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What Happens in the Dark

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What to expect

Don’t miss the brand-new gripping thriller and courtroom drama full of twists and turns that will keep you up at night!

‘An impeccable blend of courtroom drama, mystery thriller and social commentary … a true masterpiece’ Andrea Mara

'Timely … Suspenseful and unpredictable' iPaper

'A brilliantly thought-provoking read' Crime Monthly

'The kind of crime fiction that eventually becomes social history' Literary Review

* * * *

Lily and Safa were best friends growing up. Now, Lily is the nation’s favourite breakfast TV presenter and Safa, once a renowned journalist, is reeling from a recent fall from grace.

When news breaks about suspicious bruises on Lily’s body, Safa attempts to rekindle their old friendship. But Lily claims the bruises are nothing to worry about.

And then one night the police are called to Lily’s home. Lily is strangely calm – and a body lies dead at her feet.

Lily pleads not guilty, and then says nothing more. Driven by her desire to give a voice to all victims, Safa begins her own investigation into what happened that night.

But Safa is not prepared for what her quest for justice will uncover …

* * * *

Praise for Kia Abdullah

‘One of my ten best reads of the year. Easy five stars’ Lisa Jewell

‘Terrific and hugely thought-provoking’ Ian Rankin

‘Rich in drama and intrigue. Kept me turning the pages long into the night. Bloody superb’ Graham Bartlett, author of Bad For Good

'Abdullah draws out the truth with compassion, charting with notable understanding the ever-changing currents in human relations’ The Times

‘Timely and powerful, Abdullah’s fourth novel lets no one off the hook’ Guardian

‘Gripping’ Woman’s Weekly

Critics Review

'I was utterly addicted to Those People Next Door. It's a stunning, thought-provoking and morally challenging read ... It was so vivid and will make readers question their own values and viewpoints all in the context of a world-class story' Graham Bartlett, author of Bad For Good

'An enthralling, heartbreaking and thrilling courtroom drama that had me shouting out loud and gripped until the last page' Nadine Matheson

'If Jane Austen were alive, she would not be writing about zombies but the sorts of novels that Kia Abdullah does. They perch on society's fault lines, observing how the codes of class and race determine actions, how good intentions can be a weakness, how a word or a gesture can lead inexorably to catastrophe ... Admire the sureness with which [Abdullah] paints the bigger picture' The Times (Thriller of the Month)

'This powerful social drama about racism and microaggression in today's society is a must-read' Prima

'A tense, clever tale about the seething underbelly of a picture-perfect suburban town' Country and Town House

'This gripping page-turner about nightmare neighbours explores how far ordinary people can descend to defend loved ones' Platinum

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