My Reviews

Reviewer | Analyst | Commentator

**ENCORE PRESENTATION**

Cat Ellington's Review of The Influencer

by Miranda Rijks

(Originally Posted (2024))

The following analysis contains coarse language that some readers might find offensive. I would strongly advise viewer discretion.

—Cat Ellington

The Launch “Pad”...

influencer

/ˈinflo͝oənsər/

noun

• MARKETING

a person with the ability to influence potential buyers of a product or service by promoting or recommending the items on social media.

Internet celebrity

An internet celebrity, also referred to as a social media personality or an influencer, is an individual who has acquired or developed their fame and notability on the Internet.

—Wikipedia

Famous for being famous

Famous for being famous, in popular culture terminology, refers to someone who attains celebrity status for no particular identifiable reason, or who achieves fame through association with a celebrity. The term is a pejorative, suggesting the target has no particular talents or abilities.

—Wikipedia

Legitimate fame—as opposed to Illegitimate fame

(I) “It is obvious that celebrities grow their reputation by standing out in one or more areas in the entertainment industry. These areas can generally be sports, cinema, music or television. The fame that celebrities gain is usually because they are successful and talented in their field.”

— Sıla Ekşioğlu, INFLOW

(II) “Social media fame is more fragile and less likely to endure compared to the celebrity of actors and musicians.”

—Fielding Graduate University

(III) “The fame you get through social media is as fake as your online friends. It means nothing in the real world unless you are famous in real life as well.”

—Voice from Quora

Truth

“In the future, everyone will be famous for 15 minutes.”

—Andy Warhol

“With the advent of reality TV and YouTube, average people everywhere receive their share of the spotlight.”

—Pennsylvania Center for the Book - Penn State, in response to the famous Andy Warhol quote

“Everybody wants to be famous, but nobody wants to do the work.”

—Kevin Hart

My Opening Statement...

The first time I saw the word "Influencer" on the Internet—as it related to members of the general public who are supposedly famous for either dancing in homemade videos or promoting off-brand products to their large numbers of followers on social media platforms—my first verbal reaction was, “What the hell is a damn social media Influencer?” I had no idea, so I researched it. And I found the meaning of it offensive, just as I did with the so-called titles "Internet famous," "Instagram celebrities," "Twitter famous," "YouTube stars," "Web stars," "TikTok stars," "Going viral," and other terms/phrases/idioms of the like.

Nothing is more delusional than an everyday person "acquiring fame" without notable (public) works meriting it or as insulting as reputable journalists—associated with legitimate media organizations—giving credence to the madness. The latter loses all credibility (and respect), while the former never had any in the first place.

There is no truth, in my opinion, to the phrase "Famous for being famous"; an individual who has legitimately crossed the line of becoming famous must have noted public works for which they are known in their respective field or industry, be it entertainment (including music, movies, television, and sports), art (the humanities), sciences, literature, journalism, politics, fashion, or religion. Not on social media platforms dancing in homemade videos or showing off a make-believe lifestyle—for social likes. That is not legitimate fame, at least not in my opinion. But then again, I am shamelessly old-school, a member of Generation X, and unapologetically in favor of Baby Boomers and Gen X. I am the product of an era that accepted nothing less than the best. Either one had it (genuine talent), or they did not. There was no room for confusion; the fakers got called out for what they were.

Ordinary people who obtained short-lived media attention for something gimmicky got their reward: fifteen minutes of fame. And artists, performers, athletes, models, etc., were vetted through the appropriate channels. If a musical artist earned a Grammy® Award, they won the prize for a reason: genuine talent. Grammy® Awards were not handed out like candy to marginally talented people. The creative works of an artist had to be top-of-the-line. Back then, the competition was brutal because the talent on display was second to none, as the proverbial bar was set at the highest level – forcing artists to perfect their crafts and strive to bring forth their very best work.

What we see today would not have stood a chance then. Movies were (real) movies, motion pictures, not a damn video shot on an iPhone, and television sitcoms were the real deal, with professional performers portraying fictional characters written by industry-based teleplay writers, not everyday people (supposedly unscripted) on so-called reality shows.

Then, hard work was at the helm, not frivolity. Now, the bar is on the ground. Anybody can step over it.

There were always those fifteen-minute famous people in the past who made it their job to run in the same circles with legitimately famous people to obtain credibility. But it never lasted because, in the end, the legitimate always stood, and the illegitimate fell. Still, we see it today: those who claim to be "famous for being famous" rub shoulders with the legitimately famous in desperate pursuits of credibility – without talent.

Members of the general public (otherwise known as everyday people) on social media platforms with tons of "followers" and "likes" (organic or otherwise) do not constitute legitimate fame. Not unless they have contributed noted public works in professional industries, period.

Here lies the truth, but few are those who will embrace it. On the contrary, many have fallen head over heels in love with the illusion (and delusion) of a lie, like the young woman named Skye, who co-stars as the "Influencer" on the pages of the wicked (and downright sinister) psychological thriller currently under review.

Dear reader? Shall we get on with it – the (actual) review, that is?

There’s No Time Like the Present...

• THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM (I)

Our leading man, Nathan Edwards, is a 44-year-old widower with two teenage daughters from his late wife, Sacha: Isla (15) and Chloe (13). The Edwards family lives in a splendid farmhouse in Sussex, a South East area of England. Nathan lost his first wife (and his first love), Sacha, to an advanced form of terminal cancer a few years back and is only recently learning to live and love again. And he’s getting there, slowly but surely.

Nathan now shares his life with three ladies: his two daughters and Marie, his beautiful new fiancée. A 32-year-old former au pair turned lover and soon-to-be wife, Marie is everything to Nathan and his girls. She is not a replacement for Sacha; she is her own woman. And she is slowly settling into her new role within the family. The quiet but no-nonsense Marie respects not only herself but also Nathan and his history with Sacha. Not to mention, Marie, a native of Switzerland, is a fabulous cook. She is the perfect addition to the Edwards household.

Chloe loves Marie, but Isla? Isla—a girl out of whose mouth the taste I would slap if it were possible—is another animal. The disrespectful Isla dislikes Marie and continues to make her former au pair aware of her contempt in no uncertain terms. Isla has never moved on from the death of her beloved mum, Sacha, and she will not accept Marie as a stepmother. But Marie is patient. She loves Nathan and his girls, and there is nothing that she would not do for them. Nathan loves her, too. He loves Marie. They can make it – and they will.

What the happy couple is unaware of, however, is that there is a wicked storm on the horizon. And it is on course to make landfall over the peaceful dwelling of the Edwards family, to inflict chaos and uproot the tranquil foundation of their lives.

• THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM (II)

The plot begins to simmer as the Edwards clan is seated at their dinner table, enjoying a delicious Chicken Á L'Orange prepared by Marie. As far as Nathan is concerned, conversation keeps the family bond secure, and maintaining that closeness with his Gen Z daughters means the world to him. So, what better way to rope the girls in than to mention the hottest "stars" on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, particularly one named Skye, known for having millions of followers across the three major platforms?

Marie would like to know what the young woman is famous for, and she questions the two girls innocently. But Isla and Chloe, both dense as a rainforest, only roll their eyes at their out-of-touch stepmother-to-be and remind the old lady (even though Marie is only 32 years old) that Skye has millions of followers on YouTube, TikTok, and, duh, Insta. Still, the question remains: What is Skye famous for? Is she a singer? A writer? An actress? A filmmaker? What? Marie wants to know. But all her two impressionable (future) stepdaughters can answer is, 'You don't have to be good at something to be a social media celebrity. You only need to be authentic.' This idiotic answer elicits a smirk from Marie. And rightfully so.

As Nathan puts it, hard work is the only thing that (really) matters. Recognition will follow if it's merited. But are Isla and Chloe soaking up any of that wisdom? No, the childish girls are not; their only interests are levels of popularity on social media platforms.

Skye, the social media darling, is looking to spread her "influential wings" by pursuing an ambassadorship with a charity of note. In this case, the formerly homeless Skye, who was raised in care because her drug-addicted mother chose to abandon her, has selected Sacha's Sanctuary, a charity for homeless individuals and families. Owned and managed by Nathan, Sacha's Sanctuary, named for the late Sacha Edwards, was initially founded by Nathan and Sacha as a successful catering business that earned them a handsome sum. But after Sacha's death, Nathan converted the entity to a charity for needy families.

Thus far, the charity has done well and is thriving on donations. But it could do much better. Old Scratch knows this and uses the opportunity to send an agent in the flesh to get the ball of mayhem rolling: a member of Skye's PR team. The person contacts Sacha's Sanctuary to inquire about the charity hiring Skye to front their fundraising campaign. And the starstruck staff at the Sanctuary are beside themselves with excitement. Nathan couldn't care less about her fame; he is not the social media-networking type. But if this influencer, Skye, wants to use her influence to help the charity with donations and growth, he is good with that. Sacha would be so proud of him and their charity.

Understandably, Nathan is not keen on telling the girls yet; they would never allow him a moment's rest due to their exhilaration. But he will have to, eventually, if his meeting with Skye's team at So She & All (Social, if one said the words quickly) goes well and Nathan decides to bring Skye on board.

• THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM (III)

The tall and awesomely beautiful Tiana Jackson is Skye's tenacious agent who is in for the long haul, literally and figuratively. She and her lucrative client, Skye—but especially her lucrative client, Skye—practically throw themselves at Nathan no sooner than he arrives for their meeting. Tiana is giddy and insists that Nathan partner up with Skye on behalf of Sacha's Sanctuary – to act as the charity's ambassador. No-nonsense, the model-like Tiana cuts right to the chase, doing all the talking as Skye sits, staring at the man she intends to make her own: Nathan Edwards.

While Tiana is going through her agent's pitch, Skye is already making love to Nathan—in the fantasy of her mind. She had greeted the handsome stranger with a kiss (although inappropriate) to test the boundaries. While air kissing the cheeks was the standard practice, Skye went for his lips. And if Nathan was put off by it, he didn't let on.

But then again, Nathan is a rather conservative, somewhat passive chap, bland as milquetoast (at times), and reserved to an annoying fault; this is why he won't be ready when the monster Category 5 hurricane—in the human form of a "famous social media influencer"—makes landfall, to beat, with fists of fury, upon his quiet little house, to disrupt his quiet little life – with Marie and the girls.

The ill-prepared Nathan won't be ready.

Once Upon a Time...

• AN OVERCAST SKY SKYE

Before the so-called "Skye Effect" ever came into being, an English foster child, spawned from humble beginnings, lived in south-eastern London, where she spent most of her young life as a ward of the state – shuffled from one care home to another. But as she got older, the poor orphan became wiser, biding her time, keeping her head down, and eating whatever the low-quality fare was until she reached the age of seventeen; an opportunity to escape her hellish prison came then.

The criminals wanted to use her to sell their drugs, but she had other plans. She only needed a few dollars to get out; she only needed the sixty quid she stole from the dope pusher to kiss south-eastern London and her miserable existence in it goodbye, forever.

Whew! A train ride en route to an escape never felt so good.

The idyllic town of Horsham Centre would be the perfect place to straighten her nappy roots. Horsham Centre was discreet – and pretty. And it would be home. She was going to make it there; she had to. She had to.

Homeless and hungry, she used some of her stolen (drug) money to buy coffee and a bacon sandwich. And as she sat warming her bones in the café, she thought, deciding what to do next. She would need cardboard to sleep on—and a good storefront doorway to shield her from the elements.

Skye Walker (at least the trifling scourge who is her mother had a sense of humor) knew where she had been, but she couldn't begin to imagine where she would go.

• INTRODUCING TIFFANY LARKIN

Homeless and cold, Skye was sitting on the ground in a doorway, shaking her foot to keep the blood circulating, when she nearly tripped a strange young woman walking by. The girl, about the same age as the destitute Skye, seemed moved by compassion and empathy and offered Skye Walker fifty dollars. Skye took the money, of course, and could eat another day.

The first time, there were no formal introductions, but when the rich Tiffany Larkin saw Skye again, Tiffany offered her a trip to Starbucks for coffee and brownies. Skye accepted.

From that time on, the two young women became inseparable. Tiffany is a girl with everything except the love of her self-absorbed and browbeating, albeit filthy rich, parents, mom Adina (a beautiful former Czech model) and dad Jeffrey (an unattractive and obese master of horticulture and the so-called King of Salads). The statuesque Adina acts as though she is disgusted with her bosomy, somewhat plump daughter Tiffany – although she takes a liking to the more slender Skye almost immediately, cooking tasty meals and whatnot to win the skinny Minnie over.

After Tiffany convinces her mother that Skye is a friend from college, Adina invites the pauper to stay at Bashfield Manor, the nowhere-near-humble abode of the Larkins. Jeffrey, on the other hand, is not so okay with it. To live with them, Skye will have to pull her weight, the little her body has. And the mean-spirited—and arrogant—blob Jeffrey gets a brilliant idea: Skye will go to work at his salad factory. She can make some money, and everything will end well, right? Nothing could be more wrong, as the brutal labor and wrath-inducing humiliation Jeffrey Larkin subjects Skye to will set the man and his privileged family on a collision course with petrifying disaster.

• SHE HAD BIG DREAMS, SHE WANTED FAME—

WELL FAME COSTS

Fame. That was what Tiffany Larkin coveted. She desired to be famous on YouTube but had no idea where to start. Tiffany wanted to do makeup tutorials that accumulated lots (and lots) of likes and lots (and lots) of followers. That was her only goal. She didn't give a damn about graduating from college with a degree in engineering and working in her dad's crappy salad-growing business (the same "crappy" salad-growing business that kept her living like a bloody princess); Tiffany only wanted the false honor of something called "Internet fame." The thing was, she sucked at it; even her fellow co-eds, the mean girls, took to YouTube to move their bowels on her posts. Tiffany was rich but pitiful. So Skye decided to help the poor little rich girl—with her unconfident, doughy a̶s̶s̶ arse—out.

Tiffany couldn't believe it when Skye posted a live video of herself sharing details about her plight with homelessness on Tiffany's YouTube channel. The post was "blessed" with so many likes that it made Tiffany's empty head spin.

Tiffany was a college student, but damn that; Tiffany was a pilot in training, learning to fly her family's private Cessna 182 alongside a licensed flying instructor, but damn that; Tiffany was a proficient sailor, but damn that, too. Skills couldn't hold a candle to social likes because the psychological aspect was as clear as spring water: social media post likes from strangers indicated a person was loved and perceived as valuable. And Tiffany honored that more.

Love was scarce in the Larkin home, as was self-love within Tiffany; therefore, Tiffany sought (external) love from strangers—on a social media platform.

But in the end, it was Skye who would shine. And resentments would display their displeasure. Before it was over, the same Cessna 182 owned by Jeffrey and Adina Larkin, while speeding to one of their vacation homes in Jersey, would become their coffin at sea – deliberately brought down from its soaring heights into the English Channel.

Back to the Present - Ten Years Later...

• UNDER A DARKENING SKY SKYE

With foster homes, poverty, alienation, and obscurity behind her, Skye is now a 27-year-old rich and "mega-famous" social media influencer with brands, agents, and everyone else, for that matter, eating out of her baby-soft hands. Everyone except Nathan Edwards, that is. And that is not good because Skye has her sights set on him, and she is opposed to being rejected, least of all by the only man who has ever hushed her puppies. Sure, she claims to be dating a world-famous athlete, a champion sailor named Holden, but that so-called relationship is as shallow as a reef wall and only for the public; there are no true feelings there.

Skye wants Nathan; he is all she can think about – and at present, she's watching the nervous wreck fidget. God, why can't he relax?!

Nathan feels awkward and out of place at the fancy granola brand event. Skye knows it, so she uses the situation to her advantage. Emotionally weak men like Nathan are almost always easy to manipulate. And all Skye had to do was keep feeding him liquor, not forgetting to spike one glass. With that, a naked Nathan would awaken the following morning in her bed with no memory whatsoever of what happened the night before. He knows Marie will be furious that he stayed out all night without even so much as one phone call – but his phone was off. And Nathan never turns his phone off. At this point, his suspicions towards Skye are beginning to heat up.

His entire team at Sacha's Sanctuary, including his number-one wingman, the big-and-bearish Ash, is elated that they captured Skye to serve as an ambassador for the charity. And they're gushing, all teeth and rosy cheeks. But at what price? Not one of them could imagine the dynamic between the desperate and obsessed Skye—who has, by now, chased the jealous and confused Marie away and won the hearts of Isla and Chloe—and Nathan, who dares to spurn the relentless advances of the ridiculously popular influencer.

But Nathan Edwards better recognize. Skye always gets what she wants – or else. Unfortunately for Skye, she's not the only one with lustful ambition.

• THAT’S MY MAMA

Skye is so carried away in her infatuation with the man named Nathan Edwards that she doesn't see the hit coming. Indeed, it is true what they say about folks suddenly coming out of the woodwork when someone they know comes into fame and money. And for Skye, the adage becomes only too real when the woman reaches out to her on Facebook. Skye ignores her, but then the woman shows up, unannounced, at her opulent home – an old, skinny, wrinkled, wretched, and disgusting body of flesh, given a yuck mouth with which to speak.

Her name is Monica Walker, and she is Skye's long-lost and long-thought-to-be-dead mother. She claims that she has been clean and sober for years, but the ravages of a life once lived in the Taj Mahal of dope fiends are irreparable. Monica seems to mean well, as she is frantic for a chance to right the wrongs of the past and reconcile with her only daughter, Skye. But Skye hates the woman and wants nothing more than for the old bag to disappear and not stay around to complicate her fabulous new life in the public eye.

Monica abandoned Skye, and Skye will never allow her to forget it. But Monica? Monica is adamant. The woman is also skeptical – a little too dubious for Skye's liking. And she is making Skye nervous. Indeed, the tension between the two is so thick that one could cut it with a hacksaw.

To show good faith, as well as for her public image, Skye agrees to "reconcile" with Monica publicly, but she soon gets too cute, pulling a loose string to unravel that which should have remained tightly knitted. Now Monica wants a pound of flesh, making threats while asking for more than Skye is willing to give. But Monica is about to dip her crusty, corny toes in a vat of acid - as she is so determined to expose a most damning secret about her daughter that she won't see the hit coming.

It only gets worse for Monica after she meets Nathan.

As far as Skye is concerned, this peasant, Monica, will have to go before she ruins EVERYTHING Skye has worked so hard for! Skye cannot afford to have this—this ignoramus interfering in her life, trying to destroy her beloved brand and her pristine public image. No, this heinous freak has to go – for good!

With her immoral mind finally made up, Skye pulls out her trusty burner phone and makes a fateful call.

• I CAN’T WILL MAKE YOU LOVE ME (EVEN) IF YOU DON’T

Skye is tired of chasing Nathan like a thirsty idiot – only to have him consistently rebuff her shameless advances. After all, she has her (silly) pride to defend. And that, she will.

When he got his bloody frickin' noggin cracked, Skye catered to his every whim following the murky attack, even bringing him floral bouquets. But what did the ungrateful bloke do? He whined for Marie. When she exposed her sheer nudity to him, what did he do? He groaned for Marie. M̶a̶r̶s̶h̶a̶ Marie, M̶a̶r̶s̶h̶a̶ Marie, M̶a̶r̶s̶h̶a̶ Marie! The former nanny (a frickin' nobody) undoubtedly overshadows Skye (the social media star), and Skye's frail ego can't handle it.

Nathan has no intention of leaving Marie for Skye, nor will he ever bend the knee of affection to her. The man cannot make his heart feel something it won't. And for this reason, she, Skye, must now unleash the barbaric bitch – who is always ready, willing, and able to spill blood.

If expensive dinners and expensive gifts and intimate gestures or the sword she is holding over his head won't win Nathan over, perhaps losing yet another of his precious loved ones (to homicide) will.

Here is where Nathan Edwards will become "Dan Gallagher," and Skye, the social media influencer, will become "Alex Forrest."

Skye will NOT take no for an answer. She will NOT be ignored—by the object of her twisted desires. Nathan will be hers because if she, the famous Skye with her unfailing "Skye Effect," can't have him, NO OTHER PERSON, not even his two spoiled, bratty, fanatical daughters, will!

Five people will be dead, insensitively murdered, before Nathan Edwards understands that.

Meeting the Bit Players...

In addition to the tall, dark, and ultra-lovely Tiana Jackson, who plays her part to perfection as Skye's ambitious agent on these pages, a few more bit players also carry their weight flawlessly and finely complement our starring leads. Meet them as follows:

• Pete Brandine is like family to Nathan, a dear old friend who glorifies Skye and urges Nathan to welcome her as the figurehead ambassador for Sacha's Sanctuary. But like all the others, Pete only sees the deceptive surface.

• Ellie, another dear friend of the Edwards family, is a godsend in the absence of Marie.

• Martin Rodriguez is a low-down, dirty, crooked, lying, fork-tongued celebrity journalist at the Daily Mail. He smiles a crap-eating grin—revealing sharpened teeth—while keeping a dagger handy for the backstab: it was Martin Rodriguez who sold Skye out, dishing the details of her whereabouts to Monica, all in the name of a story guaranteed to rake in the big bucks.

• Camilla Steading plays a relocation agent (or a real estate 'specialist,' if you will) to the rich, famous, and high-profile. Camilla is a fast talker, a wheeler, and a dealer—but Skye is worse. Unbeknownst to Camilla, she is about to be used as a tool to carry out the twisted wishes of the evil one.

• Detective Constable Dominic McCarthy is the instant karma who will get medieval if it's the last thing he does: woe unto the fandom.

My Summation...

Narrated in the multiple viewpoints of Nathan, Skye, and Isla, The Influencer is a terrifying foray into the desperate pursuit of fame, riches, and love that eludes.

On the rapid-fire pages of this skillfully written tale, Miranda Rijks unlocks a forbidden door that leads to a very dark place in the human mind – a place laid waste to distortion, deceit, madness, wickedness, aberrance, perversion, corruption, and everything debased. Here, Miranda Rijks takes a sledgehammer to the layered falsities of social media, smashing them away to uncover the truth.

The author's writing is sensational, as is her knowledge of several topics that rouse my (personal) interest, including sailing and Regatta. With The Influencer, Rijks was on it, and she blew me away.

The concept here is nothing less than entertaining, and Miranda Rijks maneuvered her vision expertly to showcase a great plot, a great cast of characters, nearly blemish-free character development, and applaudable performances. And I am impressed.

The story on the pages of The Influencer is a cautionary tale of social media and its crippling influence on unstable individuals on whom worldliness, pride, ego, self-hatred, low self-esteem, confusion, envy, jealousy, false idolatry, emotional dependency, neediness, depression, anxiety, hatred, malice, and all other (demonic) forms of wickedness prey. An empty soul seeking external validation will never be satisfied. People must first love themselves before they can love anyone else. And they must know who they are rather than waiting for someone else to tell them who they are. All other roads only lead one down the path of destruction. Faith—is a wonderful thing. But on the pages of this sadistic narrative, many characters are faithless and not at all what (or who) they appear to be.

Speaking now of Miranda Rijks, after reading the blurbs of all her books and sensing that each title would be individually intriguing, I settled on The Influencer first. And I am so glad I did because, from beginning to end, it is an outstanding psychological thriller loaded with one crazy twist after another, leading the way to a heart-pounding cliffhanger of a conclusion.

Dear reader, while I prepare to absorb my second Miranda Rijks tale, The Homemaker, I leave you with my highest recommendation of The Influencer, as I am sure you will find it as hard to put down as I did.

Enjoy!

Five...marketed-and-endorsed stars.

DISCLOSURE: The reference to the fictional characters “Dan Gallagher” and “Alex Forrest” is from the Adrian Lyne-directed and Paramount Pictures-distributed thriller film Fatal Attraction (1987)

Coming Soon: Cat Ellington's review of The Good Neighbors (Life in Icicle Falls #2.5)

by Sheila Roberts

To feature from:

My rating: ()

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©2025 Quill Pen Ink Publishing. Literary Criticism by Cat Ellington for The Arts. The Cat Ellington™ Literary Collection. The Cat Ellington™ Poetry Collection. All rights reserved.

NEXT UP: Cat Ellington's review of The Plastic Surgeon by AJ Carter