, this one’s worth picking up.

Thank you to Nicole Annbury and NetGalley for an early copy of this book, but as always, all thoughts are my own.

[Sarah Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bravo Nicole Annbury!!! I thought her first book “The Final Sentence” was good, but “The Signature Line” blew me away. I loved to hate the characters, and hated to love the characters. Several of the unsuspecting plot twists just added to the suspense build up of the finale. I finished it last night before I went to bed and when I woke this morning I was bummed that I couldn’t read more. Maybe I shouldn’t have read it so fast, but I literally couldn’t put I down. Thanks Nicole, I cannot wait to see what you write next. I’m definitely a fan!!! Bottom line … I highly recommend, you will not be disappointed.

[Nuclearranter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since I enjoyed her first novel, The Final Sentence, I was excited to read Nicole Annbury’s newest book. I was not disappointed, and I think I like this one more. The pace is quick and hooks you from the start, and while I sometimes find books that use multiple points of view to be clunky, it never bothered me here. All the characters were interesting (including a character I loved hating!). I definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good thriller.

[MommySnarksALot · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Nicole Annbury’s first book, but The Signature Line is even better! The plot is fast paced and the multiple points of view give a well-rounded look into all sides of the action. The main character, Dr. Carmella Carey is someone I loved to hate. If you enjoy thrillers filled with questionable morals, read this book.

[Heather Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

**ARC Review**

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


This was a fast paced Thriller that had me hooked from the very beginning!
It is Multi POV, which was absolutely fantastic for how things play out in this story. We get so many perspectives, from not only the main characters but the victims caught in the middle of two extreme forces!

It definitely threw me for a loop for some parts, I thought it would go in one direction but it ended up going another way and I love when I get surprised when reading thrillers!


We follow Dr. Carey and Dylan who are polar opposites, one an extreme feminist who has a program (that is also extreme) to help women empower themselves the other who believes that Dr. Carey is the reason for all men’s women problems and she needs delt with.

It was a bit hard reading their perspective cause they both come off so extreme (which is the point so I didn’t knock it for that). I overall though very much enjoyed it, and the writing was fantastic and was very again faced paced! I also loved that the chapters were short so it definitely felt like it was going by fast!

I definitely enjoyed and recommend you check it out!

[Nicole Annbury]

Thank you so much for reading and reviewing The Signature Line. As my sophomore book, I hope it finds its readers like my debut, The Final Sentence, did. I thoroughly enjoyed writing The Signature Line with characters like Dr. Carmella Carey and Dylan Foster. Both are complex and unforgettable, and I hope you never manifest either of them into your own lives!
I hope you enjoy this book, and if you did, please let me know!
All my best, Nicole.

[Julie Maleski (juliereads_alot) · Rating 4 out of 5]

📚 E-ARC REVIEW 📚

The Signature Line By Nicole Annbury
Publication Date: February 13, 2026

📚MY RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you to KM Lit Services and author Nicole Annbury for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

📚MY REVIEW:

Happy Pub Day to The Signature Line, Nicole Annbury's latest thriller! This fast-paced read was a wild ride, with its terrifying suspense and its overwhelming sense of foreboding from start to finish.

This story is told in short chapters from alternating POVs of multiple characters, all of whom are connected in some way to Dr. Carmella Carey. Dr. Carey is a feminist therapist who has become notorious as a result of her controversial therapy program for women. Her promotional appearances on television have captured the ire of incel Dylan Foster, a disgruntled men's rights advocate who believes the teachings of people like Dr. Carey are the reason he has not been successful in romantic relationships and in life. When his threats toward Dr. Carey are ignored, Dylan contemplates more drastic measures. And despite the fact that a serial killer is murdering women who are part of Dr. Carey's program, she refuses to back down -- even as the threat gets closer and closer to her.

Harkening events in several recent news headlines, the premise of this book is incredibly frightening. Delving into the alternating POVs of both Dr. Carey and Dylan was fascinating to me, as it was a deep dive into the juxtaposition of two polar-opposite perspectives. In these pages, Annbury captured both perspectives with psychological brilliance. The exploration of the battles between individual power and societal responsibility, as well as feminism vs. masculinity, are - unfortunately - all-too-familiar debates in the rhetoric of our world today. Annbury shines a light into the dark recesses of the extremes within these debates -- and she does so in an authentically scary way.

While there were some parts of the storylines that required a suspension of my disbelief, there were other parts that felt completely plausible given the current state of our world - and there's no better word than TERRIFYING to capture the way this book made me feel as I read. If you're a fan of suspenseful thrillers with plotlines inspired by current events and a gripping sense of terror, be sure you grab a copy of The Signature Line -- OUT TODAY!

#TheSignatureLine #NicoleAnnbury #kmlitservices #booktour #thrillerreads #booklover #bookreviews #bookrecs #bookrecommendations

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Signature Line is a dark, compelling psychological thriller that digs into the messy intersection of self‑help culture, ambition, and the dangerous people drawn to both. From the opening chapters, it’s clear that Dr. Carmella Carey is not the glossy feminist icon she presents to the world — and watching that carefully curated façade crack is one of the book’s most gripping pleasures.

The “Year of Self” program is such a clever backdrop: aspirational on the surface, quietly sinister underneath. As women flock to Dr. Carey’s brand of empowerment, the story slowly reveals the cost of that devotion — and the lengths she’ll go to maintain control. The tension ratchets up beautifully once Dylan Foster enters the picture, his resentment simmering into something far more volatile. His obsession with the program, and with finding his ex‑girlfriend, adds a chilling counterpoint to Dr. Carey’s own hunger for influence.

What really elevates the novel is how it balances its dual threats: a serial killer targeting the program’s followers and the psychological warfare unfolding between Carey and Dylan. Both storylines feed into each other, creating a sense of dread that never lets up. The supporting cast — especially Carey’s increasingly uneasy assistant and lawyer — adds texture and moral complexity as they struggle to navigate the fallout of her choices.

This is a story about power: who has it, who wants it, and what happens when someone decides they deserve it at any cost. It’s twisty, atmospheric, and full of sharp observations about the self‑help industry and the vulnerabilities it exploits.

A dark, engrossing read that lingers long after the final page.

with thanks to Nicole Annbury, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC.

[C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Signature Line was a fast, engaging read that immediately took me by surprise. From the very first sentence, it was clear this story wasn’t what I expected—and that ultimately worked in its favor.

The pacing was strong throughout, and I really appreciated how the character descriptions were handled; they felt natural rather than clinical. There’s a fairly large cast, and while some of the minor characters blurred together for me, I still enjoyed learning their backstories and could tell a lot of care went into developing them. The twist toward the end was effective and satisfying.

Annbury’s writing is confident and believable. The Mandrate manifesto was unsettling in a very realistic way, and the portrayal of Camilla and her cult felt disturbingly plausible. I found myself feeling genuine sympathy for the members and the psychological grip they were under.

That said, this book includes heavy themes—abuse, violence, substance use, and narcissistic behavior—that may be anxiety-inducing for some readers. Content warnings would be helpful to keep in mind before starting.

Overall, this was a well-written, thoughtfully constructed novel that kept me turning pages, and I’d be interested in reading more from this author.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

This addictive story surrounds manipulation, trust, and deception! As secrets surface, it becomes clear that not everyone involved is who they claim to be and the truth comes at a deadly cost. “Cult leader” vs. serial killer! The premise alone is enough to draw you in!

These Characters!! Dylan was straight up evil. His hatred of women wasn’t subtle at all, and it made every scene with him uncomfortable in the exact way a psychological thriller should. He’s one of those characters you love to hate, and the author did a great job making him disturbing enough to get the point across.

Dr. Carey? A scam artist at its finest. The way she manipulated situations and people was infuriating but fascinating to watch unfold. Every time you thought she might get exposed, she slips out of it just enough to keep the tension high.

And Bailey… that weird obsession with Dr. Carey had me side eyeing her HARD. It added another layer of unease to the story and made me constantly question her motives and mental state.

Overall, this was a dark, twisty read with morally corrupt characters and plenty of “what did I just read?!” moments. Definitely worth the read if you enjoy thrillers full of manipulation, obsession, and very flawed people.

[Mica Rice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Carey is a feminist therapist who is touting her latest program, "The Year of Self," encouraging women's rights, but it comes at a cost. Women who enter the program soon realize it is not safe.

Dylan Foster forges his own men's right advocacy group with an aim at Dr. Carey and her followers. He harbors ill feelings towards an old girlfriend who he believes part of the "Year of Self" program.
Dylan and Dr. Carey are two powerful forces whose paths will collide. The question is, who makes it out alive?

I really enjoyed this story, told from multiple POVs. You get into the minds of Dr. Carey and Dylan, both in a pursuit of power and control over victims, and are characters you will love to hate. You get a sense for their past and present, their alter egos, and their motives along the way. I also appreciated the voice of the victims in this story, so you get a sense of what they experience and how the program and the serial killer put their lives at risk, with some not making it at all. I finished this a couple of days, eager to find out what would happen in the end. Nice job, Nicole!

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Signature Line by Nicole Annbury is a sharp, unsettling dive into the collision of self‑help culture, feminist branding, and the rage simmering beneath modern gender politics. Dr. Carmella Carey’s glossy “Year of Self” program looks empowering on the surface, but Annbury quickly peels back the veneer to reveal something far more complicated and dangerous. When a men’s‑rights extremist begins targeting the women in Carey’s orbit, the tension escalates into a gripping, news‑cycle‑ready thriller that feels disturbingly plausible.

Annbury balances social commentary with propulsive suspense, crafting characters who are flawed, compelling, and often morally ambiguous. The pacing is tight, the stakes rise steadily, and the twists land with impact. Fans of psychological suspense and dark, character‑driven thrillers will find plenty to sink into here.

If you like multiple points of view and suspense with social commentary with a little bit of “wow, humanity is exhausting”, this one delivers.

[Jessica Womble · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicole Annbury had me from the moment I saw serial killer + cult vibes, and The Signature Line absolutely delivered.

The pacing is tight and relentless, and the multiple POVs keep the tension high while slowly peeling back layers of something far more disturbing than it first appears. This story dives headfirst into male activism, rage against feminism, and the dangerous rise of self-help “gurus” who prey on insecurity, loneliness, and hopelessness and it does so in a way that feels chillingly relevant.

What makes this such a wild ride is how believable it all feels. The manipulation. The grooming. The way ideology turns into violence. Every chapter left me uneasy in the best way, and the cult elements added an extra layer of psychological horror that kept me glued to the pages.

This was my second read by Nicole Annbury & she definitely knows how to deliver. If you love thrillers that are dark, thought-provoking, and socially charged, this one deserves a spot on your TBR.

⚠️ ARC Review
📅 The Signature Line will be available everywhere on February 13, 2026.

[Clara Rice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nicole Annbury’s "The Signature Line" pulled me in from the very beginning. Dr. Carmella Carey is a character who follows you off the page and lingers long after the story ends. Her program, "The Year of Self," sounds empowering for women on the surface, but the deeper each woman goes, the more unsettling and cult-like it becomes.

In her second novel, Annbury delivers the same exceptional depth of character that made her first book so compelling. Her characters are written so vividly they feel as though they could step right into the room with you. I truly can’t get enough of this author’s writing.

This story takes readers deep into the mind of a woman with ruthless intentions, alongside Dylan, a character who takes Dr. Carey’s message personally and becomes consumed by it. He will stop at nothing to seek his revenge.

I am grateful to the author for allowing me to read an advance reader copy of this book prior to publication; all opinions are my own.

[Alexandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t think I’ve ever read anything quite like this before. It follows a woman who claims she’s “helping other women,” but in reality, she’s built a cult like following and only cares about herself. As the story unfolds, some of her followers start being murdered and while you know who the killer is, you still have no idea what’s going to happen next.

That constant sense of wondering kept the pages turning. Even when you felt like you could predict the ending, the story still managed to keep you guessing.

There are so many POVs, which I absolutely loved. Each one gave a different glimpse into the story and the characters, yet it was never confusing and you always knew exactly what was going on. Not many authors could pull that off as well as Nicole did.

This book is full on psychological thriller vibes, which I’m a huge fan of. It was very well written and kept me guessing.
Thank you so much for the ARC, I’ll definitely be reading more by Nicole.

[Lu thrillskillsandchills · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a really interesting concept and one that felt a little different to a lot of psychological thrillers I’ve been reading lately.

The story follows a woman who has built a huge following around “helping” other women - but as the story unfolds, it becomes clear there’s a much darker, more self serving side to what she’s doing. When women connected to her start being murdered, the tension really starts to build. I liked that you often knew more than the characters did, but still weren’t completely sure how everything would play out.

There are a lot of POVs throughout the book. While I did enjoy getting multiple angles of the story, there were times where it did feel a little confusing and took a bit to settle back into whose perspective I was in.

Overall, this was well written and definitely kept me reading, even when I felt like I could see parts of the direction the story was heading.

Thank you to Nicole Annbury and @km_litservices for the advanced copy of this book.

[Sandra Postma · Rating 5 out of 5]

After a brilliant debut with THE FINAL SENTENCE, I can honestly say I loved Nicole Annbury’s second book even more.

In THE SIGNATURE LINE, a dark thriller, each character is morally grey or even black. Nobody’s exempt from making decisions that as a reader you’d never make.

And that’s what it makes it so good. Because you understand why they make the bad decisions that they do. Nicole’s writing is that good.

Does it make for an easy read? Boy, no. Especially as a woman in business who is *in* self-improvement programmes, this novel got inside me. But isn’t that exactly what we want from our thrillers?

If you are not afraid to explore the dark side of being a woman in today’s world, and not afraid to see flawed women within that struggle and beyond despicable men, you will love this book.

I sure did.

[Justice Singh · Rating 3 out of 5]

First off thank you Nicole for the ARC. I was an ARC reader for your last book the Final Sentence which I enjoyed so much that I was so excited to be apart of your journey again!!

This book is a great thriller with multiple POVs which keep you interested because you want to keep reading their story lines. This thriller was a little bit different from what I usually read but it was still interesting in a good way! As twisted as it may seem Dylan’s POV was my favorite to read.

You could kind of predict the outcome of what would happen in the ending but to me it’s not about what’s going to happen. I enjoy just reading something that catches my attention and keeps me entertained from page to page.

[Ali O · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Signature Line by Nicole Annbury
Narrated by Scarlett Cross
🌟🌟🌟🌟
This is an exciting and intense thriller!!
The story is full of twists, secrets, obsession and revenge!!
Dr Carmella Carey is in charge of a woman’s controversial therapy program. But this group is definitely different from your typical therapy session!!
I enjoyed the multiple POV’s in the story, they helped to keep my interest peeked!!

This is my first book from this author and I’m looking forward to read more from her!! The writing style is great and this book is a fast read!!
I got to listen to the audio version and the narrator did a very good job! She was engaging to listen to!

**This book is out now. I recommend checking out this exciting and entertaining book!!**

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

So on one side of the ring you have a psychologist (with piercing green eyes and perfect blonde hair) preying on traumatized woman and signing them on to an anti-man group—basically for life. On the other, we have an incel (who lives in his parents' basement, natch), trying to create his own movement, the Mandate. Both are extremely unpleasant and one-dimensional characters. It's difficult to find anyone to root for in this novel—even the people swept up in the chaos. If you want a beach read about people you just hate (not love to hate), this might be for you.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC.

[E.D. Hackett · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Signature Line is a multi-POV thriller about a serial killer seeking revenge for what/who he believed led his girlfriend to ghost him. It was fast paced and each chapter revealed the psychology behind the killer and the woman he was after.
There’s so much I want to say but I don’t want any spoilers to slip!
If you’re looking for a psychological thriller that dives into feminism v masculinity and how people get trapped in cults, you’ve found your book!

Thank you to the author for sharing her book with me before publication. This is my honest opinion.

[Candy Galindo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book difficult to get into at first due to the multiple points of view. and I do mean multiple. I had to think at the beginning of each chapter ok who is this again, oh this is someone new. once I got over that, the story was engaging. a hypocritical therapist leading a women's movement/cult becomes the focus of a man who felt women ruined his life. I do wish at least one of the characters had been likable tho. overall, this was an entertaining book and I would definitely check out other books by this author

[Trina 🖤 · Rating 4 out of 5]

🎧Thank you @nicoleannbury for an audiobook copy of The Signature Line!

This was a fun & intense psychological thriller! A wild ride with Dr Carmella leading the Year of Self revolution that turns dark & deadly. Full on feminist cult vibes!

The narrator {Scarlett Cross} did a great job portraying all voices, especially for the serial unaliver, emphasizing his pure creepiness!

And how great is the cover?!

[Peff Packer · Rating 5 out of 5]

An incredibly suspenseful novel with well developed characters will keep you on the edge of your seat. About a "men's rights" serial killer targeting a woman's group, this book is topical, relatable, and emotionally engaging as I found myself immersed in the book. A thriller that I could not put down, and constantly wondering what's going to happen next.

[Soumya Purohit · Rating 3 out of 5]

I try to read the book and halfway through it nothing happened.
The story had such a great scope but the writing felt very basic and didn't catched my interest at all. Every new chapter had a new character that made me confuse and sometimes I struggled to remember.
Sorry but this is what I felt