McHugh's most satisfying novel yet. I was quickly drawn into this tale and the pacing keeps things moving at a perfect clip. McHugh could have delved a little deeper into the secondary and tertiary characters, but I liked how she kept the focus mainly on Sarah and the mysteries being unspooled both in the present and her past. Although I guessed several plot details early on, this didn't keep the book from being an entertaining ride that dabbles in some very dark corners and at times made me physically recoil. I feel like my wariness of religious zealots was definitely reaffirmed by the story's events.

There is nothing quite like a segregated religious cult to create a tense, atmospheric setting, which immediately put this book on my radar. I am happy to say that I wasn’t disappointed! WHAT’S DONE IN DARKNESS tells the story of Sarabeth, a young girl growing up in an ultra religious family in the isolated Ozark mountains. Like her peers, she is expected to grow into a good wife and mother, married off in her teens to a man of her parents’ choosing and from there on bound to house and home with the expectation of meekness and servitude to her husband. But unlike her younger sister, Sarabeth remembers a life before her parents joined the church, and she longs for the freedom she has since lost.

McHugh does a brilliant job in creating a sense of claustrophobia as we see the word through Sarabeth’s eyes. Her only escape from her strict parents is to offer her help in the household of a neighbouring family, where she enjoys things like TV, books or music, all banned in her own home. Sarabeht knows that soon this small reprieve will come to an end, as her parents are planning to marry her off soon. She longs to escape, but how can she get away, when her every move is being monitored by her family and the church? Sarabeht’s escape will come about through an unlikely event – one day, when stocking the family’s farm stall with produce, she is abducted and held prisoner for a week.

Now an adult and estranged from her family, Sarah (as she is now known as), still bears the scars of her strange childhood. When another girl disappears and police ask her to help them with their investigation, Sarah will finally have to confront her past.

Rolling out in two different timelines – one in the present and one from the POV of a much younger Sarabeth – the reader soon gets drawn into the sinister world of a strict religious cult where you cannot trust anyone or take anything at face value. And when Sarah returns to her childhood home, she once again puts herself in terrible danger.

I loved the way McHugh created tension by letting a young Sarabeth narrate the story of her everyday family life. There is an undercurrent of menace here that really got under my skin and made me feel trapped like an animal in a cage, envisaging Sarabeth’s bleak future.

In summary, WHAT’S DONE IN DARKNESS is part mystery, part a character study of a young woman coming to terms with her ultra-religious upbringing and the trauma of her abduction and captivity that has ultimately freed her from the confines of her controlling family. It is dark and claustrophobic and oozes tension, and kept me in its grip whilst also touching my heart. Noone quite captures the claustrophobic atmosphere of Ozark mountain villages like Laura McHugh, and if this type of setting appeals to you, I also highly recommend reading her earlier book THE WEIGHT OF BLOOD.

All Too Real. This is one of those books that apparently I can speak to in a way no other reviewer on Goodreads has so far - from the conservative evangelical American Christian side. Growing up on the exurbs of Atlanta, I knew lands not dissimilar from what McHugh describes in this text in the Ozarks. Very rural lands where even by car the nearest single stop sign town can be an hour away. Farmlands with houses tucked into the trees or far out in the fields. And while I never exactly imagined these kinds of events taking place in them, I'm also familiar enough with the very strains of extremely conservative evangelical Christian culture that McHugh plays off of here. And yes, a lot of the attitudes McHugh describes are all too real - and fairly common, within those circles. Even the ultimate actions here are close enough to things I've personally seen as to be plausible, including the actual endgame and reasoning - which would be a spoiler to even discuss glancingly. An excellent creepy thrill ride, this is one of those books that could damn near be a news article. Which would make it a perfect candidate for a screen near you. ;) Very much recommended.

A decent thriller that handles delicate issues well but doesn't neuter the danger. The setting of an insular religious community provides plenty of possible "bad guys" because that everything about it (lack of oversight, discouraging women to think for themselves or be independent, full and total trust in religious leaders) is a welcoming beacon for bad people to take up residence.

Once <spoiler> the puppy mill was discovered, it seemed pretty obvious to me what was going on, it's just a puppy mill for people, </spoiler> but with this type of thriller, that's not a bad time to figure it out. Just enough ahead of the characters that I get to feel smart, and I get to have the tension of knowing what Sarah doesn't yet. That's a really delicate line for an author to walk, with giving clues, and I liked how it worked here. <spoiler> The help from the animal rescuers felt a little deus ex machina. I guess she called it in enough ahead of time and it's an emergency situation, I don't know enough about those groups to know if it is realistic, but also I was rooting hard enough for the girls that I guess I'm not mad at a definite and easy escape. </spoiler>

A great standalone about a dark topic that doesn't dwell voyeuristically, where not everything is tied up with a neat little bow but the main plot answers are given and satisfying. Would recommend.

What's Done in Darkness grabbed me from the very first sentence. I could feel the heat and humidity, the boredom of long hours alone in the fruit stand, the desperate longing for something to change in the future Sarabeth saw stretched out before her. Her parents wanted her married and settled down to be an obedient wife to a man they chose for her. Sarabeth just wanted out. Out of the tight-knit religious community, out of long heavy dresses and endless work. When a masked man grabs her from the fruit stand and keeps her blindfolded in darkness for a week, then dumps her beside a highway, she finally gets out, physically. But she doesn't escape the mental and emotional prison of the trauma until a detective asks her help in finding another missing girl. McHugh is masterful in so many ways. This is a suspenseful page turner. Don't miss it!

This is the lowest I've ever rated a Laura McHugh novel. Just want to say, I really enjoy her stories. Her debut novel, "The Weight of Blood" is still her strongest novel in my opinion. Her latest, "What's Done in Darkness" was such a disappointment. I had a hard time engaging with the overall plot. Very slow-moving. The main character, Sarabeth was a frustrating character. She comes across like an unreliable narrator which does not work for this type of novel. I must admit, I really struggled with the writing style. I felt like McHugh didn't even write this herself. Did she hire a ghostwriter? The prose was so literal and on the nose. No intrigue, and not enough lyrical imagery which is something McHugh excels at. Maybe I'm just getting tired of this genre in general. All have predictable endings and plot twists. If you are a fan of thrillers, then you'll probably love this. Just look at the glowing reviews so far, I'm in the minority here apparently.

Thank you, Netgalley and Random House for the digital ARC.

Thank you Netgalley, Random House, and Laura McHugh for allowing me to read this ARC of What’s Done In Darkness. This is the first book I have read by Laura McHugh and at first I had a little trouble getting into it. Sarabeth was a hard character to get to know, so I didn’t take to her until later in the book. I’m not sure what finally made this book grab me, but at that point I had to keep reading until I was finished. I will look for more books by this author because I liked the intertwined stories and the writing.

This book was another hit from the author. It is a fun, quick read filled with mystery and suspense. There was enough suspense to keep the reader turning pages. This is a book which I would recommend to others.

I've been a longtime fan of Laura McHugh's books and WHAT"S DONE IN DARKNESS does not disappoint.

Sarabeth/Sarah is a relatable main character. Even in the present day storyline when she is struggling to overcome her past trauma, she retains independence and agency, which is important. As a reader, I felt very connected to her plight.

The narrative alternates between past and present and the technique serves the novel well, in part because McHugh keeps us situated in each story for an appropriate amount of time before switching. I never felt like I had "whiplash" or got bored.

There's a great sense of tension through the book, which combined with the realistic characters and vivid setting, result in a superb suspense novel. In addition, the ending is satisfying and wraps the story up nicely but in a somewhat surprising way.

Another great thriller from one of my favorite authors! The title, What Is Done in Darkness, reverberated in my mind as I shut the book after a “could not put it down” weekend of reading. Might want to keep your lights on while enjoying this book! Laura McHugh tells the story of Sarah, who’s is abducted and her abduction story is questioned. And then, other girls go missing. Can Sarah help authorities when Nick Farrow of the local force reaches out for her possible assistance in finding these missing girls? The setting is vivid and frames the background of Sarah’s family dynamics which are key in their strict upbringing. Who can she help save and who can she not? Put aside some uninterrupted time to find out!

While it may be her shortest novel to date, Laura McHugh's fourth effort really packs a punch. From the moment that main character Sarabeth Shepherd is abducted in the opening pages, to the poignant ending that comes after some shocking twists, I was riveted and could barely put this book down. I had a general idea of who was responsible for Sarabeth's kidnapping as well as the disappearance of the other "troubled" girls, but the way the story unfolded was still surprising and a real nailbiter. The characters are well developed and complex.

There are several reasons why I enjoy McHugh's writing so much and consider her my favorite modern author. Add this book to that list!

Laura McHugh wrote a troubling book in What's Done in Darkness. Sarabeth's parents are extremely strict religious fundamentalists. Their adoption of fundamentalist principles was believable. McHugh introduces the readers to fundamentalist communities and separateness. This is a good mystery with just enough tension to keep a person reading to the end.

Laura is such an amazing storyteller. What’s Done In Darkness attested to that! It was a beautiful and emotional thriller that kept me guessing while on the edge of my seat the entire time.

Sarabeth found herself in a whole new world when her parents decided to get rid of almost all of their possessions and be one with God. She soon started to rebel, wanting nothing more than to run away. When her chance came, it was not in the way anyone should experience.

After being kidnapped, held hostage, and left for dead on the side of the road, she thought the worst was behind her. Little did she know, after being shunned, it was far from over.

As the years went by, she continued to struggle with everyday life. When Nick, an investigator, convinced her he needed her help, would she be able to finally put the past behind her or would her world be turned upside down again?

I have loved all of Laura’s books but there was something about this one that put it over the top. It was so raw, I felt like I was there with Sarabeth experiencing first hand the nightmare she had been through. It also had so many surprises that I did not see coming!! What a masterpiece!

Laura McHugh has a way with words that makes me absolutely devour her novels. What's Done in Darkness takes place in the Missouri/Arkansas Ozarks. Sarabeth Shepard was found half dressed on the side of the highway when she was seventeen. She had been missing for a week, but no one had reported her missing because her family thought she had left on her own free will. Her story is covered by all the new stations and the local sheriff does not believe her and makes her out to be a liar in the news. Sarabeth changes her name to Sarah and moves away to the city to gain some anonymity and move on from the week of horror and the aftermath that she experienced. The past s behind her -- until she receives a call from a state trooper asking for her help in similar disappearances. They are all girls who have a similar background of being homeschooled and from uber-religious families, Sarah must face her family and her past to help.

What's Done in Darkness was a page turner to the very end. Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A slow burn of a mystery with convincing characters including Sarah, who is recovering from trauma but still has agency and smarts, a well-developed sense of place (Ozarks/Midwest), credible twists and turns, ratcheting tension, and a satisfying conclusion. McHugh's writing is top notch and I was never put off by any "false notes." This is my first time reading this author but now I'll turn back to her first and catch up! 5 star review, Goodreads.

Thrilling rural noir ride back and forth from past to present. Laura McHugh's best book since The Weight of Blood in my opinion. The book transitions well from past Sarabeth to present Sarabeth to ultimately lead to the revelation of who lays behind a sickening scheme in the Ozarks. Laura McHugh vividly describes this area of Missouri with stunning accuracy. I gobbled this book up like my life depended on it.

Posted on Goodreads 2/25/21

Wow, Laura McHugh has done it again! Her latest character-driven, dual narrative thriller, What's Done in Darkness, kept me turning the pages even more compulsively than I had when reading The Weight of Blood, the first of her books that reeled me in immediately and kept me awake way too late at night. That first impression of her work compelled me to read every word McHugh had written to that point and all the rest that she will ever write, and you better believe I haven't been disappointed in the least. You'll see plenty of reviews with the typical recap of the story prior to the reviewer's personal response, so I'll skip that part and just say that I give What's Done in Darkness, and Laura McHugh herself, the highest praise and admiration. I'm an author myself, which has at times ruined the reading experience because I'm now also perpetually in editor mode as I read, but once again I was happy to lose that critical eye while I was immersed in the tense and complex story web McHugh has woven for us. We find ourselves entangled, squirming at times but unable to wriggle free until the final page, and then wishing only that the book would go on longer, though we also know it had been the exact right length. I'm so thoroughly impressed by Laura McHugh's deftness with language and plot and her devotion to character above all else. This is not only a great thriller, it's a damn good novel. Five big stars.

Gripping thriller that takes place in a remote community centered around a very strict religion. While some young people like the environment, Sarabeth wants to escape back to the 'real world' where she has the freedom to make her own decisions and set the course for her own life. Being kidnapped wasn't part of her plan, but she is eventually released and starts building a new life--until another girl in a similar situation disappears and Sarabeth is called on to help find her. I liked the suspense of the current situation and the gradual revealing of Sarah's backstory. I also like the characters (well, not the creepy ones!) In addition, McHugh does a really good job establishing a sense of place.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me a free e-ARC of this book.

The audience fir suspense-thriller novels is predominantly female, but Laura McHugh's standout latest, WHAT'S DONE IN DARKNESS, is a case study in why all men should read them. More than most, WHAT'S DONE IN DARKNESS shows how young women are forced to see all males in their orbit through a sexualized lens. Sometimes it's because the girls are interested in exploring their developing feelings, but more often it's because the boys and men around them insist on defining the young women in sexual terms: "I worry about you." "Why do you dress like that?" "Damn, you're growing up fast." "You should smile more — you'd be prettier." "You don't know what it's like out there, and you need me to look after you."

Sarah Shepherd knows all of these and more, as a woman who used to be a teen girl whose parents and wider fundamentalist religious community in small-town Arkansas were determined to equally shape and protect her virtue through seemingly nonstop shaming designed to strip her of all her self-esteem and personal agency. When that suppression culminates in her weeklong abduction and subsequent release, she tries to reinvent herself in the real world as an adult, only to find that she's afraid to face the world because she's never closed the book on what happened to her. And when a cop exploring similar disappearances kicks in the door of her psychological shelter ....

WHAT'S DONE IN DARKNESS is a huge leap forward fort Laura McHugh, sho's done no wrong so far in her career. In the solidity of its parallel structure, its page-turning glide, and its pitch-perfect characterizations of religious fervor and the small-town culture of fear, the story has strong resonant echoes of what's happening in the world today. ("I wasn't the only survivor in recent years to be accused of pulling a real0life Gone Girl, to fail the purity test for girls who come back alive.")

And the novel's central challenge is to all of us — especially us men — demanding that we more deeply examine how we look upon young women and how we behave around them, and develop our empathy muscles so we can see how we look in their eyes. And if we get a little closer to getting there because of Laura McHugh's brilliant new novel, we may someday emerge from a greater darkness.

What a satisfying mystery, and had an ending I never even thought of.
Sarabeth was kidnapped....and then returned. Five years later, more mysterious things have happened in her hometown. Sara left her ultra religious family after the kidnapping- nobody believed her anyway. But now here sister is getting married, and she is ready to go home, and maybe solve her own mystery.