I had some problems with the pacing in this book. It was a bit too slow and that takes away from the thriller part. I also had very little fondness of any of the characters.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

interesting and intense thriller told through a lot of different forms of writing. the main char, Ann, is super interesting to read about, and the reporter is also great. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

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.

S.P. Miskowski has long been one of my favourite writers for weaving atmosphere with psychological unease, and If You Knew Me is no exception. For me, this landed at ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — a dark, unsettling thriller that’s as much about identity and obsession as it is about crime.
The story follows Parker Dillon, a young journalist adrift after losing her job, who stumbles across a decades-old submission from a woman named Ann Mason. Ann’s letter reads like a confession — of a teenage crime, of a lifelong obsession with a washed-up actor — and Parker can’t let it go. What begins as the promise of a career-defining scoop quickly spirals into something murkier: a portrait of a woman who may be delusional, dangerous, or perhaps telling the truth.
What stood out most to me was the mirror that Miskowski holds up between Parker and Ann. Both are women trying to give their lives meaning, both are haunted by choices and the pressure to be seen, and both blur the lines between fact and fantasy. That cracked-mirror structure makes the novel far more than a simple “true crime” investigation — it becomes a study in how easily identity fractures under pressure.
The epistolary elements (letters, emails, interviews) really added texture, though I’ll admit the pacing slowed in spots as the backstory built. Still, once the narrative picked up, I found myself deeply unsettled in the best possible way, second-guessing not only Ann’s truth but Parker’s own stability.
Miskowski’s prose is sharp, intelligent, and quietly haunting — she’s not interested in cheap shocks, but in the kind of creeping dread that lingers long after you’ve finished the final page.
If You Knew Me is a smart, atmospheric thriller for readers who enjoy ambiguity, unreliable narrators, and psychological games. It’s not a book that ties everything up neatly, but that’s exactly what made it resonate with me.
Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer, and S.P. Miskowski for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Parker needs story to sell to make her name as a reporter, Ann has a story to do just that. But who is Ann and how much of her story actually exists. This is a book that will probably appeal to the TIK TOK YA book population, but missed the mark for me. I found parts to unbelievable for my taste and probably should have passed on this title.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced E-book in exchange for my honest review

Taking a turn into a new genre, the hallmarks of Miskowski’s previous works are still very much present. And in all honesty, Miskowski’s work has always straddled different genres, in my opinion, very often straying into literary, poetry, mystery, and thrillers, while often being classified as horror. So, for me, “If You Knew Me” isn’t a huge stretch into new territory, but rather, feels like a full flex into one often peered at before.

Which is all to say I found it an excellent read. The characters are nuanced and flawed at times, which adds to their likability and made me want to stay in the story. I loved Parker’s obsession with Ann and how things slowly escalated. There are some definite creative chances that were taken in the book, especially at the last third, but I appreciated that aspect very much. This has some of the familiar conventions of mystery and thrillers, but it is by no means a formulaic, paint-by-numbers story. Readers who are looking for something just a little bit different will likely enjoy and embrace “If You Knew Me” just as I have.

If You Knew Me" by SP Miskowski is the kind of book that gets under your skin in the best way! The author has such a gift for creating characters who feel completely real! With flaws and secrets that make you want to keep turning the pages, you will NOT BE ABLE TO PUT IT DOWN! The writing is deeply immersive but doesn't feel overdone, and there's this tension that builds and builds until you suddenly realize how invested you are. I had to fight myself to put it down. It's beautifully written, a story that definitely lingers long after you finish.
Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book before it was published.

The review below is posted on Goodreads and will be posted on Amazon on September 23rd.

As much as I wanted to love this book, it was not it for me. I thought the storyline was good but the execution wasn't to my liking. It is well written but it wasn't as entertaining to me because of the way it was written. I struggled with the point of view and didn't really get into it until the very end when everything was coming together. I still have some questions in the end but overall, it just wasn't a book for me.

Wow! This was my first book to read by this author but definitely not my last! This book will leave you wanting for more and the characters and storyline stick with you long after you finish it. Do yourself a favor and pick up this page-turner!

Wow!!! Is all I can say about this absolutely outstanding book. I loved every paragraph, every sentence and every word of this masterpiece! I read it in 12 hours, which is a lot for me to do! It had everything and more laid out in the novel! I sure hope there is more to come from this author! I am totally hooked! This was an outstanding novel from the cover to the last page!

This was okay but somewhat forgettable. Pretty basic thriller if you're just looking for something to pass the time.

A sharp and chilling thriller, this novel follows a young journalist whose pursuit of a sensational story spirals into a dark and dangerous game. As Parker digs deeper into her subject’s twisted past, she’s forced to confront unsettling parallels to her own life—blurring the line between investigator and prey in a way that’s both gripping and deeply unsettling.

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, who choose to sell it. Feeling bad her Aunt gives her one last job to do at her home before 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!

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer (publishers) and S.P. Miskowski (author) for providing me with an ARC of this book through NetGalley. I ended up setting this one aside at about 15%. For me, that’s usually enough to know whether a story is clicking, and unfortunately I just wasn’t connecting with Parker or feeling drawn into the direction of the plot. That said, I think this book will resonate more with readers whose tastes align better with the style and characters.

Decent idea for a story had a lot of twists and turns but honestly towards the end went on for too long. I think there was a lot added throughout this book that wasn't totally necessary and the last few chapters probably could've been cut all together. All in all it was an entertaining read and would read more from this author. I want to thank NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the arc in exchange for an honest review,

If You Knew Me was a rough read. There was so much exposition and what I felt was unnecessary rambling to move the story forward or to even engage in the story or characters. The characters felt flat. I wanted to like Parker but just got bored with the story and with Ann's ramblings and was put off by how the book was set up with letters, emails, etc. It seemed like a lot of unnecessary filler and just not interesting. I thought the ending would have a twist or something, but it just fizzled out for me. The premise of the book seemed promising, but this book was not for me.

#IfYouKnewMe #NetGalley @AmazonPub

If You Knew Me was full of twists and a unique plot that was enjoyable to dive into. I felt a bit disconnected from the characters and so I wasn’t as captivated as I typically am when diving into a thriller, but, still enjoyed it.

The plot appeals to me, as I usually enjoy mystery or thriller or horror novels about writers or/and the publishing world.
I did like the setting and ambience in this book, the writing is decent enough (this was my first time reading a book by this author), I enjoyed the topics this book brings and how shady and unlikable most characters are.
But there was something missing. Something that never truly pulled me into the story. I didn't feel any conncetion to the characters or even cared for them. I was invested in the mystery of the plot, but I didn't relate to the characters. But this is not a complaint.
I'm sure other readers will enjoy this book more than I did.

If You Knew Me – by S.P. Miskowski
NetGalley Read.

Brief overview of the Premise
Aspiring writer Parker is at the edge when her aunt sells the magazine that she works for causing her to have to frantically search for anything to get her out of the hole that she is falling into. When cleaning up the office, Parker finds a manuscript that she gets excited about and reaches out to the author. On her way to meet her Parker finds out the disturbing truth but she is in far deeper than she knows, setting off a sequence of life changing events.

Rating overall
⭐⭐⭐.25

Themes – Mental illness, Delusion vs. Reality, Revenge, Ambition, Obsession

Genre
1. Mystery/ Thriller - 🎢🎢🎢.5 – 3.5 rollercoasters out of 5 – I would not say there is a lot of mystery in this novel. Thrilling that is for sure.

Characters
⭐⭐.75
Everyone is very morally challenged. It was very hard to connect with any of the characters enough to root for them. Heavily plot focused which was slightly to the detriment of the character building. They played their role for the story progression and there were great stakes if they failed but didn’t really care about any of them enough to be affected by it.

Worldbuilding
⭐⭐⭐.5
I thought the world building was done well. It played its role.

Story
⭐⭐⭐ .25
Overall not a bad read. Thought that the plot was unique and exciting. The major downside for me was the characters development. I thought the characters of Anna and Parker were at a very high flux period in their lives that the mania of the events that unfurled made it very difficult to connect with them and therefore care about what was going on with them.

Final Comments: Although it was lacking in some areas for me, I did enjoy the story. It was written well and it flowed well, very high paced and thrilling, it just missed the mark for me on the characters.

Who would I recommend to: If you are looking for a unique gripping plot driven novel than I would recommend this one.

I would like to thank NetGalley, the author and publisher for allowing me to have ARC access to this novel. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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.