I like a good mystery/thriller/suspense and went into this book very enthusiastically as I had read the previous book by the authors - The Wife Between U,s and I loved it. This story though very different was certainly a page-turner though it doesn't quite live up to The Wife Between Us.

It starts out very intriguing. A psychologist needs subjects for a study, and a young woman, Jessica, needs money, seizes the opportunity to participate in the study to get paid. She thought she'd just answer a few questions, get her money and leave. However, Dr. Shields - the psychologist conducting the study, has more in mind for Jessica. The deeper Jess finds herself getting sucked in, the more thrilling, disturbing and dangerous things get.

This does in fact keep your attention and gets reels you in, however, my expectation was set very high for plot twists and suspense, which this book did not reach. Still a good enjoyable read.

I really liked this author and this book did not disappoint, it was an appropriately paced, page-turner that will have me hooked throughout the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this reader's copy. In exchange, I am providing an honest review.

I'm not sure how I feel about this book. Let me rephrase. I'm not sure what to say about this book. The word that came to mind most often, especially as I got further and further into the story was mindfuck. So do with that what you will.

A brief synopsis: Jessica Farris is a struggling make-up artist in NYC. One of her clients openly discusses an opportunity to make some extra cash by participating in a study run by a psychology professor at NYU. Jess could use extra money so she fibs her way into the study. At first, the study is intriguing, interesting, and profitable. But as time goes on and the study becomes less and less anonymous Jess finds herself questioning the professor running the study, herself, and the people around her. The study is exploring morality and suddenly Jess finds everything is connected to it and she's feeling increasingly unsettled. As Jessica struggles to hang on to reality she finds herself twisted up in an obsession of someone else's creation.

From chapter 1 this book had me feeling uneasy. And it's not because of the description or what little I also knew about it. Jessica is, in my opinion, slightly unlikeable. The study, on the surface, is interesting but quickly turns into intrusive. When the reader finally meets Dr. Shields there isn't a huge gasp of surprise, I had started suspecting almost from the beginning that Dr. Shields wasn't who or what Jessica's assumptions were. Ironically, or perhaps not, the book itself is a study in human nature and how humans confront or interact with morality. Yes, these are fictional characters but some elements of each character are real life. It's interesting what draws people to others. In the story, Jessica is drawn in by Dr. Shields whereas I was slightly, if not completely, repelled by Dr. Shields. My red-flag radar was alert at the first introduction of the therapist. I've always wondered if therapists are getting therapy themselves. If I were a therapist I know I would be. The conclusion of this book has me convinced more than ever that therapists should be in therapy. I was also really disappointed in how the story ended. I was hoping for Jessica to have learned a different life lesson.

I don't think I liked this book. On the surface, it is exactly the kind of story I love but from the first word to the last word I was reluctantly reading it and feeling unsettled. And when I read the last word I felt relieved to finally be done with it.

I liked this slow burn thriller a lot. I didn't love the second person POV from the doctor but the story kept me reading.

The writing team of Hendricks and Pekkanen doesn't disappoint. With a story plot of a young woman who signs up for a psychology study that becomes increasingly invasive and the evocative cover image, you expect the novel to be a twisted thriller, and it delivers with manipulative and deceptive characters.

Interesting book. This pair does a great job of coming up with unique ideas. I can't say that I had any of the details figured out. I am a fan of their writing, so I went into this with high expectations. I was not disappointed.

I received a free ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I liked this story but not quite as much as the authors' other works. It was still very suspenseful, but part way through I was able to guess at least part of what was going on. That's unusual for the authors, because I usually don't figure out where they're going until they reveal it all at the very end. Also, there is usually a big twist that you don't expect, but there wasn't one in this book. Overall though, I wanted to keep reading to see what happened.

This book was so messy and not in a good way. I understand these authors writing style and I do like it. I just dont understand the motivations of the main character and that's mostly what kept me from liking this book and wanting to continue it. Jess was confusing. I understand her guilt over some situations but I feel like doing this experiment based on truth and morality changed her in a bad way. She was too motivated by what she thought Dr Shields would think about her actions rather than doing it because she was trying to be a better person. She didnt seem like she had the personality of a people pleaser so this was just weird to me. And some of her other actions were just weird. I mean if she was that hard up for money, get another job. I dunno. This book just was not working for me and I had to dnf.

This book was an absolute thriller! I was hooked from the first chapter and could not put it down! I will be reading the other books collaborated by these authors because of this one.

Good mystery. I enjoyed this book and the characters. Hendricks and Pekkanen are masterful storytellers.

This book was amazing! I love psychological thrillers (obviously!) and this book led right into the suspense. The main character, Jessica Farris, in need of money for her family, and seeing an opportunity she couldn’t pass up, participated in a morality study for which she would be paid. The first hiccup, was that she wasn’t the invited participant to the study. She took the place of someone else. But she thought they would overlook it.

Slowly her story unraveled: her family history, her relationship issues, etc. And within the first few chapters, we came to realize the makers of the study were very interested in what she has to say and why. The psychology professor who created the study began to send Jessica on errands and after a few, they just didn’t seem to make sense, and then Jessica began to put it together.

Twists, turns, possibilities, and theories begin, and the story gets deeper and deeper with Dr. Shields. It’s so well written and thought-provoking, that I couldn’t put the book down, except to work and spend time with my hubby. I love books like this, that pull you in and make you wonder what on God’s green earth is going on.

One of my favorite things about the book was the switching of perspectives: one chapter would be from Jessica’s point of view, and the next chapter would be from the perspective of Dr. Lydia Shields. It was great to vacillate between the two and try to figure out the motives of both of them.

This is the second book I’ve read from this duo and I think they’ve got this down pat! They are able to coordinate and put together stories from multiple perspectives, with sinister plots and believable characters. I love reading their novels, can’t wait to read more from them and am really hoping a TV adaptation is made for this book. It’s definitely 5/5 from me!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 (http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html): “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Twisty and fast-paced. Highly recommended first purchase for collections where domestic noir and thrillers are popular.

I loved The Wife Between Us by these authors, and while this one wasn't quite as good I still really enjoyed it. It's a unique page turner that kept me guessing. I love the idea of an ethics and morality study in a thriller book. I'll definitely read everything Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen write together.

A college psychological study concerning ethics spills over into Jess's real life and leads to deadly consequences. Filled with twists and turns, I found the story riveting and fast paced.

Well, this was a lot of fun.

I got a kick out of the whole study thing and the book kept me wondering where is exactly it was going and how it would all shake out.

While I was a tiny bit disappointed that the reason behind everything was so...basic...I still found the book enormously suspenseful.

A good read!

This book was definitely a crazy ride. You really couldn't trust anyone. I'm not a huge fan on books about infidelity and I also felt the book was a bit drawn out. Other than that I really enjoyed this book and will more than likely recommend it to others.

This is an absolute page turner. I get so involved with these authors books that i forget everything else. Great writing style. This book in particular had a great storyline , excellent characters, twists and turns to keep you on your feet. I couldnt stop turning the pages. This book is about love, anger, obsession and betrayal. Highly recommend.

Jessica is a make-up artist living in NYC and her job is going out to clients to do make-overs. When she is at a college dorm helping a young woman get ready, she finds out about a psychological study. She could really use some extra money so she takes a chance and sneaks into Dr. Shield’s study on ethics and morality.

Surely a couple of hours sitting through some online questionnaire is worth it but as Jessica is answering the questions she thinks some of them are too intrusive. Still the promise of additional compensation makes her take a chance on an extended study.

When she meets the enigmatic Dr. Shields, Jessica is eager to please. She’s got a sister who is ill and she wants to provide care for and her dad is soon out of a job. However the more she time and confidence she gives to Dr. Shields, the more she wonders about the nature of the study. Something doesn’t seem to add up.

Dr. Shields is very smart and she’s manipulative. She can see that Jessica may be starting to mistrust her but she’ll find a way to keep Jessica her subject, even if it means blocking Jessica’s job opportunities so she’s completely dependent on her being part of her study. Dr. Shields will get to the bottom of what she needs to find out about the real Jessica and her intentions.

Told from dual view points, the reader can find sympathy with Jessica’s need to continue working with Dr. Shields but at the same time you want to yell at her and say, Jessica run get out of that toxic situation. It was actually bit harder to buy into Dr. Shields need for the study and the lengths she was willing to get the information she needed. Still this was a breeze to get through and for fans of psychological thrillers this would be worth checking out.

A mediocre psychological thriller, An Anonymous Girl is a quick read with twists and turns a plenty. Main character Jessica is a standout as she navigates involvement in an experiment that acts as revealing device for readers to learn about her persona and past.

Sadly, I lost interest in the plot about halfway through and struggled to finish it. Nonetheless, I know many readers will enjoy this as it offers another female author perspective on the genre.

I love these authors so much they are an instant buy/borrow for me. Unpredictable twists every time and very compelling characters. I cant wait for the next one!