Influencing Trilogy Books in Order

The Influencing Trilogy drops psychological suspense into the glossy, hyperactive world of online fame. Across three linked novels – Influence, Influencer and Influenced – Daniel Hurst follows Emily Bennett, a young woman who learns the hard way that going viral can cost far more than it pays.

In Influence, Emily is stuck at a dead‑end job and obsessed with becoming a social media star like her idols on the fictional platform PhoGlo. When one of those idols dies suddenly, Emily is approached by Sebastian Sawyer, a secretive businessman who promises to bankroll her rise to the top. At first the offer feels like a dream. Emily’s follower count explodes, she travels the world and starts earning more than she ever imagined.

But Sebastian’s help comes with strict rules and sinister expectations. As Emily realises how much control he has over her image, money and safety, the glamorous lifestyle begins to look more like a trap. The first book turns the fantasy of instant influence into a cautionary tale about power, exploitation and how easily people can be turned into brands.

Influencer picks up after Emily has escaped Sebastian’s direct control and become a fully fledged star in her own right. She is finally able to pay off her mum’s mortgage, fund a charity and enjoy the perks of her success. Unfortunately, Sebastian’s death has left dangerous loose ends. One of his former business partners, Ivan Ilghiz, wants revenge for what happened, and he hires someone who is just as comfortable taking lives as Emily is taking selfies. To survive, Emily has to step back from the spotlight and become anonymous in a world that never stops watching.

By Influenced, Emily is dealing with the longer shadow of everything that has happened. The final book explores the fallout from years of living online: the difficulty of trusting people, the pull of a platform that can make or break you overnight, and the way past secrets refuse to stay buried when millions of strangers think they know you. Locations get glossier, from luxury hotels to cities like Dubai, but the dangers feel closer than ever.

Across the trilogy, Hurst uses cliffhangers and shifting perspectives to show both the thrill and the toxicity of social media culture. Followers, likes and brand deals are treated not as background decoration but as tools that powerful people can weaponise. The books are best read in order, starting with Influence and working through Emily’s story as it unravels. For readers curious about the darker side of influencer life – or anyone who has ever wondered what might be hiding behind a perfect feed – this series offers a fast, twisty answer.