Book Review: The Scammer by Tiffany D. Jackson
When I first stumbled upon The Scammer, I was genuinely excited. Tiffany D. Jackson is an author whose work I’ve admired for her ability to weave deep social commentary with compelling narratives. I anticipated a psychological thriller that would leave me breathless, brimming with tension and unexpected twists—if I’m going to read a thriller, I want it to knock my socks off! Alas, this book turned out to be a perplexing experience that left me wanting much more.
The plot revolves around a group of ambitious pre-law and accounting students who find themselves entangled in a web of deceit and moral ambiguity. The main character, whose name I found myself struggling to invest in, concocts a plan that drags innocent people into her scheming mess, effectively ruining lives for the sake of plot progression. It’s frustrating when characters are made to act irrationally, and watching this protagonist make choice after choice that seemed inconsistent with her established persona left me feeling perplexed, and—dare I say it—angry.
Speaking of anger, the book certainly incited a fair share of it from me. For one, the “twist” that ultimately drives the narrative felt slapdash and unearned. I cringed as I realized how inconsistent it was with the character’s previous actions. In fact, I found myself wishing I could switch back to reading Freida McFadden’s work, because at least her absurdities have the endearing quality of entertaining me, even if they go off the rails.
I was hoping for some meaningful exploration of social issues, knowing well that Tiffany has handled such topics beautifully in her previous books. Instead, the commentary felt painfully surface-level and cringe-worthy. One glaring moment was when characters fell victim to bizarre assertions about food manufacturing. Seriously? Pre-law students with internet access suddenly lose their grip on reality? I rolled my eyes so hard I thought I might strain something.
The pacing of The Scammer was another hurdle, as the subplot involving Kammy didn’t gain prominence until a whopping 82% into the book. Talk about bait and switch! The synopsis led me to believe unearthing Kammy’s fate would be central to the narrative, only for it to feel like a half-hearted afterthought.
In terms of writing style, while Jackson has a distinct voice that usually pulls me in, here, it seemed muddled. Instead of descriptive prose that captivates, I felt like I was grasping at straws to find a valid emotional connection or nuanced insight. Perhaps, I wasn’t the target audience for this latest offering.
In conclusion, I genuinely struggle to recommend The Scammer. If you’re looking for a psychological thriller, you might want to look elsewhere. The messy plot and shallow character development may not resonate with everyone, and I found it distracting rather than compelling. However, fans of Tiffany D. Jackson’s previous works with a penchant for dramatic twists may still want to give it a try, but temper your expectations. It certainly impacted mine—more in frustration than in inspiration, which is a real letdown given my fondness for her previous work.
At the end of the day, reading should be an enriching experience; sadly, this book felt like a detour from that.