#a flicker in the dark

[haveamagicalday]

My top ten reads of 2022

10. Into the Heartless Wood by Joanna Ruth Meyer

This is a unique retelling of The Little Mermaid. Here the mermaids are switched out with deadly forest sirens who harvest the soul’s of those they lure into the witch’s wood. Owen lives at the edge of the wood and one day he is shockingly saved by one of the sirens instead of killed by her. Owen and the siren grow close as an enchanted war threatens to boil over. I really enjoyed this dark fairy tale and loved the forest sirens lore.

9. Such Sharp Teeth by Rachel Harrison

After surviving an attack by a strange creature, Rory finds herself transforming in a frightening way and what follows is a journey of self discovery. This comedically dark love story is full of fun werewolf goodness!

8. House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson

Marion lives in a world where the wealthy consume human blood. In order to do so, they employ bloodmaids, esteemed servants who are treated with respect and given a hefty sum after their service ends. Marion jumps at the chance to become a bloodmaid for the House of Hunger and finds herself entranced with her employer, the beautiful countess Lisavet. But something sinister is happening within the house and Marion may be in danger. Creepy and gothic, this book was a perfect halloween read. I also thought it was interesting that Henderson didn’t go down the vampire route but created a strange world with another motive for drinking blood.

7. The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager

Sager has quickly become one of my favorite thriller authors. This book starts off with a tired trope; a widowed woman copes by drinking and secluding herself in her family’s lake house. Casey spends her days spying on her neighbors through binoculars. The couple across the lake seems perfect until Casey sees something she thinks she shouldn’t and shortly after, the wife vanishes. We’ve seen this before but Sager flips things upside down and takes it in a direction that hasn’t been seen before. It almost seems like he was trying to parody the trope in a way but it is not goofy or anything. This book was thrilling and fun with plenty of twists.

6. A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham

When Chloe was 12, girls started disappearing in her town and her father was arrested for it. Now an adult, Chloe works as a therapist and engaged to a wonderful man. Finally Chloe feels as if she has moved on from her past but then girls around her start to disappear again. This was a solid debut novel with a pretty surprising twist at the end.

5. Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry

Friends is my favorite show and Chandler my favorite character so I was stoked when this book was announced. Of course, Friends is not the focus of this book, Matthew’s history of addiction is. I’ve always admired his honesty when talking about his addiction in the past but wow was I not prepared for how much he went, and continues, to go through. Matthew is still in recovery for his addiction. He almost died in 2021 and started writing shortly after. This is not a look back on addiction and his triumphant recovery. This book IS his recovery. You can feel it through his words. This book was painful and bleak but also hopeful with a dry sense of humor sprinkled throughout. 

4. When We Lost Our Heads by Heather O’Neill 

This book is not for everybody but it was for me! This book follows the life of two friends, spoiled Marie and devilish Sadie, during the late 1800s. While Marie grows to inherit her father’s sugar empire, Sadie disappears into the gritty underworld of Montreal and within the working class a revolution is brewing. This is written with a strange whimsy that makes some of the darker aspects in it feel dreamlike. TW: Rape 

3. I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jeanette McCurdy

I’m the same age as Jeanette and was in high school when icarly first aired. I never considered myself a fan but looking back, I watched a lot of it and it was a genuinely funny show. McCurdy’s memoir is a honest, funny but also heartbreaking look into the world of a child actor that never wanted to be one. What she went through was horrible and her ability to write this book with such wit and grace is incredible. She’s a very talented writer and I’m glad she finally got to tell her story and pursue what I think is her real passion: writing,

2. Juniper and Thorn by Ava Reid

This was marketed as a Juniper Tree retelling but it really has nothing to do with the fairy tale. Marlinchen and her two older sisters live with their wizard father in a world where magic is a thing of the past as industry booms. As witches, the three sisters are used as a tourist trap to earn money. They are rarely allowed to leave their home and one night they sneak out to the ballet and Marlinchen falls in love with the talented leading hero. Marlinchen continues to disobey her father as dead bodies around town suddenly start to turn up. This book was eerie and wholly original. It was dark but in some of the best ways. TW: Gore and Sexual Assault

1. Nocturne by Alyssa Wees

This book as being marketed as a Beauty and the Beast retelling, I think it needs to be looked at as its own story. I'd say it's more of a Beauty and the Beast inspired story than a true retelling. The writing style is gorgeous. The imagery it conjures is both dreamlike and haunting. Our main character Grace has lived a tragic but fascinating life. The flashbacks of a childhood during the Great Depression mixed into a strange fairytale setting was one of my favorite aspects of the book. The combination of fantasy and historical is always a genre I like and I thought this was very well done. As for the plot, I don't want to give too much away but one thing that really resonating with me was the theme of death throughout. It comes up in many different and unsuspecting ways. I can't say too much but the outlook on death was a refreshing one that we don't see to often in media and it really made me think about life and morality. This book is for readers who enjoy dark fantasies and enchanting prose. And for any ballerinas out there as well!

[the-final-sentence]

Then I open my hands and set her free.

Stacy Willingham, from A Flicker in the Dark

[thebestbookrecommendations]

Book Recommendation:

A Flicker in the Dark - Stacy Willingham

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Suspense

Keywords: Confronting the Past, Serial Killer, Female Lead, Louisiana, Family Drama

Length: Medium

Rating: 3.5/5

Find on Goodreads:

Find on StoryGraph:

[coffeeandsnark]

Some recent ‘bookstagram’ posts since I cant cross post anymore. Instagram is just always rolling out the best updates huh?

Have my TBR for the month, pics as I was working my way through ‘A Flicker in the Dark’, and my Alien day Books.

[inlovewithquotes]

There are so many ways we women subconsciously protect ourselves throughout the day; protect ourselves from the shadows, from unseen predators. From cautionary tales and urban legends. So subtle, in fact, that we hardly even realize we're doing them.

-A Flicker In The Dark

[aworldinpages]

A Flicker In The Dark ~ Stacy Willingham

A Flicker In The Dark is Stacey Willingham’s debut novel, it is a psychological thriller that centers around a serial killer who has been imprisoned for the past twenty years. We follow narrator Chloe in the present day, who is constantly trying to run from her past. Twenty years ago, when she was only twelve years old, her father was convicted of killing multiple young girls from their small town. Now girls have started going missing again...

Click here to read my full review!

[desdasiwrites]

There are so many subtle ways we women subconsciously protect ourselves throughout the day; protect ourselves from shadows, from unseen predators. From cautionary tales and urban legends. So subtle, in fact, that we hardly even realize we’re doing them. Leave work before dark. Clutch our purses to our chest with one hand, hold our keys between our fingers in the other, like a weapon, as we shuffle toward our car, strategically parked beneath a streetlight in case we weren’t able to leave work before dark. Approach our car, glance in the back seat before unlocking the front. Grip our phone tight, pointer finger just a swipe away from 9-1-1. Step inside. Lock it again. Do not idle. Drive away quickly.

– Stacy Willingham, A Flicker in the Dark

[nordinor]

Book Review - A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham

This novel follows the adult daughter of a serial killer who, twenty years after her father was imprisoned, finds herself in the middle of a new serial killer investigation. Her brother does not like her fiancé and a New York Times reporter is harassing her and her mother, but when a patient of hers disappears right outside her office, she must search for the truth. I was really drawn into this…

[audiobookfree78]

(via A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham)

Get this Audiobook for FREE NOW! 🎁 30-Day Free Trial → Click Here: www.bestaudiobookshop.online

[literature-zone]

✨📚Book Review 📚✨

"A Flicker in the Dark"

"A Flicker in the Dark," written by Stacy Willingham and published in 2022, as the title suggests, is a dark psychological thriller. This captivating novel marks Willingham's debut in the literary world. Despite being her first novel, "A Flicker in the Dark" doesn't fail to keep the readers engaged.

This novel tells the story of Chloe Davis, a 32-year-old psychologist with a dark and traumatizing past, who struggles to live a normal life. In the beginning of the novel, we learn that Chloe's father, Richard Davis, was found guilty of killing six teenage girls in a single summer evening in Louisiana. Twenty years later, Chloe finds herself trapped in a similar situation, as if her life is replaying itself. A shocking revelation dawns upon her that everyone around her is nothing more than a stranger, hiding their own dark secrets. As she resolves to uncover these hidden truths, she discovers herself sinking deeper into devastation than ever before.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel from start to end. The uncomplicated theme stood out to me and became one of my favorite aspects. However, I believe the psychological setting could have been utilized more effectively. The revelation of the characters felt somewhat slow, to the point where I almost guessed the identity of the real killer.

Overall, it was an amazing read, and I would like to give it a 4-star rating. I highly recommend it to someone who is new to this genre.

Have you read 'A Flicker in the Dark'? What are your thoughts on it? Share in the comments below! ⬇️✨

[tudorblogger]

'A Flicker in the Dark' by Stacy Willingham

‘A Flicker in the Dark’ by Stacy Willingham

Genre: Adult Fiction – Thriller Published: 2022 Format: Paperback Rating: ★★★ A book about a crime from the past that’s repeating itself. I wasn’t sure what I was going to make of this as thrillers aren’t really something that I would pick up myself, but this was our book group read for November 2022, so I gave it a go. It was just OK; this seems to have been the average response to Stacy…

[puppetmaster13u]

Prompt 333

I once more believe Battinson Batman needs to be given a child. Or multiple. Multiple children. I am also once more rotating Ghosts Have Wings Au. 

So Batman, still early in his whole vigilante career ends up busting a shipment, nothing too surprising there. Pretty usual honestly. Except for what was in one of the crates already open. Because it looks like some sort of gemstones but… perfectly spherical. Strange. Suspicious. 

But it’s also late, er, early in the morning, and the GCPD is notoriously corrupt, so like, he’s not going to just leave the weird gemstones, each about the size of a plum or so. (Dear Gotham he’s apparently hungry, and might inwardly vow to never let anyone realize what his tired mind decided to use as measurement) 

So he, unknowingly spurred on by more than just a slight bit of ecto contamination, takes the strange spheres back home. Just puts them in his pockets and heads back to the manor that they moved back into after the whole Riddler mess. (He even found a cool cave! With a bunch of terrifying bats, but they made a glass separator! For safety!) 

But in Bruce’s defense of forgetting about them, he’s more than a little tired and hungry and just wants to sleep for a bit, y’know? So maybe he forgets about the gems as he falls asleep in the chair in the cave (Alfred was not pleased!) until he starts digging around for them. Erm. Did they fall out somewhere?? There’s no holes in his belt pockets… 

And maybe these sort of things shouldn’t slip his mind, the spheres had felt Weird with a capital W, but he gets forced to a circus and there’s an… accident. So maybe he pushed it away as not important because there’s now an angry grieving eight-year old living with him and he’s panickedly reading any and all sort of parenting books he can get a hold of because he has no clue what he’s doing. 

Yeah, maybe his back is itching like crazy no matter what he tries, and maybe he threw up the other day, but it’s fine. This is fine. 

….

Oh dear Gotham those are feathers, this is not fine- ALFREEED!

[funnyjokespuns]

get person shaped, idiot!

aka: loopfrin design doodle i figured id post

[inlovewithquotes]

The two of us together were childhood trauma wrapped In a bow and placed delicately on the doorsteps of every doctor in Louisiana. Everyone knew who we were; everybody knew what was wrong with us. Everyone knew, but nobody could fix it. So I decided to fix it myself.

-A Flicker In The Dark

[toxicanonymity]

night walks masterlist

Updated: 8/6/24 (neighbor stuff)

mood board by @milla-frenchy 🖤

This is an AU moreso than a series. Very little plot. Joel, an older neighbor you've been walking with late at night, asks you into his basement to sell him weed. Turns out he's a little obsessed with you. You find him irresistible, despite your initial efforts to stay away.

OVERALL WARNINGS: Non-outbreak AU, drug use, Dubcon, unsafe P in V, dirty talk, stalking

LATEST: Beach Walks

gif by @iamasaddie. see bottom of post for more art

reader curated spotify playlist

MAIN TIMELINE

NIGHT WALKS (2k) - ORIGINAL. Joel gets you in his basement and you fuck.

"Deleted Scene" - Joel reveals his breeding kink.

✨neighbor stuff (800) - Grocery store run-in

Night Walks 2 (1.9k) - When you don't come back for more, Joel takes matters into his own hands.

Night Walks 3 (1.4k) - Joel breaks in and has his way with you. (Darkest, can skip)

Liquor store run-in (350) - You run into Joel in public and he gropes you.

Night Walks 4: All dressed up (1.3k) - You run into Joel at a gas station and end up fucking him.

Restaurant drabble (400) - You run into Joel when you're out with your friends.

Night Walks 5: Harder (2.8k) - You get jealous. You hang out and can't get enough of him.

BLOW (2k) - You do a line of his dick then give him an amazing blow job and later he puts it in.

Night Walks 6: Morning After (900) - You wake up at Joel's and he's not ready for you to leave.

Night Walks 7: Soaked (3.5k) - You're still there and it's storming so you stay for a while.

Night Walks 8: Menace (4k) - You're set up on a date, but Joel reminds you why you want him.

Interludes: 4th of July (200?) - You go to the pool. POV: Neighbor (Ethyl).

Night Walks 9: Late Night Dip (2.3k) - You go to the pool and he dicks you down. Interlude: Ethyl's house.

Beach walks - Prequel (3.8k) - Joel is acting shady and you hook up with someone else.

Beach Walks (7k) - Joel can't let you go. surf shack lore

HCs, ALTERNATE READERS & TIMELINES ⤵️

Headcanons

NSFW Alphabet - Various HCs in a standard format.

Pregnancy - How would he react to pregnancy?

If someone refused him - What would Joel do if someone flat-out refused him and really didn't want it?

Alt. timelines (AUs of AU)

PREQUEL: Night Gawks: Before Night Walks (450) -. Joel notices you as soon as you move into the neighborhood and jacks off.

FUTURE: Sleeping beauty (750) - You and Joel have a consensual non-con agreement. He breaks in, chloroforms you, ties you up.

FUTURE: Day walks (150) - You and Joel are out hiking and he's being irresponsible.

night caulks (100) - Joel being a rascal

ALT: Leopard print (4.5k)- ft. Tommy

DIFFERENT READERS (AUs of AU)

(2003) Night Chalks (400) - Joel takes a liking to Sarah's engaged teacher and starts to seduce her.

Night Chalks 2 (380) - Joel gets her in the back seat of his car.

(2008) Night Talks (2.8k) - Joel gets Sarah's best friend high and takes her virginity.

(2018) Night Drives (1k) - You order a lyft after a girl's night out and end up in Joel's basement.

Misc: If you're desperate: Dr. Rock has NW roleplay (1st person)

NIGHT WALKS GHOSTFACE

Every inch

Every inch 2

Every inch 3

main joel miller masterlist

Art & Visuals

TRAILER (video) by @iamasaddie

POV Ring doorbell by @swedishscumfuck.

Joel on vacation w/ blurb.

Man cave/basement floor plan

Booty text by @not-a-unique-snowflake-blog and @missannwinchester

meet me in the moonlight by @iamasaddie

mood board by @milla-frenchy

gif by @not-a-unique-snowflake-blog

Pumpkin mood board

beach walks collages by @lunitawrites

nw collage by @selfproclaimed-moviecritic

beach walks by @not-a-unique-snowflake-blog

sleeping beauty by @milla-frenchy

✨night walks vibes by @xdaddysprincessxx

[shadowfalllen]

Dark Justiciar Shadowheart + purple eyes