Sarah Pekkanen got me so good!!! Holy moly this book! I requested this solely because of the author, I have read all of her books with Greer Hendricks. I then jumped into reading for a buddy read completely blind to synopsis. I was so happy I did it this way! This book had one of my favorite elements in a thriller, a creepy, sinister child!! It was a domestic thriller, mixed with a whodunnit, that not one of us in the BR was able to guess correctly! We all had different, incorrect, suspicions! I inhaled this book, could not get through it fast enough to figure how who did it! And the short chapters had me saying “just one more chapter” well into the night! Once you start this one, good luck sleeping until you finish it!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my copy of House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen in exchange for an honest review. It publishes August 6, 2024.
Once again, Pekkanen brings it. I've been in a reading slump and this took me right out of it. In her typical fashion, this is such a psychological thriller, leading you down twists and turns and you will not see it coming. Pekkanen doesn't rely on shock factor to keep the reader going, just excellent, compelling writing. The characters in this book were so interesting and some were super creepy, I seriously couldn't get enough of it. The setting is in the DC area and I found it interesting how there are certain laws that are mentioned in this book that are allowed in some states and others not. Also, I'd never heard of a "best interest attorney" before, and I feel like Pekkanen did a great job researching this and presenting it in story form.
I highly, highly recommend this book!

Sarah Pekkanen knows how to keep a person on the edge of their seat! Sheesh! Thank goodness I was able to read this one with friends because the theories and finger pointing were ever-evolving and I still couldn’t figure out the ending until it was unfolding.

I love a story with a creepy kid and Rose Barclay is one of the creepiest. Suffering from traumatic mutism after she witnessed the death of her nanny, you never can truly tell what she’s thinking…or planning. Stella, a Best Interest Attorney, was hired to determine the custody arrangement of Rose after her parents’ divorce. As Stella spends time with each person in Rose’s life, she begins to suspect something more sinister could have happened to the nanny and she must do her own investigation to ensure Rose is left in the best hands. Everyone has secrets and everyone is a suspect. What Stella uncovers will leave your jaw on the floor and have you ravenous for more of Sarah’s writing!

Not only is Rose creepy but so is the home she lives in. Sarah does such a wonderful job creating tension in every scene inside and outside the house. Not only does Stella have to figure out the complexities of her current case but her tumultuous past is brought into the mix so you’re really getting two stories in one. This is definitely a book that needs to be on any thriller lovers radar!

I received a gifted copy. All thoughts are my own.

I loved this! Didn’t see all of the twists coming…this author always delivers. Definitely recommend!

As the best interest lawyer for 9-year-old Rose Barclay whose parents are divorcing, Stella Hudson finds herself entangled in this affluent family’s twisted web of lies, especially as it pertains to the bizarre and sudden death of the child’s nanny. In this highly dysfunctional family, no one is beyond reproach, and as Stella probes for answers, more questions continue to arise. But Stella, who faced her own emotional trauma as a child, feels a certain kinship to Rose and is determined to stay the course in order to provide this young girl with whatever help she needs.

Boasting an interesting and intriguing premise for sure, I was pulled into this slow-burn mystery right from the get-go and continued to remain engaged right up until the very end. It did lack a level of intensity that I personally crave, and the addition of Stella’s love interest felt a bit forced and coming out of left field, but overall, I found the “House of Glass” to be an enjoyable, creepy, psychological read. Sarah Pekkanen is a great storyteller, and I look forward to reading more of her books in the future.

DNF @ 20%

I've enjoyed this author in the past but found this to be too slow and the writing felt a bit clunky. Wish it hooked me like I expected but not this time.

✨ARC Review✨

I will start off by saying that I wished this packed more of a punch than what it did. By the end of the first chapter, I already had creepy child vibes, and I was hooked. I stayed hooked, and then kind of felt let down by the ending. I predicted the twist, and hoped there would be something more twisty to still happen, to pull back in my interest, but that was not the case.

House Of Glass centers around the death of the family nanny, with Rose Barclay right in the center of things. Rose is a nine year old who doesn’t speak and has a weird fascination with sharp objects. Her parents are divorcing, and she witnessed the death of the nanny. Enter Stella, a lawyer appointed to determine a custody recommendation for Rose, but also uncovers the secrets surrounding the death of the nanny. Everyone is a suspect, even the child…

What’s On The Pages:
-a murdered nanny
-lying to protect the ones you love
-a creepy child
-overprotective parents and a grandparent
-secrets
-a house with no glass

✨Rating✨
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

A special thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this eARC! House Of Glass is out August 8th!

This book had me hooked from the very beginning. This is one of those books that makes you suspect everyone but you are still shocked at the end when you find out the truth. I really enjoyed this book. It was fast pace and I couldn’t put it down!

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of this in exchange for my honest review. This was an interesting one for me, I liked it, didn't love it. Sarah Pekkanen books have been hit or miss for me, mainly I found the Stella background competed too much with the Rose storyline. I like Stella. I really like where her character went personally and if those characters turned up in anther book, I would be happy. This book appealed to me because I have been a CASA for 8+ years working with this that are wards of the state and advocating for them, this storyline pulled me in. That being said, the Rose storyline was engaging at first, then it simply went on far too long. Eventually, I just didn't care anymore "who did it".... I did not see the *twist* so points for that, but again, I lost interest in that story line because I was more engaged with Stella's personal demons and subsequent journey in this book. Additionally the Barclays were just very hard to connect too. As someone who works with a lot of different parents of differing. backgrounds, these two (or one really) were just so unbelievable as a character, it distracted me and made me not care that much how it all played out. Having her be snooty NYC moms with their Starbucks and LV neverful would have been more relatable or authentic a character in a modern book than Beth's character was in this book. It was worth a read, just wasn't' a home run.

"House of Glass" by Sarah Pekkanen is a gripping and atmospheric thriller that unravels the dark secrets of the troubled Barclay family. Stella Hudson, a best interest attorney, is drawn into a complex case involving a young girl, Rose Barclay, who witnessed her nanny's possible murder and stopped speaking thereafter. As Stella delves deeper into the case, she confronts a labyrinth of lies and hidden motives among the family members.

Pekkanen expertly weaves a web of suspense and deception within the gilded walls of the Barclays' historic DC home. The eerie absence of glass in the house mirrors the opaque facade the family presents to the world. For me, the novel's strength lies in its unsettling atmosphere and well-crafted twists, Despite some predictable moments, "House of Glass" captivates with its creepy vibes and intricate plot. Pekkanen's skillful storytelling and compelling characters make this a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers.

I enjoyed this book! It was kind of predictable but that’s okay because the story line was intriguing enough to hold my attention. I loved Stella’s character and how relatable she was.

This book was a thrilling and easy read that I could not put down. As a best interest attorney, Stella is appointed by the court to make a decision on the best placement of Rose Barclay. The Barclay family is in the midst of a bitter divorce, and after the unexpected and tragic death of her nanny, Rose suffers from post traumatic mutism. Throwing herself head long into the case, Stella finds there may have been more behind the nannies' death and makes Stella confront her own childhood trauma.

TWISTED ! Get ready for a rollercoaster ride with dark tunnels and blind curves. I thought I knew, thought I got it right, I was so sure. I wasn’t I never saw that ending coming, never ! It’s so hard to review this without spoiling the story. it was really two stories in one, double fun.
There was a death, and then there was a divorce, and a custody battle. Seems normal right ? Wrong. These people are off center, way off. Secrets, lies, manipulation, more lies, and a child that is different to say the least.
The MC who was representing the child in the custody battle had her own closet of darkness that slowly opened that added another level of Eeeekkk to the story.
Excellent pacing, well written characters and a wicked twisting.

Oh my goodness. This book was simply unputdownable, and I don't say that lightly. It gripped me from the start, and I found myself staying up all night to finish it, because there was no way I could sleep with this story still unfolding. Delightfully creepy, I loved everything about House of Glass. I was kept on the very edge of my seat throughout, and was completely satisfied with the story's conclusion - which again, is saying a LOT! I'll be recommending House of Glass to everyone I know who loves a good twisty, thrilling mystery.

Wow! If you enjoy a psychological thriller with twists and turns, this is the book for you! I can't explain how much I enjoyed this one. As a thriller girly, I can usually pinpoint how the story will end, but House of Glass had me guessing right up until the end!

The way Pekkanen writes her characters with a dynamic complexity had me completely invested. The FMC, Stella, is a DIA lawyer for children going through divorce cases. Stella ends up getting a case to decide where a young girl named Rose should be placed in the midst of her parents divorce, after the tragic death of her nanny. There's only one thing, Rose suffers from traumatic mutism and can not speak. During Stella's investigation she is not only trying decide the custody battle over Rose but she also finds herself immersed in the investigation of the nanny, Tina's death.

Pekkanen writes a wonderful thriller and at the same time explores family relationships and the secrets that threaten to tear them apart.

Absolutely loved it! The characters were all well-developed and I found myself caring deeply for Rose. I've experienced traumatic mutism before, so this story was particularly special to me personally and I hope it maybe helped bring some awareness towards this little-known condition.

All my thanks to NetGalley & St. Martin's Press for the ARC!

In the interest of full disclosure, I received access to a free digital copy of this book in exchange for a thoughtful and honest review.

With that being said, let's talk about House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen:

I selected this book because I am already a fan of Pekkanen's work, and let me start by saying that as usual, she did NOT disappoint.
Throughout this novel, we follow our main character Stella, a Best Interest Attorney who is assigned a case to decide with whom a 9 year old girl should live with as her primary caretaker. The circumstances of this case, however, are more than ordinary - the young girl's nanny died under mysterious circumstances, and the trauma has led to the girl being unable to speak. How does Stella figure out what's best for someone who is unable to advocate for herself?

As Stella begins to dig into the lives of the family members, the circumstances of the nanny's death, and the secrets that the family members are obviously trying to keep from her, Stella begins to find herself in many forms of doubt - can she perform her duties without crossing the line professionally, can she trust any of the family members - including the child, and can she wrap up her assignment before her fate becomes the same as the nanny's?

This book was the perfect amount of thrilling, fascinating, and creepy. The characters are interesting and complex, and Pekkanen does a great job of leading the reader down the path of one theory and then subverting it so quickly that the rug is pulled out from beneath you. I mention this in many reviews, but I am the kind of reader who always tries to solve a mystery before it's revealed. This time around, I am both pleased, and a little miffed, to say that I was truly putty in Pekkanen's hands. She wove a tale so captivating that I was too caught up in the story to catch the hints prior to the grand reveal at the end of the story.

My one note is...the epilogue chapters! There were.... so many of them, and each one could've been a fine epilogue on it's own, but several of them back to back (many of which were only a page in length or so) made it feel like I was trudging through a wrap-up that took much longer than it needed to. I think simply combining them all into a single chapter with line breaks would've made them feel less overwhelming. Otherwise, I was very pleased witht his book and the way things ended!

If you love Pekkanen's other work, a good mystery with plenty of unease, or stories where the things humans are capable of are the greatest thing to fear, then you will certainly enjoy this book!

This book was great. It had me hooked from the beginning. I could not put it down. I highly recommend this book.

This was a fast-paced story that I could not put down! A nanny is dead and now the child she was caring for is mute. The parents are the prime suspects of the nanny’s death due to the affair the nanny was having with the husband. Now that the parents are getting divorced and since the child can’t talk, it is up to a lawyer named Stella to help decide which parent is better suited to have custody of Rose.

As Stella gets to know the parents and the child, she senses that something is off with the entire situation and she believes that there is more to Rose then she is being led to believe. As Stella works with Rose to try to help her, she has to relive memories from her own traumatic childhood.

The story is very good and keeps you in suspense, wanting to read more and more. It is told from Stella’s POV. This is a good suspense and mysterious “whodunit”, and I enjoyed it very much! Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press. All opinions are my own.

This was my first Sarah Pekkanen book but unfortunately it just wasn't for me. I was bored and the writing style felt clunky. Half the story felt far too predictable.