
Member Reviews

Oh my god Jennifer Hillier knows how to write a freaking thriller, LET ME TELL YOU!!
I loved this book. Absolutely loved it. I was in a bit of a slump and this novel grabbed me by the shoulders and shook me right out of it!
I loved how there are multiple parts in the book (I believe 5 total), and you jump back and forth between the past and present, and then between Paris, Joey and Drew! The flow was great and I can’t say there was one time where I was confused.
PLEASE READ TRIGGER WARNINGS THOUGH. There are some tough topics touched on in this book so be aware. But 5 freaking stars from me!!!!!!
I definitely need to read more of her books because the two I’ve read so far were wonderful!

Things We Do In The Dark by Jennifer Hillier was so GOOD! If you enjoyed Little Secrets and Jar of Hearts, you’re going to love this one.
I was intrigued from the beginning and loved each little twist and turn, right down to the very last page. Full of mystery and suspense, this will be a favorite of 2022 for sure.
Swipe for the full synopsis and pre-order your copy today!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you to @minotaur_books and @netgalley for my advanced copies. This was an absolute treat to read!

Jennifer Hillier does it again!! This was an unputdownable thriller with a unique storyline, intriguing characters, loads of suspense, and a mysterious atmosphere.
Paris Peralta wakes up one morning, in her bathroom, covered in blood with a weapon in hand. Her husband, a famous comedian and millionaire, is dead lying in the bathtub behind her. While Paris did not kill him, she is being arrested on the suspicion of murder. But, this conviction is not what worries her the most. Someone from Paris's past is blackmailing her, threatening to expose her secrets and life she left behind. At the same time, the story follows a Canadian investigative journalist, Drew Malcolm, who is centering the new season of his Podcast around "The Ice Queen", or Ruby Reyes. Ruby is being released from prison early, on grounds of the "me-too" movement, after initially convicted of a life-sentence for murdering her wealthy ex-boyfriend. The third storyline takes place in the past and centers around Ruby's daughter Joey and her life after her mother went to jail. As the story unravels the past and present timelines weave together seamlessly and keep you on your toes until the very last page.
The storyline was so brilliantly done, and I recommend it for all thriller fans! While I figured out one of the major twists early on, it didn't take away from the enjoyment of the book and watching all the pieces unfold.
Thanks NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Pub date: 7/19/22

Paris Peralta is married to famous comedian Jimmy Peralta, who’s decades older than her. To a random observer, Paris is likely a gold digger. So things can only get worse when Paris finds her husband dead in the bathtub after returning early from a work conference. As the prime suspect, Paris faces a lifetime in jail if convicted.
Weeks before Jimmy’s death, Paris started receiving blackmail letters from Ruby Reyes, an infamous murderer in Toronto who sliced her lover’s neck with an ice skate. Known as the Ice Queen, Ruby is getting out of jail and she’s determined to get millions out of Paris to start a new life in Toronto. She’s threatening to reveal Paris’s secret if she doesn’t pay up.
As the novel unfolds, we learn about both women’s secrets and the lengths they’re willing to go to in order to protect them.
It’s rare to find diversity in thrillers or mysteries so I always look forward to reading anything written by Jennifer Hillier. Not only is she Filipina, but she grew up in Toronto, one of the most multicultural cities in the world.
Things We Do in the Dark is partially set in Toronto, and its main characters are Filipina. It was refreshing to read a mystery with characters whom I can relate to culturally and geographically. I appreciate that Hillier doesn’t rely on common tactics found in domestic suspense/thrillers nowadays such as unreliable narrators using too much alcohol or drugs. This book had no gimmicks and it was clear that Hillier just wanted to tell a compelling story that would thrill readers. She’s also great at plotting and keeping the reader engaged. Each chapter makes you want to continue reading and it was hard to put this book down.
The only thing I found a bit wanting in this novel were the twists and the ending, which I found anticlimatic. But it may be because I just read too many thrillers. Others may be surprised.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and I’m a fan of Hillier. I look forward to reading future thrillers from her.

This is one of the best stories I’ve read in a while. It begins with a woman charged with her husband’s murder, journeys through a child’s abusive childhood, and ends with the monsters being slain. An incredible story of redemption and survival, this is one book that will stick with the reader long after the final chapter.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Minotaur Books for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
This was my first read by this author and had high expectations. There are six parts to the book with different POV. Part 1 matches the synopsis of the book. After that it goes in different directions. Part 2 threw me a little because it was about a character in the past and I didn't understand the relevance at first. That part dragged for me and took me a while to get through. Once Part 3 started, the story came together more. By Part 4 I couldn't put the book down and really wanted to know what happened and where things were going. I read the rest of the book in one day. I would recommend this to anyone that enjoys a detailed mystery. Check the trigger warnings because some parts are disturbing. The ending was very satisfying.
T/W: child abuse, murder, suicide, emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse

4.5 stars, rounding up here on NetGalley.
Jennifer Hiller does it again! This is so good! I read it very quickly and couldn’t get enough. I figured out pretty quickly what was going on, so that was a downer for me, but the story was worth it. I love the Toronto and Seattle settings, these are two of my favorite cities. I liked Paris as a character, and seeing her story come together. I will definitely be buying this when it comes out and reading it again at some point.

Тнιngѕ we do Ιn Тнe darĸ
By Jennifer Hillier
Release Date 07/19/2022
So everyone’s had that moment when you’ve read one of Jennifer’s books, you binge them all within that week. You auto-buy without reading the back. It’s just a dadgum, given the next will be phenomenal, and my friends, this one is right there with the rest. 🙌🏼
Paris Peralta is suspected of killing her famous husband, and her long-hidden past now threatens to destroy her future.
Jimmy Peralta was a 68-year-old comedian making a comeback in life. He’d just completed his 2nd standup special and working on his 3rd when he was found in his bathtub dead. His wife, Paris, next to him, passed out with a straight razor in her hand; they’re discovered by his super pushy annoying (if I could reach through the book and chin check her, I would ) assistant Zoe.
Paris winds up charged for murder; Elise, jimmy's best friend of 50 years since high school, is representing her. She makes bail and prepares for the fight of life.
But here comes the twist 🌪 Part two of the book brings you Ruby Reyes, Joey, and Drew. Drew is a semiretired journalist / turned successful podcaster cleverly called ᴛʜᴇ ᴛʜɪɴɢs ᴡᴇ ᴅᴏ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴀʀᴋ
It hosts to the tune of 3 ML listeners. Also, he was joeys best friend and roommate when she was 18 and when Joey died, Drew never really forgave himself. He hates Ruby, deemed the ice queens she’s served 25 years for murder and is getting out soon, and he’s vowed to make everyone remember the monster she is on all episodes involving her.
Past meet present. 🤝
The present meets past 🤝
Please read the book to find out how it all adds up, what happens to Paris now, and what happened to Joey then.
This is such a great book; I could prob write a 10-page review just talking about the characters and their past and present lives.
5 S̤̈T̤̈Ä̤R̤̈S 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
one last thing #freethenip. |_._|_._|
#bookstagram #booklover #bookworm #bookish #instabook #bibliophile #booknerd #bookstagrammer #bookaddict #bookaholic #booksofinstagram #bookshelf #readersofinstagram #instabooks #bookblogger #booklovers #bookreview #bookblog #bookstagrammers #bookrecommendation #freethenip #thingswedointhedark #jenniferhillier #arcbooks #netgalleyreader #netgalley #thrillerreads #stmartinpress #minotaurbooks

This was my third Jennifer Hillier book, and, unfortunately, it wasn't quite the thriller I remember the others being. It starts with a great opening line- definitely grabbed my attention immediately. And I am a sucker for any mystery that (even loosely) involves a true crime podcast. However, almost all of the "twists" in this one were too obvious. I could figure out where we were headed at the first bread crumb that Hillier dropped. And all of the jumping back to the past drove me crazy. We're in the past, and then we're further in the past, and now we're back to the original past, and it all seemed to be happening in the present tense. Very confusing for me. I didn't hate this book, but it wasn't the "can't put down" thriller I was hoping it would be.

She has done it again!!! Here is another banger!! She has never failed me yet and I am sure her books never will.
Thanks to NetGalley, Martin's Press and the author..none other...Jennifer Hillier.
If you know, you know. I do not think her books need reviews for people to read it. People just know you are going to get a quality thriller every time. Well written, well paced....just..WELL.
I guess who was responsible from early out but it never once took a bit of my enjoyment away to read her book.
Things we do in the dark hit and hit hard. Go get you some!

Things we do in the Dark by Jennifer Hillier was an exciting, dark and gritty read. The characters drive this book forward and my curiosity was completely satisfied by the end. This was my first book by Hillier and I can’t wait to add the rest to my collection.

Blurb
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.
I am not going to go into the plot. I suggest that you go blindly into this book. That is what I did. I am going to just put the blurb down and then put my thoughts how I felt about the book.I love how the blurb is done.
This is one crazy thriller. It will blow your mind. I am utterly in awe. It lived up to all the hype for me. This has everything that I love in a thriller. I loved everything about this book. It definitely will be one of my favorites for this year. I was immediately drawn into this story. I could not put this down.
Before you open up this book make sure you have no plans for the day. Don't answer the telephone, and don't answer the door, because all you will want to do is to read this book. I am serious. At least that is how I thought. I did not want it to end. I raced through this book and if I had more time to read it, I would of finished it in 2 days.
I loved the ending. Right when I thought I had figured this one out, a big twist comes along that wasn't expected at all and it left me speechless. It was a big surprise. This one kept me on the edge of my seat. It is not a predictable read and I thought it was mind blowing and AMAZING! This one is one of my favorites for this year. Crazy good!
I loved the character development and I thought it was very well written. I liked Drew a lot and I felt so sad for Joey. She had so many monsters in her life. Her Mom was such a terrible Mom!
I can't wait to read her next book. I noticed that I have not read her book, The Butcher and I am excited to read it because I really love this author. All of her books have been 4 and 5 stars for me.
I highly recommend this book for those that love dark and disturbing books.
This was a buddy read with Jayme and DeAnn. Make sure you check out their reviews too.
I want to thank Netgalley and Minotaur Books for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
84 likes

4.5 stars. Ok. This book really had me on my toes. I thought I knew what was going on until I didn’t. That happened the entire book. The story follow Paris, who is accused of murdering her older husband who happens to be a famous and ridiculously wealthy comedian. And it also follows Joey who had, in my opinion, a TERRIBLE childhood. Abused, mom in jail, lives with relatives only so they can collect money. I mean the bottom of the bottom. How their stories intertwine just was AWESOME. And the ending…. One of the best endings to a book I’ve read in a long time. Very satisfying.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I really enjoyed this book! I have read a couple of Hillier’s other books, and this one is just as good. I don’t want to spoil it, but there are many twists throughout the book that keep you guessing. I wasn’t shocked by the ending, but I was surprised. I would definitely recommend this book!

I have just finished reading Things We Do in the Dark by Jennifer Hillier.
This is the third book that I have read by the author, and I have enjoyed all of them.
Her writing style does tend to capture my attention immediately. I do think I enjoyed the last two just a touch more than this one, but none the less they were all entertaining reads.
Things We Do in the Dark does have many unlikeable characters, and a plot that just keeps on giving. I really did not guess this one at all.
I grew up in Toronto, so really enjoyed all the references to streets and neighborhoods in the book, plus currently live in the Pacific Northwest, so the Seattle/Vancouver parts were also especially enjoyable to me.
The main character Paris Peralta – Is arrested under suspicion of murdering her famous older husband. Her new life has many secrets, as does her life story!
Pick this one up and read it!
Thank You to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Author Jennifer Hillier for my advanced book to read and review.
#NetGalley

Jennifer Hillier knows how to write! This is my third book by this author and it did not disappoint. She writes rich characters with depth and so so many secrets. I am usually fairly good at figuring out the mystery and twists but Hillier leaves me discombobulated and turning the page! Who is the killer? Is it suicide? I was pointing fingers at EVERYONE!
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a complimentary copy of, Things We Do in the Dark, in exchange for my honest review!

Another suspenseful, disturbing and thrilling book by Jennifer Hillier! So many ploy twists it had you guessing from the beginning to the very last page. And such a solid ending! I absolutely loved it!
⚠️Trigger warning of child abuse, childhood trauma, rape, domestic violence and of course murder.
4.5 ⭐️

4.5* - Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin's Press for an early copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
This is the third book by Jennifer Hillier that I have read and she does not disappoint. I was so excited to be approved for this one knowing how twisty and engrossing they are. I rated Jar of Hearts 5 stars and Little Secrets 4 stars.
Paris Peralta is arrested for the murder of her older, famous, celebrity husband and is more nervous about her past coming out than actually being convicted of the murder. It follows two timelines of current day Seattle where the comedian lived and 25 years earlier in a Toronto suburb where a woman named Ruby Reyes is also convicted of murder.
This book kept me guessing until the last chapter and was twisty. I rarely guess the ending and I didn't guess this one. I loved the dual time lines that converge and how there wasn't much legal jargon. Highly recommend and can't wait to see what this author comes up with next.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book. I am a fan of everything Jennifer Hillier writes. This book is even better than her previous books. The characters, although you may not like some of them, are really well written, you get to know them and their history. The surprises kept coming with this book. Definitely a must read for fans of Jennifer Hillier and of whodunit mysteries.

We/People do things for many different reason but often it’s about survival. Things We Do in the Dark is a fast paced, page turner. It sheds a light on some dark and disturbing subject matter but also highlights how someone can overcome an assumed destiny, defying what might be a ‘given’, and persevere to overcome their challenges. It’s not over til it’s over and in the end some truth is likely to prevail and maybe even some justice will be served.
Thank you to NetGalley, St Martins Press and Jennifer Hillier for the opportunity to read this ARC.