If you like psychological thrillers that will keep you guessing, then “A Flicker in the Dark” by Stacy Willingham is for you. The novel has a creepy moodiness to it that keeps readers on edge. When I came across this book at my local bookstore, I thought it would make a great palate cleanser. The book immediately delves into sharing remnants of the main character’s past. I loved how the character had so much depth, dealing with her own anxieties and weaving her past memories with her present-day life. The book was very lucid but still intriguing.

For the first 12 years of her life, Chloe Davis lived in a small Louisiana town. She usually spent her days playing with her older brother down by the local lake. That was before everything changed, and her father was put in prison for the killings of six girls. Young Chloe was the one who found the concerning evidence: pieces of jewelry from each missing girl hidden in the back of her parents’ closet. 

Now, 20 years later, Chloe thinks she has outrun her past. But recently, she cannot stop the memories from flooding in. She starts to feel overwhelmed and overworked as she balances her psychology business and plans her wedding. Her past life seeps in as she notices the disappearance of a teenage girl. She hopes that the disappearance has nothing to do with her or her father, but she can’t help but notice that the girl went missing on the 20th anniversary of her father’s arrest.

After Chloe finds an earring that once belonged to the missing girl, she knows she will do whatever it takes to find the killer. Chloe’s persistence in solving the mysterious murders quickly grows into an unhealthy obsession. More and more girls go missing, and while those closest to her try to calm her down, Chloe is determined to figure out what is happening. She starts working with a reporter in hopes that someone will finally understand her. They begin by going back to her old town, where her memories come back and may lead to clues to figure out who and what the killer wants. 

In the end, the book didn’t have the biggest twist, but overall it was a fun, suspenseful read. The setting was well written, and I could always keep track of where Chloe was. The author introduced new characters and places throughout the book, which kept it relevant and engaging. I was a bit confused by some of the characters’ actions, which seemed a bit too far-fetched, like the main character forgetting her phone in a vital scene. 

Overall, the author made her characters feel relatable. Chloe struggles with trauma and addiction throughout the book, making her an unreliable narrator. Chloe was paranoid throughout the book, and rightfully so. I regularly feel annoyed when characters ignore signs of mystery and murder and act oblivious. Chloe was suspicious of everyone and made me second-guess who I thought the killer was. Every time a new character was introduced, I was convinced it was them, but I would have to backtrack when I was given more clues.

This book had several darker messages and themes; my favorite one was showing Chloe’s addiction and how she slowly healed. Chloe, a psychiatrist herself, struggles with trauma from her past. Through the story, we get to see both how she heals from her trauma and how important it is to seek support. The novel emphasized the importance of support. Chloe repeatedly pushes people away in the beginning, but as the book goes on, she learns to open up and talk to others, which ultimately helps her solve the mysterious murders.

I would rate “A Flicker in the Dark” by Stacy Willingham four out of five stars because overall this book was a good twisty thriller that will keep you wanting to turn the next page to see how the mystery is ultimately solved.