“But sometimes the only way to start over is to burn it all down.”

Read if: you’re a sucker for juicy celeb goss, you can connect with a MC that cooks or reads to deal with her feelings, the sight of a jukebox gets your heart rate going, or you loved that recent Netflix production of Harlan Coben’s Stay Close

Not sure how I managed to end up with two ARCs of thrillers featuring male true crime podcast hosts in the same week but here we are. Not complaining though — maybe one day, but today is not that day.

Fast-paced, digestible, multi-POV, and surprisingly emotional! Generational abuse is a heavy topic to read about, and this is no exception. I don’t want to give too much away, but I will say if you are an avid thriller reader, you will more than likely guess all the twists, as I did. This basically always means I will give a thriller 3-stars. However, the visual details in this one were so fun and I can’t wait to share the mood board I made soon!

The diverse ethnic representation in this book was a highly redeeming quality for me. I don’t think I realized until I picked up this book that I don’t think I’ve ever read a thriller that features Asian/Pacific Islander characters, and more specifically Filipino characters. On a similar note, my one mini complaint is that as a born-and-raised British girl, I found the British cop to be mildly cringe since she uses just about every stereotypical British slang word there is in the course of one interaction + one of them wasn’t really used correctly.

This book releases July 19, 2022!

"When Paris Peralta is arrested in her own bathroom—covered in blood, holding a straight razor, her celebrity husband dead in the bathtub behind her—she knows she'll be charged with murder. But as bad as this looks, it's not what worries her the most." The new Jennifer Hillier does NOT disappoint! This story has it all: murder, deceit and intrigue. Paris is not who we think she is and she has someone to hide from. Paris has been arrested for the death of her famous husband, but that is the least of her concerns.
The story is told in two timelines by several POV's which I liked. 25 years earlier Ruby Reyes- the Ice Queen- was convicted of an eerily similar crime of passion. But Reyes knows who Paris really is an she's going to make Paris pay. Drew Malcolm is investigating the release of Reyes and what happened to his friend and Reyes' daughter the night she died in Toronto.
The story is smart and captivating. I guessed one of the twists early on, but it might have been purposeful by the author. The next twist was shocking and worth every blissful moment of reading! Hillier is known for her dark thrillers and she nails it again with this novel. Pick this up when it releases this summer for a delicious summer treat. (There are TWs) Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley. 4 stars

While this was a very enjoyable read it wasn't my favorite Jennifer Hillier novel. The story focuses on Paris Peralta who comes home to find her rich and famous husband Jimmy Peralta dead in the bathtub. From here we also meet Drew who is working on a podcast on Ruby Reyes, another women who brutally murdered the man she loved 25 years ago. The connection between Paris, Ruby and Drew all come out as the story unfolds. This is definitely not a thriller, but you do want to keep reading to find out how everything pieces together. Unfortunately I was much more interested in the present day story and I felt there was just too many flashbacks. This one will also need to come with many trigger warnings, as there is a lot of graphic content that many be uncomfortable with.

So here’s the thing, Jennifer Hillier is one of my favorite authors and I’ve devoured everything she’s written. I kept that in mind as I read this latest book, because I didn’t want my gigantic expectations to skew my opinion.
Whilst there were indeed good parts in this story, even some that I hoped would go a little further, ultimately there was not as much thrill as I was hoping for. The twists were small and I kinda saw them coming.
Keep in mind, triggers abound: child abuse in particular is a main focus.
I also felt that there were so many timelines and so many tangents, it was hard to get invested in anything completely.
Thank you so much to Minotaur books for my review copy.

Things We Do in the Dark by Jennifer Hillier is a great, wild, roller coaster ride! Tales involving child molestation are tricky to pull off, but Hillier manages the task with artfulness. The story spans over 20 years of child abuse, murder, deceit, and love. The story is brought to life with characters that are so relatable and situations that offer unique perspectives that coax an abundance of empathy. I loved the main character who survived hell, reinvented herself and was still able to love. There are many twists and turns, but the author pulls all the pieces together to weave an excellent tale.

4.5 stars - rounded up to 5 !

Okay. I'm 100% a Jennifer Hillier fan now. This is my third book read by this author and her books make me continually think about them days and days after reading them. Be warned of having long-term effects after reading her books!

Paris Peralta is arrested and charged of murdering her husband in her own home but unfortunately she doesn't remember a thing about such events.

Jumping from past and present timelines and uncovering a wonderous amount of secrets and twists that I never saw coming. This book is deliciously addicting and unputdownable - an absolute must add to any thriller lovers bookshelf!

Also, high appreciation that this book takes place in Canada!

Thank you so much Minotaur Books for providing me with an advanced e-book copy in exchange for an honest review! I am beyond appreciative!

Mark your calendars to run and grab your copy of this thriller as soon as it hit shelves on July 19th, 2022 !

Jennifer is a master in her field. I have not read one of her books I didn’t love and Things We Do in the Dark is her next big read.
The fact we now have to wait another year to read her next masterpiece is heartbreaking!

You keep them coming and I will keep reading. As will all your millions of fans.

Things We Do in The Dark
By Jennifer Hillier

A Chilling and Immersive Psychological Thriller

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

SUMMARY
The police found a shocked and disheveled Paris Peralta in the bathroom of her posh Seattle home covered in blood and holding a straight-edge razor. Her celebrity husband is dead, lying in a bathtub full of water and blood behind her. Paris is immediately arrested and charged with murder. What worries Paris the most is that the unwanted media attention will unveil her hidden past.

Twenty-five years earlier, Ruby Reyes, the Ice Queen, was convicted of her wealthy lover’s murder in a trial that riveted Canada in the early 90s. Reyes claims she knows who Paris really is, and when she is unexpectedly released from prison, she threatens to expose all of Paris’s secrets.

Left with no other choice, Paris must finally confront the difficult childhood and the dark past she escaped long ago.

REVIEW
Things We Do in the Night is a multilayered psychological thriller full of unrelenting tension. The story is immediately compelling and impossible to put down. The writing is solid and spellbinding. It may even be a little graphic for some who recoil at blood and murder.

The characters are creative, robust, and delightfully unique. I loved Paris’s character, resiliency, and strength in taking care of matters. Ruby’s character is a piece of work, and you’ll feel very justified in your dislike of this horrendous person. Drew Malcolm, a true-crime podcaster, is on a mission. He is furious that Ruby is getting out of prison and having a second chance at life, while her daughter Joey is dead. He is going to make sure his three million listeners of his podcast, The Things We Do in the Dark know just how despicable Ruby is.

Author Jennifer Hillier was born and raised in Toronto but she spent eight years in the Seattle area, where most of her books are set. She’s the author of a several psychological thrillers, including her recent bestsellers Little Secrets (2020) and Jar of Hearts (2018)

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press Minotaur Books for an advance reading copy of this book. All opinions are my own.


Publisher Minotaur Books
Published July 19, 2022
Review www.bluestockingreviews.com

Thank you to Netgalley for gifting me this ARC for an exchange of an honest review.

This book was not at all what I imagined this to be. There’s 6 different parts and flashbacks. We get Paris Peralta’s POV and her story told through flash books. All I can say is…wow. That girl has been through soo much. I wanted to hug her and shake her. I didn’t understand a lot of her decisions during her childhood; it’s easy to say “well, you should’ve done this,” but not everyone faces trauma the same way. I could understand why she didn’t do certain things. Her mother, Ruby, is probably the worst person ever. I HATED her. I wish for her death many times throughout the book.

The mystery of who killed Jimmy Peralta was weaved throughout the story. I had an inkling, but I didn’t guess at all right away. There is also another little mini mystery going on throughout which I did predict.. but it didn’t take anything out of the story.

We also get Drew’s POV, a podcaster who decides to take on Ruby’s case. Ruby was convinced of murdering a man. This drives Drew deep into the rabbit hole where things don’t quite make sense but he starts asking questions and seeking answers.

I really enjoyed this and kept trying to figure out what was gonna happen next. There is another mini plot twist that I did not see coming towards the very end, and it made sense.

Highly recommend especially if you liked Jennifer’s other books especially Little Secrets.

This thriller had secrets upon turns upon surprises upon twists. I read this in just a few sittings and was entertained each and every chapter. Some of the content was hard to read at certain times due to child abuse. But this was a refreshing thriller with a seamless plot and interesting characters.

This was one of my most highly anticipated reads of 2022 and I was so excited when I received the ARC from Netgalley. I am pleased to announce that this did not disappoint one bit. This book kept me on my toes right from the first page and with every new reveal I think my eyeballs were about to fall out of my head. 5 stars. Will be picking up a physical copy for my personal library and forcing all my friends to read it.

Domestic thriller from a new favourite author! This is a story about Paris, who is accused of murdering her famous husband. Paris also is known as Joelle, who ran away from her life, and ran away from a murder. This was an excellent book with an ending like no other. Ruby is a character you sure hope is fictional, but I’m sure many people could relate to a monster of a mother like her. I love reading, I read a lot, but I love endings like this one. The ending made this book for me. Thanks NetGalley and publishers for the arc copy of this book.

Well crafted. A dark gritty read with a compelling and complex lead character. Unflinching look at abuse and family dysfunction.

In Jennifer Hiliers newest book it starts with the murder of a comedian on the edge of a comeback, with his wife becoming the primary suspect. Intertwined is the story of Joey, whom as a young girl experiences more abuse then anyone could possible survive. As the story continues we see how their stories connect and all lead to a wonderful ending. The authors gift for telling engrossing stories has gotten even better then her previous and I look forward to anything else by this author.

I enjoy the suspense, fast pace, and unexpected twists of Jennifer Hillier's books. Unfortunately, Things We Do in the Dark had few of these.

The story had potential with multiple murders/missing people and the secrets that surround these events. While some of the twists were mildly surprising, for the most part they were predictable. The characters felt cheesy and superficial, though young Joey was the most likeable and sympathetic.

The plot was slow and repetitive and I was eager for it to end, hopeful it would get better. That was not the case.

I can’t believe I took so long to read this one! I cannot wait to read more by Jennifer Hillier! I read this in one sitting, I couldn't put it down. It is best if you go into this one blind. It was overall an excellent read, one that I can’t stop thinking about. Thank you Netgalley and the publisher, St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, for a chance to read this e-ARC prior to publication for my honest review

Review of Uncorrected Digital Galley

For Paris Peralta, found standing in the bathroom, covered in blood and clutching a straight razor while her husband, Jimmy, lies dead in the bathtub, it seems like an open and shut case. But Paris doesn’t remember what happened; she remembers her husband lying in the blood-filled bathtub and then nothing until she awoke to someone screaming.

Even in Seattle, news spreads fast when a celebrity is involved and, after the initial shock, no one was particularly surprised . . . her celebrity husband was some thirty years older than his young wife; surely she had married him . . . and murdered him . . . for his money.

But Paris and Jimmy loved each other; she’s certain she didn’t murder him. But a murder charge is not what disturbs Paris. She’s certain that the media exposure . . . with photographers and newspaper reporters camped outside her door . . . will destroy the life she’s struggled to build for herself. Her biggest fear: that media exposure will bring her hidden past out into the open.

Who killed Jimmy Peralta? And what is Paris so desperate to keep hidden?

=========

Strong, believable characters populate this chilling thriller; some are despicable while others evoke empathy. Several of the events depicted are traumatic with several trigger warnings for the reader. However, the unfolding story, sometimes in the present, sometimes as a backstory to provide details, weaves these events into a cohesive, yet difficult to read storyline.

The plot, twisty and surprising, keeps the suspense high; tension permeates the telling of the tale. Astute readers may be able to predict some of the unexpected revelations, but this dark story is good at keeping its secrets hidden.

Gritty and, at times, cringe-worthy, the evolving story is intense, compelling, and heart-wrenching, impossible to put down. Readers are likely to find themselves turning the pages as fast as possible, only to find themselves gobsmacked by the unexpected denouement.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books and NetGalley
#ThingsWeDoInTheDark #NetGalley

This book grabbed me in from the first page. Although the initial mystery of the main character was easily guessed the twists kept coming. It had a good plot and I enjoyed it throughout!

Whew! Okay that just happened! Wow. 😳

There are two major twists in the book, and while I slowly began to suspect one, the other completely knocked me for a loop.

If you read one thriller this year, this is the one. It’s a knockout and hands down everything a psychological thriller should be.

Page turner ✅
Still reading late at night; couldn’t put it down✅
Unpredictable twists and turns✅
Complex characters✅
Unique storyline✅

This one has it all. It’s suspenseful and disquieting but also tender in all the right places. It’s a knockout—one of the best thrillers I’ve read in a while. Don’t miss it!

Blood doesn't lie........

You'll find that it has a definite presence here in more ways than one.

Paris Peralta has been smacked into reality when the police arrive and demand that she drop the straight razor from her hand. She's staring into the dead eyes of her famous husband, comedian Jimmy Peralta, who lays lifeless in the bathtub. In a nano second, she's hauled off to the police station in cuffs with "I'm innocent" trailing from her lips.

Paris is a complicated soul. She and Jimmy are the least likely couple. Jimmy is thirty years older than Paris. Jimmy has always been the darling of comedy until his career started to fizzle with the changing times. But Netflix bought into a new platform for Jimmy and a new generation was lit on fire. Paris was never enticed by the promise of new money. Their relationship seemed to work. But then why was Paris caught "red-handed" with the straight razor? Stay tuned.

Drew Malcolm took his previous investigative journalist background and turned it into a successful podcast followed by over 3 million viewers. He's gotten word that Ruby Reyes, the infamous Ice Queen murderer, is being released from prison. Ol' Ruby has been there since 1992 after a heinous crime. Drew is driven by a desire that Ruby shouldn't be going anywhere. And he's going to make it his latest pod topic.

Here's where I'm at. I have loved all things Jennifer Hillier including her Jar of Hearts and Little Secrets. (Be sure to check these out.) But Things We Do in the Dark suffers from intense overkill. (Yup, pun intended.) We'll take a trip riding a metronome back and forth through time with fill-ins on these main characters. The reader becomes knee deep in backstories at the expense of the actual storyline. In fact, Things We Do in the Dark is filleted into six actual parts in its telling. It also takes on heavy-duty topics that would flip a social worker's stomach. I like "complicated" plots, but this one just suffered from extraneous plot devices. There was no build-up of excitement happening. We pretty much figured out everything from the get-go.

I would encourage you to take this one out for a spin yourselves. There have been many 4 and 5 Star reviews out there. But dedicated Jennifer Hillier fans know what she is capable of through her previous books. And please know: I'm already anxious for her next one to get here. Always will be.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Minotaur Books and to the talented Jennifer Hillier for the opportunity.