Catfishing can be a deadly business, especially when social media mega-influencer Angela Fox has you in her sights.
When Angela Foxâs Myface account is selected as Hottest User of the Month, thereâs only one problem: she isnât real. As the fake Angela takes the world by storm, a group of strangers struggle to escape a twisted web of narcissism, deceit, and revenge.
L.A. hotshot Sebastian Shafer is so desperate to get a job, he creates an elaborate plan to convince his future employer that, if hired, Sebastianâs association with âHollywood socialiteâ Angela Fox will bring in the sales. The only issue is he needs to convince the world that she actually exists.
Angela draws more attention than Sebastian anticipated when her profile gains millions of followers and fame seekers desperately try to catch her attention. But things really get out of control when a handsome young stage-play director winds up dead. The question is who pulled the trigger?
This thrilling novella is sure to have you captivated from page one.
Catfishing can be a deadly business, especially when social media mega-influencer Angela Fox has you in her sights.
When Angela Foxâs Myface account is selected as Hottest User of the Month, thereâs only one problem: she isnât real. As the fake Angela takes the world by storm, a group of strangers struggle to escape a twisted web of narcissism, deceit, and revenge.
L.A. hotshot Sebastian Shafer is so desperate to get a job, he creates an elaborate plan to convince his future employer that, if hired, Sebastianâs association with âHollywood socialiteâ Angela Fox will bring in the sales. The only issue is he needs to convince the world that she actually exists.
Angela draws more attention than Sebastian anticipated when her profile gains millions of followers and fame seekers desperately try to catch her attention. But things really get out of control when a handsome young stage-play director winds up dead. The question is who pulled the trigger?
This thrilling novella is sure to have you captivated from page one.
A womanâs sultry laughter crackled on the phone line. âI just want him dead, Norman,â she intoned. âWill you do that for me?â
âI donât know.â
âIâd be disappointed if I had to do it myself. Donât make me do it myself, Norman,â she said. Norman was silent.
âNorman, will you do this for me or not?â
He hesitated, interference crackling through the line as he exhaled.
âI will,â he said.
Stony silence on the phone line.
âI love you, Angela,â he said.
Specks of blood are splattered on a computer screen, covering the Myface social media profile of
ANGELA FOX, 27, Los Angeles
a stunning blonde, her red lips smiling seductively in her profile picture. On the sharp iMac screen, sheâs the epitome of health and beauty. Stark contrast to the dead man slumped on the granite desk in front of her. Sure, Amir Siddig used to be handsome, but death has already stolen that from him. He also used to be rich, but death has stolen that from him, too. If Amir were still alive, the floor-to-ceiling windows would have treated him to a view of the lush grounds of his Hollywood Hills estate. Heâd see palms swaying in the breeze. And his sparkling infinity pool would give way to the brilliant lights of the L.A. basin at night. But the computer screenâAngelaâs faceâjust shines on his lifeless body, filling the room with a pale, oblivious glow.Â
The best and worst quality of the book is that it is a novella. While it is fast-paced, action-packed with quick twists in the plots, the story leaves you craving for more. Writing a thriller as a novella is no small feat; one needs to make sacrifices in character and plot development.Â
I didn't want to put the book down. The author has squeezed as many twists as he can, and as a reader, that keeps you hooked. He has provided brief background stories for all the characters and linked them together in an intricate web. I imagine a line of dominoes placed one after the other. As soon as one of them falls, every other domino behind it topples as well.Â
However, I wish the author had made this into a novel. I wish he had allowed the characters to tell their stories and develop in that process. The plot and storyline were so well-thought-out that I wanted to read more about it. The ending came too soon, and several questions remained unanswered. The story would have made a great novel. The most intriguing part of a thriller is exploring the motives of the characters, and that piece was short and unfulfilling for me.Â
It is a great novella. And if one likes fast-paced thrillers, I definitely would recommend this one. I give it 3.5 stars out of 5 stars.Â
I received a free copy from Reedsy Discovery for my honest review.Â