"An Anonymous Girl" is the next psychological thriller from Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekannen, the authors of the bestseller "The Wife Between Us." This novel explores the concept of just how much you can trust someone.
The book opens up with Jessica Farris, a struggling make-up artist in New York City. Jess works through a reputable agency, but living in the city is expensive, and she is secretly paying toward the expenses for therapy for her disabled sister who has suffered a traumatic brain injury. So when Jess learns of an opportunity to earn money by being in a study conducted by an esteemed psychiatrist, she tricks her way into becoming a subject in the study. The study concerns ethics and morality. What irony!
Dr. Lydia Shields is the psychiatrist overseeing the study. Jess starts out alone in an empty classroom, using a laptop to answer questions about ethics. But soon Dr. Shields invites her to participate in real-life social experiments at a greater rate of pay. Jess agrees in the hopes that the extra money will help her family's finances. At first, Dr. Shields acts as both role model and confidante. However, the social experiments Jess is asked to participate in begin to escalate. She is asked to flirt with specific men, some of whom are married.
Jess soon finds herself unable to extricate herself from the relationship. She discovers a startling secret about a former study subject. While she does her best to stay ahead in the game, Dr. Shields consistently manages to stay one or two steps ahead. When another character is introduced, unpredictability reigns. Jess has no idea whom she can trust. The psychological warfare is intense. And there are more secrets around the corner.
The authors of this thrilling suspense book achieve a victory with this plot and these characters. An absorbing read!