A best-interests attorney, Stella is assigned to a 9 year girl whose nanny fell to her death from a window in the palatial estate of the Barclay’s, who are going through a divorce. However, the more time Stella spends with the Barclays, she senses there’s something very off with this family. House of Glass is a sure-fire page returner, as the mystery deepens with each chapter, and Stella is torn between her duty to the child and her increasing fear that her charge may not be as innocent as she appears. This is a suspenseful story, but the secondary plot involving Stella seems unnecessary, and while it serves a purpose in defining Stella’s character, it tends to be a distraction from the main story. But overall, this is a solid read that will hold your interest and keep you guessing, definitely recommended! I received an ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.

I love Sarah Pekkanen. I will read any book that she publishes. This one was no exception. There were twists and turns throughout the story although I was pretty sure I figured out the twist about 3/4 of the way through. And while I was right, there was more information that made the ending so much better. Overall it was a great thriller that you'll fly through.

Full review will be coming to my Youtube channel soon. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBNv3fxek8kUsGlRUdeNo6g?view_as=subscriber
Star rating is 3.75- rounded up to 4 on here for star rating. I love Sarah Pekkanen's books! This had me hooked the entire time. I was a bit bummed because the culprit did seem a bit predictable, and I feel like I had it figured out about half way through the book. It was still fun to watch it pan out and I really liked our main character. You are following the main story line, but there is an additional crime story line from our main character's past that you follow along with as well, and I really enjoyed that. It did not feel like there was too much going on, and I appreciated the dual stories. This was definitely a thrilling read, thank you so much St. Martin's Press for the early chance to read!

A nine-year-old girl witnesses what may have been the murder of her nanny. Her parents are in the middle of a divorce. This seemingly perfect family is anything but, and it's up to a lawyer to figure out what happened. I couldn't stop reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Stella Hudson works as a child advocate who helps the courts decide custody in contentious divorces. She has recently been assigned a new case for the wealthy Barclays, but their situation is more tumultuous than most. Recently the family's nanny fell (or was pushed) out a window plunging to her death; she was pregnant with Mr. Barclay's baby; their 9 year old daughter Rose witnessed the whole thing. Due to the shock Rose has become mute and picked up a fascination for sharp items, like glass shards. Stella was put in touch with this family due to her own tragic past, when she was a child she witnessed her mother's murder and was mute too. Stella is perplexed by this family as all the glass in the house has been replaced with plastic... including the windows. While they are filing for a divorce the Barclays appear to be more connected then ever... is that their need to protect their frightened daughter or a murderer?

I am a huge fan of Sarah Pekkanen and enjoy her writing style and spin on thrillers. I liked the concept of this book a whodunit centered around a child with mutism and a strange phobia of glass. There is a lot of tension surrounding the Barclays that I felt Stella's own back story and mystery distracted from the real plot. I was also looking for more twists that I didn't see coming and this one was lacking the wow surprise. Overall it is a good domestic thriller and I highly recommend Pekkanen's work!

I read this in less than 24 hours because it was that good. I had even been in a reading slump - and the second I picked this up, I was hooked!! There's nothing like a good creepy kid story to really get your heart racing, you know?

The twists and turns in this story aren't what I expected, but they also aren't unbelievable. At any moment, I was getting the information I needed to keep me interested, and that's always the mark of a good thriller for me: spectacular pacing.

Never did my mind wander. Everything felt important, and I truly enjoyed this one! I'll definitely be grabbing a trophy copy for my shelves as soon as it comes out!

**Thank you to St. Martin's Press & NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤

Thank you to NetGalley for proving a copy of this book for review. This is new author for me, and I enjoyed the main story, the setting, and the characters of this book. Stella is assigned a new client, a young girl named Rose. Rose is experiencing selective mutism after the tragic death of her nanny. But as Stella gets to know the family surrounding Rose, she begins to wonder if they are protecting the child, or themselves.

I gave this book 3 stars, however, because I felt the story digressed into subplots too often and with too much narrative which slowed down the main plot. Also, there was a particular subplot that didn't provide anything to the story or the main character.

This took a bit to get going and then once it did, I really liked it. The beginning was pretty slow and repetitive, it made me nervous that it wasn’t going to get me very engaged since too much repetition makes me zone out. I’m happy this got a lot better.

I love how everyone was a suspect in this book, including the daughter. It made for a very difficult puzzle to figure out.

Thanks NetGalley and publisher for the digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

I have been a fan of Sarah Pekkanen and Greer Hendricks collaborations in the past. This book was easy to read and kept me wanted to know more. When reading a book, if I can picture the scenes, characters and feel the emotions - then place it on the screen I know it is a hit for me. Because I have read all of her (and Greer's books) it was easy for me to guess the ending. I did not have "did not see that coming" moment but it was still a good book that I enjoyed reading

A can not stop reading book by an accomplished author!

Stella is an attorney who specializes in being an attorney who represents the best interest of the child in custody cases. Her mentor asks her to take on the case of a child who witnessed the death of her nanny while her parents are getting divorced. A child of trauma herself, Stella wants to make sure she is doing right. Rose, the child has become mute, and is unable to provide Stella with information as to how she feels. Stella must look at the child, parents and grandmother as well as the nanny who was having an affair with the father.

Plenty of twists and turns, good pacing, real characters. When you think you have it figured out, it checks you again. It will keep you reading till the end!

Stella Hudson is a guardian ad litem with a troubled past, but she's determined to make life better for the children she helps. When she's assigned to help decide custody for Rose, whose nanny recently fell--or was pushed--out of the window of her house, Stella realizes that there's more to the case than meets the eye.

She's not sure who she can trust--the uptight, cold mother? The down-to-earth dad who was cheating with the nanny? The more Stella looks into the family, the more she's confused. On top of that, there's a mystery from her own past she's trying to solve.

This was a fast-paced, twisty mystery that kept me guessing! I was bouncing all over the place trying to figure out what happened. I really liked Stella as a character--flawed and likeable at the same time, plus reading about how she did her job was fascinating!

This is a classic Sarah Pekkanen book, and if you like the rest of her books, you won't be disappointed.

House of Glass" presents a captivating concept, drawing readers into the intricate web of the Barclays family's secrets. While the initial intrigue held promise, my overall experience was hampered by the book's pacing. The narrative tended to drag, making the journey toward the end feel somewhat torturous.

The redeeming qualities emerged, albeit tardily, offering moments that elevated the story. Unfortunately, the delayed action left me craving engagement much earlier in the narrative. The concept's potential was hindered by a lack of momentum, impacting the overall enjoyment of the novel.

Despite its shortcomings, I appreciate the author's attempt to unravel the complexities within the Barclays family and Stella Hudson's pursuit of truth. However, the sluggish pace overshadowed the promising concept, leaving the reader yearning for a more dynamic and timely development of the plot.

Many things to NetGalley and St Martin press for allowing me in Advanced reader, copying exchange for an unbiased review

I enjoyed this psychological thriller. It held my interest and kept me guessing. Recommended for fans of the domestic suspense genre.

This was a phenomenal book. Thriller is my favorite genre and I’m always patiently waiting for the next big twist. I think this author does an excellent job laying out the scene. I was very easily able to picture what was taking place in the book. I felt so eerie at the same times as Stella and I’m glad I read this book with the lights on. I think overall this was one of my favorite thrillers. The writing was great, the characters were unique, there was enough going on, but not too much to where it gets confusing. I think what I valued the most was how she tied up everything at the end. A lot of authors fail at the epilogue. No reader ever wants a great story to end, but it’s cognitively more pleasing if it is all congruous. I’ve bought books by this author before and I will again. They are consistent in that they never disappoint. Thank you for the opportunity to review this book!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of the gripping and unpredictable new thriller House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen. This is by far one of my favorites by Pekkanen because the storyline is so original and fast-paced.

Stella is an AI assigned to determine what really happened the night that Rose Barclay's nanny was found dead after falling from her third floor window. Rose is a brilliant nine-year-old who is suffering from traumatic mutism after witnessing the tragedy, but is she hiding her role in Tina's death? Her parents are about to get divorced after her father's affair with the young nanny, and the tension in the house is palpable. Was this an unfortunate accident or a brutal murder?

As Stella delves into the circumstances surrounding that horrible night, she also uncovers some disturbing truths about her own childhood. This is a not-to-be-missed read for suspense lovers.

This book intrigued me right from the jump. The concept was unique. The characters kept me guessing. The main character wasn’t naive, like you would expect from this type of book. I was trying to figure it out right along with her.

A story that will keep you guessing and intrigued until the final page!

Stella has found herself advocating for a child she can relate to, one who has become mute after a terrible trauma. Stella experienced this herself when she was a child, so it makes her the best person for the job in helping to decide which parent is going to receive custody of the little girl.

A joint mystery in what happened to this little girls nanny and also what happened to Stella when she was younger, this book takes you on a journey. I would highly recommend the read!

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted (free) ARC

Sorry to say that I did not enjoy this novel. I found the characters to be very uninteresting, dull and not worthy of any sympathy. The plot revolves around a court appointed Best Interest Attorney (BIA) who must determine who is most suitable to care for a child (suffering from traumatic mutism) whose parents are considering divorce after the death of her nanny. The parallels between the lives of the BIA and the child are somewhat ludicrous and the ending is not particularly satisfying.

Rose is a nine year old girl who hasn't spoken after witnessing a very traumatic event. Stella is an attorney specializing in children's best interest and has been brought on board to help decide which parent should get primary custody of Rose in her parents' divorce. The more time Stella spends with Rose and the family the scarier things get. But who is causing all the issues? Rose? Her mother? Her father? Her grandmother? Stella is suspicious of them all.

Sarah Pekkanen keeps turning out fantastic thrillers. I'm a huge fan and House of Glass did not let me down. Great characters, gripping story. lots of options for the villians. Fantastic. 5 stars!

Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin's Press for an advanced reader's copy of House of Glass!!

From the very first chapter, House of Glass draws in the reader. Guardian ad litem Stella Hudson was hired to represent young Rose Barclay in her parents' contentious divorce. The novel starts with Stella observing Rose and her mother walking to a therapist appointment. Stella witnesses her young client surreptitiously pick up a dagger-like piece of glass on the sidewalk and slip it into her jacket pocket. I immediately wanted to know more about Rose - was she evil or merely mischievous? Was she planning to hurt someone with the glass? I had to find out!

In order to make a recommendation about where and with whom Rose should live after the divorce, Stella visits the Barclay house and spends time with Rose, her parents and her grandmother. Complicating matters is the very recent death of Rose's nanny, who either fell or was pushed out of a third floor window. Through Stella's eyes, we see how uncomfortable she feels in the house. It seems that there are many secrets and nobody is being honest. Rose, who witnessed her nanny's death, doesn't add much clarity, as she has not spoken since the death.

Stella's own childhood dictates the passion with which she tries to peel back the layers of deception and protect Rose, even when Rose's odd behavior leads her to question whether she was involved in her nanny's death. There was an interesting side story about Stella's friendship with her mentor and father figure, Charles, and her search for the truth about the death of her mother when she was a young child. The two narratives work well together, as both Stella and Rose suffered trauma during their early childhood. Stella's own suffering and her determination to rise above it and advocate for other children made me root for her as she found herself in some terrifying and dangerous situations. This was a compelling story with a satisfying ending.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press, NetGalley and Sarah Pekkanen for this ARC.