This had my heart pounding. As a mother, this is one of my worst fears, to find my child missing from their bed. Pair that with an unreliable narrator, and a shady husband and it turns into a book I could not put down.

While All The Dangerous Things had a slower start, once we hit the 50-60% mark it was just so good when everything starts coming together to find out what happened to baby Mason!

I would recommend looking into content warnings before picking this up, and definitely read the author’s note at the end!

I cannot wait for whatever Stacy Willingham puts out next! Thank you to St. Martins Press for sending me an advanced digital copy via NetGalley in exchange for review

All the Dangerous Things by Stacy Willingham

Isabelle Drake has never been perfect. In fact, she's felt extreme guilt since she was a child. But so much about her childhood seems to be behind a curtain of things she doesn't want to think about and things she can't quite remember. Instead, she moves forward and is thrilled when she is hired at her dream job.

Then comes marriage and a baby although along the way she loses so much of herself, her hopes, her identity. Once her baby is born she's so exhausted but eventually she wants more, only to lose everything she had left. Sleep deprivation is a beast and it's not like Isabelle hasn't struggled with sleep irregularities in the past.

Now Isabelle is giving talks to the public about her missing baby, who was taken from her home a year before. She knows she is a suspect in his disappearance. She knows people try to get close to her for their own reasons, such as the true-crime podcaster who offers to help her find out who took her son. He's had a successful case and is on a roll. She could use his help but fears a trap.

Motherhood meant sleep deprivation but since Isabel's baby was taken, she's had no real sleep in a year. She's at a new level of sleep disfunction and it's hard to think straight. She doesn't even trust herself now or her memories of the past. Are there more reasons to feel guilty than she already knows?

This is the kind of book that makes me want to stay up all night to keep reading, especially since each chapter ending begged for me to move on to the next chapter. When the main character isn't sure she can trust herself, what does she do? How far back in her life did she go wrong to end up where she is now? This story made for a great buddy read with DeAnn and Jayme.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books and NetGalley for this ARC.

I always enjoy the moody and atmospheric feelings that Stacy brings! This book did not disappoint! Her words and stories are told in such a way that they can’t help but get under your skin!

One year ago, Isabelle life changed forever when her toddler, Mason, was taken out of his crib in the middle of the night. With little evidence, the case quickly went cold. Racked with guilt and grief, Isabelle cannot rest until Mason is returned to her, literally. Except for the occasional nap, she hasn’t slept in a year. In hopes of finding Mason, Isabelle agrees to be interviewed by a true-crime podcaster. His questioning paired with her insomnia has brought up uncomfortable memories from her own childhood, making Isabelle start to doubt her recollection of the night of Mason’s disappearance.

I think this is going to be one of the top thrillers of 2023. I liked Flicker in the Dark, but this one was even better.

What I liked; Well written, moody atmosphere, slow paced yet captivating, twists I didn't see coming

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC

Wow, what a ride. Stacy Willingham is an expert at weaving a tale filled with suspense and crafting words that get under the skin. The protagonist is a distraught mother, whose child was stolen from the home a year before. She suffers from severe insomnia and sleepwalking, making her the perfect unreliable narrator. As she searches for answers, she uncovers many inconvenient truths that may help her find out what happened to her son. If only she could tell reality from delusions…
The author took a familiar thriller trope (kidnapped child) and made it her own heart-stopping masterpiece. Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this amazing advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

It’s been one year, since Isabelle has gotten any type of meaningful sleep. She moves about in a semiconscious dream state, opening her eyes to find herself in another place with no recollection of WHEN or HOW she got there.

ONE WHOLE YEAR, since her eighteen month old toddler, was taken from his room, in the middle of the night-the window by his crib open-but neither she, nor her husband Ben, awakened by any noise.

And, now Isabelle Drake is the keynote speaker at TrueCrimeCon-the largest true crime conference in the world-drawing a global attendance of over 10,000-trying to keep her son’s case alive, as it grows COLD-still with no leads. She hates that the people who attend sit behind their computers and tablets like this is a just a puzzle to be solved-when it’s the reality of her life-but she does this because they offer her the only HOPE she has left.

Her husband has moved out, and moved on-so when Waylon Spencer offers to feature her on his True Crime Podcast, she has nothing left to lose.

But, does he believe in her innocence?

As the two begin to work together, Isabel will begin to wonder if the events from her childhood could possibly be connected to Mason’s disappearance. Occasional flashbacks to what happened then will fill the reader in on the past.

Stacey Willingham has just proven with “back to back” impressive books that she will be an AUTO REQUEST author for me!

Like “A Flicker in the Dark” this story is a slow burn 🔥, immediately captivating, plausible story of SUSPENSE-filled with beautiful vivid descriptions, contemplative prose and intricate plotting.

My only minor critique of her first book was that I thought she had written one twist TOO many and should have stopped after the first one.

This time-I was surprised and satisfied when it ended where it did. Just right!

If you were a fan of her debut-don’t hesitate to pick this up on January 10, 2023.

Thank You to Minotaur Books for my gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!

This was an exciting roller coaster of a read with lots of shocking twists and and turns. Every time I thought I knew what was going on, something else was revealed that completely changed my perspective. Fans of Shari Lapena and Megan Goldin will enjoy this.

Two children, each with their own tragic story. Each with their own story, in their own era and setting, but what do they each have in common? Isabelle Drake.

Isabelle has a troubled past, and wants to keep that put behind her. However, when her son goes missing, one year later both stories are still haunting her present. A desperate mother and a search for the truth, Isabelle is determined to find out what happened to her son. Even if this means confronting demons from her past, regardless of the terrifying truths she may unearth.

I could NOT put this down. When I had to, I found myself still thinking about it. Although this was a bit of a slow build, a lot of the setup happening in the first half of the book or so, it was done so well. Short, engaging chapters, leaving just enough err of mystery to keep the reader wanting to read more. As the truths slowly start to show, it felt like the book literally picked up rapid pace and I was desperate to see the ending. Yet still, did not see it coming! Overall very well done and one of the best mysteries I've read in a while!

One thing that resonated with me, maybe even more than the story, was the afterward. As Stacy Willingham was reflecting on her research and intention of the book by creating strong yet flawed female characters. This really hit home, and I think that although there were some sensitive topics discussed in this book (child endangerment, kidnapping, depression, miscarriage), that each one was handled with such care that it only added to the intensity of the story but without detracting from the sensitivity of the topic.

Thank you to Minotaur Books/St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. Full review to be posted on my IG @manis.and.manuscrips close to pub day!

WOW! This book kept me guessing until the last page. What a phenomenal follow-up novel by Stacy Willingham. Thank you to the Minotaur Books Influencer Program with St. Martin's Press for sending me a NetGalley copy for review!

The first 50 or so pages I wasn't sure what to think. The main character, Isabelle, really wasn't sitting well with me and everyone in the story seemed like a suspect regarding the case of her missing son. As the story developed, I found I was having a hard time putting this book down. The plot really grew on me and I was flying through the pages.

I have to say, typically I am able to sniff out the plot twists with thriller/mystery books, but that was not the case with this novel. Willingham had me fooled the whole way through. This book won't blow you away with extreme thrills or a big bang of an ending, but the suspense and mystery should rock you just as hard by the end, which was just as satisfying. I also ended up being a big fan of Isabelle and rooting for her, the gaslighting by the all of the characters in the novel was unbelievable! So devious and suspenseful.

Overall, I would give this book 4.5 stars. I loved her first novel, A Flicker in the Dark, and I feel equally about this one.

Another perfectly crafted story from Stacy Willingham!

It has been a year since the tragic disappearance of her 18 month old son, Mason and Isabelle refuses to let go. She has lost her husband over this, her livelihood, her ability to sleep… but she refuses to give up on her baby.

With the help of a true crime podcaster, she begins diving deeper into his abduction from their home and has to look inward at her own terrible secrets… secrets that she has kept hidden since she was a child.

One thing is for sure, though. No matter what, she is going to get to the bottom of what happened to her son.

This was insanely good. The writing addictive and intriguing. You want to keep digging deeper. You yearn for the truth right along with Isabelle. I think I enjoyed this one even more than Willingham’s debut. Just perfection!

Omg- this novel is my worst nightmare as a mother! Isabelle Drake put her son to bed one night and when she woke up, she discovered the unimaginable had happened-her son, Mason had disappeared!! No signs of forced entry, nothing. He was just GONE. To make matters worse, her husband, Ben left her six months later and has moved on with his new girlfriend. He wants Isabelle to move on. As a mother-HELL NO! What kind of father is he?

So, as you can imagine, Isabelle hasn't had a good night's sleep since the disappearance of her son. She drifts through each day half awake, searching for clues to help her find her missing son. She's become a well-known speaker, out hitting the pavement, searching for her son. (As any mother could understand).

She finally agrees to be interviewed by a true crime podcaster. His probing questions stir up old emotions and memories from her traumatic childhood...
I loved A Flicker in the Dark and I loved this follow up novel. Stacy Willingham is making a name for herself with these psychological thrillers. Loved it and highly recommend. 4 stars.

From the same author as A Flicker in the Dark, this is by far one of my favorite thrillers of the year so far. This book had everything I could want in a thriller. An unreliable mother main character who has a sketchy past. She sleep walks and can’t remember hearing anything from the night her son was taken. As the story unfolded I couldn’t decide who I could trust and who was making things up. I found myself suspecting every single character in this book and was still surprised by the ending! Stacy Willingham is definitely becoming one of my favorite thriller-authors.

•All the Dangerous Things•

📚Genre: thriller
🤔Rating: 🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺(5/5)
#️⃣ of pages: 336
👯‍♀️ read if you like: twists, psychological thrillers, A Flicker in the Dark, Verity, The Push
⚠️TW: child abduction, child death, suicide, postpartum depression

👍🏼:
•loved the GA/SC setting and the deep imagery that the author used to describe everything. These rich descriptions really added to the connection I felt.
•I loved that I thought I had the book completely figured out from the beginning and it turned out that I completely did not. Multiple great twists & it was all brought back together in the end.
•this book really hit on some subjects that are often overlooked or looked at as taboo. I thought the author’s note at the end did a really fantastic job of giving significance to these subjects and really diving in to them.

👎🏼:
•not a bad thing, but there were parts that were tough and heavy to read, especially considering what life stage you’re in. I really wondered if I would be able to get through it at first but I’m sooo glad I did because I loved it.

Overall….
Wow! What a great sophomore novel by Stacy Willingham. I loved A Flicker in the Dark and I think I loved this one just as much! As a mom of a toddler and almost 8 months pregnant, I was very hesitant to start this after reading the plot summary. It truly is a mother’s worst nightmare. But the twists & turns and the way the book is written made it so worthwhile, even with the tough parts. The atmosphere was set from the beginning and Isabelle’s character was compelling. I loved seeing the puzzle pieces come together and how the end tied it all up! Put this on your list to read when it releases January 10th!

Thank you to NetGalley, minatour books and Stacy Willingham for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

4.25 stars

I loved Flicker but this one was so much better and deeper. I loved that the book was written in 2 different timelines, and I also personally love (possible spoiler…) an unreliable narrator. I thought for sure I had it figured out at the 10% mark but honestly I knew nothing. The twists kept coming. The characters were so well developed and so dimensional and real, and the storyline just heartbreaking! I loved the end though!

The only little peeve I have is that miss Willingham really truly does love the word flicker in all of its glorious forms 😆 I found it to be overused in her first book, but then it was used at least once or more per chapter here as well. Not the worse thing that could happen but once seen it cannot be unseen.

I devoured this. I had some ideas about parts of the book, but parts of it took me completely by surprise. I absolutely recommend it!

I began 2022 reading Stacy Willingham's debut novel, "A Flicker in the Dark." I am ending my year with her new novel that will be released in January of 2023. I am always looking for new writers to add to my list, and she is now right at the top.

Stories about missing and lost children are very difficult reads for me. Any book that discusses trauma and children give me pause when looking for my next read. This book handles many difficult topics with grace and dignity, and in very realistic ways. This book has multiple trigger warnings, so do your research before you read.

The main character, Isabelle, has a sleeping disorder. Her son Mason has disappeared, and it is the 1st anniversary of his disappearance. She has a family history that the author fully explores, and she meets a true crime podcaster who wants to tell her story. Her marriage has ended, and Isabelle is lost. The author leaves no stone unturned here and weaves a tale that has an ending I never saw coming. Everyone in this book has something to hide and there were many surprises along the way. The ending will stay with you for quite some time. I actually went back and reread it twice. It is incredible.

Stacy Willingham also knows how to use her setting. Like in "A Flicker in the Dark," the setting plays a major role. This was a very atmospheric novel. At one point, she describes the sunrise, and I felt as though I were watching it myself. You could smell the marsh and the water, and you could feel the suffocating heat at times. But what will really get you is how she describes Isabelle's insomnia. It is oppressive at times. As the reader, you are truly immersed in her journey.

I hightly recommend this book! You will not be disappointed. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced reader copy of this book. I was truly floored to receive it! I absolutely cannot wait to read what Stacy Willingham writes next!

This book is about a mother who's son was taken from his nursery one night and vanished without a trace. It picks up at the "one year missing" mark, and we also go back and forth between past and present with our main character Isabella. As a mother to a little boy, this story was HARD to read. I cannot imagine the pain she felt. I felt her frustration for not having answers for so long, and how she was desperate to keep his story alive so the case would not grow cold. Whether you're a parent or not, Isabelle's pain was so raw, so real, you will feel it through the pages. I loved this book from the very beginning to the very end. I read it fast because it was impossible to put down. The writing was absolutely beautiful and captivating and the story drew me in and never let go.

I read Willingham's debut A Flicker in the Dark last year and I loved it! When I saw her name pop on netgalley up for an upcoming thriller, I immediately requested it! Thank you Minotaur Books for this ARC. I loved this as much as her other book, and actually, I loved it more! This was so good! I look forward to reading more from this amazing new author.

Stacy Willingham is back with her second novel, and she’s quickly becoming one of my favorite thriller authors.

Short Synopsis:
One year ago Isabelle’s son went missing in the middle of the night. The case is cold. Isabelle hasn’t slept since. She’s speaking and doing everything she can to keep the story fresh in the hopes that one day someone will know something.

My Thoughts:
This one is twisty and dark and I liked it! The characters were flawed and the whole time i was trying to piece the puzzle together.

The unreliable narrator and crazy mom trope is something that’s not new, but it’s so well done in the book. The sleep deprivation was relatable and had me turning the pages.

Read if you like:
- psychological thrillers
- True crime podcasts
- A Flicker in the Dark (Willingham’s debut novel)
- Stories about how moms need sleep

In this story we follow Isabelle who's son has been missing for over a year. She will do anything within her power to find out him.. even if that means diving into her troubling past.

This book took me on one heck of a ride and had me guessing the entire time. The authors writing was so captivating that I didn't want to put this book down.

A special thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the digital ARC copy.

4.5 Stars -- Wow, this book, what a nail biter! Stacy Willingham’s All the Dangerous Things is a thrilling second novel. It’s the story of Isabelle Drake, a chronic insomniac with a missing child and a dark secret from her childhood. The tension keeps building throughout the book as you try to figure out who is lying and what happened, now and then. Willingham is truly a gifted writer of suspense.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC.