Influence
Emily Bennett is desperate for the influencer lifestyle, idolizing internet stars like Mason Manor and Ivy Lane. When Ivy dies unexpectedly, a mysterious businessman approaches Emily with a golden ticket to the fame and fortune she’s always craved. At first, she’s living her ultimate fantasy. But the glamorous facade quickly shatters when she realizes her new benefactor has a dark agenda—and the influencer life of her dreams demands a nightmarish price.
- Photo Glow (PhoGlo) - Social media platform
- Mason - Influencer, 30
- Ivy - Influencer
- Emily - Aspiring influencer, 23
- Liz - Emily’s mother
- Sebastian - Ivy, Mason and Emily’s boss
- Colt - Serial killer working for Sebastian
- Domingo - Bellboy at OceanView Resorts
- Ivan - Investment banker
- Florence - Host of The Florence Lee Show podcast
- Ivy is in the Maldives staying at OceanView Resorts.
- Ivy tells her employers she wants to strike out on her own and they don’t take it well.
- Domingo finds Ivy dead in her suite.
- Colt murdered her after she did not heed the warnings from her employer.
- Colt cut Ivy’s wrists to make it look like suicide.
- Emily receives a message from Sebastian asking to meet and discuss her social media work.
- Sebastian says if she posts what he tells her to she will receive 2000 pounds per post and her followers will grow significantly.
- Sebastian uses his influencers for his own gain by telling them to post things that will align with his financial and political desires, such as getting a certain politician elected or promoting specific company products.
- Emily is upset when Sebastian asks her to make a post during Ivy’s funeral that she finds insensitive.
- Emily asks Mason about it and Mason tells her that she needs to do what Sebastian says or she’ll end up like Ivy.
- Mason tells Emily that Sebastian once made her kill someone for him.
- Six months later Emily has traveled all over the world.
- Sebastian sets up an in-person meeting with Emily.
- Florence is a problem for Sebastian because she is telling her listeners to vote against the candidate he wants re-elected as Prime Minister of the UK.
- Sebastian wants Emily to appear on Florence’s podcast and poison her during the recording.
- Emily agrees, and Florence and Emily share a drink on the livestream while Sebastian watches.
- Mason and three other podcasters working for Sebastian stop following orders.
- Emily sets the plan in motion for Mason and the other three influencers to stop obeying Sebastian on the same day, as they are all ready to be free from Sebastian.
- Colt sneaks into Mason’s hotel room with orders to kill her, but she shoots him first.
- Mason calls police and tells them she had a stalker and shot him in self defense.
- Sebastian collapses and dies.
- Emily checks into the hospital after intentionally drinking the poisoned drink intended for Florence.
- Emily had put antifreeze in Sebastian’s favorite whisky, which is what killed him.
- Ivan plans to avenge Sebastian’s death by killing Mason and Emily.
Influence tackles the murky reality of the social media world through multiple perspectives, but there are a few too many voices vying for attention. Bouncing between so many characters makes the narrative repetitive. Fortunately, the chapters are short, which helps keep things moving. The influencers themselves are quite likable, making it easy to feel bad for them as their situations deteriorate.
Because of the constant perspective shifts, the pacing remains a definitive slow burn throughout. I kept waiting for a burst of momentum, but the plot takes its time unfolding. Even with the sluggish pace, it is a decent story overall if you want a behind-the-scenes look at the influencer lifestyle.
The payoff at the end doesn't deliver a massive twist, but it provides a satisfying, wrap-up that pulls the threads together nicely. The epilogue is a great touch, serving as a seamless segue right into a sequel. If you like short chapters, slow-burn suspense, and the dark side of social media, then you will enjoy this book.
- Ivy - Dead - Killed by Colt on Sebastian’s orders
- Colt - Dead - Shot by Mason
- Mason - Alive - No longer under Sebastian’s control
- Emily - Alive - No longer under Sebastian’s control
- Sebastian - Dead - Poisoned by Emily
- Suicide
- Murder
- Death of a parent
ISBN: 9781838150600
Publication Date: July 27, 2020
Note: Details are for the original edition. Other formats, editions, and audiobook versions may be available.
