An amazing debut....

A Flicker in the Dark by Stacey Willingham is an amazing psychological thriller by a debut author. The characters, the plot, and the climax—everything is just perfect, like a motion picture. The plot engages you right from the start and keeps you on edge with every page. All the characters are distinct and have a storyline. And the best thing is that all of them are under suspicion. Chloe's character was so interesting. She is not perfect; she has problems, which eventually set the plot on fire. And when you think everything is resolved, the author drops the final bomb.

Stacey Willingham's writing style is excellent, giving the characters a shade of darkness. And the book keeps getting better and better. I must say that it is one of the best thrillers I have read this year. Definitely, the book deserves 5 stars.

I really liked this, didnt realise it was a debut. It kept me intrigued all the way through. Looking forward to reading more by this author.

After seeing so many good reviews of this book I was looking forward to reading it. I enjoy thrillers and was looking for a gripping read. The font choice on the cover is unfortunate as it looks like it says f*cker rather than flicker. 🤭

The story centres around Chloe, a psychologist who is due to get married after a whirlwind romance. Chloe is troubled after a difficult childhood. Twenty years ago her father was imprisoned for murdering teenage girls. Now, young girls are going missing again in eerily similar circumstances to that of twenty years ago. Is there a copycat killer?

I found it difficult to get into the story and found it so slow paced. I didn’t like any of the characters and Chloe was irritating. In the second half there’s a bit more going on but I thought the story got a bit far fetched and didn’t make sense to me.

I didn’t really enjoy it and I was disappointed after seeing so many rave reviews. Unfortunately, this wasn’t a book for me.

Thank you for providing me with an advance review copy of this book. Enjoyed reading, would recommend....

My first read by this author. I found it very well written and felt immediately drawn into the story. Full of suspense and surprises along the way. Characters were well formed and I liked the lead character especially. A really good unfolding at the end. Would recommend.

An extremely gripping read that I found hard to put down. I look forward to reading more by this author.

When Chloe was twelve, six teenage girls went missing in her small Louisiana town. Chloe's father is arrested as a serial killer and imprisoned. The family try to move on whist dealing with the aftermath.

Twenty years later Chloe is a psychiatrist in Baton Rouge and is preparing for her wedding day, until a local teenage girl goes missing, then another and that terrifying summer that she has tried to forget all comes flooding back.

Chloe does not know who to trust. Is it a copycat killer?

An addictive book that draws you in until the last page, taking you on a twisted and bumpy ride.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

Really well written with plenty of twists and turns. I really enjoyed this book. Great characters and kept me guessing! Highly recommended.

A slow burn thriller that keeps you on your toes until the very end. The alternating POV and dual timeline only added to the tension and had me lining up many suspects.

Overall a solid read that I'd recommend.

This is exactly how I like my books! Dark, twisty, full of red herrings and misdirection, topped with an unreliable narrator, oh and a serial killer obvs!

This was so atmospheric and chilling! I was gripped from the beginning and raced through it!!

The characters were very well written and I felt for Chloe. The writing in general was beautifully descriptive - I could feel the oppressive Louisana heat!!

Highly recommended!!

Twisty psychological thriller featuring a convicted serial killer's daughter who grows up to be a psychologist.

Approaching the 20 year anniversary, with her father still behind bars, the killings appear to have started again. And it seems the killer is deliberately taunting her.

Self-medicating and with a hazy recollection of facts, Chloe is reluctant to involve the police and unsure who she can trust.

An interesting premise and I can see it making a good TV series.

A good read that was full of twists and turns. The premise was intriguing and kept me reading on to thelast page,. I would read more from this author

The thriller is about a daughter of serial killed, who became psychologist and when series of murders happens again she is dealing with her childhood trauma and tries to understand who is real killer.
The book was ok but nothing exceptional

I enjoyed this book a lot. There are a lot of twists and turns and red herrings, which is always fun. There are a few flaws but for me the strong parts of this book outweigh them by far. Definitely a good recommendation for thriller fans out there.

Took me a little while to get into this book. Glad I kept going as the ending makes up for it!
Slow burner but worth going to the end as it’s a great ending!

Somehow, A Flicker in the Dark by Stacey Willingham passed me by when it was published. Recently I read All The Dangerous Things, and then knew I needed to circle back to read the author’s debut.

Dr Chloe Davis is a psychologist, with her own private practice. Outwardly, she has an enviable life. She has worked hard, not only in her career, but also to distance herself from her childhood, specifically her father. Twenty years ago, six teenage girls disappeared. Her father was charged, convicted, narrowly missing the death sentence for these terrible crimes.
As the anniversary looms closer, Chloe’s understandable anxiety heightens. Though she is very much looking forward to marrying Daniel, the Wedding Day coinciding with this unnerving anniversary, exacerbates the tension she is feeling.

I really felt for Chloe. Her family is fractured, irreparably damaged, her mother beyond her reach. There is an undercurrent of mistrust between her fiancé and her brother. She bears the mental scarring from all that started twenty years ago. When a crime like this is committed, the whole family bears the brunt, the effects are very long reaching, physically and mentally. Her life is balanced so precariously, that you would think she is in need of a psychologist herself. Is she suffering from paranoia? Are her suspicions real, or a result of self medication, her habit? Who should she trust? As a reader, can we trust Chloe, is she a reliable narrator?

This thriller has many twists and turns, plenty of misdirection too. The atmosphere in the book is matched by the oppressive, thick heat of Louisiana.
Due to Chloe’s unpredictability, the reader is never sure what will happen next. I did find her decision making and behaviour very frustrating, I felt that she made her situation more complex and dangerous.
I felt that Chloe needed a good friend. Someone to sit with a good coffee, to help her balance her thoughts, a sounding board, to help her make better decisions.

A Flicker in the Dark is a satisfying 4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read for me. A good, strong debut.

Chloe's father is a convicted serial killer -though the bodies of his victims were never found -deemed to have been buried in the swamplands .
Chloe- now a psychiatrist has been haunted by this her whole life -but has a fiance and life looks good at last.
Then another girl goes missing -and Chloe has to confront the past
Chilling Stuff -if a little predictable at the end

I loved it. First book by the author.
In the end everyone is a suspect.

Very fast paced and enjoyable

Great book! The thoughts and feelings of the main character really resonated with me. Awesome twist that keeps you guessing till the very end. Loved this book. Highly recommend it!

Thank you Harpercollins and NetGalley for an amazing read. Stacy please keep writing.

This was a great storyline, a serial killer in the past and new crimes in the present and people who aren't who you think. A sad storyline, but very well written and with great characters.

I highly recommend this book and other books by Stacy.