Title: BAD INFLUENCE
Author: WILL CARVER
ISBN: 9781917764292
Publisher: Orenda Books
Pages: 389
Source: Review Copy from the Publisher
Blog Tour Organised by Random Things Tours
Alyssa wants to be seen. Less wants to be someone. She takes two buses to class, posts pictures of her lunch, and pretends it’s all effortless. He hides his privilege beneath thrifted clothes and a sketchbook full of impossible designs. Together, they are inseparable – two outsiders constructing a version of themselves the world might finally applaud.
Then Alyssa stumbles upon the hidden world of phrogging – living unnoticed inside other people’s homes. She and Less slip through Los Angeles’ glossy influencers, producers, pop stars, all so busy performing their perfect lives they don’t notice the shadows in their attics, the scratching in their walls.
An act of rebellion. A harmless thrill. A social experiment.
Until they choose the wrong house.
Until the influencer they idolise catches them in the act.
Until the cameras, already rolling, capture everything.
Official Summary
24 June 2026
Thank you to Random Things Tours for the invitation to participate in this blog tour. I have not read a Will Carver book since Psychopaths Anonymous in 2021 and I was looking forward to this one.
Will Carver is an author who doesn’t shies away from unusual concepts, and Bad Influence is no exception. The premise immediately grabbed my attention: two young outsiders discovering the secretive world of “phrogging” (Am I the only one who didn’t know what that was?) and using it as a way to rebel against the carefully curated lives of influencers and celebrities. It is certainly a unique setup and one that offers plenty of opportunities for suspense and social commentary.
Alyssa and Less are both searching for identity and belonging, and their friendship forms the heart of the story. Their fascination with social media culture and the contrast between online personas and reality is explored throughout the novel. Carver raises some interesting questions about society’s obsession with visibility, validation, and fame, and these themes often proved more compelling than the plot itself.
The book has an unsettling atmosphere that builds steadily as the pair’s activities become increasingly risky. There are moments of genuine tension, particularly once they realise they may have targeted the wrong people. Parts of the story moved slowly, with lengthy observations and commentary that occasionally distracted from the suspense. While I appreciated the author’s ambition and the ideas he was exploring, the narrative sometimes felt more focused on delivering its message than on advancing the story.
The characters were intriguing but remained difficult to connect with on an emotional level. I understood their motivations, but I never became fully invested in their journeys. As a result, some of the later developments did not have the impact they might otherwise have had.
Bad Influence is an original and thought-provoking thriller that tackles contemporary issues surrounding social media, celebrity culture, and the need to be seen. While I admired its creativity and bold ideas, I struggled with character connection – maybe I am just getting old – which prevented it from being a standout read for me. An interesting and unconventional novel, sure to stir some conversation.
REMEMBER TO VISIT THE OTHER TOUR STOPS
Also by Will Carver
PSYCHOPATHS ANONYMOUS
When AA meetings make her want to drink more, alcoholic murderess Maeve sets up a group for psychopaths.
Maeve has everything. A high-powered job, a beautiful home, a string of uncomplicated one-night encounters. She’s also an addict: a functioning alcoholic with a dependence on sex and an insatiable appetite for killing men.
When she can’t find a support group to share her obsession, she creates her own. And Psychopaths Anonymous is born. Friends of Maeve.
Now in a serious relationship, Maeve wants to keep the group a secret. But not everyone in the group adheres to the rules, and when a reckless member raises suspicions with the police, Maeve’s drinking spirals out of control. She needs to stop killing. She needs to close the group. But Maeve can’t seem to quit the things that are bad for her, including her new man…
About The Author
Author bio from the author’s site
Will is an award-losing writer of ‘wildly original’ fiction. Award losses include: Goldsboro Books Glass Bell Award, Not The Booker Prize, Amazon Readers New Voice Award, Fingerprint Genre-Busting Book of the Year and Theakston’s Old Peculiar Crime Novel of the Year Award.
He burst on to the crime-writing scene in 2011 with Girl 4, the first book in the January David series. Following a commercially successful trilogy, he faded into obscurity for a couple of years before emerging with the scorching start of a new series, Good Samaritans.
Refusing to be confined to one genre, Will continues to push boundaries and experiment with form. His first foray into horror saw the birth of The Beresford. A book of the year in the Express and Spectator, it is now in development for television, along with the darkly funny Psychopaths Anonymous.
Will’s next book sees him move into speculative fiction with the much anticipated Kill Them With Kindness, published on 19th June 2025.
His books have been translated into many languages, and more people read his work in Spanish than they do in English.
Thank you for visiting the blog. Are you a Will Carver fan? Which is your favourite book? I would love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below. Until next time…. Happy Reading!
