"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.

*Contains spoilers*
Kia Abdullah is a definite go to for me and I have loved every previous book especially the sensational twists at the end. Woah.

This story in particular although it was engaging and I was looking forward to the twist- I kind of predicted the ending quite early on - so I was super surprised to find that there was no sensational ending and it ended in the way I predicted. What I was expecting was something absolutely so twisty such as Imran actually being the glassman! That's what I wanted to happen.

Safas back story was tragic yet I didn't warm to her and I found her lacking empathy to Lily and even Harry who was only 13.

Anyway I am very grateful to Netgalley for this ARC and will always look forward to the next Kia Abdullah book. This one just wasn't for me.

Kia Abdullah is such a talented writer.
I've read every one of her novels and you just know from the first page that you will fall straight into the plot with ease and just let it take you for the whole, incredible ride.
This one does exactly that. I bounced between who was telling the truth, who had the greater moral compass and which way it would end.
I loved it. Cannot wait for the next one.
Easy 5 stars and grateful thanks from me.

4.5⭐️
Loved loved loved this. So twisty, with characters you love to hate.....and I have a feeling there's more to come......
Was not expecting the massive twist - very well done. I'm a massive fan of this author

Best friends since early days in high school Safa and Lily have seen some dark times. Brought up on a rundown estate in London, both girls leant on each other for friendship and support. Once university beckoned, Lily made the decision to go her own way. Gaining a place at Oxford without telling Safa, then changing herself completely, Lily was no longer the girl from the council flat that was Safa’s BFF.

Now older, and somewhat wiser, Safa is a journalist on a local paper. Her career hasn’t run smoothly, sacked from her coveted role at the highly regarded Clarion, she now finds herself working on the much lowlier Echo.

Meanwhile Lily is everyone’s favourite darling. A key anchor on a daily magazine tv programme, she has a fabulous lifestyle, the envy of millions.

When the two paths cross after an absence of a few years, they have a lot to catch up on, not all of it good.

A good read that in parts I really enjoyed. For me it was a book of two halves, with the courtroom scenario by far the best of the book. The denouement was no great surprise, though handled well.

The parallel story of the Glassman was not so interesting, and that is the route that it appears the next book will be heading towards.

Thank you NetGalley and HQ.

I loved this book, the latest in a line of shocking and thought provoking thrillers from Kia Abdullah.
What Happens In The Dark features Lily, a tv presenter and national treasure and Safa, an investigative journalist. The two had an inseparable friendship in childhood which merged in to a resentful, strained distance as adults. Their paths cross again when the media claims Lily is the victim of domestic abuse. Weeks later, Lily’s husband is dead and she is on trial for his murder. After vehemently denying she is the victim of abuse, why has Lily now changed her story?
I think what I liked most about this book is that the author tackled the complexity of the issue so thoroughly. The experiences portrayed in the book and the nuances of characters kept me guessing the whole way through the book. It really made me think and then question my own assumptions.
I found the idea of the imperfect/flawed victim and how they are viewed and treated to be equally fascinating and unnerving . The parallels and contrasts between the women’s experiences really added a well rounded view of the issue as well as richness to the plot. It really added to the experience of reading the book.
Normally, I can always guess the twists in thrillers, as they are my go to genre, but every time Kia Abdullah outwits me. Such a clever ending. I wish I could say more but ….I cannot wait for Kia’s next book!

*4.5 stars*

Wow, I never saw that coming! But forgive me, I’m getting way ahead of myself, because there was so much to be discovered before I came to that conclusion!

Lily and Safa were best friends growing up, but not so these days. As time passed, Lily no longer replied to Safa’s messages and consequently Safa stopped trying.
Lily is a well loved famous TV presenter, whilst Safa, once an up and coming journalist has had a fall from grace and is presently working for a local rag.

When social media explodes with talk of bruising on Lily’s face, the rumour mongers have a field day. Are there problems in her marriage? What’s going on? Worried about Lily, Safa contacts her to hopefully quash the rumours, and Lily claims the bruises were just a silly accident. However, Safa isn’t convinced and begins her own investigation.

One night shortly after this, the police are called to an incident at Lily’s home. On arrival they find Lily standing over a dead body.

Running concurrently with Lily’s story is that of the ‘Glassman’. The Glassman is entering homes and sexually assaulting elderly women in the Bangladeshi community. This case takes something of a backseat though, mainly because the women affected are reluctant to report the attacks. Would love a follow up to see how this progresses, because Safa is determined to make these women’s voices heard.

Kia Abdullah never shies away from important issues, this time around it’s domestic abuse and sexual assault. This is an immensely thought provoking, powerful, and emotional story but it’s handled with sensitivity. The courtroom scenes are naturally tense, but is the evidence we’re hearing really “ The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth “? Well my lips are sealed, but prepare to be shocked! Definitely recommended.

This is the second Kia Abdullah book I've read - I enjoyed the first, but I enjoyed this one more. It's a cracking read.

Journalist Safa Saleem's career hasn't been going too well, and her on-off relationship with police officer Imran is definitely off.

Her childhood friend Lily Astor - formerly Lily-Ann Baker - has survived a deeply deprived start in life to become a beloved TV presenter.

Now, though, people are talking about Lily - and her marriage - for the wrong reasons, when the sharp-eyed notice bruises on her. She flatly denies anything amiss, asserting that she's not the kind of woman to become a victim of domestic violence. It's clear to Safa that something is wrong, and when Lily's life goes up in flames she has to help her friend, even at the expense of a possible story.

Meanwhile, "the Glassman" is preying on elderly Asian women, knowing they'll be too ashamed to report it. Nobody seems to be taking it seriously, but Safa's determined to change that.

I liked the character of Safa - she's driven, loyal and most of all, committed to the truth. But where does the truth lie?

I do love a courtroom drama, and this was a compelling one.

It did end a little abruptly, setting the scene for the next book, but overall an excellent read. I'd definitely like to read more by Kia Abdullah.

And now for something different in the genre of thrillers and courtroom dramas! This is a gripping thriller, with twists and turns, even more so towards the end. Two crimes, unrelated, are being followed up by Safa a young newspaper reporter. Safa is not content to just report the news, but throws herself fully into investigating the crimes. The style and pace are succinct drawing the reader into the mixed web of lies and truth. The two sides of the novel make for an interesting read as there is no parallel between them. This is an enjoyable read delving into a different form of abuse. For me, the strongest element was those set in the courtroom of the Old Bailey.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review .

This book was so good I find myself adding yet another author to my TBR.

Lily and Safa went to school together. They bonded over Lily having nothing and Safa having lost her mom. Years later they part ways for uni, Lily gets in to Cambridge and becomes a TV host and Safa is working at a local paper, struggling to keep above water. Then Lily is seen with bruising, Safa gets in touch and from there we find ourselves in a wild chase to find the truth at a murder trial.

Sara’s character was perfection, she radiates goodness throughout the book and her Dad is wonderful. I hoped so much for her that this trial would be the beginning of her life being on the up.

Lily was much harder to like but this gave the book an edge, which I enjoyed. I did find the ending a little expected by the telling of this story meant there was no disappointment.

Ending on a cliff hanger however… please please write more about Safa.

This is a versatile book and definitely one for mystery/thriller readers but with added courtroom.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC in return for an honest review which this is.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Firstly thank you so much to HQstories and Kia for allowing me to be an ARC reader!

What a gripping book!

It’s one that keeps you guessing throughout … and that ending… CHILLING! 😱

I absolutely adored this book and have read it non stop since picking it up! The suspense, the twists and turns that leave you on the edge of your seat!

Release day the 19th June!
To all my fellow thriller lovers - add this to your pre order lists and tbrs!