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A review by amandasbookreview
A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
5.0
Thank you, Stacy Willingham, NetGalley, and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this book!
“Because for the first time in weeks, someone believes me. Someone is on my side. And it feels so good to be believed; to have someone look at me with genuine caring instead of suspicion or worry or rage.”
A FLICKER IN THE DARK
When Karin Slaughter speaks, you listen. She told her readers to read A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham. I am so glad I did! What an incredible debut! Chloe Davis’ situation is unique. She is the daughter of a serial killer. When she is 12-years-old, six teenage girls go missing in her small town. She is the one who discovers the evidence police need in her own house. Now twenty years later, she is a psychologist. When one girl goes missing, there is concern, and thoughts from the past begin to haunt her. But then one of her patients goes missing, Chloe starts spiraling. Her father is in prison, so is this a copycat?
Trigger Warnings: drug addiction, kidnapping, PTSD, anxiety, murder, sexual assault, suicide
This book is addicting. We often get fictional books that revolve around serial killers or journalists and detectives investigating serial killers–but this book is about a daughter who is directly affected by the actions of her family. This book is suspenseful and filled with tons of twists and turns. Stacy Willingham is great at misdirection! But what really surprised me is that this book is incredibly gut-wrenching and emotional. Chloe had to deal with the realization of her father’s crimes at such a young age. She had to deal with people lashing out against her. She couldn’t have a normal relationship, she felt like she always had to hide her identity. But the guilt eats her alive. She obsesses over the fact that if she did something different, maybe the girls wouldn’t have died. She blames herself—even more so when her patient disappears. My heart absolutely broke for her.
I also love the moments when she claims her voice. She often mentions that she feels that people aren’t listening to her. There is one scene where she is talking to a detective and he keeps interrupting her and she finally shouts, “Will you stop interrupting me!” I wanted to scream, “YES!! Take back your voice!” As a woman, I felt that. Overall, this thriller is setting a very high bar for the rest of the year! I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars!
Trigger Warnings: drug addiction, kidnapping, PTSD, anxiety, murder, sexual assault, suicide
This book is addicting. We often get fictional books that revolve around serial killers or journalists and detectives investigating serial killers–but this book is about a daughter who is directly affected by the actions of her family. This book is suspenseful and filled with tons of twists and turns. Stacy Willingham is great at misdirection! But what really surprised me is that this book is incredibly gut-wrenching and emotional. Chloe had to deal with the realization of her father’s crimes at such a young age. She had to deal with people lashing out against her. She couldn’t have a normal relationship, she felt like she always had to hide her identity. But the guilt eats her alive. She obsesses over the fact that if she did something different, maybe the girls wouldn’t have died. She blames herself—even more so when her patient disappears. My heart absolutely broke for her.
I also love the moments when she claims her voice. She often mentions that she feels that people aren’t listening to her. There is one scene where she is talking to a detective and he keeps interrupting her and she finally shouts, “Will you stop interrupting me!” I wanted to scream, “YES!! Take back your voice!” As a woman, I felt that. Overall, this thriller is setting a very high bar for the rest of the year! I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping
Moderate: Sexual assault
Minor: Suicide attempt