Anna Williams-Bonner is happily collecting royalty checks from her late husband’s novel – a plot he stole from her deceased brother, which was based on her secret old life. Before starting The Sequel, readers know (from the first book in this series, The Plot) that Anna killed her parents, daughter, and husband. So far, Anna has gotten away with murder.
Then, Anna chases her own acclaim by publishing a novel that mirrors the public story about the husband she murdered: a wife grieving over her husband’s sudden suicide. Suddenly, she’s famous, which puts a target on her back. Anna starts receiving notes showing that someone knows about her past. Under the threat of being outed as a killer, Anna embarks on a wickedly treacherous (for others) mission to find and stop anyone who knows the truth.
On this mission, Anna frequently behaves in untrustworthy ways, yet other people continually trust her.
Friendships with untrustworthy people wreak emotional havoc and are best avoided or ended when the problem is identified. Untrustworthy people are secretive, don’t show vulnerability, are emotionally manipulative, lack remorse and empathy, have few long-term relationships, blame others for their mistakes, and show emotional volatility—especially when they lose control.
Here are tools for dealing with untrustworthy people:
List Their Traits: Write down the traits you’d use to describe them and examples of moments when you’ve experienced each trait. Red flags include cunning, manipulative, and remorseless.
Accept the Evidence: While it’s okay to see things from another perspective, it’s not OK to make excuses for another person’s bad behavior. Take time to process the data and accept its conclusion.
End the Relationship: Assertively, firmly, and consistently tell the person that you want space and for them to leave you alone. Expect that they will use manipulation to try to change your mind.
Seek Support: Lean on family, friends, and professionals who will help you maintain your boundaries. Talk with people you trust about what happened to empower you to avoid similar situations in the future.
Love Jean Hanff Korelitz? Me too. Check out my post on Low Self-Esteem and THE PLOT by Jean Hanff Korelitz.