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snoopyfanclub's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Suicide, Blood, Vomit, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting
Minor: Infertility
amanda_reads13's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Isabelle's son goes missing and she will stop at nothing until she finds him.
This one pulled me right. We follow Isabelle, an mother whose son is missing, she is grieving, suffering from PTSD, and barely sleeping. She is the definition of an unreliable narrator, yet you want to believe her. We are steeped in her grief and paranoia. You are right with her the entire time picking apart the pieces and trying to make sense of it all.
There are definitely a few red herrings along the way. Did she do something to him while sleep walking? Was it her narcissistic husband? Is Whalen the guilty one? Was it the creepy man down the street? What are the cops hiding?
We find out that when she was younger, Isabelle had a history of sleep walking. One night her sister died in the marshes behind the house.We are lead to think that Isabelle lead her to her death and that she killed her son while sleep walking. Then we find out that it was actually her mother, suffering from severe PPD who was guilty. She has planned to kill herself and her 2 daughters, but only the one daughter died.
The whole time I thought it was the husband.He is obviously a narcissist, possibly sociopath who is manipulative, controlling, and gaslights everyone. He is always on the hunt for a younger version of his wife. His first wife died of suicide while pregnant and then his son with his second wife goes missing while he is in the throws of an affair with a younger model. Convenient or guilty? Well he is certainly guilty of something, but not of killing his son.
I was shocked whenit was revealed that it was the girlfriend who kidnapped her son! I was not expecting that at all. She was jealous and wanted Isabelle out of the picture, so she took the child and gave him to a woman to raise.
This one pulled me right. We follow Isabelle, an mother whose son is missing, she is grieving, suffering from PTSD, and barely sleeping. She is the definition of an unreliable narrator, yet you want to believe her. We are steeped in her grief and paranoia. You are right with her the entire time picking apart the pieces and trying to make sense of it all.
There are definitely a few red herrings along the way. Did she do something to him while sleep walking? Was it her narcissistic husband? Is Whalen the guilty one? Was it the creepy man down the street? What are the cops hiding?
We find out that when she was younger, Isabelle had a history of sleep walking. One night her sister died in the marshes behind the house.
The whole time I thought it was the husband.
I was shocked when
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Suicide, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, and Gaslighting
armstmad's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Suicide, Kidnapping, Grief, and Gaslighting
spellbindingtomes's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘯𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘥𝘰, 𝘯𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘸𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘺, 𝘸𝘦’𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘶𝘭𝘵; 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘦’𝘳𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘵, 𝘶𝘯𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘺. 𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘪𝘱.
𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢 𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬:
Isabelle Drake's toddler son Mason was abducted a year ago while the family slept. With the case cold, Isabelle, plagued by insomnia, becomes obsessed with finding him. She agrees to a true-crime podcast interview, hoping for new leads. However, the podcaster's probing questions about her past, combined with her sleep deprivation, cause Isabelle to question her memories of the night Mason disappeared and even her own trustworthiness. Despite this, she remains determined to uncover the truth about her son's fate.
•
•
•
My first Stacy Willingham book and it was an utterly gripping psychological thriller! Stacy's portrayal of maternal anguish and guilt resonated powerfully with me. I felt every ounce of Isabelle's desperation and guilt as she searches for her missing son. I also found myself getting sad and angry for her (especially with her encounters with the detective!). The story expertly blends past and present, creating an unreliable narrator that had me constantly second-guessing.
If you do decide to read this and I hope you do, please please don't skip the Author's Note at the end. Stacy's reasons for writing this book and her thoughts on motherhood hit so close to home.
𝙒𝙚 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩'𝙨 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝙨𝙤 𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙮.
I highly recommend the audiobook. Karissa Vacker narrates this brilliantly, intensifying Isabelle's heart-wrenching journey. With unexpected twists, complex characters, and a deep dive into the psyche of a sleep-deprived, traumatized mother, this book is impossible to put down. A must-read for thriller fans, especially those who appreciate intricate character studies and exploring the depths of maternal instinct.
What to expect:
🖤 unreliable narrator
🩶 missing child
🤍 true crime podcast
🖤 past and present timelines
*please check TWs before reading
𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐢 𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬:
Isabelle Drake's toddler son Mason was abducted a year ago while the family slept. With the case cold, Isabelle, plagued by insomnia, becomes obsessed with finding him. She agrees to a true-crime podcast interview, hoping for new leads. However, the podcaster's probing questions about her past, combined with her sleep deprivation, cause Isabelle to question her memories of the night Mason disappeared and even her own trustworthiness. Despite this, she remains determined to uncover the truth about her son's fate.
•
•
•
My first Stacy Willingham book and it was an utterly gripping psychological thriller! Stacy's portrayal of maternal anguish and guilt resonated powerfully with me. I felt every ounce of Isabelle's desperation and guilt as she searches for her missing son. I also found myself getting sad and angry for her (especially with her encounters with the detective!). The story expertly blends past and present, creating an unreliable narrator that had me constantly second-guessing.
If you do decide to read this and I hope you do, please please don't skip the Author's Note at the end. Stacy's reasons for writing this book and her thoughts on motherhood hit so close to home.
𝙒𝙚 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙖𝙣 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩'𝙨 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝙨𝙤 𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙮.
I highly recommend the audiobook. Karissa Vacker narrates this brilliantly, intensifying Isabelle's heart-wrenching journey. With unexpected twists, complex characters, and a deep dive into the psyche of a sleep-deprived, traumatized mother, this book is impossible to put down. A must-read for thriller fans, especially those who appreciate intricate character studies and exploring the depths of maternal instinct.
What to expect:
🖤 unreliable narrator
🩶 missing child
🤍 true crime podcast
🖤 past and present timelines
*please check TWs before reading
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Kidnapping, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, and Gaslighting
chocolateturtle's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Alcohol
dani_elle12's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide, Kidnapping, Murder, and Gaslighting
throwback682's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
It’s so hard to describe this book (or even give trigger warnings) without also giving spoilers.
I think the author did a really good job of keeping you guessing and adding plenty of twists without it being heavy handed or corny. The narrator is both deeply sympathetic and deeply unsympathetic at the same time somehow. This was one I couldn’t put down.
I think the author did a really good job of keeping you guessing and adding plenty of twists without it being heavy handed or corny. The narrator is both deeply sympathetic and deeply unsympathetic at the same time somehow. This was one I couldn’t put down.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Sexism, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Grief, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Infertility, Sexual content, and Stalking
It’s hard to give TW without spoiling but many of the major trigger warnings surround motherhood in some wayfkshg8465's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Lots of people in my life I’d like seeing get their comeuppance. So I really liked the ending on this one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Infidelity, Suicide, Kidnapping, Murder, Gaslighting, and Alcohol
cursed_sapphire's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
This is the first thriller I've read in a while where I've come out remembering I still like thrillers.
I won't say this is the most groundbreaking thriller with the most unique plot, most amazing characters, or the most fascinating twists. But I will say this book is thriller done right.
It probably helped that the main character's sleep deprivation and clearly-defined childhood traumas helped explain away some of the conclusion-jumping and bad decisions that I've come to learn are synonymous with modern thrillers. Where in most books I find that kind of thing infuriating and poorly-handled, here it made perfect sense for our protagonist, who hasn't had a full night's rest in a year.
This book also handled it's themes better than most thrillers I've read. While all the characters are hiding secrets, I didn't leave the novel despising everyone like I have with some other thrillers. This book also refreshingly had a well-written, non-horrible male character who kept his secret because he wanted to seek justice for his sister's murder. There was no plot twist where it turned out he was leading the main character on or was secretly evil in his past or was complicit in the kidnapping of the protagonist's child, which I have found so exhausting from other thrillers . The exploration of motherhood, trauma, masculine vs. feminine gender roles, and sleep deprivation were all well handled and complex without being confusing, a tight-rope hard to balance.
So if you're looking for a solid thriller read, even if you're as tired as mediocre ones as I am, I still say give this one a try. It's not a perfect novel-the middle drags a bit and there are some characters that aren't as well defined as others, among a few other nitpicks- but it's overall a compelling, entertaining time.
I won't say this is the most groundbreaking thriller with the most unique plot, most amazing characters, or the most fascinating twists. But I will say this book is thriller done right.
It probably helped that the main character's sleep deprivation and clearly-defined childhood traumas helped explain away some of the conclusion-jumping and bad decisions that I've come to learn are synonymous with modern thrillers. Where in most books I find that kind of thing infuriating and poorly-handled, here it made perfect sense for our protagonist, who hasn't had a full night's rest in a year.
This book also handled it's themes better than most thrillers I've read. While all the characters are hiding secrets, I didn't leave the novel despising everyone like I have with some other thrillers. This book also refreshingly had a well-written, non-horrible male character
So if you're looking for a solid thriller read, even if you're as tired as mediocre ones as I am, I still say give this one a try. It's not a perfect novel-the middle drags a bit and there are some characters that aren't as well defined as others, among a few other nitpicks- but it's overall a compelling, entertaining time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Suicide attempt, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Child death, Mental illness, Violence, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Pregnancy
melissa_h's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This is my second read 📚 from this author. I really enjoyed it!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Grief, Medical trauma, and Gaslighting