All the Dangerous Things

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I wouldn't describe this as being fast-paced, it was more of a steady pace with great tension throughout. Each chapter fills in more and more of the puzzle and it was really hard to put it down. Isabelle has not slept, thus making her an unreliable narrator. She is tired and it affects her memory and recollections. Will talking to a true crime podcaster help her? What does he know about her past? The book looks at both Isabelle in the past and present.

What do you think Stacy Willingham is saying about “mom guilt” in this book? How does Isabelle’s story reflect societal pressures of family dynamics and the role of mother?

Isabelle Drake is exhausted and hasn't slept in nearly a year since her toddler son, Mason, was taken during the night. The detectives have no leads so Isabelle spends her time doing research and conducting her own interviews even though the detective has warned her not too. Her obsession with finding Mason is also the reason her marriage to Ben deteriorated. All the Dangerous Things" is a story about mental health and motherhood. It's told in two timelines, now and in 1999 from a sleep-deprived mother seeking answers. There are many twists and surprises along the way which I much prefer over the reveals unloaded in the last few chapters. I was completely blindsided by this one and all theories I had were tossed out the window. Loooved when this happens!! Then comes marriage and a baby although along the way she loses so much of herself, her hopes, her identity. Once her baby is born she's so exhausted but eventually she wants more, only to lose everything she had left. Sleep deprivation is a beast and it's not like Isabelle hasn't struggled with sleep irregularities in the past. Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press/Minotaur, and Stacy Willingham for an ARC of this book! Now available as of 1.10!** The identity of the kidnapper and the resolution of the mystery were easily the best parts of the book. It is this section that caused me to push up my rating to 2.5. Until then, I was sitting firmly on the 2 star mark.

It might seem like nothing could disturb that sort of tranquility...but with an effortless toss of ONE tiny pebble...the whole pond becomes a moving, rippling being, ever-changing and ever-surprising. Terrific... Willingham’s strong affinity for characters and her superior plotting elevate All the Dangerous Things. . . seals her place as a talented novelist." – South Florida Sun Sentinel Even though this is only her second book, Willingham's future is SO bright and my only quibble is that I now will have to wait for her next book to arrive! It may be early, but I'm thrilled to add this to my list of 2023 favorite reads and that Willingham continues to not only stun and surprise, but much like that rippling pond in the moonlight...she simply DAZZLES. She’s desperate to find clues in the cold case—so desperate she continues to publicly tell her story at true-crime enthusiast conventions and finally says yes to an interview with a podcaster named Waylon.The book is very fast paced and the reveals to the different parts of the mystery come at regular intervals that allowed me to remain engaged with the story rather than getting bored. I'm glad I gave Willingham another chance and will be interested to see what she comes up with next. As awful as it will be to say I didn't care about Isabelle. In fact, I disliked her quite a bit so with her being the sole narrator this book was doomed from the start. My pupils are drilling into a spot in the carpet. A spot with no significance, really, other than the fact that my eyes seem to like it here. My surroundings grow fuzzy as the spot— my spot—gets sharper, clearer. Like tunnel vision. With plenty of twists, endless revelations, and no shortage of suspects, Isabelle’s story and that of her missing son is sure to grip many readers, as the plot elements unfold, and the hidden secrets provide motive, a better understanding but also more clarity. With a few surprises. It would seem trauma follows Isabelle though!!! However, there is also something about Ben, who is now in the arms and bed of another women. The same situation Isabelle found herself in when she met Ben because he was already married then too. Although events took care of themselves when Ben’s first wife commits suicide.