A Flicker in the Dark by Stacy Willingham Summary
Overview of A Flicker in the Dark
A psychological thriller that sold over a million copies and captivated Emma Stone, who optioned it before publication. This haunting debut - exploring trauma's dark shadows through a Louisiana lens - became a NYT bestseller on the author's 31st birthday.
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Key takeaways
Shadows That Never Fade: The Weight of a Serial Killer's Legacy
When I was twelve, I learned that monsters don't hide under beds-they tuck you into them. My father, Richard Davis, the respected pharmacist of Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, was arrested for murdering six teenage girls during one sweltering summer. I was the one who found the evidence: a collection of trinkets hidden in his shed-hair ribbons, friendship bracelets, small mementos stolen from each victim. That discovery shattered my childhood and set me on a path I never chose. Twenty years later, I've rebuilt my life in Baton Rouge as a psychologist specializing in trauma. I have a successful practice, a modernist home, and a fiance from old money. I've created distance-ninety carefully measured miles-from my hometown and its memories. But when teenage girls start disappearing again, with frightening similarities to my father's crimes, the carefully constructed walls of my new life begin to crumble. The past isn't just haunting me; it's hunting me.
When History Repeats Itself: Patterns of Predation
The Masks We Wear: Deception and Identity
Louisiana as Character: The Geography of Fear
Generational Wounds: The Inheritance of Trauma
Truth Through a Fractured Lens: Memory and Perception
When Shadows Come to Light: Finding Truth in Darkness
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"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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