I LOVE an odd couple of detectives who butt heads trying to solve a case, so I was really excited to try this book about a psychic helping a hard-boiled cop find a missing person. What did I think? Check out my review of Night Will Find You.
Night Will Find You by Julia Heaberlin
Published on June 20, 2023 by Flatiron Books. Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for my (honest) review.
Plot Summary for Night Will Find You
When she was ten, a strange vision led Vivvy Bouchet to save a boy’s life. Ever since, she has been in a life-long battle between the urgent voices in her head and the science she loves.
Now a brilliant young astrophysicist, Vivvy wants nothing more than to be left alone with the stars in the Big Bend country of Texas.
But the boy she saved, now a Fort Worth cop, has always believed she is psychic—even though she won’t say that word out loud. He is begging her to help solve the high-profile cold case of a little girl who disappeared in broad daylight from the kitchen of her old Victorian house. No body was never found, and her mother sits in prison still loudly proclaiming her innocence.
When a popular Texas conspiracy theorist podcaster finds out about Vivvy’s involvement in the investigation, he spews misinformation about the case and muddled truths about Vivvy’s murky past. As his listeners spin dangerously out of control, and with her career and the people she loves on the line, Vivvy decides to fight back.
Books by Julia Heaberlin
A former journalist, Heaberlin has published Playing Dead (2012), Lie Still (2013), Black-Eyed Susans (2015), Paper Ghosts,(2018) and We Are All the Same in the Dark (2020).
Me: “Wow, I read Black-Eyed Susans.” In fact, I distinctly remember reading it on a plane. And I just found my review of the book. I liked it! I’m not sure how I missed We Are All the Same in the Dark, but I’m going to try to read it this summer.
Review of We Are All the Same in the Dark
Many of my reviews use the phrase, “there was a lot going on in this book.” More than not, that means, “there was WAY too much going on in this book.”
But in the hands of the right author, “a lot going on” can work. In my opinion, the elements need to be skillfully linked together. Bonus points from me if they are somehow linked thematically.
Night Will Find You was an interesting book that I think many thriller readers will love. It’s definitely more character-driven than plot driven. The literal mystery in the story was simple and, it turns out, solvable. (I said the same thing in my review of Black Eyed Susans, linked above.)
It doesn’t surprise me that Julia Heaberlin has a journalism background, because Night Will Find Me reminded me of really great long-form journalism. We get a ton of insight into the very complicated Vivvy Bouchet. She’s a reluctant psychic, an aspiring astrophysicist. She has a complicated relationship with her mother, her sister, and a man she saved years ago. She speaks in paragraphs.
My only quibble with Vivvy was that she seemed much older than twenty-eight.
I loved that Vivvy’s character embodied the idea that science and intuition aren’t polar opposites.
Vivvy has psychic abilities like her mother and yet, is searching for proof of intelligent life in space. As I read, I thought of Jodie Foster’s character in the movie Contact. But it seems that since the 1990s, things have changed in astrophysics, and Vivvy is looking for light.
Yes, some of science is based on things we consider objective, but there’s a lot that’s very philosophical and feels a lot more out-there to the average person. Things like the multiverse, string theory, and Schrödinger’s cat.
Night Will Find You Also Discusses Conspiracy Theories
The internet has had benefits, but has also facilitated the spread of misinformation and conspiracy theories. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good conspiracy theory, and I think that there is a lot that is hidden from us by the powers that be. But conspiracy theories can also be used to smear and discredit people in a way that is disturbing.
See all the thematic ties? Objective truth vs. intuition, truth vs. conspiracy, getting to the truth of a case (which, if you follow true crime, you know can also be an elusive thing.)
Odd Couple Detectives
I said I was going to discuss this, and then talked about aliens, science, and conspiracy theories. But Vivvy’s relationship with Sharp is extremely antagonistic. He’s very skeptical about her psychic abilities, and she knows he’s hiding something from her and can’t figure out what it is. Their sparring makes for great dialogue and adds a lot to the story.
Will You Like Night Will Find You?
If you are always on the lookout for thrillers with great writing and complicated, well-developed characters, you should definitely read Night Will Find You.
If you have any interest in science, the paranormal, and/or conspiracy theories, you’ll love this book.
The only type of reader I wouldn’t recommend this to is one who likes a very lean, fast-paced, action-packed, twisty book.
Have you read this or any of Julia Heaberlin’s thrillers? Tell me in comments!