The Dark Waters series follows the rise and fall of one of Philadelphia's most powerful families.
Judge Keenan Waters and his family have spent decades building a legacy of power, influence, and respect. But behind the perfect public image lie buried secrets, betrayal, and deadly consequences that threaten to destroy everything they've built.
As loyalties are tested and relationships crumble, the Waters family is pushed closer to the edge of ruin. With shocking twists and intense family drama, the Dark Waters series keeps the readers turning pages until the very end.
Perfect for fans of Black & African American Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Fiction, the first two books are available now, with the shocking conclusion, Dark Waters 3, arriving September 8, 2026.
Keenan Jr., Taylor, and Kennedy step inside when the front door swings open. Lillian wipes her hands on her apron and walks out of the kitchen to greet them in the foyer.
Keenan Jr. wraps his arms around her. “Hi, Mama. Dinner smells amazing.”
Lillian hugs him back tightly, her smile bright and genuine. “Hey, baby. Thank you. I’m making all your favorites.” She squeezes him tighter. “I’m so glad y’all are here.”
“Me too, Ma.” He glances around. “Where is Dad?”
Her smile disappears, and she tightens her lips before she responds. “He’s upstairs getting dressed.” She sounds so upset.
Taylor steps forward next, offering a polite hug. “Hi, Mrs. Waters. The table looks lovely.”
“Aww, thank you, sweetheart.”
As Keenan Jr. tends to Kennedy, Taylor lowers her voice. “Are you okay? Last night, before I left—”
“Shh.” Lillian cuts her off quickly, looking toward her son. “Not now.”
“But I was really worried about you.”
Lillian doesn’t respond. Instead, she turns her attention to Kennedy, lighting up. “Kennedy, is that you? Grandma has missed you so, so much.”
The little girl runs into her arms, hugging her neck. “I missed you, too, Grandma! I love you.”
“Grandma loves you, too, baby.” Lillian kisses her cheek, then puts her down and holds out her hand. “Come with me. Grandma’s gonna put you to work, pretty girl.”
In the kitchen, Lillian ties a little pink apron around Kennedy that says Cooking with Grandma. The three generations—Lillian, Taylor, and Kennedy—work together with big smiles, preparing the second batch of candied yams.
Naomi enters the house next, happy to see Keenan Jr. sitting at the dining room table. She grins. “I know that’s not my handsome big brother sitting there.”
Keenan Jr. gets up to greet her with a hug. “What’s up, baby sister. I missed you.”
“I missed you, too!”
Naomi joins the women in the kitchen, hugging everyone before pitching in.
Saint and Porsha arrive hand in hand, looking picture-perfect in matching shades of blue. Saint’s voice rings out from the front door. “Hey, wassup, y’all.”
Hearing him, everyone streams into the foyer, lighting up with joy.
Lillian pulls him into a tight hug. “Is that my other baby? Come here, Saint, and hug your mama!”
Saint grins. “Hey, Ma. I could smell dinner from the driveway, and it smelled so good.”
“Thank you, baby.”
The family greets Porsha warmly, and their affection is genuine. Saint’s deception about this pregnant girl he’s claiming as his own is working. No one seems to suspect a thing.
Naomi teases him as they hug. “Yasss, my partner in crime is finally here. Hey, brother.”
“Hell yeah, I’m in the house!” Saint laughs, then eyes her playfully. “Damn, Naomi, you’re looking good tonight.”
Naomi smiles. “You look good too, little brother.”
Keenan Jr. joins the banter, throwing an arm around Saint. “He better look good. He’s always working; that’s why we can never reach him. And don’t forget, Saint, I’ll see you next week to work on your grant.”
“Cool, big bro. I’ll be there.”
The siblings joke and laugh with each other as Kennedy climbs into Saint’s lap, giggling. Lillian watches from the dining room doorway, her heart full—until she hears Keenan Sr. coming down the stairs. Her cheerful smile fades.
Keenan Sr. enters the dining room, greeting the family with his booming voice. “Now the party can start. You’re all here. I’m so glad to see each of you.”
The family all hugs him, except Lillian, who remains in the doorway. She silently observes as he takes his place at the table. When the oven timer dings, she excuses herself. “I’ll be right back. The bread is ready.”
“I’ll help you,” Taylor says, following her into the kitchen.
Keenan Sr. addresses the table, his tone cheerful. “It’s wonderful to have everyone here tonight to celebrate with Lillian and me.”
When Lillian returns with cornbread and rolls, Keenan Sr. takes her hand tenderly. “It was thirty-five years yesterday since we said our vows, and we couldn’t be happier to share this joyous milestone with the people we love most. Right, Lillian?”
Before she can respond, the doorbell rings. Keenan Jr. and Saint start to rise, but Lillian waves them off. “No, no, boys. Sit. Y’all start your dinner. I got the door.”
She returns moments later with a manila envelope in hand. Standing beside Keenan Sr., she addresses the table. Her heart pounds in her chest, but her face remains calm and unreadable.
“Keenan was right earlier. We are so glad all of you are here tonight to share our thirty-fifth wedding anniversary with us.”
Her eyes drop to her husband, her smile vanishing. “We’ve had good times, Keenan. Bad times, too. But we made it… until now.”
Porsha excuses herself quickly, taking Kennedy with her to the restroom.
Lillian then waits for the room to quiet before continuing. “You are a liar and a cheat, Keenan. You sit here acting like everything is perfect, but you didn’t bother to tell them that you spent our actual anniversary with that whore in Chestnut Hill!”
Keenan Sr. stiffens. “Lillian, would you sit down? This isn’t the time.”
Her voice rises. “When is the time, Keenan? Last night, you were with her. You came home this morning smelling like pussy and went into court that way! You even walked into this house reeking of—”
Keenan Jr. tries to intervene. “Mama, please—”
“Don’t you ‘Mama’ me! Your daddy came home smelling like pussy and didn’t even speak to me!”
Naomi interjects, “And y’all say I’m drama.”
Lillian cuts her off. “This ain’t about you, Naomi, so stay out of it!”
Keenan Sr. glares at her. “You are impossible, Lillian. A goddamn madwoman.”
Unfazed at how mad he is, Lillian slams the envelope onto the table. “That’s a divorce decree. My attorney worked on it all month. Now, you’re done here, Keenan.”
The room falls silent. Keenan Sr. looks around, his face twisted with anger and disbelief as Lillian’s voice cuts through the tension. “Get up, go upstairs, pack your things, and get out of my damn house! For good.”
The family stares around the table at each other, dumbfounded, as Lillian finishes. “Go, Keenan. Now!”
Nick Haskins is the author of the Dark Waters series, as well as novels She's Obsessed, Betrayed, My Husband's Wife, and On the Edge of Heat.
Known for his suspenseful storytelling and unforgettable characters, Haskins has spent more than a decade building a catalog of contemporary drama and suspense that has attracted readers across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia.
Born and raised in Toledo, Ohio, where he still resides, Haskins began his publishing career in 2011 and has remained committed to independently producing professional, reader-focused books. In addition to writing novels, he is creating film and visual media projects based on his work.
Haskins continues to connect with readers while developing new stories to expand his publishing catalog.
