Bright and Tender Dark is not a thriller. It is a beautifully written literary mystery about the dark side of academia, religious cults, and the uncertainty of youth. It is an in-depth character study of a group of young people and the baggage they carry. It begins with the murder of a very popular girl on a NC college campus and ends 20 years later with long sought after answers. It is truly at times Bright and Tender and Dark.