This is such a good one. Stacy knocked it our of the park with her second book. It is such a good thriller and the unreliable narrator is so good. I will be recommending this one for sure.

I was a fan of the author’s first book, but I easily figured out where it was going and that took a little away from it for me. This one was so much better as it kept me guessing. There were two mysteries surrounding our main character, Isabelle. Her son is missing in the present and the death of her sister in the past. Are these events related and if they are, is Isabelle the common thread?

My head was all over the place trying to figure this one out. Isabelle is an insomniac, which I can relate to at times, and sleep walks. This made her very unreliable in my mind. Since she is the narrator, I was constantly trying to fill in whether I could trust what she says. Then you throw in a guy desperate to have her on his true crime podcast (two of my favorite things in a book). I don’t have any children, but I can imagine having your child go missing without a trace is about the worst thing that can happen to a mother.

The book starts out slow, but the pace and tension build. There are red herrings and twists you won’t see coming.

I both read and listened to this one and enjoyed my time spent in either form. Karissa Vacker amazingly narrates the audiobook. Her voice switching for the characters is seamless and she brings the perfect amount of intensity to Isabelle when she slowly unravels.

If you liked A Flicker in the Dark, you will love this one. And if you haven’t read A Flicker in the Dark, what are you waiting for? Both of the author’s books are suspenseful and layered and worth the read.

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

As you can see, I also chose this as my December BOTM pick. Yes, I am hooked on Stacy Willingham’s books! I LOVED A Flicker in the Dark and was beyond excited to read All The Dangerous Things. I read half of the book and listened to the other half on audiobook. Karissa Vacker is a wonderful narrator and thoroughly enjoyed listening to her.
Things I loved about this book:
the suspense, dark secrets Isabelle Drake was hiding from her past, the plot, and lastly, the author’s note. I can appreciate how much research Stacy Willingham put into writing this book. I also appreciated how she mentioned how mother’s “feel completely alone in an experience that’s shared by so many.”
Stacy’s writing flows so well and just like A Flicker in the Dark I was furiously turning the pages anxious to find out how everything was going to end. Can’t wait to read her next book!

4.5 stars / 5 stars

On the heels of her bestselling debut thriller A Flicker in the Dark, author Stacy Willingham is back with another twisty novel that proves her first release was no fluke. I've been eager to read more from Willingham since I devoured her previous book last year. Luckily, I received an e-copy and audiobook of her newest effort All The Dangerous Things as a gift from her publisher. This work sees her continue to explore themes of generational trauma, family secrets, and grief, but this sophomore novel isn't merely a retread of what she's already written. Instead, All The Dangerous Things sees Willingham level up in almost every way, writing a book that is a multilayered feast of suspense and intrigue.

A child shouldn't have to be in charge of another child, but young Isabelle has been left with no choice. It isn't as if her parents are present enough to take care of her younger sister Margaret. Little Izzy tries to shield her sister from their parent's arguments. Their father is rarely home, and their mother can barely care for her own mental health, let alone that of two small children. No, Izzy has taken the burden of watching over her sister. But Margaret is scared. Izzy has been waking up to mud-stained clothes, water on the carpet, and no recollection of what the night entailed. Margaret trusts Izzy more than anyone in the world, but Izzy's sleepwalking is about to lead to unimaginable tragedy.

In the present day, Izzy is exhausted. She hasn't slept in a year. How could she? It's been a year since her toddler son was abducted from his bedroom. A year of obsessively following every possible lead. A year in which her fractured marriage has crumbled to pieces. At her wit's end, Izzy has resorted to speaking at true-crime conventions, taking any possible action to keep her son's case from going cold. On the flight back from her latest speaking engagement, she encounters a podcaster who offers his expertise in investigating her son's disappearance. As the pair delve into her past, Izzy fears that long-buried secrets may soon come to light. Worse, they may have more to do with her present heartache than she's ready to admit.

With All The Dangerous Things, Stacy Willingham cements her status as an author of atmospheric suspense. The mystery here is as good as any that I've ever read. Willingham shifts between the past and present in each chapter, deepening our understanding of her protagonist while methodically accelerating the tension. Nestled amongst the thriller are broader contemplations on relationships, parenthood, and trauma. Everything leads up to a twisted revelation that completely blindsided me. I alternated between reading the ebook and listening to Karissa Vacker's brilliant audio narration. Whichever way you choose to read this one, rest assured that you're in for a treat. All The Dangerous Things is another top-tier read from an author who is fast becoming one of my new favorites.

Someone out there has a secret. Someone, somewhere knows the truth,

Isabelle's son, Mason, was taken from his nursery in the middle of the night. His case is still unsolved. The police have no suspects, no leads, and practically no clues, but Isabelle will stop at nothing to find him.

Isabelle's past and present are two mysteries that slowly unfold in dual timelines, and will have you second guessing yourself and trusting no one until the very last page.

Stacy Willingham now has me as a forever fan. I loved both of her books and think this one should be on everyones radar. It's a must read!

Do you enjoy a thriller with an unreliable narrator that keeps you guessing? Then this might be one for you to check out!

In this book Isabelle is left on her own after her son is kidnapped and her husband leaves her. She is drowning in grief and has not properly slept in a year. But she is doing all she can to keep her son Mason’s story alive in the hope that he will be found.

Willingham writes this story in two different timelines, where we go back and forth between Isabelle’s past and present. She also has frequent moments of disassociation where she is lost in a memory before snapping back to reality.

Being so sleep deprived, Izzy’s memories are not complete and she feels like she should know or remember something that she just can’t grasp. She also is incredibly suspicious of everyone and everything, while also being defensive because she feels that others are villainizing her.

While reading this book I grew frustrated in the long, detailed descriptions of absolutely everything. It just seemed to drag down the flow of the story, because we spent so much time going through a step-by-step narration and description of every little thing.

And there was one plot point that I really didn’t like, which was the means by which her son came into the world. I don’t want to spoil it for future readers, and I can see how it fits with the bigger plot, but it left a bad taste in my mouth.

I will say the twists at the end got me, I didn’t see most of them coming! And as soon as you found out the truth, you could immediately think back and realize you missed the crumbs that were left behind.

This will be one for readers who love domestic, psychological thrillers! Check it out when it releases January 10th!

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books (St. Martin’s Press) for the eGalley in exchange for an honest review! All thoughts and opinions are completely my own.

4.5 stars rounded up to a 5!

One year ago, Isabelle Drakes wake up to find her 18 month old, Mason, missing! She, as any mother would do, doesn't give up on looking for him. Doesn't give up hope that's he is still alive since no evidence in sight of his body. Ben, her husband and Mason's dad, separates from Isabelle because of all her issues... lack of sleeping this past year, constantly communicating with the detective assigned to her case, going to many seminars and giving speeches on the case, he can no longer take it.

After a true crime junkie seminar and she boards her flight, she comes across a podcast host, Waylon, that happened to be there. He tries to to start a conversation with her and she wants nothing to do with him! he decides to stop talking, but not giving up and he hands her a business card. She's polite and takes it, but she's just going to chuck it anyway. But after being home a few days and still getting no cooperation from Ben, detective, and people she knows, she gives Waylon a call after all and he comes down immediately!

From there, the story picks up with many twists and turns, enough to make you dizzy, lol, jaw dropping, and wait a minute...what? moments that keep you on your toes, quickly flipping pages that you cannot put it down!

Thank you Minotaur Books and St. Martins Press for allowing me to read this through NetGalley.

I really enjoyed this psychological thriller focused on motherhood and mental illness. I especially appreciated the author's note detailing how although Willingham hasn't experienced being a mother herself, she leaned on research and the experiences of her friends and family to inform her on how to best write this novel. I am a fan of unreliable narrators and I felt that the cast of this novel were all suspicious in their own ways, making for a great novel. The dual timelines of the main character's past and present life really added another layer of mystery and suspense. Although this was a definite page turner and the twists were surprising, I wanted a bit more shock value from the overall ending. All in all, I thought the book was great and I have become a fan of Willingham after reading this and A Flicker in the Dark. I look forward to her next project.

✨Book Review✨

Happy pub day to All the Dangerous Things! I’ll bet this is probably your 5,289th time seeing this cover in your feed if you’re looks anything like mine. 😆

Thank you to @minotaur_books for the eARC and @macmillan.audio for the ALC and @netgalley for my copies. This was my first @stacyvwillingham and it did not disappoint!

Isabelle Drake’s life changed forever when almost a year ago her son disappeared from his crib. She’s now a sleep deprived mess whose entire life revolves around investigating her son’s disappearance. A case whose trail has run cold.

I was a sleep walker as a child. The fact that Isabelle was also a child sleep walker…and she discovers she’s started again as an adult…yeah, that creeped me out further regarding her narrative and character development. Still, I applauded Isabelle’s determination to find her son despite her marriage dissolving along with everything else.

I wanted to binge this book so badly, but adult parental responsibilities kept me from doing such. It was so good. Due to Isabelle’s character, I was afraid there was going to be the tired, old, unreliable, female narrative due to her sleep deprivation and mental state. Nope. This is a good one. Read it!

I already own A Flicker in the Dark, but just haven’t gotten to it yet. After reading/listening to this one I will be remedying that ASAP.

A year ago, Isabelle’s eighteen-month-old son, Mason, went missing while she slept soundly and the disappearance remains unsolved. Since that night, she has only been able to sleep for moments at a time. She and her husband, Ben, have divorced and she devotes her time to making the rounds of true crime shows, in an effort to keep the case open and in the public eye despite the fact that many think she’s just seeking fame or, worse, she is responsible.

All the Dangerous Things is a psychological thriller written by Stacy Willingham and, for the most part, I really enjoyed it. There are plenty of twists and turns but the story did seem to drag a bit at the beginning as we learn more about the events leading up to the disappearance as well as events from Isabelle’s past. But the ending makes it well worth the wait. Overall, once it gets going, a very interesting and compelling read.

<i>Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review<i/>

4.5 STARS

Another solid thriller from Stacy Willingham, but I honestly can’t say I’m surprised. I loved her debut novel and was thrilled to receive an early audio copy of All the Dangerous Things. Needless to say, I enjoyed it so much I needed a physical copy too!

I know some readers aren’t a fan of her longer descriptions, but personally that is what I like about her thrillers. It’s definitely one of those things that has to be done right in order to be effective, and I think Willingham has nailed it.
It’s not very often that I encounter a thriller that I’d label as beautifully written, but that is exactly how to describe both A Flicker in the Dark and All the Dangerous Things. Her descriptions really add to the ominous tone and help to convey Isabelle’s feelings of panic and despair regarding the disappearance of her son. While the pace is on the slower side, particularly through the middle of the book, I think the payoff was totally worth it. I was shocked when I found out what happened to her son, and that doesn’t happen often for me.

If you enjoyed A Flicker in the Dark, or are a fan of slow-burn, emotional thrillers with an unreliable narrator, then this is the book for you! Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio for providing me with an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Stacy Willingham’s newest book, ALL THE DANGEROUS THINGS, is available today and it is one to get your hands on! I enjoyed A Flicker in the Dark too but this one had more unpredictable twists— and lots of them.

Isabelle Drake’s son, Mason, was taken while she was asleep one year ago. Isabelle will not give up until she finds out what happened to him, and she is not going to rest until she brings him home. This is a novel where you trust no one. Isabelle as a mother is constantly scrutinized and everything surrounding her and her story makes you feel uneasy. For some reason, characters sleepwalking make a story feel creepier to me, and we know this about Isabelle. She’s been a sleepwalker her entire life and now she’s an insomniac. I had a sense of foreboding the entire time I was reading this. I almost guessed one of the twists but still only had it partially correct. The other twists left me excited that I didn’t see it coming. This is a page-turner of a read!

I received an early eARC and early listening copy so I was able to go back and forth between reading and listening. This was perfect as I didn’t want to stop reading! Many thanks to @netgalley, @minotaur_books, and @macmillan.audio for these copies. @stacyvwillingham is now an auto buy author for me!

All the Dangerous Things is a psychological thriller that will keep you guessing how this story will end. This is my first book to read by Stacy Willingham and I will be adding her to my auto-buy list. She does an exceptional job capturing the mental and emotional mindset of Isabelle. Isabelle experiences every mother’s greatest nightmare and will capture the reader’s heart. I highly recommend this book.

Holy freaking moly what a wild ride!! All the Dangerous Things was one of my favorite thrillers last year, and I still cannot stop thinking about it!

I REALLY thought I had the major mystery port figured out…I was so wrong 🤦🏻‍♀️ there is also a mystery/secret in the past timeline that I thought I knew…I was wrong again 😂

Every time new information came to light it shocked the hell out me 😱 so many good twists and turns and misdirections along the way to keep me guessing, and never once did I really think about the ending that Stacy had delivered with a punch!

The pace was fast with short chapters, all my questions were answered, and with the shocking twists, it was the perfect thriller for me. @andrea and I devoured it and had a good ole time messaging back and forth about our theories!

I was hesitant/nervous to read this one due to the plot (a son gets kidnapped), but Stacy handled it extremely well! There are some other dark topics that could possibly be triggers, but again, Stacy did a perfect job representing them. Her author’s note described all the research she did which made me appreciate it even more.

Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

I am officially mad at myself for being so busy that I couldn't read this sooner than I did. Willingham wove a tale that felt authentic, real and impossible to put down. From the minute I started, until the one I closed the book- I was completely dead to the world. I was engrossed and enthralled.

I appreciate Willingham's need to get motherhood and the mental health conditions talked about as correct as she could and her authentic thoughts on the true crime community. It was refreshing to see someone (even in the context of a work of fiction) remind people that the "stories" true crime lovers love so much are about real people and there are real feelings involved. It was a breath of fresh air.

This book was enthralling, thrilling, and kept me on the edge of my seat. Just when I thought I knew the twist coming, I was wrong. Then, kept getting surprised. It was incredible.

I highly encourage you to check this one out! It's great!

I really enjoyed this book and felt like I understood this character very well. I’ve had a history of depression and many things affect me more than many others. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s press for allowing me an early arc in exchange for my honest review.

I was seriously looking forward to this book, and it did not disappoint! After reading Stacy Willingham’s debut, A Flicker in the Dark, I was so happy to be approved for this eARC! This book took my mind in a million different directions, with every chapter I got a different idea of what happened to Isabelle’s son, Mason, when he disappeared from his crib 1 year ago. I loved the true crime theme in this book, especially the podcast, because I can totally relate to it. I think the author did a great job creating a realistic missing person case. I truly felt empathy for the character, but also doubted her mind at times (Think Woman in the Window). It was a great, quick read!

This story is a slow burn, but it was captivating and suspenseful. I felt so many emotions because I too have a toddler boy - I couldn’t even imagine going through what Isabella went through.

I was surprised and satisfied with the ending of this one, and I’d recommend it if you’re in the mood for a slow burn suspense novel!

All The Dangerous Things
By: Stacy Willingham
St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books
Mystery and Thriller

Isabelle Drake is experiencing desperation in her life. She craves a good night's sleep, and began sleepwalking in childhood. Discovering the truth about the disappearance a year ago of her young child, Mason, now consumes her. She also has unanswered questions about trauma from her childhood in Beaufort, South Carolina. While returning home speaking at a true crime conference, she meets a crime podcaster named Waylon and wonders about his motives. Events unfold in a manner that kept me quickly turning pages, consumed by the story and needing resolutions.

Author Willingham magnificently and meticulously taking her readers inside the confused mind of Stacy, leaving us needing to know more. Her writing is skillfully based on the psychological components of her characters, with deep descriptions of their thought processes and actions. She has impressed me as a master at smartly creating suspense, after reading both her debut novel and this one. What a great choice this was for my first book of 2023!

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for the advance reader's copy. My review is my own.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Stacy Willingham, and St. Martin's Press-- Minotaur Books for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

I haven't read a good mystery in a while, and I'm so glad I was able to start my year off with All the Dangerous Things! I was not the biggest fan of Willingham's other book, A Flicker in the Dark, but this read is a great sophomore novel that was even more suspenseful and engaging to me. I think the book does a great job of examining a mother's guilt with both past and present events and how its effects can negatively impact the mother and everyone around her. I liked this portrayal because I feel that it gave it an edge that I wasn't expecting when I started the book. The suspense level is high throughout the whole book, and I flew through reading it because I was so anxious to find out what happened to Mason. I thought the twists were well-placed and genuinely kept me guessing with a couple of surprises at the end. It was definitely more of a suspenseful thriller than a mystery, in my opinion, but the execution was well-done and engaging. I did minus a star because some of the reveals were a bit predictable and trope-y for my taste, and I did feel like the story got a bit repetitive when talking about Isabelle's lack of sleep. However, I did have a great time reading this, and I look forward to checking out Willingham's next works!