An Anonymous Girl is the fantastic second novel from writing duo, Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen, these ladies are so in sync, you’d truly think one author penned this novel. It reads fluidly, there’s no distinct change in writing style or plot direction at any point, no feeling of ‘separateness.’ Instead, this is a dark, intriguing tale of misguided love and obsession, jealousy and deceit.

This novel centres around Jess, who is a participant in a study on ethics and morals. We all have a moral compass that guides us, and Hendricks and Greer tapped into that in such a thrilling way. You’ll find yourself answering the questions Jess was asked, questioning if you’d do as she did, but most importantly, you’ll enjoy having your mind thrilled. Oh, the manipulation, the lies, the skewed morality! Jess finds herself so deep in a situation, the lines between the study and real life are blurred, and that’s when paranoia sinks its teeth in!

“Uncertainty is an excruciating state in which to exist”

Dr Shields was a great character, she really gets under your skin, but in the best way – in a way that shows the authors had a vision for her character and executed it so well. She has these moments of inner- soliloquy, and they were some of my favourite parts of this novel – the psychology of the psychologist – yes please!

An Anonymous Girl is an addictive read, it’s an understated thriller in the sense that it is ‘quietly dramatic’ – there’s no explosive unbelievable event, and this novel doesn’t rely on any one twist, instead it thrills you all the way through. You can see how the characters are faced with impossible decisions, and how they handle these decisions, and situations, is what makes this novel such a success.

It perhaps didn’t need to be quite as long as it was, but it had direction, and purpose. It had underlying tension, and a darkness running through the plot. It had menace, and the deceit and manipulation to grab your attention. I absolutely recommend this novel, and will, for sure, read whatever Hendricks and Greer write next.

Jessica becomes part of a study about morality ran by a phycologist called Dr Sheilds. The study feels very intimate and at times uncomfortable , when Dr Sheilds befriends Jessica personally things take a bit of a sinister turn. Jessica feels she has gotten in too deep but finds she is mistaken to think she can simply walk away.
I really enjoyed the storyline and it had me second guessing the plot throughout, a very dark, chilling thriller. I rate this book 4 * .

Really atmospheric novel. The build up of tension was excellent as the story developed. A really good and unexpected twist at the end. Gripping, once started it was difficult to put down as I really wanted to know the outcome.

I was intrigued by the idea of a morality study and Jess, subject 52, has all the right ingredients to fit perfectly into the study. We slowly learn more about Jess, her background, her family and disabled sister. Dr Shields, the psychiatrist leading the study, seems all knowing, calm, unruffled, easy to trust and impossible to shock. However as the story unfolds, we learn that all isn't as it seems. There are so many secrets, it's impossible to know who to believe and who can be trusted.
This thriller is full of twists and turns that keep you guessing right up until the end. I loved it! Thank you to #NetGalley for the advanced copy of #AnAnonymousGirl

I totally loved this book. A psychiatrist who set up an experiment about morality but who had a separate agenda all along. Someone who totally needed to dominate but had secrets of her own. A test subject who thought it would be easy money to take part in the experiment but who had hidden secrets. Finally a husband who was unfaithful who had hidden secrets. Bring them all together and you have a story that is a page turner. Excellent storyline that I will recommend.

I loved the premise of this book - a girl takes part in a psychological study as she needs money but then all is not what it seems... Good so far. However, I felt that the execution could have been so much better.

It is told from the point of view of both Jessica (the subject) and Dr Shields (the researcher/therapist) and it just felt a little disjointed. I did not feel much empathy for either of the women as their respective issues/family histories are revealed. Dr Shields was hard to connect with as her behaviour seemed so absurd that I couldn't engage with it.

It was interesting enough for me to keep reading but it was mainly to find out what happens - if I was the kind of person who felt comfortable skipping to the end then I would have done so and probably wouldn't have missed too much. Peripheral characters such as Jessica's love interest, her family and her theatre friends do not come alive or feel relevant to any of the plot, which in turn makes Jessica even less likeable as if no one else cares so much about her then why should I?

A decent enough read but not a book that will stay with me for long.

This is the second book I have read by this collaboration and I’m not sure I’d read another. In both cases the premise of the book was interesting and imaginative but spoiled by the final chapters which didn’t seem to close the story satisfactorily. The descriptive passages are very cinematic and I suspect both will soon be made into movies. If you love psychological thrillers this would be a great book for you but if you’re looking for something different from the genre then perhaps not so much.

It took me a few weeks to get through this book. I didn't manage to get really into it. The storyline is interesting but slightly dragged on. Overall the characters were intriguing and the story flowed well at times where other times it dragged on.

I found this an very interesting read and loved it. The idea of a psychological study on morality and ethics was certainly different and well developed. Jessie from the start was put in difficult situations without any understanding of what was being tested. Dr Sheilds demonstrates excellent counselling skills but it is gradually uncovered what a twisted person she really is. Dr Sheilds husband, Thomas, also a practicing counsellor adds confusion to the whole plot. The mystery of Jessie’s sister and what happened to Subject 5 adds even more confusion. The ending is sound and unexpected.

Loved this, page turner from the start. Tense, with twists and turn. It is amazing how people can influance each other, and this storey shows you how...it is a storey trust, mistrust, love, obsession, control, deceit. Starts off as a Girl taking part in a survey and turns into something a lot more sinister.

What would YOU do?

"This test can set you free, Subject 52. Surrender to it."

Would you be willing to do a psychological questionnaire written by a stranger, a respected professor, in exchange for money? Would you be willing to divulge only the truth?

Right from the beginning, this book doesn't let you go. Crafty, clever and cunning: when the people who surround you are strangers, who can you trust? "Watch yourself." For, this book really creeps up on you- particularly at the start. It also throws you a lot of moral questions.

I liked the morality/ethics aspect (the professor's questionnaire is research for an ethics study.) It was a creative idea and reminded me of one of my all-time favourite thrillers, Anything You Do Say by Gillian McAllister. When there is a conscience in a book, there is also a subtle examination of how far the flawed characters have drifted. And, a reminder of judgement and expectations. Speaking of other books, in terms of its storyline, this book reminded me of J.P Delaney's 'The Girl Before.'

The characters are strong and the story, itself, was guided by its characters. This wasn't terrible but it meant that at times the reader knew too much and was forced to wait to have it confirmed or, wait for the other characters to catch up. It wasn't too predictable but, we were given the answers early on and were left to puzzle the motives until they were revealed. This one doesn't ask that you partake in the guessing-game, just that you bear witness. Be the attentive listener.

An enjoyable read that I feel was significantly let-down by its ending. From the first pages, we get this idea that while this is an artificially-controlled book, it will get messy. You have to abandon the habit of assumption at the first page, and yet the ending was neat. Too tidy. It wasn't fitting, but felt convenient and unbelievable. The ending is too common in thrillers, and for this book, it negated amd overrode a lot of what came before.

If you can get past how abrupt it was, and the actual ending itself, you are in for a sinister read!

An Anonymous Girl was a really slow burn. A bit like a firework on a damp November evening. You watch with hope and anticipation that the fuse will last the journey and the effusive display will give enough flourish to justify the wait and expense.
Frankly, it was clever to have me read it all the way through because I kept telling myself things will pick up and there will be a dramatic ending.
The concept of the story may possibly appeal to those who study psychology relating to fidelity (or the lack of), but it served more to show that you shouldn't trust your therapist.

Jessica, scraping a living in New York sneaks her way into a seeming psychological study which later turns into a project scam for the project leader Dr Shields. The financial support offered by the duplicitous Dr Shields is very attractive and so commenced a game of cat and mouse between the two main characters who are worthy adversaries. Initially there is the niaivity of Jessica and the sociopathic Dr Shields. The story is told in the first person voice by Jessica and in the second person by Dr Shields.
It took me a while to warm to this book and the way it was being told. Tension does build but at the end I was left bemused wondering if I had missed something along the way. My thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for an ArC copy of this book

A young woman decides to take part in a research project around morality. The research turns out to be anything straightforward and involves a warring married couple. the impactor this on the subjects life is immense and the authors do build a pacy narrative with a definite chill factor. Just who is building the terror and psychological intrigue. My problem is that i couldn't really like any of the characters and I just thought everyone got what they deserved. I also felt like it was authored by more than one person there were parts that just did not flow

`i have put a review on amazon it just takes forever ti shoe MAZZA

When Jessica over hears a conversation about a psychology study on ethics and morality being carried out that pays $500 for a answering a few questions she jumps at the chance. If something appears too good to be true though it normally means that it is. Jessica soon discovers that the questions are live on the screen and adapted to delve deeper into her mind for full confessional answers to her darkest secrets. It isn’t long before the participants are weaned down to just Jessica by Dr. Shields.
I loved this story that not only played with Jessica’s mind but mine too as the line between what was real life and part of the trial blurred. Alarm bells were ringing with me at how easy it is influence someone else in the right setting. Everything is questioned but is it paranoia or reality that will win through?
Some situations can be controlled but fate is always there to play a hand too. It is that which make the story even more interesting and complicated. Who do you trust and who is telling the truth? A strange and compelling story that seeks the truth yet festers in deception, lies and secrets. When you think you have it worked out it takes a new direction.
I had got the end all wrong in my mind but really liked how it all came together clever story seamlessly woven between to authors. An unusual story which I really enjoyed.

I’m not going to rave about this book.

I’m going to remain perfectly calm and say........
THIS WAS GREAT!

The characters were so engrossing and manipulation was so paramount in the read I was overwhelmed by its degree of cleverness.

BUT I’m not going to rave about this book.

Jess, the ordinary Anonymous girl going about her life, trying to make ends meet whilst helping “secretly” her parents in paying some of the medical bills for her disabled sister.
She’s a make up artist.

One day there is an opportunity that arises. Does she make the right choice?

The manipulation starts........
But, I’m not going to rave about this book.......right? Wrong!
The hype for this book is real.

I listened to this on audio and it was so engrossing folks that me, a person who finds it difficult to switch off from my surroundings really got so invested in this story that I just couldn’t sleep until I knew what happened.

Yep, the unexpected twists were there, but that intenseness that manipulation was superb.

I don’t want to give much away, but yes, I’m going to rave about this book.

I personally had this on my anticipated reads for 2019. I’ve read it, and I loved it.
So cleverly powerfully written.

If you like what I like. You’ll love this. (le

After reading a chapter sampler a few months ago I was so inexplicably excited to get into this one. Although I admit I definitely hyped this book up in my head I can happily say I was not disappointed.
Right from the start I was interested; I liked the main character and she is very relatable; and after only a couple of chapters I was well-and-truly gripped. I found the concept of a study like the one described in this book intriguing and terrifying at the same time and I definitely felt for our main character.
It really made me think; questions about morals and ethics often made me stop in my tracks and in the beginning in the questionnaire I found it interesting to try and think about how I would answer the questions in a way Dr Shields would accept. It's so strange to think a fictional character got into my head like that.
To be fair this book held my attention strongly...for about 300 pages. Unfortunately I do feel this book was longer than it needed to be however that did not stop me from finishing it.
This book kept me on my toes with reveal after reveal; though some of the twists and reveals I did predict I honestly do not feel that took anything away from it. I found it so terrifying that I didn't know who I could trust and that (without spoiling anything) someone in such a position of power could manipulate our main character like they did. For this reason this book felt very claustrophobic, but I feel that really added to the reading experience.
This book was genuinely scary and I loved it.
After seeing how polarizing their last book was I admit I was intimidated, however I urge you to read this book (and I might have to give their first one a go too!)

A story like this appeals to a specific kind of thriller reader and unfortunately, I am not it! It tells the tale of Kit who dishonestly worms her way into a psychological study, only to find herself much more deeply entrenched than she ever could have anticipated. Perhaps Kit couldn't anticipate the way things were going to pan out, but I certainly could and that is perhaps my biggest criticism of this book. I found all of the plot twists incredibly predictable and this meant that the reveals just didn't have the desired impact upon me. With that being said, the writing is very accessible and I did enjoy the way in which the narrative was split between our two main characters, with each having a very different voice. The narrative was compelling enough to keep me turning the pages and I do think that there are plenty of people who will really enjoy this book and I would have no trouble recommending it to readers who like a pacy, well-written and plot driven thriller. For me though, I just thought it was pretty average and ultimately forgettable.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I am really sorry I could not get into this book at all. I kept reading but I felt I could not relate to any of it.

What a brilliant book, if only I had started reading this before coming home from holiday! Loved the pace of the story and the twists and turns. I had no idea what was going on until over half way through the book and then still didn't know where the story was going. It makes a pleasant change to read a story that you can barely put down, but have no idea where the story is going. The characters were so well drawn it was a pleasure to read about them. Would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes thrillers or just likes a good read.