Words simply cannot describe how utterly brilliant this book is!
It literally grabs you by the throat and makes you gasp for air.
From beginning to end you are kept guessing, which is an impossible feat due to the constant twists and turns and the ENDING…. The ENDING had me shouting out in pure, unadulterated shock.
I can only say that if you want an INCREDIBLE thriller THIS is EXACTLY what you are looking for.
I must say that it deals with some very topical elements, so very important in todays world, that serve as a warning too.
An intricately, cleverly crafted tale that packs an utterly thrilling and chilling punch.
I can’t wait for the next one, actually I am impatiently pacing for the next one!
Highly recommended and one of the BEST of the year so far.
Kia does NOT disappoint, once again excelling herself.
Five Stars,

Kia Abdullah returns with a sharp and emotionally layered psychological thriller that explores friendship, truth and the secrets we hide. What Happens in the Dark follows Safa, a once-celebrated journalist desperate for redemption, as she becomes entangled in a mystery that hits far too close to home.

When bruises appear on the body of Lily, the beloved TV presenter and Safa’s estranged childhood best friend, Safa reaches out. But Lily insists everything is fine. Then a man is found dead in Lily’s home, and she is standing silently over the body.

Refusing to speak in her own defence, Lily leaves Safa to dig for the truth — but as she delves into the past and present, what she uncovers is darker and far more complex than she ever imagined.

Abdullah crafts a suspenseful and thought-provoking tale, masterfully blurring the lines between victim and perpetrator. With nuanced characters and a slow-burn tension that builds to a powerful conclusion, this is a book that will stay with you.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

4.75⭐️

I love this author’s work especially earlier books, this feels like a return to that form for me.

Our main characters are
Safa a down on her luck journalist and her estranged best friend from childhood Lily now a well known tv anchor.
The story contains two threads both of which Safa is trying to investigate. One are the silent victims of the Glasscutter, the other is Safa trying to help Lily who has been arrested. The woman are very different in age, and socio economic groups but both have things in common.

This book grabbed my interest from the beginning and kept me riveted throughout. This is a great read, the bonus is there could be a sequel. I’d be up for that as I found Safa very likeable and honourable no mean feat considering her occupation.
For me there’s the perfect blend of character, story and the courtroom setting driving the story giving a fusion that’s unique to the author and totally avoids being a stuffy courtroom thriller. Abullah tackles rarely discussed subjects making her work fresh and exciting.

I would highly recommend this book, also Take it Back, Truth be told and Next of Kin.

Safa Saleem's career as a journalist isn't working out as she had hoped. She finds herself playing second fiddle to less talented, but more privileged, figures. Her childhood best friend. Lily, has become a national treasure as a morning TV presenter and no longer speaks to Safa. Even Safa's relationship prospects are in a muddle. Safa's a likeable, sympathetic protagonist in this new novel by Kia Abdullah.

Safa finds herself caught up in two different parallel cases in What Happens in the Dark. When Lily is found crouched over a body in her own home, she is immediately charged with murder, but Safa doesn't believe her old friend to be guilty. At the same time, Safa is investigating the case of the Glassman, a sinister criminal who targets elderly Bangladeshi women. Safa's thinking for both cases focuses on the many different pressures that can prevent women from speaking out about violence.

This is part courtroom drama, part thriller, and all of it bound together by Safa's strong social conscience. While the twists come as one of the stories heads towards resolution, the other is left open-ended, and it would be good to read a sequel to this book. In fact, Safa, her on-off policeman boyfriend and her lovely dad make such a likeable trio that I wouldn't mind seeing this evolve into a series.

I liked this book and felt we got to know Safa a lot more in this one. It wasn’t majorly gripping but I loved the twist and def didn’t guess that one. I liked the glassman part going along st the same time too

Wow what an outstanding book. A definite 5 star unputdownable read. Kia Abdullah has produced another exceptional thriller, one I will definitely be recommending.

Lilly and Safa grew up together, both from deprived homes. Lily had little money and Safa lost her mother after a huge mistake she blames herself for. Now grown up and apart Lily is a famous tv presenter and Safa is struggling as a local journalist. When Lily’s husband dies after a party and she confesses to the crime, claiming self defence, Safa is there to investigate. At the same time a criminal is entering the homes of foreign non-English older ladies and committing unspeakable crimes. Can The Glassman be outsmarted and found?

The characters are brilliant and full of depth and realistic storytelling. I loved the dynamic between them and the chemistry between Lily and Safa. Ultimately the story is dark and the ending is still unfinished, awaiting a second part that I cannot wait to read.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Once again Kia Abdullah has written another belter of a story. I have read all her books which revolve around hard hitting subjects and this one like her other never disappoints.
Lily and Safa are childhood friends but in their adult years they have seemed to grow apart. Lily is a breakfast Tv presenter and Safa is a journalist in a local newspaper. She used to be Journalist at one of the major newspapers, but something happened, and she got fired.
When Lily is arrested for her husband’s murder. Safa is determined to find out the truth as Safa suspects that Lily has been abused and she killed him in self-defence.
At the same time Safa is investigating ‘The Glassman’ who is assaulting elderly Bangladeshi women in their own homes. As these women don’t speak much English, they cannot let people know what happened as they are ashamed.
This is another brilliant read from the author. It’s emotional and thought provoking and will leave thinking about it for a long time. The storyline was great and tided up nicely with a surprise twist at the end. Another 5 stars from me

What Happens in the Dark is a thought provoking and hard hitting read. Two school friends who have lost touch are reconnected through a tragedy, Safa is a journalist and Lily a TV presenter. Lily is accused of murder and claims she is a victim of domestic violence. Is all as it seems though, and what is truth or lie? Kia Abdullah writes of a difficult and emotive issue sensitively and with care. I really liked Safa, but Lily not so much - she initially came across as cold, unemotional and unlikeable, although I did warm to her more towards the end. I always enjoy the court scenes in this authors books and can imagine the characters in my mind when I'm reading. I like the background story thread re the Glassman and his specific victim types although didn't like how this ended. And the ending here threw me - it doesn't quite give the closure I expected. I would recommend this authors books if you like reading books that cover real, everyday issues in a very believeable and sympathetic way.

4 stars

Wow! I was a little unsure at the beginning, but it soon dragged me in and I found I couldn’t put it down.
I really liked the main character, Safa and following her journey in finding the truth. I was in shock with that ending and definitely want to know what happens next.
I will be sure to pick up more novels from Abdullah!

Another cracking read by Kia Abdullah. She really knows how to write an interesting story. I liked the courtroom scenes and the interaction between the characters.

I have read a few books by this author now and I really enjoy her writing style. The court scenes especially are well-written and I found them really fascinating to read.

I found the lead character a little hard to connect with as she seemed very closed off, but the reader is offered an explanation for this. The other characters felt much more vibrant and well-rounded to me.

I liked the theme of women being silenced, and the plot held my interest. I did find the ending a bit jarring - it ended very suddenly with no resolution to a crucial plot point. I assume that this leaves room for a sequel, but I found it a bit abrupt.

Overall I enjoyed this book and would recommend it.

I finished this book 20 minutes ago and am still sat here thinking about it so I have no problem whatsoever in giving it the five stars it deserves.

Lily and Safa used to be best friends. Lily went on to be a famous breakfast presenter and Safa hasn’t been so fortunate, She is a reporter but was fired from her previous job taking the blame for something that she didn’t do and is struggling in her life. As also learn that Lily’s life isn’t as it seems as she is arrested for murder of her husband. Safa is surprised by this and quickly becomes involved by investigating things. What follows is a very good trial, mostly in the courtroom.

Is everything really as it seems? No one really knows what goes on in the dark do they?

There was also a second storyline running throughout the book ‘The Glassman’. This man is entering homes through a window that he cuts out and sexually assaults the Bangladeshi elderly women. These women are too scared to speak though and nothing comes of these attacks. Safa is determined to get their voices heard.

I’m hoping for a second book, there is definitely reason for it!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

What Happens in the Dark is an enjoyable and thought provoking read from Kia Abdullah.

There are a number of twists and turns throughout which keep the reader guessing and then second guessing what happens next. The ending also nicely tees up a potential follow up which I would look forward to reading.

Recommended.

Abdullah doesn't shy away from that difficult subjects, and What Happens in the Dark is no exception. It's not as fast paced as some of her previous books, but the social observations are as astute as ever, the characters are nuanced, the suspense is palpable and she got me with the reveal again. Dark, engrossing but that ending!

My thanks to Kia and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of the book before the publication date.
This is definitely a good book for a book club discussion as it involves many topical and controversial subjects.
The storyline dips into domestic violence, rape and toxic influencers and gives insight into some of the cultural issues which impact on women’s lives.

Kia Abdullah has done it again. I was hooked from the first page, no one writes emotionally charged legal thrillers quite like her.

What Happens In the Dark is a suspenseful, gut-punch of a novel packed with secrets, lies, and a final twist that absolutely floored me.

The story follows Safa, a once renowned journalist desperate for redemption, and her childhood best friend Lily, now a beloved celebrity. When bruises appear on Lily’s body and a shocking death occurs, Safa begins digging for the truth and what she uncovers is heartbreaking, harrowing, and completely unforgettable.

I loved the glimpses into Lily and Safa’s pasts. How their childhood trauma shaped their adult selves. Safa’s strength, her moral backbone, and her relationship with her father truly moved me. Lily, on the other hand, was complicated she was hard to like, hard to trust, but impossible to ignore.

The courtroom scenes were intense, immersive, and brilliantly written. And that final twist, ripped my heart out. As a woman, it hit hard. I was left sad, angry, and speechless, shocked by the revelations and can see how much it can relate to outside of a fictional story.

This book has left such an impact on it and I’ll be thinking about it for a long time. Abdullah’s books are always automatic reads for me and she is one of my favourite authors. Highly, highly recommend.


Thank you so much @netgalley and HQ for giving me the opportunity for reading the advanced reader copy.

The author is known for her courtroom drama thrillers and I really enjoyed that part of the book. I love the arguments and counter arguments, changing my mind with each side. The author also always writes a powerful storyline with this one focused on violence against women and whether an unarmed woman should be more afraid of a bear or man. Specifically  morning TV presenter Lily is accused of murdering her husband. There's also a second storyline with Lily's childhood friend Safa a journalist investigating the Glassman assaults. 

Whilst I really liked part two, parts one and three not so much. Safa and Lily were both difficult to like so I struggled getting into this at the start. And, then the last part was a bit of a let down concluding without any resolution on the Glassman storyline. Maybe there'll be a sequel but even so without a conclusion have the story felt kind of pointless. So, a mixed bag overall but no reflection on the author it was just this particular story that didn't resonate for me.

Absolutely fantastic book. Fast paced with great characters this book tackled serious subjects really well. It was very easy to give this book five stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in return for my honest and unbiased opinion.

Lily and Safa are childhood friends though they've grown apart in recent years. Lily is a popular breakfast TV presenter while Safa, an investigative journalist, is working for a local newspaper after being fired from her last job. When Lily is seen on TV with a black eye and then bruises on her body, Safa's boss persuades her to reconnect with Lily to ascertain what's going on. Lily is adamant that the bruises were caused accidentally from tennis and riding incidents. However shortly afterwards Lily's husband is dead and she is charged with murder.. Safa is convinced that Lily acted in self defence to protect herself from her husband's violence.
Safa is also investigating the Glassman who is assaulting elderly women in the Bangladeshi community in their own homes. Embarrassed and ashamed none of the victims are willing to speak about their ordeal..
I was delighted to receive an ARC of Kia Abdullah's latest book as she is one of my favourite authors. I really enjoyed this and didn't anticipate the huge twist towards the end I would have liked to have found out more about the Glassman investigation but maybe there will be a sequel. I do hope so!

Every Kia Abdullah book I've read has been a 5 star read and What Happens in The Dark is no exception.

I don't know how she does it but Abdullah's courtroom drama thrillers are always so gripping and always keep you guessing right up to the very last page.

They also always tackle tough topics sensitively (in this case domestic violence is the main focus, with a side plot of sexual assault) and are so thought provoking. And the characters feel so real.

The story focuses on Lily and Safa who were childhood friends but have lost touch. Safa suspects Lily is being abused by her husband but then Lily is arrested when a body is found in her house. I really enjoyed the story and kept trying to figure out where it was going and what was going to happen next and I just couldn't!

Safa Saleem was a brilliant main character, her backstory was so sad but I loved her close relationship with her father. I really hope Abdullah's next book picks up where this left off and we see more from Safa Saleem!

I will never hesitate to recommend Kia Abdullah’s books. If you haven't read any yet this one is a great one to start with!