4 Stars
Isabelle wakes up one morning to find that her son is missing from his crib. After a whole year, he is still not found and the police have no leads. She takes matters into her own hands, studying her neighbors and scrolling true crime forums. Because of this, she can’t sleep. She hasn’t slept for a whole year, which caused extra strain to her marriage leading them to separate. She meets a true crime podcaster who wants to get her story out, but as time goes on working with him, she realizes he isn’t who he seems to be.

💭Thoughts💭

The first 30% of this book had me frustrated and kind of bored. It was only as it went on that I got more into it and the story did lead to some good twists and turns. It was not as thrilling or suspenseful as I had anticipated either, but the plot did have some depth once you got to the end.

I really enjoyed Willingham's first book and was looking forward to the second! It was worth the wait. Right out of the gate, I love the setting. I visited Savannah frequently as a kid and this book put me back there, walking through the squares. The characters well developed, although not very likable. The plot is fast paced and kept me turning those pages and I did not expect that ending! I will definitely read more Willingham!

⁉️What are you looking forward to this year?
Vacationing! Last year I started taking a night to myself here and there to decompress (read, drink lots of coffee uninterrupted). So, looking forward to more of that, but we’ve also got plans to take mini vacations throughout the year as a family, and there’s nothing more fun than going on an adventure (unless it’s camping) with the fam.

BOOK REVIEW
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
All the Dangerous Things by @stacyvwillingham
Pub date: January 10, 2023 (out now!)
326 pages
THANK YOU @minotaur_books and @netgalley for the E-ARC

No one warned me that this was a book about a mother and her missing child 😆 (usually a plot I avoid 😭). When I tell you, though, that it’s been ages since I’ve been so sucked into a thriller, I mean it. I devoured this book in a day and a half, reading many chapters in each go, because I just could not stop reading.

I wouldn’t say it’s really a fast paced or action packed thriller, but more of a slowly unfolding suspense read.

We’ve got a bit of an unrelatable narrator (she doesn’t even believe herself half of the time) due to sleepwalking and a blurry recollection of a past event. I don’t want to give too much away, but I read Willingham’s debut last year (A Flicker in the Dark). While I thought it was an entertaining read, I’d guessed the big reveal almost immediately. This one wasn’t like that. There were some things that I had guessed right, but there was also the fun of doubting my suspicions until the very end. The writing has definitely matured a bit here and it made for a real page turner. Definitely a case of right book at the right time for me.

#allthedangerousthings #aflickerinthedark #stacywillingham #minotaurbooks #thrillerreads #thrillerbooks #botm #bookofthemonth #netgalley #netgalleyreview #bookreview #bookblog #bookblogger #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #instabooks #readergram #readingjournal #bookishthoughts #bookstore #arcreview #newbooks #newbookstagram #booksiread #booklove #spookyreads

I really enjoyed the author's first book so I was looking forward to this one. For me, this book started out slow and took me a while to get into. I wasn't sure I was going to like it for a while and easily predicted a lot of what happened. However, I really enjoyed how everything was brought together at the end and give this book 4 stars.

I've never felt more confident in giving a 5-star review!

All the Dangerous Things was truly incredible. This will make you FEEL real emotions - heartache, anger, uncertainty. I enjoyed all the intertwined stories and different periods in time. They all were suited perfectly to tell a really important tale. This story will stick with me for a long time.

Please be sure to read the Author's Note (but not before you finish reading the book!)

So grateful for this ARC.

WOW! What an absolutely unputdownable read. Willingham’s ability to write such twist and turns, ones that I do not see coming and keep me on the edge of my seat, deserves serious applause.
I previously read 𝗔 𝗙𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝗿𝗸 and was highly impressed, but this book surpassed her debut novel for me.

I loved the use of true crime podcasts in this book. As a fellow 𝘾𝙧𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙅𝙪𝙣𝙠𝙞𝙚, it really made me think about how I consume these stories and reminded me to always keep the families behind this cases in mind.
Apart from the crime/thriller aspects of this novel, the way Willingham weaved in heavy and meaningful topics to the plot (motherhood, postpartum, societal pressures/scrutinies faced by women, mental health), really added meaning and importance to the story. I very much enjoy thrillers, as well as books that are thought-provoking and open up avenues for deeper conversation. Having both of these things in one was a very pleasant surprise and provided a great reading experience.

•
Thank you very much to @stmartinspress and @netgalley for the digital ARC of this book.🤍
I would highly recommend everyone read 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 for themselves, and its official publication day was yesterday so you can give it a read now!

5 Must Rad Stars
* * * * *
So this book is perfect if you love to be tortured by amazing storytelling to the point where you are dying to know the end...It will take you on a slow burn, needing to find out what is really what until the very end.

Its been one year since Isabelle and Ben Drakes's infant son, Mason, was taken from his crib during the night. Isabelle's life has become that of a keynote speaker across the country attempting to keep this case open in the eyes and minds of the public so her son can be returned to her. Ben has another way of dealing with it -- trying to move on while believing that Mason is no longer alive. Battling extreme insomnia - Isabelle doesn't sleep...she "nods off" and startles awake. Her history of sleepwalking has her frightened --- could she have harmed her own son?? In a dual timeline, we learn of Isabelle's childhood sleepwalking issues - and the mysterious death of her younger sister in a seemingly dysfunctional family. And we also learn how Ben and Isabelle became a couple - which has its own myserious death involved. As Isabelle agrees to do a podcast regarding her son's disappearance, she seems to spiral more and more in loss of control and not knowing what or who to believe. Until she begins to focus.....and the twists and turns she uncovers on her way to discovery keeps the pages turning for the reader. The author once again has written a page-turning mystery/thriller for fans to fall into.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press-Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read and review this advance reader copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #AllTheDangerousThings #NetGalley

Wow! There really are dangerous things and the stuff of nightmare in this absorbing read. Isabelle Drake is a mother whose son was apparently snatched from his crib in the middle of the night. A year has now passed and Mason is still not back with the family. Who took this child and why? Will readers find that he is alive when they get to the end of the story?

Needless to say, Isabelle is distraught and doing all that she can to find answers. This leads her to being a guest on a true crime podcast. But, oh no, because of this things about Isabelle’s past may become public. Did she make a poor decision?

Oh, and just to add to all of this, Isabelle has not slept in a year. Surely this makes everything worse.

How will the story end? Readers will quickly turn the pages in order to find out.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this title. All opinions are my own.

This is a new-to-me author and I will tell you right now that I plan on reading her debut novel asap. While slow burns really make me antsy (can something just happen already?!) if the book is written well, then it's worth it. This is a case of just that. If I could rate the last 20% five huge stars, I would.

First off, the writing was stunning. So descriptive, it would be impossible for anyone to be unable to place themselves smack dab in the centre of the story. Second, I don't mesh well with unreliable narrators; I get worked up just knowing that they aren't going to make the "right" decision. Third, I absolutely died at the twist(s)-- there are MULTIPLE. Unsure if that's a spoiler or not but I assure you, do not get too comfortable here.

I'd like to also mention the author's note at the end, where Stacy acknowledges that she is not a mother and took great care doing her research while writing this book. I just really appreciate an author that is passionate about their story, and you can usually just feel it in the words they write.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, and Stacy Willingham for inviting me to read this before publication.

Okay, the first half-ish of the book is a little slow as the author establishes where the main character is currently. She's sleep grieving the disappearance of her child, her marriage is over and she's sleep deprived. So we learn right away that she's unreliable.

But once you hit the halfway point of the book, things start to pick up, and stayed up way past my bedtime just to finish this book.

One year ago, Isabelle Drake's life changed for the worst. Her young son was taken from his bed in the middle of the night, while she and her husband slept in the bedroom next door. With hardly any evidence or leads, the police have very little to go on, leaving her son's case cold.

She won't rest until her son is back in her arms. She's literally existing on catnaps and the occasional small blackout.

She's retelling her story, at true crime events so the public doesn't forget about her missing son. On a flight home, she meets a podcaster interested in getting her story out there to his listeners. His questions about her past make her nervous. Memories from her childhood leave her questioning what really happened one night long ago and whether she can trust herself as she searches for her son.

Thank you so much to the author and Minotaur/St.Martin's for this ARC to review.

I will say, as a newly pregnant person, this book was incredibly hard for me! This follows a mother whos baby was taken from his nursery in the middle of the night without any trace and no leads as to where he could have gone. We go back and forth between the main characters past and her present as we see how she struggles with trying to find answers for her son. This book definitely kept me on the edge of my seat, but it also may have created a new fear within me as a new mom that I might struggle with for a while. I appreciated how this book came to a lovely end where it seems like everyone got the answers and the consequences they deserved.

All the Dangerous Things by Stacy Willingham us getting 5/5 Stars from me.

I want to thank Stacy Willingham, Minotaur Books, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for giving me an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

Themes, Tropes, & Warnings: Adult, Mystery, Psychological Thriller, Suspense, Contemporary; Motherhood, Grief, Guilt, Blame, Lies, Secrets, Obsession, Control, Manipulation, Trauma, Marriage Issues, Cheating, Mental Health/Illness, Kidnapping, Missing Person, Assault, Murder, Suicide.

Thoughts: From the moment I picked up All the Dangerous Things, I was unable to put it down. A mystery intertwined with motherhood and the guilt and blame all mothers are made to feel, it follows Isabelle, a young mother whose grief at losing her child only a year before, snatched from his crib in the middle of the night, has led her down a path of sleep deprivation, murder boards, and unanswered questions. The police have no clues and hardly any evidence, nothing that could potentially tell them what happened to the her child, leading the young mother to question everything she knows about herself and the people around her.

The book is an excellent read for mystery lovers with its almost lyrical descriptions mixed with peeks into the inner working of the human mind when pushed to its limits, the trauma of a past we hide from ourselves, the excuses we make for those we love the most, and the blame and guilt that all young mothers’ shoulder when they are drowning in their responsibilities.

Reviewed under RosesandSundragons16 @ Amazon, Bookbub, Goodreads, Instagram, NetGalley, and StoryGraph.

If you’re a fan of unreliable narrators, unlikable character’s and slow-burn twisty thrillers then you’re in for one heck of a ride with Stacy Willingham’s latest book, released 1/10/23. Told in two timelines — Louisiana 1999, and Savannah Georgia now. The plot centers on soon-to-be-divorced/sleep-deprived mom, Isabelle Drake, who’s 18-month-old son Mason disappeared from his crib one year ago. She’s never given up on finding Mason, and is currently being interviewed on a true crime podcast by a mysterious podcaster looking to lay to rest something of his own. I tried to guess whodunnit but gave up as NOTHING is as it appears to be. With mysterious deaths, sleep-walking, a multitude of lies from a trusted person, and a shocking reveal at the end, this was completely addictive. 4.5 stars — Pub. 1/10/23

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for providing me with an arc via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review!

All The Dangerous Things is the sophomore novel of Author Stacy Willingham. I became a fan of this author's work last year after reading and reviewing her stunning debut novel, A Flicker In The Dark. Willingham's ability to finesse both characters and readers through a complex plot line with an extremely unreliable protagonist at the helm is highly impressive and evident in both books. I'm delighted to say All The Dangerous Things meets the high standards set in A Flicker In The Dark. As much as I enjoyed that book, I appreciate this one even more.

It's been a year since Isabelle Drake allowed herself to sleep through the night. A year since her young son Mason was abducted from his bed under the cover of darkness with both she and her husband sleeping right down the hall. The kidnapping case has gone cold, and Isabelle's husband has moved on and is flaunting a new girlfriend around town. And now it's clear everyone thinks it's time for Isabelle to move on also. In short, the people surrounding Isabelle believe she's delusional and from all appearances, she is. She's been plagued with insomnia since childhood, and in the past she experienced episodes of sleepwalking. Now she's finding it difficult distinguishing reality from the unrelenting parade of mirages taunting her in her foggy, dreamlike state. She keeps Mason's name and picture in the news by guest speaking at True Crime conferences around the country where she is approached by Waylon Spencer, a True Crime podcaster, who convinces Isabelle to commit to a series of live interviews on his podcast. As this story unfolds, it becomes clear to readers that there's more going on here than meets the eye - in both Mason's disappearance and Spencer's intrusion into Isabelle's life.

Narrated solely by Isabelle, All The Dangerous Things is a highly atmospheric, intricately plotted story that is presented through dual timelines - the present and flashbacks to Isabelle's childhood where dark secrets are lurking in the hidden recesses of Isabelle's frail mind. As bits and pieces of buried memories surface, she's in danger of losing her precarious handle on reality. Readers are kept scrambling for answers as they also question what's real and what's an illusion, and the rising tension is so thick you can cut it with a knife. A couple of super creepy sleepwalking scenes caught on camera literally made the hair on my arms stand up. Characters are wonderfully original and well developed including several plausible red herrings. While I figured out a couple of things on this wild journey through pages of smoke and mirrors, I didn't see the final shocker coming until the monster reveal.

All The Dangerous Things is a dark psychological thriller that explores the devastation wreaked on humans while experiencing unbearable grief, guilt, stress and trauma and the manner in which it erodes one's mental health and ability to make wise life choices over time. Through expert manipulation of emotionally damaged characters, a highly unreliable narrator and a multi-faceted plot line, Willingham has once again proven herself to be an author to watch - one that has moved to my auto-buy list as her books now reside among my favorites on a star-studded Thriller Shelf occupied by the likes of Karin Slaughter, Lisa Gardner and Loreth Anne White. I'm highly anticipating the next release by this talented author and recommend All The Dangerous Things to fans of suspense and psychological thrillers.

Loved kicking off this year with such a good book… that just came out Tuesday, 1/10 so make sure to scoop it quick!

Isabelle, the MC, isn’t quite an unreliable narrator but there’s something off. All she wants to do is find her son after being taken from his crib a year ago.

👍🏻 this book was so fast paced, it only took two days to fly through. There are so many pieces to put together to figure out the story. Every time you meet a new character, my predictions changed. I loved the MC’s sleep issues, I think it added a twist to the story. It made her unreliable but also so unreliable to herself, not just the reader.

👎🏻 It didn’t last long enough😂 I wanted to find out what happened too quickly!

As I said, I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Willingham’s writing has only gotten better since her debut, A Flicker in the Dark! Pick it up today or put a library hold on it- just read it!! Swipe for the synopsis!

Thank you to Minotaur Books & Netgalley for the ARC!

ALL THE DANGEROUS THINGS REVIEW💙
rating: 4⭐️
genre: mystery thriller
read this if you liked: The Push or Flicker in the Dark

After devouring Willingham’s debut last year, All the Dangerous Things quickly went to the top of my anticipated reads list! It’s safe to say this one did not disappoint! At first I wasn’t sure how I would feel about this book as the plot revolves around Isabelle and Ben’s toddler son, Mason, being taken from his room in the middle of the night. As a mother, this is one of the worst scenarios I can imagine and proceeded with caution! Isabelle’s life fell apart before her eyes and feeling desperate she does anything and everything to get to find answers.

This book has a bit of a slow start, but the author does a fantastic job of painting the imagery that drew me in and allowed me to really envision everything throughout the rest of the book. I loved the layers to this story and how it was told in Isabelle’s POV past and present. These perspectives allowed the story to unfold layer by layer with juuuust enough information, while questioning everything! It was really hard to trust *any* character and this kept me guessing throughout the entire book.

This book is filled with suspense and I loved how the details were perfectly weaved together to form a great “whodunnit.” I was on the edge of my seat the entire time and the ending surprised me in the best way! If you’re looking for a standout thriller be sure to grab this one. I’m already looking forward to what she writes next!

I found this to be an enjoyable, slow paced mystery up until the last 100 pages or so. Then it became so hard to put this book down! I was able to figure out the ending, but there were still a few twists that I didn't guess.

If you enjoy domestic mysteries with unreliable narrators and dual timelines, then definitely check this one out. And if you haven't read this author's debut novel, A Flicker in the Dark, I highly recommend that one as well!

Thank you, @netgalley and @stmartinspress, for the e-arc of this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC copy for review! All the Dangerous Things is available now!!

Isabelle Drake’s life is changed forever the night her son, Mason, is taken from his nursery. One year later, she is divorced from her husband and still searching for answers on her son’s case. Against her better judgment, she agrees to be interviewed for a true crime podcast in hopes that someone will finally listen to her story. She will follow any lead she can to find her son.

If you’ve read A Flicker in the Dark, you know Stacy Willingham creates beautiful scenery with her words. This worked more for me in her debut novel than her sophomore novel. All the Dangerous Things was extremely slow paced for me and somewhat predictable. I wish there would have been more dialogue or faster scenes that seemed more relevant to the plot. I feel as though the ending of this book happened very abruptly and somewhat unrealistically. I still have questions about some of the plot points. If you’re looking for a slow paced kidnapping true crime story then this might be the read for you.

This was a little slow to start and I didn’t begin to get invested in the story until about the halfway point. But the last half was good. Hard to put down. Lots of twists, most unexpected. It was a pretty good read and I’d definitely recommend it to others.

I received this book free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.