Review: An Anonymous Girl - Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen

Review: An Anonymous Girl - Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen - January 2019

Sometimes the best books are the ones that catch us at exactly the right moment—even if that moment comes years later than expected. An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen proved this truth to me in the most surprising way.

I'll be honest: this wasn't love at first read. When I initially picked up this psychological thriller shortly after its 2019 release, something about it just didn't click. Maybe I wasn't in the right headspace, or perhaps the slow-burn tension felt too methodical at the time. Whatever the reason, I found myself adding it to my dreaded DNF (Did Not Finish) pile—a literary graveyard I rarely revisit.

Fast forward a few years, and there it was again, calling to me from a friend's secondhand book sale. Something made me give it another chance, and I'm so glad I did. This time, An Anonymous Girl completely captivated me.

The story follows Jessica, a young woman struggling financially who stumbles into what seems like easy money—a $500 psychology study on ethics and morality. By cheekily taking someone else's appointment slot, she becomes "Subject 52" under the watchful eye of Dr. Lydia Shields. But what begins as simple questionnaires quickly evolves into something far more sinister and personal.

Dr. Shields, reeling from her husband's infidelity, sees an opportunity in Jessica's responses. She orchestrates an elaborate scheme, using Jessica as an unwitting pawn to test her husband's fidelity. What follows is a masterfully woven web of manipulation, obsession, and psychological warfare that had me questioning everyone's motives—and my own moral compass.

The authors excel at creating an atmosphere where nothing is quite as it seems. Jessica's initial desperation for money feels authentic and relatable, making her increasingly dangerous situation all the more harrowing. As she becomes entangled in the Shields' toxic marriage, the stakes escalate beyond simple deception into life-threatening territory.

What struck me most was how the novel doesn't just present a thriller—it actively challenges readers to examine their own ethical boundaries. The questions posed throughout genuinely made me pause and consider: What would I do in Jessica's situation? How far would desperation push me?

The revelation about April, the previous study participant who met a tragic end, adds layers of dread that transform the story from psychological manipulation into a genuine fight for survival. Dr. Shields emerges as a truly chilling antagonist—brilliant, methodical, and utterly ruthless in protecting what she believes is hers.

An Anonymous Girl reminded me why second chances matter, both for characters seeking redemption and for readers reconsidering dismissed books. Sometimes timing is everything, and this thriller found me at exactly the right moment to appreciate its dark, twisted brilliance.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/46fftEU