The Girl Without a Name

By: Sandra Block

Narrated by: Jennifer Nittoso

Length: 9 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

In this gripping thriller, psychiatrist Zoe Goldman, a "smart, heartbreakingly vulnerable, and laugh-out-loud funny" heroine, rushes to uncover the dark and twisted past of a mysterious young patient who can't even remember her own name (Lisa Scottoline, New York Times best-selling author).

In what passes for an ordinary day in a psych ward, Dr. Zoe Goldman is stumped when a highly unusual case arrives. A young African American girl, found wandering the streets of Buffalo in a catatonic state, is brought in by police. No one has come forward to claim her, and all leads have been exhausted, so Zoe's treatment is the last hope to discover the girl's identity.

When drugs prove ineffective and medical science seems to be failing, Zoe takes matters into her own hands to track down Jane Doe's family and piece together their checkered history. As she unearths their secrets, she finds that monsters hide where they are least expected. And now she must solve the mystery before it is too late. Because someone wants to make sure this young girl never remembers.

The Girl Without a Name is a powerful novel of memory and forgetting, of unexpected friendship and understanding...and of the secrets we protect no matter the consequences.

©2015 Sandra Block (P)2015 Hachette Audio

Not as exciting as the First book

I was disappointed with this book in the series I was looking forward to it after reading the furst book not my favourite read

Engaging read!

Thoroughly enjoyed both of this author's books. Great suspenseful read that left me wanting more of this main character!

I LOVE this character!! I want more!

I enjoyed this book, but especially the main character and the narrator. it was great!

Amazing

This book kept you guessing and wanting more! The ending was shocking to me. Great read!

Narration ruined the story

I was able to get through 5 chapters before giving up and returning the book. The narrator reads so unevenly with emphasis on too many words, too many silences between words, etc. that I have not been able to remember any character, who they are or what they are doing. I keep going backwards but the same thing happens every time. I might try it again in Kindle because I don’t know if the story is good or not.

The girl gets her name

The book was evenly paced and just enough character build to be able to connect with the readers. I like that the book and life continues even after the main story ends. This gives the story a feel of life goes on regardless of the evil doings of others.

As for the narrative. It was pleasantly easy to listen to and eluded to a young woman doctor still trying to find her place in life. Working in the medical field myself I have met many women whom talk and behave in the manor portrayed
Would love to listen to her again

Great narration elevates the story

Psychiatric resident Dr Zoe Goldman is on probation at the hospital, her ADHD meds are only mildly effective and she's mourning her adoptive mother's death. Her newest patient, Jane Doe is catatonic and Zoe disagrees with her boss, who's on probation for substance abuse and off the wagon, about the unidentified teen's care.

Sandra Block writes compulsively readable, engaging sentences. She's done her research on psychiatric disorders and medications better that most who write about mental illness. As a psychologist, I knew every disorder, medication and side effect THE GIRL WITHOUT A NAME used, and wondered if lay readers would be confused by some of the terminology. If Block had written about an unfamiliar illness and meds, I would have stopped reading to google frequently in the beginning of the story.

Zoe was a complex and not always ethical character. I didn't find her particularly likable or unlikable, though she did have voice and personality. In real life, people would probably find her annoying.

The story/mystery was mildly interesting. I cared about Jane Doe and her story, but not the other characters including Zoe. The payoff felt convoluted, unrealistic and over the top.

THE GIRL WITHOUT A NAME is the type of book I'm thrilled to find on a kindle sale for $1.99, but would be disappointed if I had paid full price.

Not a Fan...

The storyline had so much potential, but the author didn't take advantage of it. Too much attention to characters that didn't matter and not enough to the ones that did. The writing style was a little inmature in some ways.

Annoying!

What was most disappointing about Sandra Block’s story?

I couldn't get into the story, it's rather shallow! The narration was terrible!

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Didn't have great dialogue to work with...again very shallow!

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

No! I even tried speeding up the narration but it didn't help!

Awful language

Hard to listen to with foul language and storyline. Not worth time sent and regret paying for the audible version.