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BOOK TOUR STOP x @InstaBookTours - A Flicker in the Dark by Stacey Willingham

 


"I began to realise that maybe the monsters lived among us. And there was one monster, in particular, I learned to fear above all the rest."

Twenty years ago, Chloe learned a lesson - monsters aren't some intangible idea lurking under the bed they're real and they're everywhere. Her monster, it turns out, was her own Father. A serial killer, who stole and killed young girls her own age and to this day still haven't been found.

Now two decades later, Chloe is a successful psychologist with her own practice, engaged to a wonderfully loving man and it almost feels like she's stepped out from the shadow of her past and become her own person. She is Doctor Chloe Davis, not the daughter of a serial killer. 

But the thing about monsters, is they know how to hide away in the dark - and all it takes is a flicker for you to start seeing them again. Now, on the 20 year anniversary of all that tragedy, a girl has gone missing. And another monster is about to crawl out of the shadows and straight towards her...

"It's the realisation of how many bodies could be buried beneath my feet at any point in time, the world above them completely oblivious to their existence."

A striking, compulsive journey into the way blood can bind people together, whether that's blood shared or blood spilled. Each relationship was unique in this story - some beautiful, some chilling but all complex and masterfully crafted.

The past and the present collide and merge into one throughout this story, as we hear Chloes memories of those lost girls and their cruel fates all those years ago and the paranoia that still plagues her to this day as she takes matters into her own hands, determined not to let history repeat itself. 

The story takes it's own time, slowly revealing little pieces of itself and instead of leaving the reader gasping in shock, it leaves a quiet and uneasy feeling of suspense and discomfort. This is one of those stories where technically, not a lot happens, and much of our time is spent waiting for the other shoe to drop, but the characters were so intriguing that it didn't get boring waiting for something to happen. And when it did - it was a chaotic mess and I mean that in the absolutely greatest way. 

CW: Self harm, death, murder, violence. 


About The Author

Stacy Willingham's first novel, A Flicker in the Dark, was published in January 2022 by Minotaur Books and HarperCollins UK.

Prior to writing fiction full time, Stacy worked as a copywriter and brand strategist for various marketing agencies. She earned her BA in Magazine Journalism from the University of Georgia and MFA in Writing from the Savannah College of Art & Design.

She currently lives in Charleston, South Carolina, with her husband, Britt, and her Labradoodle, Mako.




I was gifted a reviewers copy of this title in return for an honest review. Thank you to Instabooktours and Stacey Willingam for inviting me to take part in this tour. 

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