A Flicker in the Dark

A Flicker in the Dark is a debut psychological thriller that is told from an interesting POV - the daughter of a serial killer. Psychologist Chloe Davis' father is a notorious killer and when a copycat murderer is suspected twenty years after her father was put away for his horrific crimes, she inserts herself into the police investigation.

This was an impressive debut that was more psychological than it was suspenseful. It's a slow burn read with impressive red herrings and Willingham excels at creating a sense of unease through her main character. I struggled a bit to connect with Chloe, but her unreliability made her an interesting main character. She has a penchant for mixing prescription drugs and alcohol and rampant paranoia which makes it difficult to trust her and this uncertainty will keep readers on their toes. 

As an avid thriller reader, I guessed the culprit quite early on, but I enjoyed how a few of the red herrings made me question my initial predictions. This was a well-plotted story and even though there was a bit of repetition of the plot that felt like Willingham wanted to make sure the reader didn't forget the facts and the noticeable use of the word flicker, I'm sure these kinds of things will get ironed out in future books.

Overall, A Flicker in the Dark is an impressive and satisfying debut that fans of twisty reads will enjoy. I look forward to reading more from this author.

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to the publisher for providing me with a complimentary advanced digital copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.

My Rating: 4 stars

Author: Stacy Willingham

Genre: Suspense

Type and Source: eBook from publisher via NetGalley

Publisher: Minotaur Books

First Published: January 11, 2022

Opening Line: My throat tickles.

Book Description from GoodReads: 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.