Member Reviews

All the Dangerous Things is a good book. Although, I didn't find anything outstanding about the book, I did really like Stacy Willingham's first book "A Flicker in the Dark" I just can't say that "All the Dangerous Things" even compares to "A Flicker in the Dark". I look forward to more titles Stacy writes. Hopefully it will give be a clearer outlook on the author.

Was this review helpful?

One of my first 5 stars of the year! I read it with a book club, and we loved discussing our theories 2/3 of the way through. Let me just say, this one took ALL of us by surprise! The twisty ending was perfect. It was a quick and suspenseful read. I enjoyed her first book, but could see the growth in writing between book 1 and this one. I look forward to reading more of this author’s work!

Was this review helpful?

A picture-perfect domestic suspense that checks all the boxes. Missing child, desperate mother, podcaster. No one is who they seem to be. Great twists, satisfying ending.

Was this review helpful?

I got this arc from netgalley and then checked it out later from my library to read it again. It's every parents worst fear. Your child being taken from your own home, wondering if you failed somehow as a parent. The slide intro depression and suicidal thoughts. Marriage breaking apart and then trying to move on and find something to give you peace...I never saw the twists that was thrown in here and they were great

Was this review helpful?

“A storyteller never goes into a story without actually knowing the story. Without having an idea of what it is you want to tell. You don’t go in blind, searching for answers. You have the answers—your answers, at least; the answers you want—and you go in searching for proof.”

Nahhhh because this book THRILLED me for real. That ending?! Are you kidding me???? I was SHOCKED.

What I loved:
-Dual/nonlinear timeline - this helped to piece everything together in the end.
-The ending!! I was honestly not expecting that and I was like, DANG OKAY WHAT OMG NO. lol
-An unreliable narrator - I was on the edge of my seat wondering if I could trust this woman or not
-Vivid writing - this kept me engaged and I felt a part of the intensity of the story
-The psychology of the mind and this idea that... could we be capable of horrific behavior when unconscious? Do we ever truly know what we're capable of?

Truly fantastic. And haunting.

I highly recommend this thriller!! Definitely in my top 5 favorite thrillers of all time. So, if you haven't yet, get yourself a copy and get lost in this wild ride.

❗️TW: loss of a child, postpartum depression/anxiety, motherhood trauma, child abduction❗️

Was this review helpful?

I always want to squeal with joy when I finish a thriller novel without rolling my eyes. All The Dangerous Things might take the top spot for thrillers so far this year. While I was wildly uncomfortable, terrified and angry right from the beginning of this book, it was for all the right reasons. The author really gets under your skin and makes you feel all the uncomfortable feelings and emotions the characters are experiencing.

Usually I can't stand thriller novels that revolve around a woman's mental health, postpartum and postpartum mental health, but this one really handled it well and I loved the author's note at the end about it. I couldn't have predicted the outcome of this novel if I tried. I was fully enthralled in the entirety of this book from start to finish and I couldn't get enough! Can't wait for more from Stacy Willingham.

Was this review helpful?

I was a little nervous going into this one after reading A Flicker in the Dark- which I enjoyed but found it way too predictable.
This one was great. I was second guessing myself throughout the book and the ending was a surprise. Def recommend for my mystery/thriller friends.

Was this review helpful?

I really liked A Flicker in the Dark so I was excited to read All the Dangerous Things . It did not disappoint.

From the very beginning, I was engrossed by the story - missing baby, mom who can’t sleep, true crime podcast…. All things that kept me flipping the pages late into the night. It kept me guessing until the very end!

Was this review helpful?

Thank you for the advanced copy of this book! I will be posting my review on social media, to include Instagram, Amazon, Goodreads, and Instagram!

Was this review helpful?

Stacy Willingham's debut A Flicker in the Dark was an enjoyable read so I was really looking forward to her second one and it didn't disappoint! Some readers avoid crimes against children so it should be known the book begins with a kidnapped baby. The poor mother is so sleep deprived and is an unreliable narrator throughout the book. Did she harm her own baby and not remember? The story is sad but compelling. I highly recommend this one if you like a well written, thriller with an unpredictable twist near the end.

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoyed this book! I will be looking for other books by this author. It kept me on the edge of my seat from page one til the end. I didn't want to put it down til I finished!! I would definitely recommend this book,

Was this review helpful?

Isabelle Drake’s toddler son, Mason, was kidnapped from his bedroom a year ago while she and her husband slept just a room away. And while the case has mostly gone cold, Isabelle will stop at nothing to chase leads and find her son — that’s why she agrees to be interviewed by a true crime podcaster and speaks at conventions. But she’s soon uncomfortable with the podcaster’s questions and questioning her own past.

I enjoyed Willingham’s debut and recommend it, but I was completely enthralled in “All the Dangerous Things” and read it in less than 24 hours. If you’re in a slump or want to read more books in 2023, this would be an excellent way to jump start the habit. There are a couple of excellent twists here that will keep you guessing up until the last page.

This book unfolds in the South Carolina Low Country and Savannah, Georgia, and having spent some time in both areas, I really enjoyed the setting.

The author’s note is fantastic, but don’t read it beforehand! It’s a spoiler (and at the end of the book, so read it afterward).

Was this review helpful?

All the Dangerous Things is a slow-burn mystery that does set up a chilling ending if you stick with it. Willingham has leveled up her craft, and I am eager to see what she comes up with next.

Was this review helpful?

Quick, easy read! I loved the twists - definitely some shadey people out there. Willingham does a great job with the plot setup and just tearing it apart.
Isabelle's son was taken from his bedroom a year ago - 365 days of no sleep and refusing to accept he's gone.
A podcast host resolves to help her find him - digging deep into the events of that night.
Her husband, Ben, has already moved out - and started a new relationship.
Convinced she had hurt her younger sister during a bout of sleepwalking, Isabelle isn't sure she isn't guilty.

Was this review helpful?

I loved Stacy Willingham's debut, A Flicker in the Dark. It was excited and fast paced. I didn't think she would be able to top it. However, this was even better. I love the incorporation of the podcast in the storyline. It brings a modern element into the story to make it seem more realistic. This author is now an autobuy for me.

When Isabelle's son goes missing, she will not rest (literally) until he is found. For over a year she looks for him, trying to find witnesses or remember anything that might have been overlooked. She agrees to be interviewed for a podcast, but the host seems to focus on her instead of her son, Mason. She doubts what she believes and who she trusts. Such a great thriller that keeps you guessing the whole time!!

Was this review helpful?

This was a gripping story and dark at times. I loved the twist and how everything wrapped up.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Was this review helpful?

I was so excited for this, and tried to read it right after I had my son, and it was too stressful for me to get through. I just wasn't what I needed post partum. Bummer.

Was this review helpful?

This one had me guessing until the very end. I enjoyed the complexity with which the author handled the "unreliable narrator" concept in this thriller, because ultimately our protagonist wanted the truth about not only her past but her present situation.

Was this review helpful?

I really like this story and the unknown theme that kept you wondering what was real and what was not. The twist was very unexpected and the ending was excellent.

Was this review helpful?

Books like this one haunt me in my sleep. Anything in regards to missing and or abducted children, ugh it takes my anxiety to to level. This was an exceptionally well done book, and a first for me from this author. Won’t be the last!

Was this review helpful?