All the Dangerous Things, Stacy Willingham’s second novel, is another gripping thriller.

Although I enjoyed her debut novel, A Flicker in the Dark, I was hoping for a lot more in her second book. And although the plot is good, the writing great, and there are one or two brilliant twists, it all seemed a little too fabricated. Considering all Isabelle’s issues, history, and current situation, it just made it a bit difficult not to find it a tad over the top, or inversely find her a bit too weak a main character. On the one hand we have a character that has spent her life with her head in the sand, being manipulated directly and indirectly, and on the other hand we are supposed to believe she has enough conviction to not let go in her quest to find the person who stole her child, investigating everyone involved, everyone in the neighborhood and even everyone who attends her talks (but conveniently forgets to investigate the husband).

Anyway, I seem to be in the minority as far as opinions are concerned.

Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins UK for a review copy.

Isabelle is searching for her two-year-old son, Mason, snatched from his bed in the night, vanished without trace. Neither she nor her husband, Ben, had heard a thing. But, “It’s always the mother”, that’s what they say; the people who leech onto a family’s distress. Isabelle hasn’t slept, in any meaningful way, for the last 364 days; since the day she opened his bedroom door and found it empty, a draught blowing from the window she was sure she’d shut. Others might have crumbled completely when the trails ran dry, when there were no more clues, but she had refused to let go and had, instead, kept the case in the media’s eye by speaking at True Crime conferences. After the first six months, Ben had decided to move on by moving out of their home and moving onto a new girlfriend. In desperation, Isabelle agreed to try a new tack, an interview with the well-known True Crime podcaster Waylon Spenser. To facilitate this, she agrees to let him into her home over a few days so that they can refine and structure the interview. It becomes clear that Isabelle is worried that she might be somehow implicated in the disappearance, because of traumas in her own childhood, centered around sleepwalking. In a series of interpolated flashback chapters, we gradually learn about her childhood and her life with Ben. Will her actions resolve the mystery and will that bring her peace; or will her whole life come crashing down?
This psychological thriller is told entirely from Isabelle’s perspective, which doesn’t mean it is a true picture. Her childhood trauma and her pathological insomnia make her an unreliable narrator. Such stories have to both persuade the reader that the narrative is true (otherwise the main character is not relatable) and yet allow the reader to constantly wonder if they are being led to a wrong conclusion. Fortunately, the reader is in good hands with this author, because the character of Isabelle is solid and believable, but plausibly ignorant about some of her own actions and motives. The tale starts off quite slowly but builds steadily and then accelerates as it approaches the dénouement, encompassing a twist which is foreseeable and a twist which is not (by which I mean that I didn’t spot it until I was right on top of it). I gave Stacy’s first book, A Flicker in the Dark, 4 stars and this is better.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the publishers and the author for providing me with a draft proof copy for the purpose of this review.

I have a new must-buy thriller writer.

A Flicker in the Dark was good, but All the Dangerous Things was far better, in my opinion. This book is ridiculously hard to put down. Cliches like "on the edge of my seat" come to mind, but I will try to do better than that. It deserves a good review.

In this book, Willingham creates a really creepy and unsettling thriller out of the subject of sleepwalking. How is it I never realised how creepy sleepwalking can be until now? Both for the sleepwalker themselves and for those around them.

Imagine not knowing what you'll do-- where you'll go, what you're capable of-- while you're asleep. Imagine waking up in unfamiliar places. Or in familiar places, but with objects moved around, a trail of muddy footprints leading out your front door. Like being haunted by a ghost, but the ghost is yourself. Imagine wondering, when tragedy strikes in the middle of the night, if it could have been your fault.

This is where Isabelle finds herself when her son goes missing in the middle of the night. "I was asleep the whole night" she says when the police ask, and it's true-- she was.

We are nothing but what we choose to believe, but it's all a mirage, bending and warping and shimmering in the distance, changing its form at any given second.


All the Dangerous Things is a psychological thriller about memory and mental health, about questioning your own mind and your own past. Because long before Isabelle lost Mason, she lived with her mother, father and sister, until something happened, something that was covered up and never spoken about. Something that Isabelle knows she was involved in.

Now, a year has passed since Mason was taken from his crib and a desperate Isabelle turns to True Crime enthusiasts, podcasters and anyone who will listen, to turn attention back to the case and make sure people out there keep looking for her son.

But alongside this, Isabelle is also turning her attention inwards, asking long-ignored questions about herself, her past, and what really happened all those years ago.

Absolutely riveting and genuinely scary in parts.

4.5-4.75⭐️ Which I have rounded up

I really enjoyed Flicker in the dark, but for me this excellent psychological crime thriller surpasses it. I loved it 😍

Isabella Drake’s life changed a year ago when her toddler Mason was taken from his crib while she and her husband (Ben) were sleeping. She has literally been unable to sleep fixated on finding him.
The police had little to go on, the case soon went cold. Izzy resorts to taking part in a true crime podcast interview.

Chronic sleep deprivation is an interesting mix into a child abduction storyline with the way it affects cognitive function and mental health.
The time frame moves through various time frames during the year. It also goes back to Isabella’s childhood.
I was sure I knew where the storyline was going, but some good twists along the way, and good red herrings.

There weren’t any likeable characters, but it didn’t stop me getting totally engrossed in the story.
This is one I highly recommend, it is even better than the debut.

Loved this book. It was my second one of hers and it kept me guessing the entire time.
Thank you for the arc! I really enjoyed it as it was truly intriguing.

An engaging read that hooked me right from the very start and gripped me right until the end. I couldn't put it down

Thank you so much to NetGalley, HarperCollinsUK, Harper Collins and Stacy Willingham for this advanced copy! I loved this book so much, I couldn't put it down once I started! The flow of the writing made it such an easy read. It drew me in without me even realising, before I knew it I was fully invested in the book!

The story itself, in my opinion, will appeal to most thriller fans. A woman's child was taken a year ago. Her marriage has fallen apart and her life now revolves around finding out what happened and working the true crime circuit. Sleep deprivation starts to play with her mind and memories from her mysterious, secretive past surface, making her question everything.

Throughout, this felt like a story heading in a certain direction, not exactly predictable but it seemed to be in a particular path. There didn't feel like there would be many twists if I'm honest. How wrong was I?! The second half of this book picked up speed in a big way. Nearing the end, more and more revelations come to the surface making for quite the ending!

Absolutely a book I would recommend. Having not read A Flicker in the Dark I am now very excited to pick it up! This will be one to watch out for in 2023 for sure!

* Please research any trigger warnings before reading *

What if the present is starting to mirror your past? What if your life is full of tragedy and heartache? What if people tell you that you are delusional, and hallucinating? What if you can no longer trust your own thoughts and actions? What if you find an ally?..
A real page turner of a tale, great unlikeable characters. A perfect read for cold, dark winter nights.

A twisty mystery that also incorporates some thought provoking realities about motherhood, All The Dangerous Things is an addictive read and a really excellent story.

The characters are engaging and it is unpredictable- the writing is immersive and moves the story along in entertaining fashion whilst also managing to keep you thinking about the issues

I thought it was excellent and have no problem highly recommending it.

Isabelle Drake tirelessly pounds the true crime circuit desperate to keep her 18 month old son Mason in the public eye after his kidnapping a year ago. It’s gruelling and punishing in more ways that one as Isabelle has had little more than micro-sleep since Masons disappearance. She drives herself forward stoked up with caffeine in a relentless bid to discover the truth. After one keynote speech she meets podcaster Waylon Spencer on the flight home and he offers his services. One thing is for absolute sure, no parents would want to walk a mile in her shoes. This extremely well written novel examines motherhood and the expectations that accompany it.

Wow, wow, wow. Stacy Willingham has knocked it out the park and then some with this stay up long into the night read which is appropriate owing to Isabelle’s insomniac state. This aspect of the novel is done incredibly well as the author makes you feel the mental and physical toll it has taken and you totally get her obsessive pursuit of the truth. Through Izzy you get a pervading sense of unreality, a dreamlike somnambulant state,, it’s almost hallucinatory so you have no idea what’s real and what’s not. This keeps you guessing and constantly on your toes, fully immersed and caught up in the plot.

The locations and settings add another dimension too as they perfectly match the events, creating a terrific atmosphere and heightening the tension and increasing intensity.

The novel contains a multitude of dangerous things including insomnia and the fear it induces but it also takes a deep dive into the past. All these ‘dangerous things’ arise organically in the plot being expressed and described extremely well.

Although this book is not especially fast paced it seems to me to be pitched just right which makes the unpredictable jolting shocks and jaw droppers really stand out. This is accompanied by vivid imagery that keeps you absorbed in the quality of the writing.

Finally, I must mention the characterisation. These are without doubt, flawed, complex people who are all portrayed well so they feel authentic and they are what makes this such a powerful and thought provoking psychological thriller. I highly recommend this and I can’t wait to read what the author comes up with next.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to HarperCollins/HarperFiction for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

I found this book a bit slow at first and difficult to get into, but once I did I was gripped. There are several layers covering a multitude of mysteries but gradually they are all uncovered and lead to a very unexpected and satisfying end. A great read and one that I would definitely recommend. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the arc.

Gripping and Tense,

All the Dangerous Things is a story I will not forget for a very long time

I really enjoyed reading this and look forward to more from Stacy Willingham

I really don't have the patience for slow burn books but the amount of layers in this one, means it's clear to see why it's written that was so as not to confuse or iverwhelm the reader. It is quite slow but during that time the author gives you such a clear insight into the main character which sets it all up perfectly for when the twists and turns do kick in! It's not a quick, light read but it's definitely worth shutting the world away for a few hrs and getting stuck in

I really enjoyed Stacy Willingham's debut Flicker In The Dark and was eager to read this one.

I love sleep deprivation as an element in psychological fiction. Isabelle, the main character hasn't slept properly for a year, ever since her young son was abducted from his bed in the night.

There's a multilayered plot, tragedy in Isabelle's childhood, separation from her husband Ben (whose first wife took her own life) and a true crime podcaster eager to investigate Isabelle's story. It's all told very clearly without any confusion.

While Isabelle's sleep deprivation doesn't quite have that level of psychological intensity of Stay Awake or the movie The Machinist, Stacy Willingham does things her own way building a compelling story, rich in atmosphere and regrets.

This is a very good book with unexpected twists and turns within the multiple mysteries being unraveled.

Thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins UK

I was a massive fan of Willingham's novel A Flicker in the Dark so when I had the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this one, I was really looking forward to it.

A couple of things did ring alarm bells. Firstly, the sleep deprived unreliable narrator has been done before and, secondly, so has the true crime podcaster coming in to save the day.

However, I needn't have worried. In the hands of Willingham the story moves along well as we descend into the 'madness' of Isabelle and her 365th night of no sleep since her son Mason was taken. She teams up with a true crime podcaster who clearly has his own agenda but the twists and turns of the novel will keep you guessing and on your toes.

The story pans out as we come to realise what really happened to Mason on that fateful night and the ending was so satisfying I honestly wish I could scream it from the rooftops!

Thanks to Netgalley and HarperCollins for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

3.5 stars

This was a slow burn of a book for me.
Getting to know isabelle, and becoming increasingly to think of her as a classic unreliable narrator, due to sleep issues.
The dual timeline worked well here, making me want to get back to each part every time.
Gradual realisation of what was going on had me nodding my head and thinking "of course" more than once.
A good read. .

For the majority of this book, I found myself racing through it. I was eager to know what happened. There are many layers to the story with some triggering topics but they are dealt with gently. I peeled away at each layer until the final moments, which definitely got me, I wasn’t expecting anything like that.
It’s a book full of mystery that I would recommend.