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A review by jenbsbooks
A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham
2.75
Bookclub pick (July WJ) ... I was glad the audio was on Hoopla, because the book was backed up at the library/Libby. Still new/popular enough that the prices aren't great on used copies. Just to be honest, I've found (after multiple attempts) that "psychological thrillers with an unbelievable twist" are just not for me. I keep trying them every once in a while though. Here ... that unbelievable twist? Guessed that right away, not a surprise at all. That's not to say I realized everything, but I'm afraid if I stop and examine things too closely, it will make me like things even less. I can be judgmental on "realistic" reads (whereas I'll let things go on sci-fi, fantasy without issue).
Basics ... 1st person/present tense & past tense (the prologue was past tense, talking about the past, and there were several shifts to the past throughout ... and NO headings indicating the change, so the tense was very important to help distinguish, as the transitions were often purposefully vague. For example, at the end of chapter 13, the police show up at the door, chapter 14 "The police station WAS warm ..." we are in a memory from years ago, even though it was just set-up that it could have been the present, that it was the police officers that triggered the memory, and after it returns to the present). Very easy, conversational tone. 48 chronological chapters, with May 2019, June 2019, July 2019 headers spaced in.
With these types of reads ... I'm questioning and doubting everyone, so when I say I figured it out early on, I guess that doesn't really count. Maybe it was the mother, the brother, maybe it's the MC herself, she's schizophrenic and doesn't realize what her other personality is doing. Of course we're going to suspect the boyfriend, especially with the breadcrumbs so purposefully dropped. What about the victim's father, or the reporter who showed up. Yes ... it's just par for the course to suspect everyone.
But there were things that were just too convenient ... that our MC is in the ONE state that allows psychologists to prescribe medication. When there's a memory/statement about getting her PhD and then Masters ... again, the one state where that is a requirement (in different fields ... the author addressed it in one of the Q&A here on Goodreads. I DO appreciate the author input addressing that perceived error). The top review by Alyssa brings up a lot of discrepancies worth discussion ... hey, this is a bookclub book, so I guess I will be mentioning them, especially as there are no discussion questions included in the Kindle copy (I always appreciate discussion questions ... they often make me thing, delve a little deeper).
Ultimately, the suspension of disbelief was just a little too much here ... and for me, in almost all psychological thrillers. I'm too busy second-guessing everything to really enjoy the story. The MC wasn't really that likeable or sympathetic, and I didn't really see that small twist at the end. There was the title tie in, "a flicker in the dark" right at the end. But honestly, there was a little too much "flickering" going on (25x) earlier.
Content: proFanity (x30), some sex ... and of course murder ...
Basics ... 1st person/present tense & past tense (the prologue was past tense, talking about the past, and there were several shifts to the past throughout ... and NO headings indicating the change, so the tense was very important to help distinguish, as the transitions were often purposefully vague. For example, at the end of chapter 13, the police show up at the door, chapter 14 "The police station WAS warm ..." we are in a memory from years ago, even though it was just set-up that it could have been the present, that it was the police officers that triggered the memory, and after it returns to the present). Very easy, conversational tone. 48 chronological chapters, with May 2019, June 2019, July 2019 headers spaced in.
With these types of reads ... I'm questioning and doubting everyone, so when I say I figured it out early on, I guess that doesn't really count. Maybe it was the mother, the brother, maybe it's the MC herself, she's schizophrenic and doesn't realize what her other personality is doing. Of course we're going to suspect the boyfriend, especially with the breadcrumbs so purposefully dropped. What about the victim's father, or the reporter who showed up. Yes ... it's just par for the course to suspect everyone.
But there were things that were just too convenient ... that our MC is in the ONE state that allows psychologists to prescribe medication. When there's a memory/statement about getting her PhD and then Masters ... again, the one state where that is a requirement (in different fields ... the author addressed it in one of the Q&A here on Goodreads. I DO appreciate the author input addressing that perceived error). The top review by Alyssa brings up a lot of discrepancies worth discussion ... hey, this is a bookclub book, so I guess I will be mentioning them, especially as there are no discussion questions included in the Kindle copy (I always appreciate discussion questions ... they often make me thing, delve a little deeper).
Ultimately, the suspension of disbelief was just a little too much here ... and for me, in almost all psychological thrillers. I'm too busy second-guessing everything to really enjoy the story. The MC wasn't really that likeable or sympathetic, and I didn't really see that small twist at the end. There was the title tie in, "a flicker in the dark" right at the end. But honestly, there was a little too much "flickering" going on (25x) earlier.
Content: proFanity (x30), some sex ... and of course murder ...