Barb's Book Reviews: Review of "All The Dangerous Things: A Psychological Thriller" by Stacy Willingham

Friday, December 9, 2022

Review of "All The Dangerous Things: A Psychological Thriller" by Stacy Willingham

Freelance writer Isabelle Drake thought she had the ideal life.

A wonderful husband Ben;

a beloved 18-month-son Mason;

a beautiful home in Savannah, Georgia, etc.

Then one year ago, when Isabelle and Ben were sound asleep, little Mason was taken from his crib....and Isabelle's life spiraled into despair.

Since Mason disappeared, Isabelle's only sleep has been brief catnaps, and her days have been consumed with searching for her son. Savannah Police Detective Arthur Dozier appears to be making no progress with the case.....

....so Isabelle takes it upon herself to speak at true-crime conferences, her only recompense being a list of attendees....which might include the kidnapper.

Isabelle's dining room wall resembles a police whiteboard, with photos of friends, acquaintances, neighbors, sex offenders, crime conference attendees, and other people of interest - including information about them from the internet, newspapers, social media, and so on. Isabelle obsesses over her 'research', in hopes of identifying the perpetrator.

Both the police and Isabelle's husband Ben urge her to move on, and Isabelle's marriage has fallen apart. Ben is now living elsewhere and dabbling in the dating scene.

Isabelle feels she has no supporters until she meets a true crime podcaster named Waylon Spencer. Waylon once solved a cold case, and he and Isabelle form an alliance in hopes of discovering what happened to Mason.

The story skips back and forth between the past and present, and we learn that young Isabelle lived in Buford, Georgia with her parents and little sister Margaret. As a youngster, Isabelle was a sleepwalker who could never recall her nighttime ramblings.

We also discover that Isabelle's romance with Ben started as a sort of 'platonic affair' when he was married to his first wife.

The book is full of twists, most of which I didn't anticipate. So well done Stacy Willingham.

This is a gripping psychological thriller that would appeal to many fans of the genre.

Thanks to Netgalley, Stacy Willingham, and Minotaur Books for a copy of the novel.

Rating: 4 stars

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Barb's Book Reviews

Friday, December 9, 2022

Review of "All The Dangerous Things: A Psychological Thriller" by Stacy Willingham

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