I was first introduced to Robyn Harding when I picked “The Drowning Woman” for one of my Aardvark boxes last year. I absolutely loved that book and was excited to finally get to read this one. It did not disappoint; honestly, it made me uncomfortable several times simply because the subject matter is so realistic. I can easily see this happening in today’s toxic digital age.

The book focuses on middle-aged high school guidance counselor Camryn Lane. Camryn is divorced but friendly with her ex-husband. She is dating an awesome younger guy who is smitten with her, and she has an amazing daughter who is about to go off to college. While Camryn loves her job and students and takes her work very seriously, she’s always wanted to be a published author and that dream has finally come true with the recent publication of her debut novel, “Burnt Orchid.”

But “Burnt Orchid” focuses on troubled teens, and while initial buzz and reviews are promising, it all soon goes south very quickly when someone accuses Camryn of using her student’s real-life struggles as inspiration for her book. One woman in particular seems to have it out for Camryn, and soon, the 1-star reviews come pouring in from people who haven’t even read the book. They’re just hell-bent on taking her down based on hearsay. Camryn tries to stick up for herself, but that only makes things worse, and that’s when the threats become more intense, and Camryn begins to fear for her life. With her life and career in danger, Camryn walks a very tightrope while trying to find out who is doing this and why.

Harding has crafted a story that is not just thrilling, but also incredibly relevant in today’s social media-driven society. The way she explores the dark side of online harassment and the lengths that some people will go to in order to tear someone down is both chilling and thought-provoking. It’s a narrative that hits close to home, making it a compelling read for anyone navigating the digital world.

From the moment Camryn received that first disturbing message, I was captivated. The mob mentality of many people online is scary, and this book perfectly illustrates how easy it is for a small group of unhinged people with a sick mission to ruin someone’s life simply for the hell of it. It seems like facts no longer matter, and if someone decides they don’t like you, it’s very easy for them to destroy you. It’s unnerving, and it made this book very unsettling for me.

Camryn is a strong, complex protagonist who you can’t help but root for. She is a woman who has fought hard for her success and is now facing a danger that she never could have imagined. As the online attacks intensify and the threats become more real, her fear is palpable. The supporting characters are all equally interesting and I was never sure who I could and couldn’t trust.

The novel’s pacing is spot-on, with quick chapters that make this one easy to fly through. While I wasn’t surprised by the final reveal, I very much enjoyed the ride to get there. There were a lot of ways this one could have gone, and I was happy with the reveal and the resolution. It felt very realistic.

If you enjoy a good thriller, you should absolutely check this one out. It was unsettling at times, but I tore through it. The compelling characters, twisty plot, and timely themes made this one especially entertaining. It’ll make you think twice before engaging in internet drama. In fact, I think I’ll just sit over here and sip my tea while watching others go at it.