I liked A Flicker in the Dark overall...I guessed the twist fairly early on, even as I didn't want it to be that person--I may have had a bit of a crush--but I suspected him. The main character annoyed me to no end but I finished the book. Since I didn't hate her first book I decided to request the second and see what happened. Normally, they say the second book isn't as good but I feel like this was leaps and bounds better. There were so many layers of things going on but it wasn't difficult to keep track.

Isabelle hasn't slept since her son, Mason, disappeared from his crib one night a year ago. Not real true sleep. The case is cold, her husband has moved out and moved on, but she can't. She uses every opportunity to keep attention on the case, because she can't give up. After speaking at a true crime convention on the flight home the seat next to her is occupied by a true crime podcaster. He offers to do a series on her case, even tells her he recently solved a cold case. She initially turns him down but changes her mind.

In the back of her mind she remembers her childhood sleep walking and the drowning of her sister. She finds out from nanny cam footage she had been sleep walking again before Mason disappeared, but she has no one she can talk this through with.

In her mind, everyone and anyone could be guilty, including herself. She is determined to find out what really happened and hopefully get Mason back.

I did not see this twist coming and when it was revealed and Isabelle took action, I can easily picture myself there...as a mother. My son is a grown adult but I don't think that protective instinct ever goes away.

If you liked A Flicker in the Dark you will love this one.

A slow-burning mystery—submerging within the folds, and not coming up for air until the final page.
Isabelle has always been a deep sleeper, that is until that fateful night one year prior. With her husband sleeping peacefully next to her, her infant son was taken from his crib. Disappearing without a trace. In the year that followed, Isabelle’s life slowly disintegrates. And with the latest nail to her crumbling life, she has separated from her husband. Living in the eerie quiet of her home, Isabelle is lucky to get a few minutes of sleep, if any at all.

Making matters worse, what little clues she has been able to find amount to nothing. Creating severe desperation that even Isabelle doesn’t know what is real and what is in her head. Until a true crime podcaster with a yen for solving mysteries, approaches her offering his help.

At this point, she has nothing to lose, reluctantly inviting him into her home, into the nightmare that is her life. Together, the pair follows the trail of Isabelle’s missing son—even when that trail leads them back to Isabelle’s childhood home, a place that she has been avoiding at all costs.

Masterful Mystery
Isabelle is the perfect “unreliable narrator”. The grief that Isabelle feels is so relatable, adding more to your immersion within the story. As her desperation increases, the more palpable it feels, the deeper you dive into the story.

With the addition of each “past” timeline the layer of complexity and intrigue grows. Traveling back to Isabelle’s childhood home, the site of a terrible tragedy. Isabelle’s life was never the same after that incident. And although she knows that she has done something terrible, everything from that night is hazy. Could the secret Isabelle she have repressed for years—manifest itself in her adult life, and cause her to harm her son?

At times the story was slow, not to the point of boredom but in order to allow the tension to build. And with each piece of foreshadowing that happened in earlier stages of the book expertly laid, the story unfolds connecting the dots until the end. The ending was quite satisfying, as you discover the things that Isabelle does you can’t help but feel like the way that the story turned you would do yourself if given the opportunity.

Reading the latest edition of Willingham’s works, and thoroughly enjoying them solidifying her as an auto-buy author for me. I loved how messy and complicated the characters are none who is without faults, and none are pure evil either. This is an excellent second novel from Willingham, well worth adding to your 2023 to-be-read list.

I love thrillers and this one was no exception. Duel POVs are my favorite types of books. I love seeing all perspectives. I did not see the twists and turns coming. Had me on the edge of my seat. But it was similar to other thrillers I’ve read. Still great though.

I do not always enjoy an unreliable narrator but the ending really made this book for me. Also, the audio of this was top notch narration. There were many times throughout the book where I was certainly questioning Isabelle’s choices.
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Mason Drake was taken out of his crib in the middle of the night. Isabelle cannot sleep until Mason returns, literally. In a year she has barely slept. This lack of sleep definitely leads the reader to question Isabelle. There were some twists and turns I didn’t see coming at the end and overall this was a solid thriller.
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Thank you #minotaur #NetGalley and #macmillanaudio for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

Stacy Willingham obliterated the phantom of the sophomore slump with "All the Dangerous Things." Compulsively readable, full of tension, and driven by an unreliable narrator that will have you questioning everything you *think* you know about Isabelle's marriage, her past, and the crime that has come to define her.

Three hundred and sixty-five days. To some, a year might seem fleeting, just a small slice of the time that makes up a life. For Isabelle Drake, it's meant three hundred and sixty-five sleepless nights since her toddler son, Mason, was taken from his crib while she slept. Isabelle hasn't slept through a single night in the year since her entire world ended. She takes micro naps here and there, jerking asleep and then awake after one, two, or five minutes of sleep. Mostly she runs on caffeine and the sheer determination that her son will not remain a statistic.

After turning over every single aspect of Mason's disappearance, hounding the local police, attending true crime conferences, and doing everything she can to keep their story in the news, she has finally decided to accept some outside help. Enter Waylon Spencer, a true crime podcaster, who agrees to take on Mason's story after successfully solving another cold case. What starts as surface-level conversation quickly leads to probing questions that bring up a past Isabelle would rather forget, and start to make her doubt even her most solid recollections of the days and weeks leading up to Mason's disappearance. As new evidence and new leads light, Isabelle finds herself determined to get the answers she so desperately needs, even if those answers mean facing an unthinkable truth, that she herself may be responsible...


An early contender for best thriller of the year, "All the Dangerous Things" is an absolute must-read for fans of Rachel Hawkins, Megan Miranda, and Alice Feeny. Readers won't be able to step away from the narrative as it hurtles toward a truly unbelievable conclusion, and they'll be shocked by just what they discover about the night of Mason's disappearance. Special thanks to NetGalley and to Minotaur Books for an Advanced Reader's Copy of "All the Dangerous Things" in exchange for an unbiased review!

Having loved A Flicker in the Dark, I was excited to read and review ALL THE DANGEROUS THINGS.

This book far exceeded my expectations! Once I started reading, I had a difficult time putting this book down and when I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about it. I'm not usually a fan of the missing child trope, but I thought this one was well done. I was completely immersed in the story and having insomnia myself, I found Isabelle's character relatable. I usually pass up slow burn reads, but I love this author's writing style, and at no time did I find myself bored or wanting the story to be over. I was completely blindsided by the ending, and I found it very satisfying.

I cannot wait to read more from this talented author!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this e-ARC.

Stacy Willingham's second novel is amazing! Fast paced, twisted, and dark throughout its entirety, this novel takes the reader on a ride. Isabelle has been through a lot of terrible things in her life, and they do not seem to be letting up. Grieving her missing son, and questioning events from her past, Isabelle is spiraling, and getting little sleep. The only draw back is the podcast aspect of the story line. This is over used, and worn out at this point.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Karissa Vacker. Karissa seamlessly transitions from the past to the present, making it easy to follow.

I can not wait for Stacy Willingham's next novel.

I want to thank St. Martin's Press for an ARC, and Macmillan Audio for an advanced audiobook.

I was hooked from start to finish with this book. It was a little slower paced and I don’t typically like an unreliable MC but the author did such a good job with this story and the characters that I never wanted to stop reading. The twists toward the end weren’t mind blowing and the ending just wasn’t as exciting as I hoped which is why I only gave this 3 stars. I am still looking forward to reading this authors other book, A Flicker in the Dark and will recommend this book to friends and family.

I loved this book! This is my second read by Stacy Willingham and I am completely in awe of her writing and stories.

Read this is you love:
Captivating Plots!
Her stories are unique and fascinating and really pull you in. I love her writing style and how her characters are interesting and unreliable !

Past/Present Timelines
I love how she weaves so naturally in between two timelines.

Atmospheric Settings:
I love the immersive feeling of her books. . You absolutely feel you are in the south while reading!

Amazing Twists:
I absolutely could not have guessed the ending ! It was wow factor!

Highly recommend!

“𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒏’𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒐𝒇 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒘𝒆 𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒍 𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒗𝒆𝒔? 𝑺𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒘𝒆 𝒕𝒓𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒄𝒓𝒂𝒇𝒕 𝒔𝒐 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒍𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒄𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅? 𝑺𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒔𝒐 𝒗𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒅, 𝒔𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍, 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒖𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚, 𝒘𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒕𝒐𝒐?”

Knowing my friend Kyle (@ItsMrCormier) loved Stacy Willingham’s debut A Flicker in the Dark (which I still have to read), the second I saw this available on NetGalley, I knew I had to request it.

Willingham delivers a unique look at motherhood and racks up the tension in this story. Even though Isabelle has secrets, I had empathy for her right away, especially with her lack of sleep! She really questions her own mental health, and as she unveils layers to her past that she hid away, I desperately needed to know more. Willingham creates multifaceted characters who represent real life: not black and white but in the middle; Isabelle’s husband Ben is a great representation of that (I liked him and then hated him). Although I’m slightly tired of the true crime post cast trope, it’s used well here and doesn’t take up too much of the book but rather enhances the story. There are well plotted twists, with a couple that had me truly gasping. The audiobook is excellent too (I both listened and read this); Karissa Backer is becoming a favourite narrator (she also did an excellent job in Carola Lovering’s Can’t Look Away). Backer’s expression and different voices suck you into the story (especially in the “Then” section; her voice is slightly higher than Isabelle’s “Now” voice, a slight change that wholly represents her being younger).

All The Dangerous Things is a story of motherhood, loss, questions, silence and self-preservation. It is thought provoking, well written and will have readers examining the stories we tell ourselves to help us cope in life. Thank you to Minotaur, St. Martins, MacMillian Audio and NetGalley for the ARCs!

One year ago, Isabelle Drake's son went missing. He was taken out of crib one night and that was it. The case went somewhat cold but that isn't stopping Isabelle from continuing to pursue finding her son, all while being sleep-deprived. In hopes of jarring loose a new witness or buried clue, she agrees to be interviewed by a true-crime podcaster—but his interest in Isabelle's past makes her nervous. His incessant questioning paired with her severe insomnia has brought up uncomfortable memories from her own childhood, making Isabelle start to doubt her recollection of the night of Mason’s disappearance, as well as second-guess who she can trust... including herself. But she is determined to figure out the truth no matter where it leads.

OK. Just when I thought I had this all figured out, I realized I definitely didn't. The last 100 pages had me gripped and I couldn't put it down until I was done. Isabelle is an extremely unreliable narrator but I still really felt for her. She's also a badass who figured it all out while fighting her own demons. As someone who doesn't have kids, I can't even being to really know or imagine what it feels like to have your kid missing... It would be my biggest fear. Stacy Willingham does an amazing job of touching upon motherhood and the fears that came along with it. The one thing I really loved was the twist and how all the puzzle pieces fit together by the end.

When I read Stacy's debut last year, I read it in a matter of hours. This one was NO different. I ate this up like CANDY. I don't know what it is but Stacy certainly knows how to write a thriller. This one kept me on my toes and had a twist at the end that I did not see coming at all.

After enjoying A FLICKER IN THE DARK, I was more than willing to take another ride with Willingham in the driver's seat. I'm glad I did because ALL THE DANGEROUS THINGS is a deeper, more complex and more compelling novel than its predecessor. The premise is simple but intriguing. Any mother will be able to relate to Isabelle's horror at losing her child as well as the guilt, self-doubt, and anxiety she feels about motherhood in general. Despite the many dubious decisions Isabelle has made in the past and does make during the course of the novel, she's 100% sympathetic. Her anguish is palpable. Although this is a character-driven story, there's plenty of action, tension, and conflict to keep it interesting. I saw some of its plot twists coming, but I was still surprised by the ending. I'm still not sure what I think of it. It's thought-provoking for sure and will definitely get book clubs chatting! The Author's Note at the end of the book offers even more food for thought about motherhood, women's roles, and whether or not a childless author can write authentically about parenthood. If you're on the look-out for a discussion-worthy book club read or if you just want a riveting thriller to entertain you, check out ALL THE DANGEROUS THINGS. It's a great read for lots of reasons.

Another Winning Novel From Stacy Willingham!

The days are long but the nights so terrifyingly longer for poor Isabelle Drake whose toddler son (Mason) was taken from his crib one year ago while she and her husband, Ben were fast asleep in their bed never hearing a sound while peacefully dreaming until the next morning when their lives became a waking nightmare that will never end end for Isabelle until she finds out what really happened to her precious son.

Isabelle travels all over the country telling her story hoping to find clues or come across someone who can help her find her child who she believes is still alive while the police and her husband believe Mason is dead and believe it's time for everyone to move on with their lives. Ben left Isabelle six months ago since he was no longer able to live with her chronic insomnia (literally), her paranoia, her incessant refusal to try living in the real world (without Mason). Isabelle is a shadow of her former self, she looks ten years older from not eating or sleeping and living on a diet of non-stop caffeine and alcohol all the while knowing that the detectives, the world of outsiders, finally her husband, all who believe she killed her only child! But why? Isabelle knows she must travel back into her past to visit many unresolved issues within her secretive family who have always blamed her for a tragedy in her childhood and Isabelle has never escaped the guilt that has weighed her down for over twenty plus years and now carrying the pain and sorrow of the consequences of being bad mother and an inconvenient wife maybe Isabelle will finally get many unexpected answers to her past that will bring about an unforgettable mind and heart shattering climax!

Stacy Willingham has done it again! This author has written another surreal, psychological thriller which will take the reader to mind-boggling places they could never have imagined. The pacing was excellent, slow and steady through the first half of the book and then starts picking up with unexpected twists and turns where I thought I knew where the story was headed but, Oh No! The final few chapters were so shockingly surprising that I would backread to see if I was getting everything correctly. Just so Darn Good! I just love when books literally "shock" me out of my comfort zone plus not being able to solve all the mystery puzzles and that's exactly what happened with this novel. A cliched phrase "Expect The Unexpected". This book was also full of crazy zip-lining emotions especially for any women who are mothers since it covers fears and sadness that is and always will be every mothers worst nightmare!

Trigger warnings: Depression, Kidnapping, Murder, Suicide, Post Partum Depression, Insomnia, Paranoia, Sleep Walking, Adultery, Anxiety.

I want to thank the publisher "St. Martin's Press". Minotaur Books and Netgalley for the wonderful opportunity to read this novel and any thoughts or opinions expressed are unbiased and mine alone!

I have given this fantastic book a rating of 4 1/2 SHOCKINGLY SURREAL 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌠 STARS!!

I enjoyed this author's first book "A Flicker in the Dark" very much. I also enjoyed this one. This is a book that takes you deep into the mind of someone who feels they have lost everything. Someone who doesn't get more than a couple of hours of sleep a night if that much. Someone who's child was taken in the middle of the night. Who's husband leaves because she can't seem to just move on. Someone who blames herself for her younger sister's death. A desperate mother, sister, wife.

Isabelle has been trying to find answers. What happened the night her son went missing. Did she do something to him or did someone come in her home and take him? Who would do such a thing. She won't stop until she finds some answers. No matter what. Even if it was her who did something wouldn't it be better to know? Wouldn't it be better to be able to finally sleep? Or would the guilt or pain be so horrendous that she would want to die? What if she was sleepwalking and did something? But she doesn't do that anymore. She can't sleep anymore. Not since her sister died in the marsh.

Waylon is trying to help Isabelle. Trying to find out what happened to her son. He has a podcast and is working on his sister's murder also. But what dark secrets does he hide? Just exactly who is Waylon and why is he trying to help Isabelle? While I figured out who he was almost from the first time he was mentioned it did not take from this story at all. In no way. I liked him a lot. He was in my opinion a pretty good guy. Yes he had secrets. Yes he omitted the whole truth. But he had a good reason. Didn't he?

I didn't like Ben a lot. He was just not that likable to me. He was too perfect in ways. To flawed in other ways. Not a good husband in any way. He played women and didn't stop until he got them exactly how he wanted them. Give up everything for him. Don't have a mind of your own. Don't want anything except me. He knew how to play the game. He was a jerk.

I liked and disliked Izzy's parents. They had so much going on also. Many secrets in their lives. And Margaret I adored. She thought Isabelle was the best sister ever. She followed her everywhere. She also disliked that her big sister was a sleepwalker. It scared her. What happened the night Margaret drowned? Who was at fault? Isabelle never completely got over that. She felt it was her fault and that her mother blamed her. That her mother was afraid of her.

This book kept me wanting more from start to finish. It had me holding my breath so much. I felt so bad for Isabelle. A mother who loved her son. Who questioned her thoughts at times. But what mother hasn't done that? We all do. No mother has all the answers. No mother becomes a mother and has a playbook that tells her who and why things happen.

After you read this story be sure and read the Author's Note. It contains a lot of things that you will enjoy. Or that will open your eyes. If you have ever or know someone who has ever suffered from postpartum syndrome then you will understand. Being a mother is a very hard job. You have basically given up your life to take care of another little human being for quite a few years. It's a hard but fulfilling job. But it does not come with a manual. You learn as you go. It can be a very bumpy ride. Just read the Author's note.

Thank you #NetGalley, #StacyWillingham, #StMartinsPress for this ARC. This is my own true thoughts about this book.

4.5 stars and only loses one because again I figured out who a half star character was. I did not figure out other vital parts though and that is a huge plus. Great book. I loved it!

Mysterious, twisty (so twisty)...Stacy Willingham knows how to write suspense! The plot is original with dual timelines and mystery within a mystery, just amazing. This is the second book I've read by this author and I'm anxiously awaiting the next. My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a galley of this book for review. All opinions are my own.

4.5, rounded up!

I’m going to keep this one short and sweet because I think it’s always best to go into thrillers/mysteries as blind as possible!

The sophomore novel from the same author as A Flicker in the Dark did not disappoint! Dare I say it was even better than her debut. It was truly unlike any other story I’ve read in this genre, which I can always appreciate!

The story kept me intrigued throughout and I seriously couldn’t put it down! I guessed a couple of the reveals before they happened, but it didn’t lessen the reveals in the slightest - they still packed a punch. I loved the podcast/true crime element to it all as well as the multifaceted characters included. I think the ending was wrapped up a bit too fast for my liking and it didn’t feel completely resolved. But I LOVED what happened to Ben - he deserved it 👀

Finally, the author’s note (in conjunction with the book as a whole) really makes you think about the pressures of motherhood and the effects on women - even if you aren’t yourself a mother. Overall it was an intriguing read that kept me on the edge of my seat, that discussed important themes of the inherent guilt/pressure placed on women who become mothers.

Read if you like:

🔍 true crime podcasts
👀 missing person cases
👩🏽 motherhood guilt
✌🏻 dual timelines
1️⃣ single pov

Another amazing novel from Stacy Willingham! Her debut novel, A Flicker in the Dark, was so good that I knew this one was a must-read! I was right. It was filled with just the right amount of suspense that it keeps you guessing until the end. There were many ways this could have played out, but she did a fantastic job of weaving just the right amount of mystery into her story!

Another amazing novel from Stacy Willingham! I loved her debut, A Flicker in the Dark, so much that I knew I had to read this one and it did not disappoint! Filled with suspense, this book keeps you guessing until the end. There were many ways this could have played out, but I think she did a fantastic job of weaving just the right amount of suspense into her story!

I found this book to be incredibly slow and I ended up not finishing it.
I loved her first so I will revisit this one at some point but for now it goes back on the shelf