Thewanderingjew

An Anonymous Girl, Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekhanen, authors; Barrie Kreinik, narrator Secrets and lies dominate this book. None of the characters tells the complete truth, and this leads to constant misdirection and misinterpretation that keeps the reader constantly on the edge of the seat. Who is the most dangerous of the main characters? The book begins with deception; will it end with deception? Someone has hatched a diabolical plan, but until the end, the identity of the most devious will not be revealed. Over the course of the novel, the narrative travels back and forth between Jessica Farris and Dr. Lydia Shields as they interact with each other in the conduct of a psychological study conducted by the doctor, a psychiatrist. Through their thoughts and memories, their past is revealed and their behavior is scrutinized and analyzed. The narrative is clinical, a times, and it sets the stage for the psychological drama and the atmosphere of fear and tension that pervade the book. Dr. Shields intends to conduct a study to determine whether or not her husband Thomas Cooper has continued to be unfaithful or has completely repented for his past behavior. She believes that Jessica’s personality and character make her the perfect candidate to assist her in that effort. She wants to know if he can still be tempted or if he has truly changed. She devises several tests for Jessica to conduct without Jessica actually knowing why she is asked to perform the duties demanded of her. Jessica doesn’t realize that she is being used as bait to tempt Thomas to stray again. Jessica seems motivated solely by her need for money, and so, at first, she disregards the unethical aspect of her “job”. She is really only interested in making sure that she has enough money to help her family care for her mentally disabled sister. As Jess feels more and more manipulated by Lydia, however, she tries to extricate herself from the study. She is always lured back, however, either with gifts or with money, and even sometimes with coercive persuasion that is almost like blackmail, as veiled and not so veiled threats are made. The narrative is extremely clinical in nature, as the doctor analyzes her own behavior and every emotion and action that Jess engages in, as well. She then determines how to move to the next step, often making Jess feel that the doctor is aware of more about her life than she should be and is setting a trap for her. Soon, she is determined to turn the tables and find out more about the doctor. As the book continues, it is apparent that there is a puppeteer moving the characters about, but who is that puppeteer? Each assumption made quickly leads to another, often offering an opposite conclusion or reaction. There are two alternating and competing narratives in this novel. Jess’s and the doctor’s, and both reveal the history and traumas they faced growing up. Both carry scars of their past. Both react based on the guilt they harbor. In the end, Jess is left to wonder if Tom is guilty or if Lydia is setting him up? She even wonders if both are trying to trap her, somehow, to frame her in some way. The reader will even begin to wonder if Jess is innocent or guilty of some unusual behavior? Will this experience with the psychiatrist change her? Jessica started out as someone who would do anything she had to, to make enough money to pay her bills and help her parents. Is she the same at the end? Was Thomas unfaithful? Is Lydia guilt free? Is Lydia innocent? The book raises many questions. It is a good, fast read, great for a vacation or cruise!