This book was a page turner for me! This book had a lot of twists and turns. It was an enjoyable, fast-paced, concisely written, thought-provoking, and a cringe worthy read with an ending that took me a little by surprise. This was my first read from Jennifer Hillier and I can guarantee that it won’t be my last.

This was a page turner, with beautifully drawn out characters. A murder mystery that is ultimately about love and relationships. I love that the author goes deep into the characters psyche to explain motivations, even the twisted ones. Now I’m excited to go back & check out her other novels!

Kudos to Jennifer Hillier, Author of “Jar of Hearts” for writing such a captivating, intense, enthralling and intriguing novel. The Genres for this novel are Mystery, Suspense, Thriller, and Fiction. There are twists and turns, and dark deep terrifying secrets. The author writes in the present and in the past 14 years depending on the characters or events depicted in the story.

The author describes her cast of characters as complex, complicated, pathological, dysfunctional and calculating. Jennifer Hillier writes an amazing and detailed story. There are several characters that are best friends in the story, when they are about 16 years old. One is murdered, one goes to jail for 5 years, and one looks for answers to the truth.

Angela Wong was murdered when she was 16 years old. No one discovered what happened to Angela until 14 years later when her best friend, Georgina Shaw, an engaged prosperous executive of a major company comes forth with the information she has held close to her heart for 14 years. Angelas’ remains were found in Georgia’s back yard. Kaiser Brody, now a Policeman comes to arrest Georgina at her place of business.

Georgina , also called Geo, had a boyfriend Calvin ,14 years earlier that seemed to be a bad influence on her, and has been also accused of several other murders. While Geo is in prison, Calvin escapes from prison. There are more murders. Some things just don’t seem the same. Is there more than one murderer? As Geo leaves prison, is her life in danger?

I found as the story developed, the tension, suspense and mystery also deepened. I really didn’t expect the powerful ending. WOW!! What a conclusion, I never saw it coming. I would highly recommend this riveting and amazing novel to readers that enjoy thrillers, mystery and suspense. I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.

4.5 stars for this unsettling, intense thriller. Very well crafted and disturbing throughout. The characters were compelling and the slow unraveling of the truth built the suspense. I would go 5 stars except the for the twist late in the story - I expected it in some form, but there was enough that didn't make sense that bothered me. Overall, a riveting tale.

Jar of Hearts was certainly not what I was expecting.... in a good way. I couldn't put this one down. There were just enough twists to keep me guessing without making the storyline over complicated. I would highly recommend this story to anyone who enjoys a good thriller. I'm looking forward to finding more books from Jennifer Hillier.

the book was very interesting. Plot was well developed. really enjoyed this book and the characters.

I loved this book from start to finish! Highly recommend if you're looking for a good thriller! I can't wait to read more books by Jennifer Hiller!

The book blurb for Jar of Hearts by Jennifer Hillier , pretty much summarizes the book perfectly.

“This is the story of three best friends: one who was murdered, one who went to prison, and one who's been searching for the truth all these years . . .”

The story is told by jumping between the past and the present, and like an onion skin, the facts of what actually happened are slowly peeled off.

Sadly, the book just didn’t hold my attention; I didn’t find it to be thrilling, or suspenseful. Yes, the story had adult themes like rape, murder, a glimpse into prison life, and multiple bad guys, but it just wasn’t enough for me. The story seemed to be filled with so much drama; it was like a daytime soap opera that goes on forever before it actually gets to the point.

I’m finding it hard to present a review that justifies my feelings, I’m not sure if it’s because:

• I really didn’t like the characters
• The amount of guilt in the book….”if I had only” or “If your Mother would have lived”
• I felt that Geo paid a higher price for the initial crime than Calvin did
• That Calvin just got away with way too much and deserved to be severely punished
• That nobody exposed what Calvin was actually doing to women
• That Kaiser was just an all-around good guy who found it easy to turn a blind eye when faced with the truth
• That the book had a “romantic” type HEA

Long story short, I wish to extend my thanks to the Publisher - Minotaur Books, the Author and NetGalley for a review copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review.

Expected publication date is June 12, 2018

For me, this was a 2.5 star read which I will post as a 2 star.

great new book read it in one days great new author with a bright furture read all book by this author would read more

Wow. Jar of Hearts is an INCREDIBLE rollercoaster of a book. We meet Georgina Shaw (Geo) who is a Pharmaceutical exec on the rise, engaged to the heir to the same Pharma company. The story is told both in current time and in flashbacks to events that occurred when Geo was 16, the same year that her best friend Angela disappeared. In modern time, Angela’s remains have been uncovered which has opened up old wounds, so to speak. Back in high school, Angela, Geo and Kaiser (Kai) were all best friends. In modern times, he is the detective assigned to the case of finding Angela’s killer. I’m going to stop describing the book here, because I want you to read this book knowing as little as possible so you can have the same experience reading it that I just did. If it wasn’t for a pesky thing called sleep, I could have read this whole book in one sitting. I think I ended up reading it in two. It is SO fast paced exploring so many elements of good versus evil and what drives us to make decisions in the heat of the moment. If you have also read an ARC, I’d love for you to DM me so we can chat! If this sounds up your alley, I suggest you add it to your TBR list. Jar of Hearts will hit shelves on June 12 (and I will remind you again that day in my story!). This is a book that will stay with me for a very long time. It was incredibly well crafted.

Thank you so much to Minotaur books and Netgalley for my ARC of this book. All views are my own.

I absolutely enjoyed this book from start to finish. This is my first time reading Jennifer Hillier and it won’t be the last. I couldn’t put this book down. I really enjoyed the pacing of this book. It was very thrilling . The characters were great. I liked the descriptions of prison life and the descriptions of the town- past and present. Overall 5/5 ! Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for my ARC copy. All opinions are my own.

I loved Geo right from the beginning. She made some bad choices, but they were understandable. I kept wondering what part she played in the crime and how she was able to keep it a secret for so long. The suspense during this book was great. The story was well paced and hard to put down. The characters were well described. The ending blew me away! Can’t wait to read more by this author.

Jar of Hearts is a story about the past coming back to haunt you again and again...and again. This book starts off with a bang and ends with one, too. I had a very hard time even putting this book down, as it captured my attention from page one until the last.

Geo thought she had moved on with her life, got an education, a good job and a rich fiance. After all, it had been fourteen years. She could not have been more wrong though, while sitting in a company meeting her old friend Kaiser (now detective) arrests her on the spot. Looks like the skeletons are coming out of the closet.

As such, Geo takes her punishment. She knows she did wrong, and overall appears to be very sympathetic for her role in her best friends death. He ex boyfriend though, he's another story all together. Labeled the Sweetbay Strangler, he didn't stop at just one victim. As Geo tries coming to terms with her past, she reflects on the events leading up to her current situation. There were signs. There were problems, in spades.

As I said above, this book kept me reading. There were twists and turns in the story line, and unlike a lot of psychological thrillers that fill the pages with meaningless babble, this book didn't do that. The only real issue with this book is I am sure certain scenes may disturb some readers. All in all, a great read and will be checking out others by this author for sure.

This book claims to “grab you by the throat,” and that’s exactly what it did. A sophisticated, and chilling psychological thriller, with a mix of Orange is the new Black, Gillian Flynn and Karin Slaughter. This book is spectacular and I devoured it one day. Split into 5 parts, with different narrations, this book will have you reading well into the night. “Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster” – Friedrich Nietzsche.
I will warn you that this book is heavy! It has dark subject matter, with explicit details. Thank you @stmartinspress and @netgalley for this #ARC. @jenniferhillierbooks •

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for my review. This is a story that grabs you from the first scene and doesn't let go! Georgina (Geo) Shaw, Kaiser Brody and Angela Wong are best friends in high school, until the day that Angela disappears. Her body was found mutilated but no one was ever convicted of her murder. Fourteen years later, our story opens and Geo is on trial for accessory to the murder of Angela and Calvin James, who was her high school boyfriend at the time, is on trial for her murder. After serving time in prison, Geo would like to leave the past behind and start fresh, but that is not going to happen. Calvin escaped from jail, and now mutilated bodies are discovered in the same neighborhood where Angela Wong's body was found. Kaiser, who is now a detective on the case believes that Calvin is at it again, and Geo
holds the key to finding answers to her questions. Can she keep the truth buried after all this time?

Great, suspenseful read, with well placed plot twists. The story goes back and forth in time and it can be confusing at some points, but other than that it was a great story!

Wow! Like watching a great crime movie, this has all the elements of a great thriller. But with one added ingredient: a long ago, unrequited love story running parallel with the serial murders. Kai is such a likeable guy, but doomed to love Geo, no matter her faults. Geo is looking for a new normal in her life.

This story never got dull or slow, so thanks to Jennifer Hillier for her enjoyable read, Minotaur Books and Netgalley.com for the opportunity to read and provide a true review for other readers! (Could not leave review on Amazon - only vine reviews pre-publish date. Sorry!)

"You carry the past with you because it transforms you."

Stop right there..... this is your thriller for the summer!!

I'm going through a book hangover after finishing this. Jennifer Hillier I'm a HUGE fan of your work after this masterpiece. I can't wait to see what you come out with next!!

The past always comes back to haunt you one way or another. I think we've all experienced this at one point or another in our lives... but Georgina Shaw knows this too well. At the age of sixteen, Georgina's best friend Angela Wong disappeared without a trace. No one knew what took place that night except of course for Geo.

Years later, Angela's remains are found near Georgina's father's property in the woods. It becomes clear to law enforcement that Calvin James has killed Angela. You ask who is this Calvin James? Calvin is Georgina's first love and boyfriend she had while in high school. Oh.. and of course let me add this spice to the mix... Calvin is also a serial killer who has killed three other women.

Georgina and Calvin's relationship ended quickly after the disappearance of her best friend Angela. Geo hasn't seen Calvin since she was sixteen. Upon finding Angela's remains, detective Kaiser Brody with the Seattle PD who was also Geo and Angela's closest friend in high school arrested Calvin and Geo herself for the murder.

What happened that night? Did Geo help kill her best friend Angela? Or is Calvin solely responsible?

Upon Geo's release from prison 5 years later, she is trying to get her life settled and move forward. But, as we all know the past always comes to haunt us. A body has been find in woods by her father's property... yet again.... are these cases related? Is someone trying to send Geo a message knowing the bodies are in the same woods and area that Angela was found?!

Oh my GOSH you guys... this book was AHHHHMAZZINGGG. I cannot tell you enough that you can't miss this one. One of my top stellar reads this year so far!!

This is exactly the type of thriller that I LOVE. Twists and turns galore, strong and in depth characters, beautiful writing style, and of course devouring in a day!! I seriously could not put this masterpiece down!!

I had so many questions running through my head reading this!! But, man Hillier you know how to captivate your readers and more importantly know how to DELIVER.

5 stars!!!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and St. Martins Press Minotaur books for the advanced arc.

Publication date: 6/12/18
Published to GR: 5/21/18

Intriguing and well-written novel. The suspense really pulled me along and although the ending was a bit far-fetched, it was still satisfying.

I really love that Jennifer Hillier never holds back writing a story.

Once again she brings on the dark, edgy and twisted tale of what happens when Angela Wong a high school student with everything going for her disappears one night after a party. Fourteen years later her best friend Geo short for Georgina, Geo Shaw is on trial for her murder. While Geo only gets five years for her part in the disappearance and brutal murder of her best friend all is not what it seems once Geo has served her time and is released. What really happened that night? Why did Geo cover for her abusive boyfriend Calvin James for his part? Calvin James the Sweet Bay serial killer who is wanted for not just Angela's murder but two other women.
After the trial we get an open curtain to what prison life is for Geo as she tries to survive her sentence yet there is always that feel that you are missing pieces of the puzzle. Once Geo is out and back home it looks as if the Sweet Bay killer is back in action again as Calvin James escapes prison.
There is no stopping once you start this book. The author baits the hook with little bits here and there that have you thinking you know what is going on but the story builds like a volcano that is about to erupt, you can feel it coming for you so reader beware you may not be able to put the book down until the very end.

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read and review an advance copy.

A tense psychological thriller that uses flashbacks to detail and long ago murder while investigators try to save current day murders that are eerily similar. Highly recommended.