Crystal is the quiet one in her friend group. She calls them friends but only Gayle is truly a friend. Trevor is polite to her, Harmony barely speaks to her and Paul practically doesn’t know she even exists – even though they do everything together.

Paul and Harmony have been following some guy online called The Speaker, and talk about him in Trevor’s van on the way to school one day. The Speaker has a huge online following as he posts bizarre and dark messages, poetry and images. Each time he actually shows himself on screen he has a mask covering most of his face – his eyes blazing out hate and malice. His followers love it and analyze his every word. Crystal, Gayle and Trevor don’t understand the appeal.

One day there is a new kid at school, named Aaron Fortin. He’s well dressed, clean cut, good looking and drives an expensive car. He makes an impression. For some reason he asks to sit with Crystal and her friends on his first day in the school cafeteria. His presence changes the vibe of their group, putting a spark in them and awakening true natures.

But Crystal sees right through him. She calls him out on his online identity. She has always existed on the fringes and edges of life at school, and is excellent at watching body language, faces and personalities. From the short amount of clips she’s seen, she knows Aaron is The Speaker.

Harmony and Paul flip out at this revelation, but this is where The Speaker sees his chance to repeat past misdeeds. But first he makes them vow not to divulge his secret. If they keep quiet, he will bring them into his world and fame.

All of Crystal’s group have insecurities and secrets, and Aaron’s favourite thing in life is to manipulate those around him. Soon he has the group around his little finger and with his million followers – even more at his beck and call.

Trevor is wary, but Crystal even more so. She saw the moment of evil in Aaron’s eyes when she revealed him, but never dreamed of the malevolence headed her way.

Told in both Crystal’s and Aaron’s points of view, I was captivated early. Crystal is quiet, shy, insecure and socially anxious. Aaron is slick, measured, always forward thinking and planning, even as he revels in past, horrific crimes.

Crystal’s indecision is frustrating and heartbreaking as she tries to break through her anxiety and be brave for her friends. Reading Aaron’s chapters is like watching a terrible trainwreck about to happen, but not being able to look away.

The dark side of social media is so real within this novel, as it slithers through teen lives, away from parents, teachers and authorities eyes. 

A YA thriller from the author of the Clown in a Cornfield series – if slasher horror is your thing, Influencer brings it!  

Author – Adam Cesare

Age – 16+ (Strong language, Violence, Mature Themes – not for younger readers)

Read a review for Clown in a Cornfield here

(2024, Hachette NZ, Bullies, Courage, Family, Friendship, Horror, Murder, Crime, School, Influencer, Social Media, Instagram, Friend group, Control, Manipulation, Psychopath, Narcissist, Senior Year, Prom, Plans, Reinvention, Controlling personality, English Class, Revenge)