Book Review: A Deadly Influence

 

This book kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end.

Abby Mullen is a police negotiator and a survivor of a cult (think Waco), who now keeps tabs on other cults in her area in case she ever has to deal with them. When the son (Nathan) of another survivor (Eden) is kidnapped she doesn't know what to do so she calls Abby, who she hadn't spoken with since they were children. Abby then gets the ball rolling in helping to find Nathan and eventually learns his kidnapping may be cult-related.

The story is mostly told from Abby's point of view but that alternates with the kidnapper's as well as Nathan's. The kidnapper is obsessed with Nathan's older sister Gabrielle, who is a social media influencer and believes her Instagram posts are meant just for him.

As the story progresses, we also learn more and more about Abby's life in the cult and how it ended.

What I found especially interesting is the explanations of how and why people get into cults. A lot of things that just didn't make sense to me before do make sense now.

The story also includes Abby's personal life -- her teenage daughter, her young son who has a pet tarantula, her mother and her ex-husband, as well as a cute relationship between her and one of her colleagues.

I'll be anxiously awaiting the next Abby Mullen book.

I received a free copy of this book from goodreads in exchange for an honest review.