I Stalk: Kristina Antivakis investigates the motives of six Danish stalkers
A documentary depiction of surveillance and harassment in Danish relationships
Quick Facts
What is the book about?
I Stalk (Politikens Forlag, 2025) is written by journalist Kristina Antivakis and constitutes one of the most comprehensive Danish documentations of stalking as a criminal phenomenon. The book is based on six anonymous accounts from two women and four men, all of whom have broken the law by pursuing, monitoring, or harassing others. Through these personal narratives, the reader gains insight into the specific methods used by stalkers, including physical surveillance at residences, the use of fake profiles on social media, and systematic phone harassment with hidden numbers.
The book is structured around interviews where the perpetrators reflect on their actions, their upbringing, and the triggering factors that led to the stalking. It is often in the aftermath of a broken relationship that the behavior escalates, and the book thoroughly describes the obsession that drives individuals to ignore both ethical boundaries and legal injunctions. By including experts from the Danish Stalking Center, the individual cases are contextualized, allowing the reader to understand the underlying psychological mechanisms.
The real case
Although the six main characters in the book are anonymized to protect both themselves and their victims, the book reflects a growing reality in the Danish legal system. Stalking was made a separate provision in the penal code in 2022, which has increased focus on the area. The book indirectly refers to the societal context, known from public cases such as that of Sisse Sejr and Esben Bjerre, to illustrate how intrusive stalking is for the victims. In the specific cases presented in the book, we hear about stalkers who have driven past their ex-partner's new address dozens of times daily, or who have created complex networks of fake identities to maintain control over the other person's life.
The participants in the book describe their encounters with the police, the issuance of restraining orders, and in some cases, their path into treatment. The central theme of the work is the recognition of the dark mind and the 'kick' it gives to track down a person who does not wish to be found. Thus, the book serves both as a warning and a guide for victims who need to understand the threat they face.
