All the Dangerous Things by Stacy Willingham is a thriller about the disappearance of Isabelle Drake's son. Her toddler Mason disappeared in the middle of the night, and she hasn't been able to sleep since that terrible discovery. Isabelle agrees to be interviewed by a podcaster, and she starts to remember things from her own childhood. The reveals in this book were very twisty, and I really enjoyed this read. Thanks to NetGalley for the free digital review copy. All opinions are my own.

Isabelle Drake was leading a charmed life….great husband, beautiful son, and just getting back into the work she loves…until a year ago, when her son Mason was taken out if his crib in the middle of the night while she and her husband were asleep in the next room. Unfortunately, there was not a lot of evidence to go on so the trail went cold rarely quickly. But Isabelle won’t rest until she finds out what happened to her son….she hasn’t slept more than a catnap or blackout over the last year. She’s even decided to give talks at true crime conventions and is going to do a podcast. Through giving interviews with the podcaster, things from her past come back up which makes her question everything…who can she trust…what really happened the night her son went missing….and what happened on that night long ago.

Stacy Willingham is a mystery/thriller genius. This story captured me from the beginning and kept me guessing until then end with many “What!!” moments in between.

I received this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

A flicker in the Dark is one of my favorite books ever and I knew I had to give this author another chance. This book pulled me in from the beginning with the perspective of the unrested mother. I was never sure where this book was going and I was along for the thrilling ride! This is a deep and shocking book with many topics to discuss but in the most fun way!
5/5 ⭐️!

A domestic thriller story that gives thrills and chills. An exciting rollercoaster ride that kept me engrossed in the story. The author throws in some curve balls and twists the keep the story interesting. Count me in as a new fan.

Disclaimer: Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this review copy and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I read this in like 12 hours, it was so easy to tear through. the end twist was pretty good and unexpected. Izzy is an unreliable narrator which is a very tired trope at this point, but I found her a pretty likable main character and was really rooting for her. overall, a solid thriller, and I found this to be on par with @stacyvwillingham ‘s first novel

A woman lost her son a year ago. He was taken from their home sometime in the night. Her husband left her and is with a new woman who looks like her and also looks like his previous wife, who is now deceased. Two-thirds into the book, it’s revealed that the police and mostly everyone else suspects that the kidnapper was someone inside the home. The uncertainty of whether or not the main character can be trusted or if she’s unreliable makes it more interesting and I thoroughly enjoyed the ending, 4 stars!

This thriller had me on the edge of my seat. I did not guess how this was going to play out. I haven't read her other book Flicker in The Dark yet…so now I definitely gotta do that!! The MC in this one is Isabelle Drake. Her son has been missing for a year, taken from his room in the middle of the night. There are no leads and no clues. She hasn't slept for that year other than small bouts and catnaps. All she wants to do is find out what happened to her son. She agrees to work with a podcaster who says he wants to help, but now she's wonder what his objective really is. She has a troubled past, and she's starting to think she can't even trust herself. Who CAN she trust??


Omg SO GOOD!! Flew through it, couldn't put it down. You will wonder about every character in this book. So we'll written and unpredictable!! I can't wait to read more by this author.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. Out January 10.

Wow wow wow. This was so good. 4.5 rounded up. Enjoyed it even more than Stacy‘s debut, A Flicker in the Dark! The audiobook for this one was absolutely phenomenal; this narrator is one of the best I have ever listened to! The narrator truly made this experience that much better. Absolutely loved all of the twists in this one, and that everything wrapped up nicely in a perfect little bow at the end. I did have some questions, as there were multiple twists that didn’t seem related at times, but I was so pleased to see how everything connected. I did not foresee the biggest list coming, which is my favorite part about reading thrillers!
So good!!! Highly recommend. Cannot wait for more from Stacy!
Cannot wait to write my full review on IG, @chandlersbooknook.

Loved reading this! Isabel and husband Ben have their baby kidnapped. They both look guilty because there is no evidence of a break-in. A year has gone by and still Isabel is speaking and posting, trying to find her son. Husband Ben cannot tolerate her absorption into discovering her lost child. Isabel has been told to ‘leave it’ to the law to investigate, but she is relentless in attempting to find her son, Mason. Due to her sad childhood, a death of her younger sister, that she always wondered if she was responsible. Perhaps she had unknowingly harmed her child - but cannot remember. A great adventure thru the clues to solve or give closure to her grief.
Highly recommend!

I was unsure about whether to pick this one up because I did not love her first book, but this one was great. The twists and turns are very well done, and it is not too dark but just dark enough. Well worth the read.

This was so good! It was was creepy, and it kept me guessing the whole time. I loved this book! I would recommend this to anyone who loves a good thriller.

In my humble opinion, @stacyvwillingham is 2 for 2 when it comes to 5 star reads! 🤩 I absolutely loved this one and was blown away by the surprise ending!
I listened to the audio which is read by @karissavacker, one of my favorite narrators. The writing is seductive, wrapping you in an blanket of simmering suspense and lyrical prose. With her hypnotizing voice, Karissa is able to take an already terrifying situation and make it seem more real, which is a tremendous feat all on its own.
The story focuses on the kidnapping of Isabelle’s 18 month old son, Mason. He was taken in the middle of the night without a trace. Since then, Isabelle is consumed with learning what happened and finding the person who took him. (Find the full synopsis in comments!)
As a mother myself, I think Stacy did a brilliant job portraying how utterly helpless and guilty Isabelle felt and I was surprised to learn in the author’s note that she isn’t a mother herself. What a tremendous ontaking this had to be! To write something so sensitive, emotional, and heart-breaking without having the ability to put herself in her character’s shoes shows how talented Stacy truly is.
The subject matter could be tough for some readers so please check trigger warnings before reading!

Thank you to @minotaur_books @netgalley and @stacyvwillingham for the advanced copy!

I know it's early in the year, but this title will more than likely be my favorite of the year! I was really impressed! I loved Flicker in the Dark so I went into this novel knowing it would be amazing! I accidentally read it in ONE setting! I started the novel around 5pm and finished around 10pm! Wonderful!!

100 stars out of 5!!

Isabelle Drake's son, Mason, was taken from his crib in the middle of the night, changing her life forever. Isabelle, frustrated with what she sees as lack of help from the police, takes the investigation into her own hands. However, as a sleepwalker with a questionable history of her own, she finds herself wondering if maybe she had something to do with his disappearance.

I loved Flicker in the Dark by Willingham, and loved this one just as much! It was just the right amount of twisty for me.

Didn’t enjoy this as much as A Flicker In the Dark, but it was still a twisty, dark, entertaining read. I listened to the audio over 2-3 days. Some interesting twists and surprises, but I was left wanting just a little bit more. It was relatively short, and it felt like the ending was a little rushed. Will still continue to read from this author! Thank you to the publisher.

Stacy Willingham got me again. I LOVED THIS! She is not afraid to tackle hard topics and take us to uncomfortable places. I was guessing and theorizing the whole time. She took angles I never considered. I was completely in the whole time and I loved every minute of it. This woman is an auto-buy author for me and I can confidently say she is a favorite. Amazing book!

When Isabelle’s son is taken from his crib one night her life completely changes. With no leads she spirals into finding out what happened. Now Isabelle is a speaker at crime events which rubs some people the wrong way. When she realizes she has insomnia and sleep issues again, a secret from her past emerges. Isabelle is determined to figure out what happened to her son and see if the past correlates with the future.

I have to say I loved this book! The twists and the story were so good! I was in need of a good thriller and this one provided. I typically don’t like the unreliable narrator thing but this worked well for this book. I found myself annoyed at Isabelle sometimes but it was because she was realistic when it came to grief. Overall I highly recommend this one and gave it a 4.5/5 rating.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for a copy of this work in exchange for an honest review

We follow Isabelle who decides to take into her own hands the investigation of the disappearance of her son, Mason. As she tries to figure out what happened to her child, she happens to also uncover many secrets from not only her present but also her past. This thriller really kept me on my toes and had multiple twists! The pace of the story was great and I couldn’t put it down. The alternating timelines transitioned smoothly and wasn’t confusing. The author also included some themes involving motherhood and mental health.

I don't typically enjoy books with a protagonist suffering from insomnia. I don't know anyone who suffers from it personally, but apparently in bookworld, insomnia is as common as a cold. So in general, I find insomniacs to be an unenjoyable trope, but Stacy Willingham took it to a different place and did it exceptionally well.

Isabelle hasn't really slept since her toddler son was taken a year ago. She's understandably desperate to find him and is trying everything she can to find new clues that will lead her to him--including getting interviewed by a true crime podcaster. The podcaster has interest not just in her missing son, but in her childhood, which makes her very nervous--she doesn't want him to unearth the secrets she's worked so hard to bury and to forget.

Willingham takes us on a journey through Isabelle's life: the unsavory way she met and fell in love with her husband, her childhood, and what really happened to her son. We switch timelines, jumping into the recent and far past to better understand Isabelle, and suspect people alongside with her. Willingham does a great job of keeping the reader engaged as she slowly reveals more and more about Isabelle's life and what got her to this point. The ending is relatively predictable once a few things are revealed, but it's a satisfying ending.

Isabelle Drake has always been plagued by feelings of guilt, but she tries to push past her troubled childhood memories. She's excited to finally land her dream job, but her marriage and motherhood take a toll on her identity and well-being. After her baby is taken from her home, she's exhausted and on the edge of sleep deprivation, but continues to give public speeches in hopes of finding her missing child. A true-crime podcaster offers to help her find answers, but Isabelle fears she's being set up. With a year of no sleep and a mind clouded by sleep dysfunction, she's questioning her memories and if there's more to her guilt than she knows.

Willingham's second novel exceeded expectations. This book kept me up all night with its captivating plot, constantly begging to know what happens next as Isabelle tries to make sense of her past. With stunning plot twists and jaw-dropping reveals, the thriller captivates the reader.

The southern, spooky small town atmosphere and intricate characters make this book a standout. Isabelle's insomnia is handled in a realistic way, adding depth to the story. This read is more than just an unreliable narrator story. Willingham has a bright future as an author and this book is a standout among 2023 favorites.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press/Minotaur, and Stacy Willingham for an ARC of this book!