We Are All the Same in the Dark

Discuss how true crime media, as portrayed in the documentary about Trumanell’s disappearance, impacts the investigation and the lives of those involved in the case. How does the book explore both the ethical problems with true crime and its potential merits?

What is the significance of the title of the text?

How does the Texas setting amplify the story’s themes, and what effect does the setting have on the novel’s characters?

Why does Trumanell’s disappearance leave such an indelible mark on the community (as opposed to the disappearance of her father, for example)? What does the novel suggest about the intersection between “lost girls” and gender norms?

Family dynamics play a significant role in the lives of the central characters—particularly in the relationship between Odette and her father, in the relationship between Wyatt, Trumanell, and their father, and in Angel’s troubled family background. How do these familial relationships shape the characters’ actions and perceptions of themselves?

The small, unnamed town in We Are All the Same in the Dark is shaped by its local legends and unresolved trauma. How do the town’s secrets influence characters’ relationships and interactions with one another?

Consider the work’s metafictional elements—the excerpt from Dr. Greco’s book, Angel’s references to her life as a narrative, etc. What purpose do these elements serve in light of the work’s themes?

The lake serves as a frequent meeting point for characters in the story. Discuss its importance to the central characters and its function as a symbol within the narrative.