Wow! This is a great crime and suspense novel. I was hooked from the beginning! I recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a good murder mystery and has plenty of time on their hands because once you start this book you will not want to put it down.

I lost count of the amount of times I said, "What the hell?! No way!" This is absolutely a 5 star thriller! I will recommend this book as "my favorite thriller of the year"! This book is full of twists from the first page! If you like a good, twisted, crime story then this is absolutely the book for you. As with all thrillers I review, I try to keep my synopsis and thoughts brief so as not to ruin any of the twists!

There are some touchy/difficult topics (child abuse, domestic abuse, murder, suicide) but underneath it all is a sweet story line of people who have experienced trauma and are judged by the public, but support and stand behind each other. The characters strive to help others who are going through difficult times, because they know how it feels to experience traumatic events . There’s a lot of pain in this story but also a lot of kindness and hope.

Synopsis: On June 7, 2005 a young girl named Trumanell disappears in a small Texas town. A decade later, the case has gone cold. But a newly released documentary about the case has everyone on edge.
Then, Wyatt- Trumanell's brother- finds a badly beaten girl on the side of the road. As Odette, a young, local police officer with deep ties to Wyatt and Trumanell searches for answers, many secrets will be revealed.

Thank you to NetGalley, Ballantine Books and Julia Heaberlin for the advanced copy of We Are All The Same In The Dark in exchange for my honest review.

A wonderful story of redemption, written in perfect prose. Julie Heaberlin writes with an authenticity that feels underestimated yet overwhelmingly simplistic. The plot reveals itself slowly with rich symbolism and meaningful subject matters. The characters are all well-crafted with deep seated emotional flaws that support the gritty nature of the plot. A perfect weekend read.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC of #WeAreAllTheSameInTheDark which was read and reviewed voluntarily by @wayward_readers

It all began with the disappearance of a small town, well-loved beauty and a town full of promises that they will find her. Posters of her still hang around town, even in the sheriff's office. A brother who is blamed for her disappearance has a secret and the past just won't stay in the past. A young girl found on the side of the road is the catalyst that begins the present day investigation. We Are All the Same in the Dark by Julia Heaberlin is a suspenseful and fantastic read! I literally could not figure out who had done what or how it had happened. This book surprises you and if you choose to make a guess as to who did what and how, I bet you can't figure it out either!

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC of We are All the Same in the Dark by Julia Heaberlin. I am a huge fan of Heaberlin’s writing and have read Black Eyed Susans, Paper Ghosts, and Playing Dead as well.

When a one-eyed mute girl turns up on the side of the highway surrounded by dandelions, events are set into motion that help to unearth a small town Texas cold case. Ten years before, Trumanell Branson, the town sweetheart, is presumed to be murdered. On this same day, Odette, the daughter of a police officer, loses her leg in a car accident fleeing Trumanell’s house. Odette, now a member of the town’s police force, has never forgotten Trumanell and devotes her time to investigating her disappearance and presumed murder. When Odette gets too close to the truth, the girl she found must solve the mystery before it’s too late.

Heaberlin’s storytelling is stellar in this dark, atmospheric, slow-burn gothic mystery. Her utilization of characterization and attention to detail draw you into the story immediately. She has a poetic way of attaching symbolism and meaning to things that help show the reader, rather than tell the story. It’s themes deal with loss, recovery and redemption while its suspense leaves you wanting more. It also has an emotional complexity that contains many layers to peel back as you read. While I solved most of the mystery early on, I truly enjoyed the journey to finding out the truth.

4/5 stars

Julie Heaberlin’s new thriller “We are all the same in the dark” was an extremely twisty and suspenseful thriller.
The less you know going in, the better.
Basically, the story begins with a police officer, Oddette finding an abandoned one eyed girl named Angel. We learn her backstory and that she is still disappearance of a high school girl who went missing 10 years ago, also. Her story and Angel’s interweave in a heartpounding, edge of your seat thriller.

I requested an ARC of this novel because I enjoyed the author's previous title, "Black-Eyed Susans". The plot contains elements of a psychological thriller and a murder mystery, which create many different elements to follow throughout the novel. The main character, Odette, has a troubled backstory that seamlessly fits into the mystery element of the novel. The character development for Odette is well executed, with the focus being on her emotional struggles and not her physical limitations as an amputee. The mental health of other characters, including the Wyatt and the lost girl he discovers create emotional depth to the novel. It was painful to feel the emotional struggles of Wyatt and how he experienced the loss of his sister Trumanell. There are many stories here, but the author is able to connect the reader to both the characters and the stories and does not let the novel feel to dense or complicated. The mystery reveals itself gradually and the psychological tension helps keep the reader invested in the plot. This novel is smart and not predictable, which makes for an edge of your seat read. It was hard to put down, both for the plot and the reader's attachment to the characters. This is the criteria for an exceptional psychological thriller and why I highly recommend "We Are All the Same in the Dark".

This is the first Heaberlin title I've read, and I am delighted to say it won't be the last. From the stunning cover to the sharp title, this held my attention to the very last page.

Odette is a tough-as-nails small-town cop who holds the weight of an unsolved disappearance on her shoulders. Everyone knows Trumanelle is probably dead, but it's been five years and Odette is determined to find the truth about what happened that night that Trumanelle and her father went missing--the night Odette lost her leg in a car accident.. When a young girl missing an eye is found by Wyatt, Trumanelle's brother, Odette takes her under her wing while navigating her own personal issues. One fateful night seals their fates, gripped by a small town that won't let them go.

It's difficult to talk about how much I loved this book without spoilers, but I will do my best.

Heaberlin's writing jumps off the page. Immersive in its imagery and beautiful prose, We Are All the Same in the Dark is a study of grief, loss, and redemption. Odette's character is the epitome of strong, a gritty, realistic portrayal of a person struggling with a disability. Recovery is not linear, and some of the most poignant moments come when we see the side of her she doesn't want anyone else to see: pulled over in a rest stop, overcome by the maddening itch of a phantom limb. The daily maintenance and how her amputation affects everything from the way she trained to her fear of slipping on a wet surface. Angel, too, is a fantastic character who takes her missing eye in stride, holding on to her story with ferocity and grace. Their lives, however briefly entwined, are connected in a grander sense, and Heaberlin's narrative structure layers emotional complexity with shocking revelation.

In short, this book is the definition of un-put-downable.

From the tone (which reminded me of Of Mice and Men and To Kill a Mockingbird) the small-town dynamic of secrets and exclusion and how they play into the overarching power structures, to the quiet strength of not only women, but women with disabilities, We Are All the Same in the Dark doesn't shy away from brutal realism. Abuse, harsh realities police face on a daily basis, the lost girls who choose to be nameless roaming the highway because the alternative is too horrible to accept, this is the type of book that will stick to your bones and root in your heart.

Thank you to Ballantine and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for honest review consideration.

I really enjoyed this. It’s the second book I’ve read by this author (not part of a series, just the second book). I liked the varied perspectives and timelines, the way all the threads came together and I think it was an unusual twist on a small town murder mystery. I also really appreciated the research that went into the experience of those that use prosthesis, I think it really came out in the quality of the character development and backstory.

The ending did happen very fast but I think that also is how big events can happen and so it did feel organic and everything ended nicely resolved.

I received a free e-arc from Netgalley and the publisher in return for an honest review.

The BEST. Creepy in all the right ways. Fake eyes. Fake legs. Fake stories. A page turner that kept me going non stop. You won’t even guess the ending, but good luck trying.

Julia Heaberlin sets her novels in a haunted part of Texas. The voices are all anchored in the soil of the place and there's a quality of light in the setting that matches the almost mythic storytelling. If you're looking for realism, maybe get off at another stop. Here you'll find something a little Gothic, a little fanciful, and full of vivid descriptions provided by memorable voices. First Wyatt, who seems almost touched in the head as he stops to check into what he thinks might be an injured animal, dismayed and torn when he finds out its a girl surrounded by a circle of dandelions. He's not trusted, and the folks in town are likely to blame whatever happened to this girl on him.

The next part of the story is told by a woman who had been Wyatt's girlfriend once, was in an accident that left her with a prosthetic leg, and now is a cop in a police department brooded over by the memory of her cop father. She wants to keep the girl Wyatt found safe, and she wants to find out what happened to Wyatt's sister, who disappeared years earlier. Then we get the voice of the girl who was surrounded by dandelions, committed to finding out what happened to another missing woman.

Like I say, more mythic than realistic, more Gothic than gritty, but all told with a rich, lovely use of language and setting. Cross that disbelief suspension bridge and enjoy the work of a really gifted storyteller.

I was so excited to read this book since I really loved Black-Eyed Susans. Julia Heaberlin's writing style draws you in immediately. The descriptive way she writes makes you feel as if you are right in the story too. I started reading the first page and didn't put the book down until I finished. We Are All the Same in the Dark is an atmospheric mystery that was filled with tension and twists. The characters are all flawed, which adds a depth to this mystery.

Two girls, one missing for many years, another one found but not talking. The young girl that is found is surrounded by dandelions. A man named Wyatt finds her and sees her as a sign from God. Wyatt is the brother of the missing girl; Trumanell. Dandelions play a significant role for Wyatt and he sees this as a bad omen. Wyatt calls the girl Angel. She doesn't speak and she is missing her eye. Officer Odette takes 'Angel' to her cousin's house to make sure she stays safe. Odette is haunted by the disappearance of Tru and won't sleep until she figures out what happened to her. She begins working both cases, in secret, to find out the mystery for both girls. She wants justice for both of them and stops at nothing to make sure she gets it. She begins digging deeper into the past, pulling up darkness and memories to the surface. Someone doesn't want the answers out though and, they too, will stop and nothing.

I definitely recommend this book! It is such a great slow-burning mystery with a twist that I didn't see coming.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this ARC.

This book starts with Wyatt finding a girl on the side of the road surrounded by dandelions. He lost his sister 10 years ago and has always been suspected of her murder. Odette is Wyatt's high school girlfriend and now police detective who is bound and determined to solve the mystery of Wyatt's missing sister.

There are many twists and turns throughout the story. I thought it got a little unbelievable as we got to the end of the book, but still a great read that kept you guessing until the end.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of the book for an honest review.

☆☆☆☆ | Haunting. Eerie. Addictive.

This was such a wonderful novel. I went into this reading experience completely blind, having requested the ARC based on the cover alone which usually never works out for me, but in this case it totally did.

From the very first chapter--scratch that, the very first epilogue--I was hooked. The plot was intriguing, and the characters and their narration voices roped me in right away. The writing style was also surprisingly enjoyable, and was exactly the type of prose that I love.

Although I was initially very confused and struggled to get my barrings with all of the characters and past plot lines and backstory being thrown at me, I soon got myself settled into the story. Once I was able to wrap my head around everything, I fell head over heels for every single character. They each had such depth to them, and they were all written to feel exactly like a real person should. I enjoyed how the story was told in alternating points of view, but still gave you the time to adapt to each character and become close to them. The switches in narration flowed well and never felt jarring.

I adored the relationships that were formed, and the setting was written up beautifully. The novel as a whole was a very quiet, eerie read that didn't necessary lack action, but stayed realistic and didn't get to feel too over the top. There were definitely several instances whilst reading that my heart was literally racing, and I could not stop reading until I found out how everything would end.

As for how it actually ended, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little bit disappointed. I felt like everything was wrapped up too quickly and not enough was left up to the reader's imagination. That is, of course, a preference thing but it was worth mentioning. There were also a few typos here and there, but I'm sure they'll be fixed in the final proof.

Thank you again NetGalley for giving me this ARC, I cannot wait to get my hands on the physical copy when it comes out in August.


You can also read this review on my blog here: https://lethethereader.wordpress.com/2020/05/01/book-review-we-are-all-the-same-in-the-dark-by-julia-heaberlin/
On my blog I post reviews for the books I read the day I finish them, as well as compile posts about the books I plan to read, have loved, and really everything else bookish!

thanks so much for the ARC. I love her books, her character, so different from my life but become so much a part of me. deep, gutsy, flawed, determined woman. this book had many layered mysteries and mid stream struck a blow and changed the main characters voice to another. her writing is full of strong images, poetic words and haunting images

** spoiler alert **

I read everything but sometimes it's hard for me to get into a thriller, i guess too much SVU, Criminal minds watching. But. This. Book.
This book hooked me from the first chapter. I could not put it down and finished it in two days. I needed to know who the killer was especially since the crimes are years apart.

A disappearance of a Teen girl, and her dad
The brother is blamed by the whole town
The brother's girlfriend loses a leg in an automobile accident.

Years later we have
The brother who is an outcast in the town
Ex girlfriend now a cop
a Teenage girl found by the highway by said outcast brother

years later we have
Teenage girl now an adult (18 years old)
A brother still an outcast
an Ex-girlfriend cop who disappeared (a couple of days after teenage girl was found)

This book was epic.

We Are All The Same In The Dark was absolutely captivating from start to finish. Almost 10 years ago, a popular young girl goes missing in an. small Texas town, and fingers point at the girl’s brother. Now, the brother finds a girl in a field by his house, and the once cold case heats up. The story is masterfully told by author Julia Heaberlin, whose previous book, Black Eyed Susans, I thought was one of the best thrillers of the year. This book is just as good. Great characters who are developed artfully, strong storylines, and some gut-wrenching moments make this a “must read”. After reading so many run of the mill thrillers, it’s a pleasure to read a book written so well, that you’re sorry to see it end. A resounding 5 stars. I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through @NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

We Are all the Same in the Dark is one TENSE read and I was gripping the pages for hours! Julia Heaberlin is an excellent writer and has brought out the best of her writing ability with this one! I can't wait for me!

“We are all the same in the dark...in the dark, all that’s left is our souls.”

This one got to me. I can’t often say that about a mystery, but this slow-burning story sucked me in and spit me out.

This wasn’t a book that you read because you just want to know whodunnit, but a book you read because its captivating, suspenseful, and heart-wrenching. The characters grab you and don’t let you go as the author weaves their stories together to create something equally beautiful and devastating. The author’s poetic writing draws you in, and her intricate character building with the different POVs keeps you invested until the end.

A young one-eyed girl is found lying in a bed of dandelions by an unstable man Wyatt Branson. Wyatt suspects the girl is a sign, one that will reopen old wounds and reignite the town’s desire for justice in an unsolved case. 10 years prior the town sweetheart, Trumanell Branson, disappeared leaving a bloody handprint behind. Most of the residents suspected murder, and although cleared of all charges, her brother Wyatt was a primary suspect. Police officer Odette Tucker resolves to save this girl something she was unable to do for her friend Tru that fateful night. Determined to solve both cases, Odette soon discovers some secrets are intended to stay buried.

All the stars!! We Are All the Same in the Dark is a fantastic psychological thriller set in a small town where three women touched by tragedy find themselves connected in fate. I absolutely love Julia Heaberlin's novels and was so excited to get my wish granted for this ARC. She knows how to write disturbing characters that will have you questioning their motives and capabilities right up until the end. This novel was no exception and I constantly found myself questioning Wyatt's sanity and capability to commit murder. I also enjoyed Odette's character as she is constantly torn between duty and desire. Angel, the one-eyed girl also plays a pivotal role in connecting the past and present. I could not put this novel down and had to find out how it ended. I will say that I had an idea about how events would play out but there were also some really great twists I didn't see coming. Julia Heaberlin is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors and this one is a must read for 2020!