A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham

Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars 

Pages: 357 pages
Published: January 2022

A spellbinding mystery thriller good enough to make Book of the Month’s monthly pick - sign me up! A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham is an intriguing and engaging novel that once it’s picked up it’s hard to put down. 

The story centers Chloe Davis whose father was arrested and convicted as a serial killer of young girls when she was an adolescent. In present day, Chloe is a psychologist in Baton Rouge, and when one of her clients - a young girl - goes missing along with other girls with whom Chloe seems to have a connection, she wonders if history is repeating itself. Invested in the crimes, she inserts herself in the investigation and her past comes to haunt her. 

This is Willingham’s debut novel, and it is a well-written, mesmerizing story that keeps the reader guessing until the very end. In the ending, she provides a well thought-out conclusion that provides satisfaction but also sticks with you days after finishing. I would definitely read another novel written by this author. I do believe she has a promising literary career ahead of her. 

Recommendation: This is a fun, creepy book with twists and turns. It could be picked up and read at any time during the year but might be fun to read during the Halloween season. 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

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As the Wicked Watch by Tamron Hall

Rating: 3 of 5 stars 

Pages: 384 pages
Published: October 2021

As the Wicked Watch is the first in a series about an investigative journalist with detective instincts and a debut mystery by TV host and journalist Tamron Hall. This book was all abuzz in my reading circles, so I grabbed a copy and read it over a nice beach vacay in Belize this January. The story centers around journalist Jordan Manning who, in covering the news story of a recent murder of a 15-year old girl, gets really close to the case often putting herself in harm's way of not only getting the story but also helping solve the crime. 

Overall, the crime and subsequent mystery flows like similar detective/journalist books or even Lifetime movies. Hall provides a lot of detail and character development. Although, I might argue at times, it seems like a little too much, which slowed the pace. I do think this book could have been about 75 pages shorter, but it was still pretty easy to follow. There was enough intrigue to keep me invested plus I intended to participate in book club discussion. 

I think this is a decent debut for Hall, and I think with time her writing will sharpen. I can't say if I could commit to reading all of the books in this series, but it wasn't a bad read - especially with an ocean view as a backdrop! 

Recommendation: Fans of Tamron Hall will want to read this book. I do not think they will be disappointment. There's still room for growth, and I'm rooting her on for book two. 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

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Survive the Night by Riley Sager

Rating: 3 of 5 stars 

Pages: 324 pages
Published: June 2021

Survive the Night by thriller author, Riley Sager, which is a pseudonym, was a highly anticipated novel by mystery/thriller readers and Book of the Month members alike. The book is set back in the early 90s on a small college campus where student Charlie is looking for a ride home and meets up with Josh, who is looking to ride-share. Charlie is in the midst of the grieving process as her close friend and roommate was recently the victim of a supposed serial killer near the college campus. As a result, she suffers from cinematic delusions. 

The premise of the book was definitely intriguing to me.  Because it is set in the early 90s where instant communication was not readily available, it created tension and suspense. However, it did seem a little far fetched. I was just a little younger than Charlie during this time frame, and I can not see myself basically hitchhiking with a total stranger when there had been criminal activity abound. The other plot element of Charlie being a bit off her rocker because of past trauma and the grief process was awkward. I understand it was added to create confusion for the reader as they attempt to figure out the antagonist of the book. But again, it seemed a little far fetched to me. My final criticism was the ending. I think we had no choice but to guess who the serial killer was because Sager had elemented literally very other character introduced, but it just didn't make sense to me.

I've only read one other Sager book, and I had a lukewarm response to it as well. Maybe I am just not a fan. But I did give it a college try and completed both books! 

Recommendation: If you're a fan, you probably already have a copy of this book. If you're into mystery/thrillers, this could be right up your alley. I'd say borrow a copy from a friend of the library before investing too much into it. 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

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When the Stars Go Dark by Paula McLain

Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars 

Pages: 371 pages
Published: April 2021

I selected When the Stars Go Dark by Paula McLain as my free add-on book for my birthday month, courtesy of my Book of the Month (BOTM) Club BFF status. When this book was first released on BOTM, it sounded intriguing to me but other choices piqued my interest more and I left this one for later. What took me so long? This fictional story interwoven with true missing persons cases in the early 1990s, most notably the Polly Klaas case, made for an equally interesting and heartbreaking read. The overall plot centers around Anna Hart who is a missing persons detective in San Francisco. Personal tragedy sends her back to the small town she grew up in with her foster parents. While there for healing, she is drawn to a case involving a missing girl. One thing leads to another and she finds herself in the middle of what appears to be a serial murder case. 

McLain took great care with the true crime stories that served as a backdrop for this book. You can clearly see that she put forth great detail and research by including those cases. As a result, this book left me feeling uncomfortable - not because it was a bad book but because in reality bad things happened, and I could not use this fictional book to totally escape the real word. In the real world there are bad people who do horrible things. Having said that, I do appreciate very much what McLain has done in weaving a fictional story with real cases. Her writing is moving in that it evokes an emotional response and propels the reader into and through the story. It left me thinking about it for days after. 

My only criticism of this book is the ending. I thought the conclusion to the fictional aspect was a little too tidy. Additionally, it seemed as though the author rushed the ending a bit with regards to Anna's personal struggles. She could have easily gone into more depth with that storyline, especially since it was germane to the plot. 

Recommendation: This is a heavy read, but it is a good book and I would highly recommend it when you're looking for something sobering. 

Until next time ... Read on!

Regardless of whether I purchase a book, borrow a book, or receive a book in exchange for review, my ultimate goal is to be honest, fair, and constructive. I hope you've found this review helpful.

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