DESCRIPTION:
One year ago, Isabelle Drake's life changed forever: her toddler son, Mason, was taken out of his crib in the middle of the night while she and her husband were asleep in the next room. With little evidence and few leads for the police to chase, the case quickly went cold. However, Isabelle cannot rest until Mason is returned to her—literally.
Except for the occasional catnap or small blackout where she loses track of time, she hasn’t slept in a year.
Isabelle's entire existence now revolves around finding him, but she knows she can’t go on this way forever. In hopes of jarring loose a new witness or buried clue, she agrees to be interviewed by a true-crime podcaster—but his interest in Isabelle's past makes her nervous. His incessant questioning paired with her severe insomnia has brought up uncomfortable memories from her own childhood, making Isabelle start to doubt her recollection of the night of Mason’s disappearance, as well as second-guess who she can trust... including herself. But she is determined to figure out the truth no matter where it leads.
All the Dangerous Things follows Isabelle Drake, a woman who has been trapped in a fog of exhaustion and grief ever since her infant son, Mason, was taken from his crib a year earlier. Unable to truly sleep, Isabelle survives on microsleep episodes while relentlessly trying to keep Mason’s story alive and bring him home. The loss of her son has also destroyed her marriage, yet her determination to find answers never fades.
As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Isabelle is carrying more than grief. The pressures of motherhood, combined with a deeply troubled past, collide in heartbreaking ways. In the days and weeks after Mason’s disappearance, Isabelle constantly questions herself. What could she have done differently? Did she miss something? Is she herself to blame? And most painfully, will she ever have the chance to hold her precious son again?
Isabelle has largely carried the burden of Mason’s disappearance alone, so when a true-crime podcaster takes an interest in her case - perhaps a little too much interest - she finds herself drawn to him despite her instincts. Trust does not come easily to Isabelle, but desperation and hope can make even the most guarded person take risks.
This was an excellent psychological thriller by Stacy Willingham. The tension and uncertainty surrounding Isabelle’s fragile mental state kept me completely invested, and the story’s emotional depth made it even more compelling. Although this is only the second book I’ve read by Willingham, it definitely will not be my last. I already have A Flicker in the Dark lined up on Libby, and I’m looking forward to diving into it.
Her debut, A Flicker in the Dark, has sold over one million copies in North America alone. It was the winner of Strand Magazine's Best Debut Award and a finalist for the Book of the Month's Book of the Year award, Goodreads Choice Best Debut award, Goodreads Choice Best Mystery & Thriller award, and ITW's Best First Novel award. Her work has been translated in more than thirty languages.
She earned her B.A. in magazine journalism from the University of Georgia and M.F.A. in writing from the Savannah College of Art and Design. She lives in Charleston, South Carolina, with her husband, daughter, and dog.
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