This is my first book to read by this author but I cannot wait to read more by them! This is such a uniquely written story that you will find yourself thinking about long after you finish it. Highly recommend!!

Whewwww, mixed feelings about this one!

I LOVED the mystery surrounding Paris, and her murky backstory. The character voice, the flashbacks, the present circumstances. The story was masterfully unwound, little by little. I ACHED for her. This is not a story for the faint hearted—make sure you read the trigger warnings, of which child abuse is one (though not explicit).

Going along with that, my main drawback is that a significant few chapters revolve around Paris’s history as a stripper—something I’d have love to know *before* reading/requesting this book! For that reason, I can’t really recommend Things We Do in the Dark. The other thing was the ending—everything was very neatly, quickly resolved, without much raising of stakes or tension. It was a bit of a letdown, after the masterful way the author kept upping the tension.

Bummed about parts of this story, but would love to give Jennifer Hillier another chance.

So grateful to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc!

-A

Paris Peralta, younger wife of 68 year old comedian, Jimmy Peralta, is arrested for his murder in part one of this book (told in six parts.) I was interested right away as the first line is quite intriguing: “There’s a time and place for erect nipples, but the back of a Seattle police car definitely isn’t it.”

After the first part was where it went off for me. I guessed the twist right away (if you can call it a twist.) There’s a lot of backstory and flashbacks that took away (for me) the Paris and Jimmy part of the story. I was glad when Part Three took me back to her present day situation.

I am a big fan of the author. Jar of Hearts is my favorite thriller! This one just wasn’t very thrilling for me. There are a lot of five star reviews, so you can decide for yourself. Even though this wasn’t a favorite, I will still continue to read her next books.

Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for my advanced readers copies. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I have read a previous book by Hillier named Jar of Hearts. I loved that one and was excited to read Things We Do In the Dark.
I was not disappointed at all. Sometimes after having such high expectations it's hard for a book to live up to them. Not in this case.

Paris wakes up near her dead husband, covered in blood and holding the murder weapon. But she maintains her innocence even after her arrest. It doesn't help that the world sees her as a gold digger since her husband is much older than she.

Meanwhile, journalist Drew is preparing to do another podcast series. This time on Ruby Reyes, a convicted murderer who is about to be released.

Well written with realistic characters who have interesting backstories. There are some uncomfortable moments, for sure, but they were necessary to the story. Lots of intrigue that kept me turning the pages until the conclusion.

Can't wait to see what Jennifer Hillier writes next.

Thanks to netgalley and Minotaur Books for the arc

ARC audiobook provided in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! I really enjoyed Carla Vega’s narration of this book! She did great with all the characters voices and made it easy to distinguish when she switched between characters. The story was very well written and I love how it seamlessly switched between timelines and had separate parts to show the distinction between Joey and Paris. The twists caught me off guard which I love and the book kept me engaged and wanting more the entire time! I would definitely recommend for anyone that enjoys psychological thrillers with unreliable narrators!

A huge thank you to @minotaurbooks as always for the gifted copy of Jennifer Hillier's newest thriller, "Things We Do in the Dark". An immersive thriller, Hillier is a master of her craft, and I am here for it. I immediately purchased all Hillier's past novels, and she has her own special place on my bookshelves.

Just so everyone knows, this book GLOWS in the dark, so it's front and center. What a fun cover; kudos for the idea! The story of Paris starts out fast paced and kept me turning pages late into the night. I finished this book in one setting, even if I didn't want it to end. The drama, the scenes, the writing, the fear, this story is incredible. Immersive and a detailed web of lies and whodunit was created brilliantly. The timelines are flawless, the characters are well developed, and the setting was described so vividly I could picture everything in my mind. While Paris is accused of the murder of her much older, wealthy husband, were left wondering about the other people that surround Paris and her husband, as well as the past coming back to haunt her. With a plot twist that is brought together perfectly in the end, "Things We Do in the Dark isn't to be missed. I can't wait for Jennifer Hillier's next thriller!

Thank you for the gifted copy!

Paris Peralta returns early from a yoga convention to find her much older, celebrity husband dead in their bathtub. She slips in his blood and hits her head, regaining consciousness to find herself surrounded by police officers with weapons drawn and a bloody straight razor in her hand. She’s arrested, and with all the unwanted media attention, she fears someone from her past will recognize her and come forward to expose the truth of who she really is.

“Ice Queen” Ruby Reyes knows all about Paris’ past, and after serving 25 years in prison for murdering her lover, she’s being released and threatening to destroy the life Paris has worked so hard to create unless she receives a substantial payoff.

This psychological thriller has well-written characters that will fill you with rage one minute and break your heart the next. What an emotional and gripping read!

St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books via NetGalley kindly provided me an ARC of this book, which I have read and reviewed honestly.

I cannot put a finger on WHY I didn’t love this book! The beginning completely hooked me. I thought the writing was great. These characters were all written so well, with the author seeming to have a full grasp on who they ere individually.

Unfortunately, there wasn’t anything about this that stood out to me. After the first part of the story gives way to other characters, though, it felt like a completely different book.

I enjoyed the reveal, though I was able to call it from early on. I am just saddened that I couldn’t connect with this one like so many others have.

Twisted, clever, and utterly satisfying!

I was lucky to receive early access to Jennifer Hillier’s latest psychological thriller, THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK, published July 19th, 2022. After catching numerous rave reviews online I started reading and couldn’t put it down. The novel is skilled at covering extremely dark themes and managed to keep me satisfied with an in-depth backstory and intriguing plot.

There are so many scenes that still haunt me but one, in particular, is when Joey is sent to live with her aunt and uncle after her mother is incarcerated. The image of her lying in bed as the shadow of a figure looms in the doorway watching her sleep is so beyond creepy. And when the truth is revealed behind this encounter, and she finally gets revenge it had me racing through the chapters to the end.

I loved the skilled use of dual timelines to create depth of character and suspense. When the main reveal happened midway, everything leading up to that point felt worth it, and the pieces fell into place for me. I love clever use of structure in suspense novels, and when done correctly, it gives a novel so much more than just a story—TWDITD accomplished that and I felt like I was piecing together a puzzle. The cast of characters is diverse in this story and each one is so unique, that I was invested in every single outcome. The way Hillier shifted my feelings for Paris with each twist and turn was masterful, eventually leading me to a satisfying ending I was definitely ready for. I loved that there was more than one mystery to this story too. It kept my attention and the pages turning.

This was the first Jennifer Hillier book I’ve read and did not disappoint. I’m so excited to have discovered a new author who’s not afraid to write about the disturbing things that keep us awake at night. She’s definitely one to watch going forward and I can’t wait to read what she publishes next!

Oooof what a page turner!!! 👏🏻 This one folks is JH’s best yet. It follows the wife Paris Peralta who’s been arrested and accused of murdering 🪒 her much MUCH older.. almost 30 years older.. very rich husband, Jimmy. We find out Paris is living under a new identity 🥸 and running from a questionable past in Toronto 🤫.. and what that is (???) isn’t entirely revealed until later in the story. Jimmy’s past isn’t so squeaky clean.. a 4x divorcee with drugs, two over-doses and a bankruptcy under his belt.

Red herrings 🤥 are thrown into the plot along with suspicious 👀 female side characters.. that had me shaking my head.. questioning, then backtracking my previous suspicions. Who the heck did kill Jimmy!?! 🤷🏼‍♀️

But wait.. now that the soon-to-be-released Toronto Ice Queen is shaking Paris down.. could it be that Paris would be up for not one, but two murder charges. Things can’t possibly get any worse.. or can they.. Dun da da Dun. This is getting crazy good 🤯👍🏻 at only 20% into the book!

Ex-journalist Drew Malcolm of “The Things We Do in the Dark” (true crime) podcast, furiously sets out to right the wrongs of the Ice Queen.. for her to pay for abusing her daughter, Joey. His motivation is tell the TRUE tale to his 3 million listeners.. about his bff Joelle (Joey) Reyes that died in a fire at the age of twenty. Or was she murdered.. Dun da da Dun.

Whoa. What Drew does find is UNBELIEVABLE!!! 😳 WOWWW who would of guessed it.. not I! 🤦🏼‍♀️ And down the rabbit hole he goes.. piecing together a thrilling tale that kept me on the edge of my seat.. my pulse quickening.. adrenaline rushing. This book is freaking fantastic. ❥ Recommend!!!

I’ve decided I need one thriller for every 10 romance books that I read, just to keep things interesting. And guys, if you are a thriller fan and haven’t read Jennifer Hillier, you are MISSING OUT! She never disappoints.

Told in duel timelines, it takes a bit to put all of this together, but once the story gets moving it is unputdownable! Technically a psychological thriller, it’s not scary at all and really felt more like a mystery. Throughout the story we are solving two different crimes in one. Hillier has a way of slowly developing characters, making you fall for them, and simultaneously question everything! Joey’s life was seriously heartbreaking. I was rooting so hard for her to find happiness. I also loved Drew and his devotion to finding answers.

As with all of her books, there are very heavy topics and I found myself so sad throughout this book. 🖤 Please check out the MANY triggers in this one and DM me for specifics!

I absolutely love Hillier, and while this wasn’t my absolute fave of hers (the previous two are a lot to live up to), it’s my favorite thriller of 2022 so far! 4.5⭐️

This was the first book of Hillier's that I have read and it did not disappoint! The book grabs your attention right from the first line and keeps you engaged right to the end. I really enjoyed the multiple timelines and the unreliable narrator. I felt that the twists were all surprising and unpredictable. The ending was also equally satisfying and I felt it wrapped up the story in a great way. I would highly recommend this one to anyone who is a mystery/thriller fan or someone looking to try it for the first time. I will definitely be reading more from Hillier in the future.

Canadian author Jennifer Hillier is a go to author for me. Her previous books have been captivating and some of my favourites.

Things We Do in The Dark releases next week and again she has written a captivating story that is a touch grittier and comes with trigger warnings.

After her arrest Paris isn't 100% concerned about the murder charge, well she is but it’s her past that she has worked hard to bury that could come back to haunt her. Told from a couple POV and jumping to the past this book was addicting in its mystery and heartache. There was a diverse cast of characters, some I could barely tolerate and others I wanted to hug. This is a dark domestic gritty story of despair, hope and strength. There is abuse and violence, so not for the faint of heart.

On one hand I liked the ending, it was satisfying but it did leave me wondering, well honestly I can't say much more without giving something away.

I did a combo read and listen. Carla Vega was the reader and did a great job bringing Paris's story to life. She is always a pleasure to listen to.

My thanks to Minotaur Book and Macmillan Audio for advanced copies in exchange for a honest review.

4.5/5!

Jennifer Hillier first stole my book loving heart with JAR OF HEARTS and since then I’ve picked up everything she releases religiously. I love how easy it is to fall into Hillier’s books and become completely engrossed with the story, the characters, and the mysterious plot. (Just don’t remind me how I’m seriously slacking on reading her backlist!)

THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK centers around our main character of Paris Peralta. The story launches with Paris being accused of her husband’s murder, but there is a lot more to unpack within this book. Hillier not only gives the reader an interesting present day story, but also gives a look back into the very tangled web that is Paris’ past. I’ve seen a few reviews saying that the twists in this book were too easy to guess, but I actually believe that was the whole point. Hillier is putting Paris’ entire life out there for the reader to absorb and understand. The goal really isn’t to trick the reader with a red herring here and there, but to guide us to how Paris’ past and present collide and intersect. I absolutely loved this story and was completely invested in every aspect! I can’t wait to see what Hillier dreams up next!

CW: There are a lot of potential triggers within this book and as always I suggest checking out the full list readers have compiled on Storygraph.

A huge thank you to. Minotaur Books for my gifted copy!

Actual rating: 2.5 stars rounded up to 3.

This is the second book I've read by Jennifer Hillier (I also read Little Secrets, which I gave the same rating). I think this author's books aren't for me. I'm not a fan of thrillers that revolve around people cheating and having sex, which both books I've read by Hillier focused on. I want to read thrillers that shock me, and make me feel on edge with the suspense and tension. And a main character that I can root for doesn't hurt either. In this case, none of the characters were likable.

A large portion of the book was told in flashbacks, some of which didn't seem necessary to the overall plot. I kept reading because I thought there would be a big reveal. Maybe I've read too many thrillers because I guessed the plot twist and I was left disappointed with the ending, which felt rather anti-climatic.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Jennifer Hillier for the free eBook ARC in exchange for leaving an honest review.

Things We Do in the Dark, by Jennifer Hillier, is a complex, emotional, captivating dark thriller that follows two timelines and two plots that are connected to one another, but also distinct. Paris Peralta is found by her dead husband’s side, in shock, with a potential weapon in hand. She is hauled off as a suspect and the story truly begins from there.

Paris suffered a ghastly childhood and has had to make her own way in life. Intriguingly, Paris was not her childhood name, and not only does the story reveal her tumultuous past and how Joelle (aka Joey) became Paris, but it also follows her notorious mother Ruby, the “Ice Queen”, newly released from prison and discloses her story. Eventually the two backstories collide into the present and we uncover who is responsible for the death of legendary comedian, Jimmy Peralta.

Things We Do in the Dark contains some content that is quite graphic and there is some language included, but I also found it to be a very engaging story that made me feel for the characters. The author reveals the human side of Joey (Paris). We get glimpses of her affection for, and true connection to her older husband, Jimmy Peralta. We see her friendship with a fellow dancer who struggled alongside her, and we witness a second chance at friendship and love. Some have said the mystery was obvious and expected, but I didn’t think so. I thought the story was gripping and captured my attention throughout its entirety. While it wasn’t my favorite thriller of the year, it was a compelling, well-written, impactful story and I’m glad I read it.

When Paris Peralta is found in the bathroom covered in blood next to her dead husband who in the bathtub, the police ask “did you kill your husband?” She responded “I don’t know.”

Jennifer Hiller is masterful in her writing of twisty thrillers. I appreciated the trigger warnings: child abuse, rape and murder. The story is a story within a story going back and forth between Paris and her mother Ruby Reyes, the ice-queen and Paris and her dead husband Jimmy, the famous comedian.

IF you are wanting a thriller, you will not be disappointed. The book kept me guessing. The narration was well done.

Thank you #NetGalley,#St.Martin’sPress and #JenniferHiller for the advance copy for my honest review.

Things We Do in the Dark is a dark, complex thriller/mystery that hooked me into staying up well past midnight.

I love a good thriller that follows multiple points of view and multiple timelines.  

In this book, Paris Peralta is married to a much older man, a wealthy celebrity comedian.  The book begins with Paris being arrested in her bathroom in Seattle, holding a straight razor, with her husband dead in the tub beside her.  Meanwhile in Canada, crime podcaster Drew Malcolm is investigating the case of a female killer from the 1990s, who has a connection to Paris’ past.

I’m used to mysteries where the chapters alternate viewpoints, but I really liked the way Hillier wrote this, sucking me in completely to Paris’s story before bringing in Drew’s perspective.  It completely immersed me in the different timelines and investigations.  

The characters especially sold me on Things We Do in the Dark.  When I read that Paris was a celebrity wife I assumed she’d be a love-to-hate character, but her compassion and backstory was fascinating.  Finding out what was going to happen to her kept me turning pages well past my bedtime.

I did find the ending of this one a bit underwhelming, with a few plot points feeling rushed. However, I enjoyed the book as a whole so much that I’d still recommend it, and the end was emotionally satisfying enough.

Content warning: This one does have themes of child abuse, including sexual abuse.

Thank you to Minotaur Books/St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for my review copy of this book.

All the hype you've been hearing about this book is spot on! This book has mystery, murder, and mayhem! When your nationality causes you to stand out, it task of blending in becomes extremely difficult, but that's exactly what Paris Aquino does, until she doesn't. Growing up with a selfish, jealous, just looking for her next paycheck mother, she also becomes a fighter in more ways than one. Never quite knowing who she can trust, she makes her own path and lives well, until her past catches up with her. What will she do now? And who knows who she really is? A MUST READ!!!

My second Jennifer Hillier book did not disappoint!!

Can I just start by saying that I loved Joey & I was rooting for her til the very end. After everything she’s been through, she deserves nothing but the best.

Although we never got to really meet Jimmy, I liked him too and I was happy for him and Paris. I felt like they had such a pure relationship & I was sad they didn’t get more time together.