Very recently, I managed to get immersed in the pages of “House of Glass,” a real nail-biting thriller that kept me stuck in its web until the end. I rate it 5-5 stars.

The book’s idea of a seemingly perfect family that conceals an awful secret is exciting. The author takes us on an exciting roller coaster of suspense and mystery, leaving us to wonder what each character believes and why they do what they do.

This book has a few very consistent features, one of them being the well-rounded and complex characters. There is a young girl in the book who saw someone who may or may not have been trying to kill her nanny, Rose Barclay, and she is portrayed with such intensity and vulnerability that it’s hard not to become interested in what happened to her. Best Interest Attorney Stella Hudson is a strong, tough character who livens the story and makes it richer.

The story’s background, which takes place in more than a century-old D.C. mansion, adds unease that suitably fits in with the sinister nature of the Barclay family. The plastic house, which is said to be devoid of glass, insinuates more mystery and distaste.

The plot had been designed well, with twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat. The author is a master of manipulating different plots into an ingenious web of lies that confused me until the last pages. The book’s pace is just right; there are scenes with intense action and silent, solemn moments for reflection.

My only slight criticism that means nothing is, at times, it felt too fast-paced, more like revelations and character growths were happening in leaps. However, it did not detract from my ultimate impression of the book.

In conclusion, House of Glass is a nerve-racking and fast-paced to-the-last-page thriller that will leave your heart jumping even beyond finishing reading. With an exciting script, relatable characters, and a skillfully furnished story, this is a thrilling book for fans of the genre. I highly recommend this book, but be warned: you won’t sleep a wink the whole night as you will not be able to put it down. I loved this book, and I highly recommend it!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

Note: Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC.

I adore domestic thrillers and the latest by Sarah Pekkanen did not disappoint. I would rank it as 4.5 stars due to the storyline became a bit repetitive/dragged midway through. But, I appreciated the fact that the author spent time fully tying up any loose ends in the ending which I find a lot of thrillers lack by rushing to the conclusion. Overall, a fast-paced read that kept me entertained and I was able to devour while traveling.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I was intrigued as soon as I started reading. The plot(s) move right along. Who killed the nanny? Her charge, Rose may have been a witness but is unable to speak. With her parents in the midst of a contentious divorce, and everyone a suspect, someone needs to look out for Rose and determine what is best for her. Stella is that person. As Stella investigates the family, clues are coming to light about the murder.. Will Stella be able to solve not only the nanny’s mystery, but the one in her own life as well?

This book is a well crafted mystery with plenty of twists and turns to hold your interest
I read the book in one day and I can’t wait to read the author’s previous books.. I heartily recommend this book.


Disclosures: A review copy was sent to me. All above opinions are my own.

This book follows Stella, an attorney , assigned to decide which parent a troubled little girl should live with. The child, Rose, saw the death of her nanny, and has developed traumatic mutism.
This book kept me guessing the whole time and was hard to put down! The character development was impressive. The story line had a few different things going on but was easy to follow. You think you have everything figured out close to the end, but you’re wrong!
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC in return for an honest review.

I really enjoyed Sarah Pekkanen’s last novel, Gone Tonight, and was excited to dive into House of Glass. This story about Stella Hudson, a special interest attorney who specializes in representing children during difficult custody cases, was good but not my favorite by this author. Stella is perfectly suited for her job because she herself knows what it feels like to be a child in the midst of a traumatic situation. Her current client, Rose Barclay, is 9 years old and not only trapped between her 2 divorcing parents but also recently witnessed the traumatic death of her nanny, Tina. Rose is a challenging client for Stella both because of the memories that rise to the surface and also because Rose is now experiencing traumatic mutism and does not speak. As Stella dives in to the world of the Barclay’s, she finds an odd family who seem to be keeping a secret. There home is creepy and trapped in the past. And there is absolutely no glass in the home because Beth has nelophobia, a fear of glass. The windows are made of plexiglass, there is no glass in picture frames and there’s plastic kitchenware. Then why is seemingly sweet little Rose stealing and collecting sharp objects like shards of glass and a box cutter. And why has Rose recently been expelled from her school. Is there something sinister about Rose or is she just traumatized by what she has seen? Stella needs to figure out the truth about Rose’s behavior, what exactly the Barclays are trying to hide and what happened to Tina.
The evil child trope is definitely not my favorite but I think the author did a good job with it. The beginning started out strong but it’s seemed to drag a bit in the middle and probably went on a tad too long. Overall, it was a good read that came in at 3.5 stars. Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to advance read this ebook in exchange for an honest review

The Barclays are a seemingly perfect family with a life many would envy- beautiful, poised mom, Beth; hard-working, handsome dad, Ian; thoughtful, protective grandmother to Rose, and Ian’s mother, Harriet; and precocious daughter, Rose, who is experiencing traumatic mutism after a tragedy befalls the family’s nanny. But appearances are not what they seem as guardian ad litem, Stella, begins to assess the family to determine the best environment for Rose once her parents’ divorce is finalized. What happened to the nanny? Who is to blame? And can Stella emotionally handle the ways in which Rose’s case mirrors her own traumatic experience as a child?

As usual, Sarah Pekkanen delivers a story with twists and turns that keep the reader on the edge of their seat. The anxiety and unease that Stella begins to feel as she studies the Barclays is palpable, and just when Stella starts to relax, the tension is ratcheted up another notch. The writing is paced in such a way that the reader remains engaged in the story, playing detective right along with Stella as she tries to unravel what is really in Rose’s best interest.

The conclusion of the case, and thus, this book, may come as a bit of a surprise to some readers, while others may be able to decipher the clues to find out who was involved in the nanny’s death long before that information is fully revealed to everybody else.

Will both Rose and Stella find a measure of peace that will allow them to move on and process their individual traumas? Who knows? That’s for you to find out, dear reader.

#SarahPekkanen #NetGalley #mystery

House of Glass reeled me in from page one. The author’s writing style flows articulately and effectively into an unputdownable, suspenseful masterpiece.

Stella Hudson specializes in representing children as a Best Interest Attorney. Her most recent case is not one she would accept under normal circumstances. But because of her unique experience as a child, suffering from trauma related mutism and at the request of a Judge and good friend, Stella accepts the assignment.

Her new client is Rose Barclay; the 9-year-old daughter of Ian and Beth Barclay who are divorcing and battling over sole legal and physical custody of Rose. There are speculations surrounding the family due to the recent death of Rose’s nanny who suddenly fell from a Barclay residence window to her death. Rose is suffering mutism after the incident.

It quickly becomes clear to Stella that the Barclays are not being truthful. As Stella spends more time with Rose and the Barclay family, she begins to see the cracks in their stories. What exactly are they hiding?

Stella also grapples with decades old skeletons in her closet. The parallels between her current case and her childhood trauma open old wounds and resurface unanswered questions.

Stella vows to stop at nothing to help her client and find the truth. Even if that truth implicates Rose in the murder of her nanny.

This intensely brilliant novel will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Sarah Pekkanen for the opportunity to read this DRC.

STFD! Bolt it, too. I know…the books I love, my reviews often begin as such. Or “wow”, “dude”. I’m just not as gifted as the authors I most enjoy. And this is Sarah Pekkanen🤷🏼‍♀️. Domestic thrillers r my fave. Hubby, wife, kiddos & crazy thrown in from whichever corner. Be it Mom, Dad, Sidepiece, Grandma or Kid….so many choices. Makes my scattered, domestic life look rosy, while simultaneously entertaining & giving me a bit of escapism. Five solid stars for a wonderfully entertaining escape that blew my mind. So crazy, creepy, wild & immersive. Awesome.

I am a big fan of Sarah Pekkanen, and her books always go to the top of my to-be-read list. This one was solid from start to finish and was a true slow burn (but with a little too much emphasis on the slow). Tension-filled and psychological, I always appreciate a book that can layer and masterfully build on the dark side of humans across all ages, from children to the elderly.

Thank you, NetGalley for this advanced copy! I ran to download and read through this one as quickly as I could.

House of Glass is sinister, circling around 9-year-old Rose, her young nanny's death, and the parent's ensuing divorce. Stella is the attorney appointed to determine the best interest of Rose and is immediately drawn to the case due to her tumultuous family history. Rose is suffering from traumatic mutism, which Stella dealt with after finding her mother's body when she was around Rose's age. Rose's mother, Beth, is extremely put together -- a stoic, pointed, extremely wealthy woman -- but claims a fear of glass following the nanny's death, meaning everything has been replaced with plastic in the house. Ian, the father, is laid-back and rugged, overseeing a failing landscaping business. It's known that he was having an affair with the nanny, and everyone seems to be a suspect. Woven in are other characters like a bizarre, lonely piano teacher, Ian's mother who has been living with the family while recovering from knee surgery, and a parental figure who isn't who he seems from Stella's past; making this a true page-turner where you're unsure who to trust. Especially Rose, who as a child prodigy is far more intelligent than she may let on -- what does she know? Is she also a suspect? When she's caught collecting sharp objects, you can't help but question her intentions.

Overall this book kept me hooked, especially from the beginning as the "who-dun-it" theme built up. I really enjoyed the thoughtfulness put into each character's development, but think it could've been wrapped up a bit quicker than it was. I appreciate Sarah's writing always and will continue to reach for her books, but the slow burn on this one caused the story to lull toward the latter half and end of the book. The ending left me fairly satisfied, though I wish it wrapped as sinister as it started.

Wow! 🤩 Sarah Pekkanen wrote an amazing thriller that I could not put down! I was hesitant on how this book would play out, as one of the main characters was suffering from traumatic mutism, so how would she participate to the story line? Of course, there are other ways for authors to be descriptive and tell the story other than conversation amongst characters!
Stella is what’s called a ‘best interest attorney’ for Rose, a child in the middle of a divorce/custody battle who just lost her nanny to a terrible death in the family home. To make matters worse, the way the nanny passed away is unsolved and ruled a cold case, leaving so many things in the air.
I appreciated the amount of characters that Pekkanen included, not too many but enough to make the story line make sense and interesting!
I have read many books by Pekkanen and Greer Hendricks, this was my first “solo” book by Pekkanen and I was NOT disappointed!
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and, of course, Sarah Pekkanen for this eARC publishing August 2024!

Thank you #netgalley for this advanced copy of House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen.

This was my first book by Sarah Pekkanen and won’t be my last. I finished this book in one sitting, def a fast read.

A Troubling Tale of Trauma: A young girl named Rose struggles with mutism amidst her parent's messy divorce and her nanny’s death. Court-appointed worker, Stella, must navigate through family dynamics as unsettling events unfold around them all.

This book is a "WOW!" The last 10% is amazing and intense! There are so many parts of the story where the writing is worth highlighting. The star of the book goes to Stella! She is so strong considering her recent divorce and the death of both of her parents. Stella's job as a best interest attorney takes her to the Barclay family. The nanny for this family, plunged to her death while watching Rose, their 9 year old daughter.

Evil isn't merely a word. It's a tangible, dimensional thing. It slithers through the air, shifting molecules and displacing energy as it considers various hunting grounds. Once it homes in on a target, its malevolent arc of electricity affixes to its prey.

I loved Stella's friendship with Charles, much is revealed in the book toward the end. One of the best parts is Stella scooping up Rose. Stella says the words she yearned to hear when she was a child. The best words she could ever utter to Rose. "You're safe."

Stella will carry Rose's words in her heart forever. "Thank you," she whispers.

Intense, Past Secrets, and Brilliant! 5 stars! I highly recommend this book!

Many thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy! This book will be released 8/6/24.

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were well defined and interesting. The various characters stories came together in a seamless way. It was creepy enough to make me nervous for the protagonist but not enough to cross over into true horror. The writing was good and it kept my interest. My only suggestion was that it could have been a bit shorter. Otherwise, recommend.

This is my first time reading this author and she did not disappoint. What a page-turner! The person you least expect turns out to be the culprit… and the plot twists in Stella’s personal life… I did not see that coming at all. I was secretly hoping that her relationship with Marco would turn around, I was sad that she kind of switched lanes and decided to give herself a chance with someone else.
Other than that, this was a very satisfying read.

This book was filled with twists and turns. It was captivating! I was hooked from the very beginning. I loved the main character, Stella, and the way that she related to her client. I loved her relationship to her father figure, Charles and the back story there.

The story was told perfectly, very fast-paced. It was creepy and chilling at times. Definitely a page turner. Loved the ending. Very twisty and not what I expected!

First thriller of the year was 5 stars! I’ll be diving into more of her books very soon.

A really good suspenseful book!! It keeps you guessing who killed the nanny! It has a variety of characters that makes you wonder which one is capable of murder. Worth the read!!

An edge of your seat thriller that has it all - a creepy mansion occupied by a strange and repressed family; a child, old before her time, who is truly unsettling; a murder (maybe?) tied to a mystery; and a first person POV heroine who is female, authentic and has her own traumatically tortuous past to deal with.

Stella Hudson is a “best interest attorney” who represents the voice of children and teenagers in controversial custody cases. When Stella takes on the case of Rose Barclay, a solemn red-haired nine year old in the midst of a bitter parental divorce, who is also a child witness to the suspicious death of her Nanny, she is forced to battle her most difficult adversary - herself - as the case quickly becomes triggering into her own deeply unsettled childhood.

Stella’s unpacking of the fabulously wealthy Barclays, and their suspiciously murky behavior, quickly escalates to personal danger, as well as emotional crisis, as secrets, lies and longings revealed may threaten the collapse of all that Stella holds dear.

A fast and suspenseful read, hard to put down, this tense and twisty story had me reading deep into the evening. With an ending that was both satisfying and only partially predicted by this reader, this book is recommended for lovers of domestic suspense, thrillers and/or anyone who enjoyed “The Push” or “The Perfect Child”.

A great big thank you to the Netgalley, the author and the publisher for an ARC of this book. All thoughts presented are my own.

I haven't read a book written in first person in awhile and I forgot just how much I love it. I devoured this thriller.

Stella Hudson is assigned as an attorney for nine-year-old Rose Barclay. Her parents are getting divorced and it's up to Stella to decide who is best suited to have Rose living with them. To complicate matters, Rose's nanny was found dead after falling out of an upper story window. The question remains, did she jump or was she pushed? If she was pushed who was it that could commit such a horrendous act. Meanwhile, it is discovered Rose is collecting all the sharp objects she can access and has also stopped talking.

I finished this book in one day. It was fast paced and suspenseful. Everyone in the house is a suspect and it seems like Rose may have had something to do with the nanny's death. I never expected that ending! I was totally engrossed in the story from the first page all the way up until the brilliant and amazing twist of an ending. This is a thriller you don't want to miss!

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

What a fun read. Every time I picked up my kindle, I had to read some more of this book. I thought I had it all figured out but I was wrong. Quick pace, I couldn't wait to see how it all unfolded.

House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen is a great entry in the Mystery/Thriller genre. I was making " The Bad Seed" comparisons in my mind while reading this, but there is so much more going on in this book. This one does not disappoint. I recommend this book to mystery lovers.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an e-arc in exchange for an unbiased review.