I just finished reading "A Flicker in the Dark" by Stacy Willingham. Thankyou to Netgalley for providing me with an anvanced copy in exchange for a review.
This book is a mystery or psychological thriller about a young lady named Chloe, who is dealing with the aftermath of her father being put in jail for being a Serial Killer. On the twentieth anniversary of the killings, Chloe is a success doctor with a fiance (Daniel), living in a beautiful house, but dealing with her past by self-medicating. When girls begin to go missing, the events hit close to home for Chloe who begins to try to unravel the mystery.
What follows is a suspensful, exciting and thrilling journey to the truth.
I loved this book. It had great character backgrounds, interesting plotlines and a main character who was flawed but definately root-worthy.
Every character was important and played an important role to the solution of the mystery. There were no loose ends that weren't tied up, and the ending was not only well-written but very satisfactory. I will say that I figured it out beforehand, but it was still a delicious conclusion.
The only thing that was hard to follow were the monologues Chloe had with herself. A few times I had to re-read some pages because I couldn't quite follow her thought processes.
All in all, I think this book is fantastic. What a great debut for this author. Thoroughly enjoyable and fun to read.
Happy reading everyone!

In <strong>A Flicker in the Dark</strong>, Chloe Davis is a psychiatrist whose father was convicted of a series of murders of young girls when she was 12 years old. Now, 20 years later, when girls start to go missing again, her memories of that terrible summer come rushing back...

I would say the main strong points of this book are the compelling premise and a mostly solidly plotted-out mystery. The killer is pretty guessable, but there's also enough other suspects and possibilities to keep you on your toes. I think it did a good job of planting clues while offering up enough snarls in the plot to make it a little less obvious. Some of the smaller details make less sense than I'd ideally like, but those were mostly more minor aspects of the story.

If you're someone who likes to "figure out" murder mysteries before the killer is revealed, this one might be a good pick for you. (And there's a decent chance you'll probably figure it out.) I felt like the resolution was reasonable enough that it made the book feel worthwhile to read. Also, if you like serial-killer-type murder mysteries in general, I think this one makes good use of its serial-killer-y components.

<h3>Read it or Skip it?</h3>

Overall, I thought <strong>A Flicker in the Dark</strong> was decently plotted thriller with a good premise. I appreciated the carefully planted clues and the reasonable ending. Perhaps some of the character's actions could have been a little less nonsensical occasionally, but overall I would consider the plotting of it to be mostly solid. There are a few details around the edges that could have been a bit neater, but the main contours of it works.

I have a hard time being super enthusiastic about it mostly because I just don't tend to enjoy thrillers focused on depressed, anxious protagonists with substance abuse problems. It just gives the whole book a kind of a tiresome, lugubrious atmosphere, which is not my favorite.

That said, while I wasn't blown away by this book, I'd say <strong>A Flicker in the Dark</strong> is worth checking out if you're looking for something for your mystery-thriller queue.

Ever read a book that stays with you, gets under your skin? This book was one of those must-read thrillers that are perfect for a post-holiday reading slump. I enjoyed losing myself in Chloe Davis’ problems/world for a few hours. Chloe Davis is the child of a serial killer, who finds herself tangled up with a potential copycat case twenty years after her father was given life in prison. She is a psychologist, valium-popping, mess, and she quickly realizes she is the only person who can solve this mystery. Some of my favorite sleuths are the ones who do not trust themselves, and an unreliable protagonist always makes for a fun read. I was not bowled over by any of the twists, but I enjoyed the ride and did not care. Excellent mystery/thriller debut!

Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC!

Chloe’s dad went to jail 20 years ago after he was convicted of murdering six teenage girls. Now, Chloe has moved on with her life - she has a real job, a fiancé, and she doesn’t want to be bothered! But when girls start showing up murdered in her town, Chloe can’t help but feel like there is a lil copycat out, and she knows it has something to do with her.

I love a thriller with a new perspective - daughter of a serial killer. Debut author @stacyvwillingham takes this one to a new level. While the beginning felt a lil slow, once part 2 rolls around, the suspense starts comin and it don’t stop comin! I thought I had it figured out, and I really did not!!! (Except for the final twist but it’s because I read a spoiler online on accident but I think in my heart it wasn’t an accident bc a fun thing about me is that I need to know the ending of books) I seriously powered through this one just in time for pub day, and I am so glad I did!!! Can not wait to see what else Willingham writes!

A special thanks to @netgalley and St. Martians Press for an e-ARC of this book!! (And if you rlly want to read it, use the link in my bio to get it from BOTM for $10!!!!)

I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to read an advance EARC copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur books in exchange for an honest review.

I’m not sure exactly what I was expecting when I picked this book up, but I was absolutely blown away by this thriller! If there is one sub genre of thriller I love, it’s a dark psychological thriller. And this book was exactly that. A murder mystery with family secrets, a serial killer, and an unreliable narrator. What’s not to love about that? This book is similar to those from Gillian Flynn and Karin Slaughter. With characters you love to hate, who make morally questionable decisions.

The amount of red herrings and plot twists within the story is really impressive. Willingham was able to guide my thoughts and theories about where the story was going perfectly, making me believe one thing in one chapter, just to completely shatter and disprove that theory in the next. This book kept me guessing all the way up to the very end, and I was definitely not disappointed by the final reveal.

Stacy Willingham was not on my radar before, but after reading this debut I can confidently say that I will be picking up anything else she releases in the future. And I can’t wait to see what other stories she has to tell!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Stacy Willingham for letting me read A Flicker in the Dark early. This one is out today!

I really enjoyed this thriller. It made me think of all the blockbuster books turned films that I’ve loved in the past. A Flicker in the Dark is right up there with the best of them. Stacy Willingham, you are the master of red herrings! If you’re into thrillers then don’t sleep on this one. Snag a copy today so you can have it read before it becomes a series on HBO Max!!

Chloe Davis was only twelve when six teenage girls went missing in her town. By the end of that summer her father had confessed to these horrible crimes. Now, twenty years later, Chloe is a psychologist and is getting ready to marry the love of her life. When a local teenage girl goes missing, then another, that horrible summer comes back. Is she just paranoid or is she connected to these missing girls somehow?

I've been seeing this book all over Bookstagram, and it definitely lived up to the hype for me. I've seen other reviews saying it was predictable and the murderer was easily guessed early on, but I was fooled until the end. The red herrings the author threw out kept me guessing, and I really enjoyed the twists.

One thing that bothered me was how Chloe, the main character, was so naive. Multiple times I questioned what she was doing and why she was making these terrible decisions.

Overall I really enjoyed this debut thriller, and I can't wait to see what she writes next!

Very good thriller, kept me engaged. Definitely recommend.

I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

This debut really had me on the edge of my seat as the story progressed.
Just when I was sure of who the killer might be things shifted as my focus was drawn somewhere else. The final reveal was good. It was someone I suspected at the beginning but dismissed.

Twenty years ago, when Chloe Davis was twelve years old, six teenage girls went missing from her small town. When Chloe discovers a box of jewelry filled with pieces from the missing girls in the back of her parent's closet, she goes to the police, and her father is arrested. He's labeled a serial killer and promptly thrown in prison.

Now Chloe is a psychologist in Baton Rogue living with her fiance and prepping for their upcoming wedding. Her life is now seemingly happy after her rough childhood when a local teenage girl goes missing, and then another. The last one was a new patient and she's beginning to see similarities to what happened in her small town all those years ago.

Thanks so much to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC to review.

A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham is a novel following Chloe, who after twenty years, is still struggling to escape from her dad's past when he confessed to killing six teenage girls that went missing in their town. Chloe is trying to have it all with a fiance who seems to good to be true and a great job. However, when teenage girls start to go missing in Baton Rouge, Chloe finds herself forced to face the memories she tried so hard to leave behind.

This book hooked me immediately from the beginning. I thoroughly enjoyed the narrator's voice and never felt like her voice was stilted or immature. The book follows Chloe, jumping from past and present, which really helped solidify my understanding of the character and her motivations. Chloe was certainly a complicated character, but I would find it less believable for her character to not be after her personal history.

Typically, an unreliable narrator is overdone and can be an eye-roll. However, I thought this novel brought an unique approach to the unreliable narrator that fit with the character. It was also not over the top and slowly progressed as the novel went on, which helped to build the tension in the novel. I also think this book was also an interesting commentary on how some individuals can process their trauma in both everyday situations, and how that may play out when events are more similar to their traumatic experiences and whether it's reality, projection, etc.

While I anticipated the ending almost immediately, the ending and the fallout from the ending feelt fitting. Overall, I definitely recommend this book to thriller readers and am looking forward to future novels from this debut author!

Many thanks to the publisher St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books and Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

This is a Psychological Thriller that will keep you guessing. I cannot believe this is a debut book because it was so good. I was pulled it to this story right for the beginning, and I did not want to put it down. This book kept me guessing, and it kept having me changing mine mind on who did it. The main character of this book was not lovable, but she made me root for her by the end. The ending of this book was so great, but I also loved the beginning of this book. If you love a book with a ton of suspense and keeps you on your toes then this is the book for you. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Minotaur Books) or author (Stacy Willingham) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

This is a Psychological Thriller that will keep you guessing. I cannot believe this is a debut book because it was so good. I was pulled it to this story right for the beginning, and I did not want to put it down. This book kept me guessing, and it kept having me changing mine mind on who did it. The main character of this book was not lovable, but she made me root for her by the end. The ending of this book was so great, but I also loved the beginning of this book. If you love a book with a ton of suspense and keeps you on your toes then this is the book for you.

Thank you so much @Minotaur_Books & @NetGalley for giving me this eARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review (Release Date | 11 January 2022)

SYNOPSIS | 20 years ago Chloe's father was convicted of murdering 6 teenage girls. She has tried to move on with her life & set up her own psychologist practice (it certainly helps that she can now prescribe the drugs that she needs to get through the day), but again more teenage girls are going missing & she seems to be connected to them.

WHAT I LIKED:
- a classic unreliable main character
- the prologue sucked me in & I completely related to the childish fear of running from the darkness into the safety of your home. It set the tone for the whole book!
- as an ode to the title, "flicker" was used multiple times throughout the story
- a fantastic debut & I'm excited to see what she releases next!

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
- I guessed who was responsible for the murders at 60%
- the ending was quite rushed & left a few open questions (like what actually happened to her mother?)
- there wasn't really a conversation about drug dependancy

What a debut novel! I can not believe this is a debut thriller for Stacy Willingham, but it is.

Chloe Davis' past suddenly becomes her present and she is determined to find out the truth. This novel had everything you want in a thriller; twists, turns, red herrings, it had it all. It was easy not to like the main character, Chloe, at times, but at other times you loved her. This made her more than just a character on the page. The ending has some loose ends, but what novel does not. I also did not like the fact that there were no consequences for some of Chloe's actions throughout the novel. I figured out the "who done it" part pretty quickly, but was continually question what I knew. The revelation was not what I was expecting!

This debut is a fast paced page turner that will have you second guessing yourself the entire way through.

I want to thank Netgalley, and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

** spoiler alert ** Ugh another messy alcoholic MC who makes horrible choices and whose actions make zero sense. I did not love this one and really struggled with it for many reasons. I was surprised at the start by how slow it felt because you spend many pages just reading about the MCs thoughts and feelings. This would be ok if she was more likable but instead it’s a slog. The lack of dialogue and any other POVs ended up making a story about a serial killer pretty boring. I guessed the twist about 25% in and although it took some paths to get there that were unexpected I was never really that surprised. There were a few plot points that also seemed completely implausible. Would the police ever let someone into the morgue to see a victim who wasn’t family or involved in anyway other than being the last person to see her? I think not. So strange.

Wow, another great debut that I can’t believe is a debut! The author pulls you in and never lets you go until the end. If you enjoy suspense and excitement throughout the story, you will enjoy this book. I can’t wait to see what the author brings us next!

This was such a fantastic thriller, it was original and absolutely kept me guessing all the way through. Each time I thought I had it figured out I was wrong, I love a thriller that’s deep and leaves me shocked

Chloe Davis was twelve when her dad was arrested for the murder of six local teenage girls, including a girl she considered a friend. Now, twenty years later, on the precipice of her wedding, girls start disappearing again in her small community. Chloe, now a therapist, starts to question who would be trying to get her attention as a copy cat...or whether they got the wrong person all those years ago. And whatever the case may be, who in her life does she need to suspect of violence?

This mystery thriller from debut author Stacy Willingham is definitely going to be a fan favourite. While I don't think it's necessarily the most unique plot-wise, that's not necessarily the most essential component for me when reading a thriller. After all, it's ALL been done before. In "A Flicker in the Dark," the storytelling, the character development, the plotting, and the writing all kept me engaged until the very last page.

One thing that did distract me ever so slightly as a reader was the use of the word "flicker" throughout the book. My kindle counted 26 times, which was definitely noticeable. And I think the "twist" gets a little bit muddy thinking about how <spoiler>the killer would have known that she had a connection to the teenage girl at the wedding venue? It made sense with the red herring, but not sure it completely hangs together once the true culprit is revealed.</spoiler>

Those few small caveats aside, it's engaging and interesting, and it's going to make excellent television - it's already been optioned by Emma Stone for a limited TV series. It's one I'll definitely be recommending to readers who like serial killer thriller stories.

Excellent debut. I went into this not knowing much and was pleasantly surprised by the ending, This was a solid four stars until the last 50 or so pages. There were so many twists! Every time I thought I had it figured it out, there was another bombshell. With every reveal, I kept thinking "wait a minute, what about this thing that happened, this doesn't explain xyz?". Willingham left no loose ends, making sure every little detail that I had picked up on was covered.

I'm definitely excited to see where Willingham goes from here. Fantastic debut that set my standards high for thrillers in 2022.

Highly recommend.
4.5 rounded up to 5 stars.

A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham is a thriller novel. The story in this new book is one that is told in a current timeline along with flashing back to the past that the main character is still living with daily.

As a child Chloe Davis went through a traumatic experience that has shaped the rest of her life. At twelve Chloe’s father was arrested and sent to prison labeled a serial killer after six teenage girls had gone missing in their small Louisiana town.

Now as an adult Chloe is a psychologist with twenty years having passed since that time in her life. With her own private practice and preparing for a wedding with her fiance Chloe felt she may have moved past her childhood but when another girl is found murdered it is all brought back to the surface and things are much too close to home.

A Flicker in the Dark was a solid debut novel from author Stacy Willingham. The story was a compelling one to read with an unreliable flawed narrator and plenty of red herrings among the twists and turns. I will say though as someone that reads a lot of thrillers I didn’t find the outcome shocking to me but it may be to others. Overall though I did enjoy this one and would rate it at three and a half stars and would read the author again in the future.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.