All the Dangerous Things by Stacey Willingham is a solid airplane thriller/mystery. If you were to buy this at an airport before your flight and consume it within a few hours of takeoff, it would be time well spent. The writing is good (though it teeters dangerously on over consumption of overwrought metaphors), the pace is quick and sharp, and it held the interest of my easily distracted brain. It even has a good twist or two.

What I think could have been done better is the set up of Isabelle’s family. There is quite a bit said about her relationship with her sister, but not so much about her father and mother. Her mother was shown to be a distracted, forlorn housewife and painter, floating around their hot house in a white nightgown (a little cliche?). Their father - well I don’t remember much of him apart from being stern. Then, at the end, there’s a few sentences on their father being from a lineage of senators, eager to upkeep the image of the perfect family. This seemed to come out of nowhere (unless I missed it), so it would have been nice if those expectations were a little more set up in the beginning of the novel. I would have loved to see what their life was like before things ceased to be “normal”.

The pacing - though good for a quick and easy airplane book - could have been slowed down a little. Everything happened fairly quickly, nothing lingered or took time, even when things could have been explored a little more. For example, the podcast, her relationship and living with Waylon. I also didn’t really appreciate the twist of Ben being a very bad husband. I dunno, just felt very cheap and typical, an easy plot point to lean into.

Overall, an okay book. Would recommend it for an easy read.

Mystery about a missing child, secrets from the mother’s past where death and danger seem to follow her and her, now separated, husband. Is it imagined? Is it from her sleepwalking that she has no memory of? This story will look at uncovering past and present mysteries in Isabelle’s life. 4 stars because it did pick up at the end, but no real likable characters for me and had a slow start.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review

Nothing will compare to a flicker in the dark for me but this was still such a solid read. I love Willingham’s writing

Stacy Willingham knocks it out of the park. She leads us into a story of a mother who's son was taken. She hasn't slept in a year and they are no closer to figuring out the truth. The weaves and webs of this story is sure to keep you invested. Willingham writes with the determination of a mother hell bent on figuring out what happened to her son as she details high emotions and distraught. As she looks deep into her past looking for clues, she can't quite figure what's real and what might be figment of her imagination. I loved every second of this. It reels you in and doesn't let go until the very end. If you like mind bending stories that make you question yourself, this is the one for you! I would highly recommend this book! I believe her writing is stronger in this second novel of hers.

Wow! Stacy Willingham did it again for me. Her debut novel sucked me in so quickly, that I was nervous this would be a flop. It was anything but! The story had me guessing until the end and not being able to tell who I could trust or who was sane… so good!

Thank You to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, and Stacy Willingham for the free e-ARC.

I loved this book. I couldn't put it down and read it an about two days. It started out great and then did get a slow in the middle and boom twists, turns, fast paced until the end. The main character tells the story in two time frames, then and now, alternating between the two. It is seamlessly done and not confusing at all. I loved it. As far as the plot goes, it's not unique, but the added details make it different.

The book is about Isabella Drake, her infant son, is kidnapped from his crib in the middle of the night. In the next room, Isabella and her husband, sleeping, never heard a son. Isabella spends all of her time looking for her son. A year later, she decides to do an interview with a true crime podcaster. It is through this podcast, that Isabella must confront her past, and figure out her present.

I LOVED this book! This was such a cool and unique way to shine a light on post partum and the different ways it can affect someone. Stacey’s writing is so gripping- from the moment you open one of her books you can’t put it down. They are so enthralling. This book not only creeped me out, kept me guessing the entire time, but also made me cry.

Thank you NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the arc of All the Dangerous Things! I loooved Stacy’s first book and enjoyed this one as well. There were so many different plot twists in the book and I really found myself enjoying this!

Stacy Willingham is quickly becoming a favorite thriller writer. This book kept me guessing until the very end and had a very satisfying ending

This one drew me in from the very beginning. And kept me on my toes throughout. The ending definitely caught me by surprise. I thought I knew what to expect, I thought I had figured it out, but not at all! I can't wait to pick up the next book by Willingham! I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys mystery thrillers especially those following a mother's point of view.

All the Dangerous Things was one of mg favorite thrillers of 2023!! It's a twisty, psychological thriller that made my jaw drop. I definitely did not see the big twist at the end! Highly recommend

This is my first Stacy Willingham book I have read and I enjoyed the premise and how the story slowly unraveled to discover what happened. While I felt like some parts were a bit repetitive or draw out for more suspense, overall it was an interesting read that kept my attention and made me want to continue reading to find out what would happen next.

Suspenseful and full of so many twists. I really liked FLICKER this was a great follow up. I was so scared about what happened to Mason. I also enjoyed the multiple timelines

I want to start this by saying that I am not a mother, and sometimes stories that revolve around motherhood or a mom's POV sometimes lose me a little bit (although I am a HUGE fan of "bad mom" books, told from the perspectives of the children!), so I went into this with a little trepidation, as I wasn't sure if it'd hook me or not. I absolutely didn't need to worry at all, this one sucked me in SO quickly! There's a little bit of a slow burn aspect to the story, but I was interested throughout - loved the characterization and the suspense here!

I requested this one as this is my worst fear as a mother! This book kept me up way past my bedtime as I needed to know what happened. Twisty, captivating, and thought provoking. Thank you Netgalley for the advanced copy.

✨ ℝ𝔼𝕍𝕀𝔼𝕎 ✨
All the Dangerous Things
•Author: Stacy Willingham
•Rating: ✰✰✰✰
•Genre: Thriller

This one has been on my list for quite a while so I finally started it! I enjoyed this one a lot! There were so many twists at the end that I did not see coming at all! I enjoyed the dual timelines and how true author intertwined two stories into one. I got through this so fast because it kept my attention the whole time!

I have a deep love for these type of comfy thrillers. If that is not a subgenre, it definitely should be. I refer to the ones that would make a good movie with everything ending in a tidy-up way.

This book has been all over media for a while and now I see why. It did seem like a bit of a slow burn but ultimately it was worth the ride. After reading 2 books by this author she has quickly become an auto buy for me. Thank you for my arc copy!

Willingham crafted a narrative that seamlessly intertwined suspense and human vulnerability, keeping me on the edge of my seat while reading. The characters were richly developed, each of them dealing with their own demons and secrets, adding layers of complexity to the plot. The author's writing style is sharp and evocative, creating a vivid sense of atmosphere that just serves to increase the tension throughout the story. While the pacing was generally well done, there were a couple of moments where the book rambled on about a plot line less relevant to the overall story. Nevertheless, the story's unpredictable twists and the depth of its exploration into the characters' psyches makes this a must read for fans of Physiological thrillers.

Willingham is just a master at leading you down a path that is winding and twisted, with numerous false possible suspects before she just slams you in the face with the truth. Unreliable narrator, gaslighting, and every mothers worst nightmare - a missing baby.