Jessica joins a morality study given by a Doctor in order to earn some extra money. It seems very easy at first, but as she gets deeper into the study, she realizes she doesn't know who to believe, The Doctor, the doctor's husband or even herself.

Answer some questions anonymously for $500? Who would say no? How difficult could the questions be?

Jessica finds out just how difficult the questions are once the survey gets started. The anonymous interaction by Dr. Shields while answering the questions at the beginning is unsettling to say the least, but Jessica needs the money so she continues.

When Jessica is asked to meet Dr. Shields in person, she thinks this will be much better than replying on a computer. I wouldn't have continued, but everyone has reasons why they would or why they wouldn't continue.

At their first in-person session, Dr. Shields tells her that the research has been cancelled and that Jessica is her sole focus. Should Jessica worry about this?

Maybe Dr. Shields can help Jessica with a secret she has been keeping her entire life or perhaps she can't help her and her secret will get out?

The more Jessica thinks about this arrangement with Dr. Shields, the more frightened and paranoid she becomes that she really doesn't know what she has gotten herself into and what Dr. Shields really has in mind.

We find out about Jessica as well as Dr. Shields in alternating chapters. Both seem like troubled people, but Dr. Shields seems to have the upper hand with her devious, obsessive plans of using Jessica to help solve her problem or at least find an answer.

AN ANONYMOUS GIRL had me tense as I was reading and worrying what was going on. Jessica's worry seemed to consume her all day and even at night.

I didn't like Dr. Shields the minute I met her and disliked her even more as time went on. She actually was quite frightening, evil, cunning, manipulative, and needed some therapy herself.

If you want to hate a character, Dr. Shields is the person you are looking for.

AN ANONYMOUS GIRL definitely will keep your interest up as well as your blood pressure.

If you enjoy a book that you won't be able to put down just because what's happening is unbelievable, then THE ANONYMOUS GIRL is that book.

And...if I must compare the books by these authors, AN ANONYMOUS GIRL was much better for me than THE WIFE BETWEEN US. 5/5

This book was given to me by the publisher in both print and via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

An Anonymous Girl, Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekhanen, authors; Barrie Kreinik, narrator
Secrets and lies dominate this book. None of the characters tells the complete truth, and this leads to constant misdirection and misinterpretation that keeps the reader constantly on the edge of the seat. Who is the most dangerous of the main characters? The book begins with deception; will it end with deception? Someone has hatched a diabolical plan, but until the end, the identity of the most devious will not be revealed.
Over the course of the novel, the narrative travels back and forth between Jessica Farris and Dr. Lydia Shields as they interact with each other in the conduct of a psychological study conducted by the doctor, a psychiatrist. Through their thoughts and memories, their past is revealed and their behavior is scrutinized and analyzed. The narrative is clinical, a times, and it sets the stage for the psychological drama and the atmosphere of fear and tension that pervade the book.
Dr. Shields intends to conduct a study to determine whether or not her husband Thomas Cooper has continued to be unfaithful or has completely repented for his past behavior. She believes that Jessica’s personality and character make her the perfect candidate to assist her in that effort. She wants to know if he can still be tempted or if he has truly changed. She devises several tests for Jessica to conduct without Jessica actually knowing why she is asked to perform the duties demanded of her. Jessica doesn’t realize that she is being used as bait to tempt Thomas to stray again. Jessica seems motivated solely by her need for money, and so, at first, she disregards the unethical aspect of her “job”. She is really only interested in making sure that she has enough money to help her family care for her mentally disabled sister.
As Jess feels more and more manipulated by Lydia, however, she tries to extricate herself from the study. She is always lured back, however, either with gifts or with money, and even sometimes with coercive persuasion that is almost like blackmail, as veiled and not so veiled threats are made.
The narrative is extremely clinical in nature, as the doctor analyzes her own behavior and every emotion and action that Jess engages in, as well. She then determines how to move to the next step, often making Jess feel that the doctor is aware of more about her life than she should be and is setting a trap for her. Soon, she is determined to turn the tables and find out more about the doctor.
As the book continues, it is apparent that there is a puppeteer moving the characters about, but who is that puppeteer? Each assumption made quickly leads to another, often offering an opposite conclusion or reaction.
There are two alternating and competing narratives in this novel. Jess’s and the doctor’s, and both reveal the history and traumas they faced growing up. Both carry scars of their past. Both react based on the guilt they harbor. In the end, Jess is left to wonder if Tom is guilty or if Lydia is setting him up? She even wonders if both are trying to trap her, somehow, to frame her in some way. The reader will even begin to wonder if Jess is innocent or guilty of some unusual behavior? Will this experience with the psychiatrist change her?
Jessica started out as someone who would do anything she had to, to make enough money to pay her bills and help her parents. Is she the same at the end? Was Thomas unfaithful? Is Lydia guilt free? Is Lydia innocent? The book raises many questions. It is a good, fast read, great for a vacation or cruise!

Most of the time, when I read suspense novels, I’ve already got the whole plot with all its twists figured out long before I reach the last page. Not this time. There are no good guys in this story and nothing was predictable. I now feel redeemed, manipulated, betrayed, and victorious—all at the same time.

Ho hum. I had to push through this one, because it was a book club selection. If it wasn't I would have likely DNF'd it. The premise created a thriller scenario and I did feel invested in reading how Jessica was going to manage the walls closing in on her and/or what Dr. Shields would try next. However, this was a short-lived interest. The story dragged on and on, with expected (yet not too shocking) intrusions and traps. The writing was dry and void of emotion. Even the creepiness factor of Dr. Shield's "voice" in those chapters just didn't seem right. Although I didn't love The Wife Between Us either, I fear I enjoyed this one even less

It was a page turner.

This second novel by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen is even better than their first. AN ANONYMOUS GIRL is can’t-put-it-down good.

Jessica becomes involved, overly involved, in a morals study being conducted by Dr. Shields. The study pays well, and Jessica needs the money for her family. So, in spite of some qualms, she continues as a "subject" of the study, which delves into more and more of her life, even after she is no longer A subject but THE subject. Jessica should have followed her instincts.

Both Jessica and Dr. Shields tell this story in alternating chapters. Dr. Shields's chapters are written in passive voice. At first the use of this style seems to add to the mystery: Is this Dr. Shields speaking, or is someone else conducting this study with her? Later, though, it is obvious that Dr. Shields is emphasizing the people she is acting on.

A third novel by Hendricks and Pekkanen is about to come out. I can hardly wait to read it.

It was written in a stereotypical format especially Dr Shields monologue. It was all a bit cliche for me. Unbelievable and unrealistic. 1.5 stars from me.

It was a well written book that was easy enough to read. The ending was a bit anti climatic, but I was eager to get to the end to find out what happened!