Under the Influence

Under the Influence by Joyce Maynard

Helen's life has officially hit rock-bottom. As a result of a DUI conviction, she's lost custody of eight-year-old son, Ollie, her social life consists of going to AA meetings, and her waning photography career amounts to nothing more than encouraging children to smile in school photos.

One evening while working for a caterer, serving drinks to the sinfully rich at a posh art gallery, she meets philanthropists Ava and Swift Havilland. It's quite flattering to have people of their stature take an interest in you and your opinions. She willingly accepts their offer to get to know them better.

Soon Helen is a vital part of the Havilland household. She attends lavish parties at their palatial home, wears designer clothes ( with the tags still on), and busies herself cataloging the valuable art collection. No one ever speaks of the mysterious accident that left Ava in a wheelchair; in fact her fulfilling life as a paraplegic is celebrated every day with her gregarious husband, Swift. Helen is in awe of their kindness to the less fortunate, the money spent on rescuing dogs, and the passion for life that appears to define every aspect of their lives.

When Helen tenaciously enters into a relationship with Elliott, an accountant her new friends deem   "boring", she finds herself questioning her own feelings for him. They subtly remind her that a partner should be exciting and stimulating, not dull and tedious. Helen reluctantly listens ,even though her heart seems to tell her otherwise. When Swift promises to hire a prominent attorney to help her gain custody of her son, she knows this could be the chance she's waited for so long. A life with Elliott is no longer a priority.

When shy, sullen Ollie finally meets the Havillands, he turns into a different child. Happy and content, he is surrounded by Swift and all the opulence he and Ava can offer. Every waking minute is spent learning to swim, riding in fast cars, and accepting fabulous gifts showered upon him. They treat him like a son. While Helen delights in Ollie's resurgence and renewed interest in spending time with her again, she can't shake Elliott's warning. He's done some digging into the perfect couple's business dealings,.hinting that the grandeur and spectacular lifestyle are a facade. But Helen brushes her fears aside. Life is finally going her way.

Impending doom now builds as Ollie witnesses a tragic accident that puts Helen in a very compromising situation. It's abundantly clear that it's her turn to repay Swift for his extraordinary kindness, even at the expense of her own son.

This well-paced novel with rich characters and gripping plot, explores the vulnerability in all of us. How easy it is to fall prey to those we trust when we are at low points in our lives. And how difficult it is to pick up the pieces after we realize our mistakes.

From the author who wrote After Her (reviewed under suspense/thriller October, 2013), Maynard once again writes about a flawed family having the courage to start over again.