Anna So Knows ‘Ya by Todd Brown
Robbins Publishing (October 13, 2026)
Reviewed by Dave Simms
What’s with that title? It throws the reader for a loop as they try to figure out what the heck it means, but Todd Brown knows how to mess with his audience. In his second novel, this quickly rising author knocks it out of the park. The subject of mental illness can be tricky in horror and thrillers, but when done well, as in Shutter Island or A Head Full of Ghosts, the result is a mind-screw that rewards the reader with a story that leaves a scar.
John Simons works as a crime reporter, struggling to make a mark, when his life is turned upside down. One night, John hears a tapping on his wall. Next, he sees a man in a hat that eludes him at every turn. With a killer on the loose, John wonders if that mysterious figure is connected. When the tapping becomes communication with him, reality seems to slip, just a bit. His boss, Anna So, is also on his radar, as she sends off odd signals. His best friend Lauren attempts to keep his sanity intact and help him navigate the weird waters of mental health and the growing murders in the city.
Are the incidents related? What role is John meant to play? Is there a connection between the man in the hat and Anna So?
Brown has constructed a taut, short novel that evokes prime Peter Straub and John Connelly, which is high praise for this story that teeters on the edge of madness and melds genres in a riveting read.
What makes Anna So Knows ‘Ya work so well is the characters. The interplay between John, Lauren, and Anna is intense and pulls at the strings of reality so well, the reader may flip back and check on prior events to figure out where the author is going – which is a very cool thing.
Recommended reading. This is what psychological horror thrillers are supposed to do – entertain, but also give the reader plenty to think about and wonder about the frayed ends of sanity people face daily.
