What's Done in the Dark

A feat of reporting and writing by an award-winning journalist, What’s Done in the Dark tells the story of a shocking pattern of police misconduct in Chicago and the group of working-class women who fought for two decades to expose it

In April 1999, the mothers, sisters, and aunts of men imprisoned for murders they swore they didn’t commit gathered in a neighbor’s living room to share their stories and console one another. Almost instantly, a common thread in their loved ones’ cases emerged: a detective named Reynaldo Guevara, who, like most of them, hailed from Humboldt Park, a predominantly Latino neighborhood on Chicago's Northwest side.

In Guevara’s wake were stories of coerced confessions, pre-arranged identifications, interrogation room beatings, and suspiciously convenient phone calls from anonymous informants in numerous cold cases. Though his fellow officers and even some prosecutors had either directly witnessed or heard testimony regarding these methods, he faced little scrutiny—let alone disciplinary action—from the Chicago P.D. The women of Humboldt Park wouldn’t let it go so easily.

Almost overnight, what began as an informal support group of factory workers, janitorial staff, and a school lunch lady morphed into an action committee. They sent leaflets to prisons across the state, amassing accounts from dozens of men regarding Guevara’s behavior. They fundraised and protested, contacted elected representatives, federal law enforcement, and legal organizations—anything to make their voices heard. But the biggest obstacle wasn’t gathering or presenting the evidence. It was overcoming the entrenched bias of the criminal legal system toward one of their own, and getting someone in a position of power to listen.

Following three families—the Rodríguezes, the Serranos, and the Almodóvars—over the course of a nearly twenty-year quest for justice, What’s Done in the Dark sheds much-needed light on the largely unseen role of working class women in righting the wrongs of the criminal legal system. The gripping story of a crooked cop and the system that insulated him, it is also a celebration of a group of extraordinary women who refused to give up until their loved ones walked free.

Standard and Primary covers are widely available through general retailers. They often have higher print runs and can be cheaper, especially during sales.

In contrast, Direct Market (DM) and variant covers are primarily sold in comic shops. DM editions tend to have more limited availability and may be more valuable to collectors.

The main differences lie in artwork style, availability, price, and collector appeal. Ultimately, the choice between standard and variant covers depends on personal preference, budget, and individual collecting goals.

Comic book enthusiasts have various formats to choose from when collecting their favorite stories.
Here's a brief overview of the main types:

Omnibus

• Large, hardcover collections
• Usually contain complete runs or extensive story arcs
• Typically 800-1000+ pages
• Higher price point, often €100-€150

Oversized Hardcover (OHC)

• Similar dimensions to omnibus, but thinner
• Collect shorter runs or story arcs
• Usually 300-600 pages
• Priced between €30-€50

Hardcover (HC)

• Standard-sized hardcover books
• Collect 6-12 issues typically
• Similar dimensions to single issues, but with a hard cover
• Priced around €25-€35

Trade Paperback (TP)

• Softcover collections
• Standard comic book size
• Usually collect 4-6 issues
• Most affordable option, typically €15-€25

Other Formats

• Absolute Editions: Oversized, deluxe hardcovers (mainly DC Comics)
• Compendiums: Massive paperback collections
• Graphic Novels (OGN/GN): Original stories not previously released as single issues

The choice between these formats often depends on personal preference, budget, and collecting goals. Omnibus and OHC editions offer larger artwork and more content but at a higher price, while TPs provide a more affordable way to collect complete story arcs