Book Review: A FLICKER IN THE DARK by Stacy Willingham
When Chloe Davis was twelve, six teenage girls went missing in her small Louisiana town. By the end of the summer, her own father had confessed to the crimes and was put away for life, leaving Chloe and the rest of her family to grapple with the truth and try to move forward while dealing with the aftermath.
Now twenty years later, Chloe is a psychologist in Baton Rouge and getting ready for her wedding. While she finally has a fragile grasp on the happiness she’s worked so hard to achieve, she sometimes feels as out of control of her own life as the troubled teens who are her patients. So when a local teenage girl goes missing, and then another, that terrifying summer comes crashing back. Is she paranoid, seeing parallels from her past that aren’t actually there, or for the second time in her life, is Chloe about to unmask a killer?
From debut author Stacy Willingham comes a masterfully done, lyrical thriller, certain to be the launch of an amazing career. A Flicker in the Dark is eerily compelling to the very last page.
Release Date: January 11, 2022
My ThoughtsWhen I requested A Flicker in the Dark, I anticipated a thriller. This is far more of a character study with an undercurrent of suspense, so it’s best to adjust your expectations accordingly.
While I normally love character studies, I thought the pacing of this one dragged with repetitive content. We spend a lot of time with Chloe in contemplation, as she freaks out, pops pills, mentally rehashes events, and pops more pills with a few drinks. I needed less pity party and more forward motion.
The last quarter of the book finally picks up, and we’re treated to all sorts of revelations. At this point though, I wasn’t surprised by anything. Still, I enjoyed the way it unraveled.
In fairness, I’ve grown weary of the damaged, functioning addict hero/heroine trope. The writing is engaging, but I just wasn’t wowed.
*I received an eARC from Minotaur Books, via NetGalley.*
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