I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

A young woman looking to escape her mother’s control gets roped into neighborhood drama and shocking secrets in author Crystal Quast’s “Influenced,” the fourth book in the Serenity Acres series.

The Synopsis

Who’s pulling the strings of kidfluencers?

Brook Salinger has spent much of her young life calculating the cost. Tormented by online bullies and trapped on her family’s wildly successful channel, she’s desperate to escape the grip of her stage-manager mother, Daphne.

Determined to build a life beyond the camera, Brook finally breaks away. But as unseen forces push her toward a shocking truth, she’s drawn into a neighborhood drama with deadly consequences.

Now, as Brook races to uncover the truth, Daphne blocks her at every turn. With an online empire and the carefully crafted image it’s built on threatening to unravel, just how far will a Mother go to stay in control?

THE REVIEW

This was a compelling, thrilling entry in this psychological-meets-cozy mystery thriller series. The author does a great job of putting a fresh spin on the series by delving into the shocking realities of modern-day internet stars, especially family vloggers. The level of detail and the way modern-day family vloggers can mirror classic stage moms who put their kids into Hollywood at a young age was compelling, and the author’s personable, thoughtful writing style let the reader feel immersed in this world once again.

The character development and world-building were top-notch in this novel. The heart of the story was the twisted, complex relationship between Brook and her mother, Daphne, as well as Brook’s sister River. The lengths Daphne goes to in order to maintain their fame and popularity, and the way this plays into the larger neighborhood drama and twisted games being played by each neighbor is shocking to read, and the emotional depth of Brook’s rise as a protagonist and the inner struggles she faces will resonate with readers as the story progresses.

THE VERDICT

Compelling, thrilling, and memorable, author Crystal Quast’s upcoming psychological and cozy mystery thriller novel “Influenced” is a must-read book. The twists and turns the story takes, the shocking revelations and deadly consequences for some characters, and the cliffhanger ending will keep readers on the edge of their seats for the fifth and final book in the series. If you haven’t yet, be sure to preorder your copy today or grab your copy on October 15th, 2026!

Rating: 10/10

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

With over twenty years of spinning stories in corporate communications, Dinked: Serenity Acres. Where Secrets Barely Stay Hidden is Crystal Quast’s debut novel. When she’s not writing, Crystal loves playing pickleball and tennis, paddleboarding, hiking, and spending time with her family.