A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham -> Starting December 28th, 2021

[Alaina]

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.

When Chloe Davis was twelve, six teenage girls went missing in her small Louisiana town. By the end of the summer, Chloe’s father had been arrested as a serial killer and promptly put in prison. Chloe and the rest of her family were left to grapple with the truth and try to move forward while dealing with the aftermath.

Now 20 years later, Chloe is a psychologist in private practice in Baton Rouge and getting ready for her wedding. She finally has a fragile grasp on the happiness she’s worked so hard to get. Sometimes, though, she feels as out of control of her own life as the troubled teens who are her patients. And then a local teenage girl goes missing, and then another, and that terrifying summer comes crashing back. Is she paranoid, and seeing parallels that aren't really there, or for the second time in her life, is she about to unmask a killer?

In a debut novel that has already been optioned for a limited series by actress Emma Stone and sold to a dozen countries around the world, Stacy Willingham has created an unforgettable character in a spellbinding thriller that will appeal equally to fans of Gillian Flynn and Karin Slaughter.

[❀ Crystal ✿ -]

25% (view spoiler)[Is it wrong I’m glad her dad never touched her? Also is it 100% he was guilty? This is kinda nuts if it’s happening again. (hide spoiler)]

[❀ Crystal ✿ -]

54% (view spoiler)[Still not sure if there is a copycat or her father was perhaps not guilty 🤷🏼‍♀️ Don’t like how her fiancé grabbed her, that’s throwing up some big flags (hide spoiler)]

[❀ Crystal ✿ -]

68% (view spoiler)[She’s so quick to blame Daniel. I’m wondering and thinking this may all be false and he’s not guilty, seems too easy. Then again their relationship and his odd behaviors are off. (hide spoiler)]

[❀ Crystal ✿ -]

81% (view spoiler)[Oh shit. This is pretty twisted right now, I’m not loving how impulsive she is. Daniel just seems to obvious as does her brother as copycats, I want answers lol this is truly a mystery to me. All I keep thinking about is no matter what she’s gonna get screwed having those prescriptions in her desk and having gotten some in Daniels name. I think ppl are being framed but what do I know, I think she’s being messed with?

Oh and I’m kinda upset how she just ran from Daniels mom like that. I feel bad for that woman. Also I Don’t trust Aaron but we’ll see. (hide spoiler)]

[❀ Crystal ✿ -]

Finished (view spoiler)[Damn I kinda hate the end and not. I do hate how quick she was to blame Daniel. Like it took barely any convincing for her to be turning her back on him so quickly. But I am sad that it just ends with them not together with a hfn end, guessing this may become a series?! I had a feeling it was Aaron. The only thing that made me think it wasn’t him was her looking him up on the internet and verifying his credentials. But come to find out it was her damn drugs that won and had me believing maybe he was who he said he was. Not surprised about the brother. But omg her dad is innocent and for what like 20 years she never even visited or wrote!? What kind of meeting would that be?

I enjoyed this. Maybe not the best thriller but it definitely intensified as I read the book. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Ooo I’m very excited to jump into this.

[Alaina]

Prologue: (view spoiler)[Is the monster her dad? A neighbor? A friend? I have questions! (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Ch 1-10: (view spoiler)[Wow. I wonder if their mom knew about the girls? Like before he got arrested. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Ch 11-20: (view spoiler)[Learning so much about this family! I have so many suspects: her fiancé, her brother, and the sketchy guy named Aaron. I don’t like how he went to see her mom. Seems suspicious. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Ch 21-30: (view spoiler)[Is he cheating on her? Lots of trips and always takes a shower? Hmm 🤔 (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Ch 31-40: (view spoiler)[Oh man. I feel like things are pointing to certain people are a bit obvious but then again they are acting suspicious too. (hide spoiler)]

[Alaina]

Ch 41-Finish: (view spoiler)[Well shit. I was half right. Didn’t see the brother coming but at least her dad is innocent. (hide spoiler)]

[Melanie]

Starting this one today.

[Melanie]

Prologue - Chapter 12
(view spoiler)[
Chloe has all kinds of issues due to what her dad did. Also, how crazy was it that she was sort of friends with one of the girls?

I have to say Daniel seems kind of sketchy to me and I wonder if he's behind the new string of girls going missing.
(hide spoiler)]

[Melanie]

Chapters 13-24
(view spoiler)[
I swear everyone around Chloe seems so damn suspicious. Still think it may be Daniel though. Also, Chloe not being upfront with the police is going to come back on her when they figure out who she is.
(hide spoiler)]

[Melanie]

Chapters 25-36
(view spoiler)[
Yep, knew the cop was going to think Chloe had something to do with the new missing girls.

Daniel does seem suspicious but I don't know if it's that he's killing the girls or that he's cheating on Chloe.
(hide spoiler)]

[Melanie]

Chapters 37-48
(view spoiler)[
Well that ending was unexpected. I was sure it was Daniel and didn't think it was Aaron at all. He was a bit pushy but I thought that was because he was a reporter desperate for a story.

I can't believe it was her brother all along. I like that Chloe helped catch him though.
(hide spoiler)]

This was a great thriller, particularly for a debut. Going to go with 4 stars. I'm looking forward to seeing what the author comes up with next.