3 out of 4 stars
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Christine Benedict’s novel Anonymous is a mystery thriller that makes the reader question what is really going on. Debra Hamilton is a woman with a troubled past. She experienced a very turbulent childhood due to her mother’s mental illness. When Debra and her husband invest their life savings to purchase an old, dilapidated farmhouse she is less than thrilled with her new environment. Although she wants her husband to be happy Debra begins to fear for her safety and her sanity when strange things begin happening inside the house. She is unsure if the home is indeed haunted, or if she is losing her mind as her mother did.
As the strange occurrences continue to mount and an unwelcome presence within the house seems to make itself known, Debra becomes friends with her neighbor Julie who is dealing with a threatening presence of her own. Julie is receiving strange letters from a stalker, and the two women find themselves searching for explanations.
I enjoyed Benedict’s writing style. Early in the book the narrative alternates between the past and the present providing the reader with the histories of both Debra and Julia. The point of view continues to shift throughout the rest of the book. By offering the perspectives of different characters Benedict invites the reader to connect with their experiences. During some of the more sinister moments the shift in the point of view provides the reader with insight into what some of the less savory characters are thinking. For example, we get to look into the mind of a particular character who enjoys killing cats. As we learn a little bit about the brutal way he thinks, we also worry about what he may do to the protagonists of the story.
My main complaint about Anonymous is that the ending felt a little abrupt to me. All of my questions were answered but the resolution occurred very quickly. Even though I don’t necessarily like long explanations, I would have liked the ending to play out more smoothly than it did.
I do think that anybody who enjoys a little bit of a scare mixed in with their mystery thrillers will enjoy this book. While it is not overwhelmingly scary, there are definitely some creepy parts. And If creepy crawlies incite fear for you, this book definitely provides that! You will encounter spiders, snakes, bugs and rodents. I give Anonymous 3 out of 4 stars. It is an intriguing story and the characters have vivid backstories that add depth to their personalities. It is a book that is definitely difficult to put down.
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Anonymous
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