The Icon by Adriane Leigh

The Icon is a chilling psychological thriller about deception, obsession, and the deadly power of a well-crafted story—perfect for fans of Freida McFadden, John Marrs, and Noelle West Ihli. The Influencer Series is currently in development for television.

She fooled millions with a microphone and a perfect smile.
Shae Halston was supposed to be a cautionary tale—until the internet turned her into a saint. Framed for a murder she insists she didn’t commit, she becomes a viral symbol of injustice… an icon the world needs to believe in.

But Shae isn’t a victim.
She’s a predator with a gift: she doesn’t fabricate trauma—she edits it. And now, free and freshly rebranded, she’s building a new life in total isolation, far from the noise… and even farther from the truth.

Then the person who helped set her free vanishes.
A whisper becomes a headline. A headline becomes a frenzy. True-crime fans go feral. The Watcher—the anonymous voice that’s been stalking Shae’s narrative from the shadows—tightens the spotlight. And as the story turns ugly, one question consumes everyone:

Did Shae lie her way to freedom… and kill to keep it?
Some women survive the spotlight.
Shae weaponizes it.