This book gave me anxiety, but in a good way. Hard to put down worth it to read straight through to a satisfying ending.

Once I started this book, I didn’t want to put it down! Motherhood + a missing child pulled me in right from the start. This book has everything you want in a thriller. I know we’re only 5 days into 2023, but I’m thrilled to add this to my list of 2023 favorite reads!

Thank you to Minotaur Books for my gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. 🤍

Isabelle's son Mason disappeared at a year ago. Sometimes she thinks her own sanity is disappearing as well. She can't sleep, formerly a sleepwalker now she just groggily exists in a world that doesn't seem to come together right. She and her husband have separated. He wants to get on with his life but Isabelle just can't. On the flight home after being a presenter at a conference about missing children, Isabelle meets a podcast reporter. He wants to help, or does he? As the story continues it goes thru massive twists and turns from her husband's life to the podcaster, her own past, and her parent's secrets, even a mysterious neighbor. Isabelle's challenge is to find out what happened to Mason and who is responsible for his disappearance. This shocking twisty thriller is a good one. For lovers of mysteries, good stories, and interesting characters you won't want to miss "All the Dangerous Things". Thanks to #NetGalley#AlltheDangerousThings for the opportunity to read and review this book. It is a really good read!

For beginner and experienced thriller lovers - I loved this! It was my second Stacy Willingham book and her specialty seems to be that she can have rich back stories and merge them quite well with the present story at hand. I've read my fair share of thrillers and this one was able to surprise me with its red herrings and plot twists.
It seemed to offer a good balance of suspense and thriller with the added eeriness of dark family secrets. I'd definitely recommend reading this book!

I adored this book! I loved her first book, and this one, she knocked it out of the park! I firmly believe this one is better than her first! So, Isabelle Drake lived through a parent's worst nightmare while she and her husband slept with her 11-month-old son, Mason, who was taken out of his crib a year ago. The case went cold soon because there was not much for the authorities to go on. But like any mother, Isabelle is not giving up until she finds her son! It has become her life mission she was obsessed with, determined to find out what happened to her son. She is not sleeping and even her now estranged husband and friends and family want her to start the acceptance phase of her grief and accept that Mason is gone. Easier said than done. Waylon meets Isabelle at TrueCrime Cons, where Isabelle has started giving talks. Well, Waylon is a true crime podcaster, and he wants to help her find out what happened to her Mason. However, the more Isabelle gets to know Waylon and the more she discovers about him, the more she becomes concerned, and she begins to doubt if she can trust Waylon.
This book was excellent! You are literally on the edge of your seat the last half of the book, but this book makes you question your memory because of all the stuff going on! This is a must-read! Thank you, Netgalley and St. Martins Press/Minotaur Books, for the extraordinary opportunity to read and review this one!

Wow! I honestly did not see where this novel was going to go. Stacy had me guessing from the first few pages and I kept flipping the pages late in the night. It was disturbing, sad, fast paced, and all the things I look for in a thriller. Thank you Netgalley for my free review copy.

This is the first novel I've read by Willingham, and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. As someone that struggles on and off with insomnia, I can completely understand how lack of sleep can mess with you both physically and mentally, and I could really feel for what Isabelle was going through in terms of her own insomnia.

This novel is told in two timelines, the present day, in which Isabelle's son has been gone for a year and she is trying to figure out what happened, and Isabelle's childhood, in which we find out that she's always had sleeping problems and this is where her dark past begins.

I loved how this story unfolded and found myself equally loving both of the timelines that this book presented. It shows us that nothing is as it seems, that you can't trust anyone, and that Isabelle is also a very unreliable narrator, which I kind of loved.

The only downside is that this novel moves a little slowly, so you find that you might have to trudge through a little bit to get to the meat of the story. But that still doesn't stop me from recommending this book, it's a wonderful read.

This is my second book from this author and I am not disappointed!
The pacing kept me hooked on the story and that twisted ending!

As a mother this is truly a nightmare situation, waking up and realizing your baby is gone. This mother copes in the most perfect way and I can sympathize with her on so many levels.
I'm trying not to spoil anything but the ending omg I would flip my shit too, sadly I knew the direction this was gonna be going because I picked up on it earlier in the book but still so wtf.

Thank you to the publisher for the advanced copy!

Like Stacy Willingham’s debut novel, A Flicker in the Dark, All the Dangerous Things had me invested from the very first sentence. The author has a way with words, a way to make you feel like you’re inside the story, as if you are one of the characters. There were jaw dropping moments, shocking gasps and teary eyed as I read this novel. Willingham is definitely becoming one of my favorite mystery authors. This book is one everyone should read.

(Read hardcover through book of the month, although NetGalley originally gave me an early read through an ARC)

I really liked this book! At first I thought maybe it was a bit slow and predictable but boy was I ever wrong! The second half of the book was so good I was flying through it. Every twist and turn actually shocked me! What an amazing book. Will have to check out more of her books!

Such a fantastic book! I was a little hesitant because of the topic of kidnapping and the fact that I have a young child. It is a very real concern with me. The story though was so focused on the mom and her finding the truth that it wasn't a trigger for me. It was so well written and such a great mystery. I also have to say that I loved and related to the ending of this one! The narrator was also fantastic!

Isabella Drake's life completely changed just a year ago when her son was taken from his bedroom without a trace. Left unable to sleep, Isabelle spends countless hours questioning every decision she made, even those from her childhood, that lead her to this moment without her son.

Okay, let's start with a quick rant & then move on to my rave:

Rant: I did not love A Flicker in the Dark. I figured out the ending as soon as I started reading the book. I actually couldn't understand all of the reviews claiming to be "thrown" by the ending when it was so very obvious to me. That being said, I was apprehensive to start her sophomore novel.

Rave:
I LOVED IT. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Everyone's a suspect, and, while I did guess some of this, there were twists I didn't expect BUT - most importantly - the twists made perfect sense. I was getting FURIOUS at certain parts, when no one would listen to Isabelle or when a character would explain themselves... all signs of great writing. I'm surprised I didn't wake my sleeping husband as I finished this novel in the early morning hours, scoffing at parts as I raced to the end.

Isabelle sleepwalks, and it was so well done here that I was getting the heebie-jeebies. It's such an unsettling concept - to be asleep but on the move & have no memory of what went on. It's a huge part of the plot & it was executed perfectly. Sometimes the tropes of sleepwalking and Isabelle's other issue of sleep deprivation can be overdone in novels & you just want to roll your eyes. Not at all the case here.

Overall, an incredible exploration of female characters in all shapes and sizes that attempts to tackle a lot of hot button issues such as motherhood, childhood trauma, and mental health.

Thank you Netgalley & the author for my advanced copy.

I adored reading and listening to All the Dangerous Things! I am new to this author and cannot wait to read more. I felt this story in my bones. The depth and breadth of emotion I felt for Isabelle was shocking to me. I was not expecting the punch this story packs. I suggest going in blind and letting things unfold for you. I loved the breadcrumbs as well as all that happens on the periphery.

Suspenseful and heartfelt, with twists and turns! I highly recommend All the Dangerous Things.

This book was unputdownable for me. It is DARK, especially when exploring some of the dark sides of motherhood, but I love a dark, twisty thriller.

As heavy as it was - I needed to keep reading to find out how everything turned out, but some of the scenes were very tough to read.

There are plenty of content warnings which I will leave at the end. Please take care when reading this one.

Isabelle has been living every mother’s worst nightmare for the past year- when her toddler son was taken from his bedroom when they were sleeping. They still haven’t found out who took him. The book goes between two timelines and you quickly find out that Isabelle’s childhood also has some unanswered questions.

You know I love when I can’t figure out a thriller and this one stumped me and totally surprised me!!! I loved the true crime aspects and how it had me questioning everything. Bonus - super short chapters - always a fan of that!

I think I liked this book even more than the author’s debut - a definite auto read author for me now!

4.5 stars rounded up







⚠️content warnings: kidnapping, postpartum depression, stillbirth, postpartum psychosis, drowning, sleepwalking, gaslighting, infidelity, suicide, infertility, murder, grief, insomnia, drug overdose

All the Dangerous Things by Stacy Willingham is the story of Isabelle and her loss. Her son, Mason, has been missing for over a year, he was a year and a half at the time. The case has not been solved, much to Isabell's confusion. She had hoped that after all this time that someone somewhere would have seen or heard something.

There was an open window in Mason's room but no dirt on the floor or prints on the window or any sign that this was how the intruder came in. Isabelle is prone to sleepwalking and after viewing the video on the baby monitor, which was not working on the night of the disappearance, she starts thinking that she somehow had something to do with it. She sees on the video that she just stands over Mason's bed and stares at him. She of course remembers none of this.

In flashbacks we learn that about Isabelle's childhood and the death of her little sister Margaret. Margaret was two years younger than Isabelle and idolized her big sister. In the heat of summer, a very hot summer, Isabelle comes downstairs one morning and finds her parents distraught, and they tell her that Margaret is dead, died in the swamp. Isabelle is haunted by her sister's death all her adult life. She had been seeing a counselor to help her come to grips with what happened, but she often wonders if she had something to do with it.

Back to present, we learn about Isabelle and her husband Ben's relationship, how they met and how they ended up getting married. Turns out that Ben is able to move on after the disappearance of his son, but Isabelle is not, thus they split. She even gives talks hoping that someone in the audience somewhere knows something.

On one of her trips from a talk, on the plane a man, Waylon, starts talking to her. He is a podcaster and is interested in interviewing Isabelle. They hit it off and she starts talking with him about the case. He tells her one day that he needs to leave as it is costly staying in a motel. She invites him into her home because she wants to continue with the podcast. But things are not as they seem with Waylon, and she finds out that he is not who he says he is.

This book is a psychological thriller at its best, lots of twists and turns to keep the reader engaged. I really enjoy this type of book and this one was really good!

It is kind of interesting to see how different people react to the same circumstances. Not going to say anymore as I don't want to ruin it. I give these one 5 stars! Go get your copy!

Omg what a heart wrenching thriller! Ugh this was hard to read because of the subject matter but I’m so glad that “what happened to the baby “ was left unknown and we didn’t have any gore, I think that would have made me stop reading.

I think the author and narrator did an excellent job with the subject matter. I loved the unreliable narrator part of the story. It really made me question a lot. Although I had some ideas but I really didn’t see the twist at the end there with the ex husbands GF. THE ENDING WAS GREAT!

I liked A Flicker in the Dark overall...I guessed the twist fairly early on, even as I didn't want it to be that person--I may have had a bit of a crush--but I suspected him. The main character annoyed me to no end but I finished the book. Since I didn't hate her first book I decided to request the second and see what happened. Normally, they say the second book isn't as good but I feel like this was leaps and bounds better. There were so many layers of things going on but it wasn't difficult to keep track.

Isabelle hasn't slept since her son, Mason, disappeared from his crib one night a year ago. Not real true sleep. The case is cold, her husband has moved out and moved on, but she can't. She uses every opportunity to keep attention on the case, because she can't give up. After speaking at a true crime convention on the flight home the seat next to her is occupied by a true crime podcaster. He offers to do a series on her case, even tells her he recently solved a cold case. She initially turns him down but changes her mind.

In the back of her mind she remembers her childhood sleep walking and the drowning of her sister. She finds out from nanny cam footage she had been sleep walking again before Mason disappeared, but she has no one she can talk this through with.

In her mind, everyone and anyone could be guilty, including herself. She is determined to find out what really happened and hopefully get Mason back.

I did not see this twist coming and when it was revealed and Isabelle took action, I can easily picture myself there...as a mother. My son is a grown adult but I don't think that protective instinct ever goes away.

If you liked A Flicker in the Dark you will love this one.

A slow-burning mystery—submerging within the folds, and not coming up for air until the final page.
Isabelle has always been a deep sleeper, that is until that fateful night one year prior. With her husband sleeping peacefully next to her, her infant son was taken from his crib. Disappearing without a trace. In the year that followed, Isabelle’s life slowly disintegrates. And with the latest nail to her crumbling life, she has separated from her husband. Living in the eerie quiet of her home, Isabelle is lucky to get a few minutes of sleep, if any at all.

Making matters worse, what little clues she has been able to find amount to nothing. Creating severe desperation that even Isabelle doesn’t know what is real and what is in her head. Until a true crime podcaster with a yen for solving mysteries, approaches her offering his help.

At this point, she has nothing to lose, reluctantly inviting him into her home, into the nightmare that is her life. Together, the pair follows the trail of Isabelle’s missing son—even when that trail leads them back to Isabelle’s childhood home, a place that she has been avoiding at all costs.

Masterful Mystery
Isabelle is the perfect “unreliable narrator”. The grief that Isabelle feels is so relatable, adding more to your immersion within the story. As her desperation increases, the more palpable it feels, the deeper you dive into the story.

With the addition of each “past” timeline the layer of complexity and intrigue grows. Traveling back to Isabelle’s childhood home, the site of a terrible tragedy. Isabelle’s life was never the same after that incident. And although she knows that she has done something terrible, everything from that night is hazy. Could the secret Isabelle she have repressed for years—manifest itself in her adult life, and cause her to harm her son?

At times the story was slow, not to the point of boredom but in order to allow the tension to build. And with each piece of foreshadowing that happened in earlier stages of the book expertly laid, the story unfolds connecting the dots until the end. The ending was quite satisfying, as you discover the things that Isabelle does you can’t help but feel like the way that the story turned you would do yourself if given the opportunity.

Reading the latest edition of Willingham’s works, and thoroughly enjoying them solidifying her as an auto-buy author for me. I loved how messy and complicated the characters are none who is without faults, and none are pure evil either. This is an excellent second novel from Willingham, well worth adding to your 2023 to-be-read list.

I love thrillers and this one was no exception. Duel POVs are my favorite types of books. I love seeing all perspectives. I did not see the twists and turns coming. Had me on the edge of my seat. But it was similar to other thrillers I’ve read. Still great though.

I do not always enjoy an unreliable narrator but the ending really made this book for me. Also, the audio of this was top notch narration. There were many times throughout the book where I was certainly questioning Isabelle’s choices.
.
Mason Drake was taken out of his crib in the middle of the night. Isabelle cannot sleep until Mason returns, literally. In a year she has barely slept. This lack of sleep definitely leads the reader to question Isabelle. There were some twists and turns I didn’t see coming at the end and overall this was a solid thriller.
.
Thank you #minotaur #NetGalley and #macmillanaudio for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review