Dr. Chloe Davis the protagonist of A Flicker In The Dark has tried to rebuild her life after living in the shadow of the terrible crimes her father committed twenty years ago. It has not been easy. Twenty years ago six teenage girls went missing in Chloe's Louisiana small town. The girls' bodies were found and Chloe's father was arrested and convicted for their murder. Chloe was 12 at the time.
The knowledge that their father was a serial killer has devastated the Davis family ever since. Chloe's mother has been living in an assisted living facility since the murders, practically comatose. Chloe's brother Cooper cannot form close relationships. Chloe is doing somewhat better. She is 32, a psychologist, and is getting ready for her wedding to Daniel, a great guy who cares about her.
But not everything is wonderful. Chloe has a pill dependency. And then two months before her wedding a young girl in Baton Rouge where Chloe now lives goes missing and then another girl. And the second girl Lacey was one of Chloe's patients. History seems to be repeating itself and how will this all end?
My thoughts - About 80 percent of the way through reading A Flicker In The Dark I was very impressed. Stacey Willingham is a very talented writer and she does a good job in letting us know what Chloe, her brother Cooper and her mother have gone through these past twenty years trying to rebuild their lives. And in the case of Chloe's mother never recovering.
Could A Flicker In The Dark be that rare psychological thriller that doesn't flood the zone with twists I wondered? Granted, the backstory in which Chloe's father killed six teenage girls over one summer is over the top. But I was hoping that the author knowing the dramatic way she began her novel would understand that more twists weren't needed.
I had ideas about how A Flicker In The Dark would end. One ending about who the present day killer would turn out to be I was more in favor of. Another ending I felt would be heartbreaking but it would be plausible. But the rule now in psychological thrillers is why limit yourself to only one dramatic twist at the end when you can have three or four.
A Flicker in the Dark has over 70,000 reviews on Amazon.com, most of them 4 and 5 stars. The book has received critical acclaim and the writing is very good.. I just think It could have been a much better novel if the author had been willing to dial it down at the end. Sometimes less is more.
I remember liking this one, but I agree, there can be too many twists in these kinds of books.
ReplyDeleteStacy Willingham is a very good writer. Maybe the psycological thriller is not for me. But hopefully in her subsequent books the twists at the end were toned down because she doesn't need them. Willingham writes very well.
DeleteI agree that a mystery can have too many twists and becomes very unrealistic. This story already had too many plot elements that I usually avoid before it started (serial killer, father the killer).
ReplyDeleteI did feel going into the book that the father committing six murders was taking a risk with this novel. But until the end it was a well written plausible thriller.
DeleteI LOVED this book. I've loved both that I have read by Stacy, though I haven't read her newest one yet. I can't wait to! Great review.
ReplyDeleteAsh @ Essentially Ash
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Thanks Ash and I am glad you loved the book. Stacy Willingham is a very good writer.
DeleteI agree. I like thrillers that don't go overboard with craziness at the end. But they hardly ever dial it down sadly. I have been reading a lot less thrillers these days because of that. Still the beginnings are often good and the middle too but then later an implosion occurs ... so I sympathize.
ReplyDeleteAgree and many of these writers are talented. They have a good story and don't need so many twists.
ReplyDeleteI keep waffling in this book. I think I'm going to keep putting it off.
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't for me basically because of the ending which wasn't for me. Too many twists. But she is a very good writer and so maybe her second or third book is worth checking out.
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