By Ana Thomas

Stacy Willingham’s novel, A Flicker in the Dark, unravels the story of a smart woman navigating the traumas bestowed upon her by her own family. The bravery of this once young girl, bringing forth evidence that convicts her father of serial murders, turns into a subliminal call to duty. For the next 20 years, Dr. Chloe Davis shapes her life and career around easing the damage surrounding her and her family by identifying red flags in everyone and everything but herself. As series of events in 2019 seem to parallel those from exactly two decades prior, Dr. Davis is also forced to look in the mirror for a much-needed self-assessment. And may I add, the seamless transitions between 1999 and 2019 is deeply impressive. The author’s use of repeated phrases, dreams and memories all beautifully aid in telling a story of horrors.

There are three types of conflict authors can impose in literature and our’s gives us all three: character v. character; character v. nature; and character v. him/herself. Through themes of control, light v. darkness, revere v. revile, and memory, Chloe Davis, Daniel Briggs, Cooper Davis and Aaron Jansen navigate the author’s carefully paved road that illuminates the darkness found in each character’s story.

Dr. Chloe Davis connects her series of disorders to ‘control’. She can’t seem to escape the darkness she so desperately tries to run from because she hasn’t taken the time to truly address the source both within and around her. Her improper use of drugs only exacerbates her own traumas, which is disturbingly ironic when considering her access to drugs as a Psychiatrist with her own practice. She’s not the only one who struggles with control. Her older brother Cooper remains by her side; there to control the story, the narrative, the emotions, her life. But he can’t seem to control his demons first. As Daniel and Chloe’s wedding date approaches, so does the twenty year anniversary of the worst summer of Chloe’s life. Willingham’s use of Daniel’s character perfectly complements Chloe’s healing journey. As she learns that their perfect meet was not the first time he’s heard of Chloe Davis, Chloe’s lifelong trust issues are put to the test again (and so were mine). To add to Chloe’s spiraling world, a journalist from The New York Times introduces himself to the highly guarded Chloe as Aaron Jansen. As any decent journalist does, he wastes no time teasing at Chloe’s loose-end thoughts that continue to tie her to her past. He ultimately pulls the thread that unravels the author’s carefully crafted thriller into an ending that satisfies her plot, yet begs for a sequel!!

I tortured myself by stepping into Chloe’s shoes every chance I could. For such an extreme life circumstance, she’s still highly relatable. The anxiety and the drive to go with it. This drive to save others and somehow still neglecting to take care of herself first was so intoxicating you could almost get lost in it and forget you’re simply the reader. Thank goodness Willingham knows how to bring you back to reality so you can take a deep breath. This was one of my first few thrillers and I’m coming back for more!

Dear Author: Why couldn’t Daniel and Chloe attend therapy of their own and workout their relationship? It’s not so much that I revere their relationship, but was it too much to overcome? Can we please have a sequel for Cooper and Daniel with more insight from Mr. and Mrs. Briggs?