I have only read one other Jennifer Hillier novel & that was The Butcher which I read as my last book of 2021. I had heard great things about her books but had just never got around to reading one. The Butcher absolutely BLEW MY MIND! So when I heard of Things We Do in the Dark I knew I had to put it really high up on my list. When I saw that it was available on Netgalley I took a shot in the dark & requested to read an early copy of the book & I literally squealed when I was approved. Now I will be the first to admit that I am always the person who never guesses what is going to happen in books, which is why the thriller genre is a favorite of mine. This book was no exception to that fact only that it happened over and over again with all of the fabulously crafted twists. The story for this novel I thought was a great take on a very common trope of "husband is dead...obviously the wife did it". Hillier takes that and runs far and wide with how she crafted Paris. I also want to commend Hillier for her portrayal of the Filipina culture because throughout reading this book, I was constantly thinking of how little I have seen Asian culture depicted in novels and to see that carried out so wonderfully & in an explanatory way to the reader was just perfect. Hillier also hit the nail on the head with how she wrote the aspects of children services & social workers. I worked for children services in the past & to have first hand knowledge into what she was showcasing was a powerful moment. Also showing the effects of children services involvement on Joey was incredibly accurate & so was the abuse she received at the hand of her mother. I feel people think sometimes that child abuse cases are linear & truly that cannot be farther from the truth. This book was outstanding for so many different aspects & I thoroughly enjoyed my time immersed in the world Hillier created so spectacular. Big thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy of Things We Do in the Dark, as well as Minotaur Books & of course the lovely Jennifer Hillier herself.

Things You Do in the Dark is the latest novel coming from Jennifer Hillier!
Paris Peralta is trying to live a quiet life with her retired actor but making a comeback husband Jimmy who is about 20 years older. Jimmy is found murdered in his bathtub with Paris unconscious at the scene and is immediately accused of his murder. The high-profile coverage brings things and events from Paris’s past back to her front and center.
This brings Paris’s perfect life to a halt, and she must answer to her past transgressions. There are also other narratives and main characters that are eventually woven into the story together to tie everything up. This story touches on not truly being able to run from your past and complicated parent/child relationships.
This was 3.8 * read. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the EArc and the chance to review it!

This is by far one of the best books I've read yet. I love how the story plays out, and how the back story is explained in different time frames, which makes the story unfold so much better. I love the twist at the end, of whom actually killed Jimmy. Once I started this book I couldn't stop or put it down. Im glad that Paris had her happy ending with Jimmy, even with how their relationship ended.
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced reading copy of this book.

Hillier's previous book, the Anthony award finalist, Little Secrets, was really good. As a matter of fact, I suspect it would've taken that award if not for S.A. Cosby's magnificent novel, Blacktop Wasteland.

She might actually get her Anthony Award for this one.

It's the kind of twisty murder mystery that only a pro like Jennifer Hillier can pull off. Her outline must look something like this:

Act 1: Intrigue. Introduce the characters, and let the readers make up their minds about them. I will make them feel stupid for this later.

Act 2: Twist the plot as many times as possible, aka: Give the readers what they want.

Act 3: Sneak in a few more reveals, while also refining the characters' motivations. This will be difficult, but I can probably do it.

Basically, there are angry characters, there are sad characters, and there are dead characters. And Jennifer Hillier will trick you a bunch of times. So fun!

Things We Do in the Dark is a very compelling mystery. I was so invested in this story and I really cared about these characters, more so than I usually do in thrillers. I also loved the Filipino representation. I did predict the main twist, but I still enjoyed seeing how it played out! And I liked how the story wrapped up but but I do wish there was more of a shocking ending. Now I’m curious to read from Hillier’s backlist!

She has done it again! This may be my new favorite of 2022!

This story is great and you think you know where it’s going…then BAM…totally turned in another direction. The characters are written in a way that makes you empathize with them and makes you want everything to turn out okay in the end.

It was definitely a heartbreaking story and, even though it’s fictional, you know deep down that stories like this exist out there somewhere.

I would recommend this to anyone looking for a family drama/murder/suspense book. Be aware of trigger warnings such as child abuse, rape, and sexual assault.

This book was one of my favorites this year. It has different parts and goes back and forth between past and present. It wasn’t confusing and kept me guessing for me. This was an awesome thriller. Loved it.

I never know what to expect to read in a Jennifer Hillier novel. Things We Do in the Dark was twisty and shocking until the last page. My only complaint and is that I would have liked and epilogue!

This one wasnt as amazing and great a expected but I still loved it and Hiller's work! The plot unfolded pretty well, sometimes a touch slow and too repetitive. All the characters were flawed and felt real. Really good twisty, dark novel. Lots of trigger warnings.

Some parts again were slow and had me rolling my eyes. But over all it was a dark enjoyable read that I read in a few sittings

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I am a big fan of Jennifer Hillier, and was excited to receive this book. As usual, Hillier does not disappoint. Paris Peralta is married to an older, very famous man, Jimmy Peralta. Jimmy is found dead in his bathtub, and Paris discovers him after returnig home early from a business trip...or so she says. Faced with law enforcement yelling at her to drop the weapon, Paris is arrested and must prove her innocence. Only, proving her innocence may also unlock her past she's worked so hard to leave behind. There is one person who can destroy the life Paris has so carefully built, Ruby Reyes, "the ice queen." She not only knows who Paris is, but she is being released from prison after serving 25 years for the murder of her own husband, and is threatening to spill Paris's secrets. How far will Paris go to fight for her innocence and keep her past buried?

Paris Peralta is arrested for the murder of her wealthy, older, celebrity husband after being found next to his body holding the straight razor that killed him. As dire as her situation may be, Paris is more worried about the intense media scrutiny that will inevitably come with her murder charge. You see, Paris has a dark past she's been keeping hidden for many years, and exposure could mean very bad things for her. After all, Paris knows that the only thing worse than a murder charge is two murder charges.

This was a page-turning thriller that I really ended up enjoying. While its content was very dark, it was handled in a really skillful way and helped contribute to the story. The dual timelines and perspectives featured in the book were also beneficial to the story; it makes a plot more interesting when there is a narrative set in the past in lieu of a character just recalling the past in a present narrative.

The reason that this was a 4-star read for me rather than a 5 was because I was able to predict what would happen in the book very early on. The main twist was pretty obvious, as were other elements of the story. However, this ultimately didn't take away from my investment and interest in the story. It was still exciting to see everything play out, regardless of knowing what was to come.

I think the set-up of this story is gripping; the factors of celebrity and publicity in it are not something you often get in thrillers. This was the first book that I read from Jennifer Hillier, though I have heard great things about her other books, and given how much fun it was to read this I will definitely be checking out her backlist titles!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for access to this title in exchange for this honest review!

Another nail biter from Jennifer Hillier! I couldn’t put this one down and even though I guessed a few of the twists, it didn’t take away from the suspense. I would highly recommend this one and will be talking about it for a while. Thank you netgalley for my free copy!

This was a solid thriller that is well-written and had me turning the pages, wanting to know more. While the twist(s) aren't hard to figure out, I still wanted to know how everything would come together. I really enjoyed reading Little Secrets and Hillier's latest novel is just as good.

Things We Do in the Dark is suspenseful, wild, every changing and a story that keeps you thinking and turning pages as fast as you can, for the the next surprise. Great story! Thank you @NetGalley@MinotaurBooks@ThingsWeDointheDark

I want to thank NetGalley and St.Martins Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Expected Publication Date : 7/19/22

Things we do in the dark is about Paris Peralta who is accused of killing her celebrity husband who is 29 years her senior after she is found holding a razor next to his dead body. When she’s charged with murder all she can think about is if her past will be brought to light.
25 years earlier Ruby Reyes was convicted of murder in a similar way but now she is being paroled.
Drew a true crime podcaster wants to interview Ruby for personal reasons because he knows her daughter Joey.
The story is told through 3 different perspectives; Paris which is the beginning of the book then it switches to Drew and then to Joey.
The main storyline is about Joey and how her life was with Ruby before and after her mom went to jail. All 3 stories are connected.

The beginning of this book I was invested but I felt like the POV switches to be jarring. There was no indicators at the beginning of the chapters to who’s POV or year it was so you had to read a little bit to figure it out. This story heavily plays out in the past with some snippets into the present time and by 80-85 % into the book I was tired of the constant past POV and was wanting the story to get to the point. When it finally did it just all fit together a little too well.
The characters were well developed and diverse. Joeys chapters were the most heartbreaking out of the 3 pov.
All in all it was an alright thriller. I felt it to be more of a mystery than a fast paced thriller but some portions were interesting and kept me engaged.

TW/CW: Murder, suicide, SA, child abuse, drugs.

This book deals with some pretty traumatic events, but it does so in a thoughtful, cathartic, and (mostly) realistic way. Some of the heartbreaking flashbacks were hard to read because they seemed so plausible, but they were an important step in understanding the characters and their actions. Because of the backstory, I wanted to see if karma would reward the downtrodden characters or if life would kick them in their teeth yet again. I was invested in their lives.

Although I could predict most of the plot twists, they were still satisfying and kept the plot moving forward. Some of the narrative was a little repetitive. For example, often, someone guesses at something, we see a flashback of this to confirm the guess, and then we get a recap of the aftermath. Despite this, it was a pretty fast read, especially because there were multiple storylines to keep my interest.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book because it feels more substantial and weighty than your typical psychological thriller, and it’s equally compelling and as quick to read.

I absolutely loved the chArachter backstories and relationship dynamics in the novel. Joeys experience with trauma felt so real. Every character was flawed but we’re humanized enough that we rooted for them no matter what. The plot unfolded masterfully and made the book feel unputdownable. I was so happy with the ending. It felt sinister and satisfying all at the same time.

Thank you #NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books for my complimentary copy of Things We Do in the Dark in exchange for an honest review.

🔪Jennifer Hillier is fast approaching to be one of my favorite authors. I have now read multiple books by her and they don't disappoint.

Things We Do in the Dark
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Publish date: July 19th

Goodreads Synopsis

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. With the unwanted media attention now surrounding her, it's only a matter of time before someone from her long hidden past recognizes her and destroys the new life she's worked so hard to build, along with any chance of a future.

Twenty-five years earlier, Ruby Reyes, known as the Ice Queen, was convicted of a similar murder in a trial that riveted Canada in the early nineties. Reyes knows who Paris really is, and when she's unexpectedly released from prison, she threatens to expose all of Paris's secrets. Left with no other choice, Paris must finally confront the dark past she escaped, once and for all.

Because the only thing worse than a murder charge are two murder charges.

🔪 This was a heart pounding page turner that I could not put down. Although it lost a star because I was able to predict the book very, very early on, it was thrilling to watch as my theory played out. When I finished it I look at my husband and said, "Well, I called it. Every twist and turn. I. Called. It 🤦🏼‍♀️" So I'm not sure if I need to lay off the thrillers for a while or what. But, despite that, I loved every second of this book.

4/5 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

TW: Abuse, sexual assault, death

Juicy & interesting thriller surrounding a character named Paris Peralta - she married a famous celebrity comedian who is about 30 years her senior. She arrives home one night to find her dead in the bathtub, and she is rushed off to jail because everyone thinks she did it. However, due to all the publicity in the press.. Paris is afraid that someone from her past life (that she ran away from) will recognize her and brings down her new life that she worked so hard to build.

I actually really enjoyed the main premise of the younger wife with an older man - did she kill him for the money or was it suicide? And then the storyline with Paris’ past was really solid. However, I found that the storyline featuring young Joey to be hard to read at times.. sexual abuse, parental abuse, etc. there were a lot of descriptions of abuse. I know this was relevant and important to the story but I found that this book was darker than I typically like. 🔪 😳 🇨🇦

Hence the 4/5 stars! It was still a good read though and a pretty full thriller with lots of surprises and scary moments sprinkled throughout. 👏🏻

Thank you to St Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books & NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. 📕 📚 📖

Paris Peralta’s husband, much-loved, longtime comedian Jimmy, is found dead in the bathtub. And Paris is holding the straight razor that killed him when the police show up at their home. With no memory of how it happened and blaming it on a head injury, Paris is now being charged for murder.

But what the police don’t know is that this is definitely not the first person she has [<i>possibly</i>] killed in her lifetime. Or even the second.

Flashing back to the story of young Joelle (Joey) Reyes' life, the novel weaves the tale of a poor, defenseless young woman who is beaten regularly by her mother, Ruby. Joey’s story and Paris’ are told simultaneously, as the author skillfully weaves through each woman’s heartbreak and trauma.

<i>Things We Do in The Dark</i> is an well-thought out and thrilling dramatic novel that will leave you wanting more.