''All the Things We Do in the Dark'' is a

young adult A young adult is generally a person in the years following adolescence. Definitions and opinions on what qualifies as a young adult vary, with works such as Erik Erikson's stages of human development significantly influencing the definition of ...

psychological thriller Psychological thriller is a genre combining the thriller and psychological fiction genres. It is commonly used to describe literature or films that deal with psychological narratives in a thriller or thrilling setting. In terms of context and c ...

novel by

Saundra Mitchell Saundra Mitchell (born September 3, 1973) is an American novelist who has also written under the pseudonyms of Jessa Holbrook and Alex Mallory. Personal life Mitchell is gay and has daughters. Career Mitchell worked as the head screenwriter ...

, published October 29, 2019 by

HarperTeen HarperCollins Publishers LLC is one of the Big Five English-language publishing companies, alongside Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, Hachette, and Macmillan. The company is headquartered in New York City and is a subsidiary of News Corp ...

. The book was shortlisted for the

Lambda Literary Award for Children's and Young Adult Literature The Lambda Literary Awards (also known as the "Lammys") are awarded yearly by the US-based Lambda Literary Foundation to published works that celebrate or explore LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) themes. The organization is considered to ...

Summary

Because the story covers content that may be triggering for readers who are trauma survivors, the novel includes a trigger warning and resources. The novel follows 17-year-old Ava, who experienced a sexual assault in her childhood, after she finds a woman's corpse in the woods. Instead of reporting to the police, Ava "protect and care for her," enlisting the help of the victim's friend to solve the case. Most characters are Caucasian with the exception of the main character's lover being Jewish and part-Korean.

Reception

''All the Things We Do in the Dark'' received a starred review from ''

Publishers Weekly ''Publishers Weekly'' (''PW'') is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers, and literary agents. Published continuously since 1872, it has carried the tagline, "The International News Magazine of ...

.'' '' Kirkus Reviews'' referred to the novel as a "searing, fast-paced whodunit that addresses sexual assault head-on," while ''

Booklist ''Booklist'' is a publication of the American Library Association that provides critical reviews of books and audiovisual materials for all ages. ''Booklist''s primary audience consists of libraries, educators, and booksellers. The magazine is av ...

'' ''called it an "insightful, cathartic read."'' ''Booklist'' further highlighted how "Mitchell mixes contemporary drama—the joy of first love, the pain of breaking friendships—with psychological thriller."'''' Both ''Booklist'' and '' The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books'' highlighted the Mitchell's author's note, which includes contact information for sexual assault helplines. ''

School Library Journal ''School Library Journal'' (''SLJ'') is an American monthly magazine containing reviews and other articles for school librarians, media specialists, and public librarians who work with young people. Articles cover a wide variety of topics, with ...

'' also provided a positive review. ''All the Things We Do in the Dark'' was shortlisted for the

References

{{reflist Harper & Row books American LGBT novels 2010s LGBT novels Psychological thriller novels 2019 LGBT-related literary works 2019 children's books Children's books with LGBT themes Children's books set in forests LGBT-related young adult novels Young adult mystery fiction American young adult novels