The haters

Camryn Lane is proudest of her seventeen-year-old daughter Liza, but her recent debut novel, Burnt Orchid, comes in at a close second. And then a negative review is posted online, accusing Camryn of using personal stories from her job as a high-school counselor as a basis for the main character in her book. Way too quickly, the one review becomes a focused onslaught of negativity, and Camryn's dream becomes a nightmare of false accusations and unreliable relationships. Now she must decide what parts of her life are worth saving from the abyss. As the threats become more serious, and the number of possible sources for the review increases, Camryn's looming mental breakdown becomes a tangible presence. From this narrative of an ultimate dream-come-true to one of overwhelming anxiety, there's no downtime in the roller coaster of extreme emotions. Even with a large cast of characters, the author manages to give each a purpose and an engaging presence. A satisfying selection for readers who enjoy unreliable narrators and plenty of suspense.

Canadian crime novelist Harding (The Drowning Woman) examines the murky netherworld of internet trolling in this sturdy thriller. High school guidance counselor Camryn Lane is over the moon: she's just published her debut novel, Burnt Orchid, to rave reviews and much admiration from her 17-year-old daughter, Liza. During the launch event, Camryn pauses to check her email and finds a scathing message that accuses her of exploiting her students' lives for the book's material. A shaken Camryn brushes the message aside, but then the same person posts an even angrier one-star review online, opening the floodgates for an all-out smear campaign. Before long, Camryn is doxxed, hacked, and heckled at publicity events, and she loses the support of her colleagues, boyfriend, and even Liza. After Camryn hires a digital expert to expose her harasser, he turns up dead, kicking the stakes up several notches. Harding alternates the main action with excerpts from and reviews of Burnt Orchid, slyly building suspense in the process. While the scenes detailing Camryn's harassment can grow repetitive, Harding makes the most of her chilling premise. This provides some satsifying shocks. Agent: Joe Veltre, Gersh Agency. (July)