They built identities to survive. They told lies to keep the peace. Now everything they’ve hidden is demanding the light.
“Every shut eye ain’t sleep, every goodbye ain’t gone, and what’s done in the dark always comes to light.”
Mama Ella’s final words were a warning that unsettled Karina—a heavy prophecy impossible to ignore. A week later, Candace showed up at the funeral.After their grandmother’s death, estranged sisters Candace and Karina, burdened by years of silence, hurt, and everything they’ve never said, inch toward reconciliation. Yet what could be a simple reunion becomes something far more complicated as old tensions flare and long-shadowed truths edge into the light.
Grief forces proximity. But it’s the past—restless, unresolved, and insistent—that forces confrontation and demands acknowledgment. As pieces of their family history shift into place, Candace and Karina are pushed to the lies they leaned on,the identities they created to survive,the choices whose consequences still echo,and the complicated terrain of forgiveness and accountability.Raw, emotionally layered, and impossible to turn away from, Done in the Dark is a powerful contemporary fiction novel about family secrets, sisterhood, and the reckoning that comes when what has been hidden is finally revealed.
Tamara Morgan is a Berkeley, California native and an alumna of UC Berkeley and Stanford Law School. She has been an avid reader, book collector and crafter of stories since kindergarten. Decades of serving as a diversity, equity and inclusion leader and an employment law attorney has deepened her appreciation for the behaviors and beliefs that unite people and prove that we are all rooted through stories. Tamara’s journey, marked by overcoming personal adversity with the support of a strong sisterhood, has inspired her commitment to empowering women, youth and people of color. She is a proud mother, grandmother, and dog mom.
4.25⭐️ I knew my trusted book besties wouldn’t let me down with this one! Two estranged sisters reconnect at their grandmothers funeral after 17 years of separation with no contact. Karina and Candace were as thick as thieves until they weren’t. After one devastating night their relationship plummets. Secrets, lies and misunderstandings are examined and the sisters try to build what once was. This was such a cozy read. I enjoyed every minute of this one until the end. I need answers!!😤 That was a huge disappointment for me as I prefer closure at the end of a story. The author left it up to me to imagine what happens next for everyone. Nevertheless, this was sooo good and I highly recommended.
"Every shut eye ain’t sleep, all goodbyes ain’t gone and what’s done in the dark always comes to light."
Thank you, Tamara Morgan, for writing an amazing story and providing a dope playlist to match! I will never forget these characters; they will always be a part of me!
Done in The Dark was a great read ! It had all the makings — sex & lies, secrets, and more. Watching this play out was a little difficult. I found myself talking to my kindle and yelling at both sisters. They both continued to make so many stupid decisions 😭 I mean, true teenager bullsh*t that really just escalated way too far. My heart broke a few times.. the discussions we had while reading were so much fun. This was a great book for conversation.
Completely messy in the best way possible—I ate this TF up! The drama never let up for a single second. Without giving too much away, it’s about two sisters who fall out and spend 16 years apart. But when they finally reconnect, every buried secret comes spilling out, shaking up the safe spaces they’ve built for themselves with their resentment and secrets!
The story jumps between two timelines, the late ’80s/early ’90s and the early 2000s, which adds so much depth to the story. And if you’re from the Bay? Oh, you gon’ feel this one. The author, being a Bay Area native, laced this book with references to real spots, events, and situations that feel way too familiar. I swear, some of these characters might as well have been me, my own friends or even my family because the way their experiences mirror real life is wild.
Be warned though, this book had me ready to crash out! I wanted to fight, scream, and cry the whole time. That’s how you know it was good. For this to be her debut? Yeah, I’m highly impressed. I need more ASAP!
I did not except this book to go so hard. It started off with a bang. 1/2 way through I was questioning how this was a YA and I was hooked in all the drama. And the drama kept coming to the very last page!
This is about 2 sisters who deal with a insufferable loss at and early age that proves to be detrimental to their relationship leading to an explosive reunion 17 years later.
I know my neighbor is sick of me from the way I was hollering during the final portion of the book but it was just that good!
As the saying goes, "What's done in the dark will come to the light" and that is exactly what happens in the shocking revelations of this book.
Tamara Morgan PLEASE give me book 2/a bonus epilogue/novella, SOMETHING because the way the book ended had me shooketh! I just had to sit at my table for a moment to process what I read. YOU DID THAT!
"Every shut eye ain't sleep, every goodbye ain't gone, and what's done in the dark always comes to light."
I think l'm seriously speechless! But I only have one question Tamara, is there going to be a book 2? Because girl, I have questions! This is hands down one of the best debut novels I have ever read!!!
This book should be talked about much more! The ending left my mind blown. So many layers, so many secrets. A story about sisters going from best friends to rivalries after their lives are turned upside down all in one night. The tension throughout this book is so real and will have you wanting to toss the book down at times, only to pick it right back up. Great storytelling!
Side note: The author did a great job developing the characters. They all had their own voices and it’s easy to decipher between all characters, who they are and what actions they’ll take, which makes their voices seem authentic. This is sometimes hard for writers to do, but Tamara Morgan really nailed it!
I have so many thoughts about this book. The first one being that ending 🤯😳. I need the sequel now.
I felt so many emotions while I was reading this book: I kept thinking my gawd, how much more is Kandace going to have to endure. My strongest emotion was rage towards Karina, she’s a horrible sister. I was so happy to see that Kandace and Nick had turned their lives around so much and were still together.
All the secrets, lies, and betrayal between these sisters and their husbands. I don’t know if they are going to survive this, but cant wait to find out.
Every time I think about leaving booksta, a book comes along to remind me of why I started my page in the first place. 1. To talk about the books I love, and didn’t love. 2. To always make space for books by Black authors. 3. Tap into my creative ideas with book pics. Karina and Candi are sisters who have been estranged for the last 17 years. They’re surprisingly thrust back into each other’s lives at their grandmother’s funeral. Then we go back in time to see what actually caused such a huge rift in their relationship. These sisters went through so much trauma following their parents deaths, especially Candi! Her story gets very gritty when she was struggling for survival. But I think what did them in most was the years of overwhelming guilt they felt. All the buried secrets come spilling out! All of the rash, weedkless decisions made in their teen years changed the trajectory of their lives! My body was so tense in the scenes where the sisters would meet as I waited for the inevitable dog walking that needed to happen!! Karina had 17 years of ass whoopings to cash in on 😂 This book was incredible in so many ways! It’s set apart because it goes dark and covered a topic that I’m not used to reading about! Both characters make you both hate them, but you also want to hug, love, and protect them. I love it when an author can be original and think outside the box while also sending me through a whirlwind of emotions. Baby, this was a jaw dropping read for sure. I stayed up into the wee hours of the morning reading because I could not put it down. The way the author swerved so effortlessly between past/present and POVs 🙌🏾 And to the author: you left us cliffing and hanging 😲 Where is book 2??! Done in the Dark has been my favorite read this month!! I read this edgy, cup runneth over with drama story with @theofficialchapterchat book club and we all rated 4.5 & 5 ⭐️. This book brought me out of a hellavu reading slump. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐛 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬? 𝐈𝐆 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐬, 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐂𝐥𝐮𝐛 𝐀𝐩𝐩, 𝐒𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡, 𝐙𝐨𝐨𝐦, 𝐅𝟐𝐅, 𝐞𝐭𝐜. I liked chatting each chapter on Fable, but enjoy Zooms too…
This was really good. The book had me HOT majority of the time but that just means it was a great plot. This just goes to show you what happens when people are rooted in jealousy and don’t have a good heart:
This is a story that you’re going to need a glass of wine to drink just to process it all. These young ladies went through so much unimaginable heartbreak. It really just makes you think about how one lie can change your whole life. Because once you tell one lie, you’ll always have to create more lies just to cover up the first one.
This book was read with our book club The Official Chapter Chat on fable. And we had a great time !
I read this in my book club The Chapter Chat over on Fable app and man! This was the best book I’ve read so far this year! This was everything I wanted in a book. Family drama, mess and the emotions! This book was jaw dropping! The writing was amazing you can feel the emotions of the characters and the scenes was very vivid. This was a great debut Tamara! Looking forward to reading more from you!!!
When I tell you this was a book I couldn’t put down!! WOW WOW WOW!!! It was messy, emotional, dramatic, and had twist after twist! The time this story took place was absolutely incredible and accurate. It’s scary what bitterness and jealousy looks like between two sisters and what seventeen years can do. Ms. Morgan, BRAVO!
What’s done in the dark always comes to light, so are we getting a part two or a short or something with the way the book ended?! OMG this book was soooo good just when I thought all the tea had spilled and the drama was over ….whew child the way my mouth dropped! My best read of the year so far! For a debut novel you did that Tamara!
Omg I was not expecting all that. It was SO GOOD! So many secrets and lies, I couldn’t put it down. The ending was crazy. Everything came together full circle and left me wanting more. I can’t believe this is a debut. I was so ready to get into more of Tamara’s writing. That being said, imma need book 2 ASAP!
wow, just wow. i am shocked, my wig has been snatched honey. tamara morgan did an AMAZING job with Done in the Dark - believe me when i say the five stars were earned! i wish i knew about the playlist before i read it, now i may have to read it again. if this book don't make you feel like you need a smoke [in a funny way] then you need to read it twice too!
synopsis Karina and Candi, estranged sisters make a reunion after 17 years, at their grandma Mama Ella's funeral. all of their secrets start coming to light and things get messy and emotional. they get to learn each other's story during their time apart -- and when i tell you, you could cut the tension with a butter knife every time. Their parents were killed when they were younger, they each blame each other and the hate is evident. From the mouth of Karina herself "Candi is a selfish, cold-hearted bitch, and her being here can only bring more upheaval into our lives.”
thoughts: the portrayal of the elders in this read felt like a warm hug from my ancestors. the advice they would give the girls, the cadence and memories from doing chores on a Saturday with the gospel music blazing. i loved everything about this book, despite the amount of tension and the fact i don't have sisters - it felt so relatable like you can see this being someone's life story or on a movie screen. the about and delivery of emotion felt so raw - and i have never wanted to fight a fictional character more than i wanted to lay hands on Karina's ass. now don't get me wrong, Candi did some fucked up things too, but i loved the development of Nick and her - even with their life struggles they made so much more for themselves, and the fact they stayed together that long was beautiful. i was so disappointed to see what happened to Nick and how the family's secrets affected him.
I need a fifth of hen and whole pack of cigarettes after this one lmao. Mind you, I don’t even smoke lmao!
A lie don’t care who tell it babyyy.. The miscommunication, the dishonesty, the betrayal, that heartbreak.. There were so many heavy moments, but this book was such a good read! I did not want to put it down because everything that was unfolding kept me on my toes! Rina was hardheaded all the way deep into adulthood and that frustrated me; she’s on my list of fictional characters that I want to fight. As an older sister, I resonated with the pressure that Candi felt with being ashamed and embarrassed of mistakes and consequences.. GRANTED it was on a much smaller scale and seemed like an ant compared to Candi’s whale sized issues.
Whelp, that’s about all I can give without me ranting and giving spoilers lol.
I read this book with The Official Chapter Chat on Fable, a great book to kick off the club with and get people engaged for sure.
First off WOWWWWW!! This book was amazing, I wasn’t prepared for everything going on. All the drama, lies and secrets had me stressed out lol I kept yelling and shaking my head and Karina and Candace. Both girls were immature and made a lot of crazy decisions, granted they were teenagers but these sisters were overboard. The plot twist at the end had my mouth drop, everything came full circle and was not expected at all. I pray there’s a book 2 because I need more like NOW!!
What a read! It has it all - sex, lies, secrets, love, hardships, betrayal, & more secrets. I’ve been on an emotional roller coaster while reading this book, but I loved every single page. I’ve gasped, cried, thrown the book, and even had to get up and walk away for a while. Well done on your debut novel Ms. Tamara Morgan. DITD was an exceptional read.
4.5🌟 Two sisters, Karina and Candace, were always close....until they weren't. One night, a horrific accident, and the sisters fell apart. There was so much to be taken in about this story. So much heartache and reaping. I could have strangled Karina. And that TWIST at the end!!!! I need another book ASAP!
Done in the Dark by Tamara Morgan is a gripping debut that explores what happens when love, grief, and blame collide. Candace and Karina begin as inseparable sisters, but after the death of their parents, their bond fractures in ways that feel painfully real. Each sister carries her own version of the truth, and neither can forgive the other—or themselves.
Morgan skillfully guides us through both sisters’ journeys, showing how the same tragedy can shape two very different lives. With their grandmother stepping in to raise them, the family appears held together on the surface, but beneath it lies a web of secrets that refuse to stay buried. One sudden departure changes everything, and from there the story unravels into a storm of family drama, love, betrayal, birth, death, and long-hidden truths.
For a debut novel, Done in the Dark is remarkably confident and emotionally layered. The storytelling pulls no punches, and by the final pages it’s clear: the lies holding this family together may be the very things that tear them apart. The setup for the next installment is intense, and the anticipation is well earned.
What’s done in the dark always comes to the light. There were so many secrets in this family that seemed to be created from guilt, jealousy and fear of being judged. Sometimes it’s just best to tell the truth and shame the devil. At least your conscious will be intact. Karina was a hard character to like in this book and I couldn’t imagine treating my sister the way that she did throughout this story. Just when you thought all the secrets had been revealed another one opens up at the end.
(No spoilers included) Wow, just wow! The twists and turns had me on edge the entire time. Messy, I tell ya. I felt every emotion I can think of while reading this. Great job Tamara, but pleeeeaase tell us there will be more!!! I have to know what happens next!!!
THE WAY I ALMOST THREW THE LASAGNA I JUST FINISHED MAKING!!
How dare you end like that!!!! Like How dare you!! Tell me the sequel is ready.. like today!
This book had no business taking me on that emotional rollercoaster! 🎢
I just can’t explain how this book made me felt and the fact that two sisters had lives incredible different but ultimately came back together. Lord is Nick okay like???
Done in the dark was a roller coaster ride! Two sisters Candice and Zarina are at odds going through their teenage years. Life takes Candice on a bad ride that she almost doesn’t come back from. Both sisters hold in lies and secrets that can destroy the current lives they’ve built apart from each other. Zarina got on my EEEENNNNNTIIIIIRRRRRE! Last nerve! This girl had my blood boiling throughout the whole story. How selfish and delusional can you really be for your whole life smdh poor candi didn’t stand a chance against a bitter little sister. I was glad when Zander’s mom had that talk with her because she told her the truth and I was also glad when Zander told her he make up stuff in her head a react on it cause girl what!?!?! The plot of the story was executed well all the way up until the end (cliffhanger) but good non the less. I feel there is room for a part 2 called comes to the light but hey I’m not an author lol. Great read overall.
Beautiful, heartbreaking, thrilling, captivating, and just all around a phenomenal book. Two sisters battling grief ans guilt after a traumatic night that was the result of their poor decisions. Secrets kept them apart, but a mutual pain bought them back together. What's done In the dark, no matter how long ago, eventually comes to the light. Some things may just be too great to come back from.
Wow!! All I can say it this book was good!!! I was hooked from beginning!! Like the book says : “Every shut eye ain’t sleep, every goodbye ain’t gone, and what’s done in the dark always comes to light.” Read it!!!
The story started a little slow and repetitive. I almost DNF'd, particularly due to the excessive use of "Mommy and Daddy". I'm glad I didnt. At around 40% it really picked up and I couldn't put it down. I'm hoping there's a part two in the fufure.