Reviewed by Mimie Odigwe for Readers' Favorite
Before the Lights Go Out by Jafe Danbury is a sweeping domestic thriller that weaves mystery and family drama together. Reagan Dunkel, a photographer living in Washington State, receives a devastating diagnosis: she has retinitis pigmentosa, an inherited genetic disorder that will render her completely blind within two to three years. Her teenage daughter, Steffi, has already shown early signs of the same disease. Rather than succumb to despair, Reagan decides to take Steffi on a trip to Germany to create memories. However, this journey becomes much more than a mother-daughter bonding getaway. Reagan makes a haunting discovery in one of her photographs, and she must defend herself and her daughter before her world turns dark.
The novel highlights themes of motherly love, betrayal, resilience, and, finally, spiritual awakening as Reagan learns to find the light in the darkness. The narrative moves quickly as Reagan discovers the truth about her husband, and it culminates in a cinematic showdown. Jafe Danbury excels at creating vivid sensory details: the smell of the Hamburg fish market, the taste of German pastries, and the texture of rope lighting guides in a dark house. I look forward to seeing Before the Lights Go Out adapted for the screen. Danbury has crafted a compelling protagonist in Reagan Dunkel and well-written supporting characters. The mother-daughter dynamic is the heart of the novel, and the friendship with Ames is written in its purest sense: one of loyalty, support, and banter. The dialogue and the characters are realistic.
