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Jump to navigationJump to searchA Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham (view source)
Revision as of 12:54, 28 January 2023
, 12:54, 28 January 2023no edit summary
I had a misfortune with this book. A few pages in I thought about how it would work out - it's a habit I have and it's not always a good one This time, I was spot-on right. I read, hoping that I was wrong and, to be fair, there were numerous times when I was convinced that I'd got it wrong. The plot twists until you're dizzy and you need to be in the wide-awake club to keep up with all that's happening. The characterisation is brilliant: everyone is that believable mix of good, bad and indifferent. You have a lingering suspicion that they could be evil, fighting with a doubt that they really could be that bad. It keeps you on the edge of your seat!
Did guessing the outcome of the book spoil it for me? Surprisingly, it didn't: it simply left me delighted to be proved right. Stacy Willingham captured the effect of childhood trauma with its mix of complete withdrawal and ill-considered romantic relationships, which you hope will make you feel like everyone else, if only for a short time. The writing is good enough to compensate for the suspicion that you know how it's going to work out. The icing on the cake is that this is a debut and Willingham is definitely going to be an author to watch. You can see what's coming next [[All the Dangerous Things by Stacy Willingham|here]].
I'd like to thank the publishers for letting Bookbag have a review copy.
