Night Will Find You

Author: Julia Heaberlin
Genre: Crime Fiction, Psychological Thriller
368 pages
Publisher: Flatiron, 2023

Synopsis
Vivvy Bouchet was only ten when she saved a boy’s life by making an impossible prediction. She doesn’t want to explain it. A wunderkind scientist, she just wants to be left in peace to scan the desert Texas sky with her telescopes in one of the darkest places on earth. But when the boy she saved, now a Fort Worth cop, begs for her help on a cold case, she can’t turn him down.

In the past decade, Lizzie Solomon and the Victorian mansion where she disappeared have taken on almost mythic status. Conspiracy theorists feed the frenzy that Lizzie is still buried in the crumbling walls while her mother, who sits in prison convicted of killing her, loudly proclaims her innocence.

Paired with a skeptical detective, Vivvy falls deeper into the mystery of why Lizzie has never been found. When a vicious podcaster takes aim at Vivvy’s own secrets―and those of the vanished girl―Vivvy’s life unravels like the mysterious galaxies she chases.

Julia Heaberlin delivers a resilient and unforgettable heroine in Vivvy Bouchet, a woman who walks the line between evidence-based science and unexplained phenomenon. Sharply relevant, Night Will Find You explores the mysterious nature of belief―in science, in conspiracies, in a higher power―and the delicate dance with the things we can’t know.

My review
Night Will Find You is the second Julia Heaberlin novel I’ve read, and I’m officially hooked on her dark, complex, and emotional storytelling. She has an incredible way of creating flawed, deeply human characters that linger in my mind long after I’ve finished the book. This one’s another slow-burn suspense that had me hooked from page one. I don’t usually read stories with supernatural elements or conspiracy theories, but Heaberlin’s writing is so captivating and haunting that I couldn’t put it down.

Vivvy Bouchet is a intriguing character who immediately earned my admiration. At just twenty-eight, she’s an accomplished astrophysicist with a unique psychic ability to see visions through touch, a combination that makes her story instantly compelling. One pivotal moment from her past, when she saved her neighbor Mike’s life, sets the stage for their intertwined lives from the start.

Years later, Mike, now a police officer married to Vivvy’s sister, Brig, asks for her help with a cold case involving the alleged murder of three-year-old Lizzie Solomon. But when Vivvy touches the child’s bloodstained pink bow, she knows that Lizzie is still alive. This sets up a tense interrogation with the skeptical, hard-nosed detective Jesse Sharp. Reluctantly teaming up, Jesse and Vivvy dive into an investigation that tests her abilities and jeopardizes her reputation, relationships, and safety. As they unravel Lizzie’s disappearance and face threats from conspiracy podcaster Bubba Guns, Vivvy’s inner demons and growing attraction to Jesse add to the tension, leading to a journey full of unexpected twists.

One thing I love about Heaberlin’s writing is how thoroughly researched her stories are and how skillfully she weaves together the past and present to create vivid and realistic characters. Vivvy’s scientific and brilliant mind contrasted with her psychic abilities pulled me right into her world, seamlessly blending science and the supernatural. The pacing is spot-on, and every character feels real and well-developed. Heaberlin’s writing shines with tension and meticulous detail, even when tackling complex scientific topics.

Night Will Find You is a raw, beautifully crafted story, showcasing Heaberlin’s undeniably powerful storytelling. It has everything – conspiracy theories, crime, science, police procedures, a touch of the unexplained, and plenty of heart. Highly recommend!

My recommendation: definitely worth the read!