The Obsession

Name: The Obsession
Author: Linda Joseph
ISBN: 9798264981760

Linda Joseph

Mystery, Thriller • 227 Pages

The Obsession by Linda Joseph follows Adeline, a college graduate with a degree in creative writing, who hasn’t written a single word in three years. Working at a coffee shop to make ends meet, she becomes captivated by a regular customer, Scarlett—a glamorous social media influencer who seems to have it all. But when Adeline witnesses Scarlett with a man who isn’t her boyfriend, cracks begin to appear in the picture-perfect facade. As secrets and obsessions surface, Adeline realizes that nothing about Scarlett’s life is quite as flawless as it seems.

Adeline - Protagonist; a barista and inspiring writer
Claire - Adeline’s best friend
Scarlett - Social media influencer
Zack - Scarlett’s new boyfriend
James - Man Scarlett connects with on SugarXSpice

Adeline admires Scarlett for her seemingly perfect life but the truth is Scarlett is drowning in debt.
Scarlett meets Zack at the coffee shop where Adeline works and they fall for each other instantly.
Scarlett and Zack come into the coffee shop every morning and Adeline watches them with longing for the life they have.
Scarlett turns to SugarXSpice to help with her debt and matches with James.
Adeline sees Scarlett with James and follows them to a restaurant.
When Scarlett and James leave the restaurant she forgets her purse.
Adeline grabs Scarlett’s purse and goes the next day to return it to her.
Adeline walks in when no one answers the door and finds Scarlett in a pool of blood on her kitchen floor.
Adeline and Claire are intrigued by the murder and want to solve it so Claire matches with James on SugarXSpice and he invites her out.
Claire goes on a few dates with James and then he gives her a pair of emerald earrings that Adeline recognizes as Scarlett’s.
Flashback to the night of Scarlett’s death: Back at Scarlett’s apartment, James pressures her for sex but when she threatens him with a knife he leaves.
Then Claire knocks on the door pretending to be a new neighbor and gets invited in.
Claire tells Scarlett how awful she is for cheating on a great guy like Zack and then she stabs her.
Claire tells Adeline she works in the same office as Zack, that she was in love with him and hated Scarlett for not treating him right.
Adeline comes up with a plan for Claire to plant the murder weapon and emerald earrings at James' house.
Claire does so and James is arrested for Scarlett’s murder.
Adeline finally starts her novel inspired by Claire and Scarlett called ‘The Obsession.’
Epilogue one year later: Adeline is a successful author.
Claire and Zack have been hanging out as friends.
Claire tells the reader she is going to kill someone at the office named Jen who has been flirting with Zack and give Adeline inspiration for her next book.