The Darkness Inside

by Tam Hussein

A pioneering, politically relevant novel by award-winning British journalist, Tam Hussein - shortlisted for the Orwell Prize for Journalism 2022.

'You're a sick bastard.'
'Everyone has some darkness,' replied Anis.

Anis is the latest victim of London's knife epidemic.

To journalist Sid, the story is an excellent opportunity to be recognised and take a swipe at the Mayor of London's policies. But as he digs he realises that the lead up to Anis' death didn't begin in London, but on the killing fields of. Syria.

As Sid begins to piece together what happened, it has devastating consequences for him and those around him...

Tam Hussein's thrilling debut novel explores contemporary issues through fiction. Using his own experience and creative writing, Darkness Inside promises to be one of the darkest, most timely and relevant novels of the year by one of the UK's most original journalists.

What they say about The Darkness Inside and Tam's writing

'Love your writing' - Riz Ahmed, Oscar-winning actor

'Excited to read this- Tam is one of the most knowledgeable and talented writers on this topic.' - Clarissa Ward, CNN

'One of the most informed and informative writers on Jihadism alive today. His investigative work is profound, incisive and uncommon' - Hassan Hassan - editor-in-chief at New Lines Magazine

'Will surely become a classic'- The New Arab

'Hussein’s style and subject matter — journalism, war and spies — bridge the worlds of other renowned novelists of these genres, including Stieg Larsson, Robert Harris and John le Carré. With great care to detail and a fluid narrative, The Darkness Inside manages to keep us hooked and alert, leaving us wondering whether we’ll meet Sid again in a future book.' - The Markaz Review

'A superbly clever, engrossing London Muslim-noir novel by Tam Hussein' - Ethan Chorin, author of Benghazi! and Translating Libya

'The excellent Tam Hussein has long been one of the one of the very best journalists. His debut is deservedly getting rave reviews.' - Paul Cruickshank, editor-in-chief at CTC Sentinel, Author of Nine Lives and Agent Storm

'Rare to see such an engaging piece of fiction that deals with our world, reads like a good thriller and yet is deeply reflective and worth dwelling on.' - Tarek Megrisi, Senior fellow at European Council of Foreign Relations

'A must read book...and one of the most knowledgeable experts on contemporary Jihadism' - Roozbeh Kaboly, Emmy award winning director

'Really looking forward to reading this debut novel by one of the best investigative reporters around' - Robert Verkaik, author of Jihadi John, the making of a terrorist

'This guy delivered the on-the-ground research that gave The State such immediacy and authenticity back in 2017. This is bound to be an incredible read.' - Sam Otto, actor in Channel Four drama, The State

'I am really looking forward to reading this first novel...- whose journalism and long-form writing is always illuminating, gripping and significant.' - Donald McRae, author of Dark Trade

'Incredible literary achievement' - Brian Whitaker, Guardian

'Tam is a brillia

Genres: Fiction

376 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 3, 2022

Reviews

[Steve Lamattina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I stumbled across this book on Twitter, and rarely do I grab something without looking through reviews etc, especially as I normally read sci fi. But I'm glad I did! Great, dark book... not sure whether I'd call it a mystery, crime novel, or something else, but I enjoyed the multiple perspectives and the representation in the novel too. It was an interesting insight into journalism too, and was very easy to keep turning the pages. Recommend 😊

[Dimitri Cautain · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book with an addictive plot and relatable characters. Clearly it is written with intimate knowledge of London-based journalism scene.
The plot is full of deepening intrigue, starting from what could be yet another story of a violent and tragic knife attack in London had it not crossed the path of curious, passionate, and against the grain journalist such as Sid. Sid's investigation into this murder is the backbone to a plot which takes the reader to scenes set in the past & abroad, without ever losing sight of the story Tam Hussein is walking us through.
The true genius of Tam's book lies in his precise presentation of his characters which we discover primarily through the lens of the protagonist : Sid. Nonetheless, Tam Hussein allows for rich character development to happen by following the lives of many characters at home, at work, and in the past that they would rather keep out of the eyes of a prying journalist. Not only does this character development add to the intrigue, it creates a strong attachment to the story.
In addition, there are many details which Tam Hussein includes in the book (and reveals in very well thought out manner) which create a genuinely credible journalism environment.
In short, a thrilling read.

[Alhakam Shaar · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an Aleppian who's recently moved to the UK and as a novice in the world of thrillers/crime novels, I found The Darkness Inside to be a gripping read! The places, the characters, the plot, are all well chosen; and the era we live in quite sarcastically considered. This is great fiction by Tam Hussein, whose stellar non-fiction reporting on political Islam and Jihad in Asia, the UK, and everywhere in between I follow on Twitter and Substack. For The Darkness Inside he drew inspiration from his coverage of the Middle East and beyond, as well as his life and media experience in London.

I have a strong feeling that people from all backgrounds and demographics will appreciate this novel. I certainly did.

[Obaidullah Baheer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. This is one of my best reads of the year. Tam builds up his characters so beautifully and there is no predictability to the storyline either. Those who have lived in the intricate worlds laid out in these pages would tell you that the research behind this is impeccable. As the title says, there surely is darkness within all of us and this book showcases that grey, the mixing of light and dark, so well.

[KFK · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an interesting read. The combo of cultures and religions with a "current affairs" background made it a hell of a plot. Sid, journalist, is a focussed journalist who doesn't care about rules (or respect to fellow journalists, which is quite sad).
Martha, amazing Italian, plays such a strong and important role.
And all other characters are interesting and have their important roles in the story.
Ending wasn't what I expected. But it probably was realistic.

[Sammy Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting read, with a good mix of detailed subjects, including journalists and the arena they work in. This book delves further into the world of crime and ideological causes that few people see or understand, prompting the reader to ask more questions of the characters and themselves. Recommended!

[Faheem · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Darkness Inside is an excellent yarn and fully deserving of 4 stars (I’m a harsh marker!). Full of full-bodied characters, pitch-perfect dialogue, disturbing sets of moralities, and plot-grenades worthy of a 12-parter on Netflix, with characters so vivid it makes me wonder if I saw them at the Kebabish down the road. Yet, despite its dark themes; in many ways The Darkness Inside is an ode to the seamy side of London that few see. Here, everyone is out for their pound, whether it’s grist-spittled-vest-wearing butcher to tuxedo-preening Telegraph columnist, and anyone who isn’t getting any is happy to-do-nuthin’ until they get fingers in pie.

But don’t trust this book though; this is not the raspy media satire it sets out to be; a most filthy industry pock-marked with effete white-knights and natural psychopaths. Instead it turns out to be an exploration of the bloody consequences of the foreign adventures of Jihadist Londoners and the harrowing tale of what happens next when these ‘returnees’ as they come back all skilled-up and brutalised. (There’s enough parallels with our current Ukraine adventures that only the ‘nuance’ brigade will fail to miss).

The reader is left with the uncomfortable assurance that only in Marvel do our heroes exist; in real life our heroes betray us and leave us battered and whimpering in the corridor.