This mystery set in an amusement park was a perfect thriller for me. I do not like thrillers with too much bite but this one was great because it did keep me on the edge of my seat, but I didn't lose sleep over it. I read this one over a year ago so I cannot remember too much, but I remember under ground tunnels and some powerful women trying to control the shots. I remember it started off with a post on social media that was supposed to be incriminating and the character who climbed a ride to take the shot when the park was closed. There were several twists and turns and I do remember appreciating this book a lot when I had read it.

Not going to lie, I started this book a couple of months ago and left it alone for a while. During this time I read and finished a couple of other books before finally getting back to this one.

Why?

Because it was EXTREMELY slow at first. I was also tired of all the different perspectives, which some didn’t seem relevant to me, so I was bored. BUT I am so glad I picked this back up because WOW! It was a great read! Everything came together so well and I ended up appreciating the different perspectives after all. The end was so unexpected!! I was not going to sleep tonight without finishing it and again so glad I did. If anyone feels it’s slow at first- stick to it! I promise it will be worth it!

I’ll preface by saying I loved the speaker’s voice! That said, this was a little too dark and heavy for me, especially paired with a children’s landscape. If you’re able to separate the two and enjoy gore/being deeply unsettled, then it’s for you! All said, I truly appreciate the publisher, Hillier, and NetGalley for the ARC.

Wonderland is a story of a town drowning in lies and deceit and it seems it will stay that way forever.... Until the new detective comes into town to solve a mysterious disappearance only to find out it isn't the only one.
Jennifer Hillier takes us on a roller coaster of a ride as she attempts to figure out what is going on in this town, and why it has been accepted for so long.

★★★½ rounded down

I'm not usually into thrillers, but this kept me on the edge of my seat. I find certain genres translate well onto audio, and this is one of them. I will give this a bit more leeway as it reads a bit like a police procedural, which is definitely up my alley.

Vanessa Castro leaves Seattle PD to move to sleepy Seaside, WA, with her two kids in tow. While she has her own skeletons in the closet, they are nothing to the secrets and depravity that run rampant in this small town. The town's main business is Wonderland, a theme park with the oldest Ferris wheel in the PNW, and the Clown Museum, which I would absolutely never step foot in.

Everyone in this town seems to know something Vanessa doesn't. The police department is shady. The Wonderland owners and CEO are shady. Everyone is shady. In thrillers, I tend to suspect everyone until they're cleared, and I will say I wasn't expecting the outcome that occurred. That in itself made this more enjoyable.

I love novels by Jennifer Hillier an was thrilled to receive a audio version of this ARC.

This novel had me hooked to the last page. I loved trying to guess who was behind everything that was happening only to find out I was wrong and then guessing again.

I look forward to more titles by Hillier.

I absolutely enjoyed the audiobook version of Wonderland. I have previously enjoyed Jennifer Hillier's books however I never had read the physical copy of Wonderland so jumping into the audiobook was perfect. The narration was really well done. So much so that I did not want to stop listening to it and I didn't want the story to end. I also really enjoyed the writing that Jennifer Hillier put into the story. There was just enough mystery surrounding Wonderland that it hooked the reader into the story and took them on a journey alongside the characters. I would highly recommend!

I loved Little Secrets and Things We Do In The Dark by Jennifer Hillier so I was really excited to read Wonderland. This is such a creepy thriller! I loved the PNW setting since it’s close to home and the wide age range of characters from teenagers to seniors. There’s some dark content in this book. I liked the main character as detective trying to solve a murder. We’re introduced to many suspects and there’s several secrets throughout this book. I’m so glad this book was rereleased on audio. The narrator Eunice Wong was great. I also appreciated the author’s note at the end. I can’t wait to read Hillier’s next book!

Wonderland was originally published in 2015, but the audiobook was just released in 2023. This was a crime thriller set in an amusement park. There are creepy clowns and a really creepy dollhouse that might have been why I didn't read it back when I originally added to my TBR shelf. Vanessa Castro has moved to Seaside, Washington after a scandal in the police department in Seattle. She has been hired to be the Deputy Chief when the old one retires. She and her two children are trying to settle in and her teenage daughter has already got a job at Wonderland. It is a fun, family theme park by day, but is eerie at night, so when a dead body shows up under the Wonder Wheel and a teenager disappears after taking a picture of himself standing on top of the wheel, the town is thrown into turmoil. As Vanessa tries to start an investigation she runs into some angry townsfolk, who have had teenage boys disappear. There also seems to be a lot of secrets and a hint of a cover up. Can Vanessa sort out what is happening and solve the murder as well as the cold cases?

After reading and listening to Wonderland, I won't ever think of theme parks in the same way. This was a very creepy story, partly due to the setting, but also the well developed and villainous killer. There were so many possible culprits that I had no idea who had kidnapped and murdered at least one, maybe more young men. The innocence of Vanessa's daughter was even more pronounced when it was up against all the weird and creepy characters. She doesn't feel right about certain people, but is easily convinced to give them a chance. As the story unfolds, it becomes very tense and I was on the edge of my seat. There are some great characters including the father of one of the missing boys, the head of security at the park, who Vanessa has a one night stand with and one of the police detectives that helps Vanessa crack the case. This is one of the first books Jennifer Hillier wrote and I have read several others that followed this one. I enjoyed them all and recommend this author if you enjoy creepy, twisty, thrillers. The narration of the audiobook was performed by Eunice Wong. I believe she is a new narrator to me and I was very pleased with her performance. Her tone, expression and voices made this one even better and creepier for me.

This book is a re-release to audio book, and I was SO happy to be able to read this. Although I am sure it is labeled in the "horror" genre, this book is really a combination of a police procedural, a mystery thriller, with elements of horror. I (mostly) enjoyed the characters in this book, with only a few issues with the main protagonist (at times, she seemed a little whiney and annoying to me.) The horror elements were just right, and not too over the top or gory.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this book. This is my first book written by Jennifer Hillier, and I will definitely read more!

I love Jennifer Hillier and this was the perfect amount of suspenseful and creepy. I couldn't wait to get into my car to listen to this every day. The narration added to the atmosphere. Such a great one!

Wow! This was such a ride- the old amusement park setting was perfectly
Creepy then add in dolls and clowns and the atmosphere was set. This author knows how to right a spine tingling thriller and Inlived every page!

Oh how I loved this crazy intense thriller from Jennifer Hillier. I can always count on her to create a web of twists in whatever she writes.

Eunice Wong was outstanding at narrating the audiobook!

Thank you, Jennifer Hillier, Macmillan Audio & Netgalley for my audiobook! All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed the way this was written - I honestly felt like I was enjoying an episode of Criminal Minds and for anyone who enjoys that show - I highly recommend this book! As an audiobook - this book was highly enjoyed! I couldn’t put it down! I just wanted to keep listening. I loved all the characters and I could see the book ending in so many ways! I’m so glad this ebook was redone and turned into an audiobook!

First of all how creepy is an amusement park with a wax clown museum. If that doesn’t give you nightmares how about dead bodies showing up in a place that’s supposed to fun. Multiple POV’s and twists kept me listening nonstop. Overall would recommend this book.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this book!

I enjoyed this one and I highly recommend. I am a huge fan of the authors writing !! Simply well done.

I will read the back on a mac and cheese box if Jennifer Hillier writes it. The drama, the twists and turns, the words written are beautiful even when dark. I have a hard time writing reviews for all Hillier books only because she tells the story like no one else, I don't want to influence a reader before. Go on now, read it.

Thank you to my partners, NetGalley and
Macmillan.Audio, for the gifted audiobook. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

1. 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 - Is everyone capable of evil? The events of this story will make you question just how far you could be pushed in the wrong circumstances.

2. 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 - The setting of this horror story being at an amusement park puts the reader in an uneasy state. A place of joy turns into a place of terror.

This was a phenomenal thriller that chilled me to the bone. It was more of a police procedural, murder mysery with some thriller aspects tp it. I loved the amusement park setting, and I enjoyed the clown museum as part of the book. The characters were great too. Bravo to J. Hillier to blowing me out of the water with this one!

Though I enjoyed Hillier's other books, somehow I couldn't really get into this one very well. The pace threw me off a bit and the plot just didn't really grip me. That being said, it's not a bad book and maybe a case of right book, wrong time for me,.