This second book from the writing duo of Greer Hendricks and Sara Pekkanen knocks it out of the park. Excellently crafted thriller from start to finish. I liked their debut novel The Wife Between Us, but felt it didn't fully live up to its promise. Not so here. This one is worth the hype. Well paced and plotted, this story pulled me in and along for the ride immediately, and never let up. Great exploration of issues of trust, love, obsession, and what motivates a person at their core. The thrills within are not overtly scary or violent, but of the psychologically twisty, creepy, obsessive, disturbing sort. Which is ultimately scarier when done right, as it is here. This will make a fantastic movie one day. Highly recommend.

Thank you the publisher, NetGalley and the authors Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen.
My first experience reading these authors and what a ride it was.
Excellent story, well written. It kept me on my toes from beginning to end.
Couldn’t stop reading absolutely riveting.
Cannot wait for another book from these authors.

Nuh uh, that didn't just happen...right? Wow!

I'm kind of sitting here fish-mouthing it. I don't want to give anything away because that's not my way...but this one is different. Morals...ethics...such an interesting line that blurs and shapeshifts depending on individual's perceptions. Excellent writing, I was sucked right in to this misleadingly innocuous tale.

An e-copy of this book was given to me from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 4 stars.

Jess discovers a survey will pay money to answer questions. She is living paycheck to paycheck from her job as a makeup artist for BeautyBuzz. After she is able to sneak into the study under false pretenses, she discovers that it is not a simple multiple-choice questionnaire. She must dig deep to provide a satisfactory response to questions like “How do you know you can trust someone?” As the study deepens, Jess discovers more about herself, the psychologist operating the research study and others. She ponders “When can you trust another?”

Without any spoilers, the beginning of this book moves slow. DO NOT STOP READING! Every piece of information and dialogue is important later in the book. The roller coaster is just leaving the gate. What a psychological ride! The reader will be caught up in the questions and wonder how they would answer. You will be fully invested as Jess’ life begins to spiral. You will cheer for Jess and want to protect her, as well.

This book ranks right up there with The Wife Between Us. Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen are a phenomenon to be reckoned with. Welcome to the list of top authors, ladies.


I received an ARC from St. Martin Press through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This in no way affects my opinion or rating of this book.

(4.5) I didn't know what to expect when I first started reading this book. The premise about a young woman, Jess, participating in a psychology study dealing with ethics and morality was very interesting and it had me hooked from the start. With twists and turns that left me not knowing who to believe and so curious as to how it would end that it had me reading way, way past my bedtime. This one really had me guessing. An extremely intense and suspenseful read!

Thank you to the publisher for the advance readers copy.

Jessica is a 28-year-old trying to make it in NYC. She is a makeup artist for a company and spends her days going from appointment to appointment earning money for her craft. She hears about a psychological study that pays $500.00 a day from a client and her friend and decides to scam her way in. When she arrives at the study she finds herself answering a series of moral questions that make her start to question her own morals. After two days of answering questions, Jessica finds herself being proposition to Dr. Lydia Shields to help her more with her study. What Jessica doesn't realize is that Dr. Shields has her own agenda.
Dr. Lydia Shields is not what she appears to be on the outside. She is cunning and manipulative to a fault. She seems to send Jessica on random errands and sets her up to see various interactions that mean nothing to Jessica. If she only knew how much they meant to Dr. Shields, she would have been in a better position to see what was really going on.
Dr. Shields' husband, Thomas, plays a major role in this book. He is also a psychiatrist and his practice is separate from Lydia's. The current state of their marriage plays a major role in this book. I am not going to spoil what happens as that is what makes this book so unique. I will say that the story has quite a few twists and is quite suspenseful. I question the morality of all of the characters in this book, which is what made it to good to read. I couldn't help but question the choices all of them made in the end.
If you are looking for a suspenseful and interesting tale, then this is the book for you. I really did enjoy it.
I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.

Librarian: The Wife Between Us was a big hit last year, and I can see that repeating with their new book. Personally I found this one to be the better book, and I'm sure that it will be a popular one, especially for book clubs. That's actually what I'd suggest using this one for in a library setting. I feel like including it in a book club pack would be a really good choice, as there's a lot here to unpack.
Reader: I'm not normally a huge fan of psychological thrillers and suspense. The operative word in that sentence is normally. This book is an exception. I found myself really pulled into the story, and wanting to read more. The two leads felt more like they were functioning as deuteragonists, then as protagonist and antagonist, inspire of their opposing roles in the narrative, which I found fascinating. One other thing that I noticed, was the fact that the whole time I was reading it I had the song Bad Romance stuck in my head. The book made me think of that song, and I could easily see it being used on the soundtrack of a movie version.

Oh my, did I enjoy this book.

My mind reeled at Dr. Shields' habits and meticulous nature. While she was the antagonist, she was by far my favorite character. Unbeknownst to me, I secretly identified with her thought process and orderly behavior. I was not a fan of the protagonist. For the same sad reason I loved Dr. Shields, I did not like Jessica because she reminded me of how weak and vulnerable I can be.

Fictional words are powerful, for they can show us glimpses of ourselves- past, present, and future.

As the story moved along, I noticed shifts in my mood as the points of view alternated. This dynamic duo masterfully penned a story. Where one point of view was first person, the other was second person. While not a common writing style in today's literary market, the execution was flawless.

The power of the second person point of view is that it draws the reader into the story. I was drawn in so much that I sat erect and hung onto every one of Dr. Shields' insights and thoughts.

An Anonymous Girl left has an indelible mark and gave me, not only hours of precious entertainment, but plenty to meditate open.

Hat tip to Greer and Sarah!.

Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen have done it again with the twisty and unpredictable plot of An Anonymous Girl. It’s everything you want a suspense thriller to be with an added hint of psychotic. Morality, truth and lies become a jumbled mess that you’ll rummage and sift through till the very end as you try to fit the pieces together.This unique story is a must read!

Let’s just pretend you’re Jess. Late twenties and a hardworking cosmetic artist, you need to find a way to make some extra cash to send home to cover the expenses of a disabled sister.
An opportunity presents itself.
You take it.
At first, getting paid to be the anonymous subject in an ethics study seems pretty harmless. It’s an easy way to make some good extra cash. Just sit at a computer and answer some questions. Ok well the questions start to get personal and you convince yourself that no one will ever know. Just type your answers and collect your money. Done.
But one day, you aren’t subject 52 anymore. You are the sole subject in Dr. Shield’s study. You meet her. Your relationship gets personal. You reveal things about yourself that seem to flow out of your mouth. Dr. Shields seems so helpful, so professional. Will you regret getting involved? But the money is so good. Her help is so welcomed. Why YOU? Does Dr. Shield’s want to help you or does she have an ulterior motive?
This is a chilling story of a vulnerable young woman who has some secrets she is hesitant to reveal to a Dr. who also has secrets she is hesitant to reveal! LOVED this story. Two talented authors strike again!

Creepy and intriguing! It took me a little while to fully get into this book - I had a hard time delving into the mind of the psychiatrist - but I'm glad I stuck with it. There were a lot of twists that were interesting and even a few I didn't see coming!

Full stop thrill ride that’ll probably set your mind at unease.
This is the perfect antidote to all the precious Christmas/holiday themed books I managed to consume in December. My deep hope is that Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen continue with their team writing for many more years. I love the unpredictability of their stories. I used to NEVER read thrillers because I’m not a Jason Bourne kinda gal. I’m a twisty, mind-manipulative, physchological thriller reader. This jagged, bumpy road, out of control funhouse ride of a story from a crafty female perspective was wholly satisfying.

Ps - what is it about the young us-es of the world who agree to these weirdo studies, anyway? I did it myself as a 20-something student. Brilliant concept for a book, especially in an age where we give up so much of ourselves for everyone anonymous around us.

A Haunting Psychological Thriller

Jessica, a free-lance makeup artist, is trying to help her family and make ends meet. There’s never enough money, so when she hears one of her clients decide to dump an appointment to act as a participant in a psychological study where the pay is good, she decides to take her place. What can it hurt?

The study requires sitting at a computer screen answering questions. At first it’s easy, but as the study progresses, the questions become more and more personal. The further she goes into the study the more paranoia she experiences until her life starts to spiral out of control.

This book will keep you reading. It’s addictive. The story is told from two points of view, Jessica, and Dr. Schields, who runs the study. Through the questions and answers Dr. Schields begins to mold Jess. It is truly frightening. How do you break free from someone like that? How far will you go before you try?

Each tells her own story in the first person. I don’t always enjoy first person narratives when two characters are involved, but this works well. Jessica is likable. It’s easy to identify with her. Dr. Schields is creepy, but the character works well for the story.

The writing is clear. It pulls you into a world that is progressively more strange. At the end, you will be surprised at the twists that create a masterful ending.

If you enjoy psychological thrillers, this is a good one.

I received this book from St. Martin’s Press for this review.

It has been a few months since I read An Anonymous Girl, but I wanted to get my review posted. I was a huge fan of the authors' previous work, The Wife Between Us, so I was excited to receive a pre-release copy of An Anonymous Girl. I tried to wait until closer to release date to read it, but read and finished it in October. Overall, it is an enjoyable read, although without the big twists and turns (and really without the suspense) that I felt with The Wife Between Us. Yes, I had a bit of a creepy vibe while reading. And yes, I wanted to know what happened. But in the end, I felt a bit disappointed. It was far-fetched and the ending didn't seem to fit. For me, this was an average suspense read, but not one that I'd highly recommend to all. I think if you're a fan of suspense and want a psychological twist, then this would likely be a good fit for you!

I honestly did not believe The Wife Between Us could be beat. Not that this one is better, it’s a tie.

I loved this book from cover to cover. I recommend that you read it if you enjoyed The Wife Between Us by the same authors. They do a brilliant job of writing that keeps you turning pages late into the night.

I have to thank NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for an ARC of this in exchange for my unbiased review. It’s such a good book. Great characters and surprise ending. A thriller that will keep you guessing and on the edge.

A big 5 star read.

Back with another amazing suspense filled read, Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen prove once again that their union as writers is strong and cohesive. An Anonymous Girl is smart and leads the reader chasing down the story and wondering just where things are going. I loved every minute reading this book and when I had to put it down I couldn't wait to get back to it. The story is brilliantly plotted with two central characters; Jessica Farris a mid twenties make up artist and Dr. Shields, psychology professor.

Told in alternating POVs, the readers' psyche is infiltrated and at times you wonder if one of even both narrators are reliable. The suspense is masterfully built as Dr. Shields pushes on Jessica's moral boundaries through her study and experiments. It's clear Jessica is uncomfortable at times (which left me uncomfortable to0), but she finds the money she's making a boon to her families situation. The reader spends time in Dr. Shields head and we witness her ministrations to manipulate Jessica's feelings and her life. There are definitely moments where I fretted over the good doctors motivations. As Jessica begins to question her role as Subject 52 and Dr Shields increases the pressure on Jessica the tension escalates.

There's truly a maze of conflicting evidence but it turn out Jessica has a good sense as a detective. By now the players include family members and past participants in the study and we're left to wonder if the risk is greater than the reward. But this isn't a game that Jessica can easily remove herself from as Dr. Shields is conniving and her motivations convoluted and eerie.

When all is revealed you'll find yourself reading and re-reading passages to piece it all together. This #MustRead duo has delivered another stellar and story centering around a duplicitous woman and her cunning plan to extract revenge and administer punishment. 5 Stars and recommendation!

Jessica is an Anonymous Girl in a New York City. She works hard as a freelance makeup artist, while waiting for her big break into Broadway plays. She has had a bad experience with her last off-off-Broadway theater makeup position but hopes to move past it soon.

Working as a freelance makeup artist doesn’t pay much over what the clients tip her as her agency takes most of the fee. Jessica is perennially broke. When Jessica hears a client talking about a psychological experiment that pays $500 for a two-hour session, she sneaks into the session using her client’s name. How hard could a series of questions on ethics be? However, the questions seem to get very specific and very personal quickly. As Jessica opens up more and more, the therapist behind the survey, Dr. Shields, offers Jessica additional money to participate in studies in the real world. Her first is to seduce a married man in a hotel bar. As Jessica is increasing sucked into Dr. Shields’ web, she struggles to free herself.

The first two thirds of an Anonymous Girl had me reading at a breakneck speed just to see what would happen to poor Jessica. Then the plot made a few turns that just didn’t seem believable. Plus there were absolutely no redeeming characteristics in some of the characters. Toward the end, I even stopped sympathizing for Jessica. This book is great until it isn’t. However, I still give it 3 stars. I just wish the ending was better.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

After Jessica impulsively enters a psychology study without even knowing its subject, her life takes an unexpected turn. Struggling to make ends meet as a makeup artist in New York City, Jessica has a difficult time turning down what sounds like easy money. Answer some questions on a survey for $500? Sold. But, what happens when the study escalates into real life scenarios? Are the ever-increasing paychecks worth it?

"It's remarkable how the simplest of decisions can create a butterfly effect; how a seemingly inconsequential action can cause a tsunami."

I'll be honest and say that I didn't understand the hype about this writing duo's debut, The Wife Between Us (3 stars). While I liked the writing style, I didn't find it very suspenseful, the plot was lacking, and the twists were just ho-hum. This one, however! This one was just ... WOW. It was intense, suspenseful, and compelling. It kept me on the edge of my seat for the duration as I tried guessing what would happen next. It made me feel tense and uncomfortable in the best of ways ha. If you love suspenseful page turners with complex, intriguing characters, then this is a must read! Just beware that reading it might make you paranoid about who you should trust. ;)

"Sometimes a therapist who coaxes out all of your secrets is holding the biggest one in the room."

Location: New York City and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I received an advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

If you're looking for a book that's going to suck you in immediately and keep you locked into place with it's twists and turns, then this is the book for you. Following a woman named Jessica, it shows her life in the first person viewpoint as she works her makeup job, helps her parents pay for her sister's medical bills in secret, and lives in her apartment with her dog Leo. That is, until she happens upon a paid psychiatric study.

The study is simple at first, it's anonymous and all she really has to do is answer a few questions over the course of a couple days on a laptop. She never suspects that the person running the study, Dr. Shields, would take a shine to her specifically, and change her life in ways she doesn't even realize. The study is a questionnaire about morality, things like; could you tell a lie without feeling guilt, and; describe a time in your life when you cheated.

The viewpoint switches about every chapter or so, from Jess's view into a second person recording of what she's doing, and then even sometimes to Dr. Shields herself. I never expected this book to go to the lengths it did to confuse me, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It reminded me a lot of the tv show Hannibal, specifically because of the psychiatrist/patient relationship that Hannibal Lecter and Will Graham have in the show.

Every single page of this book was exciting, even when the characters were just doing mundane things. I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next, and at almost four hundred pages, this epic novel kept my attention from the very first page. It's an easy read that kind of creeps up on you, before you know it you're completely invested and absolutely NEED to finish it. I imagine that's how Jessica felt in the story.

Overall if you're interested in a psychological mystery page turner, than this is something you need to read as soon as possible. The characters are probably some of the most realistic that I've ever read about, and the world that they live in is our own, which just adds to the terror I felt reading this. I would say with one hundred percent certainty, if you think that this is a book that you'll like, you need to pick it up. It's something I would love to have on my bookshelf.

Thanks for reading!
(Radioactivebookreviews.wordpress.com)

Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen are fantastic writing partners and, in my opinion, the new queens of psychological suspense. I loved their debut thriller, The Wife Between Us, and it definitely will not be a one-hit wonder for this team. An Anonymous Girl is very different but also every bit as good as their first.

Jessica Farris is a makeup artist living paycheck to paycheck. She is at a client’s apartment one day for an appointment when she realizes her client is supposed to be going the next day to participate in an anonymous psychological study on morals and ethics that pays good money. When the client doesn’t go, Jessica slips into the survey in the client’s place. She becomes Subject 52 for Dr. Shield’s research and is asked personal questions about whether or not she has done various acts of a questionable moral nature or how she would handle various situations. Soon she is singled out by Dr. Shields for more questioning and then asked to do some experiments under Dr. Shields direction. Even though she begins to get nervous because she feels like Dr. Shields can read her mind and is manipulating her, Jessica continues to participate because the payments are so lucrative. Quickly, Jessica starts questioning what is real and what is part of the experiments.

At first, I was drawn in by the ethical questions that were being asked, but the story itself quickly took over. These two authors have mastered the technique of capturing the reader’s attention in a well-developed, page-turning story. They kept me guessing as to what was going on the whole time. The characters all have their own secrets and are well-drawn, too. It’s hard to say much more without giving too much away, but by the end of the book, my heart was racing, and I could almost feel Jessica’s fear.

This book was getting a lot of pre-press buzz, and it is certainly well deserved. If you like suspense, I highly recommend that you rush out and get this book. You won’t be disappointed.

Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

My Rating: 5 Big Stars