As with all of Kia Abdullah’s books, I was immediately hooked. She has a gift for grabbing your attention and keeping it until the very last page. This is a suspenseful and emotional domestic/ legal thriller revolving around serious and sensitive topics that are plaguing the country today.

I enjoyed the glimpses into the childhoods of Safa and Lily and seeing how early events influenced them as they grew into adults. The tense courtroom scenes make you feel like you are sitting in the gallery. What Happens In the Dark is packed with secrets, lies and some masterful twists, the last big one knocking me for a loop. The ending of this book makes me feel like we will be seeing Safa again, and I for one will be eagerly awaiting the sequel.

Abdullah’s novels are automatic reads, they have yet to disappoint. There is no doubt that I will be recommending this one.

Many thanks to NetGalley and HQ for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

Lily Astor is a tv presenter, and she shows up to work with a black eye. This is big news in the celebrity gossip world. Journalist, Safa, gets Lily's side of the story, seeing as she is Lily's childhood friend. Lily is adamant that it was accidental. But Safa is worried about her friend, and keeps a close eye as the situation develops.

This author always offers us a powerful storyline in every book. This story focuses on domestic violence. The author has written the story well, and has handled it gently, sensitively, and hard hitting. There were some twists in this story, and it was very tense and atmospheric in places. I really enjoyed this book, purely because the authors writing is so authentic and absorbing. Highly recommended.

Thanks to HQ and NetGalley for ARC.

Investigative journalist Safa is on her uppers, after being let go from her last, more prestigious job. In her new job at a local paper she has fewer resources and finds it harder to work her contacts. When a tip off comes in about the personal life of Lily, an old friend from the same estate, now a household name, she's desperate to investigate. Is she wanting to reconnect, or to get a scoop that will put her back on track to the kind of career she wanted?
Meantime, the story she really wants to tell, involving victims of crime who are already disenfranchised and vulnerable, is the story no one wants her to run with. Following that down brings her into some danger she was not expecting.
Complicated motives are behind a lot of people's actions in this novel, which explores the grey areas very well. You may 'guess' the plot twist early on, and you may occasionally think 'would [that character] do that?' but stick with it, because the journey and the end result are very satisfying in this well paced novel.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 stars. This book started well but it slowed a bit in the middle and I did debate whether to finish it.

Unfortunately I also guessed the ‘twist’ very early on. Added to which a totally implausible plot near the end where Safa gave something to Oliver. Would never happen and was so totally at odds with the character.

The biggest disappointment though was the end - the whole story was leading to a resolution on the Glassman. However……it never came so the book felt like a waste of time unless I invest in the second book!

Not for me sorry.

3.5 stars

I’m going to start by saying that Kia Abdullah is one of my favourite authors!

However, I felt so bad that I gave this less than 4.5 stars.

In true Kia style, What happens in the dark follows political drama and court room drama, based on domestic abuse and a serial rapist.

Like any KA book, 80% is the biggest twist, with another big twist at 95%. I did guess the twist again this book (like her previous) and so it didn’t feel like a big plot twist in my eyes.

The plot was engaging, Safa, a journalist reconnects with her childhood best friend Lily, a tv personality, when news breaks that that she’s seen with a black eye. Exploring the world of domestic violence and other themes (without giving much away) was written delicately from different perspectives and handled well- much better than Colleen hoover ever could. I loved the addition of different cultures.

The glass man left me with a lot of questions - I’m hoping this means there will be a sequel further down the line? Because if not it felt kind of pointless???

Safa had me screaming at the book quite a few times, but I think that shows how good Kia is with her writing style,

I did find all the characters pretty unlikeable, but I think that’s just my personality 😂😂.

I would still recommend this book as KA is an amazing author.

Safa and Lily were once best friends but life has sent them in different directions. Safa, once a lauded journalist, is picking up the pieces from a recent fall from grace, while Lily is the queen of morning TV. A story circulates about Lily – and bruises – and while she’s quick to play them down to everyone, Safa is unsure and keen to rebuild their relationship. Fast forward to one evening where Lily is found in a sorry state, refusing to say anything, merely pleading not guilty to the crime of which she’s charged. Her former friend wonders if things are so clear cut, beginning an investigation into what really is going on. It’s certainly one to get your teeth into, and it’ll challenge how you feel about certain issues.

This is more of a 3.5, I was SO excited for Kia’s latest book because she is one of my favourite thriller authors. She blends crime, politics, and identity so well in all of her books and this one is no exception, although I felt like her other books had very distinctive political elements but this one was more nuanced and didn’t really go for it like she usually does.

Safa and Lily were both pretty difficult to like. Safa is a journalist and wants to use Lily’s story to create a political article about domestic abuse, which is great but at a certain point it felt weird that she was so into this article after all her childhood best friend had gone through, and the way she used it in the end was a bit questionable. Lily was difficult to like because it was very very hard to tell what the truth was with her, which was done intentionally. I did like Imran and I liked Safa’s relationship with him.

Unfortunately I did manage to guess the plot twist in this, which comes all the way to almost the end of the book! This makes it a bit of a slow one. I do love that her books are more courtroom thrillers, I love to see the process and it keeps the tension up. Overall, this was a good story and amazing writing as usual, but it didn’t grip me or shock me as much as some of her previous ones. So it’s not my favourite of hers, but I’ll definitely be reading her next book.

Lily and Safa have been friends since childhood but now in their adult years’ life has taken them both in a different direction. Lily is a popular daytime tv presenter and Safa once a renowned journalist is pretty much starting from scratch again.
When bruises on Lily’s body makes headlines, Safa comes back into her best friend’s life to try and find out what is going on, but Lily brushes her concerns away and says all is well. Until soon after the police are called to Lily’s home, and she is standing there next to a deceased body. Lily says she is now guilty, and we are about to uncover a whole lot of hidden secrets.

WOW WOW WOW this is why this author is one of my favourites. She is going to hit you with a taboo, sensitive dilemma and force you to keep flipping the pages right till the very end. Kia writes in that addictive way where you can picture everything described and just feel totally immersed and lost into the storytelling.
I thoroughly enjoyed the courtroom scenes and those usually are always my favourite as I love seeing the defense and prosecution go back and forth. I was reading it like ‘Oooh I don’t know what to believe anymore’. I did semi guess the twist but not fully and it bamboozled me and knocked me sideways! I was reeling afterwards but I can’t delve to much into why as it will ruin it!

SAFA
Ugh I love Safa character so much. She is such a strong, resilient woman who went through a traumatic childhood but remains confident and puts other needs before her own. I enjoyed following her personal life and relationship with her dad and her on-off again love life with Imran (although it did feel like the book left that situation incomplete) While trying to help get justice for her old friend she was also dealing with another case where there is an unknown man in her community known as ‘The Glassman’ who is breaking into elderly Indian women’s home and r*ping them. That storyline had me glued to my seat, but again I can’t say too much about it. I would love to read another book following Safa and her brilliant journalistic ways.

LILY
Sigh! Lily is one complex character that would have me one minute wanting to give her a hug to side eyeing her in serious distrust. She did come across as quite unlikeable and even though she also had a hard upbringing, some of her behaviour in her childhood would prevent you from wanting to be an ally for her. Her character development was an interesting journey to read through.

NOW Ms. Abdullah you know this would have been an easy 5 star read but that ending…. WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!
A very enjoyable as well as necessary read that will hit you in the gut when all is revealed. I am ready for the next book!

*Thank you to Netgalley and HQ for an ARC in exchange for an unbiased honest review *

Lily and Safa have been friends for years, even though Lily made it big in TV and Safa now works for a local paper.
But Lily has been hiding a secret, which meant she has withdrawn from her old friend, afraid she will uncover what has been happening.
A difficult subject sensitively handled.

When I start a Kia Abdullah book, there are a few things I know I will find between the pages. I know that the subject matter will be confronting and uncomfortable. I know these issues will be dealt with sensitively, but head on. I also know that I will be thinking of the issues addressed, and the characters, long after I have turned the last page, but also those who are affected by these issues in real life.
What Happens in the Dark was no different.

Lily Astor is a national treasure. The friendly welcoming face of Arise, a breakfast television programme, watched and loved by many. Lily’s fall from grace is swift and shocking, she is accused of murder, imprisoned awaiting trial. Thankfully, Lily has Safa Saleem. Safa is a childhood friend from a long buried past, an upbringing so far removed from the persona that Lily works so hard to maintain. Safa wants to help Lily uncover the truth, no matter how hard that truth is to bear.

I’m a huge fan of the author’s gritty writing, this book was eagerly awaited by me, and it didn’t disappoint. Kia has a talent for setting the tone, and walking the fine line on issues that can be extremely emotive and divisive. I was drawn in immediately by the compelling writing, the pace of the book and the rich characterisation. I really enjoyed Safa’s character, she is gutsy, bold and has great moral courage. Her strong exterior belies the hurt that she has buried deeply, even from those closest to her.

This is not a light read. Weighty issues such as race, class, entitlement, both domestic and sexual violence are all involved in this unsettling and intense page turner.

As I finish What Happens in the Dark, I feel there is so much scope for a second book featuring Safa. There are issues in her personal and professional life, which could be explored further, both of which I would look forward to reading. This is a gripping, highly recommended 5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read, it’s a belter. It goes without saying that I am already looking forward to whatever the author writes next.

"If a woman like you can be silenced, who among us can’t?"

This Summer Kia Abdullah is back with yet another excellent thriller & courtroom drama: What Happens In The Dark.

Both hailing from working class backgrounds & fractured families, Safa & Lily used to be the best of friends, but life has a way of changing our outlook on what we want from life, as well as what we get from life, and noone knows this better than this duo. While Lily is the nations sweetheart,  Safa is struggling to catch her big break as a journalist. That is until her ex best friend winds up on a murder charge for AlLeGedLY unaliving her "abusive" husband.

Kia Abdullah takes us on a roller coaster ride of the impacts of silent victims, domestic abuse, flawed victims, the class system, SA, culture & toxic masculinity.

So what did I love about this book? Practically everything! I namely loved the exploration of a flawed character. Throughout the courtcase & Safa's flashbacks, we are presented with a view of Lily that is a far cry from the well poised Lily Astor that viewers of morning television see. We meet a Lily who was vile, vindictive & calculating. But even if someone is made up of these attributes, do they go hand in hand with murderous tendencies?

I also appreciated that Abdullah was able to concisely explore the catch 22s that victims of abuse generally find themselves in: 1: They speak to early it can signal distrust/lack of credibility of their experiences. 2: They speak to late & it questions the intent behind their allegations.

But what about those victims who are silenced by pride, by shame, by their culture? I appreciated Abdullahs need to give a voice to the voiceless in this story.

Overall, this was an EXCEPTIONAL read, which I hope that resonates with its readers. I'm looking forward to more from Kia in the near future.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Really good book that i will recommend to others.

Thanks for the opportunity to read & review it.

I'd read a couple of this author's books before and particularly enjoyed Next of Kin with its shocking twists so was eager to read What Happens In the Dark.

This is the story of two female friends, Lily and Safa, who grew up on the same council estate and went to the same school. Theirs was a close friendship throughout their childhood and teenage years but they have drifted apart in adulthood. However shocking events lead to them being reconciled when Lily, now one of the nation's favourite TV presenters, is arrested and facing a serious charge.

The characters are well developed, journalist Safa is likeable and hardworking, and determined in her pursuit of justice, both in Lily's case and that of another thread in the book. Lily is more complex but this is what makes the story so intriguing.

A large portion of the book is set in a courtroom, and these scenes were very interesting.

Ultimately this is an enjoyable read and the twist was a surprise. I did think it ended a little abruptly, I was expecting that a secondary strand of the story would be resolved which didn’t happen, but as good read nevertheless. Maybe it's been left open for a sequel?

As others have said, this was a book with a rather sensitive topic as the focus. However, this was handled excellently, with sensitivity to those in sinilar situations.

It was an emotional, thought provoking and challenging read that I couldn’t put down. This was my first red by the author but I shall be going back to read other work.

A thought-provoking and timely read! I'm always drawn in by Kia Abdullah's writing and you can tell she is passionate about the topics she writes about - this narrative focusing on violence against women.

I liked the twists and turns that came later in the book - the build up was worth it.

Safa and Lily are both very interesting characters and their backstory also really drew me in.

Looking forward to the next installment!

🚨 Trigger Warnings for Domestic Abuse and Rape 🚨

As usual i love the modern take on Asian women Kia Abdullah brings in her stories.

I usually find her books fast paced and a breeze to get through but this time it had the opposite effect. I couldn’t get into the story or connect to the characters. It’s dragging and would feel like a chore to continue so I have decided to dnf at 33%.

I did have a pleasant surprise when I saw a character had the same name as me but total opposite in personality 😂.

With many thanks to Netgalley for this free arc and I am leaving this unbiased review voluntarily

Kia Abdullah is not one to shy away from sensitive topics as she centres her story around domestic abuse and sexual assault in another brilliant book by this author. Gripping from start to finish with the two leading ladies stars of the show and keeping you firmly on the edge of your seat. Powerful courtroom scenes add to the tension and this is where Ms Abdullah really shines. I thought I had this all worked out but the twist is excellent and I did not see it coming. I’m hoping that with the way it ended we get another book to finish Safa’s crusade. A truly fantastic read.

Thoroughly enjoyable and highly recommended read!!

I didn’t see the twist coming, I got part of it but not the whole thing. I enjoyed the dual POV, it worked well here.

I really liked Safa and Imran, Lily I wasn’t so sure on but I think that’s the point isn’t it. Was she telling the truth.

I liked the glassman aspect and it could lead to another book but I think the main point here was more about women not having a voice.

Highly recommend

Really enjoyed this book. Enjoyed the dual POVs from both main female characters and the story line was really well executed. As usual, another great read from Kia Abdullah!

Another 5 star read from Kia. This books deals with very sensitive issues in an informative and tactful way. The book has twists and turns, that whilst they are not jaw dropping, still make you gasp and give a little round of applause.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book and I will coniltinue to read this author.