THE SCAMMER
New York Times bestselling author Tiffany D. Jackson delivers another stunning, ripped-from-the-headlines thriller, following a freshman girl whose college life is turned upside down when her roommate’s ex-convict brother moves into their dorm and starts controlling their every move.
Out from under her overprotective parents, Jordyn is ready to kill it in prelaw at a prestigious, historically Black university in Washington DC. When her new roommate’s brother is released from prison, the last thing Jordyn expects is to come home and find the ex-convict on their dorm room sofa. But Devonte needs a place to stay while he gets back on his feet—and how could she say no to one of her new best friends?
New York Times bestselling author Tiffany D. Jackson delivers another stunning, ripped-from-the-headlines thriller, following a freshman girl whose college life is turned upside down when her roommate’s ex-convict brother moves into their dorm and starts controlling their every move.
Out from under her overprotective parents, Jordyn is ready to kill it in prelaw at a prestigious, historically Black university in Washington DC. When her new roommate’s brother is released from prison, the last thing Jordyn expects is to come home and find the ex-convict on their dorm room sofa. But Devonte needs a place to stay while he gets back on his feet—and how could she say no to one of her new best friends?
Devonte is older, as charming as he is intelligent, pushing every student he meets to make better choices about their young lives. But Jordyn senses something sinister beneath his friendly advice and growing group of followers. When one of Jordyn’s roommates goes missing, she must enlist the help of the university’s lone white student to uncover the mystery—or become trapped at the center of a web of lies more tangled than she can imagine.
- Quill Tree Books
- Hardcover
- October 2025
- 368 Pages
- 9780063271272
Buy the Book
$19.99
About Tiffany D. Jackson
Tiffany D. Jackson is the New York Times bestselling author of Allegedly, Monday’s Not Coming, Let Me Hear a Rhyme, Grown, White Smoke, The Weight of Blood, and The Scammer. A Margaret A. Edwards Award and Coretta Scott King–John Steptoe New Talent Award winner, the Brooklyn native is splitting her time between the South and the borough she loves. You can visit her at writeinbk.com
Praise
“A timely chill.” —Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
“Jackson’s portrayal of subtle brainwashing, leading up to a wholly unanticipated twist, is excellent…Engaging and frighteningly realistic; a suspense-filled winner.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Jackson’s signature chilling prose presents action-filled and fast-paced plotting rife with tension as Jordyn attempts to puzzle out the mystery behind Devonte’s endgame while navigating issues of personal identity. Jordyn and Nick’s budding romance—and the obstacles it unearths as it unfolds amid the HBCU setting and the overarching conflict—adds a layer of complexity to this satisfying offering.” —Publishers Weekly
“Another visceral, propulsive thriller from an undisputed master of the genre. The revealing ending will lead readers to question what makes a person tick, what can make them break, and, ultimately, how to heal.” —Booklist (starred review)
“Expect the unexpected until the very last page in a cautionary tale that will have readers anxious to see who will survive the machinations of a charismatic manipulator. A highly recommended read.” —School Library Journal (starred review)