Dark Places

"I couldn't put this book down.""Gripping. I honestly did not want it to end.""A true triumph. I laughed out loud and cried several times.""Incredible. A work of art."“Beautiful, heartbreaking, honest, hopeful, and oh so much more.”"Wow. So emotionally resonant.""I really felt seen, less alone, and more appreciative of my own complexity and richness."

A Book That Asks "What happened?"

When Jen learns that her father has decided to end his life in just seven days, she embarks on an urgent quest to solve the mystery behind his years-long disappearance.What follows is a riveting braiding of past and present as she reckons with inherited secrets, stories, and sadness in an attempt to come to terms with how her father—an eccentric and well-known anti-poverty activist—chose to live and die.Dark Places is more than a poignant father-daughter redemption story, it is also a vital model for finding hope in hardship, and learning how to accept both complicated feelings and people.

A meditation on

Healing and Finding Meaning

Dark Places is an emotionally resonant examination of the perplexing interconnectedness of life, love, and loss.As one reader put it: "I felt like I was travelling with you through many gates of grief, living in the ashes, and finding myself transformed along with you."

for readers seeking

Deeper Truths and Connections

By exploring the contradictions of a man revered for his idealism yet undone by it, Dark Places offers a universal reflection on how we can find grace, forgiveness, and even love for those who have disappointed us.

There is Beauty to Be Found in Dark Places

"It resonated so deeply with me and my own complicated relationship with my dad.""Truly an honor to read…what a powerful story.""So raw and real. It’s vulnerable, it’s beautiful. It’s special. 10/10 would recommend.""Hugely complex. Human. Resonant.""I found myself refusing to put this down, and thrilled while reading and that is the best kind of book.""It caused me to stop and think about my own relationship with my father.""Wow. This book transported me through times and spaces and it felt like I was there as the story came to life with every word written."

The Author

Jen Dyck-Sprout

Jen is a Brooklyn-based Canadian, motherless mom, cancer survivor, and professional multi-hyphenate. When she's not writing or exploring, she is helping mission-driven companies and leaders scale their impact.In her newsletter, she publishes essays offering alternative, nature-inspired perspectives on topics such as career navigation and relationships.

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