An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen
Published 1/8/19 by St. Martin’s Press
375 pages
ISBN: 9781250133731 (Hardcover)
Genre: Thriller
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Seeking women ages 18–32 to participate in a study on ethics and morality. Generous compensation. Anonymity guaranteed.
When Jessica Farris signs up for a psychology study conducted by the mysterious Dr. Shields, she thinks all she’ll have to do is answer a few questions, collect her money, and leave.
Question #1: Could you tell a lie without feeling guilt?
But as the questions grow more and more intense and invasive and the sessions become outings where Jess is told what to wear and how to act, she begins to feel as though Dr. Shields may know what she’s thinking… and what she’s hiding.
Question #2: Have you ever deeply hurt someone you care about?
As Jess’s paranoia grows, it becomes clear that she can no longer trust what in her life is real, and what is one of Dr. Shields’ manipulative experiments. Caught in a web of deceit and jealousy, Jess quickly learns that some obsessions can be deadly.
Question #3: Should a punishment always fit the crime?
From the authors of the blockbuster bestseller The Wife Between Us comes an electrifying new novel about doubt, passion, and just how much you can trust someone.
This book was middle of the road for me. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t the best book I have ever read. I will give the authors credit, because I didn’t find any inconsistencies in the writing.
The beginning of the novel was really good, and I flew through it. Towards the middle/end I just didn’t find myself picking it back up anymore. I had to snag the audio book so I could get through it. There were moments where I wanted to put it down for good, but I persevered. I know that this one was supposedly better than their other book, but I can’t compare. I haven’t read the other one. I really did want to love this one.
Jessica Farris, the main character, is a makeup artist. This was something I found interesting, and it is something you never hear about it books. I have never read about a character in a book being a makeup artist. That hooked me. I don’t want to tell you too much, because personally I like going into thrillers blind. My main point was that Jessica didn’t really bother me all that much. She gets a little annoying, but what do you expect?
Dr. Shields is the one character that pretty much ruined it for me. Hating a character doesn’t usually change my overall opinion about the book, but this character did for some reason. It didn’t make the book suspenseful at all. I just wanted her to shut up the entire time. I know that she was the antagonist, but dang. I understood her motives, but how she went about it was just terrible for this to be considered a thriller. Again, I don’t want to say too much.
The plot was actually what kept me going. It took me awhile to figure out why Dr. Shields was up to no good. The ending didn’t really surprise me at all. I didn’t see it coming, but it didn’t wow me as much as I wanted it to. Sad day. I do want to pick up their other book just to see how different it is.
Do I recommend this? Maybe. I think it would be a good book to start with if you just want a very chill thriller.
P.S. Sorry that this review is all over the place. It’s really hard not to spoil anything when it comes to thrillers.
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