Book Review: "A Deadly Influence" By Mike Omer

What you put out there you attract but what if I was to say that your social media presence may bring about some unwanted visitors.

Do you know whose watching over your shoulders when you Instagram your charming photos and personal information seeking to be 'famous'?

What would happen if your past catches up to your present?
Well, let's think about this, shall we?

Nathan a young boy of 8 years old has just been kidnapped. He's the son of Eden and the brother of Gabrielle.

A ransom has been set for 5 mill but Eden Fletcher is no stranger to violence, crime, and deadly consequences. Eden is a survivor of the Wilcox Cult in which 62 members were actively engaged when a fiery cult massacre occurred.

Lieutenant Abby is our main character, single mom of two, and just under forty years of age. She's also no stranger to troubled waters.

David is the ex-spouse of Eden who was found to be involved with an Otis Tillman -another member of this cult.

David apparently recruited Eden to Tillman's cult where she stayed for the past 13 years and prior to this was engaged in a religious cult as a child which involved what was then known as 'cult hoppings.'

A man known as Karl Adkins is also included in this mess who tried to marry this young woman - Gabrielle Fletcher- at the ripe age of twelve.

As if this isn't enough to get your blood curling we then have a situation in which Eric Layton is found killed, another man named Tom McCormick is coming around for The Chronicle in conducting interviews, and Luther Gaines is the leader of the flock.

What surprises many is the fear instilled in these individuals, the inability to think clearly outside the smoke/fog/mirrors, and the virtual helplessness at saving themselves.
As the story escalates we notice the desperation, the fight or flight responses, the trauma and abuse and we feel for the victims of such events.

The question arises around the deaths that have been slowly trickling in because it brings to attention the fact that perhaps the cops will be blamed when it's really a cover up for the leaders and fellow members of this cult.

In other words the cult wants you to believe that if you flee to save yourself that your life will be in jeopardy as it won't be protected by the cult leaders.

This mindset prevents many from helping themselves which was evident with the fire as we sadly learned near the end of this story.

The person responsible for the fire was a plot twist and it was a huge game changer.
In addition, the facts surrounding Abby and her past is another swift moving storm that brings with it several unsuspecting individuals to the forefront.

This story also brings about stalking issues that will be apparent towards the latter half of the book and it's been ongoing for years.

The rescue efforts in finding Nathan alive really take precedence as we embark on this extended journey to hopefully save this young boy and bring him back home to his family.
It's truly an -edge-of- your- seat thriller that you won't want to miss.

Thank you to Mike Omer, the pub, NetGalley, and Amazon Kindle for this ARC in exchange for this honest review.