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PREVIEW — A FLICKER IN THE DARK BY STACY WILLINGHAM

A FLICKER IN THE DARK

by
Stacy Willingham (Goodreads Author)
4.16 · Rating details · 4,954 ratings · 1,044 reviews
From debut author Stacy Willingham comes a masterfully done, lyrical thriller,
certain to be the launch of an amazing career. A Flicker in the Dark is eerily
compelling to the very last page.

When Chloe Davis was twelve, six teenage girls went missing in her small
Louisiana town. By the end of the summer, Chloe’s father had been arrested as a
serial killer and promptly put From debut author Stacy Willingham comes a
masterfully done, lyrical thriller, certain to be the launch of an amazing
career. A Flicker in the Dark is eerily compelling to the very last page.

When Chloe Davis was twelve, six teenage girls went missing in her small
Louisiana town. By the end of the summer, Chloe’s father had been arrested as a
serial killer and promptly put in prison. Chloe and the rest of her family were
left to grapple with the truth and try to move forward while dealing with the
aftermath.

Now 20 years later, Chloe is a psychologist in private practice in Baton Rouge
and getting ready for her wedding. She finally has a fragile grasp on the
happiness she’s worked so hard to get. Sometimes, though, she feels as out of
control of her own life as the troubled teens who are her patients. And then a
local teenage girl goes missing, and then another, and that terrifying summer
comes crashing back. Is she paranoid, and seeing parallels that aren't really
there, or for the second time in her life, is she about to unmask a killer?

In a debut novel that has already been optioned for a limited series by actress
Emma Stone and sold to a dozen countries around the world, Stacy Willingham has
created an unforgettable character in a spellbinding thriller that will appeal
equally to fans of Gillian Flynn and Karin Slaughter. ...more

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Hardcover, 368 pages
Expected publication: January 11th 2022 by Minotaur Books
More Details...
ISBN
1250803829 (ISBN13: 9781250803825)
Edition Language
English
Setting
Louisiana (United States)
Baton Rouge, Louisiana (United States)

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A Flicker in the Dark

by
Stacy Willingham (Goodreads Author)

Release date: Jan 11, 2022
From debut author Stacy Willingham comes a masterfully done, lyrical thriller,
certain to be the launch of an amazing career. A Flicker in the Dark is From
debut author Stacy Willingham comes a masterfully done, lyrical thriller,
certain to be the launch of an amazing career. A Flicker in the Dark is eerily
compelling to the very last page.

When Chloe Davis was twelve, six teenage girls went missing in her small
Louisiana town. By the end of the summer, Chloe’s father had been arrested as a
serial killer and promptly put in prison. Chloe and the rest of her family were
left to grapple with the truth and try to move forward while dealing with the
aftermath.

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Popular Answered Questions
Spoiler please: Does the "unreliable narrator" have a supposed mental illness?
I'm getting really damned tired of "schizophrenic" characters that don't have a
single symptom of the illness being used by ignorant authors.
* 2 likes · like
* 17 days ago
* See all 4 answers

Darreth Naylor She is mentally ill, but I don't think she has a diagnosis like
schizophrenia. I am really sensitive to that sort of usage, since my brother
died from…moreShe is mentally ill, but I don't think she has a diagnosis like
schizophrenia. I am really sensitive to that sort of usage, since my brother
died from schizophrenia, and I didn't have any problem with how she was
portrayed. Her dad was a serial killer, so she's messed up from that and self
medicates. (less)
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COMMUNITY REVIEWS

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· 4,954 ratings · 1,044 reviews

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Dec 16, 2021 Yun rated it liked it
A Flicker in the Dark takes the well-worn story of a serial killer and puts an
interesting spin on it.

Chloe Davis has lived in the shadow of fear for a long time. When she was twelve
years ago, six teenage girls disappeared in town, one right after another. The
nightmare finally ended when her own father confessed to the killings, upending
her childhood and leaving her family in ruins. Now twenty years later, girls are
going missing again. And Chloe can't help but feel there is a link between wh A
Flicker in the Dark takes the well-worn story of a serial killer and puts an
interesting spin on it.

Chloe Davis has lived in the shadow of fear for a long time. When she was twelve
years ago, six teenage girls disappeared in town, one right after another. The
nightmare finally ended when her own father confessed to the killings, upending
her childhood and leaving her family in ruins. Now twenty years later, girls are
going missing again. And Chloe can't help but feel there is a link between
what's happening now and what happened so long ago.

I've read plenty of serial killer stories from the perspective of investigators,
the victims and their families, and regular townspeople, but I'm not sure I've
ever read one from the killer's own daughter. And coming at it from that angle
makes this story feel fresh and unusual. Chloe still suffers from the fallout of
her childhood, and her narrative envelopes the whole story in her dark and
foreboding mood.

Where this didn't quite work as well for me is the pacing. It's very slow, with
hardly anything happening in the first 250 pages. Instead, we spend a lot of
time in Chloe's head as she ruminates, freaks out, consumes copious quantities
of alcohol and prescription drugs, sticks her nose where it doesn't belong, and
in general, just bumbles around being confused and paranoid. To be fair, this is
a pretty common trope for the genre, but it just isn't my favorite as I find it
to be pretty dull and a bit exasperating.

Clearly, this is the sort of psychological thriller that leans heavily towards
the psychological side, whereas I like mine to be more on the thriller side. I
always enjoy a more active investigation instead of a more active rumination.
However, that's just a personal preference. I think a lot of what I found to be
slow is what a lot of readers find fascinating, so your experiences may be the
opposite of mine.

The pacing does finally pick up in the last 100 pages, and we are treated to one
revelation after another. I wouldn't necessarily say any of it is surprising
(I've read too many thrillers at this point), but it is exciting. The way
everything comes together is really the highlight of the book, and made this a
worthwhile read for me.

This was my Book of the Month pick for December. If you're curious about BOTM or
want to find out how to get your first book for $5, click here. ...more
flag 307 likes · Like · see review
View all 100 comments

Aug 30, 2021 Meredith rated it really liked it
Shelves: netgalley
Intense

A Flicker in the Dark is a dark psychological thriller about the daughter of a
serial killer and the copycat killer who has emerged 20 years later.

On the outside, Chloe Davis has her life together: she is a successful
psychologist with a picturesque house in an upscale Baton Rouge neighborhood.
She has the perfect, caring fiance and is planning her wedding. But on the
inside, she is a hot mess. Chloe’s father is a serial killer. 20 years ago, her
father was convicted of murdering 6 teenage girls in Breaux Bridge, LA. With the
emergence of a copycat killer, Chloe’s fragile existence is at the point of
shattering. When one of her patients goes missing, she is pulled back into her
past.

This is a gripping read. Chloe is an unreliable narrator with a compelling voice
that sucked me in from the first pages. She is high-strung, tense, and often
sees things that are not real. Chloe also self-medicates to keep the past at
bay. As a reader, she had me guessing what was actually happening versus what
she believed to be happening. At the same time, Chloe makes some dumb choices
and doesn’t see what is in front of her face. There were times when I wanted to
shake her and others when she took me by surprise. The reader never really knows
what Chloe is going to do; she is off-kilter and keeps one on their toes.

The first half of the book is tightly wound. However, it wanes a bit at a
certain point, and Chloe and the plot get a little old. The last third of the
book gets a little messy. Events happen quickly, parts are glossed over, and
others feel contrived.

However, the strengths outweigh the flaws. Chloe is a complicated narrator who
commands the plot. In addition to Chloe, Willingham creates a tense atmosphere
that gave me the creeps. I guessed part of the ending, but there was one twist I
didn't see coming.

All in all, A Flicker in the Dark is a suspenseful and satisfying thriller. This
is Willingham’s debut, and I look forward to reading her next book.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for
an honest review. ...more
flag 231 likes · Like · see review
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Sep 21, 2021 MarilynW rated it really liked it · review of another edition
Shelves: netgalley, publisher-provided, netgalley-2021
A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham

Chloe Davis, a thirty two year old psychologist in private practice in Baton
Rouge, has a family past that will haunt her for the rest of her life. What her
father did, when she was twelve, tore families apart and terrified a small town.
A serial killer kidnapped and killed six girls, that killer was her father, and
he's now rotting in prison, having ruined the lives of so many people.

Chloe has tried to move on, with her practice, which reminds her too m A Flicker
in the Dark by Stacy Willingham

Chloe has tried to move on, with her practice, which reminds her too much of the
past, and with her upcoming wedding to Daniel. Really, though, Chloe is a mess,
self medicating with prescription drugs and alcohol. She rarely visits her
mother, who lives in a care home after trying to commit suicide. Her older
brother, Cooper, is dealing with their past in his own way, staying close to
Chloe but also adding more stress to her life. For some reason, he's disliked
her fiancé from the first time they met and he's always at her that Daniel isn't
who she thinks he is. And now, it appears that there is a copy cat killer, going
after a girl who was last seen by Chloe.

This story is full of twists, turns, and red herrings. Chloe has tried to keep a
damper on her feelings and fears and doing so is going to destroy her if her use
of drugs and alcohol doesn't do it first. She has let her paranoia go too far
before and she's not sure who she can trust. This all leads to bad decisions,
faulty assumptions, and a sense of more danger and death to come, with no way to
stop it. The story is riveting although it's hard to put aside the fact that a
drugged and drunken main character can only be trusted so far.

Expected publication: January 11, 2022

Thank you to Macmillan Publishers, Minotaur Books, St Martin's Press and
NetGalley for this ARC. ...more
flag 218 likes · Like · see review
View all 74 comments

Jul 30, 2021 Dorie - Cats&Books :) rated it it was amazing
Shelves: 2021-favorite, mystery-thriller, edelweiss
I’ve been hearing a buzz about this book!!! It’s a debut novel, a psychological
thriller revolving around a serial killer. It has already been “optioned for a
limited series by actress Emma Stone and sold to a dozen countries around the
world”.

But I’ve become a skeptic, blurbs have disappointed me lately. This time the
hype was spot on!!

THIS BOOK IS AN INCREDIBLE THRILLER WITH A PSYCHOPATH OR TWO, A SERIAL KILLER
AND AN UNRELIABLE NARRATOR!!

The writing is fantastic. Not only the parts about the I’ve been hearing a buzz
about this book!!! It’s a debut novel, a psychological thriller revolving around
a serial killer. It has already been “optioned for a limited series by actress
Emma Stone and sold to a dozen countries around the world”.

But I’ve become a skeptic, blurbs have disappointed me lately. This time the
hype was spot on!!

THIS BOOK IS AN INCREDIBLE THRILLER WITH A PSYCHOPATH OR TWO, A SERIAL KILLER
AND AN UNRELIABLE NARRATOR!!

The writing is fantastic. Not only the parts about the murders, and there are
murders, though not grisly, but the entire book is beautifully written. The past
and present timelines flow beautifully. The characters are well developed,
multi-layered, damaged and yet believable and making me feel all sorts of
FEELS!!! At one point I was feeling too creepy, and had to take a step back!!!!

Sometimes beautifully descriptive: “I remember wandering by myself through the
fairgrounds, the sounds and smells of Louisiana permeating my skin . . .the
scents of crawfish being prepared in every possible way; fried, boiled, bisque,
boudin”.

Sometimes eerily descriptive: “It’s as if the answers have been in front of me
all along--dancing, just out of reach. Twirling . . .like that ballerina,
chipped and pink, spinning to the rhythm of delicate chimes.”

The novel is told from Chloe’s point of view in the present.

Chloe Davis is a damaged woman. She was only 12 years old when her father was
convicted as a serial killer!! The girls murdered were girls she knew, girls
from her small town. Chloe had found damaging evidence. Her father is in prison.

Her mother and brother are left to live their lives, each going off on their own
path.

Her mother escapes into herself, doing less and less for herself and her family

It’s 20 years later, Chloe Davis has a thriving practice, she is a psychologist.
After fighting off the demons of her childhood she’s finally in a good place.
She has found a good man, Daniel, and they are engaged to be married in a few
months.

Her brother Cooper also lives in Baton Rouge.

One day a teen girl is missing, the search goes on and on, she is found,
strangled. Soon another girl is missing.

Chloe knows that the cycle is somehow repeating itself. She doesn’t know who to
trust, her father is in prison, so is it a copycat? She begins to formulate
theories, but she doesn’t even trust herself. The police get tired of her
hunches and theories, they need some proof.

I thought I had this figured out so many times, but the twists kept coming!!!
The ending is stellar, believable, horrible and yet satisfying. Does that make
SENSE?

I’m sure this will be a huge winter hit. IT IS SO GOOD!!!!!!!

The novel is set to publish on January 11, 2022

I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through Edelweiss. ...more
flag 211 likes · Like · see review
View all 84 comments

Sep 14, 2021 Jayme rated it really liked it
Shelves: macmillan-insiders, mystery-suspense, netgalley
4.5 ⭐️

When Chloe Davis was twelve, six teenage girls went missing in her small
Louisiana town.

Lena Rhodes was the first. The original. The girl that every girl in Breaux
Bridge envied UNTIL her face became the one seen on every TV, and on all of the
MISSING posters around town.

Robin, Margaret, Carrie, Susan, and Jill were the others.

Then, Chloe’s father confessed and went to prison, and the killings stopped.

Twenty years later, Chloe is a psychologist in Private Practice. She tells
herself tha 4.5 ⭐️

When Chloe Davis was twelve, six teenage girls went missing in her small
Louisiana town.

Lena Rhodes was the first. The original. The girl that every girl in Breaux
Bridge envied UNTIL her face became the one seen on every TV, and on all of the
MISSING posters around town.

Robin, Margaret, Carrie, Susan, and Jill were the others.

Then, Chloe’s father confessed and went to prison, and the killings stopped.

Twenty years later, Chloe is a psychologist in Private Practice. She tells
herself that she chose this career to help others-But, it doesn’t hurt that she
can prescribe the drugs, that help get her through the day. She just calls in
the prescription under her fiancé’s name, and picks them up at the drive-thru on
the way home.

She seems to have finally attained happiness, and then a local teenage girl,
Lacey Deckler, goes missing. And, then another.

Is history repeating itself? Is there a copycat killer? Or is Chloe imagining
similarities that don’t exist?

This is an IMPRESSIVE debut, with well developed characters and lyrical prose.

As I read, I wondered if it would be a character study of how a person can be a
serial killer and fool others, or if there would be a twist? Is the tension in
the fact that we are one step ahead of our protagonist, Chloe at all times, or
is she convincing us to believe one thing, which might turn out to be quite
another?

I was never bored as the facts were unspooled, like a ball of yarn-the
revelations coming faster as we neared the end. Maybe just a little too fast-as
I had some unanswered questions about the final reveal.

The only reason I am rounding down instead of up, is that the ending went ONE
STEP FURTHER than I would have liked. Though it’s still plausible-it would have
been more so-if had not gone there.

I can’t wait to see what Stacy Willingham comes up with next!! Highly
recommended!

And, just a side note…I am also impressed at how many times she was able to use
the word “Flicker” throughout the book!

Thank You to Minotaur Books for my gifted copy, provided through NetGalley.
Available January 11, 2022. ...more
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Sep 25, 2021 Michael David rated it it was amazing · review of another edition
Shelves: macmillan-insiders
A taut, suspenseful, IMPRESSIVE debut!

Chloe Davis has managed to move on from her past, with mixed results. When she
was twelve, six girls went missing in her small town...only to be found dead.
The culprit? Her loving father. Charged and convicted as a serial killer, he
went to prison to serve a life sentence. Chloe and her family never fully
recovered from the repercussions.

20 years later, Chloe is now a psychologist. She’s happily engaged, but still
fights her demons in the form of prescripti A taut, suspenseful, IMPRESSIVE
debut!

20 years later, Chloe is now a psychologist. She’s happily engaged, but still
fights her demons in the form of prescription drugs. She feels she’s been coping
to the best of her ability.

Then, a young girl disappears. Soon after that, another one does. It feels like
deja vu.

Is history repeating itself?

“We live in the flicker...but darkness was here yesterday.” - Joseph Conrad

Color me impressed! Debut author Stacy Willingham paints a tense and original
read full of atmosphere. I was gripped from beginning to end. The plot is
brilliantly layered while jumping from present to past...and back again.

I guessed a major twist early on, so I’m tooting my own horn (Btw, has anyone
else considered how wrong that sounds? Or is it just me?🤷). However, there is
plenty of deflection and red herrings that had me second guessing my suspicions.
On top of that, there were other welcome surprises in store.

All in all, a super solid debut that answered most of the questions I had. I
expected some plot holes, but those gaps were filled.

Emma Stone was apparently impressed too. Her company has optioned the book for a
TV adaptation...with Emma starring in and producing it.

4.5 stars, rounded up.

Thank you to Macmillan for providing a free ARC in exchange for an honest
review. Expected Publication Date: 1/11/22.

Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com ...more
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Dec 05, 2021 Kat rated it really liked it · review of another edition
Shelves: mystery, contemporary-fiction, trauma, suspense, psychological-thriller
Twenty years ago, then twelve-year-old Chloe Davis and her older brother Cooper
watched helplessly as their dad, the man Chloe ran to every single day for
safety and protection, was taken from their home by police for the serial
killings of six teenage girls in their little town of Breaux Bridge, Louisiana.
In that moment, Chloe learned that monsters aren't always in the shadows or
under your bed - sometimes they're right in front of you.

Skip forward to today, Chloe is now a psychologist with a Twenty years ago, then
twelve-year-old Chloe Davis and her older brother Cooper watched helplessly as
their dad, the man Chloe ran to every single day for safety and protection, was
taken from their home by police for the serial killings of six teenage girls in
their little town of Breaux Bridge, Louisiana. In that moment, Chloe learned
that monsters aren't always in the shadows or under your bed - sometimes they're
right in front of you.

Skip forward to today, Chloe is now a psychologist with a home and private
practice in Baton Rouge, planning her upcoming wedding to perfect, supportive
Daniel, and helping over-protective Cooper take turns visiting their mother,
Mona, in an assisted living facility - a situation necessitated by Mona's mental
and physical trauma after her husband was taken away.

Both Chloe and Cooper are fighting their own demons from the past. Chloe is
afraid of everything and tries to medicate it all away with pills she
surreptitiously prescribes to herself in Daniel's name and the nearest bottle of
booze. It isn't helped when a nosy reporter from the NY Times calls one day
hoping to revisit the past as part of a 20-year anniversary piece, and is
further exacerbated when two new girls - both of whom she knows - go missing
within miles of her new home. Is history repeating itself?

Chloe is your classic unreliable narrator, often referencing her difficulty
separating what's real from what isn't, which isn't helped by her pharmaceutical
habits. She's paranoid, convinced that these new victims are someone
specifically toying with her, setting her on her own amateur investigative path
to find who's copying her imprisoned father's past actions, since virtually no
one else believes her suspicions.

What hidden secrets does she find and what happens when she uncovers them? Peek
in those closets and find out! I think you'll like what you discover.

First, let me say: Wow, that was one of the BEST prologues I’ve ever read! It
set the mood perfectly and sucked me in from the very first sentence. The story
is solid and structured in an interesting way, integrating Chloe’s past memories
seamlessly into the current narrative, where she's simply lost in thought,
dreaming or having flashbacks, rather than using the stale past/present chapters
format. The humid, Spanish moss-draped trees and swamps of Louisiana provided
such a visceral, atmospheric setting, and the suspenseful writing kept me glued
to the pages. I read the majority of it in one day - I just had to know who did
it!

There are a few downsides, but nothing that ruined my enjoyment. I suspected
part of the ending reveal very early on and turned out to be right, but getting
from suspicion to revelation was still fun as Willingham threw in plenty of red
herrings and twists to keep me off-balance and doubting myself. There are plot
elements, a couple of which border on ridonculous (ex. the Scrabble tiles and
tapping thing ... no. It makes for a good plot device, but again ... no.) There
are a few others as well, so just be prepared to suspend some disbelief. It'll
be worth it.

All-in-all, I can enthusiastically recommend this wonderful debut. Stacy
Willingham has given readers a bright spot in the crowded thriller genre and a
promising start to her writing career. I know I'll be eagerly awaiting her
future books!

★★★★

Thanks to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, NetGalley and author Stacy
Willingham for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinions. It's due for
publication on January 11, 2021. ...more
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Ellie Spencer Wonderful review Kat, I love finding a great debut and this one
sounds like it starts off with a bang!!😍
22. Dezember, 09:17 Uhr · flag

Kat Thanks, Ellie! I agree ... it always feels like an extra treat when it's an
unknown author that does so well! 💗 Thanks, Ellie! I agree ... it always feels
like an extra treat when it's an unknown author that does so well! 💗 ...more
25. Dezember, 13:38 Uhr · flag

Dec 16, 2021 Regina rated it liked it
Sometimes when I’m reading a thriller I’ll get a little flicker of how things
are going to play out. Then other times, as with A Flicker in the Dark, it’s
like someone turned on a megawatt spotlight. So the prevailing question left in
my mind after finishing this debut novel is this: Can you still enjoy a mystery
that you didn’t find mysterious?

After a bit of a ponder, my answer here is yes. A Flicker in the Dark held my
attention, never bored me, and kept me up past my bedtime. That’s all quit
Sometimes when I’m reading a thriller I’ll get a little flicker of how things
are going to play out. Then other times, as with A Flicker in the Dark, it’s
like someone turned on a megawatt spotlight. So the prevailing question left in
my mind after finishing this debut novel is this: Can you still enjoy a mystery
that you didn’t find mysterious?

After a bit of a ponder, my answer here is yes. A Flicker in the Dark held my
attention, never bored me, and kept me up past my bedtime. That’s all quite
remarkable given that there’s hardly anything original about it.

- Self-medicated unreliable narrator

- Serial killer(s) murdering young women

- Civilian main character that inserts herself in a police investigation

- Plenty of controlling, potentially evil men as suspects

It’s possible that my overindulgence in the thriller genre has left me jaded,
and those who haven’t read dozens of similar stories this year will find Stacy
Willingham’s novel more surprising. Emma Stone must be one of them, since she’s
already got an HBO Max limited series adaptation in the works. (I will say that
she has to be trying to stretch her range here, because I couldn’t picture her
as the main character even knowing her casting ahead of time.)

Speaking of casting, new-to-me narrator Karissa Vacker narrates the audiobook.
She’s given the difficult task of performing a book with a first person female
lead that dialogues most often with men. Gender voicing can be tricky, and she
handles it by using gruff, deeper inflections for the male characters. That’s
always a little off-putting to me, but other listeners may not be as bothered.
Still, it’s not often I’ll choose to listen to an audiobook over reading a
physical book late at night, so kudos to the author and publishers for a
captivating experience all around.

Yes, I predicted the who of the whodunnit, but I couldn't get to the end fast
enough to see if I was right.

3.5 stars

My thanks to Macmillan Audio for the gifted advance listening copy to review via
NetGalley. The expected US publication date is January 11, 2022.

Blog: https://www.confettibookshelf.com/ ...more
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Nancy I have similar narration issues, so I’m glad I have a physical copy of
this one.
26. Dezember, 17:27 Uhr · flag

Regina Nancy wrote: "I have similar narration issues, so I’m glad I have a
physical copy of this one."

Good choice! ;) Nancy wrote: "I have similar narration issues, so I’m glad I
have a physical copy of this one."

Good choice! ;) ...more
27. Dezember, 06:59 Uhr · flag

Dec 15, 2021 JanB rated it liked it
Shelves: 2021-reads, mystery-thriller, netgalley, buddy-read-with-marialyce
When Chloe was 12 there was a serial killer on the loose, targeting young
teenage girls. Her father was arrested for the murders, pleaded guilty and was
sent to prison. Now, 20 years later, Chloe is a psychologist and although
suffering from her childhood trauma, she is trying to move forward in her life,
although, unfortunately, with the help of alcohol and pills. As she prepares for
her wedding, a string of copycat murders sends her in a downward spiral. Has her
stress and anxiety caused her t When Chloe was 12 there was a serial killer on
the loose, targeting young teenage girls. Her father was arrested for the
murders, pleaded guilty and was sent to prison. Now, 20 years later, Chloe is a
psychologist and although suffering from her childhood trauma, she is trying to
move forward in her life, although, unfortunately, with the help of alcohol and
pills. As she prepares for her wedding, a string of copycat murders sends her in
a downward spiral. Has her stress and anxiety caused her to see connections
where there aren’t any or is a killer coming after her? The story is told in
alternating chapters between the present day and flashbacks to her childhood.

However, I’m tired of drunk, pill-popping narrators. I guessed the ending
immediately, but the author did a good job throwing in plenty of red herrings
and a couple of other unexpected twists.

The story requires a certain amount of suspension of disbelief, which is OK if I
find the writing and plotting to be stellar. However, there was a lot of
repetitiveness and extraneous details that felt like filler, plus there were a
few things that took me out of the story, such as staying at a cut-rate highway
motel, then mentioning the chocolate placed on her pillow (really?? Motel 6
places chocolate on pillows? 🙄).

There was the annoying overuse of the word "flicker", and the flowery language
with too many adjectives and an abundance of nonsensical metaphors like
swallowing pills that “tear down her esophagus like jagged nails trying to claw
their way back up”, and “air warm and damp like a boiled egg burp”, "a
constellation of freckles scattered across the bridge of her nose, as if someone
had taken a pinch and sprinkled them on like salt". His dads whiskey “coated his
lips in a perpetual slickness like a puddle of gasoline…."

The mystery was strong enough to stand on its own without the alcohol/drug use
and the flowery language. This is the author's debut and I hope in the future
she will tone it down. My reading buddy, Marialyce, enjoyed this more than I did
so please check out her review.

· I received a digital copy for review via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Publication date January 11, 2022 by St Martin's Press ...more
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Virginia Thanks for the warning, JanB! I despise flowery language and would have
to throw this one at the wall after the first overloaded simile.
9 hours, 57 min ago · flag

JanB Virginia wrote: "Thanks for the warning, JanB! I despise flowery language
and would have to throw this one at the wall after the first overloaded simi
Virginia wrote: "Thanks for the warning, JanB! I despise flowery language and
would have to throw this one at the wall after the first overloaded simile."

You're welcome, I'm glad I was able to save someone from such a ridiculous prose
😊 ...more
8 hours, 44 min ago · flag

Nov 23, 2021 Tina rated it it was amazing
Shelves: thriller-mystery, read-in-2021, arc-copy, kindle-books, netgalley-2021,
psychological-thriller, suspense
This is a Psychological Thriller that will keep you guessing. I cannot believe
this is a debut book because it was so good. I was pulled it to this story right
for the beginning, and I did not want to put it down. This book kept me
guessing, and it kept having me changing mine mind on who did it. The main
character of this book was not lovable, but she made me root for her by the end.
The ending of this book was so great, but I also loved the beginning of this
book. If you love a book with a ton This is a Psychological Thriller that will
keep you guessing. I cannot believe this is a debut book because it was so good.
I was pulled it to this story right for the beginning, and I did not want to put
it down. This book kept me guessing, and it kept having me changing mine mind on
who did it. The main character of this book was not lovable, but she made me
root for her by the end. The ending of this book was so great, but I also loved
the beginning of this book. If you love a book with a ton of suspense and keeps
you on your toes then this is the book for you. I was kindly provided an e-copy
of this book by the publisher (Minotaur Books) or author (Stacy Willingham) via
NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I
want to send a big Thank you to them for that. This book is schedule to be
release on January 11-2022.

This book is a Book of the Month December 2021 Pick.

https://www.mybotm.com/zr12wnytgc8?sh... ...more
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Dutchie Fantastic review Tina! Can’t wait to get my paws on a copy
11 hours, 24 min ago · flag

Tina Dutchie wrote: "Fantastic review Tina! Can’t wait to get my paws on a copy"
Thank you, and I hope you love it when you get a copy. It was really good.
Dutchie wrote: "Fantastic review Tina! Can’t wait to get my paws on a copy"
Thank you, and I hope you love it when you get a copy. It was really good.
...more
8 hours, 8 min ago · flag

Nov 19, 2021 Catherine (semi-hiatus while moving) Woodward rated it really liked
it
Shelves: netgalley, 4-stars
**Many thanks to NetGalley, Minotaur/St. Martin's Press, and Stacy Willingham
for an ARC of this book!**

What a sizzling and scintillating debut!

Chloe Davis has been trying to escape her demons since the tender age of 12.
See, this is the year that six young women went missing...and one man was deemed
guilty for their disappearances. The one man a girl should ALWAYS be able to
depend on...Chloe's own father. From the minute he is put behind bars, life
isn't the same for Chloe and brother Coop **Many thanks to NetGalley,
Minotaur/St. Martin's Press, and Stacy Willingham for an ARC of this book!**

What a sizzling and scintillating debut!

Chloe Davis has been trying to escape her demons since the tender age of 12.
See, this is the year that six young women went missing...and one man was deemed
guilty for their disappearances. The one man a girl should ALWAYS be able to
depend on...Chloe's own father. From the minute he is put behind bars, life
isn't the same for Chloe and brother Cooper, who cannot escape the ominous cloud
of mystery that hovers over them in their tiny Louisiana town. The two struggle
to move towards a new normal and Chloe's mother never quite recovers, carrying a
unique burden all her own.

Twenty years have passed and Chloe is deeply embedded in her 'new' life. Swoony
and safe Daniel has come into her world, and the two are due to be married any
day. Chloe is a psychologist now, putting her struggles aside to help others,
and one day a teen girl comes to her practice who reminds Chloe of her own
teenage self. Is it fate that the two should meet? Flickers of her past quickly
ignite into a flame she can't ignore when the very same girl she counseled turns
up missing...just like so many years before. These echoes become a roar that
even Chloe's pills can't drown out, and when the killer's actions mirror her
father a little TOO closely and a journalist comes a-calling, Chloe starts to
question how her father's reach could extend through prison bars and out into
the real world...and exactly how well does she know Daniel? Why are so many
patches of her own memory hazy? And could she be so much CLOSER to the crimes
than she ever imagined?

My expectations were pretty high coming into this read, but the premise hooked
me and I got easily caught in the web of Chloe's thoughts, which at times was a
pretty tangled jumble. Willingham tied past and present together in a clever
fashion, straying from the "Now" and "Then" format so many thriller writers lean
on and instead having Chloe's flashbacks or memories appear mid-paragraph,
leaving the reader even more baffled as to fact vs. fiction and of course, never
knowing whether or not to trust Chloe as a narrator. Add in the requisite
pill-popping and muddled thinking, and Chloe's tale wound every which way,
leaving me scratching my head at times and FRANTICALLY flipping pages. This is
the first book in a while that I've been compelled to pick up (and the first
I've finished in 3 days in a while as well!) so that's the hallmark of
addictive, keeps-you-guessing writing. I was so sure this would be a 5 star read
for me and it nearly was...

UNTIL I realized I had guessed the ending...from quite early on, surprisingly
(most of all to me!)

This is not to say that Willingham doesn't hide the truth fairly well, because I
think she did a fantastic job, and although my hunch was correct, that didn't
stop me from taking a journey down every open ended path she presented and
questioning my instincts over and over. Do some plot elements fall a little too
neatly into place? Sure. But I didn't mind that aspect too much, and I was able
to suspend my disbelief without feeling too disappointed.

This book is a little bit serial killer exposition, a little bit unreliable
narrator psychological thriller, and a whole LOT of exciting and thrilling
writing sure to put Stacy Willingham on the map in the genre. I am already
excited for her next book and would wholeheartedly recommend this read to
thriller buffs new and old (although newbies might be a bit more shocked by the
ending.)

If from a tiny spark may burst a mighty flame...then Willingham is poised to set
the genre ABLAZE! 🔥

4 stars, rounded down from 4.5 ...more
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Sep 17, 2021 Susan rated it really liked it
Shelves: mcmillan, net-galley, from-publisher
Where’s My Lighter?

Have you ever been to a concert where everyone has their lighters raised but
you?

Do they even do that anymore? I digress, but the book title brings back memories
of a different kind.

This one is receiving rave reviews but I’m so sure...

I was a little bored in the beginning before the book picked up at around the
fifty percent mark. And while others loved the prose, there was a little too
much inner hand wringing by the main character for my taste.

However, I loved the premise Where’s My Lighter?

Have you ever been to a concert where everyone has their lighters raised but
you?

Do they even do that anymore? I digress, but the book title brings back memories
of a different kind.

This one is receiving rave reviews but I’m so sure...

However, I loved the premise and overall idea.

Chloe as the daughter of a convicted serial killer has her life on track (sort
of) and is a practicing psychologist engaged to a handsome professional. She’s
grown up since her father landed in prison twenty years ago.

But, as we know, there’s no Happily Ever After in thrillers without hurdles to
jump. Chloe’s past returns to haunt her as copycat disappearances and murders
begin plaguing her small hometown again.

I thought this was an intriguing Who is Doing it, and as mentioned, the pace
accelerated somewhere around the middle keeping me flipping the pages.

One of my favorite things in thrillers are scandalous characters. The more lurid
the better if they’re written with humor or tongue in cheek.

When they’re not, and I’m asked to take them seriously without a realistic
approach being adopted, the book loses panache for me. I feel that happened here
which is partly why I didn’t rate it higher.

3.5 Stars rounded up.

Many readers loved this and I think I may be in the minority so I hope it’s a
hit for you.

Thank you to Macmillan and Minotaur Books, the author, and NetGalley for the
opportunity to read this! ...more
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Aug 31, 2021 Nilufer Ozmekik rated it really liked it
Whoa! This is so impressive, spine tingling and deliciously twisty and
intelligent! Let’s make some noise and clap till our hands hurt: we have a
brilliant author at smart psychological thriller town : welcome dear Stacy
Willingham!

I have to admit: sometimes reading about the family’s traumatic life after a
serial killer father is convicted is a great plot idea to work on!

The character driven/ psychological thriller story of this book picked my
interest and hooked me up from the beginning.

I Whoa! This is so impressive, spine tingling and deliciously twisty and
intelligent! Let’s make some noise and clap till our hands hurt: we have a
brilliant author at smart psychological thriller town : welcome dear Stacy
Willingham!

I have to admit: sometimes reading about the family’s traumatic life after a
serial killer father is convicted is a great plot idea to work on!

The character driven/ psychological thriller story of this book picked my
interest and hooked me up from the beginning.

I liked the emotionally sensitive but also resilient, survivor and sometimes a
little unreliable heroine; doctor Chloe Davis: she is a psychologist who also
suffers from mental disorders and her fight helps her to become better at her
job and change the lives of her patients. She’s dealing with her inner demons
since she’s twelve the day her childhood is over because of her father’s
conviction from kidnapping and killing six young teenagers in her hometown
Louisiana.

You can imagine how her life entirely turned upside down!! As she feels too
much, her brother who is 3 years older than her chose to feel nothing, turning
into a stone hearted man keeping everything to himself, doing everything to
protect her sister and their mother is already a lost case, committing suicide
after her husband’s verdict, living in oblivion.

Now Chloe Davis grabs her second chance: working with teenagers as a
psychologist and she’s doing far better job than her colleagues because she
knows how to be troubled kid. She also found her loved one, is about to tie the
knot with Daniel even though her brother Cooper has still suspicious about
Daniel’s motives. Does he really know the real Chloe and does he know how she
still struggles with her past?

But there are enough predicaments she has to face from her past prevent her move
on to her life! A reporter from NY Times demands to interview her about her
father’s crimes he committed 20 years ago and the murders of young teenagers
strike back: interestingly the killer has exactly same methods of her father!
Is there a copy cat killer imitating her father’s method or was his father
convicted to lifetime prison sentence for the crime he didn’t convict!

The culprit was a little foreseeable but most of the twists and big revelations
were well constructed. There are some untied loose ends but overall it was
gripping, well written, heart throbbing, engaging story makes you sit on the
edge, giving you creeps, keeping your attention intact!

I’m looking forward to read her next works of the author. So far I really
enjoyed her writing style!

Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/ Minotaur Books for sharing
this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts. ...more
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Nov 16, 2021 megs_bookrack rated it really liked it · review of another
edition
Shelves: arcs-read
**4.5-stars**

When Chloe Davis was 12-years old, her father was arrested for the kidnapping
and murder of six teenage girls, based on evidence that Chloe herself had
uncovered.

After her father was taken away, Chloe, her mother and her older brother, were
left trying to put back together the pieces of their shattered lives.

It was rough. In their small Louisiana town the shroud of guilt was always upon
them. They ended up moving because of it.

People were suspicious of her Mom, that she possibly kne **4.5-stars**

When Chloe Davis was 12-years old, her father was arrested for the kidnapping
and murder of six teenage girls, based on evidence that Chloe herself had
uncovered.

After her father was taken away, Chloe, her mother and her older brother, were
left trying to put back together the pieces of their shattered lives.

It was rough. In their small Louisiana town the shroud of guilt was always upon
them. They ended up moving because of it.

People were suspicious of her Mom, that she possibly knew something she didn't
reveal. It wasn't a good situation. Traumatic to say the least.

Twenty years later, Chloe is a psychologist working with young girls suffering
through varying traumas, liked she did herself.

Chloe is also preparing for her wedding to Daniel, a man she has known for just
a year.

Her brother, Cooper, thinks the marriage is too quick. Him and Daniel have never
been warm and fuzzy with one another.

That alone is stressful enough, but when teenage girls begin to go missing, one
of them a patient of Chloe's, she's triggered into a really dark place; her
past.

Chloe's worked so hard to forget her childhood trauma. To move on and find a bit
of happiness for herself. Now it seems the past has come back to haunt her.

The pattern of the current crimes isn't just similar to that of her father's.
It's identical. Is there a copycat working in Baton Rouge?

Before she knows it, Chloe finds herself steeped in the investigation. She needs
to get to the bottom of it. It seems too close to home, like it's intentional.
Like this new killer is trying to draw her in.

Is Chloe paranoid and seeing connections where there aren't any, or is she
dangerously close to the truth?

A Flicker in the Dark is a hugely promising and intense debut. Willingham's
writing style is extremely fluid and fast-paced, sucking me in from the very
first chapter.

I loved Chloe as a main character. Her flaws made her not just believable, but
relatable. Her struggles were real. I felt them; the (view
spoiler)[self-medicating (hide spoiler)] being particularly impactful.

While I found certain aspects of the story toed the line of predictability, I
nonetheless had a fun time reading it.

If this is her debut, I predict a long and successful career in Willingham's
future. I definitely plan to be following along.

Thank you so much to the publisher, Macmillan Audio, for providing me with a
copy to read and review.

This is a great book. One that every Mystery/Thriller Fan should pick up!
...more
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megs_bookrack JanB wrote: "I can forgive the flaws if I'm having fun with it, as
you did. Unfortunately that didn't happen for me. I loved your review though
:)"Ohh JanB wrote: "I can forgive the flaws if I'm having fun with it, as you
did. Unfortunately that didn't happen for me. I loved your review though
:)"Ohhh, boo. I was sorry to see you didn't enjoy this one, Jan. I completely
get it though! ...more
7 hours, 34 min ago · flag

megs_bookrack Holly wrote: "Helpful review Megs and glad you enjoyed!"
Thank you so much, Holly!! xx Holly wrote: "Helpful review Megs and glad you
enjoyed!"
Thank you so much, Holly!! xx ...more
7 hours, 33 min ago · flag

Nov 04, 2021 Liz rated it really liked it
Shelves: netgalley
A Flicker in the Dark is a well done psychological thriller, especially for a
debut author. It centers on Dr. Chloe Davis, a psychologist with a successful
private practice. She’s due to be married in two months. Oh, and she’s also the
daughter of a man found guilty of being a serial killer of 6 teenage girls
twenty years earlier.
She appears to have it all together, but she’s secretly popping anti-anxiety
meds. She tries to give herself the same advice she’d give a patient, but it’s
not working A Flicker in the Dark is a well done psychological thriller,
especially for a debut author. It centers on Dr. Chloe Davis, a psychologist
with a successful private practice. She’s due to be married in two months. Oh,
and she’s also the daughter of a man found guilty of being a serial killer of 6
teenage girls twenty years earlier.
She appears to have it all together, but she’s secretly popping anti-anxiety
meds. She tries to give herself the same advice she’d give a patient, but it’s
not working. Then a young girl goes missing. And then another.
“… when two girls go missing within the course of a month, it’s not a
coincidence. It’s not an accident. It’s not circumstance. It’s calculated and
cunning and far more terrifying than anything we had ever experienced before.
Anything we thought possible.”
This story is vividly laid out and it’s easy to see why it’s been opted for a tv
miniseries. It was very easy to see the scenes in my head. Everything is told
from Chloe’s POV, including the backstory of how her father was found guilty. I
thought Chloe was a fully realized character, but the other characters were much
less so.
From early on in the book, I was confident I knew how the story would play out.
At that point, my interest was mainly in seeing if I was right. But kudos to
Willingham for leading me through so many twists and turns at the end I began
seriously doubting myself. In the end, I was right, but I loved the way she got
there.
My thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance copy of this book.
...more
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Oct 14, 2021 Ceecee rated it liked it · review of another edition
3.5 rounded down.

Monsters lurk under the bed, behind closed doors, they hide in deep dark woods
but sometimes they’re right there in front of you in plain sight. Twenty years
ago twelve year old Chloe Davis’s world imploded when her father is arrested and
convicted for the murder of six teenage girls from her home town of Beaux
Bridge, Louisiana. In the present day, Chloe, now a psychologist, is preparing
to marry Daniel, maybe finally her tentative hold on life can be tethered in a
loving rela 3.5 rounded down.

There are parts of this book that I really like and for a debut it’s quite
impressive but I do find it a mixed bag read. The character of Chloe is
portrayed extremely well, you feel what she feels and it’s clear she’s an
unreliable narrator which is something I enjoy. It strongly conveys the impact
of her childhood trauma in a powerful way as it’s like she and her family have a
life sentence too. The Louisiana location and setting of the novel adds an
atmosphere which the author uses to real effect.

However, it’s an uneven read. In places it’s slow and there’s repetition then it
speeds up and there’ll be tension and suspense, then it slows again so it
becomes like a light that keeps flickering on and off. The other problem is that
I knew most of the outcome before we’d even get very far into the book though
there is one aspect I don’t foresee though you do require suspension of
disbelief and I find it hard to buy into it. I don’t think it’s necessary to
keep repeating déjà vu which drives me mad if I’m honest (yes, message
received!) and also repeatedly using flicker in different ways.

Overall, it’s clear the author has talent and I’m sure there’s a bright future
ahead. I can absolutely see it making an excellent television mini series too.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins, Harper Fiction for the
much appreciated arc in return for an honest review. ...more
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Aug 23, 2021 Carolyn Walsh rated it really liked it · review of another
edition
I wish to extend my sincere thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this
beautifully written, suspenseful psychological thriller. This is a well-paced,
gripping debut, written with assurance that will keep the reader riveted and
puzzled. There are lovely descriptive passages of Louisana where the story is
set. The characters are flawed but developed in-depth.

Chloe Davis is the protagonist and narrator in the present time and contains her
memories of a troubled and disturbing past. Now a I wish to extend my sincere
thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this beautifully written,
suspenseful psychological thriller. This is a well-paced, gripping debut,
written with assurance that will keep the reader riveted and puzzled. There are
lovely descriptive passages of Louisana where the story is set. The characters
are flawed but developed in-depth.

Chloe Davis is the protagonist and narrator in the present time and contains her
memories of a troubled and disturbing past. Now a successful psychologist, she
is unstable and haunted. Her early years were in a small town with her parents
and older brother in what she thought was an ordinary, normal home. Imagine how
shattering it was when she was 12 years old; her father was arrested and charged
with the serial killing of 6 teenaged girls in that small community. One of the
victims Chole considered her best friend. Her father has been in prison for the
last 20 years and will remain there for life. Chloe has mixed feelings towards
this shocking event. She despises her father for his unforgivable crimes but
carries guilt for finding evidence and turning it over to the police, which
resulted in her father being convicted. The victim's bodies were not recovered.
She cannot help clinging to the memory of how loving and protective she acted
towards her before his imprisonment. She has never contacted or visited him
since his arrest.

In her practice as a psychologist, she writes false prescriptions for
mind-altering pills that she takes mixed with alcohol. She should be in a good
place now but is frequently overcome with anxiety. She will soon be married to a
kind, understanding, and loving man who is patient with her moods. She is
neglecting plans for the upcoming wedding. Her protective older brother
distrusts her fiance. It was easy to sympathize with Chloe and understand her
instability, but I found her character and behaviour annoying.

In the present, two teenaged girls have vanished. One was her patient and last
seen leaving her office.
Is it a copycat killer replicating her father's crimes? Is someone targeting her
for her past? Chloe has some clues and thinks she knows who is taking and
probably killing young girls. When she presents her theories to the police, her
ideas are ignored with the warning not to interfere with their investigations.

In the meantime, Chloe has been contacted by a journalist doing a background
story on the serial killings 20 years in the past. She refuses to be interviewed
by him, but with the new murders, they join forces to learn what is happening
now in the present. Chloe finds herself becoming attracted to him as someone who
understands what she has been going through. While interviewing relatives of the
new victims, they come across information so mind-blowing and shocking that it
raises Chloe's emotional state to a higher level of fear and dread. Now one of
her friend's daughters has gone missing, and Chloe feels she must act to expose
this new serial killer.

There are so many twists and surprises in this compelling story that when the
reader thinks they have figured out where it is going, there is still more to
reveal. There were a couple of loose ends that I wish would have been resolved.
I highly recommend this to fans of psychological thrillers with many twists,
turns, and unforeseen revelations. I believe the author has a bright future and
would read more of her books. ...more
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Sep 07, 2021 Jen (semi-hiatus) rated it really liked it
Shelves: netgalley
Twenty years ago Chloe Davis was a twelve year old girl, terrified of the walk
from where the school bus dropped her off to her house, wondering if she might
be the next of the teen girls to go missing from her small town. Little did she
know that the monster she was running from was inside her own house. Now, with
her father serving multiple life sentences in prison for murder, Chloe has done
her best to move on and not only has her own psychology practice, but she’s
engaged to a wonderful and Twenty years ago Chloe Davis was a twelve year old
girl, terrified of the walk from where the school bus dropped her off to her
house, wondering if she might be the next of the teen girls to go missing from
her small town. Little did she know that the monster she was running from was
inside her own house. Now, with her father serving multiple life sentences in
prison for murder, Chloe has done her best to move on and not only has her own
psychology practice, but she’s engaged to a wonderful and supportive man, the
first she’s really been able to her guard down around. However, when young women
begin to disappear in Chloe’s new town as the 20th anniversary of her father’s
crimes approaches, with one of the victims having ties to Chloe herself, she
can’t help but wonder if for the second time in her life, she is far too close
to a serial killer.

I really enjoyed the writing here. It did not feel like a debut; it had a very
polished quality to it. There were some portions where I felt there were
confusing time jumps or flashbacks inserted mid chapter without helpful page
breaks, but that may be an issue that will be resolved prior to release (please
note I am reviewing an ARC copy). Otherwise this was the kind of book I hated
having to put down and felt immediately drawn back into the second I picked it
up.

As far as plot, I guessed correctly pretty early on, but I didn’t actually mind
that in this case. While I always love when something truly throws me for a
loop, I also appreciate when there is groundwork laid. When things make sense
within the story, when the twist isn’t just a cheap trick or something that came
out of nowhere tacked on just for the surprise factor. Out of fairness to other
books I have been pretty harsh on for this, I feel I have to mention: once the
twist is revealed here, a lot of the characters’ actions don’t really make all
that much sense. At least in this case it is moreso “that’s silly; no one would
ever act like that or not do xyz” versus the much more grievous error other
books make where the twist actually invalidates actions and statements prior.

This also uses one of my least favorite tropes, the unreliable female narrator
who self medicates with pills and alcohol. It especially irked me in this case
because I simply don’t think it was necessary here, as the author did a good job
creating red herrings and doubt through other means. Then again, it's a popular
trope for a reason I suppose...

3.5 rounded up. I highly enjoyed Stacy Willingham’s writing style as well as the
feel of the story, and will be looking forward to what she does in the future.

Expected publication date: January 11, 2022.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for an advance
copy of this title for review ...more
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Dec 20, 2021 Elle rated it really liked it
Shelves: coming-soon, 2022, from-publisher, netgalley, upcoming
If I had to declare my favorite Mystery/Thriller sub-genre it would probably be
literary thrillers. After a certain amount of formulaic twists that amount to
little more than jump scares, the same stale domestic suspense running
throughout, it can be hard to really get excited about upcoming titles in the
genre the way I used to. But the synopsis of A Flicker in the Dark sparked my
interest, the cover was an understated pretty, and I’ve been burning through
nothing but fantasy lately, so it was If I had to declare my favorite
Mystery/Thriller sub-genre it would probably be literary thrillers. After a
certain amount of formulaic twists that amount to little more than jump scares,
the same stale domestic suspense running throughout, it can be hard to really
get excited about upcoming titles in the genre the way I used to. But the
synopsis of A Flicker in the Dark sparked my interest, the cover was an
understated pretty, and I’ve been burning through nothing but fantasy lately, so
it was time to mix it up!

The setup for Flicker is a newish perspective on a well-worn figure. Chloe Davis
is the now-adult daughter of Dick Davis, a notorious convicted serial killer
from Breaux Bridge, Louisiana. Now 20 years later Chloe has done her best to
rebuild the life from the shattered pieces she was left with. She’s moved to
Baton Rouge, is in a committed relationship and is experiencing professional
success as a psychologist. Then right before the upcoming anniversary of the
first murdered girl, Lena Rhodes’s disappearance, history begins to repeat
itself.

Teenage girls are being taken and killed in a way that feels familiar to Chloe,
and she’s having trouble coping with the difficult truths that she’s tried to
bury for so long. But if Dick Davis is locked up behind bars, who’s responsible
for this recent slew of killings? Is Chloe following the clues or is she
creating a pattern where there is none? It’s hard to know who to trust when
you’ve been betrayed so deeply before.

What I think Stacy Willingham does well here is really immerse the reader in the
psychology of all that’s unfolding. You’re paranoid when you’re meant to be,
unnerved along with the main character. There’s a gentle hand guiding you
through the tumultuous emotions Chloe is experiencing. I do think it probably
falls back on some of the more common tropes: a woman cracking under pressure,
substance abuse, an unreliable narrator that’s not sure if they’re just
‘imagining it’, but Willingham still somehow makes them engaging for a reader
well versed in the genre.

As for twists, yes there are several. I ended up suspecting the majority of
them, but definitely not all! I think there’s enough doubt seeded through that
even if you have an inkling of how something will play out, you’re never
entirely sure. But this book is less about the what than the how and why of it
all. Knowing a big chunk of the mystery isn’t going to ruin the book for you as
it sometimes does with other thrillers. And you’re reading along for those
answers just as much as you are to watch the unraveling of the woman at their
center.

Unless we’re talking my standby favorites like Karin Slaughter, Tana French,
Megan Abbott, etc. Or even newer voices like S.A. Cosby and Taylor Adams, who
always break away from the typical model, I haven’t *loved* many of the
thrillers I’ve read over the past year or two. Still, A Flicker in the Dark is a
book that feels firmly worth your time, whether you end up falling head over
heels for it or not. I’m excited to see what Emma Stone (!) and co end up doing
with the project.

*Thanks to Minotaur Books & Netgalley for an advance review copy!

**For more book talk & reviews, follow me on Instagram at @elle_mentbooks!
...more
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Melissa (LifeFullyBooked) Fantastic review, I didn't like this one as well as
you did, but you make some great points about it. Fantastic review, I didn't
like this one as well as you did, but you make some great points about it.
...more
27. Dezember, 14:08 Uhr · flag

Jayson Lindseth Awesome review
27. Dezember, 14:15 Uhr · flag

Dec 23, 2021 Tonya rated it it was amazing
Shelves: netgalley
I couldn’t put this down! This is a beautifully written, well paced, character
driven thriller. Chloe Davis is haunted by a summer when she was twelve years
old. Six, teenage girls go missing from her hometown. At the summer’s close, her
father is arrested for the murders. Twenty years later, her past comes back like
an unwanted guest. Girls are beginning to disappear. Is it the work of a copycat
killer, or is something more sinister at play. Compelling, heart wrenching and
tragic describe this I couldn’t put this down! This is a beautifully written,
well paced, character driven thriller. Chloe Davis is haunted by a summer when
she was twelve years old. Six, teenage girls go missing from her hometown. At
the summer’s close, her father is arrested for the murders. Twenty years later,
her past comes back like an unwanted guest. Girls are beginning to disappear. Is
it the work of a copycat killer, or is something more sinister at play.
Compelling, heart wrenching and tragic describe this tale of lives lost and
shattered. Looking forward to seeing the limited series. This gave me the creepy
vibes of Sharp Objects. Highly recommend! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Thank you NetGalley and St.
Martin’s Press Minotaur Books for my copy. ...more
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Jayson Lindseth Awesome review
26. Dezember, 16:16 Uhr · flag

Laci Hargis Oh I can’t wait to pick this up to read next!!
27. Dezember, 06:32 Uhr · flag

Dec 15, 2021 Melissa (LifeFullyBooked) rated it liked it
I find myself hovering in outlier-ville with this one. Almost all of my GR
friends loved this book, but although the writing is excellent, the plot failed
to captivate me as much as I had hoped. This is an impressive debut, so it is
totally worth reading, especially if you go check out some of those
aforementioned glowing reviews and see that I'm solidly in the minority.

Twenty years ago, Chloe's father was sent to prison for kidnapping and
presumably murdering six young girls, although their bod I find myself hovering
in outlier-ville with this one. Almost all of my GR friends loved this book, but
although the writing is excellent, the plot failed to captivate me as much as I
had hoped. This is an impressive debut, so it is totally worth reading,
especially if you go check out some of those aforementioned glowing reviews and
see that I'm solidly in the minority.

Twenty years ago, Chloe's father was sent to prison for kidnapping and
presumably murdering six young girls, although their bodies were never found.
Chloe's life is secure and stable now--she's engaged to Daniel and has a
fulfilling job as a psychologist. However, her demons lurk just below the
surface, and when first one, then another young girl turn up missing, she feels
as if her life is repeating itself again. The missing girls have connections to
Chloe--is it the work of a copycat? Can she help find who is doing this?

I wasn't really surprised at the identity of the villain, I pretty much called
it from the beginning. It made the story a bit more lackluster for me, because I
found it all to be rather predictable. Chloe's constant blaming herself for all
of the bad things that happened to everyone got very, very old. It was the same
thing over and over, the same rehashing of the crimes over and over. Don't get
me started on the armchair detecting--anyone who has read any of my reviews
knows I think that is just an overused unrealistic plot device. I get that the
police weren't really enamored with Chloe, but her hysteria didn't help matters.
So instead of passing along evidence she finds, she goes on a hunt herself, even
picking up and touching physical evidence during a search.

Yet for the book's shortcomings, it is still an engaging read and kept my
interest to see how things would all play out. I listened to this as an
audiobook, and did not care for how whispery and breathy Karissa Vacker's voice
was, especially when voicing the female characters. I had to keep turning up my
volume in order to distinguish what she was saying. I think that the whispers
colored my opinion of Chloe in a negative way that maybe wouldn't have happened
had I read the book on the page.

I think this is definitely worth reading, and I will definitely read a book by
this author in the future.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my
own. ...more
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Nov 26, 2021 JaymeO rated it it was amazing
“Welcome to Breaux Bridge: Crawfish Capital of the World.”

Chloe Davis is a Baton Rouge psychologist, happily engaged and ready to marry
the love of her life. She is trying to forget her troubled past, while
self-medicating with anti-anxiety pills. Her father is the infamous Breaux
Bridge serial killer and has been imprisoned for the past twenty years. When the
murders of two teenagers appear to be the work of a copycat, Chloe begins to
doubt her memory and suspect that the killer is trying to g “Welcome to Breaux
Bridge: Crawfish Capital of the World.”

Stacy Willingham’s A Flicker in the Dark is an absolutely fantastic debut
thriller. While this is more of a lyrical slow burn, I was unable to stop to
catch my breath, finishing it in two days. Although I figured out the twist
right away, she is a master at misdirection. I doubted my own detective work
more times than I would like to admit. However, I will say that those who are
new to this genre will be blown away by the twists. This is how to write a smart
amateur sleuth mystery! It is expertly plotted and masterfully executed. She is
a brilliant writer and I cannot wait to read more from her. I am so thrilled to
have been able to read this advanced reader’s copy!

5/5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of A Flicker in the
Dark in exchange for an honest review. ...more
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Dec 07, 2021 Marialyce (absltmom, yaya) rated it really liked it
Shelves: books-of-2021, jan-mar, netgalley
What a great story that kept this reader glued to the pages! The tension never
lets up and the story, although it had many facets to it, pulled all the strings
together to create a believable suspense story. Although it had a fair share of
foibles, it was an engrossing story, that had me guessing on every page as to
the killer's identity.

This is one that will keep you reading into the middle of the night.

Poor Chloe Davis, was just a fifteen-year-old girl who was shy and reserved.
Unlike her effe What a great story that kept this reader glued to the pages! The
tension never lets up and the story, although it had many facets to it, pulled
all the strings together to create a believable suspense story. Although it had
a fair share of foibles, it was an engrossing story, that had me guessing on
every page as to the killer's identity.

This is one that will keep you reading into the middle of the night.

Poor Chloe Davis, was just a fifteen-year-old girl who was shy and reserved.
Unlike her effervescent brother who had a plethora of friends. When their father
is accused and convicted of killing six teenage girls.., it sends this family
into a state of turmoil. This family seemed to have unknowingly lived with a
serial killer.

The bulk of the story takes place twenty years later when Chloe, a psychologist,
is preparing for her big day to a man who has more or less swept her off her
feet. Horrendous occurrences happen when two young girls are missing and then
found dead bearing the imprints of the way in which her father killed his
victims. Is there a copycat killer on the loose?

Due to all the trauma in her life, Chloe is not the most stable person and with
a combination of that and pills, she imagines one man after the other being the
killer. She is definitely unstable but determined that she will find the killer
and right the wrongs done.

Along the way, she examines her life and also finds within herself courage and
many surprises lurking in the corners.

While Jan and I enjoyed the story, I did like it better than she did. We both
hope that Stacy will continue to write and allow us be able to read another
story from this newbie author.

Thank you to Stacy Willingham, a new author, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for a
copy of this propulsive thriller. ...more
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Dec 16, 2021 Frank Phillips rated it it was amazing
How do I review a book packed with so much and still do it justice? The easy
answer is, you can't!
This is undoubtedly one of the better suspense novels I've read this year, and
I'm so happy I selected this as my BOTM!

When Chloe Davis was just twelve, several teenage girls went missing in her
small Louisiana town. By end of that summer, Chloe's father was arrested and
convicted of the murders and has been in prison the past twenty years. Case
closed, right? Hardly!

Fast-forward twenty years late How do I review a book packed with so much and
still do it justice? The easy answer is, you can't!
This is undoubtedly one of the better suspense novels I've read this year, and
I'm so happy I selected this as my BOTM!

Fast-forward twenty years later and Chloe Davis has it all. She's a successful
psychologist running a private practice helping troubled teens and also engaged
to her dream man. Everything is going according to plan and Chloe's finally put
her horrible childhood behind her. When two of her patients suddenly disappear
in a span of a couple of weeks, and are later found brutally murdered Chloe
can't help but wonder if these disturbing cases have anything to do with her
father and that horrible summer she's worked so hard to put behind her,
especially when she notices chilling similarities in these new cases. Is Chloe
simply being paranoid, or is there somehow really a connection? If so, how?
Could it be her almost too good to be true fiancé? Is it someone from her past
she has yet to uncover? Or is Chloe just batsh*t crazy and imagining all of
this?!

Initially, I picked up on a tense, ominous, lurking presence, which immediately
grabbed my attention and put me on the edge of my seat with intrigue. After a
few chapters I certainly thought I had this one figured out very early on, and
in parts I did, but then again I didn't...it's too hard to explain without
spoiling anything. Let's just say the mystery element was more complex than even
I anticipated, and it blew me away!! On top of that, I felt Willingham did a
masterful job at developing complex, fleshed-out and incredibly vivid characters
and relationships while also executing a slow simmering decades-old murder
mystery, resulting in a novel that read much more than a murder suspense - this
one had teeth and definitely left a mark! The family drama aspect of this one
really got to me, let's just leave it at that!

After finishing the final page I really had to sit for a while and take in what
I had just read, and that is absolutely what I CRAVE in a stellar
suspense/thriller! To think that this was as debut makes it even more
impressive! No doubt, this will be the beginning of a great career for
Willingham, and I for one am a new fan! I full-heartedly recommend this to my
follow drama/suspense/mystery/thriller/horror fans - you won't regret it!!
...more
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Dec 04, 2021 Mandy White (mandylovestoread) rated it it was amazing
Shelves: net-galley, read-in-2021
I was hearing about this book everywhere and I am thankful to harper Collins UK
for my early ARC to read. I have to say, the hype is real people - this book is
amazing! I started and finished it in a day, I just had to know what was going
to happen next. I challenge any crime and thriller reader to try to stop reading
this in one go! This book had everything I love in a good crime thriller. A
serial killer, and unreliable narrator and multiple timelines. Our main
character, Chloe Davis is a psyc I was hearing about this book everywhere and I
am thankful to harper Collins UK for my early ARC to read. I have to say, the
hype is real people - this book is amazing! I started and finished it in a day,
I just had to know what was going to happen next. I challenge any crime and
thriller reader to try to stop reading this in one go! This book had everything
I love in a good crime thriller. A serial killer, and unreliable narrator and
multiple timelines. Our main character, Chloe Davis is a psychologist hiding a
very dark secret from her patients and most of the world. She drinks too much,
takes too many un-prescribed pills for anxiety and struggles to get close to
anyone. She has finally found a man she loves and wants to open up to. But 20
years ago, her father was convicted of killing 6 teenagers in her home town. As
the anniversary looms, a call comes through from a reporter wanting to talk to
her about her dad. And then the girls start to turn up dead again...in a very
similar fashion as her fathers crimes. You can't tell me that doesn't sound
good! A Flicker in the Dark is going to be a big hit in 2022 so don't miss out.
Full of twists and turns to make you second guess yourself, it is amazing. All
the stars. Thanks to Harper Collins UK and Netgalley for my advanced copy of
this book to read. Out February 3rd. ...more
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Nov 29, 2021 Lori rated it really liked it · review of another edition
‘I thought I knew what monsters were… then I realized that monsters didn’t hide
in the woods; they weren’t shadows in the trees or invisible things lurking in
darkened corners. No, the real monsters moved in plain sight.’- Stacy
Willingham, A Flicker in the Dark

Based on all my ‘friends’ fantastic reviews I was really looking forward to
reading this. I always get a little nervous going into a highly rated book,
because inevitably my expectations are too high and I end up disappointed. Well,
I’m t ‘I thought I knew what monsters were… then I realized that monsters didn’t
hide in the woods; they weren’t shadows in the trees or invisible things lurking
in darkened corners. No, the real monsters moved in plain sight.’- Stacy
Willingham, A Flicker in the Dark

From the very first chapter this story hooked me and held my attention until the
conclusion. If it hadn’t been for lack of reading time due to the holiday I
would’ve read in this in a day or two… it was that riveting. Even though I kinda
knew early on what the reveal was going to be, the journey to piece it together
kept me turning the pages. I, also, enjoyed how Willingham included the word
‘flicker’ throughout the text… thought this was a very clever nod to the title.

Only small criticism would be that there were a few ‘loose ends’ that I didn’t
think were explained as well as I would’ve liked. Main one I had was why did
everything start up again? What was the trigger so to speak.

This lived up to my expectations… for a debut there’s not much more praise I can
give a novel. I look forward to seeing where Willingham goes from here. 4.5
stars.

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest
review. ...more
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Dec 15, 2021 Derek rated it it was amazing
Shelves: botm
In addition to all the early buzz (or flickering of excitement) coming from my
GRs friends about this, I was also excited to pick this up to support an
in-state author. I would think a beautiful city like Charleston, SC would prove
to be inspirational - but it's definitely not as dark as this! I could feel a
lot of southern influence in the author's lyrical prose. Fireflies really hit
home with me.

A Flicker in the Dark is a riveting thriller about a serial killer's daughter
faced with a potenti In addition to all the early buzz (or flickering of
excitement) coming from my GRs friends about this, I was also excited to pick
this up to support an in-state author. I would think a beautiful city like
Charleston, SC would prove to be inspirational - but it's definitely not as dark
as this! I could feel a lot of southern influence in the author's lyrical prose.
Fireflies really hit home with me.

A Flicker in the Dark is a riveting thriller about a serial killer's daughter
faced with a potential copycat scenario 20 years later as she is still trying to
establish some level of normalcy to her life.

This is an incredible debut that is intricately plotted. Literally everything
comes back into play and everyone is a suspect. Willingham masterfully weaves
the story, even blending past and present timelines seamlessly. Impressive for a
debut author! The whole time I felt like I was in the trusted hands of a master
who has honed their craft... except for one thing that kept taking me out of the
story:

This is mighty trivial but, wow, the usage of the word flick was heavy. I'm
hoping there's something meaningful to just the author about why this is done -
like maybe the first dog she ever rescued was named Flick and she volunteered at
a shelter and helped place 103 dogs with homes and she wanted to honor Flick and
his memory by inserting his name 103 times in her debut novel. I don't know! But
I hope there's a reason that word came up in every. single. chapter. For
flickity flicks sake!

I will stop being flicking trivial and flick that little flickering of a
negative nugget out of my flicking head. FLICK! I'm dying to know the word
count, so if you plan on reading this, please do some tally marks!

But yeah, you should pick this up. Big parts of the ending will be predictable
to seasoned thriller readers, but this is more about the journey. Incredible
work. Cheers!

December 2021 BOTM. ...more
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Dec 01, 2021 Denise rated it really liked it
I read so many great reviews on this one that made me afraid it wouldn't live up
to my expectations, but I'm happy to say that for the most part, it did! What a
fantastic debut from Stacy Willingham.

I'm a bit surprised that I liked this book as much as I did, as I did not like
the protagonist, Chloe, one bit. Chloe is the daughter of a serial killer who
has been in prison since she was twelve years old. She is now happily engaged
and is a successful psychologist; but underneath it all, she is a I read so many
great reviews on this one that made me afraid it wouldn't live up to my
expectations, but I'm happy to say that for the most part, it did! What a
fantastic debut from Stacy Willingham.

I'm a bit surprised that I liked this book as much as I did, as I did not like
the protagonist, Chloe, one bit. Chloe is the daughter of a serial killer who
has been in prison since she was twelve years old. She is now happily engaged
and is a successful psychologist; but underneath it all, she is an emotional
basket case with some serious trust issues and a dependence on wine and
prescription drugs, making her a very unreliable narrator. When two young girls
in town go missing, she begins noticing parallels to the past and her father's
case, but no one seems to take her seriously - until she connects with a New
York Times journalist who works with her to uncover the disturbing truth.

I loved the setting of Baton Rouge, as the bayous of Louisiana are one of my
favorite haunts, and I found it as eerie and dark as the storyline itself.
Willingham fluidly wove in memories from Chloe’s past with the present, which
isn't always easy to do with a plot like this (although a bit repetitive with
the bellybutton ring references!). There are lots of twists and red herrings in
this one, and I suspected every single one of the characters of wrongdoing at
one time or another, which is always a plus for me. That being said, it was also
perhaps what weakened the book a bit - it felt like near the end in an attempt
to throw the reader off, Willingham threw in everything but the proverbial
kitchen sink, despite whether they were plausible scenarios or not. Nonetheless,
my initial guess about the ending was correct, which disappointed me just the
teeniest bit.

Overall, still a fantastic debut, and Willingham is definitely an author to
watch for! 4 stars. ...more
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Oct 16, 2021 Jean rated it really liked it · review of another edition
Shelves: netgalley, thriller
Whew! A Flicker in the Dark might be one of the more intense thrillers I’ve read
in some time! Stacy Willingham does an impressive job with this debut
psychological suspense novel featuring psychologist Chloe Davis as the
unreliable narrator.

When Chloe was twelve, teenage girls in her small Louisiana town began
disappearing, one by one. Imagine the horror she, her brother, and mother felt
when her father was arrested and charged with the murders! The family was
harassed and left to pick up the p Whew! A Flicker in the Dark might be one of
the more intense thrillers I’ve read in some time! Stacy Willingham does an
impressive job with this debut psychological suspense novel featuring
psychologist Chloe Davis as the unreliable narrator.

When Chloe was twelve, teenage girls in her small Louisiana town began
disappearing, one by one. Imagine the horror she, her brother, and mother felt
when her father was arrested and charged with the murders! The family was
harassed and left to pick up the pieces of their lives with that stigma of being
related to Dick Davis following them wherever they went.

Twenty years later, Chloe is Dr. Chloe Davis, a practicing psychiatrist. Once,
while she was in college, she mistakenly tried to impress a boy at a party by
telling him she was going to go for her doctorate, then hopefully, her masters.
I assume this was the author’s error. Chloe also believes that there are only
three states that permit psychologists to prescribe medications. This surprised
me, as I didn’t think they were allowed this at all. However, I learned that
there are really five: Louisiana, New Mexico, Illinois, Iowa, and Idaho. This
data is from August 2020. Chloe takes full advantage of her prescribing
privilege; in fact, she abuses it. She self-prescribes, using her fiancé’s name
obtain Xanax and other medications to take the edge off her anxiety. She tells
herself that she’s not hooked, but she’s careless with her drugs, frequently
combining them with alcohol. This is one of the main reasons why she is an
unreliable narrator. The reader simply cannot trust that her judgement of a
situation or of any person is sound.

However, she is engaged to a wonderful man, Daniel Briggs, who seems perfect in
every way. Is he too perfect? He ticked my radar. He seems overly attentive,
overly protective – when he is there. He is often gone on business trips for his
job as a pharmaceutical representative.

Then there’s Chloe’s brother, Cooper. He’s super protective too. He doesn’t like
Daniel, doesn’t seem to trust him. Is he jealous? Or is there another reason?
Chloe is bothered that Coop feels this way because she really wants her brother
to be part of her wedding. Why can’t he accept Daniel?

The plot intensifies when a girl goes missing. Chloe just happens to join the
search and finds an earring. Now, suddenly, she is involved in a police matter.
One thing leads to another. A body. A mysterious reporter. Another missing
person…Chloe’s interest in these affairs intensifies as well because she’s sure
it’s a copycat killer, someone who’s familiar with her father’s case. Is she
somehow a target?

Despite my lack of emotional connection to Chloe as a person, or to any of the
characters, really, I couldn’t help being drawn into the story. Ms. Willingham
effectively weaves in memories from Chloe’s past with her present situation. The
author also does a superb job building suspense, creating red herrings, and
casting doubt and suspicion. I changed my mind several times and still got it
wrong! As a debut novel, this is quite well done. And, to credit Ms. Willingham,
Chloe does change and grow by the end of the book.

A Flicker in the Dark was an ARC from NetGalley and Minotaur Books. My thanks to
them and to the author. Opinions expressed are my own.

3.5 stars rounded up ...more
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Nov 03, 2021 Dennis rated it really liked it
Shelves: 2021-read, suspense, slow-burn, dark, mystery, thriller, 2022-pub
Wait a freaking second, A Flicker in the Dark is Stacy Willingham's DEBUT
NOVEL!? I am completely and utterly stunned. This book feels like it was written
by a master storyteller, an expert in crime-fiction, and I am shook.

This book focuses on psychologist Dr. Chloe Davis and her experience with as
serial killer as a father. The story touches on both her past and present life,
while coming to terms with the trauma she had as a young girl. Twenty years
after her father was sentenced, it appe Wait a freaking second, A Flicker in the
Dark is Stacy Willingham's DEBUT NOVEL!? I am completely and utterly stunned.
This book feels like it was written by a master storyteller, an expert in
crime-fiction, and I am shook.

This book focuses on psychologist Dr. Chloe Davis and her experience with as
serial killer as a father. The story touches on both her past and present life,
while coming to terms with the trauma she had as a young girl. Twenty years
after her father was sentenced, it appears that a copycat killer is on the
loose. Is it actually a copycat killer though? Is Chloe imagining the
similarities?

I don't want to dive too much into the story, but I do think it's a story you
need to read if you like mystery / thrillers. Its very slow at first, but once
the story gets moving, I really couldn't put it down. Chloe is an interesting
protagonist and you can feel her trauma and paranoia with each chapter. I
definitely see why this was optioned for a limited series. If you want a shorter
Karin Slaughter novel, I think A Flicker in the Dark is right for you. ...more
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