Monday, March 28, 2022

A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham

 "...monsters don't hide in the woods; they aren't shadows in the trees or invisible things lurking in darkened corners. No, the real monsters move in plain sight. I was twelve years old when those shadows started to form a shape, a face ... When I began to realize that maybe the monsters lived among us. And there was one monster in particular,  I learned to fear above all the rest."

 


Chloe Davis is a medical psychologist with her own practice. She lives in Baton Rouge and is engaged to Daniel Briggs who seems like the perfect guy. She has one older brother, Cooper, who is very protective of her. And twenty years ago, her father was arrested in connection with six teenage girls who went missing the summer she turned twelve. When he confessed to killing all six, Chloe Davis's entire life changed. She still struggles with what happened in the past. It doesn't help that reporters like Aaron Jansen keep calling her about it. When two local teenage girls go missing in Baton Rouge, it feels eerily reminiscent to those other girls twenty years ago. And Chloe starts to question everything and everyone around her.

My thoughts:  I would describe this psychological thriller as intense and twisty. It's also hard to put down; I read it in a weekend. Chloe is guarded and struggles with anxiety, often self-medicating, which means she doesn't always make the best decisions. But I still liked her. I also appreciated the fast pacing of this book and the way Willingham weaves in Chloe's past memories with the present. And I thought the last twist at the end was a good one. Stacy Willingham is an author I would happily try again.

Happy Reading!

34 comments:

  1. This sounds very good! You say it's intense, is it 'creepy/scary' intense or just 'edge of your seat' intense?

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    1. I would say more edge of your seat intense; I wouldn't call it a scary give-you-nightmares kind of read.

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  2. Wow! This sounds like a whirlwind of a read. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

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    1. It was a fun, fast read, that's for sure.

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  3. This sounds good. I love a good, twisty thriller. :)

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  4. This sounds good, I like books set in Louisiana (and in the rest of the south), does this book have that southern atmosphere? Because in that case, I will try and see if it is available over here.

    Kind regards,

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    1. It has a little bit of that Southern atmosphere, especially when the main character returns home to her family farm, but the setting doesn't really play a huge role in the story. So it might not be what you're looking for in that regard.

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  5. This does sound really good and worth an add to my TBR list.

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    1. It's a very entertaining psychological thriller!

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  6. I like a book with unexpected twists and turns. Fantastic review, Lark

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    1. And this book had a few good twists at the end. :)

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  7. I like twists in psych thrillers, especially if they are unexpected.

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    1. Some of the twists in this book were definitely unexpected...at least for me. :)

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  8. Oh wow, that excerpt gave me the shivers — this sounds just like my cup of tea!

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    1. It think you would like it. It's a very fast-paced and fun read. :)

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  9. That's some heavy baggage to have to live with about a parent, yikes!

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    1. Wouldn't that be hard? I can't even imagine!

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  10. Sounds intense and interesting!!

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    1. If you like psychological thrillers, then this is a good one.

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  11. This sounds good and I like the sound of chloe- damaged and self medicating, I imagine that adds a but of suspense to the story ha ha!

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    1. Some the decisions she makes does land her in some pretty tense moments!

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  12. I've been wondering about this one. Sounds like it's very compelling. I'll have to add it to the ole TBR.

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    1. I thought it was a fun and suspenseful read. If you do get a chance to read it, I'd love to know what you think of it! :)

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  13. I liked this one as well. I'll be curious about what she'll write next. She's gotten some good reviews and blurbs from the mystery world. Another author to go on my 'must read' list.

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    1. I agree. I'm definitely interested in checking out her next book. :)

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  14. I really like a psychological thriller sometimes. This sounds like a great mystery.

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  15. I've got this one coming up on my TBR so I'm glad to hear how much you enjoyed it and that it's a super twisty read.

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    1. I can't wait to hear what you think of it! :)

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  16. Sounds like a good one; and all the better it's a psychological thriller. ;)

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    1. I think you would like this one, Melody. :D

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  17. You've tempted me with this review, Lark!

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    1. I'm glad! I'd love to hear your thoughts about this one. :)

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