All the Dangerous Things is a now/then narrative. We follow the present-day Isabelle (“Izzy”) Drake as well as the “then” Isabelle—a young girl in the South who has a tendency to sleepwalk often, which scares her little sister, Margaret.

In a Nutshell: A slow, slow, slow “thriller”. Worth it for the final resolution, but the journey to reach that point was eye-roll-inducing. I’m making it official: I am tired of 1st person unreliable narrators that ramble too much and trust only themselves.One of my most anticipated 2023 releases, this slow-burn mystery thriller with an unreliable narrator by Stacy Willingham does not disappoint.

Content warnings: Insomnia and sleep deprivation; disappearance; murder and attempted murder; mention of death by suicide; death and grief; depression; psychosis; postpartum trauma; night terrors; mention of pregnancy loss All the Dangerous Things Book Review / Summary The mystery/suspense feels very guessable but has enough surprises and twists to keep you on your toes. A couple of the twists are nice but many of them were just silly. Some were farfetched.I did have a couple minor issues. There was a thread involving infidelity which I didn’t love. I understood where it served the story, but I couldn’t get behind why one party was being treated more sympathetically than the other, since it literally takes two. I also had to roll with one major aspect of the ending, which was explained but not realistic in today’s investigative world. Eventually she agrees to be interviewed by true crime podcaster Waylon, and they’re soon working as a team. Much is to be discovered, not just about herself, but others too, and a it’s gripping read just wanting to know where it will all end. Recommended! Terrific... Willingham’s strong affinity for characters and her superior plotting elevate All the Dangerous Things. . . seals her place as a talented novelist." – South Florida Sun Sentinel Isabelle Drake tirelessly pounds the true crime circuit desperate to keep her 18 month old son Mason in the public eye after his kidnapping a year ago. It’s gruelling and punishing in more ways that one as Isabelle has had little more than micro-sleep since Masons disappearance. She drives herself forward stoked up with caffeine in a relentless bid to discover the truth. After one keynote speech she meets podcaster Waylon Spencer on the flight home and he offers his services. One thing is for absolute sure, no parents would want to walk a mile in her shoes. This extremely well written novel examines motherhood and the expectations that accompany it.