Cover Image: Jar of Hearts

Jar of Hearts

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I received an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. An intense rollercoaster ride of truly horrifying suspense. The suspense just keeps building right to its shocking conclusion! This is sure to be a best seller!

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Geo is a strong-willed young woman. She survived the loss of her mother when she was a small child, then lived through the loss of her best friend Angela in high school. She persevered and is flourishing in the pharmaceutical industry. Nice car, clothes, apartment, engaged to the big boss’s son. Life is good. Until she’s sitting in a courtroom pouring her heart out about how she helped hide the mutilated body of her dear friend Angela.
Five years of time in the slammer, and once again, Geo perseveres. She quickly learns the ropes and operates as if she were meant to be there all along. We’re starting to wonder, is Geo really the victim she makes out to be? Her old high school friend, Kaiser, who is investigating the cold file, is also beginning to wonder. Poor, goofy Kaiser was always the girls’ friend, but not the boyfriend. He’s still quite enamored with Geo and her charm. But there’s just something about her; a side she’s keeping well-hidden. And once again, bodies begin turning up in the same spot as Angela’s so many years before. Young women and little children; how do they figure in and who’s still manipulating these murders? There’s Calvin, her serial killer ex-boyfriend who has escaped from prison, but there’s really something not quite right with Geo. And all the way to the very last page, you won’t shake that fear.
This is not a happy read; it’s a “got you hooked in the first chapter” read with no pretty colors and flowers. I loved it!
(I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for making it available.)

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4.5/5 stars! Jar of Hearts was a well written, suspenseful page turner!

This book starts off in a courtroom and Georgina is on trial for something that happened fourteen years before. Geo's best friend Angela disappeared all those years ago and her body is finally discovered. Geo is now on trial for her murder. Intriguing isn't it?

5 years for Geo, life for Calvin. Did Geo help Calvin kill her or was she just in the wrong place at the wrong time? She did keep it a secret after all for many years never coming forward and doing the right thing. While Geo is in prison carrying out her 5 year sentence, she finds out that Calvin has escaped. New bodies are discovered, the same spot where Angela was buried!

This is my second book by Jennifer Hillier and I was impressed. This is a bit creepy and I loved it. Not for the squeamish though. I really enjoyed this book and am now a fan of Jennifer Hiller. I will be looking for all of her future books!

A big thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for allowing me an advanced copy of this review! Greatly appreciated!

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3.5 stars really but I rounded up to 4 stars as the book did move rather quickly. Solid story and writing. I wanted to find out what exactly happened years earlier to Geo that finally had landed her in prison for 5 years. The book was shallow though, it did not scratch beneath the surface of the characters. They seemed one dimensional to me. All in all, I do recommend but I was not bowled over by it..

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review.
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Definitely a page turner. I received this book for free from Netgalley and I’m so glad that I did. I had never read anything from this author before and I thoroughly enjoyed her writing style. It was a great Spring Break read! #NetGalley #JarOfHearts

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A special thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

At sixteen, Anglea Wong, one of the most popular girls at school, disappeared. She left behind wonderful parents, and two best friends, Georgina Shaw and Kaiser Brody.

Fourteen years later, Angela's remains are found in the woods right near the house that Geo grew up in. Her father, a respected physician still lives in the family home. Nobody ever suspected that Geo, now an executive at a pharmaceutical company owned by her fiancé's family, had anything to do with Angela's disappearance.

Kaiser, now a detective with the Seattle PD, learns that Angela was a victim of Calvin James a.k.a. the "Sweetbay Strangler" who is also responsible for the murders of at least three other women. To Geo, Calvin James is something else—he's her first love. It was an instant attraction that grew into an intense, obsessive, and abusive relationship.

For the past fourteen years, Geo has carried the secret of what really happened to Angela until all comes to light with her arrest. Or is there more to the story? Geo is sent to prison while James has escaped from prison. Past and present collide when a string of copycat murders start happening. Did Geo set in motion a new chain of events or is she the missing piece to catch the killer?

This is my first book by Jennifer Hillier and I was impressed. Her writing is sharp and the pages flew by. Hillier developed the characters enough to not be predictable or stereotypical, but I did want more from Kai.

Told by alternating points of view between Geo and Kai, past and present, this style really served the story well and helped lay the ground work. I felt that their particular relationship in the backstory wasn't fleshed out enough. It seemed like a harmless little crush versus any kind of relationship that gave Kai the emotional baggage that he brought to any of his other relationships. I also thought that Geo was a user—she used Kai when they were friends, knowing he'd always be there for her because he was attracted to her, used her fiancé for a title/career, used people in prison for protection, and uses Kai's loyalty to protect her outside of prison. Relationships in this story seemed to always be a struggle of power, especially between Angela and Geo. Neither of the girls could stand it when the other one was receiving attention. I also found that Geo (even though she went to prison), always came out on top—without giving anything away, I'm sure when you are finished you will have the same musings as I did.

Hillier does a great job with the pace of the story. She doesn't show her hand, she plays her cards one at a time and lets the story unfold naturally. Sometimes with this genre, I feel that plot twists are forced and I didn't get that sense here. I was intrigued right off the bat when Calvin hands Geo a note in court that says "You're welcome", welcome for what?

The difference between three and four stars is for a couple of reasons. First, for a detective, Kai is incredibly daft. Is it because he was too close to the case, and actually, he shouldn't have even been on this case. Is it not a conflict of interest? He knows both the victim and the perpetrator—I guess you have to suspend your belief on that front. Second, the story was a little bit gruesome for me. If dark and twisty is your bag, you will love this book.

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Five years ago, I stumbled upon a sadistic story called Creep and immediately became a fan of Jennifer Hillier. That adoration was made permanent after devouring Freak within days of finishing its predecessor, Creep! Fast forward to now and Jar of Hearts lands in my lap and OH MY SERIAL KILLER SADISTIC GOODNESS!!!!! Hello Georgina & Calvin!!!! This was not your standard serial killer slasher book. This was an incredibly well done novel with substance and thought provoking material. I was kept guessing at every page and flew right through this as I had to know what was coming. This was a buddy read with my friend Shannon, who is one tough critic. She finished before me and was so impressed that I knew good things were ahead! I find thrillers to be even more enjoyable when I can discuss along the way with a friend! I’ll certainly be on the lookout for whatever Hillier comes up with next!!!

Thank you to Minotaur Books for an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

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This book was amazing! I literally could not stop reading it. So many twists and it was full of surprises. Edge of your seat thriller and I will be looking for more books now by this author. Did I mention I loved this book?!?!?

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This was a fast-paced thriller that had so much going on, it was like a checklist: high school drama-check; womens' prison show-check; domestic violence relationship-check; serial killer hunt-check and at least one other I won't mention because of spoilers.

The story goes back and forth from the past to the present. Geo, the main character (and not a sympathetic one either), is not someone a reader can identify with. While there is a secondary story line where Geo befriends a fellow prison inmate dying of cancer, it seems thrown in as an afterthought to try and show Geo has a kind heart. Meanwhile, she does nothing to help her best friend, Angela or her community at large, and uses their friend, Kaiser (both as a teen and later as an adult). We are then led to believe Geo's hellish behavior is caused by her single-parent father's neglect.
I did figure out the identity of the killer several pages before the cops got to it, but then I do read all the J.D. Robb police procedurals, which gives me a bit of an advantage.

Not for the faint-hearted, there should be warnings to sensitive readings for multiple rapes, several horrific dismemberments and child murder victims.

I accepted the NetGalley offer to read this book but I debate whether I should thank them. I gave it one star for content, the second star for the fast-pace.

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Jar of Hearts is a fast-paced, twisted, psychological thriller which will keep you guessing until the end. An absolute cracker of a thriller.

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Amazing! I’ve read all of Jennifer Hillier’s books, each one gets better & better. Grabbed my attention from the first page, and kept me guessing til the very end. Thanks for the ARC!

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I jumped right into Jar of Hearts. I can't say that I really fully knew what the book was about when I started; but I knew that I wanted to find out.
Early on, we learn that Geo was somehow involved in the disappearance and murder of her 16 year old, best friend, Angela. However, we don't have any idea the extent of her involvement.
You will be folllowing Angela through her rapid descent from her glamorous life, engaged to a wealthy prominent man, to her prison sentence and into her adjustment back to life, after incarceration. Throughout this story you will be taken back to Geo's high school, gradually revealing the whole story. What happened and how involved Geo was in the brutal killing of a popular 16 year old girl.
I was truly involved in the story; and constantly curious as to what I would be find out in the page or chapter. I would definitely rate this book up there with Gone Girl and Girl on a Train; and I mean that in the best way!!

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JAR OF HEARTS by Jennifer Hillier
This was a really engaging read. It keeps your attention from beginning to end. Do secrets and lies ever really stay buried forever? Unfortunately for Georgina Shaw, the answer is ‘no’. Fourteen years after her disappearance the body of Angela Wong is discovered in the woods behind her best friend Georgina Shaw’s house. Geo and her former boyfriend Calvin are arrested for the murder and Geo serves five years in prison for her participation in covering up the murder. More bodies are discovered after Geo is released from prison. Has Calvin returned and begun killing again after escaping from prison? Is someone else committing murders in the same manner as Angela was murdered? Pick up this book and find out what really happened all those years ago and who’s behind the current murders. The answers may shock you.

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC.

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See link to goodreads review

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JAR OF HEARTS
Geo serves five years in prison for helping dispose of her best friends body when her boyfriend kills her. No one finds the body until fourteen years later. She is a VP at a company, getting ready to be married, and has her life in front of her. Until her best friend from high school comes to arrest her for murder. Kaiser is a cop and was best friends with Geo and Angela. He was so in love with Geo but she was with Calvin, who was older. After killing Angela, he ends up killing four more women and is caught. He escapes prison while Geo is still serving her time. When she gets released, two bodies are found right were Angela was buried. Then two more are found near the high school they went to. Kaiser is investigating the crimes and thinks it’s Calvin back. Geo hasn’t heard from him but Kaiser puts protection on her in case he comes.
First time reading this author. I couldn’t put the story down. Even though it switches back and forth to the present and then the past. Murder, mystery, sex, and secrets.
• Voluntarily read and reviewed this for Netgalley *

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This was a super fast, thrilling read, and I really enjoyed it. It's very hard to put down once you start, and I would have probably read it in one sitting if I could have.



Thanks NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

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"Everyone has a single defining moment in life, something that thrusts them irrevocably into a new direction, something that affects them at their core, something that changes them forever."

When you look at your own life, what would you say was your own personal defining moment? Geo knows what hers was; a moment when she was only sixteen and decisions were made, lies were told and the life she once had was forever changed - for the worse.

Jar of Hearts, is a riveting, dark, thrilling tale that makes you realize three important things: 1. all decisions have consequences, 2. everyone lies and 3. well to say it bluntly, karma's a real bitch.

Jar of Hearts, is yet another book to add to your list of must reads for 2018. Beautifully written - keeping the reader tense with the feeling of the unknown and the weight of impending doom looming throughout the book- doom created from past mistakes that make an ugly return to extract their revenge. I leave you with this quote from the book:

"The past is always with you, whether you choose to think about it or not, whether you take responsibility for it or not. You carry the past with you because it transforms you. You can bury it pretend it never happened, but that doesn't work. Because buried things can, and do, come back."

5 stars for this one! Another fav' to add to my list. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the amazing opportunity to read this ARC and provide my unbiased, adoration for this amazing read!❤️

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I wasn't able to put this down! Got it on a recommendation from a friend and I'm so happy she told me about it. The character development is so good that you actually feel like you know these people. Almost everyone will be able to relate to the high school days depicted in the book. The twist will have you stunned! Do yourself a favor - get this book, turn off your phone, call in sick to work and read it in one sitting. You won't be sorry!

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This book was one of the best i’ve read in a long time. Will seek this author out! Great read!

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14 years after helping her boyfriend Calvin cover up her best friend Angela’s murder Geo is arrested for the crime.In exchange for the testimony Geo who by now is a executive of successful company is given five years of jail time.After serving her sentence Geo comes back to her old house to live with her father but somebody believes she still hasn’t paid for her crimes and is leaving dead bodies in her neighborhood.

Jar of Hearts is a fast paced, twisted,psychological thriller going back and forth between the past and the present . Some of the screens described were fairly disturbing and it definitely is not for the fainthearted..Overall a quick read and will look forward to reading more by Jennifer Hillier

I would like to thank St. Martin's Press / Minotaur Books & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.

This and more reviews at https://chloesbooksblog.wordpress.com/

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