After Stacy Willingham's debut book, "A Flicker in the Dark", I was very excited to get my hands on her newest book, "All the Dangerous Things". Isabelle, our main character, has been struggling with severe insomnia after her young son has been missing for exactly a year. The premise was interesting to me, an unreliable narrator and a mystery to be solved. I found myself half way through the book and still not fully into the story. I felt like something was missing, and there was no good hook that really kept the reader wanting more. The switching of timelines between each chapter was little confusing at times and made my wonder why her childhood was being brought into it. I found a few of the twists to be predictable, and overall the story wrapped up a little too quickly and conveniently for my liking. Overall, this wasn't the book for me. I think readers who enjoy an unreliable narrator may enjoy giving this book a try.

I started All the Dangerous Things last week and found that I could not put it down! A Flicker in the Dark totally sold me on author Stacy Willingham's writing style but I found this book even more engaging! The plot line totally sucked me in and the nuanced and multifaceted characters kept me guessing until the very end!

A sleep deprived mother who's son goes missing and her quest to find the truth, a true crime podcaster who is here to help (or are they?!) and so many questions left unanswered. The twists were perfect, the writing was well developed and I just can't stop thinking about it, which is a sign of a five star read for me.

I look forward to sharing more about this title when we get a bit closer to it's January 2023 pub date.

Thank you to Minotaur Books for my gifted copy.

I thoroughly enjoyed this psychological thriller about a Mother who woke up one morning to find her son, Mason, missing. There’s no sign of forced entry, no muddy footprints on the carpet, no foreign fingerprints but the window next to his crib is wide open.

It’s been one whole year since Isabella Drake has slept, one year since her son went was taken from his crib. Mason’s case has gone cold but Isabella is still looking, still has hope that he’s alive. Her husband, Ben, has moved on and left her six months after his disappearance.

With the lack of sleep, she’s barely coping between reality and hallucinations. She’s suffered from sleep walking ever since she was young and wonders if she had done something to her son while she was sleeping. It hasn’t been the first time something tragic has happened while she was asleep.

The book is narrated by Isabelle from the present then flashes back to 1999 when her sister, Margaret, had a tragic “accident” when Isabelle was asleep.

To bring awareness to her son’s case, she starts speaking at different conventions in hopes of finding answers. She finds secrets more than answers, and through her exhaustion, she soon find out that those that she loved most have been spreading rumors about her sanity.

When she teams up with a mysterious man with a Podcast, she’s relieved to find someone she can trust but can she truly trust anyone?

This book was slow going in the beginning but it was just filling our minds with all the misfortune that Isabelle experienced as a young child and how she feared that her past had something to do with her missing son. Once it started picking up, I couldn’t stop reading and the biggest twist was astronomically mind blowing!

No sophomore slump here. Another masterfully crafted thriller.

Stacy Willingham is now an auto buy author for yours truly.

All the Dangerous Things is a heart wrenching yet suspenseful narrative you won't want to put down.

Willingham weaves a story of a mother desperately searching for her son who mysteriously disappeared from his crib one year ago. This is not Isabella's first brush with tragedy and the novel flows between the present day and her chilling childhood memories.

Willingham's use of an unreliable narrator makes for a few twists and turns and although they can be predicted, there is still enough suspense to keep the reader wanting more.

If you enjoyed A Flicker in the Dark, you will enjoy All the Dangerous Things even more. I definitely saw growth in her writing. A five star read for me!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's press for a free digital copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I could not put this one down! After reading A Flicker in the Dark, I knew I wanted to get my hands on Stacy's newest book ASAP. It reminded me of a couple thrillers I've read before (but in a good way!) and was totally surprising to me.

This is a dark, emotional story that will surely captivate readers.

The pacing was a bit slow in the first twenty percent or so, with a lot of introspection and rehashing of emotions, while not a whole lot is actually happening. However, once things started to pick up they really took off. There is a creeping tension that continuously builds throughout this story, giving a feeling of dread, like the sense that something is lurking in the shadows of your peripheral vision just waiting to pounce.

I really liked the flashbacks to the protagonist's childhood. I found getting a glimpse into her past to be the most engaging sections of the book. The macabre history of the house she grew up in adds an extra layer to the eerie nature of the story. Savannah was such a fun setting for this book. As someone who is Georgia born and raised I am super familiar with the area. It has a unique history with many hot spots of supernatural activity for those who believe, which worked perfectly as part of the backdrop for this story.

The author drops us a trail of crumbs to follow as the moments of sinister events keep multiplying. There are so many suspicions being thrown around and so many characters that play a crucial role in the plot; it always keeps you guessing.

I liked the sleepwalking aspect of the story, it was something unique and really worked as a plot device. I love the sense of unreliable narrator that happened as a result, where Isabelle is constantly questioning her own memories and mentality. Although I’m not a huge fan of the missing child trope (it’s just so common in this genre), I do understand that this can be an effective way for many readers to connect with the characters on a deeper level. I am not a mom myself so I can only imagine the trauma from losing a child in any capacity. And I really actually felt the grief melting off the pages.

I think fans of domestic thrillers are going to love this one!

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martins Press for providing a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed Stacey Willinghams first book so was looking forward to this one - and I was not disappointed. Lets of twists and turns and false steps before the final closure. Being inside of a mom whos son is missing and thinking that she had some part in it that repeated behavior from her past was a compelling story and made it hard to put down. Ending was very satisfying with both resolution of the plot and a bit of deserved revenge on some evil players involved.

The authors note at the end was interesting, having written the story about a mom and her child without herself being a mom. Seeing her though process and gentle handling of the subject matter through research was an interesting perspective.

Definitely a fan and will keep a look out for more of her books in the future.

All the Dangerous Things* was a fairly good book as far as books with a potentially unreliable narrator go. I sympathized with the narrator and found her to be quite likeable. The after plot (what happened after the mystery was solved) seemed to be simply tacked on and offered no gratification to the reader. I can't say more about it without giving away the main plot, but it lacked emotion.

*I received an advanced copy of the book free of charge from the publisher.

This is the thriller to read in 2023 🙌

The top-notch writing pulled me into this story and I was completely immersed for the entire intense ride. No shortage of suspense here. The whole cast of characters are fully developed, memorable, each with their own narrative. They will be staying with me for a while. The best part: the mystery continued to unfold until the very end!

Thank you Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books for the complimentary ebook! Swipe for Goodreads blurb ▶️

Pub Date: 1/10/23

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[arc review]
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Minotaur Books for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
All the Dangerous Things releases January 10/2023

Isabelle is a new mother. It’s been a year since she’s had a full night’s sleep. Wracked with severe insomnia and a history of sleep walking, she is struggling to keep it together. The reason behind this extreme deprivation? Exactly one year ago, her son, Mason, was kidnapped from his crib and they’re no closer to finding out who the suspect is.

This was a decent read, however I found that the beginning wasn’t gripping enough for me as a thriller. Most of the story was an exploration and backstory of Isabelle’s life, instead of the missing son and active investigations with law enforcement.
Once the pieces start getting put together, and you learn how each of the characters are connected, then it does pick up - this is around 80%.
In hindsight, had I known about some of the basic content of this book, I probably wouldn’t have put this on my radar due to personal preferences (listed below).

I really enjoyed Willingham’s debut, but the structure in this was too similar for me — sibling dynamics, questionable spouses and parental upbringings, child deaths, cheating trope, dual timeline, neatly wrapped up/open ending, etc.

Overview:
- set in Savannah, Georgia
- dual timeline (then/now)
- severe insomnia + sleep walking
- postpartum psychosis
- mentions of suicide or assumed drug overdose
- child deaths
- serial cheating
- kidnapping
- unreliable narrator

I am so happy to have gotten my hands on the ARC of this book! The author’s debut novel was a read I really enjoyed last year. This one also did not disappoint!

We are brought to Savannah, Georgia where our main character, Isabelle’s, life was flipped upside down a year ago. Her son, Mason, was kidnapped in the middle of the night while her and her husband slept. Now she hasn’t had a full night of sleep in a year. Isabelle is determined to uncover the truth and find her son. As she tried to uncover the truth, she is questioning who can she really trust?

What I enjoyed:
- the southern gothic backdrop/setting was wonderful. I felt it gave it an extra creepy vibe to the whole story.
- Dual Points of Time. We go between now and Isabelle’s childhood in 1999
- The pacing was well done. The book kept my interest and my mind never strayed
- There were some moments I saw coming. But there was a big twist I didn’t see. Which still made the book interesting and kept me on my toes.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book! This author is officially an auto read for me. 4 stars out of 5! Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Stacy Willingham does it again!
Thank you @netgalley @stmartinspress & @minotaur_books for this ARC — one I was most excited to be approved for because of how much I absolutely loved A Flicker in the Dark by @stacyvwillingham

Although I wasn’t *quite* as captivated by this story as I was by her debut, A Flicker in the Dark, Stacy Willingham still knows how to write a page turning domestic thriller! There wasn’t as much suspense as I hoped for, but it was still sharp, well-written, and completely unpredictable! Definitely recommend 👏🏻 and I know I will continue to read anything this author writes!

Thank you @minotaurbooks and @netgalley for the gifted copy) Out January 10.

This thriller had me on the edge of my seat. I did not guess how this was going to play out. I haven't read her other book Flicker in The Dark yet…so now I definitely gotta do that!! The MC in this one is Isabelle Drake. Her son has been missing for a year, taken from his room in the middle of the night. There are no leads and no clues. She hasn't slept for that year other than small bouts and catnaps. All she wants to do is find out what happened to her son. She agrees to work with a podcaster who says he wants to help, but now she's wonder what his objective really is. She has a troubled past, and she's starting to think she can't even trust herself. Who CAN she trust??

Omg SO GOOD!! Flew through it, couldn't put it down. You will wonder about every character in this book. So we'll written and unpredictable!! I can't wait to read more by this author.

Haunting, suspenseful thriller set in the atmospheric marsh in the south. I really enjoyed Isabelle’s dual timeline. Digging up her past felt a bit rushed and I would have been interested in reading more about what happened in their prestigious family! Great read and I absolutely love the setting of Savannah! 4/5 ⭐️

Thanks you to NetGalley, Minotaur Books and the author, Stacy Willingham, for granting me an advance copy of this book in return for my honest opinion. A

This book is not just the story of another abducted child. It is a heart wrenching, psychological thriller. We are led through many twists and turns and kept the ending s total surprise.

Highly, highly recommend. Five stars!

So excited to read more from Stacy Willingham!

An Intriguing Puzzle

“We are nothing but what we choose to believe.”

All the Dangerous Things is a psychological thriller about a missing child and his sleep-deprived mother obsessed with finding out the truth behind his disappearance.

It’s been 364 days since Isabelle Drake had a concrete night’s sleep. 364 days ago, her two-year-old son, Mason, was taken from his room in the middle of the night without a trace. Not only is her son missing, but the police can’t find any evidence of what happened to him, and Isabelle’s husband, Ben, has ended their marriage. Determined to find Mason, Isabelle must face her past, even if it means accepting that she might have put her son in danger.

Narrated solely by Isabelle, the narrative alternates between the present and 1999, when Isabelle was a child. Isabelle is an unreliable narrator, and since she doesn’t sleep, her memory is murky, and her obsession with finding Mason has her struggling to separate reality from fantasy.

The pacing is on the slower side, but I was pulled in immediately by Isabelle’s voice. The structure of the narrative, coupled with the moody atmosphere, works to slowly build a palpable level of tension. I thought I had everything figured out, but I was caught off guard by one of the twists.

All the Dangerous Things is a tension-fueled addictive thriller with a solid twist. I loved seeing how the pieces fit together--although everything wraps up a little too neatly, the ending was quite gratifying.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press in exchange for an honest review.

I was really impressed with Stacy Willingham's writing. The mystery was done really well. I thought I had the plot figured out a few times but it kept surprising me. 5 stars all the way! Looking forward to more from Stacy Willingham.

It has been almost a year since Isabelle Drake’s toddler son, Mason, was taken from his crib in the middle of the night while Isabelle and her husband Ben slept in the next room. Over the last year, Isabelle has been functioning on minimal sleep and has left no stone unturned in trying to find her son – hounding the police who have been unsuccessful in finding any clues, giving interviews and investigating the backgrounds of her friends and neighbors and attendees of the true-crime conferences she attends. Despite her initial reluctance she also agrees to participate in a true-crime podcast hosted by Waylon Spencer, who has been successful in solving a cold case in the past and who was one of the attendees at a conference in which Isabelle speaks about her son’s disappearance. Isabelle's marriage has fallen apart after Mason’s disappearance and her husband Ben has apparently accepted that Mason is never coming home. He has moved on and is now involved with another woman. But nothing has deterred Isabelle from her efforts to find her child.

As the narrative progresses we are taken back to Isabelle’s childhood and the traumatic events that have haunted her throughout her life – events for which Isabelle holds herself responsible. We also get to know more about her relationship with her husband Ben – how they met, their marriage, and subsequent events. While Isabelle tries to zero in on possible suspects, often acting impulsively in confronting those whom she suspects, it becomes clear that she is also a suspect in her son’s disappearance in the eyes of the police and others around her. With no one above suspicion and over a year since Mason was taken, will Isabelle be able to figure out what happened on that fateful night? Who took Mason? Is he still alive? Who can she trust to help her? Can she even trust her own memories of that night?

All the Dangerous Things by Stacy Willingham is an absorbing read! Suspense and twists, lies and deception, flawed characters and an intriguing well-structured plot make for an engaging psychological thriller. The narrative is shared completely from Isabelle’s PoV and moves back and forth between the present day with flashbacks from her relationship with Ben and chapters devoted to her childhood. I wasn't the biggest fan of Stacy Willingham’s previous novel, A Flicker in the Dark, but I thoroughly enjoyed All the Dangerous Things. Though the pace does wane in parts, I enjoyed the plot development and the twists and turns along the way. Though the primary mystery is that of Mason’s disappearance, a lot is going on in Isabelle’s life and the author seamlessly weaves past events into the primary narrative and expertly brings it all together in the end. The author touches upon themes of trauma, marriage, motherhood and mental health in this story. I won’t say that the end wasn’t entirely unpredictable but I was definitely surprised by how we got there. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

Many thanks to Stacy Willingham, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the eGalley of this engrossing novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This book is due to be released on January 10, 2023.

This was an interesting read and I thoroughly enjoyed every page!! The mystery had so many layers and the writing was excellent. I found it very hard to put down. Highly recommend