solid 4/5. i really enjoyed this thriller. it was twisty & deceptive and had me on my toes! i also really enjoyed stella & her story. i always enjoy sarah pekkanen books and this was no different!

An infidelity, a dead nanny and a child with traumatic mutism who might just know exactly what happened.

House of Glass is fast paced read with lots of twists and turns. The main character past allows her insight into the child at the center of this mystery. The mansion itself lends an atmosphere to the story like an old gothic mystery. The cast of characters includes ultra rich ice queen wife, the working class hunk husband, the infirm, doting grandmother and a creepily silent child.

I liked the pacing of this book and the characters that you just couldn't trust.

I didn't love Stella's back story being told in snippets and flashbacks as I think it became its own story instead of bolster this one. I had the revelation about Stella's past figured out pretty early on.

3.5 Stars rounded up.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen is a thriller that delves into the dark secrets of the seemingly perfect Barclay family. As lawyer Stella Hudson navigates the complexities of a possible murder involving a young nanny, the story builds a suspenseful tale of deception and danger. The characters, especially young Rose, add layers of mystery to the story, while the eerie setting of a glassless house intensifies the chilling atmosphere. The author keeps readers on the edge, unraveling a web of lies where everyone is a suspect, leaving us questioning who can be trusted.

Although I have really liked all of her collaborations with Greer Hendricks, I wasn’t a huge fan of Sarah Pekkanen’s last solo book “Gone Tonight.” However, “House of Glass” pretty much immediately sucked me in. I LOVE short chapters and there was so much going on with multiple twists and questions that it kept me engaged through to the end. It had just the right amount of suspense and was fast paced enough for me to be able to finish in one sitting. Everyone has motive and everyone is a suspect and each chapter left me more eager to figure out the puzzle.

This was reminiscent of “A Familiar Sight” by Brianna Labuskes, and loved that book as well.

This book was totally amazing!! I loved watching the thought processes of Stella as she did her job, as well as the subtle stuff the female cop was doing to make sure that Stella was REALLY prepared for what she was going to find when she wanted to investigate the age-old death of her mother. The storyline as well as the characters were eerily and frighteningly believable. I fell asleep wondering about how the person could actually do what they did. I woke up early the next morning shaking from a really awful nightmare. I thought about what went on yesterday and what I had read and what I had watched on tv, but none of it seemed related, until something my daughter innocently said and BOOM - I knew that this book had sent me down the path to my dream that I hope NEVER to have ever again! I read a lot of books in this genre, but this one stands out from most of them. The darkness in that house was actually tangible and I found myself thinking about the book even when I wasn't actually reading it. I could easily imagine that anybody in that house could have done it, and even though I had guessed correctly about how the actual person could have managed it, it was still a total shock to think about the enormity of everything they did and why. I am getting ready to go look for more of her books as soon as I hit submit. I highly recommend this book - but don't read it right before bed :-)

Like allllllll Sarah P books, I enjoyed this one! I say that but this is my first one . hahha I'm going off all the rave reviews she gets. This did not let me down. it def holds up to the hype. the first part of the book was amazing a page turner truly! there are some crazy and intense moments that will have you at the edge of your seat and I enjoyed them all.

This is my third read of Sarah Pekkanen’s and she doesn’t disappoint. I enjoyed Gone Tonight. This book was well written, both Rose and Stella had well-defined characters that I loved and could sympathize with. It’s a quick read because you don’t want to put it down so you can figure out what happened.

Rose is a perfect 9 year old little girl who has the perfect family. They have money, talent and looks. Tragedy strikes when Rose’s nanny Tina falls through a glass window and plunges to her death. Was she pushed? Or was it an accident? There’s no shortage of suspects. Things quickly escalate from bad to worse. Rose suffers from traumatic mutism due to witnessing the fall. Rose’s father Ian was having an affair with Tina and she was pregnant. Rose’s parents start a bitter divorce. Stella takes on Rose’s custody case and tries to figure out what will be best for Rose. But what happens, when you can’t trust the mother, the father, the grandmother, or even Rose. They all have motives. Strange things are happening, rose is collecting sharp objects and her parents are replacing all of the glass in the home. Stella struggles to bond with Rose and her own past struggles of her mother’s murder, when she herself was mute due to trauma. This book is a roller coaster ride that you won’t want to end!

I love to read fast paced thrillers. This has nice short chapters which I also love. The storyline was fantastic. I suspected every character of the murder at some point. I would have liked a little more depth to Stella’s backstory. Overall another great book.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press, NetGalley and the author for this advanced readers copy of this book! All my opinions are my own!

Stella is an attorney for a child and needs to determine what is best for her. The child’s nanny recently died in the home, after having an affair with the father. Stella gets sucked into the high drama of the house and has to decide who is the safe parent. But she starts having doubts about the child herself.

This was a fast read and a fun story!

A page turning, whodunnit murder mystery that keeps you looking over your shoulder

HOUSE OF GLASS by SARAH PEKKANEN

Rating: 4🌟
Thrill level: 4/5🔪
Genre: psychological thriller

Top Quotes:

💫 “You can’t protect yourself against loss, Stella. It’s part of living a full life.”

💫 “I feel a tingle between my shoulder blades, a sixth sense someone is watching me.”

💫 “Be very, very careful. Never make the mistake of underestimating her just because she’s a child.”

This novel was very well done overall. Pekkanen immerses us in the fictional world where we have an affair, a death, a custody battle and very few suspects to choose from. And when I tell you, nothing is as it seems, it’s true. She does an excellent job of making the reader follow along with one idea, keeping you reeled in and believing every word and then she hits you with new information that makes you completely second guess yourself! I often felt very tense and I delved deep into this one. It helps it felt so fast paced, hitting you with new suspicions and evidence with each turn of the page.

The characters are wonderfully written as well. Pekkanen does well at establishing personalities and conveying emotions that you feel like you’re a part of it. She can make you despise one person and then later have sympathy for them. I will say the lack of many suspect characters does allow for the reader to create their own theories and potentially solve the crime on their own. I felt there was still some surprise in the end and it fit together well that it still gave a little something, something to it.

I enjoyed the supporting side line characters as well and their relationship development, betrayals and reconciliation. Although it does not add to the main story, it gave our main character, Stella, more dimension and provides more ways for readers to connect with her.

Overall, a well delivered psychological thriller that does its job. I agree with others though, going in blind (don’t read the synopsis) does give it more mystery.

Thank you to @netgalley, @stmartinspress and of course @sarahpekkanen for this ARC and opportunity to read HOUSE OF GLASS! Coming this August, I do recommend!

Sarah Pekkanen has done it again! Another riveting mystery full of intrigue and suspense, she is the author to watch. With a storyline that you didn't know you needed, her cast of characters will keep you guessing long into the night, right up to the nailbiting conclusion. Move this to the top of your TBR pile STAT, for the shocking reveal in this twisty novel does Not disappoint.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this advance reader’s copy, in exchange for an honest review.
The below review will be posted to my personal blog site, Raised on Reading (www.raisedonreading.com) on Monday, February 19, 2024.
An overused description of a book is that it’s “a page-turner that’s hard to put down.” Sometimes that’s accurate, sometimes not. But Sarah Pekkanen’s soon-to-be-released (August 6, 2024) mystery thriller “House of Glass” is the real deal. It pulled me in and never let me go.
Nine-year-old Rose Barclay is a brilliant child who is experiencing traumatic mutism. She hasn’t uttered a word since witnessing the death of her 26-year-old nanny, Tina, who fell and/or was pushed through a third-floor window at the Barclay home. Rose’s parents, Beth and Ian, have since filed for divorce – not surprising given that Ian was having an affair with Tina and the young nanny was pregnant. The tension in the house is palpable.
Both Ian and Beth have filed for custody of Rose, and attorney Stella Hudson has been brought in to mediate and make a custody recommendation in Rose’s best interests. The situation hits close to home for Stella, who as a child found her mother dead of a drug overdose in their apartment, and briefly developed traumatic mutism as a result. To this day, Stella doesn’t know all the details surrounding her mother’s death, but that will soon change.
Rose’s emotional condition and lack of verbal communication make Stella’s job challenging, not to mention the negative vibes she gets from both Ian and Beth (as well as Harriet, Ian’s mother who lives in the Barclay home) who clearly resent her very presence. Everyone seems to have an agenda, including Rose, who has taken to absconding with and hiding sharp objects (shards of glass, a knife, a box cutter) in her room. The dark presence in the home shakes Stella to her core every time she visits.
The police have not charged anyone with the nanny’s murder, though the case remains open. All four members of the Barclay family have an apparent alibi, yet Pekkanen’s writing is so superb it’s clear that each also has motive and means. And just when you think you’ve got the murderer pegged, you’ll change your mind. Everyone is a suspect. You’ll even find yourself wondering about Stella’s long-time friend and mentor Charles.
The writing, storyline and flow are excellent. Little by little, in very natural fashion, Pekkanen peels back the layers to reveal Stella’s past as she struggles to maintain her focus on doing what’s best for Rose.
Without giving away anything, the story wraps beautifully, with all questions answered and loose ends tied up without the murderer’s long-winded explanation of why he or she did what they did. The ending is perfectly symmetrical, and everything comes out in the natural flow of the story, which is what makes “House of Glass” such a captivating and enjoyable read.
I highly recommend this book. You will not be disappointed.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4
Pub date: Aug 6

After the accidental death of 8 year old Rose’s nanny, the Barclay family is falling apart. Beth and Ian file for divorce, and each are seeking sole custody of Rose. But Rose is unable to share her custody wishes because after her nanny’s death, she began to suffer from traumatic mutism. Now, Attorney Stella Hudson has been appointed to determine who should receive custody of Rose. And as Stella begins her investigation, some things are not quite adding up… Why is Rose collecting weapons? Why is Rose’s grandmother, Harriet, so protective? Why is Beth terrified of glass? Is Ian hiding something beneath his calm demeanor? Was the nanny’s death really an accident? And WHY does the house feel so dark and ominous?

I really enjoyed the creepy vibes of this book. Pekkanen did a great job of portraying such an ominous/heavy feeling whenever Stella was in the Barclay’s home. I love that I suspected everyone and was still surprised by the ending. This was very well thought out and I also liked that everything was fully explained. I also enjoyed Charles’ character and the attention given to Stella’s background.

Creepy and chilling! Everything I would expect from master thriller author Sarah Pekkanen. Following the accidental death of their nanny, the members of the Barclay family are all exhibiting strange behavior, especially nine year old Rose who has become mute following the tragedy and subsequent news that her parents are divorcing. Attorney Stella Hudson has been designated by the court to determine custody arrangements for Rose but quickly finds herself delving into the secrets she knows the family is hiding. Will her own past trauma allow her to do her job before it’s too late?

This action packed, page turning thriller was filled with suspense, tension and fear and I loved it! I’m always excited when I see a new book by Ms. Pekkanen and this one certainly delivered everything I hoped for. Thank you NetGalley, St. Matin’s Press and Sarah Pekkanen for giving me the joy of this wonderful thriller in exchange for my honest opinion. Publication date: August 6, 2024

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC of House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen, published by St Martin's Press.
You have to read this book, I couldn't put it down, absolutely amazing! Everything from the characters, the plot, the setting, the descriptions,  so we'll done.
Stella is the  main character and has been appointed to observe Beth and Ian and their daughter Rose to determine who the best parent is to receive custody in their divorce case. Although one of the obstacles is that Rose won't talk, she hasn't said a word since she watched her nanny plummet to her death from the family home.  The parents and Ian's mother agree to do whatever is needed in the best interest of Rose. Stella realizes she has her work cut out for her as things aren't exactly as they seem.
Such a well written novel, I didn't want it to end. I loved the mystery, the suspense, the who dunnit! I was on the edge of my seat at the end. Sarah Pekkanen is always on my TBR list.

I typically love Sarah Pekkanen books but this one just didn't click for me. I couldn't really connect with the characters and the main protagonist's back story felt inserted to unnecessarily and became distracting to me. DNF for now...

House Of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen is great read. The characters were well developed and each personality was very well defined to the success of the story. I could not put this book down, telling myself Just One More Chapter.! To start the mystery is the death of a pregnant Nanny.. Four people who had the potential and motive to want her harmed. A little girl who can’t speak, an overprotective grandmother, the father who had an affair with the Nanny, and the jealous wife who had just found out about that the Nanny was pregnant. A Lawyer is hired to determine who should get custody of Rose, the non-speaking little daughter. The story gets peeled away layer by layer until the past comes crashing down around them all. An interesting mystery that kept me very involved. Don’t Miss this very well written mystery.
Thanks to NetGalley, the Author Sarah Pekkanen and the Publisher St. Martin’s Publishing Group for allowing me to read this novel for my honest review.

Thanks so much for the review copy. I am glad I gave Pekkanen another chance after not liking Gone Tonight. This book is full of twists and turns.

This book was one of the best I have read in a while!! Lots of twists and a powerful ending!! The main character had an important job to do and thankfully didn't take things at face value and ensured it was right to the end.

This is my first book by Sarah Pekkanen. She did not disappoint.

Rose is a troubled girl who hides sharp
Objects when nobody is looking. Her parents Beth and Ian are getting a divorce and her grandmother Harriett live with them along with the nanny Tina. Stella is sent in to see who Rose should be given custody to. Tina falls to her death through a third story window but nobody knows who did it. And all glass is removed from the house including windows, mirrors, picture frames, and measuring cups from the kitchen. Who killed Tina and who will gain custody of Rose?

Yes, yes, yes. Such a great read by Pekkanen. This story meets all the classic Whodunit needs and had my rapt attention from start to finish. [If you’re not a fan of that style, this may not be for you.]. It was also a little bit of a slow burn, but I felt it was done well here. I loved it.

The Barclay couple is rich. They have their own estate, live-in nanny, child prodigy, grandmother living in her parent’s quarters… Sounds like the making of a typical spoiled rich family environment. That’s where the “good” ends and the bad begins.

Wife files for divorce from her husband. Classic case of infidelity with the nanny. The wife and husband are each requesting full custody of their daughter.

What else? The nanny is found dead - who sees the nanny that way? All of the Barclays… Mortifying for everyone, but most especially the young child at home. This event sparks traumatic mutism for the little girl.

With all of these elements in play, Stella is brought into the fold as the Best Interest Attorney representing the little girl in the custody battle. Not as cut and dry to perform her job duties to make her custody arrangement recommendations, so she has her work cut out for her. [Especially as the reason for the nanny’s death is still unclear.]

I appreciated the character building background details - it’s always nice to have an understanding of what makes some characters tick and I thought it only positively contributed to this story. That does include a subplot interwoven throughout the main story so that might be worth considering as you level-set your pace expectations heading into this book.

Pekkanen has a lot of elements woven in throughout the story and I was there for it all. Very much an auto-read author for me and this story only solidifies it even more. Look forward to her next!

Thank you #NetGalley and #stmartinspress for an arc of #HouseofGlass in exchange for an honest review.