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We Are All the Same in the Dark
The discovery of a girl abandoned by the side of the road threatens to unearth the long-buried secrets of a Texas town's legendary cold case in this superb, atmospheric novel from the internationally bestselling author of Black-Eyed Susans.
It's been a decade since Trumanell Branson disappeared, leaving only a bloody handprint behind. Her pretty face still hangs like a watchful queen on the posters on the walls of the town's Baptist church, the police station, and in the high school. They all promise the same thing: We will find you. Meanwhile, her brother, Wyatt, lives as a pariah in the desolation of the old family house, cleared of wrongdoing by the police but tried and sentenced in the court of public opinion and in a new documentary about the crime.
When Wyatt finds a lost girl dumped in a field of dandelions, making silent wishes, he believes she is a sign. The town's youngest cop, Odette Tucker, believes she is a catalyst that will ignite a seething town still waiting for its own missing girl to come home. But Odette can't look away. She shares a wound that won't close with the mute, one-eyed mystery girl. And she is haunted by her own history with the missing Tru.
Desperate to solve both cases, Odette fights to save the lost girl in the present and to dig up the shocking truth about a fateful night in the past--the night her friend disappeared, the night that inspired her to become a cop, the night that wrote them all a role in the town's dark, violent mythology.
In this twisty psychological thriller, Julia Heaberlin paints unforgettable portraits of a woman and a girl who redefine perceptions of physical beauty and strength.
It's been a decade since Trumanell Branson disappeared, leaving only a bloody handprint behind. Her pretty face still hangs like a watchful queen on the posters on the walls of the town's Baptist church, the police station, and in the high school. They all promise the same thing: We will find you. Meanwhile, her brother, Wyatt, lives as a pariah in the desolation of the old family house, cleared of wrongdoing by the police but tried and sentenced in the court of public opinion and in a new documentary about the crime.
When Wyatt finds a lost girl dumped in a field of dandelions, making silent wishes, he believes she is a sign. The town's youngest cop, Odette Tucker, believes she is a catalyst that will ignite a seething town still waiting for its own missing girl to come home. But Odette can't look away. She shares a wound that won't close with the mute, one-eyed mystery girl. And she is haunted by her own history with the missing Tru.
Desperate to solve both cases, Odette fights to save the lost girl in the present and to dig up the shocking truth about a fateful night in the past--the night her friend disappeared, the night that inspired her to become a cop, the night that wrote them all a role in the town's dark, violent mythology.
In this twisty psychological thriller, Julia Heaberlin paints unforgettable portraits of a woman and a girl who redefine perceptions of physical beauty and strength.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published August 11, 2020
About the author
Julia Heaberlin
7 books2,397 followersJulia Heaberlin is the internationally bestselling writer of six thrillers, including WE ARE ALL THE SAME IN THE DARK, a #1 Audible bestseller and the winner of Best Novel by the Writers’ League of Texas. In her latest thriller, NIGHT WILL FIND YOU, an astrophysicist and reluctant psychic explores the controversial, conspiracy-laden case of a lost girl. Heaberlin first broke out with the psychologically dark BLACK-EYED SUSANS, which examines the Texas death penalty and the use of high-tech DNA to identify old bones. SUSANS was published in more than fifteen countries and a top five Times of London bestseller. Heaberlin followed that with the creepy Texas road trip, PAPER GHOSTS, a finalist for Best Hardcover Novel by the International Thriller Writers Awards that has also been optioned for television. Earlier in her career, Heaberlin was an award-winning editor at newspapers that include the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, The Detroit News, and The Dallas Morning News. She is currently at work on her seventh thriller and lives in Texas, where all her novels are set under its big (and sometimes creepy) sky.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,643 reviews
May 21, 2023
A creepy, nerve bending, slow-burn mystery about two girls: one is missing for a decade and the other one is found but we don’t know her identity, her secret past and why she is found in the middle of the road.
Three POVED narration, dark, cryptic, intense, high tensioned small town mystery reminds you of tango between True Detective and Fargo (a little Twin Peaks vibes included). Quirky, traumatized characters, slow dramatic story building and surprising, heart wrenching ending.
The main characters and narrators: Wyatt who is still prime suspect of her sister Trumanell Branson’s disappearance a decade ago. Most of the town’s people already convicted him as guilty in their minds which put him isolated life at his parent’s house for years. His forced quarantined life completely changes when he finds a mute young girl, Angel dumped in a field of dandelions. Wyatt believes that is the sign he has been waiting for a long time. He connects with the younger member of the police department Odette Tucker who is also friend of his lost sister and she is the only person still believes in his innocence about the case.
Odette is our third POV, already obsessed with the sudden disappearance of her friend by leaving a bloody fingertip behind. And she also shares a close connection and sacred bound with the mute girl. So she gets volunteered to solve both cases at the same time which means opening town’s Pandora box ( or can of worms) bringing out dirty secrets which may threaten people’s lives consisted of lies and pretending. And when it comes to the secrets about the mute girl’s story, things are getting more complicated and shocking at each chapter. I have to stop here not to give any spoilers but her part of the story was the juiciest part of the book.
Overall: This book needs your patience and attention. I had really hard time to get into the story and fully focus on the writing. And slowness made me lose interest. I gave some breaks and tried reading again and before reaching the middle, I was already hooked and connected with characters. I recommend you to keep your patience and not to give up on this book. It takes a little time and the beginning was a little rough patch for me but later you’d get used to the pacing, characterization and the mystery blows your mind so you don’t want to leave it and keep reading.
I’m giving my four stars and adding other books of the author because her dark, depressive but also skilled slow building story-telling technique and detailed, well-depicted characterization already won my die hard thriller lover mind!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine Books for sharing this splendid ARC with me in exchange my honest review.
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Three POVED narration, dark, cryptic, intense, high tensioned small town mystery reminds you of tango between True Detective and Fargo (a little Twin Peaks vibes included). Quirky, traumatized characters, slow dramatic story building and surprising, heart wrenching ending.
The main characters and narrators: Wyatt who is still prime suspect of her sister Trumanell Branson’s disappearance a decade ago. Most of the town’s people already convicted him as guilty in their minds which put him isolated life at his parent’s house for years. His forced quarantined life completely changes when he finds a mute young girl, Angel dumped in a field of dandelions. Wyatt believes that is the sign he has been waiting for a long time. He connects with the younger member of the police department Odette Tucker who is also friend of his lost sister and she is the only person still believes in his innocence about the case.
Odette is our third POV, already obsessed with the sudden disappearance of her friend by leaving a bloody fingertip behind. And she also shares a close connection and sacred bound with the mute girl. So she gets volunteered to solve both cases at the same time which means opening town’s Pandora box ( or can of worms) bringing out dirty secrets which may threaten people’s lives consisted of lies and pretending. And when it comes to the secrets about the mute girl’s story, things are getting more complicated and shocking at each chapter. I have to stop here not to give any spoilers but her part of the story was the juiciest part of the book.
Overall: This book needs your patience and attention. I had really hard time to get into the story and fully focus on the writing. And slowness made me lose interest. I gave some breaks and tried reading again and before reaching the middle, I was already hooked and connected with characters. I recommend you to keep your patience and not to give up on this book. It takes a little time and the beginning was a little rough patch for me but later you’d get used to the pacing, characterization and the mystery blows your mind so you don’t want to leave it and keep reading.
I’m giving my four stars and adding other books of the author because her dark, depressive but also skilled slow building story-telling technique and detailed, well-depicted characterization already won my die hard thriller lover mind!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine Books for sharing this splendid ARC with me in exchange my honest review.
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August 11, 2020
We Are All the Same in the Dark gives us a story from three perspectives. First we see things through the eyes of twenty six year old Wyatt, when he finds a one eyed girl on the side of the road. Wyatt has an extremely troubled and violent background and he knows that his world will explode worse than it already has, if he is found with this girl. During Wyatt's, too short for me, section of the book, we also meet Trumanell, his beloved older sister, who he talks to while tending to the girl.
The next part of the book is seen through the eyes of twenty six year old Odette, daughter of a late police officer, now a police officer herself, in the same small town where her dad ruled and where Wyatt lives. Odette and Wyatt grew up together and loved each other, maybe still do, but they were torn apart by events when they were sixteen. There was a night of violence when Odette lost her leg after crashing her truck, after Wyatt told her to flee his house, Trumanell and her abusive father disappeared, and later, Wyatt was found in a maddened state at a nearby lake. After time in a mental institution, Wyatt came back to live in the family home, forever a pariah, being blamed for the death of missing Trumanell. Odette is strong and resourceful and filled with guilt and suspicion about that night and the fact that her friend Trumanell has never been found. She even wonders if her father did something bad to Trumanell and knows she can't trust any of the men in this town. I had such hopes for Odette, hopes that she would reunite with her estranged husband, that she would be able to help the one eyed girl after Wyatt reached out to her for help, that she might be able to break the ten year old case of what happened to Trumanell. But Odette's searching for answers upsets the wrong person and she too goes missing.
Five years later we see the story from the eyes of Angel, the one eyed girl whose life was changed by the help and attention that Odette gave to her in the few days that they knew each other. Angel is eighteen now, ready to start college on a full scholarship but first, she wants to find out what happened to Odette. Her outlook on life has been colored in a good way by what Odette left her, six strong words that describe them both, and she will use what she knows and her resourcefulness to find Odette and who made her disappear. Angel is the only thing that makes the darkness in the book bearable for me but she's walking right into that darkness, riling it up, and the bleakness of this land, people, and story make it very likely that Angel might be a third woman to go missing in this sad, violent tale.
Almost everyone in this story seems to be hiding something or they are confessing to things that might not even be true. Odette shows Angel her value and despite Angel's devastating past, Angel takes what she gets from Odette and makes something of her life. With this story, we can only hope that Angel's curiosity and desire to set things right, doesn't cause her to fall into the same violent hole that swallowed Trumanell and Odette.
Publication: August 11th 2020
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for this ARC.
The next part of the book is seen through the eyes of twenty six year old Odette, daughter of a late police officer, now a police officer herself, in the same small town where her dad ruled and where Wyatt lives. Odette and Wyatt grew up together and loved each other, maybe still do, but they were torn apart by events when they were sixteen. There was a night of violence when Odette lost her leg after crashing her truck, after Wyatt told her to flee his house, Trumanell and her abusive father disappeared, and later, Wyatt was found in a maddened state at a nearby lake. After time in a mental institution, Wyatt came back to live in the family home, forever a pariah, being blamed for the death of missing Trumanell. Odette is strong and resourceful and filled with guilt and suspicion about that night and the fact that her friend Trumanell has never been found. She even wonders if her father did something bad to Trumanell and knows she can't trust any of the men in this town. I had such hopes for Odette, hopes that she would reunite with her estranged husband, that she would be able to help the one eyed girl after Wyatt reached out to her for help, that she might be able to break the ten year old case of what happened to Trumanell. But Odette's searching for answers upsets the wrong person and she too goes missing.
Five years later we see the story from the eyes of Angel, the one eyed girl whose life was changed by the help and attention that Odette gave to her in the few days that they knew each other. Angel is eighteen now, ready to start college on a full scholarship but first, she wants to find out what happened to Odette. Her outlook on life has been colored in a good way by what Odette left her, six strong words that describe them both, and she will use what she knows and her resourcefulness to find Odette and who made her disappear. Angel is the only thing that makes the darkness in the book bearable for me but she's walking right into that darkness, riling it up, and the bleakness of this land, people, and story make it very likely that Angel might be a third woman to go missing in this sad, violent tale.
Almost everyone in this story seems to be hiding something or they are confessing to things that might not even be true. Odette shows Angel her value and despite Angel's devastating past, Angel takes what she gets from Odette and makes something of her life. With this story, we can only hope that Angel's curiosity and desire to set things right, doesn't cause her to fall into the same violent hole that swallowed Trumanell and Odette.
Publication: August 11th 2020
Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for this ARC.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 11, 2020
***HAPPY PUBLICATION DAY***
This novel was described as atmospheric and with a gothic feel and I will agree with that. The prose is beautifully written and the story is a good one. I did, however, have some problems with it which I will outline later.
The novel is told from three points of view. The first is that of Wyatt, a young man who was involved in a horrific crime but was found innocent by the court. However this small town in Texas does not agree with those findings. They think that Wyatt is guilty in some way in the disappearance of his sister Trumanelle and his father. They have made him live as a recluse in the family home, certain that he is not only mentally ill but a murderer. He is spurned by everyone in the town except for the young police officer Odette.
As the book opens he is driving home and finds a young girl, injured, lying in a circle of dandelions. Dandelions have a special significance for Wyatt and he feels this is God’s way of telling him to help this girl. He takes her to his home and calls Odette, the only police officer that he trusts.
Second point of view is Odette’s .Odette was also involved in the incident ten years ago, in fact losing her leg in a terrible accident after fleeing Wyatt’s home on the night in question. She has returned, along with her Chicago lawyer husband to find out the truth of what happened that night. She and Trumanelle were friends when they were young. Unfortunately this determination to solve the case will come at a great cost to her.
Odette is then drawn into the case of who the young mute woman is because Wyatt reaches out to her for help. She is now determined to solve the mystery of who she is and whom she may be running from.
The last point of view is that of Angel, given this name by Wyatt when he found her and she was mute. He thought she looked like an angel lying in the dandelions.
This last viewpoint is 5 years later which makes for some very confusing reading. This is the part of the book that will reveal all and the ending was one I didn’t see coming. It was a strong ending although difficult to believe that some men can be so wicked.
I had significant problems with this book. I had to reread the first part of the book more than once to get a handle on what was exactly happening. Wyatt is an unreliable narrator with mental health issues and deep sorrow for his lost sister. He’s a confusing historian that’s for sure.
Odette’s point of view was interesting but she seemed to be going in so many directions. It was hard to believe she could even function on little sleep and not much support. She doesn’t trust anyone, not even her partner, Rusty.
By the third point of view I was beginning to tire of the repetition of the story. I did enjoy this section the most because it finally gives us hope of a satisfying conclusion. I was ready for the ending when it came and it was a good close.
This is definitely a very slow burn of a mystery and I lost patience with it at times. I think it’s a good story but be sure to set aside a good amount of time to stay focused on what is going on.
This was a buddy read with CeeCee and I thank her for helping me get through some confusing sections.
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley.
This novel was described as atmospheric and with a gothic feel and I will agree with that. The prose is beautifully written and the story is a good one. I did, however, have some problems with it which I will outline later.
The novel is told from three points of view. The first is that of Wyatt, a young man who was involved in a horrific crime but was found innocent by the court. However this small town in Texas does not agree with those findings. They think that Wyatt is guilty in some way in the disappearance of his sister Trumanelle and his father. They have made him live as a recluse in the family home, certain that he is not only mentally ill but a murderer. He is spurned by everyone in the town except for the young police officer Odette.
As the book opens he is driving home and finds a young girl, injured, lying in a circle of dandelions. Dandelions have a special significance for Wyatt and he feels this is God’s way of telling him to help this girl. He takes her to his home and calls Odette, the only police officer that he trusts.
Second point of view is Odette’s .Odette was also involved in the incident ten years ago, in fact losing her leg in a terrible accident after fleeing Wyatt’s home on the night in question. She has returned, along with her Chicago lawyer husband to find out the truth of what happened that night. She and Trumanelle were friends when they were young. Unfortunately this determination to solve the case will come at a great cost to her.
Odette is then drawn into the case of who the young mute woman is because Wyatt reaches out to her for help. She is now determined to solve the mystery of who she is and whom she may be running from.
The last point of view is that of Angel, given this name by Wyatt when he found her and she was mute. He thought she looked like an angel lying in the dandelions.
This last viewpoint is 5 years later which makes for some very confusing reading. This is the part of the book that will reveal all and the ending was one I didn’t see coming. It was a strong ending although difficult to believe that some men can be so wicked.
I had significant problems with this book. I had to reread the first part of the book more than once to get a handle on what was exactly happening. Wyatt is an unreliable narrator with mental health issues and deep sorrow for his lost sister. He’s a confusing historian that’s for sure.
Odette’s point of view was interesting but she seemed to be going in so many directions. It was hard to believe she could even function on little sleep and not much support. She doesn’t trust anyone, not even her partner, Rusty.
By the third point of view I was beginning to tire of the repetition of the story. I did enjoy this section the most because it finally gives us hope of a satisfying conclusion. I was ready for the ending when it came and it was a good close.
This is definitely a very slow burn of a mystery and I lost patience with it at times. I think it’s a good story but be sure to set aside a good amount of time to stay focused on what is going on.
This was a buddy read with CeeCee and I thank her for helping me get through some confusing sections.
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley.
December 27, 2021
I went into this book expecting to enjoy it based on the high number of positive reviews. And it was ok. But I also found it needlessly confusing. And I didn’t really relate to either of the main characters.
It starts with an interesting premise. Trumenell and her father both went missing in 2005. The police initially suspect her brother, but he is never charged. Odette, Trumenell’s best friend, has a car accident that same night and loses her leg. Now, it’s ten years later and she’s a police officer just like her father. Wyatt, Trumenell’ brother, finds a one eyed girl on the side of the road and turns her over to Odette.
Five years later, it’s Odette who’s missing and the story is being told from the viewpoint of Angie, the one eyed girl.
I am definitely in the minority on this one. But I found it slow and lacking in true suspense. The ending was decent, and took me by surprise, but it was too little, too late. It also felt almost anti-climatic. Another reviewer used the word ‘disjointed’, which I found the perfect description.
The three narrators were all good.
I wasn’t a big fan of Paper Ghosts either and I’m thinking Heaberlin and I just aren’t a good fit.
It starts with an interesting premise. Trumenell and her father both went missing in 2005. The police initially suspect her brother, but he is never charged. Odette, Trumenell’s best friend, has a car accident that same night and loses her leg. Now, it’s ten years later and she’s a police officer just like her father. Wyatt, Trumenell’ brother, finds a one eyed girl on the side of the road and turns her over to Odette.
Five years later, it’s Odette who’s missing and the story is being told from the viewpoint of Angie, the one eyed girl.
I am definitely in the minority on this one. But I found it slow and lacking in true suspense. The ending was decent, and took me by surprise, but it was too little, too late. It also felt almost anti-climatic. Another reviewer used the word ‘disjointed’, which I found the perfect description.
The three narrators were all good.
I wasn’t a big fan of Paper Ghosts either and I’m thinking Heaberlin and I just aren’t a good fit.
December 28, 2021
We are all the Same in the Dark by Julia Heaberlin is a 2021 Ballantine Books publication.
One fateful night, that would go down in infamy, Trumanell Branson and her father disappeared. Trumanell's brother, Wyatt, was found wandering around, out of his mind, and ended up institutionalized for years.
On that same night, Wyatt’s girlfriend, Odette, who also happened to be the police chief’s daughter, was in a horrendous car accident that resulted in a leg amputation.
Now Wyatt lives alone, talking to the ghost of Tumanell, and Odette has followed in her father’s footsteps.
When Wyatt finds a girl, with a missing eye, on the side of the road, who can’t or won’t speak, instead of calling the police, he assigns her the name ‘Angel’ and takes her home.
Eventually, Odette gets involved determined to help ‘Angel’, while she also works diligently to discover what really happened to Trumanell all those years ago.
While the town is convinced Wyatt is responsible, Odette isn’t convinced, but the truth may not set her free…
This is an extremely absorbing novel. It’s atmospheric, and very intense!
I added this book because I noticed some reviews mentioned it had a ‘Gothic’ feel to it. I’m a little wary of that sometimes, because what some people call ‘Gothic’ is a bit of a stretch, but yes, this book most definitely has that quality to it, and I loved it!!
I think the foreboding, the inability to trust anyone, and the way the author built the anticipation, is what kept me sitting on the edge of my seat.
But Hearberlin also put in a great deal of detail about living life as an amputee, and it’s obvious she did her homework, something I really appreciated.
Overall, this is my kind of Mystery/Suspense! I know it may have been a slow burn for some people, but it was the slow build that added all that delicious suspense and apprehension and the ‘Gothic feel’ everyone was gushing about. Sometimes good things come to those who wait…
4 stars
One fateful night, that would go down in infamy, Trumanell Branson and her father disappeared. Trumanell's brother, Wyatt, was found wandering around, out of his mind, and ended up institutionalized for years.
On that same night, Wyatt’s girlfriend, Odette, who also happened to be the police chief’s daughter, was in a horrendous car accident that resulted in a leg amputation.
Now Wyatt lives alone, talking to the ghost of Tumanell, and Odette has followed in her father’s footsteps.
When Wyatt finds a girl, with a missing eye, on the side of the road, who can’t or won’t speak, instead of calling the police, he assigns her the name ‘Angel’ and takes her home.
Eventually, Odette gets involved determined to help ‘Angel’, while she also works diligently to discover what really happened to Trumanell all those years ago.
While the town is convinced Wyatt is responsible, Odette isn’t convinced, but the truth may not set her free…
This is an extremely absorbing novel. It’s atmospheric, and very intense!
I added this book because I noticed some reviews mentioned it had a ‘Gothic’ feel to it. I’m a little wary of that sometimes, because what some people call ‘Gothic’ is a bit of a stretch, but yes, this book most definitely has that quality to it, and I loved it!!
I think the foreboding, the inability to trust anyone, and the way the author built the anticipation, is what kept me sitting on the edge of my seat.
But Hearberlin also put in a great deal of detail about living life as an amputee, and it’s obvious she did her homework, something I really appreciated.
Overall, this is my kind of Mystery/Suspense! I know it may have been a slow burn for some people, but it was the slow build that added all that delicious suspense and apprehension and the ‘Gothic feel’ everyone was gushing about. Sometimes good things come to those who wait…
4 stars
July 3, 2020
Like a Texas drawl this story develops slowly with tiny drops of suspense ...
Shortest Summary Ever: Small town Texas cop Odette Tucker has never been able to escape what happened 10 yrs ago - the disappearance of Trumanell Branson (that name is soooo Texas), the most popular girl-next-door-best-thing-since-sliced-white-bread. Posters still scream for the return of the town’s princess. All eyes (and gossip) have pointed at Wyatt, Trumanell’s brother. And he’s just discovered a strange one-eyed girl sitting in a field, alone. What does he know? What does Odette know? Secrets... secrets... everywhere.
My Thoughts: Don’t expect a fast-paced thriller. This is a book to be sipped slowly like sweet tea with lingering melting ice cubes. But this tea IS served with a side of intrigue and some darn good writing. For me, it unfolded a tad TOO slowly, but the characters were vivid and the writing downright prosaic at times - not what I’m used to in the mystery genre but a writing style I immensely enjoyed. This is why I try not to put too much stock in descriptions- better with no expectations!
All my reviews available at scrappymags.com
Genre: Mystery/Contemporary fiction
Recommend to: If you’re in the mood for a slow moving mystery, Texas style with a contemporary fiction edge.
Not recommended to: if you’re in the mood for fast and gripping.
Thank you to the author Julia Heaberlin, Random House Ballantine, and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my always-honest review.
Shortest Summary Ever: Small town Texas cop Odette Tucker has never been able to escape what happened 10 yrs ago - the disappearance of Trumanell Branson (that name is soooo Texas), the most popular girl-next-door-best-thing-since-sliced-white-bread. Posters still scream for the return of the town’s princess. All eyes (and gossip) have pointed at Wyatt, Trumanell’s brother. And he’s just discovered a strange one-eyed girl sitting in a field, alone. What does he know? What does Odette know? Secrets... secrets... everywhere.
My Thoughts: Don’t expect a fast-paced thriller. This is a book to be sipped slowly like sweet tea with lingering melting ice cubes. But this tea IS served with a side of intrigue and some darn good writing. For me, it unfolded a tad TOO slowly, but the characters were vivid and the writing downright prosaic at times - not what I’m used to in the mystery genre but a writing style I immensely enjoyed. This is why I try not to put too much stock in descriptions- better with no expectations!
All my reviews available at scrappymags.com
Genre: Mystery/Contemporary fiction
Recommend to: If you’re in the mood for a slow moving mystery, Texas style with a contemporary fiction edge.
Not recommended to: if you’re in the mood for fast and gripping.
Thank you to the author Julia Heaberlin, Random House Ballantine, and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my always-honest review.
July 31, 2020
We have an ol' proverb here in Texas: "When you throw dirt, you lose ground."
Julia Heaberlin creates an atmosphere of grit, growl, and the pointy end of a jagged stick. That's West Texas where arguments and grudges are settled one way or another. The end result doesn't always face the sun kindly in the morning.
People go missing for a number of reasons. They hit the highway or the highway hits them. Young Trumanell Branson was the town's sweet child of beauty and grace. The school girls all tried to emulate her tightly drawn bun at the back of her neck and her penchant for all things glitter. But out of the blue, Trumanell and her daddy Frank failed to show themselves in town. A search party covered every inch of the Branson ranch with no results. Not a stray hair or a particle of glitter.
Wyatt, Trumanell's older brother, was taken down to the station and grilled and grilled. It was Wyatt who was found down by the lake in a trance-like state. He's never been the same. Something happened that night that only Wyatt knows. Unfortunately, the truth hides in little corners in a shuttered mind.
Heaberlin introduces us to Odette Tucker, a rookie cop who comes from a long line of police officers. Her father was the Chief of Police, in fact. Big boots to fill for a diminutive young woman. But Odette has been following the Trumanell case for years without a nugget of proof. There's a connection between her and Wyatt from long ago. And Odette is persistent to a fault.
But it's Wyatt who comes across a young girl unconscious in a field. She's surrounded in a circle of dandelions. Wyatt brings her to his ranch. The girl refuses to utter a word. He calls her Angel. Odette will become involved. And Angel will take this storyline to an unexpected level with an aftermath like a Texas Tornado.
We Are All the Same in the Dark is a WoW of a story. It is highly character driven. Heaberlin gets beneath the skin and reveals the tender spots that make us painfully human. She has a magic touch, as she did in Black-Eyed Susans, for lifting the veil and uncovering the things that we all try to hide behind: Physical imperfections and the weight of emotional baggage. (Read the Author's Notes at the end) This starts with a slow burn until the flame ignites at the end. Here's a Texas dare. You can't help but fall into the tall grass that entangles Angel. Guar-o-teed.....
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Ballantine Books/Random House and to Julia Heaberlin.
Julia Heaberlin creates an atmosphere of grit, growl, and the pointy end of a jagged stick. That's West Texas where arguments and grudges are settled one way or another. The end result doesn't always face the sun kindly in the morning.
People go missing for a number of reasons. They hit the highway or the highway hits them. Young Trumanell Branson was the town's sweet child of beauty and grace. The school girls all tried to emulate her tightly drawn bun at the back of her neck and her penchant for all things glitter. But out of the blue, Trumanell and her daddy Frank failed to show themselves in town. A search party covered every inch of the Branson ranch with no results. Not a stray hair or a particle of glitter.
Wyatt, Trumanell's older brother, was taken down to the station and grilled and grilled. It was Wyatt who was found down by the lake in a trance-like state. He's never been the same. Something happened that night that only Wyatt knows. Unfortunately, the truth hides in little corners in a shuttered mind.
Heaberlin introduces us to Odette Tucker, a rookie cop who comes from a long line of police officers. Her father was the Chief of Police, in fact. Big boots to fill for a diminutive young woman. But Odette has been following the Trumanell case for years without a nugget of proof. There's a connection between her and Wyatt from long ago. And Odette is persistent to a fault.
But it's Wyatt who comes across a young girl unconscious in a field. She's surrounded in a circle of dandelions. Wyatt brings her to his ranch. The girl refuses to utter a word. He calls her Angel. Odette will become involved. And Angel will take this storyline to an unexpected level with an aftermath like a Texas Tornado.
We Are All the Same in the Dark is a WoW of a story. It is highly character driven. Heaberlin gets beneath the skin and reveals the tender spots that make us painfully human. She has a magic touch, as she did in Black-Eyed Susans, for lifting the veil and uncovering the things that we all try to hide behind: Physical imperfections and the weight of emotional baggage. (Read the Author's Notes at the end) This starts with a slow burn until the flame ignites at the end. Here's a Texas dare. You can't help but fall into the tall grass that entangles Angel. Guar-o-teed.....
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Ballantine Books/Random House and to Julia Heaberlin.
August 15, 2020
When Wyatt Branson finds a young girl abandoned in a field just beyond the barbed wire, multiple thoughts race through his head. She’s lying in a circle of broken dandelions. Besides being extremely sunburnt, he also realizes that she only has one eye...and that she doesn’t talk.
Odette Tucker is the youngest cop in this small Texas town. When she gets word that Wyatt was seen with a young girl, she investigates. Ten years ago, Wyatt’s sister, Trumanell, disappeared under mysterious circumstances. Odette was dating Wyatt at the time. She finds herself absorbed with the girl with one eye, and decides that she is going to do her best to solve the current mystery...along with the mystery of Trumanell’s disappearance. Odette is aware that Wyatt was a suspect in the disappearance of his sister, but digging into these mysteries may result in a dangerous and deadly end.
This book starts as a slow burn. I know that’s not always a good thing. If you read my reviews, you’ll know that it’s ALSO not always a bad thing. I was intrigued pretty much from the beginning. Author Julia Heaberlin dangles carrots in front of us bunnies...slowly but methodically. I was thinking this would be a solid 3 until halfway through...when things really ramped up in ways I didn’t anticipate. I’ve seen mixed reviews, so I will say if you are not enjoying it at first, it’s worth it to soldier on. I have mixed feelings regarding the ending. I think it was a bit rushed, and I’m still wrapping my head around it. However, all three POVs were fantastic, and the acknowledgements from the author are worth reading as well.
Thank you to Julia Heaberlin, Ballantine Books, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Odette Tucker is the youngest cop in this small Texas town. When she gets word that Wyatt was seen with a young girl, she investigates. Ten years ago, Wyatt’s sister, Trumanell, disappeared under mysterious circumstances. Odette was dating Wyatt at the time. She finds herself absorbed with the girl with one eye, and decides that she is going to do her best to solve the current mystery...along with the mystery of Trumanell’s disappearance. Odette is aware that Wyatt was a suspect in the disappearance of his sister, but digging into these mysteries may result in a dangerous and deadly end.
This book starts as a slow burn. I know that’s not always a good thing. If you read my reviews, you’ll know that it’s ALSO not always a bad thing. I was intrigued pretty much from the beginning. Author Julia Heaberlin dangles carrots in front of us bunnies...slowly but methodically. I was thinking this would be a solid 3 until halfway through...when things really ramped up in ways I didn’t anticipate. I’ve seen mixed reviews, so I will say if you are not enjoying it at first, it’s worth it to soldier on. I have mixed feelings regarding the ending. I think it was a bit rushed, and I’m still wrapping my head around it. However, all three POVs were fantastic, and the acknowledgements from the author are worth reading as well.
Thank you to Julia Heaberlin, Ballantine Books, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 8, 2021
This passed the time but I spent too many of my listening hours rolling my eyes or sighing in disappointment.
Mostly, I was left asking, "Ok, but...why?"
Why dandelions?
Why did both Odette and Angel spend so much time defining themselves to themselves through their prosthetics, like they were reminding the reader by reminding themselves that one had lost a leg and the other only had one functional eye?
Why is the story bookended by two separate male voices, one that's integral and one that's completely unrelated?
Why didn't someone figure this mystery out sooner? Like maybe
What answers there were felt flat to me.
I see everyone else thinks this is pretty snazzy, all thrilling and suspenseful and dark. There's a very good chance I read this wrong and you will love it a lot more than I did.
Mostly, I was left asking, "Ok, but...why?"
Why dandelions?
Why did both Odette and Angel spend so much time defining themselves to themselves through their prosthetics, like they were reminding the reader by reminding themselves that one had lost a leg and the other only had one functional eye?
Why is the story bookended by two separate male voices, one that's integral and one that's completely unrelated?
Why didn't someone figure this mystery out sooner? Like maybe
What answers there were felt flat to me.
I see everyone else thinks this is pretty snazzy, all thrilling and suspenseful and dark. There's a very good chance I read this wrong and you will love it a lot more than I did.
May 26, 2023
I just finished Pay Dirt Road by Samantha Jayne Allen and was reminded of Julia Heaberlin's books -- like this pageturner from 2020. Don't miss Heaberlin's new release coming out in June of 2023: Night Will Find You
Kapow! This book packs a powerful punch. The three women in this book -- Trumanell, Odette, and Angel -- will remain with you even when you have closed the book. The list of words to describe them: tender, resilient, strong, resourceful, kind, and empathetic. Words that are handed down from a father to his daughter and from that daughter to a runaway. Those words will be treasured and help bring resolution for the town where the Blue House holds its secrets. That first line:
"She has a bad, bad mystery to her."
Read that -- and you are invested. You will not want to put this one down until the end. Beginning with "Lost" and ending with "Found." If you like this one and have not read the Naomi Cottle books by Rene Denefield, try those next.
Thank you to Ballantine Books and Edelweiss for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Kapow! This book packs a powerful punch. The three women in this book -- Trumanell, Odette, and Angel -- will remain with you even when you have closed the book. The list of words to describe them: tender, resilient, strong, resourceful, kind, and empathetic. Words that are handed down from a father to his daughter and from that daughter to a runaway. Those words will be treasured and help bring resolution for the town where the Blue House holds its secrets. That first line:
"She has a bad, bad mystery to her."
Read that -- and you are invested. You will not want to put this one down until the end. Beginning with "Lost" and ending with "Found." If you like this one and have not read the Naomi Cottle books by Rene Denefield, try those next.
Thank you to Ballantine Books and Edelweiss for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
June 16, 2021
“We are All the Same in the Dark” by Julia Heaberlin is a twisty thriller that occupied me for over ten hours. The audio is great, narrated by Jenna Lamia, Catherine Taber, MacLeod Andrews, and Kirby Heyborne.
The story takes place in rural Texas. The main characters are two women, Odette and Angel. Both women are strong, gritty, and determined. I do enjoy stories that center around resilient women.
A trucker finds a young teenage girl(Angel) in a ditch while he’s driving home from a long haul. This trucker, Wyatt, is a bit strange and definitely misunderstood. The character of Boo Radley in “To Kill a Mockingbird” came to my mind when imagining him. Wyatt’s sister and father went missing a decade earlier, and Wyatt was the only witness. The trauma of what happened the fatal night that his father and sister went missing rendered him to mental institution. The townsfolk believe he killed them both, even though there are no facts proving the theory.
Odette is a policewoman who is called because someone thinks Wyatt kidnapped a girl. Odette gets involved, trying to help the mute girl, Angel. Oh, and the girl has only one eye. Odette herself is an amputee, with a prosthetic leg. Heaberlin writes these two characters perfectly. The reader learns the difficulties each woman needed to overcome with their disabilities. These disabilities do not define them because they are resilient and strong.
As with all thrillers and mysteries, the plot is not able to be told without spoilers. This is a story about strong women characters who stop at nothing to find their missing friend and solving the mystery of what happened that fateful night. Angel’s story is one of courage, and we do learn how Angel lost her eye and Odette lost her leg.
The chapters are fairly short and leave with cliff hangers. I enjoy that style of writing, especially with thrillers. This is a good sold story for the genre with the added bonus of strong female characters.
The story takes place in rural Texas. The main characters are two women, Odette and Angel. Both women are strong, gritty, and determined. I do enjoy stories that center around resilient women.
A trucker finds a young teenage girl(Angel) in a ditch while he’s driving home from a long haul. This trucker, Wyatt, is a bit strange and definitely misunderstood. The character of Boo Radley in “To Kill a Mockingbird” came to my mind when imagining him. Wyatt’s sister and father went missing a decade earlier, and Wyatt was the only witness. The trauma of what happened the fatal night that his father and sister went missing rendered him to mental institution. The townsfolk believe he killed them both, even though there are no facts proving the theory.
Odette is a policewoman who is called because someone thinks Wyatt kidnapped a girl. Odette gets involved, trying to help the mute girl, Angel. Oh, and the girl has only one eye. Odette herself is an amputee, with a prosthetic leg. Heaberlin writes these two characters perfectly. The reader learns the difficulties each woman needed to overcome with their disabilities. These disabilities do not define them because they are resilient and strong.
As with all thrillers and mysteries, the plot is not able to be told without spoilers. This is a story about strong women characters who stop at nothing to find their missing friend and solving the mystery of what happened that fateful night. Angel’s story is one of courage, and we do learn how Angel lost her eye and Odette lost her leg.
The chapters are fairly short and leave with cliff hangers. I enjoy that style of writing, especially with thrillers. This is a good sold story for the genre with the added bonus of strong female characters.
June 14, 2020
I wanted to love this, and really thought I would. It just wasn't for me- it gripped me straight away but then i found it slow, confusing and not engaging.
Other people may like it, but I expected more.
Other people may like it, but I expected more.
April 23, 2021
Right from the intriguing start with such powerful images, a trademark of Julia Heaberlin, I was in thrall to the storytelling. This is a mystery wrapped in a deeper mystery, covered up with layers of secrets, lies and hate, surrounded by supposition, judgement and prejudice with an ultimate layer of obsession. I don’t want to say too much about the plot except it starts with a ten year old mystery of the disappearance of Trumanelle Branson and her father Frank. The Texas town believes son Wyatt is responsible for the deaths but with no bodies or cast iron evidence he is proclaimed innocent. It is a town that thrives on and builds up legends surrounding Trumanelle. The story is told by Wyatt, police officer Odette Tucker and teen ‘Angel’ who Wyatt finds abandoned at the roadside.
This is a slow burner, dark mystery which is creepy in places, the kind of creep where you hold your breath in fear, the atmosphere is so intense you could cut it with a knife and which seizes and squeezes your heart. It is almost Gothic in places with ghostly images and biblical, divine references which adds another dimension to the storytelling and makes you feel like you are under the spell of a Grimms fairytale. The characters are flawed, they are far from perfect as many have traumatic backgrounds and perceived disabilities which they use to their advantage and which makes the title very profound. All the characters are well depicted, they feel real and have to face up to danger often head on. The novel is extremely well written, full of powerful imagery and is beautiful in places. The end is unpredictable and not what I expected which I really like. My only negative is that sometimes the pace drops off which I think it does at the start of Angels section with Odette’s story containing more octane. Thankfully the tempo builds again and we race towards the conclusion which philosophically ponders on the title and poses further questions about the perpetrators.
Overall, I’m a fan of Julia Heaberlin’s work and this latest is another best seller in my opinion. It’s different, powerful and a gripping read. 4.5 rounded up to 5 stars.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Penguin Michael Joseph for the ARC.
August 11, 2020
3.5/5
Wyatt Branson’s sister Trumanell and father, Frank, have been missing for a decade. The mystery surrounding their disappearance has become something of a legend in the small town. Frank was a cruel father but savvy with the ladies of the town and Trumanell was the town’s homecoming queen and sweetheart.
Odette Tucker is a young cop returned to her hometown and hell bent on solving the mystery. Trumanell was older than Odette, but always kind and as the sister of Odette’s first love, Odette feels a duty to let Trumanell Rest In Peace.
The town is divided on whether or not Trumanell disappeared of her own accord, was murdered by her father, or murdered by Wyatt. Wyatt is his own worst enemy. Mentally ill at best and a murderer at worst, he still speaks to Trumanell and about Trumanell as if she were alive.
When Wyatt finds a young girl on the side of the road and brings her back to his home, someone is quick to report him. Odette rushes to the scene first in the hopes its another false call just trying to get Wyatt in trouble. The caller’s tip proves true and finding the mute, one eyed girl, in obvious distress on Wyatt’s couch raises a multitude of red flags and concerns. Odette rushes to action and brings the young girl, dubbed Angel, to her cousin’s safe house while she comes up with a plan.
Told from three perspectives over five years, we are ensnared in several mysteries that may or may not be connected. This is a story where the good guys keep secrets, a town becomes the jury and the judge, and everyone is a suspect.
Overall I did enjoy this story but I felt somewhat disconnected from the characters and the storyline. I also wish that the story from Wyatt’s perspective was more comprehensive and the story about his perceived mental illness was further developed. Somehow, I guessed the mystery pretty early on but I think that was a fluke and can see how most people will be surprised. The writing was really well done and I liked the connection and history between Odette and Angel, and that they both had disabilities that they didn’t let hold them back.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an advanced copy of this novel.
Wyatt Branson’s sister Trumanell and father, Frank, have been missing for a decade. The mystery surrounding their disappearance has become something of a legend in the small town. Frank was a cruel father but savvy with the ladies of the town and Trumanell was the town’s homecoming queen and sweetheart.
Odette Tucker is a young cop returned to her hometown and hell bent on solving the mystery. Trumanell was older than Odette, but always kind and as the sister of Odette’s first love, Odette feels a duty to let Trumanell Rest In Peace.
The town is divided on whether or not Trumanell disappeared of her own accord, was murdered by her father, or murdered by Wyatt. Wyatt is his own worst enemy. Mentally ill at best and a murderer at worst, he still speaks to Trumanell and about Trumanell as if she were alive.
When Wyatt finds a young girl on the side of the road and brings her back to his home, someone is quick to report him. Odette rushes to the scene first in the hopes its another false call just trying to get Wyatt in trouble. The caller’s tip proves true and finding the mute, one eyed girl, in obvious distress on Wyatt’s couch raises a multitude of red flags and concerns. Odette rushes to action and brings the young girl, dubbed Angel, to her cousin’s safe house while she comes up with a plan.
Told from three perspectives over five years, we are ensnared in several mysteries that may or may not be connected. This is a story where the good guys keep secrets, a town becomes the jury and the judge, and everyone is a suspect.
Overall I did enjoy this story but I felt somewhat disconnected from the characters and the storyline. I also wish that the story from Wyatt’s perspective was more comprehensive and the story about his perceived mental illness was further developed. Somehow, I guessed the mystery pretty early on but I think that was a fluke and can see how most people will be surprised. The writing was really well done and I liked the connection and history between Odette and Angel, and that they both had disabilities that they didn’t let hold them back.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an advanced copy of this novel.
October 4, 2020
As a true crime enthusiast, I was excited to read “We Are All The Same In The Dark”.
I noticed from the beginning of the book, it lacks lead in descriptions. You’ll be reading along and have to stop and reread, thinking you missed something... but you didn’t! A great example is when “Angel” (who has several different names in the book) kisses Finn. You’re reading along and Finn is furious that Angel broke into his home. They are sitting at the kitchen table in the blue house chatting. Then they kiss?!? Which could happen, however, there isn’t any descriptive shift in emotions. So you’re sitting there thinking, WTH?!
Which leads me to the ending. The entire book is wrapped up in the last 10 pages. The author discusses possible suspects throughout the entire book. I was excited for her to unveil the culprit. Not to be “Debbie downer” it’s a complete letdown. Honestly, I think she was undecided about the killer. Put all the characters names into a hat and pulls out the “winner”.
The killer is barely mentioned in the book. We don’t know his emotional state, what is running through his mind. We know minimum details of his life and none of his inner thoughts.
It would have been nice if the author would have added an additional “part” to allow us inside the mind of the killer. To understand his mental state, the mask of his “job”, the thought process of why he justified killing multiple people.
But instead, I ended the book thinking, “Did I seriously invest time reading this?”
I noticed from the beginning of the book, it lacks lead in descriptions. You’ll be reading along and have to stop and reread, thinking you missed something... but you didn’t! A great example is when “Angel” (who has several different names in the book) kisses Finn. You’re reading along and Finn is furious that Angel broke into his home. They are sitting at the kitchen table in the blue house chatting. Then they kiss?!? Which could happen, however, there isn’t any descriptive shift in emotions. So you’re sitting there thinking, WTH?!
Which leads me to the ending. The entire book is wrapped up in the last 10 pages. The author discusses possible suspects throughout the entire book. I was excited for her to unveil the culprit. Not to be “Debbie downer” it’s a complete letdown. Honestly, I think she was undecided about the killer. Put all the characters names into a hat and pulls out the “winner”.
The killer is barely mentioned in the book. We don’t know his emotional state, what is running through his mind. We know minimum details of his life and none of his inner thoughts.
It would have been nice if the author would have added an additional “part” to allow us inside the mind of the killer. To understand his mental state, the mask of his “job”, the thought process of why he justified killing multiple people.
But instead, I ended the book thinking, “Did I seriously invest time reading this?”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 16, 2024
Много ми допадна - плътна и доста мрачна крими история, с елементи на трилър!
Минава се през няколко гледни точки и държи читателя под напрежение до самия край!
Хареса ми и стилът на авторката, успя да ме пренесе в малкия тексаски градец, измъчван от тъмни тайни и страсти.
Цитат:
"Ако в живота им има ужасия, то тя дели с тях легло или ДНК."
P.S. Може да се направи добър филм по тази книга.
Минава се през няколко гледни точки и държи читателя под напрежение до самия край!
Хареса ми и стилът на авторката, успя да ме пренесе в малкия тексаски градец, измъчван от тъмни тайни и страсти.
Цитат:
"Ако в живота им има ужасия, то тя дели с тях легло или ДНК."
P.S. Може да се направи добър филм по тази книга.
August 23, 2020
Wyatt Branson’s sister Trumanell and father Frank disappeared 10 years ago. Everyone assumes that they are dead and that either Wyatt killed them both or Frank killed his daughter and then ran away. Wyatt still imagines that Trumanell is with him and has frequently had problems with law enforcement. Also haunted by these events is Odette who was Wyatt’s girlfriend in those days and has followed in her father’s footsteps to become a cop. Wyatt is pretty much the last person you would want to take in a runaway girl, who is dubbed Angel, after he finds her collapsed in a field. The story is told in parts, first by Wyatt, then by Odette and finally (5 years later) by Angel. Wyatt’s was my favorite voice but unfortunately his part of the book was the shortest. He wasn’t fleshed out enough. If he had been, the conclusion of the book would have been more understandable. The author was more focused on a realistic presentation of prosthetics and those who wear them than she was on coming up with plausible motivations. I wasn’t crazy about the ending, but the book did hold my interest.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
October 13, 2021
Listened to this one on audio.
I liked how it was broken up into three sections, I was definitely intrigued as to what happened to Trumanell, and I was even more interested once Odette disappeared.
This is very much a slow burner of a story. You have to wait until nearly the end for the ultimate payoff and for everything to come together. I would have liked a bit more exposition throughout and to know more as the story progressed rather than all dumped at the end.
However, I really liked the author's writing and the characters kept me invested in the story, particularly Angel. There were some parts that could have been eliminated because they really didn't add anything to the plot and just served to add excess detail and red herrings that honestly just made the book longer without a real reason. It wasn't even a matter of "YOU did it!" and then the person was proved not to do it, etc. It was a bunch of extraneous events like the constant driving out to the rest stop and the tornado.
I did like the book and the audio narrators are fantastic, really added to the experience.
I liked how it was broken up into three sections, I was definitely intrigued as to what happened to Trumanell, and I was even more interested once Odette disappeared.
This is very much a slow burner of a story. You have to wait until nearly the end for the ultimate payoff and for everything to come together. I would have liked a bit more exposition throughout and to know more as the story progressed rather than all dumped at the end.
However, I really liked the author's writing and the characters kept me invested in the story, particularly Angel. There were some parts that could have been eliminated because they really didn't add anything to the plot and just served to add excess detail and red herrings that honestly just made the book longer without a real reason. It wasn't even a matter of "YOU did it!" and then the person was proved not to do it, etc. It was a bunch of extraneous events like the constant driving out to the rest stop and the tornado.
I did like the book and the audio narrators are fantastic, really added to the experience.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 29, 2020
How could I have missed this writer before? Julie Heaberlin is brilliant. I especially loved the women characters. They felt so real. The writing is delicate and yet scorching, and the plot line believable. This book is raw, stunning, both otherworldly and yet heart-grabbing. You'll be up all night and won't regret it.
July 11, 2020
I'm a great Heaberlin fan having read her last four books: this one starts brilliantly with her usual mix of twisty darkness with emotional intensity and I *loved* Odette and her relations with Wyatt and Finn. And then, at just past 50%... it all dropped off a cliff!
. I was gutted and, for me, it never really picked up again. The revelation at the end came out of nowhere with none of the emotional impact I'd expected and even who does the telling (and it is very told at that stage) just felt off.
Not sure what happened here after such a strong beginning. For me, 5 stars at the start, 2 stars for the second half = 3 stars overall. But this could have been so, so much better if it had followed the trajectory of the first half. So disappointing.
Thanks to the publisher for an ARC via NetGalley
. I was gutted and, for me, it never really picked up again. The revelation at the end came out of nowhere with none of the emotional impact I'd expected and even who does the telling (and it is very told at that stage) just felt off.
Not sure what happened here after such a strong beginning. For me, 5 stars at the start, 2 stars for the second half = 3 stars overall. But this could have been so, so much better if it had followed the trajectory of the first half. So disappointing.
Thanks to the publisher for an ARC via NetGalley
April 10, 2020
This is the sort of book that is the reason I don't give 5 stars on Goodreads willy nilly. What a phenomenal book. This is the sort of mystery/thriller/novel I've been waiting to read, where the author doesn't just give you a mystery to solve but gives you a mesmerizing story with people who get into your soul. It was poetic, gut-wrenching, suspenseful, interesting, devastating and just easy to get sucked into. This lady can write. I will happily read anything she writes from now on.
I read a digital ARC of this book for the purpose of review.
I read a digital ARC of this book for the purpose of review.
August 10, 2021
I loved this intriguing mystery/suspense novel! The authors prose pulled me in and drug me through the pages like a child pulling a pull toy. This was a mystery with layers upon layers of slowly unraveling secrets and lies.
Set in a small town in Texas. The town is eerily obsessed about a girl named Trumanell and her father who went missing ten years ago. Odette is a police officer who knew these two people. Trumanell was her friend. Odette makes it her job to try to solve this mystery. The people in town suspect that Trumanells brother, Wyatt is behind the disappearances.
A young girl is found on the side of the road, surrounded by dandelions and missing one eye. What is this girls story and why was she on the side of the road. She won't speak to anyone. They name her Angel.
Odette then goes missing. Five years later Angel is now an adult and she returns to the town determined to find out what happened to all these people.
This story was so good! The ending was a surprise that I did not see coming!
Set in a small town in Texas. The town is eerily obsessed about a girl named Trumanell and her father who went missing ten years ago. Odette is a police officer who knew these two people. Trumanell was her friend. Odette makes it her job to try to solve this mystery. The people in town suspect that Trumanells brother, Wyatt is behind the disappearances.
A young girl is found on the side of the road, surrounded by dandelions and missing one eye. What is this girls story and why was she on the side of the road. She won't speak to anyone. They name her Angel.
Odette then goes missing. Five years later Angel is now an adult and she returns to the town determined to find out what happened to all these people.
This story was so good! The ending was a surprise that I did not see coming!
August 5, 2020
Beautifully written suspense novel, much more lyrical and atmospheric than many of today's thrillers. This book has three narrators and contains three main (and many smaller) mysteries. First: who is the one-eyed woman that Wyatt, a suspected murderer, finds mute and injured on the side of the road? Two, who killed or kidnapped Trumanell, the town's beauty queen/Laura Palmer type who disappeared years before? And number three I can't tell you because it shockingly unfolds about 2/3 of the way through the story.
The story is told by three narrators. My very favorite of the three was Odette, police officer and daughter of another police officer, who lost a leg in a horrible accident the same night of Trumanell's disappearance. I loved that though Odette had a disability she was never treated as any less of a cop, a runner, or a fighter. Her disability was a natural part of the story and was handled with sensitivity but never any kind of stereotype or weirdness. Odette is a hero I could identify with and fight with through a whole series of books.
I also really loved Angel, the girl found by the side of the road who Odette eventually helped and cared for for several days, changing her life. These characters were really well-drawn and stayed with me. The suspense never let up and I went to bed dying to know who the killer was. Even now that I know, I would love to read more books about these characters, perhaps from before the killer was found.
This is a 4.5 star book for me. Would have given it a full five stars but for the ending, which I did not love as much as some of the other ways the book could have gone. But aside from that this is a beautiful, well-told, scary suspense story about a small town that I loved. My first book by Julia Heaberlin and it definitely won't be my last. She is an exceptional writer and this suspense/mystery/thriller novel really stood out in a crowded field as thoughtful, lyrical, and smart.
Thanks to NetGalley, Random House and Julia Heaberlin for the ARC of this fantastic book. My review is honest and my own.
The story is told by three narrators. My very favorite of the three was Odette, police officer and daughter of another police officer, who lost a leg in a horrible accident the same night of Trumanell's disappearance. I loved that though Odette had a disability she was never treated as any less of a cop, a runner, or a fighter. Her disability was a natural part of the story and was handled with sensitivity but never any kind of stereotype or weirdness. Odette is a hero I could identify with and fight with through a whole series of books.
I also really loved Angel, the girl found by the side of the road who Odette eventually helped and cared for for several days, changing her life. These characters were really well-drawn and stayed with me. The suspense never let up and I went to bed dying to know who the killer was. Even now that I know, I would love to read more books about these characters, perhaps from before the killer was found.
This is a 4.5 star book for me. Would have given it a full five stars but for the ending, which I did not love as much as some of the other ways the book could have gone. But aside from that this is a beautiful, well-told, scary suspense story about a small town that I loved. My first book by Julia Heaberlin and it definitely won't be my last. She is an exceptional writer and this suspense/mystery/thriller novel really stood out in a crowded field as thoughtful, lyrical, and smart.
Thanks to NetGalley, Random House and Julia Heaberlin for the ARC of this fantastic book. My review is honest and my own.
October 14, 2020
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
It takes about eight to ten hours to hand-dig a grave, more if you was doing it in the dark. Five to six if you have a helper. It ain’t like the movies.
^^^^^ That right there is what you call . . . .
I went into this book completely blind. Basically it had a good title and an even better cover. I’m a real cheap date like that. I didn’t read a blurb and I didn’t pay any attention to who the author was. I simply waited for my turn at the library, downloaded this sucker and was instantly grabbed by that opening paragraph.
For those of you who aren’t so willing to take a risk, I’ll give you a brief rundown of the basics. Ten years ago a girl named Trumanell went missing from her family’s farm with only a bloody handprint left behind as a clue as to her whereabouts. The most obvious suspect was her brother – although without a body no one could ever pin him down with the crime. But now . . . .
Wyatt Branson has a girl out there.
And it’s up to the town’s young female police officer Odette to figure out what’s going on. That’s the jumping off point for reopening old wounds, revealing past connections and a whole mess of WTFery come the halfway mark.
I was finished with this book before I realized that this author had previously given us some Black-Eyed Susans. This go around it was all about the . . . . .
A hick lit whodunit that kept me flipping pages from start to finish. And boy oh boy can this gal write . . . .
Texas is a beautiful poison you drink from your mother’s breast; the older you get and the farther you run, the more it pounds in your blood.
It takes about eight to ten hours to hand-dig a grave, more if you was doing it in the dark. Five to six if you have a helper. It ain’t like the movies.
^^^^^ That right there is what you call . . . .
I went into this book completely blind. Basically it had a good title and an even better cover. I’m a real cheap date like that. I didn’t read a blurb and I didn’t pay any attention to who the author was. I simply waited for my turn at the library, downloaded this sucker and was instantly grabbed by that opening paragraph.
For those of you who aren’t so willing to take a risk, I’ll give you a brief rundown of the basics. Ten years ago a girl named Trumanell went missing from her family’s farm with only a bloody handprint left behind as a clue as to her whereabouts. The most obvious suspect was her brother – although without a body no one could ever pin him down with the crime. But now . . . .
Wyatt Branson has a girl out there.
And it’s up to the town’s young female police officer Odette to figure out what’s going on. That’s the jumping off point for reopening old wounds, revealing past connections and a whole mess of WTFery come the halfway mark.
I was finished with this book before I realized that this author had previously given us some Black-Eyed Susans. This go around it was all about the . . . . .
A hick lit whodunit that kept me flipping pages from start to finish. And boy oh boy can this gal write . . . .
Texas is a beautiful poison you drink from your mother’s breast; the older you get and the farther you run, the more it pounds in your blood.
September 15, 2020
Stunning, shocking thriller filled with dark twists
Ten years ago, Trumanell Branson disappeared, along with her no-good daddy. But it's beautiful Trumanell her Texas town remembers and mourns. And, despite no arrests, they blame her brother, Wyatt, who lives alone on the old Branson homestead, hated by the entire town. When Wyatt, a trucker, finds a girl in a field of dandelions, he thinks it's a sign. As for the town cop, Odette--who has a long history with Wyatt--she fears the discovery of this girl will only turn the town against Wyatt fully and permanently. But when she goes to retrieve her, she feels drawn to the girl. Odette is haunted by Trumanell's disappearance, and now, the arrival of this mystery girl. As she digs into the past and the present, she uncovers shocking secrets about her town and the night that forever changed it.
"She has a bad, bad mystery to her. I can feel it deep in the hollow of my spook bone, the one my dad broke when I was a kid. My arm is never wrong."
This is an amazing, absorbing thriller that draws you in from the first page. Heaberlin writes so beautifully and lyrically--all these dark and horrific moments unfold in such beautiful prose. Her words astound me.
"There's no chatter about why I'm alone, scared, speeding on a prairie road with trees scattered like sailboats, thinking how my daddy, the town's late great top cop, told me to never come back to this little Texas hellhole unless it was to bury his ashes. Don't try to find the truth about Trumanell. Some answers are left to the by and by."
The characters here are beautiful--flawed, damaged, tender, and painted with a depth that will astound you. Troubled Odette, lost Wyatt, and Angel, the girl found in the field. They form a trio that one is unlikely to forget for quite some time.
This is a dark read--atmospheric and sad, and not always easy to read. Bad things happen in this town. Heaberlin's twists are true stunners. It's rare when a thriller takes me by surprise, but wow, I found myself shocked several times, and even better, unaware of the true culprit. How nice to read a mystery without guessing the ultimate ending.
Overall, this is a superb tale of a town held captive by its own secrets and tragedy. The characters come to life before your eyes through Heaberlin's elegant writing. It's shocking and twisted and one that shouldn't be missed. 4.5 stars.
I received a copy of this book from Random House/Ballantine and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.
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Ten years ago, Trumanell Branson disappeared, along with her no-good daddy. But it's beautiful Trumanell her Texas town remembers and mourns. And, despite no arrests, they blame her brother, Wyatt, who lives alone on the old Branson homestead, hated by the entire town. When Wyatt, a trucker, finds a girl in a field of dandelions, he thinks it's a sign. As for the town cop, Odette--who has a long history with Wyatt--she fears the discovery of this girl will only turn the town against Wyatt fully and permanently. But when she goes to retrieve her, she feels drawn to the girl. Odette is haunted by Trumanell's disappearance, and now, the arrival of this mystery girl. As she digs into the past and the present, she uncovers shocking secrets about her town and the night that forever changed it.
"She has a bad, bad mystery to her. I can feel it deep in the hollow of my spook bone, the one my dad broke when I was a kid. My arm is never wrong."
This is an amazing, absorbing thriller that draws you in from the first page. Heaberlin writes so beautifully and lyrically--all these dark and horrific moments unfold in such beautiful prose. Her words astound me.
"There's no chatter about why I'm alone, scared, speeding on a prairie road with trees scattered like sailboats, thinking how my daddy, the town's late great top cop, told me to never come back to this little Texas hellhole unless it was to bury his ashes. Don't try to find the truth about Trumanell. Some answers are left to the by and by."
The characters here are beautiful--flawed, damaged, tender, and painted with a depth that will astound you. Troubled Odette, lost Wyatt, and Angel, the girl found in the field. They form a trio that one is unlikely to forget for quite some time.
This is a dark read--atmospheric and sad, and not always easy to read. Bad things happen in this town. Heaberlin's twists are true stunners. It's rare when a thriller takes me by surprise, but wow, I found myself shocked several times, and even better, unaware of the true culprit. How nice to read a mystery without guessing the ultimate ending.
Overall, this is a superb tale of a town held captive by its own secrets and tragedy. The characters come to life before your eyes through Heaberlin's elegant writing. It's shocking and twisted and one that shouldn't be missed. 4.5 stars.
I received a copy of this book from Random House/Ballantine and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.
Blog ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram ~ PaperBackSwap ~ Smashbomb
September 11, 2020
This book was just so all over the place. I imagine the author was trying for that very effect, but for me, it just failed miserably. The story actually started on page 322 of its 335 pages. I had high hopes in the beginning, but then I just lost almost all interest with so much repetition and no story advancement.
And dear God, this one has no eye. That one has no leg. We get it. Turn the page. LOL.
And dear God, this one has no eye. That one has no leg. We get it. Turn the page. LOL.
September 14, 2020
4.75 - Rounding up to 5
Loved this book. Such a well written thriller. I'm not sure what has me withholding 5 full stars??? However, it was darn close to perfect. Maybe the pace? I'm not sure because I really didn't have any issue with the slower pace. I would have if I had read this years ago, but I'm proud that I'm a more mature reader at this point and I thought this was truly fantastic.
What's exciting about this book is that a) I had never read this author before so I have backlist to read! b) It was VERY well written and c) It was just a damn good story (one I could easily see play out on TV or in film)
I kind of got some Valentine vibes from this? The writing was vvery atmospheric (also set in Texas) and contained very complex and flawed characters. I would even go as far to say that Texas WAS a character. I'm from NY and have never visited the Lone Star State, but if it could talk it would be through these characters. I loved how well researched this was particularly with respect to people with prosthesis and all the physical and emotional symptoms they experience. I absolutely LOVED how the author moved this story along. I was fine with how it was progressing and then BAM - the Holy Shit factor came into play. And if you love strong women - there are plenty of them here.
I've read more thrillers this year than I normally do, but this one is close to being one of the best. I was very impressed and I cannot wait for the author's next book!!
Thank you to Random House Ballantine Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review.
Review Date: 09/14/2020
Publication Date: 08/11/2020
Loved this book. Such a well written thriller. I'm not sure what has me withholding 5 full stars??? However, it was darn close to perfect. Maybe the pace? I'm not sure because I really didn't have any issue with the slower pace. I would have if I had read this years ago, but I'm proud that I'm a more mature reader at this point and I thought this was truly fantastic.
What's exciting about this book is that a) I had never read this author before so I have backlist to read! b) It was VERY well written and c) It was just a damn good story (one I could easily see play out on TV or in film)
I kind of got some Valentine vibes from this? The writing was vvery atmospheric (also set in Texas) and contained very complex and flawed characters. I would even go as far to say that Texas WAS a character. I'm from NY and have never visited the Lone Star State, but if it could talk it would be through these characters. I loved how well researched this was particularly with respect to people with prosthesis and all the physical and emotional symptoms they experience. I absolutely LOVED how the author moved this story along. I was fine with how it was progressing and then BAM - the Holy Shit factor came into play. And if you love strong women - there are plenty of them here.
I've read more thrillers this year than I normally do, but this one is close to being one of the best. I was very impressed and I cannot wait for the author's next book!!
Thank you to Random House Ballantine Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review.
Review Date: 09/14/2020
Publication Date: 08/11/2020
April 5, 2020
*4.5 stars
I admit that I wondered if I was going to like this book or not when I began reading this. Told with 3 pov's: Wyatt, Odette, and Angel. I struggled a little with Wyatt, the brother of Trumanell, who went missing a decade ago. He's always been under suspicion of her possible death, so when he finds an abandoned girl on the side of the road he hesitates to turn her over to the police. Odette is a police officer that has always believed in Wyatt's innocence, so she helps rescue this young girl. While trying to figure out the mystery of this girl, she's constantly obsessing over Trumanell's disappearance. Then Angel--she's a mystery and I'll leave that alone. I didn't really care for Wyatt's pov, so the start of the book was a little rocky for me. I liked Odette a little better but it wasn't until Angel's pov that I really became invested. The ending was pretty darn good and for that I gave this book an extra star.
**Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I admit that I wondered if I was going to like this book or not when I began reading this. Told with 3 pov's: Wyatt, Odette, and Angel. I struggled a little with Wyatt, the brother of Trumanell, who went missing a decade ago. He's always been under suspicion of her possible death, so when he finds an abandoned girl on the side of the road he hesitates to turn her over to the police. Odette is a police officer that has always believed in Wyatt's innocence, so she helps rescue this young girl. While trying to figure out the mystery of this girl, she's constantly obsessing over Trumanell's disappearance. Then Angel--she's a mystery and I'll leave that alone. I didn't really care for Wyatt's pov, so the start of the book was a little rocky for me. I liked Odette a little better but it wasn't until Angel's pov that I really became invested. The ending was pretty darn good and for that I gave this book an extra star.
**Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 29, 2020
(4.5 rounded up! & I whole heartedly recommend the audio!! The narrators were great & truly brought these people to life. This is 1 where I’m not sure that I would’ve enjoyed it quite as much if not for listening to their voices.. They lended so much to the atmosphere of the story.)
Man I enjoyed this so much more than I had expected! It’s a dark, slow-burn, heartbreaker of a mystery set in a small town. The characters, even the smaller ones, are extremely well done. & I thought the 3 parts of the book (from different pov’s) were done brilliantly.. I saw in other reviews that some readers felt it was a little too slow moving, but that wasn’t my experience at all. The author has a tremendous way with words & i was immediately drawn in.. Kinda just along for the story, & it never let up for me until the last page. Where some other books in this genre kind of share plot twists or are easily confused with others, I felt this was something completely unique. For me this was the first from this author but I I look forward to picking up another of hers ASAP.
Man I enjoyed this so much more than I had expected! It’s a dark, slow-burn, heartbreaker of a mystery set in a small town. The characters, even the smaller ones, are extremely well done. & I thought the 3 parts of the book (from different pov’s) were done brilliantly.. I saw in other reviews that some readers felt it was a little too slow moving, but that wasn’t my experience at all. The author has a tremendous way with words & i was immediately drawn in.. Kinda just along for the story, & it never let up for me until the last page. Where some other books in this genre kind of share plot twists or are easily confused with others, I felt this was something completely unique. For me this was the first from this author but I I look forward to picking up another of hers ASAP.
February 12, 2022
3.5
What I liked best: Odetta and Angel—two female characters who've been wounded, physically and emotionally, but are by no means weak. In this novel, "everyone's both broken and whole." My difficulty with the first part of the book is that it requires the reader to be as enamored of Trumanelle as her fictional community is, and although she seemed like a lovely young woman, I wasn't invested in her story. As the plot progressed, so many suspects died that the killer became obvious with a good chunk of story left to go. This didn't take away from the characterization, but it did diminish the reveal at the end. I loved the Texan expressions throughout. However, during the more dramatic moments, I would have preferred simpler language. All in all, I look forward to the author's next work.
What I liked best: Odetta and Angel—two female characters who've been wounded, physically and emotionally, but are by no means weak. In this novel, "everyone's both broken and whole." My difficulty with the first part of the book is that it requires the reader to be as enamored of Trumanelle as her fictional community is, and although she seemed like a lovely young woman, I wasn't invested in her story. As the plot progressed, so many suspects died that the killer became obvious with a good chunk of story left to go. This didn't take away from the characterization, but it did diminish the reveal at the end. I loved the Texan expressions throughout. However, during the more dramatic moments, I would have preferred simpler language. All in all, I look forward to the author's next work.
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