Layers of Darkness is a dark novel about generational violence, but it is also the story of courage and resilience. When a small town is devastated by a tragic event, it wants only to bury the dead and move on. However, such an event prevents this was happening smoothly and questions remain that must be answered. One family at the center of the violence and the town's police chief cannot escape the nightmare. Grampa Hogan Tree and Chief Russo act to protect the Tree Family and see that this never happens again. It is a difficult journey for the family and the town.

While the novel is set in the late 1970s, the topic is pertinent to the current tragedies surrounding gun violence and mental health.