This Thriller Asks: Can You Really Trust Your College Roommates?

The Scammer by Tiffany D. Jackson

Everyone—including Jordyn—thought she was headed to Yale after she graduated high school. But nobody can plan for everything, especially not the sudden and shocking death of Jordyn’s brother. Following that loss, Jordyn’s life plans took a major pivot. Instead of heading to Yale, Jordyn enrolls in Frazier, a historically Black university. She hopes the school will provide an opportunity to step away from her controlling parents and make friends, as well as connect with other Black college students.

Or so she says. From page one, it’s clear that Jordyn has other motives for attending Frazier. She will do anything to get close to her roommates and gain their trust. Even if it means lying about parts of her life. Even if it means keeping secrets.

But Jordyn isn’t the only one with a past. Her roommate, Vanessa, has a brother named Devonte who was recently released from prison. Devonte needs a place to stay and starts crashing on their couch. Wanting to be agreeable and stay in Vanessa’s good graces, Jordyn doesn’t complain about their new roomie. And, anyway, he’s charming, smart, and insightful.

Before Jordyn knows what hits her, she and the rest of her roommates are eating up all of Devonte’s words of wisdom. Then they’re taking his advice. Then they’re letting him tell them where to go and what to eat. When Devonte’s controlling behavior becomes too much, Jordyn and her friends are too far gone, and she doesn’t know how to stop it. Now Devonte has a whole group of followers at Frazier, and he’s making plans to get them to all drop out of college and start again at a compound somewhere out of town.

If you’re reading this and thinking this sounds like a cult, you would be right. But once Jordyn realizes it, is it too late? What about her own plans for life at Frazier?

Tiffany D. Jackson stated that she conceived the idea for this novel after reading about the Sarah Lawrence sex cult scandal in 2022. If you’re familiar with that actual event, then you will see parallels in The Scammer. Jackson is exploring the behaviors and attitudes that could potentially make young people susceptible to cults, and she dissects the type of magnetic personality that could draw the attention of loyal, cult-like followers. But in typical Tiffany D. Jackson style, a lot more is happening here.

The Scammer is a fast-paced, page-turner of a thriller, but it’s also a look at the importance of Black community and the exploitation of minority communities. Throughout the novel, trust is a big question mark. Sure, we as readers know we can’t trust Devonte, but can we trust Jordyn? Is friendship and community possible without trust?