Holy smokes! What a fantastic psychological thriller. I just want to quickly gush over this author first. The story was so good I went to see what else she wrote so I could grab another of her books but I was shocked to see she’s a debut author. I can’t wait to see what else she’ll write. The storyline was so addicting and had me invested. I just wanted to know what was going to happen next. Looking for a fantastic read or a great listen, then you must check this one out.

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to listen to the audio for this story in exchange for a review.

First, I want to say as a debut novel this was great and I can see this author going far if she continues to grow and develop. I’d say this was a 3.5 star rating story.

Now for the review. I will say that I was able to guess ONE of the twists (out of many) to this story rather early on in my reading journey. I felt that it was quite obvious although the author does try to throw you off that trail several times throughout the story.

We follow Chloe who is a psychologist and is engaged to Daniel a pharmaceutical rep. Chloe helps her patients cope with trauma while she herself has unresolved childhood trauma. Early on we find out she has a prescription drug addiction she uses to cope with her trauma.

We learn quickly that Chloe and her brother Cooper have a dark family history. Their father is accused of murdering 6 girls when Chloe was 12 years old. Fast forward to present day and a copycat killer seems to be on the loose. What follows is a story of reflection and a hunt to find out who murdered those girls years ago and if a copycat killer is on the loose and why.

It’s worth mentioning that this story does have a few triggers that some may find difficult to read such as drug abuse, miscarriage, death of a child and infidelity.

4.25? stars

This was a good, twisty story. I had a few theories about how it would end, but I never quite figured it out. I really liked some of the characterization as well as the basic plot, and the writing style largely worked for me. It also felt a bit longer than a lot of similar stories in this genre, which was kind of nice. It was a fun book, and I’ll definitely look for more by this writer in the future.

Chloe Davis is the daughter of a convicted serial killer and now a psychologist. She has her own coping methods for dealing with her past, and now with her impending marriage, her life seems to be in control. Then one day, the disappearances begin again and it all starts to unravel and Chloe doesn't know who she can trust.

I really enjoyed this suspenseful thriller! After a couple of less than engaging audio books, I had rather high hopes for this one. I wasn't disappointed! There were a couple things I didn't love, but they weren't major issues, just character decisions that seemed unnecessary to me and made like Chloe less. The atmosphere was just the right amount of tense to keep me going. I had some ideas of what might happen, but it didn't keep me from enjoying it and trying to piece out the how! I appreciated all the family drama inside the story as well.

Can I also say, Vacker did a fabulous job with all the emotions and tension of all the characters.

As a debut book, I am impressed. I will be looking out for Ms. Willingham's future stories.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ALC! Look for this January 11, 2022. A great one to start the year, if you need a nudge!

This was much less thriller or mystery than literary fiction for me. We spend most of the book in the protagonist's head - learning about her work, her anxiety, and having flashbacks to her childhood. The flashbacks give a very disjointed flavor to the book. Nothing had happened 45% of the way in, which was a disappointment. Unfortunately, I did not enjoy this one, but I think some readers may like the literary aspect of the novel.

Chloe Davis is a newly engaged psychologist living in Baton Rouge. Life and letting people in has not always been easy for her. Twenty years ago, when she was only 12, her father received a lifetime sentence behind bars for the murder of multiple young girls. Now, upon the twenty year anniversary, more young women begin to disappear, with one victim having personal ties to Chloe herself. When this new serial killer appears to be a copycat to her father’s murders, Chloe begins to doubt those around her and sets off on a race to determine if this new murderer is someone close to her.

There were a lot of positive parts to this thriller. The author did a great job building suspense and causing doubt / suspicion amongst the characters. It was fast-paced and the writing style was so strong for a debut novel.

A personal preference, but I have a hard time really getting into books where the protagonist abuses drugs/ alcohol and then blacks out and misses an essential chunk of the story. Thus, I had a harder time connecting to Chloe and some of the choices she made. Also my initial guess about the ending was correct, which disappointed me a tiny bit though there were still many other surprises!

A FLICKER IN THE DARK has been described as “masterfully done”, and “eerily compelling.” I can see how many would agree, but this wasn’t my experience.

The story centers around Chloe Davis, the daughter of a convicted serial killer. 20 years later a copycat killer emerges and Chloe is determined to get answers.

The premise was great, but here’s the thing: I am a downright terrible sleuth and I guessed the killer and multiple twists very early on. I felt like the author was hitting me over the head with red herrings that could have been effective if more subtle. The plot points and resolution were quite spelled-out; it was as if the author didn’t trust me as a reader to piece things together.

I’m prepared to suspend a little disbelief with my thrillers, but I had a hard time here. As a speech pathologist, there were some communication elements that I simply found implausible given the context.

Finally, I didn’t appreciate that the protagonist was just another clueless woman with untreated substance abuse and mental health issues. While these are timely topics that absolutely belong in fiction, I would like to see more normalization of people seeking professional services.

A combination of print and audiobook made this a quick read. Karissa Vacker did a fantastic job and is quickly becoming one of my favorite narrators.

I want to give some grace to a debut author because it’s no simple feat to get your words out into the world. The idea was great, the execution could have been better. I would consider picking up the author’s next book if it received glowing reviews from readers I trust.

RATING: 2.5/5 (rounded up to 3 stars for debut author grace)

A big thank you to Minotaur books, Macmillan Audio, and Netgalley for an electronic ARC and ALC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a story about a woman finding her way in the dark.

I really enjoyed this book! I thought I had it figured out at the half way point, and I was delighted to be wrong. I was so/so about the protagonists presentation as a clinician- but I didn’t find that it was a huge barrier to my enjoyment since you don’t spend a ton of time with her “at work”. I appreciated the uncertainty the author created- the character didn’t know who to trust and as a reader, you didn’t know either.

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️. 🌟

This box was so beautifully done- & thank you again Minotaur Books & Macmillan Audio for the Alc! I loved the narration!

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book is due for Publication 1/11 and I definitely recommend it.

Wow! This is a debut novel?! Unbelievable! Such great writing. I had suspicions of quite a few characters at one point which made this book so suspenseful. Just when you think you know who it is…you’re wrong. You might be wrong a few times. Amazing read. Couldn’t put it down.

I had access to the ebook and the audio, both. The narrators are amazing on the audio.

Pros: Prior to listening to this book, I read the Kindle version. I was interested to read this book again specifically to hear how the narrator performs the Louisiana accents. (I live in Louisiana and appreciate the diverseness of the state and the accents of the residents.) It didn't seem that the narrator attempted any accent, which I much prefer to an inaccurate attempt at an accent.

I've been trying to take a break from mystery/thrillers after reading too many in a row, but when I heard the description of this book on a podcast, I wanted to read it because of its Louisiana setting. I've lived in Baton Rouge, so I especially loved reading a book that mentions LSU, the Garden District, etc. Although I haven't lived in Breaux Bridge, I also enjoyed the parts of the book set there and thought the author did a great job setting the scene with descriptions of the crawfish festival. It seems more books should be set in Louisiana because there are so many opportunities for authors to create a strong sense of place in the unique settings of Louisiana.

When I read a mystery/thriller, I find myself trying to figure out the whodunnit from the very beginning, and I often judge the book based on whether/how soon I figured it out. Although I had one part of the mystery figured out from the first few chapters, another part surprised me toward the end, which made the reading experience much more fun.

One thing I appreciate about this book is the title. Many mystery/thriller titles sound the same and don't really mean anything. At first I thought this book would fall into that category, but once I finished reading I understood and appreciated the significance of the title.

Cons: The biggest con for me is that I had a major part of the book figured out from the beginning.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan for the opportunity to listen to this book!

I've shared a review of this book on Goodreads and StoryGraph.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4320440296?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1
https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/86ef6f2f-8b66-4f48-9b03-473a19cc9109

3.5 stars

Thank you Netgalley for this! Highly recommend this if you love psychological thrillers! I thought I had the killer pinned down but then a twist with more twists occur 😳. I couldn't imagine having a serial killer in my family. This things they entire family has to deal with! Definitely grab this one!

Wow! A Flicker in the Dark is jaw dropping. Chloe Davis is the daughter of an infamous serial killer of teenage girls twenty years ago. She left the past behind and has created a life as a psychologist in a private practice and is engaged to the perfect man. Unexpectedly, a copycat killer surfaces taking the lives of people near Chloe. Her father is still serving time, so who is the serial killer and why is he targeting those associated with Chloe. This novel has so many detailed twists and makes you want to beg for just a little bit more. The narrator of the audiobook is fantastic and brings each character to life with Willingham’s words. I’m still in awe that this is a debut novel. Bravo Stacy Willingham for creating this excellent piece of triller art!

Thank you Macmillan audio, Netgalley and Stacy Willingham for this audiobook.

Very thankful to NetGalley for letting me finish this book on audio! I own the book physically and after 100 pages I was not impressed so decided to coast with the audio. Ultimately this book felt like I was spinning my wheels and left no real surprises. Not the worst mystery I’ve read, but far far far from the best!

I feel like this book had a lot of potential, but I was about 20% in when I guessed the ending.

As a debut, I feel like it's pretty good and I believe Willingham as an author also has a lot of potential. The MC was unreliable and plot shifted nicely to deflect key components.

But as someone who reads mostly thriller, I wasn't quite thrilled here.

I listened to this audio courtesy of Netgalley & Macmillan Publishing in exchange for an honest review, and for that I am grateful. The audio helped carry a decent amount of the uncertainty.

I would definitely pick up another book from this author. If thrillers are your jam, consider giving this one a spin.

I'm so impressed this is a debut novel! This book was so good and I really enjoyed it. The writing was captivating and the story was addicting. This book immediately drew me in and I had a hard time putting it down! It had me suspicious of all of the characters and left me second guessing myself almost as much as Chloe did. Speaking of Chloe, for being so smart she spent so much of the book being DUMB. I wanted to scream at her on more than one occasion 😆 but overall I e joyed her tenacity and and her journey to uncover the truth. Fans of slow burn mysteries will surely love this one. I look forward to reading more from Willingham in the future!

I really enjoyed listening to this audiobook. It was so well done. The narrators voice was soothing yet captivating. She did so well telling the story and kept me interested the whole time. I would love to listen to more of this narrator on the future!

Thank you Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for this audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This debut is absolutely stunning. The narration was so well done. I thought it had the perfect amount of tension building as the story unraveled. While the ending was not shocking she threw in so many other twists that I was completely satisfied by the end. I look forward to more from this author.

3.5 ⭐️
Another mystery thriller for me and I was excited about this one. My Instagram feed has it posted all over the place! A serial killer, a Psychologist and a mysterious brother and fiancé? Yes please. What more could a girl ask for?
Let’s start with the protagonist. I’m just going to say it straight out, she got on my nerves. Weak, insecure and overly fragile doesn’t even begin to describe her. And Ive been wondering how she’s even made it this long into her 30’s. And lastly, am I reading a YA?? Why does this feel so YA??
So besides all those annoying things I started to feel like this was going to be a 4 star and then I didn’t care for the ending. So this is why it only gets 3.5 stars from me. The author has a lot of talent and I’ll probably give her another chance.
I chose to listen to this book on audio and the narrator was decent, except for the over the top drama.
Thanks Macmillan Audio via Netgalley.

When Chloe was 12 years old, six teenage girls went missing from her small town in Louisiana and by the end of the summer the serial killer was caught, but it turned out to be her father. Twenty years later, Chloe is a psychologist and is preparing for her own wedding when teenage girls begin to go missing again. When she notices similarities in these killings and those of her father, she feels she has no choice but to investigate.

I really enjoyed this one - what an excellent book for @stacyvwillingham to debut with! I will admit I wanted to punch the main character in the face for most of the book but I’m guessing that was the point. This one had me suspicious of everyone and I loved second guessing myself. Definitely recommend if you’re looking for a solid thriller!

Thank you @netgalley and @macmillan.audio for this audiobook! The audio had an echo in the netgalley app, which took away from some of the experience but I powered through because I liked the book. I’ve heard the same gripe from others - maybe try and fix that?

GIVE ME A THRILLER, BUT MAKE IT ART.✨

This story examines how people can have two sides. Someone can be a warm hug to one person and a cold slap to another. A feeling of safety, but also the danger beneath the surface.

Overall, this is a SOLID debut with some fun twists. I was extremely impressed with Willingham’s lyrical writing style, which had far more depth than a typical thriller tends to. It may be a bit much for some people, but for me it was just right.

🎧The audio was excellent and is a great route to go if you enjoy listening to your books. The narrator nails the pace and vocal inflections.

Sometimes when I’m reading a thriller I’ll get a little flicker of how things are going to play out. Then other times, as with A Flicker in the Dark, it’s like someone turned on a megawatt spotlight. So the prevailing question left in my mind after finishing this debut novel is this: Can you still enjoy a mystery that you didn’t find mysterious?

After a bit of a ponder, my answer here is yes. A Flicker in the Dark held my attention, never bored me, and kept me up past my bedtime. That’s all quite remarkable given that there’s hardly anything original about it.

- Self-medicated unreliable narrator

- Serial killer(s) murdering young women

- Civilian main character that inserts herself in a police investigation

- Plenty of controlling, potentially evil men as suspects

It’s possible that my overindulgence in the thriller genre has left me jaded, and those who haven’t read dozens of similar stories this year will find Stacy Willingham’s novel more surprising. Emma Stone must be one of them, since she’s already got an HBO Max limited series adaptation in the works. (I will say that she has to be trying to stretch her range here, because I couldn’t picture her as the main character even knowing her casting ahead of time.)

Speaking of casting, new-to-me narrator Karissa Vacker narrates the audiobook. She’s given the difficult task of performing a book with a first person female lead that dialogues most often with men. Gender voicing can be tricky, and she handles it by using gruff, deeper inflections for the male characters. That’s always a little off-putting to me, but other listeners may not be as bothered. Still, it’s not often I’ll choose to listen to an audiobook over reading a physical book late at night, so kudos to the author and publishers for a captivating experience all around.

Yes, I predicted the who of the whodunnit, but I couldn't get to the end fast enough to see if I was right.

3.5 stars