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She Had No Name

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What events bring a young woman to abandon her baby in a park, in winter? When Lucy meets Jamie, he becomes her world and she resolves to keep him at all costs. Her desperate measures to create a 'normal' life can only wreak terrible consequences. How will Lucy's story ultimately play out? A psychological suspense novel for readers of books like 'I Let You Go' and 'Gone Girl.'

310 pages, Paperback

First published February 12, 2016

28 people are currently reading
553 people want to read

About the author

Annie Jai

3 books33 followers
Annie Jai lives in the UK but has escape plans in development. She particularly enjoys suspense novels, thrillers, crime and non-fiction, but has also been known to dabble in erotica!

In suspense terms, Annie is inspired by writers such as Clare Mackintosh and Gillian Flynn, but her new novel 'She Had No Name' also has a touch of the Nordic.

You can chat with Annie on her Facebook page of the same name and, of course, via Goodreads.

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5 stars
55 (23%)
4 stars
63 (26%)
3 stars
67 (28%)
2 stars
32 (13%)
1 star
17 (7%)
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
Profile Image for Linda Strong.
3,878 reviews1,710 followers
February 23, 2016
I came across this author and this book while I was strolling through Facebook ... the cover caught my eye immediately and then I looked at the short description. I was hooked and could not wait to read this one.

Lucy meets Jamie and desperately tries to hold onto him. Jamie is a jerk and breaks up with her via other people, so Lucy really doesn't get the closure she needs. She becomes a stalker ... calling multiple times all day and night, leaving notes begging him to talk to her.

When Jamie finally gives in and meets her, he gets the surprise of his life ... Lucy is pregnant. It becomes a brand new ball game. But he has a job that takes him out of the country and Lucy gives birth without him being present. She sends one note letting him know he has a daughter and then she and the baby disappear.

And then things get really bizarre. This is a psychological suspense that is full of twists and turns. The reader has no idea of who is telling is truth. Is Lucy a psychopath or just plain evil? Or is she only an innocent victim of someone else's evil deeds.

Interspersed between chapters are Lucy's memories of herself as a child which just adds layers of questions .... is her memory to be trusted?

SHE HAD NO NAME is well-written. All the characters are finely drawn. The reader will love some of them and hate others ... as the author leads you through minds that may not be considered 'normal'. The ending is ambiguous and will insure the reader does not forget them anytime soon.

Many thanks to the author who provided a digital copy in exchange for a honest, unbiased review.
1 review
February 19, 2016
Really enjoyed the book which I received as an ARC in exchanged for an honest review. Suspense is not my usual taste (I'm more of a sci fi fan) but I liked the characters, well rounded and I shed a tear or two twice, which for a man isn't something I admit often. *Cough, dust in my throat.* It's quite a dark story which the author told me, so if you like disturbing stuff it will appeal but at the same time it contains beautiful descriptions of places and deep insights into family relationships that make you think about your own loved ones and how you treat them!

As a debut novel it's very well drafted and I will read more by Annie Jai when she does more fiction.
Profile Image for Ebony.
4 reviews
March 24, 2016
I didn't love this book. It was a bit too choppy, and there wasn't enough information on the characters to help me understand their motivations. There were flashbacks to kind of set up the main character's actions, but not really enough. I felt like byt the end, I had more unanswered questions than "ohhh, that makes sense" moments.
Profile Image for Rebecca Hollingsworth.
870 reviews8 followers
April 14, 2016
Mind twister

This book was sort of all over the place. Ultimately I'm still not 100% sure what happened, but a decent read nevertheless.
29 reviews
May 4, 2016
interesting a little hard to follow but comes together at the enf

rated it a 4 because I felt it left me questioning who was crazy or what motives the characters all had at times
18 reviews1 follower
October 27, 2017
Definitely gripping and dark!

The audience are not always kept in the loop and soon I felt as if I was more confused than the main character, Lucy!
I was woven into Lucy's web of deceit and confusion and thoroughly enjoyed the ups and downs Jai takes her readers through!
1 review
June 3, 2019
Filled with twists and turns and crafted to perfection. Readers may keep turning its pages yet not know how the threads will draw to a close---a good read, indeed!
1 review
July 8, 2019
Weird book

Weird book written by a weird author. I’m so sad I wasted time reading it. Bad, bad, bad!!! Don’t waste your time!
Profile Image for Babus Ahmed.
792 reviews61 followers
May 20, 2016
This disturbing and unusual psychological thriller centers around the character Lucy Kenmore, who is in love with Jamie an RAF pilot and best man at her sister's wedding. Lucy is devastated when Jamie breaks their relationship off and tales to stalking him and contacting him through his parents. When he gives in to meet her he is shocked to find her pregnant and when she convinces him he's the father, he decides to give their relationship another chance. However, things do not go well resulting in horribly tragic events.

This is one of those books where either narrator, Jamie and Lucy, are somewhat unreliable and you know something is horribly wrong but the what is confirmed much later. Lucy and her sister Ali have hidden their past and do not discuss their parents at all, so the secrets and lies are from a very early stage in life.

I found the story gripping as I really wanted to know what was the truth behind Lucy's past and if she was deluded or calculating. The last half of the thriller reads more like a crime thriller as the police are involved trying to unravel what has happened.

This book deals with themes like mental illness and infanticide and is far from a comfortable read.
Profile Image for Sue.
315 reviews5 followers
April 5, 2016
This book is dark and disturbing, and I honestly can't work out whether I even enjoyed it. However, something kept me reading.
Lucy, the main character has psychological issues, caused by a disturbing upbringing but then did it happen or was it all in her mind? Is she going mad or is she misunderstood? Is she just plain evil? Has she inherited her mother's traits or is she just a lost sole, looking for love?
I'm not even sure I have the answers, but would definitely read more books by this author, who has great potential.
Profile Image for Erika.
109 reviews
May 25, 2016
-Goodreads Giveaway-
It was a really amazing story. I have to be honest, I hated the main character from the very beginning to the end. Lucy is way too clingy and annoying...but...when the twist happened almost at the end, I kinda understood why she behave like that. I decided to rate it 4 stars just because of that amazing twist and ending. I don't usually enjoy books where mental disorders are portrayed in such a stereotypical way but this story was worth it! I really much love it!
Profile Image for nadine sedat.
11 reviews2 followers
April 20, 2016
Gripping ?? Pleaseeeeeee!!!

I only chose this book because of it's great reviews. don't know who gave these reviews, but it was absolutely not what I expected. I've been bored from the beginning. there was absolutely nothing gripping about this book. I almost didn't finish it,that's how bored I was. ok, the main character was crazy. bohoo!!! what a surprise. I was utterly disappointed and bored out of my mind. what a waste of my time!!!!
1 review
February 22, 2016
A surprisingly good read - I was hooked!

Haunting reading - despite the odd fact that the language in the diaries of a 7/8 year old were clearly that of a grown woman, Jai's story of loss, love and mental illness was engrossing with a complex central character who you are left conflicted as to whether to loathe or pity; an interesting and disturbing read.
73 reviews3 followers
April 16, 2016
Brilliant read

I couldn't put this down, traveling through the characters' journeys--emotional, physical, and psychological. If you enjoy novels with intricate plots, well-rounded characters, and beautiful prose, then grab this book. I was almost put off by the cover. So glad I wasn't.
Profile Image for Helen Lancaster Lancaster.
486 reviews5 followers
June 21, 2016
Oh Wow!!!

This book was fabulous had my head going round and round with all the twists throughout. Some parts I had to go back and read twice. Wonderfully written and right up my street. By far my best read of 2016 so far. Thank you Annie Jai
Profile Image for Alaina Maxam.
728 reviews42 followers
April 7, 2016
THIS BOOK DEFINITELY KEPT YOU ON THE EDGE OF YOUR SEAT TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT. I WOULD DEFINITELY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO ANYONE THAT WANTS A BOOK THEAT WILL KEEP YOU THINKING.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews

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