 February 2006
What's Done in the Dark
by Gloria Mallette
Sibling rivalry pales in the face of down right animosity as WHAT’S DONE IN THE DARK – truly comes to light. Discord in any form can be the fabric for chaos especially where it involves family. The thread that weave this story is much more friction than fabric where sisters Katrina and Celeste Dawson are concerned. The characters are not predictable in this story about two sisters sharing space with growing pains. Big sister Katrina masters guile with a cunning disposition. Celeste, sought more from her sister but always received less, learns the hard way why unrequited love is so hard to tame. Other family members are drawn into the malaise, but for different reasons. The gist of the story centers on familial (dis) order dealing with trust, betrayal, and infidelity . When are integrity, communication, and faithfulness to be adhered to keep untamed taboos in order? How true is the old adage of blood being thicker than water, and…. how deep should any member of a dysfunctional family go to heal wounds?
Ms Mallette does a great job in giving us intricate layers of supporting role players to this story by giving reasons why the husbands of these sisters were not totally blameless in the game of infidelity. You would also want to know why it’s not okay to allow family members to pass ill will on to children causing irreparable damage for years to come. We no doubt have experienced sibling rivalry all in some capacity, but Gloria Mallette’s imagery is drama personified with Katrina’s central dislike of Celeste. I particularly liked the contrast in the characteristic value in each of the characters that gives the story substance.
Author Gloria Malette’s seventh novel gives more of what has defined her writing skill amid verve, giving us more of what we come to expect. I say this because every book that she has written since the poignant Weeping Willows Dance has not disappointed. In this latest edition, the story is reminiscent of a moderately moving river gaining momentum at opportune times, but mellowing toward a climatic, if not surprising ending. What also comes to mind is the feeling that the author wanted to convey messages where breaches of confidence can only be deficient in brightness for so long before wrongdoing is exposed. Reading this book will surely deem it page worthy and convincing in that regard. I rated the book far exceeding with 4.5 stars out of 5. Compliments to Ms Mallette for another ugly relationship scrubbed clean with values reaffirmed!
Reviewed by Alvin C. Romer for The GRITS Online Reading Club |
