A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham - May 2023

[Gem , Moderator & Admin]

Hello fellow Crime, Mystery & Thriller readers,

Welcome to our discussion about A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham, your discussion leader is Carlee.
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Please note: If you have not finished reading the book spoilers are permitted in this discussion from the start. If you would like to use the spoiler formatting it can be found on the top right of the comment box in the "(some html is ok)" menu.
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Summary

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?

[Shannon]

I couln't put this down at all read it in one day! I am gonna have to read her All the Dangerous Things book next!

[Karen]

I have put in a request at the public library.

[Kim]

I am a quarter of the way through this. Enjoying so far.

[Winter]

i recently read this book and i really enjoyed it!! i liked her style of writing and the suspense buildup :) very good read

[Taylor]

Just picked this up, excited to start reading!

[JMayer]

Hi all! New to the group and just excited to have found a group on here that seems to read what I enjoy! Hoping for some great connections and conversations! I have A Flicker In The Dark so I’ll start on it this weekend! About 1/4 of the way through The Kind Worth Killing right now!

[Leena]

I had read this a couple of months ths back with another group and had really enjoyed it. the back and forth of time was fantastic, especially considering it's her debut novel. I didn't like the end too much. I felt it a bit rushed. For me, it was a 4 star book.

[Donne]

While I didn't read this during the May 2023 group read, I did enjoy it very much when I read it last year. Willingham is a really good writer and storyteller.
My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Terry]

Jen wrote: "Hi all! New to the group and just excited to have found a group on here that seems to read what I enjoy! Hoping for some great connections and conversations! I have A Flicker In The Dark so I’ll st..."
I loved The Kind Worth Killing. I then read another one by Peter Swanson, The girl With A clock for A Heart, it was OK.

[Leena]

yup, that's what I've noticed, too. They can't seem to maintain that standard.

[Kim]

I enjoyed this book, and gave it four stars. It was a good selection.

[Joan]

I'm reading this book right now...about a third of the way through. I like it a lot but think it could be a bit smoother in the transitions from past events to current time. I have a feeling I know what is going to happen but we shall see if I'm right.

[Pam]

I just finished. My mind had me guessing correctly and then second and third guessing as I listened ... Chloe was one paranoid gal!

[Kimberly]

This was one of my favorite reads. I love how many twists there were.

[Ollie]

I have put in a request at the local library as well, but the wait is around ~10 weeks. And the more reviews I read, the more I want to purchase this book. Should I? Is it worth the money?

[Taylor]

I just finished ! I thought I knew who it was, turned out I was wrong and I’m glad about it. Love a good twist. Very much enjoyed this read.

[Karen]

Pam wrote: "I just finished. My mind had me guessing correctly and then second and third guessing as I listened ... Chloe was one paranoid gal!"

I am halfway through and I am wondering if this paranoia makes her an unreliable narrator...

[Karen]

Chloe Davis is damaged, but making the best of her life in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, with a job and a house and a fiance. She is working as a psychologist and working with troubled teens.

When she was 12 six teen aged girls went missing in her small town and her father was convicted and put in jail. Her mother fell apart, attempted suicide and is now in assisted living nearby. Her older brother Cooper understands her but is not in contact very much. This early trauma has greatly upset her life.

Her fiance Daniel is a pharmaceutical representative and very comforting to her. What he does not know is she has issued prescriptions under his name and takes them herself, along with alcohol, on occasions.

When one of her patients is kidnapped immediately after her session with Chloe, she becomes obsessed with the police investigation and suspects everyone of the crime. She uncovers information which she provides to the police, up to the point where they essentially stop listening to her.

When she finally does figure out who is responsible, she is to be the next victim.

This is an amazing debut novel, with some wonderful twists. Unfortunately, I figured out who did it early on. That rarely happens.

[Kitha Pola]

Read it last January and gave it 4/5 stars. I almost gave it 3 because I felt the narrations were a bit repetitive. I think it's the single narrator POV that made me slightly bored where she said the same feelings, same thoughts, etc. It got good at the end tho. I swear I guess the main plot twist but not the others.

[Kim]

I enjoyed this, although I did guess the ending ahead of time.