review ✨

I read a lot of thrillers and this was for me the most disturbing and dark one I’ve read in a while. @jenniferhillierbooks has done it again — this was utterly gripping, and once I started I didn’t want to put it down! Some of the twists might be easier to call for some readers — but that won’t take away from the overall reading experience.

Go into this book blind!! It’s wild and twisty, and if you’re a thriller lover, you’ll love it. The ending was so so satisfying 🫶🏻

⚠️ CW: graphic scenes depicting child abuse

Thank you to @netgalley and @minotaur_books for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!

🗓 pub date: July 19, 2022
📖 352 pages
✨ my rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Paris Peralta is arrested for the murder of her celebrity husband, but what worries her even more is the possible exposure of her true identity. Ruby Reyes was convicted of murder twenty-five years earlier and threatens to expose Paris’s secrets once she gets out of prison. Paris worked so hard to cover up her past and create a new life for herself and will do anything to keep her secrets buried.

This was one of my most anticipated releases this year and it did not disappoint! Jennifer Hillier has easily become one of my favorite authors and her thrillers are always spot on. I love the alternating timeline and POVs in this book. Jennifer Hillier has such a knack of creating such interesting characters and stories that keep you hooked. If you have not read anything by Jennifer Hillier yet I highly recommend doing so!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an egalley in exchange for an honest review.

Paris Peralta stands accused of murdering her actor-comedian husband and there are more than enough skeletons in her closet that she would like to stay hidden.

I enjoy a Jennifer Hillier reading experience( see Jar of Hearts by Jennifer Hillier and Little Secrets by Jennifer Hillier) her 2022 summer release started out very edge out of my seat, holding my breath but sadly, the momentum didn't last. It was the character's backstory and the additional perspective of another character that caused the fast paced plot to slow to a skid mark.

This doesn't mean that I didn't enjoy the story, it just means that for me-I deduced the many secrets that were going to be revealed including what happened to Paris's husband, Jimmy. I loved Paris's story and as a main protagonist, she was THE STORY.

I think my main sticking point is- The inclusion of Drew, the true crime podcaster's perspective. I recognize the way he was important to another character BUT I am not convinced he necessarily needed so much space. It was distracting instead of helpful and he was a bit boring. Like a girl you were attracted to worked at a strip club and you felt guilty you couldn't save her? Oh my man, get your ego under control! However, it's only my opinion.

I did love all the Canadian references and settings and Dalhousie University in Halifax even gets a shout-out! I also will not hesitate to read another Jennifer Hillier book, the author writes such gripping suspense stories with great characters.

Expected Publication Date 19/07/22
Goodreads Review Published 07/06/22

Thank you Netgalley & publisher for this e arc of Things We Do in the Dark by Jennifer Hillier.
This is a thriller- murder mystery novel. 3.5-4*.
Synopsis: " Paris Peralta is suspected of killing her celebrity husband, and her long-hidden past now threatens to destroy her future... Paris must finally confront the dark past she escaped, once and for all."
3 things I liked:
1. I love thrillers in general, but not so much mysteries. This to me is actually a mix.
2. I liked several of the twists.
3. The ending was good for me, there was some twist, but I was pleased as a reader.
3 things I disliked:
1. Read too much like a mystery and not enough like a suspense or thriller at times.
2. I didn't fall in love with the charters enough to be fully invested in the story; kind of take it or leave it.
3. I like the beginning and the end, not so much all the middle.
I was glad to read this one. Easy fast read overall. If you like a mix of murder mystery in your thrillers you will like this.

4.5/5

I love Jennifer Hillier’s books and I have been SO excited about Things We Do in the Dark so I’m thrilled to report that I loved this book. I love her gritty and dark style, her strong and compelling writing, and her ability to pull me into her books immediately. This one had all of that for me, I was consumed by this book and I loved the wild ride it took me on. I’ve seen some people say that parts of this were predictable and I can see that, I knew some of what would happen before it actually did too. BUT I was so so damn entertained that I didn’t even care, the journey to the reveals was good enough for me in the end.

Jennifer Hillier doesn’t disappoint. Things we do in the dark was dark and twisted. A suspenseful read. Paris Is arrested for murdering her husband but who exactly is Paris. The flow of flashbacks from past and present take you on a dark ride through Joey’s life as the daughter of the ice queen Ruby

I read Jar of Hearts a couple of years back and fell in love with Jennifer Hillier’s style of writing. She’s detailed and weaves a story like no other. When I had the opportunity to request Things We Do In The Dark, I didn’t hesitate.

The storyline alternates between a past and present timeline. And in true Hillier fashion, she had me guessing, albeit incorrectly, who the guilty party would be. The more I learned about Paris, the more I felt for her. The backstory and flashbacks were essential to Paris’ character development and, while this may have caused a slow build-up, it was necessary. The plot was good and I really enjoyed the ending.

I will be looking to purchase this hardcover when it releases because I can’t resist a glow-in-the-dark title.

It’s become evident that I want to read anything this author writes!

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishing house, St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books, for providing an advanced copy for review. All thoughts and opinions written in this review are my own. My review of The Overnight Guest can be found on Goodreads, my Instagram and Facebook book club page, and my local library website. I will post to Amazon when available.

I am still unsure of what I just read. This book had so many elements to it. I enjoyed reading from all the different perspectives and timelines. I was able to figure out some of the twists but this book had lots of suspense!

I was really excited to get early access to this book from NetGalley!

Heartbreaking, infuriating, sympathetic, loving, passionate - just a few emotions you have within the first couple chapters. Jennifer switched between timelines quite a bit, but makes it clear what time and people you’re reading about. Multiple story lines happening years apart.

3.5 stars, felt like I was left wanting more. Multiple plot twist that I foresaw and would have liked some points explained more. Still very well written. Would definitely recommend if you like thrillers - keeps you on your toes the whole book.

A fast paced thrill ride with all the trappings! Paris wakes up in the morning covered in her husbands blood…. But that’s not the worst thing that has happened to her. She is a scrappy young lady that has fought for everything in her life. This one has twists and turns at every intersection and will surely be a hit. This one includes multiple points of view, multiple murders and the necessity of reinventing oneself. Put this on your TBR list! Thanks to NetGalley for the early read.

A thriller that really delivers. So many secrets, twists and turns, this story keeps you reading until the very end. Paris Peralta is arrested, covered in blood and holding a bloody raczor, for the murder of her aged but very wealthy Hollywood husband Jimmy. While she swears her innocence, Paris is hiding something and may not be whom she seems. Is she really innocent of murder? It seems as if her past is catching up to her. Twenty-five years earlier, Ruby Reyes, dubbed “the Ice Queen” was found guilty of killing her married banker boyfriend in a similar fashion. Are these two events connected? Ruby seems to know all about Paris and may be her undoing.
I’ve not read anything before by Hillier but I can’t wait now to do so. Her use of flashbacks and foresight, innuendos and clues sprinkled here and there is intriguing. The characters are well developed and as the reader, you can empathize with Paris and her struggle to live a life where she is worthy. The element of including these two murders as featured on a true crime stories podcast is so relevant and relatable. Certainly, this is a book to add to your TBR list. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Many thanks to #netgalley #st.martinspress #jenniferhillier #thingswedointhedarkfor the opportunity to read and review this book.

I want to thank to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for giving this arc to me. So I liked this book a lot. I was constantly intrigued to see many secreta unravel. At some point I was confused by the change but it still kept me interested. Would recommend a lot for thriller lovers.

Things We Do in the Dark told the story of a woman, Paris Peralta, who is accused of killing her much older husband and Drew Malcolm, who is looking into doing a podcast about Ruby Reyes being released early from prison. This one had me hooked from the beginning. I found myself turning pages to find out what happened next. This story and characters intertwined in ways I wasn't expecting and when some of the twists happened, I honestly did not see them coming. There were characters I rooted for, and those I despised, which always makes a book intriguing to me. A lot of the story was told through flashbacks, which I know is not always great for some people, but I really liked it because it gave a ton of background on characters and their motivations. Overall, this was a great book with some twists I wasn't expecting.

Addicting! There is no better crafter of thrillers than Jennifer Hillier. This one includes a podcast element which is very trendy right now and she did it so well. I really loved this one.

Captivating, page turning read. 25 years ago Ruby Reyes, aka the Ice Queen, went to prison for murder. Today Paris Peralta is on trial for murdering her husband. What do the murders have on common? What really happened?
Full of emotion, dark twists and turns this book will have you hooked from the beginning.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you NetGalley Jennifer Hillier and Minotaur Books for this edition and hearing my honest review. Looking forward to reading more with you
#partner

"Things We Do in the Dark" constantly kept me guessing and I absolutely loved it. At first it was a lot going on, but once the stories started to develop and intertwine the story really came alive. Jennifer Hillier definitely has a gift to write thrillers that constantly keep you guessing. She is one of my favorite authors and her books are always hard to put down.

This thriller keeps you engaged to the end. Comprised of multiple parts, I enjoyed how everything entwined together as you put all the pieces in place.

Things We Do In The Dark has many facets. My heart broke with every scene from the past, but I was glad to see what became of Joey and how she grew. Her past is so very traumatic. I enjoyed Drew’s investigative parts the most. I would have loved more of the digging and mystery that surrounded the murder.

So, the question is…who killed Jimmy Peralta? Will Paris’ secrets be revealed? Who can be trusted? Filled with mystery and intrigue, this story will keep you turning the pages.

Jennifer Hillier is a terrific writer and she never disappoints. Her latest offering, Things We Do in the Dark, continues her streak of excellent thrillers.

I really liked the way this one unfolded over a nonlinear and multiple POV timelines. Figuring out how all the pieces fit together made me want to keep reading. There’s lots of twists and turns for readers to try to untangle. And the exceptional thing about Hillier’s storytelling is that all those twists and turns are integral to the plot. She doesn’t waste readers’ time with red herrings just for the sake of red herrings. The characters are interesting and the pacing brisk. If you’re a thriller fan this should definitely be on your TBR.

CW: child abuse, child sexual abuse, rape, suicide, murder, substance abuse

Paris Peralta has always avoided social media and attention because she knows if her image is out in the public eye, the demons of her past she tried so hard to leave behind will rear their ugly heads. When she married Jimmy, he was retired from stand-up and sitcom stardom and living a quiet, now-sober life. But his career—and finances—have recently made a huge splash after he signed a deal to resurrect his career with a streaming service. When she’s arrested in their bathroom covered in her dead husband’s blood with his body dead in the bathtub, she can no longer control the anonymity she tried so hard to cling to.

There are a fair number of trigger warnings in this novel. It goes into detail about the emotional and physical abuse a mother subjected her daughter to, and the abuse the girl faced at the hands of men is, thankfully, mostly left to the readers’ imagination. There are also a few things that stretch plausibility, but that certainly helped with the twists and turns that kept me turning pages. If you can handle that stuff, I recommend this novel.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book, which RELEASES JULY 19, 2022.

This book was SO good!! There were so many times throughout the story that I thought I knew where we were headed and then another twist would happen. It kept me guessing until the very end! Although the murder(s) were the main plot, I loved learning about Joeys life and seeing how much she had to overcome. Such a unique and great story and now has me wanting to pick up other titles by Jennifer Hillier!