Things We Hide from the Light Summary, Characters and Themes
“Things We Hide from the Light” is a contemporary romance novel by Lucy Score, set in the fictional town of Knockemout, Virginia. It is the sequel to the popular novel “Things We Never Got Over.”
The story follows Nash Morgan, the town’s police chief, who is struggling to recover from being shot while on duty. He grapples with panic attacks and nightmares, trying to maintain his image as the “good Morgan brother.” His life takes an unexpected turn when his new neighbor, Lina Solavita, moves in next door. Lina is smart, sexy, and sees through Nash’s facade. The book explores themes of vulnerability, trust, and healing, as Nash and Lina navigate their growing attraction while facing the challenges of their pasts and the secrets that lie hidden in the small town.
Summary
Nash Morgan, the police chief of Knockemout, is struggling to find his footing months after being shot during an investigation into a stolen car ring.
Plagued by PTSD, anxiety attacks, and fragments of memory from that night, he wrestles with paranoia while trying to maintain control over his life and responsibilities in a town that looks to him for stability. Each day is a battle to push through the shadows of fear, even as he forces himself to wear the badge and keep Knockemout safe.
Living across the street is Lina Solavita, an insurance investigator known for her sharp instincts and nomadic lifestyle.
She has arrived in Knockemout with a secret mission: to recover a missing vintage Porsche connected to the same criminal organization that nearly cost Nash his life. Lina has learned to live detached from the places she visits, never staying long enough to form connections, but Nash’s quiet strength and watchful eyes draw her in despite herself.
Both burdened by their personal demons, Nash and Lina try to keep their distance, but shared vulnerabilities pull them closer. Late-night conversations turn into lingering touches, and the comfort they find in each other’s presence becomes impossible to ignore.
Their connection deepens further when Lina reveals the true reason she is in town, and together they begin to realize that Nash’s shooting and the stolen Porsche are part of the same tangled web of crime threatening Knockemout.
While Nash battles his own mind, he also faces turmoil within his department when rookie officer Tate Dilton’s racial profiling incident nearly leads to a lawsuit. Nash suspends Tate, adding to the chaos of his professional life and leaving him questioning who he can trust within his own ranks.
As Lina and Nash continue their investigations, they begin to suspect that the person behind the car thefts may also be the one responsible for Nash’s shooting, forcing them to confront dangers both old and new.
Amidst the chaos, their personal bond intensifies, leading to a passionate affair that offers them both solace they didn’t know they needed.
Yet when Nash encounters his estranged father, old wounds rip open, and fear of repeating his father’s mistakes pushes him to end things with Lina, believing that he is too damaged to give her the future she deserves.
The danger becomes all too real when Lina is kidnapped by two thugs and taken to a remote barn, where she discovers that Tate Dilton is not just a troubled officer but deeply involved in the stolen car ring.
Using her resourcefulness, Lina escapes and manages to alert Nash with the help of his determined niece, Waylay, setting the stage for a final confrontation.
Nash and his team race to the barn, leading to a tense, violent standoff. As the chaos unfolds, Nash’s memory clears, and he realizes that Tate was the one who shot him during the investigation.
In a moment of reckoning, Nash is forced to shoot and kill Tate to protect Lina, while Duncan Hugo, the leader of the car theft ring, is taken into custody, bringing an end to the criminal network that haunted them.
In the aftermath, Nash and Lina find their way back to each other, stronger and more whole for the battles they have fought side by side. They learn to embrace the possibility of a future together, letting go of fear and allowing themselves to heal.
Five years later, Nash and Lina are married and expecting twins, having built a life of quiet joy and steadfast love in the town that taught them how to fight for themselves and for each other.
Characters
Nash Morgan
Nash Morgan is the Police Chief of Knockemout, Virginia, a man deeply scarred by a near-fatal shooting that left him with PTSD. As the central male protagonist, Nash is portrayed as a figure of authority and strength, yet one who is profoundly vulnerable beneath the surface.
The trauma of the shooting haunts him, rendering him isolated, paranoid, and prone to anxiety attacks. Despite his professional demeanor, Nash yearns for stability and connection, which he finds increasingly difficult to achieve due to his psychological struggles.
His character arc involves a journey from a state of emotional turmoil to one of healing and rediscovery of love, facilitated by his relationship with Lina.
Nash’s protective nature, commitment to his duty, and gradual openness about his vulnerabilities make him a complex and relatable character.
Angelina “Lina” Solavita
Lina is an insurance investigator specializing in recovering stolen property, and her move to Knockemout introduces her to Nash Morgan.
She is independent, strong-willed, and bears her own scars from a traumatic past—specifically a life-threatening heart defect she overcame as a teenager. Lina’s nomadic lifestyle and reluctance to form attachments initially define her, but her attraction to Nash challenges her self-imposed boundaries.
Her character represents resilience and the struggle to balance independence with the need for connection.
Lina’s expertise and resourcefulness are crucial in unraveling the criminal activities in Knockemout, and her personal growth is marked by her willingness to embrace love and vulnerability, ultimately leading to a committed relationship with Nash.
Knox Morgan
Knox Morgan, Nash’s older brother, is a significant secondary character whose past relationship with Lina adds depth to the narrative.
Knox’s protective instincts and his complicated history with Lina provide additional layers to the family dynamics and the romantic tension in the story.
As a supportive figure, Knox aids in the investigation and stands by Nash during his recovery. His character underscores themes of familial loyalty and the complexities of past relationships impacting present connections.
Waylay
Waylay, Nash’s 12-year-old niece, plays a pivotal role in the investigation into the car theft ring. Her keen observation skills and courage significantly contribute to solving the mystery of Nash’s shooting.
Waylay’s character embodies youthful resilience and serves as a catalyst for key plot developments. Her relationship with Nash and Lina highlights the importance of community and family in overcoming adversity.
Tate Dilton
Tate Dilton is a rookie cop in Nash’s department who becomes a central antagonist in the story. Initially presented as an overzealous officer with a penchant for harassment, Tate’s true nature as a criminal associate of Duncan Hugo is gradually revealed.
His actions, driven by racial profiling and corruption, add to the legal troubles faced by the police department.
Tate’s eventual unmasking as the shooter and his involvement in Lina’s abduction underscore his role as a duplicitous and dangerous character, culminating in a dramatic showdown with Nash.
Duncan Hugo
Duncan Hugo is the son of an underworld kingpin and the mastermind behind the car theft ring that endangers Nash and Lina.
His desire to eliminate his father and take over the family criminal enterprise drives much of the conflict in the novel. Duncan’s character represents the ongoing threat of organized crime in Knockemout and serves as the main antagonist whose actions propel the narrative forward.
His capture and the resolution of his criminal activities mark a significant turning point in the story.
Nash’s Father
Nash’s estranged father, whose struggles with alcoholism following the death of Nash’s mother add emotional depth to Nash’s backstory, appears briefly but impactfully.
His character highlights themes of familial estrangement, regret, and the quest for redemption.
His encounter with Nash during a critical moment in the story underscores Nash’s feelings of helplessness and the complex emotions tied to his family relationships.
Themes
Vulnerability and the Journey of Healing
At its core, Things We Hide from the Light is a narrative about vulnerability and the painful, nonlinear journey of healing.
Nash Morgan’s near-fatal shooting leaves him grappling with severe PTSD, anxiety attacks, and a persistent fear that undermines his identity as the dependable police chief.
His struggle to maintain composure while facing inner chaos illustrates the harsh reality of trauma and the pressure to appear strong for others. In parallel, Lina Solavita carries emotional scars from a life-threatening heart condition and a restless, nomadic lifestyle that keeps her detached from deeper human connections.
The progression of their relationship becomes a conduit for healing, showing how vulnerability is not a weakness but a bridge to intimacy and personal growth. Their openness with each other, even when difficult, allows them to reclaim parts of themselves they believed were lost, emphasizing that healing often requires letting others see us in our most unguarded states.
Trust and the Cost of Secrets
The novel also explores the complex theme of trust and the damaging weight of secrets in both personal relationships and community life.
Nash, in his effort to protect his image and maintain control, initially hides the depth of his mental health struggles, while Lina conceals the true nature of her presence in Knockemout, which is to investigate the stolen Porsche.
Their secrets, while initially meant to protect themselves and others, create barriers in their relationship, demonstrating how even protective lies can erode intimacy and connection.
The narrative broadens this exploration of secrecy to the town itself, where hidden betrayals and the corrupt actions of those in trusted positions, such as Tate Dilton’s duplicity, threaten the integrity of the entire community. Through the gradual unravelling of these secrets, the novel underscores that trust is an active, fragile process that requires honesty, and that while secrets may offer temporary safety, they often come at the cost of deeper bonds.
The Power and Responsibility of Community
Community, in Things We Hide from the Light, is not simply a backdrop but a living, breathing force that shapes the characters’ lives and decisions.
The town of Knockemout is portrayed as a tightly knit community where people watch out for one another, offering support during crises and participating actively in the quest for justice. For Nash, this community becomes essential in his journey toward recovery, as his friends, family, and colleagues provide the safety net he needs when his personal strength falters. Lina, who begins the story as an outsider with no intention of settling down, gradually finds herself drawn into this community’s fold, discovering a sense of belonging she never anticipated.
This theme emphasizes that while individual resilience is vital, the presence of a compassionate and supportive community can transform the process of overcoming trauma and adversity, highlighting the collective responsibility people share in protecting and uplifting each other.
Justice and Moral Complexity
The theme of justice runs deeply through the narrative, interwoven with moral complexities that challenge both characters and readers.
Nash’s role as the town’s police chief places him in situations where he must confront not only the crime and corruption threatening Knockemout but also the internal struggles of balancing empathy with duty. His decision to suspend Tate Dilton for racial profiling, despite the complications it creates within his department, reflects his commitment to justice even when it is uncomfortable and isolating.
The climax of the novel, in which Nash is forced to confront and ultimately kill Tate in the midst of a life-threatening situation, adds layers of moral ambiguity to the concept of justice, illustrating that upholding what is right often comes at a significant personal cost. Through these events, the novel shows that justice is not a clear-cut concept but a nuanced, often painful journey requiring courage, integrity, and sacrifice.
Embracing Love and a Future Beyond Fear
Finally, the novel is a testament to the transformative power of love and the conscious choice to embrace a future beyond fear. Both Nash and Lina have strong reasons to guard themselves against the vulnerability that love requires; Nash, with his PTSD and the burdens of his role, and Lina, with her fear of attachment and transient lifestyle, find safety in isolation.
Yet as their relationship develops, they discover that love, while risky, offers a path toward a fuller, more meaningful life. Their connection challenges their fears, requiring them to confront the parts of themselves they have kept hidden to protect their hearts.
The novel’s conclusion, which finds them married and expecting twins, symbolizes the hopeful possibility of building a life rooted in love and connection, even after profound pain. It is not a suggestion that love erases past trauma, but rather that love, chosen and nurtured despite fear, can coexist with and even alleviate the weight of the past, offering hope for a future defined by growth and courage.