I want to thank Minotaur Publishing for giving me an ARC of this upcoming thriller. I am looking forward to seeing what the rest of the world thinks about this Whodunit 🔍 thriller. It started out slow for me and the build up did have a great pay off. The struggle in this family is real and creates some real drama and turmoil even after 20 years. For a debut author Stacey really crafts a heartfelt story full of twist and turns that you may not see coming.

Though Stacy Willingham's writing is indeed beautiful and evocative there just wasn't enough new here to hold my interest. The adult heroine struggling with traumatic childhood/having a murderous relative has just been done so, so often we know almost from page one that something beyond what she thinks happened must be the truth. The unwieldy number of red herrings, some of which don't so much lead to somewhere unexpected as they do to nothing at all (Chloe's relationship arc with her fiancee left me totally baffled), misjudged evidence, typical cops who suck at their jobs just added up to a well written but ultimately unengaging read for me.

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.

I really wanted to like A Flicker in the Dark because the synopsis sounded amazing. However, it started off really slow and I couldn't connect with the main character, Chloe, who is the daughter of a convicted serial killer. There are many twists and turns, but the ending was very predictable.

Overall this was an enjoyable thriller. Loved the setting and the backstory, but with a small number of suspects it seemed easy to see through some of the plot. Except the author took alot of twists and turns to get there. I didn't invest as much as I wanted to in the main character and I found her to surprisingly, have no instincts at all. But it still kept me up at night until I finished so I would recommend to lovers of the crime drama #netgalley #flickerinthedark #stacywillingham #goodreads

A Flicker in the Dark is a psychological thriller with excellent character development and an intriguing premise. Chloe Davis is the daughter of a serial killer turned successful psychologist. Her father murdered several teen girls when she was 12 years old, he was caught and sent to prison as she was coming of age. Obviously, this was difficult for her whole family, her close older brother and her mother suffered deeply after the conviction of Chloe's father, her mother even going so far as attempted suicide. Now there's a copy cat murderer in her midst and she can't handle it.
From the beginning of the book I decided who "dunnit," and I didn't waver from my guess at a single moment in the novel. Even as the author spun a web of deceitful possible killers, all dancing into Chloe's life, my mind was made up. Stacy Willingham produces a deliciously sinful cast of characters, including Dr. Chloe Davis, herself who is a terribly unreliable narrator. She abuses her role as a psychologist, writing herself a myriad of mind altering legal drugs. The last quarter of the book had me speed reading through the pages with a deep burning desire to find out if I was right and who was behind the mayhem. I loved it, with the ONLY possible issue being that I was right about the "bad guy" and so for that I deduct one star. A thrilling read by a debut author and highly unputdownable! 4 stars.

I really enjoyed this book, I can't believe it is a debut. Suspenseful, action and some messed up characters to keep you guessing. I loved the fresh storyline and the twists, it kept me guessing right to the end.

Thanks to Netgalley for my advanced ebook copy.

An instant Must Read!

Have you ever read a novel that you didn't want to end? This IS that novel . . . a cautious look into a family's tragic past, a story sprinkled with suspense and beautiful imagery from an area I call home.

I'm a Louisiana girl, I've felt that sticky humid air, eaten these foods, and driven these roads. We are no strangers to faded smatterings of missing teen notices that blanket utility poles at intersections and the local grocery stores. The sad reminders of the young lives that somehow slipped through the safety of our collective fingers, lost to hidden dangers lurking in our bayous, our fields, and our interstates.

What if that danger were closer than you ever thought possible? Could you imagine sitting next to a predator and not smell the danger?

READ! THIS! BOOK!

I'd like to thank the author, NetGalley, and Minotaur Books for allowing me to read an advanced copy of A Flicker In The Dark for an honest review. 5 stars.

Preorder this one my friends! This is a debut novel for Stacy but it reads like she’s been scaring people for years!

I really enjoyed this book. It was a nice, easy read, full of suspense. It had me second-guessing every character in it. The story was refreshing, a suspense revolving around family as opposed to the typical spousal suspense.

The only thing I can pick at was for me, it very easy to predict. In fact, I had the baddie pegged from the first chapter along with another twist. I really wish those little nuggets weren’t there and I didn’t figure it out because this would’ve been an easy 5/5. That said, there was one other twist I didn’t predict and I really appreciated that one, hence the 4.5/5. It’s been a while since I’ve read a good book like this. 🙌

I say to definitely give this one a shot next year and enjoy!

Chloe Davis is the daughter of a serial killer. She’s tried for years to escape her past and pretend everything is fine but that becomes a challenge when young girls start to come up missing again, years after her father has been in prison. What makes things worse is that it seems this killer is copying her father.

I’ve read several suspense novels this year but this one has made the top of my list. I was pulled in from the very beginning and the author did a great job keeping me engaged. There were so many twists and turns. I’m always happy when I can’t quite figure out what’s going to happen next. I feel this this novel was very well executed and will be looking forward to future releases from this author.

St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books y'all did it again!
Thank you NetGalley, Publisher and Author for this amazing new debut by a new
Queen of suspense Stacy Willingham!

A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham has got to be hands down one of the best thrillers I've read in a very very long time!
I have not been so interested, intrigued, compelled, hooked in a long time like I was with this new novel!
No matter how many thrillers you have read, Stacy Willingham will keep you on your toes.
A Flicker in the Dark hooks readers on the first page and propels them with whip smart pacing to the jaw dropping conclusion.
All there is to say about this outstanding debut! And we are sure she hasn't wrote before? LoL WoW!
Author Stacy you have found you your calling! Can't wait to see what you come up with next! 😍
This is going to be the talk of thrillers come January 11th!

Thanks again NetGalley, Publisher and Author for the chance to read and review this amazing book!
I'll post to my Social media platforms closer to pub date!

What a great read! This is a real thriller with a shocking twist! An adolescent psychologist survived a very dark and troubling childhood- she uncovered evidence that incriminated her father in a series of murders of 6 teenaged girls. He is sent to prison and she has not seen or spoken to him since his trial. Now she finds herself ready to embark on a new chapter in her life with the marriage of a near perfect soul mate.. As she is preparing for the wedding the crimes of her father come back to haunt her with what appears to be a copycat serial killer. Who knows the details of her father's crime so well??

It is not often you come across a thriller where every scene and detail are relevant to the story and evenly paced. Furthermore, it is not often when a book is plotted so well that it leaves you with no holes in a dissatisfied manner. A Flicker in the Dark is without a doubt one of the best thrillers I have read and I was impressed to learn early on that this story is Stacy Willingham debut novel. Her craft of story-telling is marvelous and if I hadn’t known this was her debut, I would have thought her a seasoned published author.

I must add that Willingham creates a brilliant cast of characters and her development of their personalities are flawless. Everyone is suspect and when you believe you have who the killer is, there is a twist leaving you blindsided.

I was fully engaged in this story and before I knew it, I found myself reading late into the night and early morning.

Stephanie Hopkins

This was a DEBUT??? OUTSTANDING!! I would give more stars if I could! Chloe's father was arrested for murdering several teenagers when she was 12 due to evidence she, herself, found. It's been a long road but she has created a life for herself and now more girls are disappearing....... I actually was right from early on about something, but the author threw out so many red herrings and twists that I kept veering off in other directions and there was so much more to it! The story starts off a little slow and I didn't really like Chloe at first. She seemed like a miserable, sad-sack type but as I got to know her and the story picked up speed, I loved her and she was so easy to root for. I could not put this one down and I truly hope there will be more from this author. Gonna be hard to top this one, though!

Thank you to #NetGalley, Stacy Willingham and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for this ARC!

Thank you for my early review copy. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I believe this book will be a huge bestseller.

Thanks to St. Martins Press and NetGalley for this ARC!

A Flicker in the Dark is an AMAZING debut novel! I believe this book is going to be a huge hit once it hits shelves in January 2022. We follow our main character, Chloe Davis, who is a psychologist, but yet has many issues of her own. For instance, she keeps a drawer full of prescription anxyolytics in her desk drawer (that she wrote the prescription for herself under her brothers' name) that she will just look at, even if she doesn't take them, which gives her peace somehow. When the book flashes back to Chloe's childhood, you will soon understand why she struggles with anxiety. Chloe's father is in prison for killing six teenage girls when Chloe was only 12. He has been doned a serial killer of their Louisiana small town. Chloe's brother, Cooper, also suffers in his own, mostly silent way through most of the novel. We are also introduced to Daniel, Chloe's handsome, pharmaceutical rep, fiance, who seems to good to be true to Cooper. I loved the flashbacks in this novel to Chloe's childhood. I also loved the descriptive writing of the small town setting in Louisiana. This book is indeed a roller coaster, taking you on twists and turns so much that you can feel the whiplash. Though you may think that you have guessed the ending, the final twist is a shocker, and even has a nice redeeming ending. This is a must read for any thriller fan, and I highly recommend it. I found it hard to put this one down, and I give it 4.5 stars!

Thank you to both NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for providing me an advance copy of Stacy Willingham’s psychological thriller, A Flicker in the Dark, in exchange for an honest review.

A Flicker in the Dark is a psychological thriller about the daughter of a convicted serial killer whose crimes have haunted her for entire her life and are now part of a copycat scheme that is seemingly targeting her twenty years later.

Chloe Davis has had a rough life since her father pled guilty to murdering six teenage girls from their hometown of Breaux Bridge when she was only twelve. After twenty years, Chloe has managed to escape her family legacy, establish her own practice, and is about to marry the most incredible man in the world…or so she thinks.

Chloe is already struggling to maintain a balance between her new practice, planning a huge wedding, and being the perfect fiancée. She also suffers from substance abuse and PTSD due to her past, which she attempts to hide from Daniel. When girls begin disappearing from her new hometown of Baton Rouge on the 20th anniversary of her father’s reign of terror, Chloe’s emotions get the best of her and she begins to seriously unravel.

Although the plotline may sound cliché, the author executes it much better than the description provided in the book blurb and this review. I found the story to be rather compelling, the suspense well-developed, and it included one or two twists that readers may not see coming. The downsides were that the ending felt rushed, and there were a few details that were never resolved. Otherwise, it was an unsettling and entertaining thriller that I would recommend to all those who enjoy reading this genre.

When Chloe was 12, her father was arrested as a serial killer. She had some hard times growing up, with the locals hating her family and her mom attempting suicide. Twenty years later, she has a happier life as a psychologist and a fiancee. When two local teenagers disappear with similarities with her father's victims, Chloe starts to suspect she may know the killer. This was a suspenseful, mystery that kept me guessing until the very end.

Chloe Davis’ father was arrested when she was 12 years old. He was accused of killing 6 young girls that had gone missing in her small home town. Fast forward 20 years and Chloe is now a successful psychologist and getting ready to be married soon. Chloe is finally ready to leave her past behind when suddenly a local young girl goes missing. Shortly after a second one goes missing. How can this be happening?

A FLICKER IN THE DARK, is an exceptional novel from debut author Stacy Willingham. This story goes far beyond your typical serial killer book. The characters are perfectly developed and completely believable. The author keeps your attention and keeps you guessing from beginning to end. I loved this book and would highly recommend it! I also look forward to watching the limited television series based on this book!

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for my ARC in exchange for my honest review

This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.

A flicker in the dark is a wonderful debut by Stacy Willingham. Chloe Davis is a psychologist with a dark past. She is the daughter of a convicted serial killer who killed teenage girls twenty years ago.
As Chloe tries to move on with her life , teenage girls start disappearing again. The murders are eerily similar to the ones twenty years ago. As Chloe tries to dig more into it , her world is shaken again.

Stacy has taken the unreliable narrator path, which has worked for the most part. I paced through the book easily. The characters are rich and well written. However, with very few characters, the twist was easy to guess.

A predictable but enjoyable thrilled
I’d definitely check out her next book.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.