i was hooked to this book for all the right reasons. and i also loved to loathe some of it too. not the book, not the writing. no that was brilliant and so brilliant that i got truly involved with how i felt about the characters and the stories and themes met. it was just so absorbing. and it also made me and allowed me to sit a little and think over a few things too. i like things that dont push me in one way or the other with judgemental pushy or nasty ways, but quietly and then loudly make a difference or allow me to think over things. and besides all that it was just a truly great read. the writing was so tight and spot on that i truly felt like i was getting there with every angle.
the characters were gritty and true to the story. i wanted to know more about them, i wanted to know where they would go. and at some points i was a little worried they would go.
the Dr and Dylan were so on their own track and it seemed like nothing would stop them. and that in itself added so much suspense and tension. you were hooked to where this would or could all end up.
there is so much darkness to this book. some really deep themes touched upon. and i couldn't get enough of it. this kind of book with the plot included can only work when done well. and i am very sceptical of my reads like this of so often ive been pushed a narrative the author is trying tp push and you can usually guess what kind that is...ugh, yeh that kind. but from Nicole i just saw a really powerful and brilliant story. but one which was full of important moments too.
i love how Nicola writes in a way that allows to us to stand from a distance and see both sides here. you dont need to pick a side. there is too much grey area for that to happen even. instead you get to stand by, watch, read and be captivated by wherever this story will go next.

This was edge of your seat thrilling! I loved the multiple perspectives throughout and the end wrapped up so well. I loved this and highly recommend if you’re looking for a genuinely scary thriller that will have you devouring the chapters!

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.