TENSE, DARKLY ATMOSPHERIC. TAKES YOUR BREATH AWAY WITH ITS SUDDEN TWISTS. GRACEFULLY WRITTEN, WITH CHARACTER THAT LEAP OFF THE PAGE AND INTO YOUR IMAGINATION

Twisty and atmospheric

One of my favorite reads of the year. I wanted to sit and savor Heaberlin's beautiful prose but the twisty plot and unexpected revelations propelled me through the pages of this spine-chilling novel . . . Absolutely mesmerizing

I'm not sure I can put into words how much I loved this book. Gorgeous writing, interesting characters, a unique setting, and an unsettling, surprising mystery. At one point, I actually gasped out loud both from the beauty of the writing and the shock of the story. We Are All the Same in the Dark has it all

Exceptional . . . After a devastating twist halfway through, the intense plot builds to an emotional finale. Heaberlin sensitively addresses issues of survival and vulnerability in this heart-wrenching gothic tale

An intense, intelligent thrill-ride of a book - undoubtedly the one I will be recommending all year

A story so deftly told that it pulls you in and swallows you whole

[Heaberlin] brilliantly captures the atmosphere and rough beauty of a strange and divided state

A disquieting, tense and suspenseful book that promises to keep you reading way into the night

A gripping, richly-layered exploration of haunted souls in a haunted place. Julia Heaberlin's complex and memorable characters propel a story that keeps you guessing at every turn

Unsettling and atmospheric. Tense and Edgy. Julia Heaberlin holds you spellbound all the way to the emotional and devastating conclusion

One of the best stand-alone mysteries I've read in a while; thrilling and complex, with richly imagined characters who will break your heart even as they confront the monsters, real and imagined, that hide in the dark

If you only read one thriller this year, let it be this one. Psychologically absorbing, original and atmospheric. I could not turn the pages fast enough

Heaberlin knows how to build to a truly shocking twist, how to break a reader's heart and then begin mending it

Praise for Julia Heaberlin

A beautifully written and extraordinary book

A thriller to remember why you love thrillers

Strong characterisation, haunting images, a wonderful sense of place

Rich, multilayered characters . . . I wanted to sit and savor her beautiful prose but the twisty plot and unexpected revelations propelled me through this spine-chilling novel . . . absolutely mesmerizing

The author of Black-Eyed Susans returns with an elegantly written tale, set in a world where women are vulnerable and men are dangerous, the finger of suspicion pointing at them all

An emotionally charged story . . . there are so many layers to Heaberlin's story which keeps the mystery going right up until the end

Perfect for fans of The Girl on the Train

Twisty, exciting yet so very real

Few people do psychological thrillers as claustrophobic and as creepy as Claire Douglas

Delivered with panache and wit

This book was like a refreshing can of something fizzy - the interactions between the program members are a joy, and the plot full of sharp turns and surprises. I quickly became quite fond of this disparate gang of plotting, scheming young monsters. Can't remember reading something I enjoyed so much in ages. Highly recommended.

Readers won't want to put down this fast and engaging debut novel, and they'll root for the characters who've been cast as villains

A powerful puzzle of a murder mystery, as impossible to solve as it is to put down. What starts as a delicious thriller becomes a fascinating investigation of amorality, vengeance, and redemption. A powder keg of a debut.

Stick a bunch of devious psychopaths together and what could possibly go wrong? (...) a completely original, clever whodunit from a talented new arrival to the world of psychological suspense.

Sharp, original and extremely entertaining. The portrayal of psychopathy is nuanced and sensitive - something you don't see enough of in thriller fiction.

Truly original. Vera's main characters are believable and likeable, despite their nature. A very intriguing read.

Shocking, moving, full of heart ... deeply layered and intricately plotted ... A Slow Fire Burning shows a writer at the height of her powers

This tense and irresistible read is best binged in one sitting

Intricately interwoven plots and subplots, propulsive twists and a neat finale, a deliciously easy psycho drama to hungrily tear through.

A brilliant read

A psychological thriller that begins with a death on a canal boat and involves a cadre of shifty, damaged characters.

A multi-layered mystery simmering with secrets, resentments and griefs.