One-Line Summary
When a high-profile influencer is found dead, DCI Jack Logan faces a case where fame, fury, and online obsession collide in deadly fashion.
Opening Impression
A Killer of Influence opens with the kind of sharp, darkly comic energy JD Kirk has made his signature. What begins as a seemingly straightforward suspicious death spirals quickly into a media circus, a political headache, and a no-win situation for Logan and the Major Investigations Team. Kirk drops readers straight into the chaos with brisk pacing, punchline-snapped dialogue, and that familiar Scottish grit: freezing weather, weary detectives, and a public baying for blood. It’s an instantly engaging start that promises tension, twists, and plenty of gallows humour.
Synopsis
DCI Jack Logan and his team are called to the scene of a young influencer’s death—one that appears accidental at first glance, until inconsistencies begin to emerge. With millions of followers watching, tempers flaring online, and armchair detectives declaring their own verdicts, Logan must cut through noise, conspiracy theories, and viral outrage to understand who the victim really was. As the team digs deeper, they uncover a world of curated personas, hidden grudges, parasocial relationships, and bitter rivalries.
Every suspect seems to have something to hide, and every truth feels staged for an audience. The deeper Logan’s investigation goes, the more tangled the motives become—and the more dangerous the situation grows for those involved.
Analysis
Characters: Logan remains a standout detective—world-weary, sharp-witted, and quietly compassionate beneath the sarcasm. His team bring humour, heart, and chaos in perfect balance, grounding the darker elements with personality and warmth.
Atmosphere: Kirk blends the bleakness of Scottish winter with the manic glare of digital fame, creating a tension-filled contrast between cold streets and overheated online outrage.
Style: Pacy, punchy chapters, sharp dialogue, and that trademark blend of grit and comedy. Kirk knows how to keep tension high without sacrificing character depth.
Themes: Identity, curated lives, and the dangerous distortions of online influence. The book explores how visibility can become both armour and target.
Verdict
A Killer of Influence is another confident, compelling entry in the Logan series—funny, fast, and satisfyingly twisty. JD Kirk expertly balances gripping investigation with humour and humanity, delivering a thriller that entertains from first page to last. Whether you’re new to Logan or twenty books deep, this instalment showcases exactly why the series remains one of the UK’s most beloved modern crime franchises.
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