Thanks to @netgalley for my eARC of “All the Dangerous Things.” Stacy’s second novel comes out January 2023. Go pre-order your copy now, and then come back and finish reading my review.

I LOVED this one! Stacy was an automatic-preorder-author for me after her debut, “A Flicker in The Dark” and now she’s elevated to a I’ll-just-wait-by-my-mailbox-author.

This dark psychological thriller follows Isabelle, a young mother with a dark past, who is experiencing every parent’s worst nightmare. When Isabelle’s son Mason is taken from his crib, she resorts to becoming a speaker at true crime conferences in a desperate, innovative attempt to find clues to her son’s whereabouts and wellbeing. Channeling her inner Nancy Drew, Isabelle is relentless in her search and demands the list of attendees from each of the conferences as her payment. In a Hail Mary attempt, she agrees to give a podcast interview.

While I’m not a mother, Stacy still tugged at my heartstrings and made me feel some of the “mom-guilt” Isabelle is experiencing. From her sordid past to the dark thoughts she would never admit to having, this book pulls you in and makes you empathetic to the protagonist. Most of us have had that split second malicious thought (or two) about wanting to kill someone before shoving it to the darkest recesses of our minds and proceeding in a socially acceptable manner. Isabelle is left wondering whether she acted on her thoughts.

The only reason I didn’t finish this one sooner is because I got the flu :/ otherwise, this would’ve been read in one sitting.

The writing is brilliant! I was fascinated with the scene descriptions and character development.

5🌟

Pub Date: 1/10/23

This is one of those psychological thrillers where you feel like you can't trust the narrator. Isabelle Drake's son was taken in the middle of the night a year ago. She is still searching for her son, giving talks at true crime conventions and constantly following up with the detective on the case. Her son's disappearance also caused a rift between Isabelle and her husband Ben, forcing them to split. So, Isabelle is alone with her dog Roscoe, she has insomnia, and also has a history of sleepwalking. A lot of personal traumas, causing her to question reality.

After one of her conferences, she connects with a true-crime podcaster and decides to give him and interview, hoping it will help. But there are a lot of secrets out there... and as they are revealed, the pieces slowly come together.

This was definitely a slow burn psychological thriller. You can easily sympathize with Isabelle as she struggles with everything in her life. It is a dark book but satisfying in the end.

This book was so good! I have to admit, I was not liking the narrator/crazy mom but uffff, it really paid off. Since the first page I was wondering what was going to happen next, the suspense was so real. This book was like playing Clue, when you think a big reveal is coming up, the story changes the dynamics and you are back to square one.
I'm not a fan of trying to figure out the ending, I just let the book surprise me and All the Dangerous Things sure did, not expected at all. Really happy with how it turned out and I really had a great time starting my December with this amazing author.

This is possibly a mother's worst nightmare... to wake up in the morning and find your 18 month old son is missing. Fast forward a year and no signs of him and no closer to finding out what happened. Isabelle Drake is consumed with finding out the truth about what happened to her child. So much so it has ruined her marriage, alienated her neighbors and drove any family and friends away. Secrets and mysterious from the past start to come to the surface and Isabella is unsure of who she can trust, including herself.
This was a great mystery with plenty to keep the reader guessing and entertained. I enjoyed the dual timeline and how the past story influenced the current story. I've noticed including a podcast plot line to novels is being done more and more recently, and I love the trend. All the Dangerous Things doesn't disappoint in this area either. While I had my suspicions, there are enough twists to have kept me reading and surprised. There was one really good one that I even uttered ''Ohhh'' at.. I did not see that one coming at all.
Only distraction for me was the first 25% or so of the book was a bit slow. While it does build a backstory I felt it could have been condensed a bit and maybe more focus on unraveling the past secrets, along with the current mystery. Overall a great mystery/thriller. I do need to read Stacy Willingham's debut novel, but look forward to anything else she may write.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read an advanced digital copy. In trade for my honest review, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

She woke up and he was gone...
One year ago, her toddler son, Mason, was taken in the middle of the night while she and her husband were asleep in the next room, changing their lives forever. The case has quickly gone cold with little evidence and very few leads, but Isabelle can't rest until she's reunited with her son. Aside from the occasional nap or blackout, she hasn't slept in a year. Isabelle's life completely revolves around finding her son. She reluctantly agrees to an interview with a true-crime podcaster, with the hopes that it brings about a new witness or buried clue, but his interest in her past worries her. His constant questioning combined with her severe insomnia has brought chilling memories from her childhood crashing back. The more she remembers, the more she starts to doubt her recollection of the night Mason disappeared and who she can really trust. Can she uncover what really happened to Mason that night?
I loved this book just as much as I loved A Flicker in the Dark. I was hooked from the second it started and needed answers. Isabelle's pain and fear was very evident throughout the story. The narrator, Karissa Vacker, did a phenomenal job narrating again. She did a great job bringing this story to life and portraying the emotions, making you really feel what Isabelle was feeling. I had so many theories throughout this story and was a little shocked by the result. An unsolved case, an unreliable narrator, and a horrifying past colliding together to make for an unforgettable, unputdownable psychological thriller. Stacy Willingham, I'm going to need you to write more thrillers STAT! I can't recommend her books enough and am eager to see what she comes up with next!
I received a free copy of this book via Libro.fm, NetGalley, and Edelweiss+. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

When it comes to thrillers, Stacy Willingham is now must read. The twists throughout the book and character development are everything!

Stop what you are reading and pick up this book!

This is the second book I have read by Stacy Willingham. I read her debut, A Flicker in the Dark, in January of this year and was really impressed with her writing skill. I thought the book was great and I was looking forward to seeing what she would come out with next.

Well, here we are. Not even a year later and I just finished her second book. I think this one was even better. I really enjoy Willingham's writing style and her stories keep me guessing. I can figure out a couple of the twists because I read a lot of mysteries, but I don't have it all figured out ahead of time. As I'm reading I can't wait to find out what happened.

This was just a really good story with really good writing. If you think it might be of interest to you give it a try. I don't think you will be disappointed.

4.5 ⭐️. A bingeable second thriller from Stacy Willingham!

Synopsis: Isabelle Drake’s son, Mason, has been missing for exactly a year. He was taken from his home in the middle of the night, and Isabelle has been unable to sleep since that night. The investigation has dried up, and the police have no leads. Out of desperation for some answers, Isabelle decides to team up with a podcaster to try find out what really happened to Mason. What she uncovers will make her question everyone around her, including herself.

Thoughts: This thriller had me hooked right away. The breadcrumbs Willingham placed were meticulously well-planned, and I could help but suspect everyone! The way Izzy’s childhood timeline was used was also really smart and enjoyable. I was definitely guessing until the end!

Pub date: 1/10/23, December early release through BOTM
Genre: thriller
One sentence summary: Isabelle Drake's toddler son Mason was stolen a year ago; since then, she hasn't slept a full night, and desperate to find him, she agrees to work with a true crime podcaster.

I enjoyed Willingham's previous book A FLICKER IN THE DARK, so I knew I had to read this one. The central mystery kept me guessing, and despite not being a mother, it was easy to empathize with Isabelle's pain. The podcast element was well done and kept the story moving. And WOW the twists! I did not see any of it coming, and I loved it. The twistiness and missing child narrative reminded me of another book favorite - LITTLE SECRETS from fellow Macmillan author Jennifer Hillier.

I did a hybrid read with the text and audio, and I really enjoyed both! The time shifts were easier to follow in the text, but I loved the narration from Karissa Vacker, so I think you can't lose whichever one you pick. 4.5 stars.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for my e-ARC and Macmillan Audio for my ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, just wow! Willingham has proved she knows how to write about monsters living in plain sight. This amazingly twisty book was just what I needed to get me out of my audiobook slump. As a mother, this plots was so terrifying and addictive.

This audiobook was amazing and I flew through it at warp speed! My ears were glued to my earbuds. Every time I thought I had the mystery figured out, twist after twist came strolling along that always made me doubt everything.

If you need an amazing book, whether it’s due to a book slump, or not, THIS BOOK IS A MUST READ. No matter what Willingham writes in the future, I will be reading it!

***** Many thanks to St Martins Press, Macmillan Audio, NetGalley, and Stacy Willingham for the #gifted copy as it was provided to me in turn for my honest opinion.

My review will be posted on Instagram (thriller_book_sisters) closer to publication date.

Slow burn thriller that kept me intrigued the entire time. I did guess the “twists” but it was done in a good way and I still enjoyed reading!

Thank you NetGalley for eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Awesome book. I'll admit I thought I had the ending figured out but I was so wrong. I was left questioning everything about the details I was reading. I loved all the twist, turns and details in this book. Once I started this is was really hard to put down and I questioned who committed the abduction the whole time. I throughly enjoyed this book and the characters so much that I can't wait to see what this author comes up with next.

I don’t think words can adequately express how much I loved this book.

A missing child propels a couple to separation. doing everything she can in her power to find her son, Isabelle meets a podcaster along the way that wants to help her. As her sleepwalking past resurfaces, questions swirl her mind and her past makes her fear her present reality.

I could not stop reading this book. I needed to know what happened next. It was a slow unraveling of new suspects and clues along the way that truly made me guessing around every corner.

LOVED!!

Thank you, NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read this book!

This is my second read of Stacy's and I truly do love the way she writes these thrillers. The up and down and timing of the plot twists makes for an easy and exciting read. However, I found that the plot twists and unknowns of this book were either too predictable or not shocking enough. The first half of this book could have been summed up in a couple of chapters, and I would have loved more of her uncovering her past and family's secrets. Overall, I'd recommend this to someone looking for an easy and quick read with an ending that you probably would not be able to guess.

All the Dangerous Things is a slow burn thriller that will keep you guessing up until the last page. I couldn’t put this book down!

Isabelle Drake hasn’t had a full night’s sleep since her son was taken from his crib in the middle of the night a year ago. She’s determined to figure out what exactly happened to him. When a true crime podcaster approaches her and wants her to tell her story, she’s hopeful that it’ll help draw out the kidnapper.

This book was intense and very intriguing. I loved every second of reading it. The character development in this story was great. I also really enjoyed getting the flashbacks of Isabelle’s childhood. Her childhood played a huge part in this story.

Overall, I had a great time with this one. It had everything I love in a mystery/thriller. Perfect for the winter time!

This was my first book by Stacy Willingham and it definitely won’t be my last. Highly recommend picking this one up on January 10th when its released!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Minotaur for the e-arc!

4.5 stars was my thought until I got to the end so a resounding 5 stars it is.

All the Dangerous Things is a fast paced read where tension mounts with every page as you see Isabelle struggle after her son Mason was taken from their home.

Isabelle hardly sleeps and all she wants is Mason back. She knows people think she harmed her son.

Her husband Ben has left her and all Isabelle has left is her memories.

Isabelle is not giving up and speaks at True Crime conventions. Your heart goes out to her.

Twists and turns that I did not see coming and suspense keeps the lights on to the last page.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for another big hit story from Stacy Willingham.

WOW! This story was fantastic! I loved Flicker in the Dark, but I think I may have loved All the Dangerous Things even more.

Isabelle was a great narrator. You didn't know if you could trust her because she didn't trust herself.

The flip between the past and the present was interesting and kept you constantly wondering how the two stories could be related.

I was somewhat satisfied with the ending. There was a happiness of sorts but part of me didn't like what was done to get there,

Overall, this was a fast and engaging story that I would recommend picking up this winter,

Good thing I read this before having kids of my own 😳
The little boy I babysit has the same name and is around the same age, so this one was definitely a little difficult to read. I can only image how much harder it would be for someone who’s already a parent to read this.

Overall, I think this book was very well written and extremely thought out. The ending was full of suspense and so many twists, it literally kept me guessing until the very end.

REVIEW: All the Dangerous Things 🚼

“The truth is, people love violence - from a distance, that is. Anyone who disagrees is either in denial or hiding something.”

Ok run to grab your copy of this one - I couldn’t put it down! There’s a different take on podcasts and true crime fans in this one that is so interesting.

Isabelle Drake’s son went missing from his crib a year ago and she hasn’t given up. She’s constantly calling the police and working her own angles when a podcaster approaches her to share her story and help her find out what happened to her son.

I think I accurately predicted only one thing in this book but it was the best one so I’m happy about it! All the other twists and turns along the way that I didn’t see were so good. The alternating timeline between Isabelle’s childhood and the now are perfect complements.

So thankful for the ARC, I loved it so much I had to get the BOTM copy to match Flicker in the Dark when I saw it pop up ❤️

📚Read this if you like:
⁃ Changeling
⁃ A Flicker in the Dark
⁃ Law & Order: SVU

My rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I absolutely loved this book! I was so excited to have the chance to read this book early since I loved A Flicker in the Dark! This book was just as fantastic! This book is dark, twisty, unpredictable and impossible to put down. Stacy Willingham is an incredible writer and is absolutely an auto-buy author! I cannot recommend this book enough! ❤️
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐