Technically detailed, perfectly paced, and psychologically gripping.
Emma Petranova has sacrificed her life for her career and all those concessions are about to pay off. Studying the psychology behind digital mass persuasion has filled her days and many of her nights, all leading up to this landmark evening. Once Dr. Santan accepts the prestigious Tiberian Research Award in Psychology and publicly praises Emma for her invaluable contributions to their research, she will finally be able to attend to her long-deferred personal life. Except that isn’t how the ceremony goes. In a career-shattering blow, Emma is overlooked, unrecognized, and outshined. But she’ll get her name on the project, even if it means making waves with the professor, her staff, and the entire university. Validation and the respect of her colleagues are relegated to the back burner, however, when Dr. Santan goes missing. Emma is certain he’ll be back in a few days, but then another member of the team disappears. Did everyone decide a vacation was suddenly in order? Who will write the outstanding grant proposal? Could there be a conspiracy? Is she in danger? The police are unhelpful, so an overeager friend encourages a vigilante instigation while a new love interest offers his unique brand of support. Frustration and worry soon morph into fear and recklessness, leaving Emma vulnerable to the power of her own research.
From the internet boom to digital gaslighting, The Delusion adds a tech-heavy twist to a sophisticated psychological thriller. The story spans more than two decades and the author does an impressive job reminding readers of how quickly things can change. With a tone that is both nostalgic and grim, Paine paints scenes from a time when e-commerce was in its infancy and online sources had an air of credibility, weaving them seamlessly into more recent trends where every opinion can be bought and deceptions are indistinguishable from truths. Whether it is credulous Emma, her wise but emotionally wounded father, a daft best friend, or a pizza-loving college student, each character is distinct and memorable. With an ambitious spirit and a head full of ideas, the charismatic antagonist proves to be such a smooth operator that readers will have a difficult time knowing if they should root for or against him, at least for a little while! Reliable plot points are punctuated with unforeseeable turns that will keep audiences hungrily hanging on every word. Technically detailed, perfectly paced, and psychologically gripping, The Delusion is a sleek novel that showcases how influencing can be a more lucrative path than any college degree.
