My weekend was MADE when the approval email arrived for Things We Do In The Dark! I loved author Jennifer Hillier's last two books, Jar Of Hearts and Little Secrets, and couldn't wait to dive into this one.
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And let's just say, this one is GOOD!! I love a dark mystery, different POVs and twists and turns that unravel layer by layer until the very end. I also like multifaceted characters and enough details to feel like you know them, and Hillier's books have it all. And in the thriller book world, it's truly a hard thing to find!
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So, in short, add this book to your list, it's not to be missed! I already know it will be making waves this summer in the reading world. This one hits bookstore shelves on July 19th, 2022!

This was such a fun read, one that kept me turning the pages and held my interest the whole way through and even though I saw a lot of things coming, the writing was so engaging and entertaining I didn't even care. There were still lots of twists and surprises that kept me on my toes and kept me reading.

Turning a fun story that every fan of a good mystery and thriller is going to get completely caught up in.

Jennifer Hillier has been a favorite author of mine since I first read Jar of Hearts. Her latest, THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK gave me all the feels Jar of Hearts did.

Character driven, dark and gritty, this book will have your head spinning with all the twists. I read it in less than 24 hours and trust me, you will not be able to put it down once you start. There are multiple POV and dual timelines which I love in a book, and I think they were handled perfectly. I think the less you know going in the better. The ending was very satisfying, and I screamed WTF out loud! I’m still thinking about this book days later.

Add this to your TBR now!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my e-ARC.

Serious question- is Jennifer Hillier capable of writing anything I won't immediately devour and absolutely love? Jar of Hearts and Little Secrets are two that I especially loved, but Things We Do in the Dark just edged them out as my most favorite.

Paris Peralta, a yoga studio owner in Los Angeles, is arrested for the murder of her husband, Jimmy Peralta, a beloved stand up comic thirty years her senior. Because of Jimmy's popularity, media coverage of the event is swift and prolific. Paris worked hard to build this life after escaping her past, and she fears that someone who knew her then will destroy everything she has built, along with her future.

Another key player in this novel is Ruby Reyes, known as the Ice Queen after a conviction for killing her on again, off again lover. Ruby knows all about Paris' past, and when Ruby is granted early release, she threatens to expose Paris to the world.

Hillier's characters in this book were well fleshed out, and even the characters that I liked best had acknowledged personality flaws. I absolutely love when characters seem so real and can evoke a range of emotions in the reader; you know she's an excellent author when I feel for the antagonist. The plot was well paced, and I really like the way the story unfolded; it alternated between past and present seamlessly. I didn't expect the book to end the way that it did, and it was beautifully done. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an engaging thriller or who is already a fan of Jennifer Hillier.

Starts with a bang... "Things We Do in the Dark" begins with the main character waking up on the bathroom floor holding a bloody razor while her husband lies dead in the tub feet away from her. Intrigued yet? She is arrested and named the prime suspect in his murder. I was really enjoying the story from Paris' perspective but then the story switches to a different character and I was confused and lost interest a little. It DOES shift back to Paris though and I was hooked again.

Paris has secrets and is afraid the past she hoped to stay buried will catch up to her. It was a fun ride to discover all the secrets she was hiding...

This was a quick, enjoyable thriller that I recommend to any thriller lovers and I can't wait to see what Jennifer Hiller comes up with next!

A huge thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for granting me an advanced copy of this book.

Things We Do in the Dark by Jennifer Hillier has a very contemporary vibe to it, and a familiar plotline, a younger woman, not too successful married to a much older and much more successful man. Then a murder. The woman is accused of murdering her husband and from there the story unfolds. A little predictable, this one was just okay for me.

Hiller has become one if my favorite writers. I thought Jar of hearts was good but this top this and more. It's definitely in my top 10 books I've ever read. I like the pov from each character in the story. It keeps you on the edge of your sit reading it.

The title alone brings a riveting, suspenseful thrill. Opening with a quote from Billy Joel,
"She can kill with a smile, she can wound with her eyes."... Each chapter begins with a song quote.
After reading Jennifer Hillier's Jar of Hearts, this was a MUST read.

Paris Peralta awakens to police warning her to drop her weapon. Startled by the sight, she is covered in blood as well as her dead husband soaking in a bloody tub. Her multi-millionaire husband Jimmy is a celebrity on Netflix and is 30 years older than her. With less than a year married, probable cause paves the way to a guilty scene. Although she claims her innocence that she found him that way, the assumption is there waiting to tear her story apart.

Hillier creates so many avenues this could go in. Paris with her dark abusive history is running from a past that is delivered late in the book that will haunt you. She is threatened by Ruby Reyes tagged as the Ice Queen Killer soon to be released after 25 years in prison. She knows who Paris really is and writes letters of bribery to keep her from revealing another murder Paris was involved in.

A lot of interesting characters are introduced that drive the story to a shocking, twisted ending. Even if you guess the setup, it will still deliver a fantastic punch. A creative scheme with things that can only happen in the dark. I cannot lie that I had a moment of hum-drum with the back story, but it was necessary to fulfill the affect of this journey with Paris. It ranked a 5 star even through that.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this incredible copy in exchange for my honest review.

Jennifer Hillier does it again with her brilliant writing! She has a way of drawing you in and making you crave her characters, wanting more and more. This book was full of twists and turns and kept me guessing until the very end. I loved that just when you think you've figured the twist out, something else was thrown at you. This is an author that takes what people want to read and makes it happen in a way you never knew you needed it. I can't wait to see what she comes out with next.

Things We Do in the Dark introduces you to Paris who's husband was a famous comedian, before his untimely and highly suspicious death. Paris is considered the prime suspect and in the eye of the public is guilty. The thing about Paris is she's a chameleon that has lived many different lives and will fight to prove her innocence. You're taken back through time to learn who she was, what she's seen and what she'd do to escape the things that happen in the dark.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I sit down to read only the first chapter in this book, the next thing I know I’m already 60% of the way in! It’s that good.

I am going to be vague with the synopsis because the less you know going into this one, the better!
Paris Peralta wakes up to find herself covered in blood and holding a straight razor. Behind her is her famous comedian husband dead in a bathtub and in front of her is a police officer holding a gun and screaming for her to put the weapon down. Paris claims she’s innocent and she’s terrified that the past she’s tried so hard to hide from, will soon come back to haunt her.

This my friends are how a thriller should be done! In a market saturated with predictable, overused plots, and undeveloped characters, Jennifer Hillier’s thrillers always stand out. Filled with jaw-dropping twists, dimensional and complex characters, original/unique storylines, and phenomenal writing, her books never disappoint and Things We Do In The Dark is no exception.

I immediately connected with Paris's character. Hillier crafted her main character with so much depth and complexity that by the end of the book I felt like I knew her. The reader learns about how Paris’s heartbreaking past motivates her thoughts and actions in the present. Also If you were a teenager in the 90’s you will especially love how Hillier incorporates several popular songs from the decade into her book(she also did this with Little Secrets and Jar of Hearts).

I am very selective about giving out 5-star ratings but Things We Do in the Dark is a solid 5-star book. I couldn't find any issue whatsoever with this brilliant story and as always from Jennifer Hillier, the writing was excellent. I highly recommend this dark, twisty, page-turning thriller for all fans of psychological thrillers!

Things We Do in the Dark will be available on July 19! A massive thanks to Minotaur Books and Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review!

This book is one of murder, horror, and mystery...intrigue...dynamics of family and friends...these themes abound in this book by Hillier. How this author managed to weave this story into one that is realistic...a true crime almost...could be...family...standing by the person accused...unrealistic events...realistic...this book was sent to me by Netgalley for review electronically...the story moves slowly at some points, but the characters come alive on these pages.

3.5 ⭐️

This is my first book I’ve read by Jennifer Hillier. The actual story was devastating and beautifully executed. That being said - it didn’t really feel like a “thriller” to me. I found it very thought provoking and it suited being a drama or domestic fiction novel. There were no twists or surprises for me in this book - I anticipated the different outcomes of the story.

The story flips from past and present and I found the first transition really confusing. I didn’t understand how it was relevant - it felt like two completely different story lines. The book lost my interest for a bit during that portion and then I enjoyed the second half of the book more.

I definitely want to give more Jennifer Hillier novels a read!

TW: rape & sexual assault

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Paris Peralta's famous husband is found dead in the bathtub and she is found next to his body covered in blood, and holding a razor. She is immediately arrested and the prime suspect in his murder. Paris swears she would never hurt him and is eager to prove her innocence. Unfortunately for Paris, she now has a ton of attention surrounding her which is one of her major worries. She has tried to stay out of the limelight for fear that her past will catch up to her and her secrets will be exposed. With all the unwanted media attention surrounding the death, she is concerned the wrong people will see her picture, track her down, and threaten the life she has so carefully created for herself.

I was so excited to read the new Jennifer Hillier book and downloaded it right away. Jar of Hearts is one of my go to recommendations and she has become one of my must read authors. This book did not disappoint. The story went back and forth among Paris's past and present which was a little difficult to follow in the beginning. The chapters never said what year it was so I would have to read a little before figuring out when the story was taking place. I felt like the transitions could have been smoother. That was my only complaint. Hillier did a great job developing Paris's character and I really felt like I knew her. I'm looking forward to her next book!

This is my first time reading Jennifer Hillier and I am sure that it will not be my last. I quickly became engrossed in this murder mystery, so many twists and turns and a mystery within a mystery. Paris was a complex but likable character with so many different sides to her. The different timelines, past and present blended well with the overall telling of the story, the author did a great job of making a complex plot easy to follow. I was rooting for Paris throughout the book. I couldn’t have been more surprised at the ending, more twists and turns than a roller coaster!
I look forward to reading more books by this author.

Paris Peralta wakes up to dead husband in their bathtub and she is holding the bloody razor that killed him. Her husband Jimmy is a famous, multi-millionaire comedian who is 30 years her senior (scandalous). As the story unravels, it is revealed that Paris has many secrets from her past. To make things even more suspenseful, she starts to get letters from the Ice Queen, a woman famous of brutally murdering her married lover. THE DRAMA I know! We also get the perspective of Drew, a true crime podcaster doing a series on the Ice Queen, which I thought was a fun POV to incorporate.

Jennifer Hillier hit it out of the park again. I read her other novel Little Secrets last year and absolutely devoured it. And this one had the same vibes of a quick, gripping thriller with an emotional and twisty backstory. Even though I figured out one of the plot twists early on, it did not at all take away from me reading the rest of the book. Her books are just so fun to read - I know that sounds weird due to how dark the subject matter is but I just could not put the book down.

The alternating timelines are masterly woven together. The pacing is perfect. The story packs a punch. This one is such a wild and dark ride and if you are a fan of Hillier’s previous work you will LOVE it.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC.

1st book by Jennifer hillier but definitely not the last. This story was so intriguing I had to finish and figure it all out. So good, highly recommend! Thank you NetGalley for this ARC

Another page turner from Jennifer Hillier! I couldn't put this book down. The story grabs you from the first page. Paris Peralta is arrested for killing her famous comedian husband. The media eats up the story and splashes Paris's picture everywhere. For someone who is hiding from a past she hoped to bury, this is Paris's worst nightmare. This story takes you through the past and present of Paris Peralta. I found myself rooting for Paris throughout the book. Jennifer created a likable and relatable character in Paris. With all the media coverage, someone from Paris's past resurfaces and with this person comes things Paris hoped to leave buried. This book will have you ignoring everything else in your life to keep turning the pages! Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an advanced copy of this book.

Paris Peralta had made a good life for herself with her comedian husband Jimmy Peralta and her yoga studio. Until the morning Jimmy's assistant finds her passed out on the bathroom floor with her dead husband in a tub full of bloody water next to her body and the potential murder weapon in her hand. Paris knows she did not do this heinous thing, but has to convince everyone else that this is true.

Parallel to Paris' story is that of Ruby Reyes, dubbed "The Ice Queen" who is serving a life sentence for killing her lover by stepping on his neck with his daughter's ice skate. We also learn of the trials of her daughter Joey Reyes, and all she went through before and after this terrible murder.

Both stories are gripping, and I plowed through this novel at top speed to find out the fates of all these women. This is the first novel by Jennifer Hillier than I have read, but it certainly will not be the last. She creates characters with depth, relationships you can watch unfold and monsters you want to run hard and fast from. The book is chock full of secrets that these women keep, and it is mind blowing when you learn what truly happened in each person's story.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review this fantastic thriller!

2.5 stars ⭐️⭐️💫

Paris Peralta wakes up covered in blood, holding a murder weapon, next to her dead celebrity husband. She’s quickly arrested, but Paris is more afraid of someone discovering her secrets than she is a murder charge. Twenty-five years ago, Ruby Reyes was convicted of a similar crime. Now, Ruby is about to be released from jail—and she knows who Paris really is. Meanwhile, Drew Malcom, journalist turned podcaster, plans to focus his next podcast on Ruby Reyes. What he discovers during his research will tie Paris and Ruby together.

After enjoying two other books by this author, I expected to like this one more than I did. It was hard to get interested in the plot and even then I wasn’t too invested and kind of just want the book to end.

Much of the storyline involved abuse of a child which is just icky and quite frankly should be a warning on the book.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

In classic Jennifer Hillier form this a good mystery. I really liked Paris and I found her to be a bit of a mystery. This wasn’t as twisted as other books so I wouldn’t classify it as a psychological thriller as they tend to play with your mind but it was entertaining and kept my interest.