Ok I will admit I was a little leery reading this one because A Flicker in the Dark kinda fell flat for me. But I’ve been hearing such amazing things about this one, and I believe in second chances - and oh boy am I glad I did!

Isabelle Drake had her son go missing from his nursery a year ago, and she hasn’t slept since. She has parted with her husband over the stress of the loss of her son, and she holds herself together trying to solve who took him. She does this by talking at true crime events, in return for talking she gets payment in the form of the name of all attendees. Just in case anyone is trying to cover their tracks and keep tabs on her. On the way home from one event she meets a podcast producer. Ultimately Isabelle elects to tell him her story, but finds he’s keeping secrets. As things fall into place around her, Isabelle has many revelations and second guesses everything she thought true. Will she be able to find her son alive, or is the mostly case, he’s gone covered be true.

This one was a well done atmospheric suspense novel. I think the thriller element of this story was fairly subdued and it was more a suspense / mystery. I think all three of these genres overlap in many ways and are open to interpretation. I really enjoyed the authors note at the end and agree she did an amazing job covering some delicate topics. I gave this one a solid 4 out of 5 stars.

Thank you thank you to @netgalley and the publisher, St Martins Press, @stmartinspress, for an advanced e copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Check this one out Jan 10, 2023 and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

This book was everything I wanted it to be. It had me turned pages without even realizing. It was so good!

Oh my gosh, I had such high expectations for this one, and I was not disappointed! It had me hooked from page one!

I haven't read the authors other work but this was a good domestic thriller.

Lots of elements at play here, with information being given out bit by bit and you know from the get go you're sort of dealing with an unreliable narrator (it's actually a character trait). There are some moments I wish we got to spend more time with (like Waylon and the husband) to flesh out their pieces more but with the alternate timelines there prob wasnt enough time for that plus a succinct story.

I want to thank NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Wow this book! Isabelle Drake is living a nightmare. She wakes up one morning to find her son
Mason has been taken. There is no evidence and no leads on the kidnapping... so the case goes cold. Almost a year later, with virtually no sleep and no new leads, she presses on…determined to find her son. Her husband has
left her, and the detective on the case seems to still suspect her.. she meets a man who may or may not be wanting to help her in her search...Isabelle isn't sure if her memory is correct or she is imagining things… This was a great novel that kept me guessing to the very end.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5003562440

*Many thanks to St. Martin's Press/ Minotaur books, Stacy Willingham, and netgalley for my gifted eARC for an honest review. Publication date 1/10/23*

EVERY MOTHER'S WORST NIGHTMARE!
Isabelle Drake wakes up one morning to find her son Mason missing from his crib. No suspects, no leads, and practically no clues at all. As the 1 year anniversary date is about to come up Isabelle meets Waylon, who has a true crime podcast and wants to help Isabelle tell her story to the world. Isabelle will stop at nothing to find her child even if it makes herself look crazy!

Although I liked A Flicker in the Dark better this was still a good read. When I thought I had it figured out it went in a whole different direction that I was not expecting. I do feel like the latest trends in physiological thrillers is insomnia and I feel like it is getting overused lately, but I thought Stacey did a good job with this one.

Trigger warnings: Suicide

My first novel by this incredible writer and it immediately goes into the top five for the year. A thriller about a missing child is indeed thrilling, with a possibly flawed mother driven to find him, while some fingers are pointed to her,. It’s always the mother, right? Written with a feminist sensibility we see how the pressure to be a perfect mother is on all of us. This is a brilliant literary thriller with an unforgettable mother who will stay with you long after the book is finished. Can’t wait to read Stacy Willingham’s previous book.

Thank you to #NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for providing me an advance copy of Stacy Willingham’s sophomore novel, All The Dangerous Things, in exchange for an honest review.

After reviewing and enjoying the author’s debut novel, A Flicker in the Dark, I could not wait to get my hands on a copy of her latest standalone thriller, #AllTheDangerousThings. Despite the initially, worrisome slow-opening, Ms. Willingham knocks it out of the park once again with her sophomore release. The story is told from the perspective of the protagonist, Isabelle Drake, and alternates between the past and present. In some ways, it reminded me of Gillian Flynn’s, #SharpObjects.

Isabelle Drake has barely slept since her son was snatched from his crib one year ago. Desperate to find him after endless searching and no leads from the police, she agrees to be interviewed by a semi-famous, true-crime podcaster. As the host’s questions and advice prompt her to reassess the night her son was taken, she begins to look at the kidnapping from a different angle. The trouble is that her insomnia and past childhood traumas often interfere with her present reality. Soon she no longer knows who not to trust, including herself. I urge readers to slog through the opening chapters because once the mystery starts to unravel there is no putting this book down.

Rating: ★★★.5/5

Going in to this one, I was very excited because I loved A Flicker in the Dark, this author’s debut novel. I was hoping that this book would be just as great, if not better. Unfortunately, it wasn’t.

Isabelle Drake, a grieving mother and wife to Ben Drake, has not been able to find peace since her son, Mason, was taken from their home. Despite her insomnia, she works tirelessly to figure out what happened to him. While seeking answers about her past, the truth about Mason’s disappearance slowly gets revealed.

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This was an OK domestic thriller. My issue is that it didn’t grab my attention in the beginning—it was the epitome of a slow start. It didn’t pick up until about 80% percent. Because of that, I didn’t feel connected to the characters or care about the outcome.

If I’m being honest? I am getting bored with the “mom has lost/is looking for her child” trope in thrillers, as well as podcasts being mentioned just because (𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘥).

I still think some people may enjoy this one.

I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars

All The Dangerous Things is everything that A Flicker In The Dark wasn’t. And it’s not a bad thing, but they are different. It’s very slow-paced, character driven in its plot.

Isabelle Drake’s son has gone missing, but the majority of the story is not necessarily about the kidnapping itself, but more about Isabelle and her past. All the things that have led to this moment happening. I did enjoy the story, but I wasn’t shocked or wow’ed. I also didn’t have a lot of affection for Isabelle, which made it hard to connect with her character.

I think it was an entertaining read that I really did enjoy, but I didn’t love it. It wasn’t all that thrilling since I guessed some stuff, but it was twisty. I wish it would have been a little faster paced. Overall I enjoyed and would recommend it to others.

**SPOILER’S INCOMING**
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**Don’t say I didn’t warn you that there’s lots of spoilers past this point….
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I found it hard to have sympathy for her that her husband was having an affair. I mean, she made out with Ben at his dead wife’s memorial that was held at her home and then slept with him immediately - gross. Have some sort of respect for the dead woman if you have none for yourself. I get that he was older and manipulative, but a married man is a married man. Just don’t do it.

Also, she knew that Ben never wanted to be a father. They agreed to no children together. How did she think leaving her son alone with him for days on end so she could work would pan out? Sometimes yes, people do change like she did to want children after is happens. But she made it clear that even after her son was born Ben had little interest. As a mom I know just how much we sacrifice of ourselves when we have children. I can’t imagine what it’s like to then have a partner who doesn’t want that child.

I figured out who Waylon was about 50ish percent into the story, so that came as no surprise when it was discovered.

I was relieved to know that Mason was found safe and well. Screw Valerie for being a horrible woman who would do something like that to another woman. Forget Ben and his “manipulation” tactics. But to take matters into your own hands just so you can have a man? Girl… There’s plenty of men out there who are available without stealing someone’s baby. Not only did Valerie hurt Isabelle, but that poor woman who couldn’t have children that she gave Mason to that had to turn around and give him back! And yeah, she never should have taken Mason, either. But if Valerie wouldn’t have offered a baby up on a silver platter I don’t think this woman would have gone out looking to steal a baby on her own. For goodness sake she was seeking grief counseling and her own counselor took advantage of her state for her own benefit.

A man is not worth that kind of trouble, ladies!!

📖 All the Dangerous Things by Stacy Willingham ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Thriller • Atmospheric • Gripping

“It scares me when you do that…” 😱

If you loved Willingham’s Flicker in the Dark, you won’t want to miss All the Dangerous Things when it releases in January 2023.

When Isabelle’s son goes missing, she puts all her effort into finding out what happened. And when you are desperate for answers, everything and everyone is suspicious. That, IMO, makes for a good suspense novel. Combine that with the atmospheric descriptions of the future and the past, and Willingham hit on a combo for a gripping mystery novel.

Side note: If you are an avid crime podcast listener, you will enjoy the winks at that community and I certainly had a very specific person in mind for the fictional podcaster of Waylon.

Many thanks to #netgalley and #stmartinspress for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

#allthedangerousthings #stacywillingham #stmartinspress #minotaurbooks #netgalley #arc #arcreview #book #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #read #readersofinstagram #reading #mystery #mysterybooks #crimebooks #suspense #suspensebooks #thriller #thrillernovels

A story terrifying as a mother to read. A huge fear.
BUT Stacy did amazing in her research, plot development, and character development. I thought I knew the truth several times and boy was I far from it. The perfect kind of psychological thriller where it all could 100% be a true story. Where it makes you think about the actions of others in a light you might not typically put that individual under. I couldn’t put the book down.

The epilogue is a must read as well.

So many good twist and turns! This book was amazing! Another good book from this author . Can’t wait to read more!

4.5 stars for Willingham’s second book!!
🌟🌟🌟🌟💫

After loving A Flicker in the Dark, I knew I wanted to read this book asap and it didn’t NOT disappoint 😍

There were MANY twists in this thriller that I didn’t see coming. The overall premise reminded me of one of my FAV thrillers ever, but this story still brought unique elements (the topics surrounding motherhood were SO good)! Can’t wait for more friends to read this one!!

Thank you Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for my gifted eARC in exchange for my honest review!

Isabelle Drake's son Mason disappears from his crib one night. One year later, the investigation has grown cold. and Isabelle isn't sleeping. She only takes catnaps and also finds herself zoning out and not remembering how long she's been out of it. She meets a podcaster who wants to interview her to help with the case. She agrees, but his prodding questions make her question her memories from that night and memories from her childhood.

This book was so good! I love reading the words the author uses to describe situations and feelings. Her words are mesmerizing. The plot of this story was so real. Being a mother is hard. You can really feel Isabelle's confusion and uncertainty. I can happily say, there are no plot holes in this novel. Everything is ironed out for you in the end. I was shocked to find out what actually happened. It wasn't even on my radar. 5 stars!

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Isabelle hasn’t slept in 364 days — just catnaps, dozing off for minutes, nodding off in an intense micro sleep, but never a sound long sleep. And once Isabelle was such a deep sleeper that she couldn’t be roused from sleepwalking and even slept through a fire alarm and sirens. What happened? Her toddler son, Mason, was taken from his crib in the middle of the night and she’s now always on high alert, no matter how detrimental it is to her health and relationships. Mason’s disappearance has become old news, a cold case, and even Mason’s dad Ben has moved on and away from his obsessive wife.

Trying to keep the case alive, Isabelle speaks at true crime conventions, panels, and conferences. Her fee? The list of attendees that she later cross-references on Facebook, looks them up on the sex offender registry, analyzes their internet comments and requests their IP addresses from police, and googles and googles — hoping that the person who took Mason will be there in the audience like the criminal returning to the scene of the crime. A convention attendee, podcaster Waylon Spencer, a person with an unsolved family murder of his own, approaches her to be a guest on his show — a different tactic from what she tried before — and she eventually agrees.

Stacy Willingham is a master at creating an overwhelming sense of dread as the novel proceeds. There are two timelines: now, as Isabelle is interviewed by Waylon; and then, back in 1999, when Izzy lived with her sister Margaret and her mother and, apparently, something happened. And whatever that was bears some relationship to Mason’s disappearance. I wanted to know what it was and I also feared finding out what it was — which propelled me to the amazing ending, with twists I did not see coming. When I thought I had something figured out, it turned out differently. But I wasn’t able to relax because another dreadful possibility arose. This thriller is THAT good — wrenching, satisfying, then surprising and horrifying again. Anexcellent sophomore novel for Ms. Willingham— and a terrific follow up to “A Flicker in the Dark.” 5 stars! Don’t miss this one!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES The missing Mason has green eyes.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO But there are two different marshes (with “pluff” mud) that play an important part of the plot.

First off, a BIG thank you to netgalley and St Martins Press for this ARC! This was one of my most anticipated releases for next year and I’m very happy I got to read it early in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book, but not as much as A Flicker In The Dark. However, I feel these two were on different ends of the thriller spectrum, but I didn’t let that discourage me.

This book had a very interesting plot that I was drawn into right away, so much so that I didn’t want to put it down. Stacy is great at writing cliffhangers at every chapter and short chapters that pack a punch! I definitely didn’t see the ending coming at all. This book also has dual timelines that were done seamlessly! Sometimes I find those hard to follow, but this one was perfect for connecting the dots throughout.

All and all, this is a solid domestic thriller that I would recommend. Stacy Willingham is definitely an auto-buy author for me.

Wow! All The Dangerous Things by Stacy Willingham gets all the stars from me! I loved this book. It was fast paced, suspenseful, and a page turner! There were a bunch of twists and turns that I did not see coming. The plot and the characters were extremely well developed. I also liked the note from the author at the end. My only complaint is that I allowed this book to sit on my NetGalley shelf longer than I should have, which was my own fault:)

I highly recommend this book to other readers. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced readers copy.

Thank you to St Martin's Press and NetGalley!
Isabelle's son disappeared one year ago and there have been no leads. To stir up some interest in the case, she interviews with a podcaster and is more determined than ever to find out what happened.

I liked this book especially the beginning. The ending was a little too easy and convenient. I finished it and wished I knew more about Isabelle other than that her son went missing.

I really enjoyed this book and thought it had some great twists. It centers on Isabelle, whose son was kidnapped while she and her husband were sleeping; she'll stop at nothing to figure out what happened and bring him home. Isabelle has stopped sleeping since the disappearance and also has some things from her childhood that make her wonder what the police really think is happening. She befriends a podcaster to try to get her story heard by more people, but he has secrets of his own.

I thought Isabelle was a believable character and I admired her perseverance in figuring out what happened to her son. I feel like I would have driven the police crazy with all my ideas if I was in the same position. The book does a great job of giving you bits and pieces of information related to Isabelle's relationships with other characters, then tying it all together in a way that is surprising but makes total sense. I love when this happens, versus being completely shocked when a twist comes out of left field. The ending of the book was satisfying to me and I thought all the loose ends were resolved.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book (as well as Willingham's previous book) and I would recommend it to those who like mysteries and psychological thrillers. I am looking forward to what she comes up with next! Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.