Arrival: New Beginnings

She's left behind her privileged but stifling Connecticut home, her parents' expectations, and the shadow of her brother Kevin's tragic death. Alone, she's determined to reinvent herself at the prestigious HBCU, hoping to find belonging and purpose. The campus is vibrant, the air thick with possibility, but Jordyn's anxiety simmers beneath her polished exterior. She's haunted by grief and guilt, but also by a fierce desire to prove herself. As she drags her suitcases into her new dorm, she's both terrified and exhilarated—this is her chance to become someone new, to finally be seen and loved for who she is, not just who her parents want her to be.

Suite Sisters and Secrets

The girls are instantly welcoming, each with their own dreams and baggage. Vanessa is bold and magnetic, Loren is sharp and streetwise, Kammy is nurturing and devout. They bond over late-night confessions, shared insecurities, and the thrill of newfound freedom. Jordyn, desperate to fit in, hides her pain and past, presenting a carefully curated version of herself. The suite becomes a sanctuary, a place of laughter and sisterhood. But beneath the surface, secrets fester—Jordyn's grief, Vanessa's mysterious family, Kammy's doubts about her faith, Loren's health struggles. The girls promise to be sisters for life, but the cracks are already forming.

Fitting In, Standing Out

She's drawn to student government, eager to build her résumé and make a difference. She clashes with Nick, the enigmatic white student at the HBCU, but their banter hints at deeper connection. Jordyn's parents disapprove of her choices, her ex-boyfriend Jack is bitter, and she feels the weight of being an outsider—too Black for her old world, not Black enough for her new one. She tries to blend in, but her perfectionism and need for control set her apart. The girls' friendship deepens, but Jordyn's sense of belonging remains fragile, always one misstep from shattering.

The Charisma of Devonte

He's older, magnetic, and full of revolutionary rhetoric. He cooks, cleans, and dispenses wisdom, quickly becoming a mentor and father figure. The girls are entranced—Devonte makes them feel special, chosen, part of something bigger. He challenges their beliefs, questions their loyalties, and offers a vision of Black liberation that is both empowering and dangerous. Jordyn is wary but drawn in, eager for approval. Devonte's influence grows, and the suite becomes the center of a burgeoning movement. But his control is subtle, his manipulation masked as love and protection.

Protest and Upheaval

The girls are swept up in the chaos, torn between activism and self-preservation. Devonte urges them to take action, framing the struggle as a battle for survival. Jordyn is caught between her parents' warnings and her friends' passion. The protest turns violent, and Devonte saves the girls from danger, cementing his role as protector. The experience bonds them, but also deepens their dependence on him. The world outside feels hostile and unsafe; inside the suite, Devonte's rules become law. The line between family and cult blurs.

The Family Grows

The suite becomes crowded with followers, rituals, and new rules. Devonte preaches about Black excellence, self-sufficiency, and the dangers of white society. He encourages the girls to cut ties with outsiders, give up material possessions, and submit to his authority. Jordyn is both repelled and fascinated—she craves belonging but fears losing herself. Kammy and Loren become increasingly devoted, Vanessa is fiercely loyal, and Jordyn feels the pressure to conform. The group's isolation deepens, and dissent is met with shame and punishment.

Rules, Rituals, and Red Flags

He dictates what the girls eat, how they dress, who they see. He holds private "sessions" to uncover their traumas, rewriting their memories and sowing distrust. Kammy is manipulated into breaking up with her boyfriend and giving up her faith. Loren's health deteriorates as she abandons her medication. Jordyn is forced to hand over her credit cards, her writing, her autonomy. Attempts to question Devonte are met with gaslighting and threats. The suite is no longer a home—it's a prison. Jordyn's sense of self erodes as she's pulled deeper into the cult.

The Cult Tightens

She's accused of betrayal, subjected to humiliating punishments, and cut off from her friends. Rumors spread about her, and she's ostracized on campus. Kammy and Loren are unrecognizable, shells of their former selves. Vanessa and Devonte orchestrate attacks on Jordyn, both physical and psychological. Jordyn's only refuge is Nick, who risks his own safety to protect her. The cult's grip is suffocating, and escape seems impossible. Jordyn realizes that the only way out is to fight back, but she's unsure who to trust or how to begin.

Betrayal and Isolation

Vanessa calls her parents, forcing her back into the suite. Loren and Kammy turn on her, parroting Devonte's rhetoric. Jordyn is physically attacked, her hair cut off, her reputation destroyed. She's a suspect in Kammy's disappearance, framed by Devonte and Vanessa. The police are involved, but the cult's influence shields its leaders. Jordyn is utterly alone, her identity shattered. She's haunted by guilt over Kevin's death, her failed friendships, and her inability to save anyone—including herself. The darkness feels absolute.

The Disappearance

Her family arrives, desperate for answers, but Loren and Vanessa lie to protect Devonte. The police search the suite, finding evidence that implicates Jordyn. Legacy is also missing, and Loren is gravely ill. Jordyn tries to warn the authorities about Devonte, but he's slippery and protected. The realization that Kammy may be dead—or worse—pushes Jordyn to the brink. She's forced to confront the full horror of what's happened, and her own complicity in the cult's rise. The cost of belonging is now measured in lives.

Unraveling Truths

Through research and a tip from a parole officer, she learns that Devonte is a career scammer and murder suspect, and Vanessa is not his sister but his partner in crime. The cult was a front for their cons, and Kevin was one of their victims. Jordyn realizes that her quest for belonging made her vulnerable to manipulation, and that her brother's death was not just a tragedy but a calculated betrayal. Armed with evidence, she sets a trap, determined to bring them down and find justice for Kevin and Kammy.

The Trap Closes

She wears a wire, plants evidence, and lures Devonte into confessing. The police arrest him, but he makes bail and disappears. Jordyn confronts Vanessa, who tries to poison her, but Jordyn turns the tables. The truth about their crimes comes to light, and the cult collapses. Jordyn is left battered but victorious, having avenged her brother and freed herself from the cult's grip. But the victory is hollow—Kammy is still missing, and the scars run deep.

The Final Confrontation

She's cleared of suspicion, but her friendships are destroyed, and her sense of self is in ruins. Her parents want her to come home, but she chooses to stay at Frazier, determined to rebuild. Nick stands by her, offering love and support, but the trauma lingers. The university is forced to reckon with its failures, and new safeguards are put in place. Jordyn testifies at Vanessa's trial, finally telling her story. The cult is gone, but the wounds remain.

Aftermath and Acceptance

She reconnects with her mother, decorates her new dorm, and returns to writing. She joins Dr. Barnes's class, learning that joy is a form of resistance. She mourns Kevin, but also honors his memory by living fully. Nick becomes her partner, and together they imagine a future beyond trauma. Loren drops out, Kammy's fate remains uncertain, and the campus moves on. Jordyn accepts that grief is cyclical, but so is hope. She's no longer a victim or a pawn—she's the author of her own story.

The Real Plan Revealed

The entire semester was a carefully orchestrated plan to draw out Vanessa and Devonte, gather evidence, and bring them to justice. Jordyn's guilt over the collateral damage is immense, but she knows she did what she had to do. She reflects on the power of manipulation, the hunger for belonging, and the dangers of unchecked charisma. The line between victim and avenger blurs, but Jordyn claims her agency. She's not a good friend, but she's a survivor—and a fighter.

Spring: New Growth

The campus is alive with possibility, and Jordyn is determined to start over. She joins student government, makes new friends, and embraces her identity as a Black woman, a writer, and a survivor. Nick is by her side, and together they look to the future. The scars of the past remain, but so does the promise of healing. Jordyn knows that monsters are real, but so is resilience. She steps into the sunlight, ready to begin again.

Characters

Jordyn Monroe

Jordyn is the protagonist, a high-achieving Black girl from Connecticut burdened by grief over her brother Kevin's suicide. She's driven by a need to prove herself, escape her parents' control, and find authentic connection. Jordyn's perfectionism and people-pleasing mask deep insecurity and loneliness. Her psychological arc is one of manipulation and awakening—she's both victim and avenger, orchestrating a plan to expose the scammers who destroyed her brother. Jordyn's relationships are fraught: she craves sisterhood with her roommates, is drawn to Nick's outsider status, and is both repelled and fascinated by Devonte's charisma. Her journey is about reclaiming agency, accepting imperfection, and learning that true belonging comes from within.

Vanessa (Shameeka Foster)

Vanessa presents as Jordyn's glamorous, confident roommate and Devonte's devoted sister, but is in fact his long-term partner in crime. She's skilled at seduction, deception, and reading people's needs. Vanessa's psychological power lies in her ability to make others feel special and seen, while hiding her own motives. She's fiercely loyal to Devonte, but also craves control and adoration. Her relationship with Jordyn is complex—part sisterhood, part rivalry, part predation. Vanessa's arc is one of exposure: her mask slips as her crimes are revealed, but her emotional hold lingers. She embodies the dangers of unchecked charm and the hunger for power.

Devonte (David Saunders)

Devonte is the magnetic force at the center of the story, drawing vulnerable students into his orbit with promises of liberation and family. He's older, streetwise, and deeply manipulative, using rhetoric, ritual, and psychological abuse to control his followers. Devonte's relationship with Vanessa is both romantic and conspiratorial—they are partners in every sense. He preys on the girls' insecurities, rewriting their histories and isolating them from support. Devonte's psychological profile is that of a narcissist and sociopath, skilled at gaslighting and exploiting trauma. His arc is a cautionary tale about the seductive power of ideology and the thin line between empowerment and exploitation.

Kammy (Kamara Young)

Kammy is the suite's heart, a devout, caring girl from a large family. She's eager to please, desperate for love, and easily swayed by authority. Kammy's faith and innocence make her vulnerable to Devonte's grooming—she gives up her beliefs, her boyfriend, and eventually her autonomy. Her psychological unraveling is heartbreaking: she's convinced to betray herself and others, and ultimately disappears, a victim of the very family she sought. Kammy represents the cost of blind trust and the tragedy of lost potential.

Loren

Loren is street-smart, ambitious, and fiercely independent, but struggles with chronic illness and family pressure. She's initially skeptical of Devonte, but is gradually worn down by his attention and the group's dynamics. Loren's arc is one of erosion—her health declines, her boundaries are violated, and she becomes complicit in the cult's abuses. Her relationship with Jordyn is fraught with jealousy, loyalty, and betrayal. Loren embodies the dangers of isolation and the seductive pull of belonging, even at the cost of self.

Nick

Nick is the lone white student at Frazier, a prelaw major with a complicated past. He's both an object of suspicion and desire, navigating his own grief and outsider status. Nick's relationship with Jordyn is built on mutual recognition of pain and difference—they are both "othered" in their own ways. He's protective, principled, and ultimately a lifeline for Jordyn, risking his safety to help her escape. Nick's psychological arc is about vulnerability, trust, and the challenge of loving after loss. He represents the possibility of connection across boundaries, and the importance of bearing witness.

Kevin Monroe

Kevin's suicide haunts every page—he's the reason for Jordyn's quest, the ghost in every room. Through flashbacks and revelations, we learn he was a victim of Devonte and Vanessa's earlier scams, manipulated and discarded. Kevin's psychological profile is that of a sensitive, brilliant young man crushed by betrayal and isolation. His death is both a personal tragedy and a symbol of the dangers facing vulnerable students. Kevin's memory drives Jordyn's actions, shaping her need for justice and closure.

Kammy's Family (Nina, etc.)

Kammy's family, especially her sister Nina, represent the outside world's concern and the limits of institutional protection. Their frantic search for Kammy exposes the failures of the university, the police, and the cult's insularity. They are a reminder of the real-world consequences of manipulation and the ripple effects of trauma.

Legacy

Legacy is one of Devonte's male recruits, initially a friend and confidant. He becomes increasingly withdrawn and eventually disappears, a victim of the same forces that consume Kammy. Legacy's fate is a chilling reminder of the cult's reach and the vulnerability of those seeking family.

Dr. Barnes

Dr. Barnes is a professor who offers Jordyn perspective, context, and hope. He teaches that joy is a form of resistance, and that liberation is not a single road. His psychological insight helps Jordyn reclaim her agency and imagine a future beyond trauma. Dr. Barnes represents the power of education, critical thinking, and community.

Plot Devices

Cult Dynamics and Psychological Manipulation

Devonte and Vanessa use classic cult tactics: love-bombing, isolation, gaslighting, ritual, and the rewriting of personal histories. The narrative structure mirrors the stages of indoctrination—initial euphoria, gradual control, punishment for dissent, and eventual collapse. Foreshadowing is woven through small red flags: changes in diet, loss of autonomy, private "sessions," and the erosion of boundaries. The use of "How to Win Friends and Influence People" as a motif highlights the weaponization of social psychology. The plot is driven by escalating stakes: from emotional manipulation to financial exploitation, physical violence, and ultimately, disappearance and death.

Unreliable Narration and Hidden Motives

She withholds her true motives—revenge for Kevin—until late in the story, creating a sense of unease and ambiguity. The reader is drawn into her confusion, her longing, and her gradual awakening. The narrative structure uses flashbacks, journal entries, and shifting alliances to build suspense. The final reveal—that Vanessa is not Devonte's sister but his partner, and that Jordyn orchestrated the entire semester as a trap—recasts the entire story, forcing the reader to question every relationship and every act of trust.

Social Commentary and Intersectionality

The cult's rhetoric is rooted in real grievances—systemic racism, police violence, generational trauma—but is twisted for personal gain. The story interrogates the hunger for family, the dangers of charismatic leadership, and the vulnerability of those seeking identity. The use of campus politics, protests, and social media amplifies the sense of urgency and relevance. The plot is punctuated by real-world events—police shootings, protests, and institutional failures—grounding the psychological drama in contemporary reality.

Revenge and Justice

Jordyn's quest to avenge Kevin's death drives the narrative, but the cost is high—her own innocence, her friendships, and her sense of self. The story uses classic thriller techniques: gathering evidence, setting traps, wearing a wire, and orchestrating a sting. The final confrontation is both physical and psychological, as Jordyn turns the scammers' tactics against them. The resolution is bittersweet—justice is served, but the wounds remain.

Analysis

Tiffany D. Jackson crafts a chilling, immersive narrative that blurs the line between empowerment and exploitation, showing how even the brightest, most ambitious young people can be seduced by the promise of family and purpose. The novel is a masterclass in psychological suspense, using the microcosm of a college suite to interrogate larger questions of race, gender, trauma, and power. At its core, the book is a warning: monsters do not always look like monsters, and the desire to belong can be weaponized by those who know how to exploit it. Yet, The Scammer is also a story of resilience, agency, and the possibility of healing. Jordyn's journey—from victim to avenger, from outsider to survivor—offers a nuanced portrait of grief, justice, and the messy, necessary work of reclaiming one's story. The novel challenges readers to question authority, trust their instincts, and recognize that true liberation requires both critical thinking and community. In a world of scammers—both literal and metaphorical—The Scammer is a timely, necessary call to vigilance, empathy, and hope.

Last updated: November 19, 2025