"A Flicker in the Dark" by Stacy Willingham did not disappoint. I read a lot of thriller novels, so I'd like to think the bar is pretty high when it comes to this genre.
The story centers around, Chloe Davis , who was twelve years old, when her small town in Louisiana was struck by the tragic disappearance of six teenage girls. Her father was arrested in connected to these murders, convicted as a serial killer and sent to spend his life in prison.
Fast forward twenty years, Chloe has become a successful psychologist in Baton Rouge and is eagerly anticipating her upcoming wedding. However, when local teenage girls start vanishing once more, history appears to be repeating itself, causing Chloe to confront haunting memories and question her father's influence from prison and the truth about other relationships in her life.
There are so many things that set this book apart. Willingham expertly weaves the past and present together, propelling the plot forward without relying on the common and, in my opinion, overused "now" versus "then" format. Chloe's past is artfully unveiled, offering fragmentary pieces that slowly form a cohesive whole. Additionally, despite being a psychiatrist and advising her clients on healthier coping mechanisms, Chloe uses pills to deal with the trauma of her past--causing her to be paranoid and many times confused. We're left distinguishing between fact and fiction and questioning whether to trust Chloe's perspective.
I just received an ARC of Willingham’s next book, “Only If You’re Lucky,” and cannot wait to begin reading. You can read more about Stacy Willingham on her website here.
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