A famous comedian is found dead in his bathtub. The first suspect is of course his much younger wife. But who is Paris? This book jumps between present and past, Seattle and Toronto telling the story of her tragic life. She believes he died by suicide… but what really happened in that bathroom? This was another thriller with an ending I did not see coming 🤯.

This is my first book by Jennifer Hillier and I’ll definitely check out her other books. I was drawn in right from the beginning and riveted until the end. I don’t want to give away too much as I think it’s better to go into this one blind. Paris returns home after a business trip to discover her husband’s dead body. The next morning, she was arrested for his murder. Mounting a defense is somewhat complicated by her secret past. The story weaves back and forth as we discover what happened— now and then.

*Thanks to the author, St Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for the advance reader copy for review.

i don’t remember the last time i was so solidly engrossed in a thriller—this has undoubtedly been jennifer hillier’s most magnetizing work yet.

i love this genre because it’s compulsively readable by design, fanning an urgent need to flip pages until we reach that a-ha! moment of resolution and catharsis. jennifer hillier’s prose builds on the fundamentals of the thriller/mystery genre - she writes in such a fluid, compelling manner. i felt spurred to read faster and faster, if only to uncover all the twists she had in store.

also, she wields the end-of-chapter cliffhanger really well, melding the content of one chapter into the next, dangling mesmerizing bits of plot before the reader, keeping her characters' secrets close to their chests - but also scratching my itch for clarity and information.

it’s a delicate balance, keeping your reader engaged but not pissed off!

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picture this: you're paris peralta, a thirty-nine-year-old yoga instructor and happily-married wife to a celebrity comedian, residing in your beautiful home in a wealthy seattle neighbourhood. life is good - positively idyllic.

you wake with a razor in your hand and your dead husband's blood splattered all over you and your bathroom.

you are arrested and charged with his murder. you're swarmed by paparazzi and rubberneckers; you can't go to work; all your friends (except one) abandon you; you're torn apart by the internet wolves.

oh, and did i say that life was good for you before this? i forgot to mention: you're being blackmailed by a notorious canadian murderer who's been locked up for twenty-five years. because you've got secrets - dark, twisted, horribly painful secrets - that are just begging to be let out.

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i haven't read a thriller that's satiated - let alone engrossed - me in ages, and things we do in the dark absolutely did both. carla vega narrates this audiobook, and her polished, expressive voice brings paris to life. i love supporting artists of colour, including writers and narrators, and this (audio)book reminds me of the magic that can happen when stories are written/told by and about women of colour.

recently, when i read thrillers, i often find myself dissatisfied. this is usually because 1) the twists are too predictable, 2) the writing is too choppy or bland, 3) there's too much suspension-of-disbelief required, or 4) it's pushing some pretty problematic messages about women, BIPOC, queer folks, and other marginalized individuals and communities.

i’m happy to say that, for me, this novel managed to dodge those landmines!

even though i guessed a big chunk of paris’ backstory fairly early into the plot, it didn’t diminish my enjoyment of the book. which is odd, right? but here's why: firstly, because hillier kept me hooked by peeling back layer after layer of paris' backstory, fleshing out the why and how beyond just the what that i'd predicted. i also liked that the book switched between past and present, between seattle and toronto, and between the POVs of paris and drew malcolm (an investigative-journalist-turned-hit-podcaster from toronto).

secondly, this story hit so many personally resonant points for me. in key ways, my history mirrors the author's: i am a woman of colour who's resided in toronto for the last several years, yet i grew up in the pacific northwest. it meant something extra to me - truly near and dear to my heart - to read about toronto, canada (zellers, of all things!), and the pacific northwest, as well as reading about paris' filipino culture. not to mention, i appreciated the diverse and casual rep in this own-voices thriller.

last thing i want to mention: this is a really dark book. BAD things happen; all the worst things you can imagine. the women in this novel suffer, repeatedly, at the violent hands of unrepentant men. and still, these women have agency and power, and vindication and resilience, and, eventually, the last word.



many thanks to netgalley and macmillan audio for this advance audiobook copy in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! This was a amazing thriller! I couldn’t stop reading and and I still can’t stop thinking about it! Great writing ! The main character was written very well. If your looking for a dark thriller look no further, read this one!

Took me a couple chapters but then I was hooked on both storylines and had all sorts of theories in my head going but I was wrong on several. Great writing and characters, my first book by Jennifer hillier but definitely not the last. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC

3.75 ⭐️ A good and engaging read that was well written. The main character was fleshed out well and believable even in the almost unbelievable plot. It wasn’t much of a thriller as it focused a lot more on the backstory rather than the murder and it was a little repetitive. I think it would have been better if it had been a bit shorter and more time had been given to the present time instead of mostly the past.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

I really enjoyed this story - there were so many twists and turns in the story of Paris! Ruby Reyes, the Ice Queen knows who Paris really is and wants to hold her hostage for the secret. Paris is facing the murder of her well known husband. The story is told from several viewpoints and time periods. We hear from Ruby, as a mother and as a convict. We hear from Ruby's daughter who suffered her abuse. We hear Paris's story. The idea of reinventing yourself is not a new idea, but what ends do we go to when we want to do so? Sometimes, it is unthinkable what must be done.

#ThingsWeDoInTheDark #NetGalley
Awesome👍.
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.
Loved it. Jennifer Hiller is getting better and better.
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for giving me an advance copy.

This book is definitely a page turner!
After a dark and tragic event, Paris must leave her life behind and start anew.
But her previous life eventually catches up to her when she least expects it.
There are some heart wrenching moments in this book. It’s an emotional and dark story but it’s an amazing psychological mystery thriller. The author really pulled at my heart strings and told a story of heartache and perhaps a second chance.
The narrator Carla Vega does a great performance and elevating the story. The portrayal she does while reading the journal and trial testimony are heart wrenching. The tones and emotional narration she gives are spot on for me.

Special thanks to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the ALC.

Jennifer Hillier writes a book, I go stalk all platforms to try and get my hands on it. She has blown me away with almost every book. I recommend her books all the time. Jar of Hearts still haunts me.

This one starts out crazy and we go down the normal Jennifer Hillier road of present day to past. I loved Paris. I love smart women in the MC role. This was one smart, tough lady. Everyone assumed she was a golddigger but they were so very wrong.

Love the narrator here! Kept pace and kept the intensity high between storylines!

4.5 stars from me. I actually wasn't a huge fan of the past storyline but I really loved Paris so she made up for it.

This tho… I knew it was going to be brilliant!
Hillier’s writing in this one just punches you in the brain and soul a little bit.

The warning in the beginning was warranted. But she covers those areas with grace and shines a light on uncomfortable situations.

Excellent storyline - you will suspect everyone or maybe no one. I love the head nods to some of the previous mentions from the other books. Great characters, she is such a storyteller you won’t want to put it down.

So very grateful to NetGalley, St.Martin’s Press and Jennifer Hillier for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook for my honest fan girl opinion.

Listened to the audiobook.

I received a free Advanced Reading Copy via NetGalley in exchange for a complete and honest review.

This was so bad?? Some parts were interesting but other parts were so confusing and the twist at the end was anti-climatic.

I really enjoyed this fast paced story! Paris wakes up on the floor of her bathroom holding a razor and her husband dead in the tub next to her. She is of course, the primary suspect. The story already flashbacks between Paris’ past and present. We also hear from her former friend, Drew who hosts a podcast. I loved the alternating prospective and timelines. It kept me guessing about who really killed Jimmy and how Joey became Paris.

TW-violence, Murder, child abuse

“𝘞𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘪𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧, 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯’𝘵 𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧.”

𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖: paris has been arrested for her husbands murder. now that she’s in the media - she’s worried her past will come back to haunt her.

𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒: jennifer hillier has done it again! i have been so excited for her new book ever since reading and absolutely loving little secrets & this one was no different. this was truly unputdownable. it was so suspenseful and the stories behind the characters were so mysterious i was so invested. you can’t help but feel for paris the entire book - the girl literally cannot catch a break. also the way hillier was able to weave together the multiple stories in this one was fabulous! i will say there’s some extremely dark things and triggering things that happen in this book so definitely check content warnings before reading.

𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆: i loved it!

special thank you to netgalley, jennifer hillier & macmillan audio for an ALC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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Another great twisty thriller from Jennifer Hillier! This book is told in multiple POV and timelines so you do have to pay attention. I love how the story unfolded about Paris' life while she is charged for the murder of her husband who is 30 years older wealthy comedian.

I enjoyed the relationship between Drew and Paris and wished there was more insight into the past which isn't shared much into the book.

I enjoyed the narration and kept me interested.

Thank you to the publisher and @netgalley for ALC of this.

Special thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for allowing me to listen to the Audiobook of this ARC.

Im a sucker for a good mystery/thriller book, and with the buzz around this one I couldn't wait! This is a book you MUST read if you enjoy this genre!

This book, told in multiple POVs is full of murder, family drama, people disappearing, mystery/murder, a trial, money and backstabbing! MC Paris makes the front page news when her celebrity husband is found dead and she can't remember what happened, as she's found in the same room with the murder weapon in hand. He once perfect life is crumbling and her past is at risk of coming out.

This book will hook you from the beginning and wanting more until the very end. It was a roller coaster of a ride, one you never want to get off of!.

Another phenomenal story from the brilliant Jennifer Hillier! Every book I’ve read by her has been a 4-5 star read, and she has knocked it out of the park yet again!! Hillier is truly a powerhouse in the thriller genre. This book is twisty, suspenseful, and original. I don’t want to spoil anything, I highly recommend going in blind, but let me just tell ya- It’s AMAZING. 4 stars from me!! Narration was bad, but it didn’t take away from the story for me. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my advanced copy :)

4.5 stars rounded down to 4!

I've listened to the majority of Jennifer Hillier's work on audio and they are all fantastically done in a way that really sucks the reader in and gives an overall immersive experience, and this one was no different! This book had a handful of reveals throughout that really require the reader to be listening in order to catch them, but aside from that I highly recommend giving the audiobook a try for this one!

This book was wonderfully twisty, filled with domestic drama, and had me caring about our main characters so much that I felt as if they were my friends. Super glad I decided to reread this one on audio, the story translates just as well as reading physically!

I enjoyed this book. The pace felt steady throughout. Not so fast that you didn’t feel like you couldn’t get your breathe but not so slow that it lost your interest.

I constantly had questions yet I constantly felt like I knew the answers the whole time and it kept changing as the story evolved. I enjoyed the multiple POVs and flashbacks to fill in the storyline.

I did listen to book on audio and at times if you weren’t focused - the timeline wasn’t chronological in flashbacks and it could be confusing but as you get further in the book. It gets easier to follow.

This book felt like a mix between A Good Girls Guide to Murder and The Maid. If you like murder mystery or true crime (even though this was obviously fictional) then I would recommend this book!

I loved the sample of this that I read via the Minotaur Sampler but the beginning turned out to be the strongest part of the book for me. It lost steam with a long reveal of Paris’ backstory, plus a lot from the POV of a podcaster/reporter in the current day. I figured out at least two of the twists so it wasn’t very suspenseful and I wouldn’t call it a thriller. I sped through the book mainly to get to the end.

I’ve never read anything by this author and, based solely on this book, I’m not sure I’d seek out another by her.

Note: Publisher’s blurb only mentions Paris’ dark past but gives no hint that it includes child abuse and sexual assault.

I bounced between the audiobook and the ebook for this title, which was very convenient. The audiobook was narrated well by Carla Vega.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook and to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of this book. All opinions are my own.