Loved this book! I enjoyed this authors first novel and this was better! I’ve recommended it to several reader friends already!

One year ago, Isabelle Drake's life changed forever when her young son, Mason, was taken out of his crib in the middle of the night while she and her husband were asleep in the next room. The case quickly went cold., but for Isabelle, she cannot rest until her son is returned to her.

I loved Stacy Willingham's A Flicker in the Dark, so I was stoked to see that I received an advanced copy of All the Dangerous Things. My only regret is that I didn't read this one sooner! It is a fast-paced thriller that will leave you on the edge of your seat. I could not put this book down, and read it in one sitting! This is one novel that is at the top of my "recommend" list when people ask for a new read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was written so good that I read it in a few hours and couldn’t put down until it was finished. Wow this was some good writing and story telling!

In this book, we follow Isabelle, a mother who has had her son taken from her and since that time hasn't been able to sleep. Her insomnia plays a crucial role in the story line, impacting our ability to count her as a reliable narrator. She connects with a true crime podcaster and continues the search for her son, Mason. The deeper she digs, the more information about herself she uncovers.

This book was a decent story, but it wasn't as thrilling of a thriller as I'd like. It is undoubtedly more domestic of a thriller, involving families and children and the secrets that sometimes lurk in family trees. Isabelle isn't exactly likable, but I think it's universal to feel the pain of a mother who is looking for her taken child.

In the end, I'd call this an average read. I enjoyed it, but there wasn't anything that really stuck with me.

Loved this thriller - Isabelle’s son is kidnapped and no one can figure why or where he is. I don’t want to give away the plot and it’s twists but Isabelle can’t sleep and begins to doubt what really happened

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

I’m not really sure how I missed A Flicker in the Dark at first back in early 2022, but after seeing the buzz about it and then how much I enjoyed it, I knew to keep my eye out for Stacy Willingham’s books and so when I saw All The Dangerous Things on Netgalley, I requested. Now here is the thing- I was REALLY torn. Did I want to listen or to read? Both ways are enjoyable for me as long as I enjoy narrator.

Well, I got approved via NG first, so that solved that dilemma (although I did consider using one of my credits so I could hear Karissa Vacker narrate!)

What I liked:

Ya’ll, this cover. I don’t even think I realized till I started reading how great this cover is. IYKYK…..

How twisty and turny this book is!

The ending!



Bottom line: Stacy Willingham is def becoming an author I’m keeping my eye out for. She should be one you keep an eye out for as well.



*This book was sent to Traveling With T for review. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.*

All The Dangerous Things shows several small streaks of brilliance. I have read (too many) thriller books, and the best kind is when you’re shocked by the ending. However, after closer inspection, you realize that the clues were laid all along for you to figure out all the different twists. It’s just a matter of hiding them cleverly enough that you didn’t quite connect the dots until it was too late.

We follow Isabelle, who hasn’t stopped searching for her son Mason ever since he disappeared from his crib a year prior. She’s lost friends, family, even her husband in pursuit of the truth. She hasn’t slept properly for a full year, only subsisting on the bare minimum needed to survive. As a last-ditch effort, she teams up with a podcaster who begins unearthing truths about her childhood that cause Isabelle to begin to question herself. And not at the least because she’s forgotten one important detail: she’s a sleepwalker.

now this is what i call a solid thriller.
It’s not overly high-stakes the way some thrillers are (Behind Closed Doors and Survive The Night come to mind). However, it does an incredible job of sowing seeds of doubt in your mind, in stealthily ramping up the tension, until you realize that your breaths have shortened and you’re completely unsure what to believe.

As we dive into Isabelle’s fragmented childhood memories, as well as reports of what happened the night Mason went missing, we begin to suspect her. But it’s not just her who is unreliable and complex. Almost every character in this book is entwined with this story one way or another, and none of them are perfect. I believe the author comments on this in her foreword but All The Dangerous Things really comments on the pressure mothers face to be perfect. Everything they do is judged, and they’re immediately regarded as terrible humans if they do not feel endless love and joy towards their child at all times. This book does a truly excellent job at drawing aside the curtain and reminding us as a society that there is a difference between taking care of a child properly and lashing on moms for the little things, the little feelings.

That being said, this is a twisty little jewel of a book! It has a steady pace that balances great reveals with excellent foreshadowing. It takes the psychological route instead of the suspenseful one, while keeping you on the edge of your seat. I cannot recommend this book enough if you’re looking for a new thriller!

All the Dangerous Things by Stacy Willingham took me by storm. This is an author to definitely keep on your radar. Her books will keep you reading through the night and on the edge of your seat. This one is full of suspense, emotions and the narration was superb. The narration kept me fully engage and binge listening at record speed.

Many thanks to St Martin Press, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for sharing this digital reviewer copy and listening copy for me in exchange for my honest review. This is the twisty psychological thriller we have all been waiting for. Happy Reading!!

One year ago, Isabelle's toddler son was taken out of his crib in the middle of the night, while her and her husband were asleep. With no leads, the case eventually went cold. Isabelle has not slept properly since her son disappeared. She is obsessed with finding her son, but seems no closer than she was a year ago.

A true=crime podcaster reaches out to Isabelle for an interview. Isabelle agrees, but becomes increasingly wary of the podcaster. She does not like his interest in her past. Coupled with her lack of sleep, this makes Isabelle doubt what she remembers from the night of her son's disappearance. She is determined to figure out the truth, but is unable to trust anyone.

What an exciting read! This is the kind of book you will not be able to put down. Each chapter ends in a way that leaves you saying, "just one more!" I always love thrillers where we have an unreliable narrative, which is exactly Isabelle. Her lack of sleep and grief result in a foggy memory. The reader is sometimes left questioning what is reality. All of this makes for an extremely thrilling book!

The book is full of twists and turns and the final revelation does not disappoint. I enjoyed the writing style, the complex themes explored, and the range of characters.

This was my first read from Ms Willngham but definitely not my last. Looking forward to more exciting thrillers from her!

Thank you St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for the book in exchange for an honest review. Forgot to review this one after reading it!

4.5 ⭐️

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

All The Dangerous Things is Willingham's second book and it did not disappoint! I loved Flicker in The Dark and this one is just as great.

The story begins with Isabelle Drake suffering the disappearance of her toddler, Mason, who vanished in the middle of the night and the only evidence was the open window of his room. Isabelle has never given up and is hopeful that she will find him. The police have now turned it into a case cold but she has not given up, even though everyone, including her ex-husband, looks to have moved on. She now travels around the country speaking at True Crime conventions and continuing to shed light on her son's disappearance. She is then approached with the idea of doing a podcast about it, and it is then that she starts experiencing memories that make up for intriguing realizations about her childhood and family, her loss of time, and her blackouts. She begins doubting herself and the events leading up to that night.

I enjoyed getting to decipher this one. Even though it had a slower pace to the story, it did not take away from my enjoyment. I thought I had it figured out at times and then bam, another unforeseen twist or revelation. I enjoyed reading the now-and-then chapters, piecing together clues around the puzzle. A well-developed storyline with a satisfying ending.

This one was so addictive and once I started, I couldn't stop listening. I think this one was even better than her first book. I did not see the twists coming and I was so addicted to the story. There was also more than one twist which I enjoyed. This story also got to me being a new mother and I couldn't imagine going through what the main character is going through and then not even trusting my own mind. I definitely recommend this one and can't wait for her next book!

I read and enjoyed A Flicker in the Dark a pretty medium amount; there were a few things that kept me from loving it, but I knew I wanted to give Willingham another try if/when her second book released. And I’m glad I did! I liked this story more, and found myself eager to keep turning the digital page.

I’m not a mother (and never plan to be) but I liked Willingham’s take on motherhood here. You see it a lot in true crime: people blame the husband when a wife is murderer, but as soon as children are involved, moms take the brunt of the blame. If not for killing anyone, then for not being a good enough mom to keep her kid safe. Mothers are also villainized rather than empathized with when they experience mental health problems. Willingham really covers this and more without the story feeling weighed down or trite.

I’m also a sucker for podcasts in thrillers, so the Waylon thing was great for me. Kinda wish we would’ve gotten more of him, though. It seemed like he was really only introduced to give the mc her “aha” moment, and then was swept aside. Maybe a little less beginning stuff and more sleuthing would’ve helped? Because when I got to the end of the book, I was surprised that it was ending—it felt somewhat rushed.

I could not get to the end of this book fast enough. I alternated between the audio version and electronic version so that I would not have to stop the story. Willingham did a great job developing Isabelle’s character and backstory to help the reader sympathize with her. This was one of the best books I’ve read in a while!
One year ago, Isabelle’s life was forever changed as her son, Mason, was taken in the middle of the night from his crib. Isabelle is determined to find out what happened to him, even after others have given up hope. She goes to around the country telling his story and hoping that someone will have information. She meets a true-crime podcaster who wants to interview her. She is skeptical at first but later agrees. As Isabelle continues with the interviews, she begins to doubt people in her life and even herself.

Loved this one! This was my first book by this author, but had high expectations. I consider a great thriller one I did not guess the ending. This has enough twists to keep me interested. Would recommend to a friend.

I really enjoyed Stacy Willingham’s debut novel, A Flicker in the Dark, so I had absolutely no hesitations on picking this one up. In fact, I was so excited to read this one that I practically begged Minotaur Books to let me read it. Ok… I didn’t really beg… but I did request it so same thing. As writing consistency goes, Willingham did not disappoint. When I started this book I was worried that I wasn’t going to like it because it does start slowly, but once things started moving along, I was hooked and couldn’t put it down.

Isabella Drake hasn’t slept since her son, Mason, was kidnapped a year ago. We obviously all know that you can’t live without sleep so how was this explained? Well, she does in fact “micro sleep” which essentially means that she blacks out for a while here and there. I know absolutely nothing about the science of sleep, so I have no idea if this is an actual thing, but it made sense to me so I didn’t dwell on it. Isabella is a strong female character. She’s a mother fighting against everyone to bring her son home – including the police, the community, and her ex-husband. While everyone views her as completely unhinged (I mean.. she’s not sleeping, people!), but she has this sheer determination that is admirable. While she interferes with the police investigation, it’s all she can do to make sure leads are followed.

This book is so multi-layered with every story weaved to perfection. There are chapters set in present day that follow Isabella and her insomnia, as well as the hunt for her son. Then there are past chapters that focus on Isabella’s childhood and a mysterious incident that surrounds her. We also get insights into Isabella’s past with her husband and their relationship. Every tidbit the readers receive adds another layer to the deeper story. What appears to be a simple book about kidnapping is actually so much more than that.

I get nervous with books that have an unreliable narrator because sometimes it can be a bit over-the-top. I did, however, enjoy how this one was written. Although Isabella is not entirely reliable due to her insomnia (and her past), it’s written so well that it feels believable. She doesn’t always make the right choices, but the reader still wants to root for her to find her son and get to the truth. Between the kidnapping, Isabella’s mysterious childhood, and her relationship with her ex-husband, this book manages to be a hell of a ride. I promise it will keep you reading late into the night.

The writing was A+, the characters were well-fleshed out, the twists were twisty with some unpredictable ones thrown in, and the plot was fantastic! If you like thrillers, then you need to add this one to your list!

A huge thank you to Minotaur books for the digital copy to read and review via NetGalley!

Rating: 4 / 5
Twists: 4 / 5

The buildup at the beginning was very slow. However, the plot was captivating and the two timelines were easy to follow. Great, but sad, book.

4.5 but rounding up!

This book was not at all what I expected! Both the storylines of “missing child” and “woman who isn’t thinking clearly due to sleep deprivation and/or alcohol” are ones I’ve seen thrown around before and seemed overdone to me, so I had hesitation going into this one. This book exceeded all expectations and I can’t believe I waited so long! From the start, suspicion arose in so many areas of the story. I had so many questions as things weren’t adding up. Through the many twists and turns that kept me on my toes, I quickly learned that nothing is as it seems. Watching the pieces slowly come together had me both gasping as wondering why I didn’t see it sooner. Though thoroughly flawed, I couldn’t help but root for Isabelle as she searched for her missing son. While there were a couple loose ends and misdirections that can’t be explained, overall I still really enjoyed the captivating story and where it went. This is very much a top-notch thriller!

Thank you to Stacy Willingham, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for my advance reader’s copy in exchange for my honest review!

Isabelle Drake has never been perfect. In fact, she's felt extreme guilt since she was a child. But so much about her childhood seems to be behind a curtain of things she doesn't want to think about and things she can't quite remember. Instead, she moves forward and is thrilled when she is hired at her dream job.

Then comes marriage and a baby although along the way she loses so much of herself, her hopes, her identity. Once her baby is born she's so exhausted but eventually she wants more, only to lose everything she had left. Sleep deprivation is a beast and it's not like Isabelle hasn't struggled with sleep irregularities in the past.

Now Isabelle is giving talks to the public about her missing baby, who was taken from her home a year before. She knows she is a suspect in his disappearance. She knows people try to get close to her for their own reasons, such as the true-crime podcaster who offers to help her find out who took her son. He's had a successful case and is on a roll. She could use his help but fears a trap.

Motherhood meant sleep deprivation but since Isabel's baby was taken, she's had no real sleep in a year. She's at a new level of sleep disfunction and it's hard to think straight. She doesn't even trust herself now or her memories of the past. Are there more reasons to feel guilty than she already knows?

This is the kind of book that makes me want to stay up all night to keep reading, especially since each chapter ending begged for me to move on to the next chapter. When the main character isn't sure she can trust herself, what does she do? How far back in her life did she go wrong to end up where she is now? This story made for a great buddy read with DeAnn and Jayme.

"All The Dangerous Things" by Stacy Willingham is a gripping and masterfully crafted thriller that will keep readers on the edge of their seats from beginning to end. With its complex characters, relentless suspense, and thought-provoking themes, this novel is an absolute triumph in the genre.

The story revolves around Isabelle Drake, a mother whose world shattered when her toddler son, Mason, was abducted from his crib. Consumed by grief and fueled by her unwavering determination, Isabelle embarks on a relentless quest to find her son, even as her own sanity hangs in the balance. Stacy Willingham expertly weaves a narrative that delves into the depths of a mother's love and desperation, capturing the raw emotions and vulnerability of Isabelle's journey.

The author's skill in creating a palpable atmosphere of tension and unease is commendable. As Isabelle agrees to be interviewed by a true-crime podcaster, the layers of mystery and suspense deepen. The constant questioning, combined with Isabelle's severe insomnia and the resurfacing of haunting memories from her past, creates a web of uncertainty and doubt that will keep readers guessing until the final pages.

The strength of "All The Dangerous Things" lies not only in its thrilling plot but also in its well-developed and multidimensional characters. Isabelle is a compelling protagonist, flawed yet resilient, and readers will find themselves emotionally invested in her journey. The supporting cast, including the enigmatic podcaster and Isabelle's loved ones, adds depth and complexity to the story, keeping readers guessing about their true motivations and loyalties.

A fabulous 5 stars for me! Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

One year ago Isabelle Drakes son Mason went missing from his crib during the night, Isabelle hasn’t slept a full night since he’s been gone. Isabelle’s husband Ben has left her and is offering no support. Ben just wants her to get over it and move on. Ben’s even moved on to another relationship. Everyone else looks at Isabelle with suspicion believing she did something to Mason, shes actually starting to question it herself. Isabelle’s past is a mystery, the daughter of a senator, her sister Margaret died unexpectedly years ago and the circumstances were never clear. Isabelle has always blamed herself for Margarets death. As a former sleepwalker, Isabelle has always wondered if she did something to Margaret and just doesn’t remember. The question that haunts Isabelle daily, could she have killed Margaret’s and Mason? As Isabelle works to find out what happened to Mason she may also discover the truth about Margarets death and thr secrets her family and her husband Ben have been keeping.

Thank you Minotaur Books for this ARC #minotaurinfluencer #AllTheDangerousThings