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HOUSE OF GLASS

Wow. I am definitely the outlier here… this was not my favorite.

House of Glass follows the Barclay family, specifically the 9 year old daughter, Rose, who witnessed the murder (or was it?) of her Nanny, and no longer speaks, like at all. Lucky for her - she is appointed a counsel for children who went through something similar when she was a child, Stella.

Stella begins to uncover lots of dark family secrets. It is a classic who dun it case, however I felt that there were way too many storylines going on. From Stellas childhood mentor & trauma, to all the different directions the actual investigation goes, it was just too much that I honestly lost interest and didn’t really care about any of them by the end.

There were two main twists in the story, which by the time one is revealed I felt that I was just rolling my eyes. I did like the setting, and felt like the storyline had a lot of potential… but this one was a miss for me.

Thank you Netgalley & St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was a quick read mystery that kept my interest, mainly about a 9 year old girl, Rose, and her family and Stella, a best interest attorney as counsel for the child in a custody case. It also dealt with a mystery in Stella’s past too. Thank you St. Martin’s Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley.

House of Glass was a great, suspenseful read. If this were a Netflix show, I'd binge-watch it without hesitation. The book’s premise is compelling, and the characters are well-developed, keeping me engaged the entire time. The pacing was smooth, with each chapter flowing into the next. I loved that the end was wrapped up perfectly. However, I did deduct a point because a few aspects of the storyline towards the end felt somewhat implausible, which slightly detracted from the overall experience. Despite this, it remains a captivating read that I would highly recommend. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest review.

Stella is an Attorney who represents the best interests of victims. She was called into this pending divorce after the Nanny fell out of a third floor window under mysterious circumstances. Rose is 9 and, as a result of the trauma she is facing, doesn’t speak. Both her parents (mother is a multimillionaire, father owns his high end landscaping business but is nowhere near as rich as his wife) and her paternal Grandmother who is using a cane and tutors/homeschools Rose. Stella’s father died in an automobile accident when she was young, her mother od’d and she was left orphaned as a youngster. When her mother was found dead, Stella was also not able to speak. The characters and plot are more than a little complex and untrustworthy. The climax somewhat unexpected. Thanks to Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC for an honest review.

This book is about a nanny who dies unexpectedly, a young girl who suddenly goes mute, and Stella who is in charge of determining who should get custody of the child. Through this story, the author slowly reveals more information to help the reader determine who is responsible for the death of Tina. This story is a highly intense story. It is hard to tell who is guilty and who is innocent. Sometimes, it feels like some of the characters are covering for those close to them. Stella is determined to get to the truth. She conducts multiple interviews. Stella works closely with the family to see who is better suited to have full custody of Rose. She weeds through lies to try and figure out what is really going on inside this house. By the end of the book, Stella makes a determination. Since Rose is mute, she is not able to give her input into what really happened the night that Tina died. Stella needs to gather as much information in order to make the best decision.

I struggled at certain points to get through this book. It felt like Stella was grasping at straws at certain points since the family members were very quiet about some details. I thought the concept behind this story was interesting, but I think it just took a long time to get a resolution. It also seemed like Stella was hitting some dead ends. I just thought this story was drawn out. There was a lot happening while Stella tried to get to the bottom of things. I liked other parts of the story, especially the ending when we finally got a resolution to what really happened. I thought the concept of Stella working with this family to see who should have sole custody of Rose was interesting. I enjoyed the investigative aspect in this story. I do feel like the story could have been presented in a different, more direct way.

I loved this! Thank you St. Martin's Press for the approval to read and review!
Out Now!

I loved this. I loved that we never know who to trust. I loved the 'police procedural' feel with interviewing everyone in the family but with a twist as the FMC is a lawyer, not police.

There were times I got the most creepy vibes from Rose and wondered if we were dealing with a tiny psychopath; but then, grandma is super sketchy too, what's her deal? and ALSO the dad has a lot to lose, so maybe he's the Big Bad?

The uncertainty around each character was one of my favorite parts of this story. The way Stella has to unwind this mystery was interesting to read. It has the same vibes of police procedural as she's interviewing the family members as well as people in their lives but she isn't police so this felt like a fresh (to me) twist on that familiar trope. Another favorite aspect was the way Stella found her answer, sneaky and tricky and I loved it. ALSO absolutely adored the budding romance towards the end (heart eyes)

This book was quite a ride! It kept me engaged from the very beginning, I needed to know what happened and why. Sarah Pekkanen did such a great job of painting a picture of the characters, and making putting you right there next to the main character in all the situations. It will have you questioning everything. This family is SOMETHING ELSE, and the dynamics are wild. This was such a well written story, and had some great twists! Highly recommend.

A thriller with a family hiding lots of secrets by one of my auto-buy authors…say less!

Pekkanen has crafted an addictive and entertaining story surrounding the Barclay family. Their nanny was possibly murdered at their home and now the family is being investigated to see what they know. To make matters more complicated, their nine-year-old has stopped speaking and is busying herself collecting sharp objects 😲

The Barclay family was captivating. They all very clearly had secrets and I loved getting to unravel them alongside our main character, Stella, who by the way has quite a few things she needs to work out as well. Stella’s past and the Barclay’s have interesting overlaps that really tie everything together and make the story and character motivations flow seamlessly together.

The pacing of House of Glass is quick and keeps readers on their feet as Pekkanen reveals new twists and turns in the story.

Thank you Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of this eminently readable and thoroughly enjoyable book.

This was a keep-you-guessing thriller of the first order! I’ve read a few books by Sarah Pekkanen and her co-author, Greer Hendricks, but nothing so all encompassing as the murder?, accident? surrounding the death of the wealthy Barclay family’s nanny. Was the father, Ian, a murderer? How about his remote wife, Beth? Did the unthinkable happen? Was their young daughter, Rose involved? And what part did the grandmother play? So many questions! Then the wildcard, attorney, Stella, becomes embroiled with her own baggage. What a recipe for a tasty thriller!

Sarah has molded some great characters! At one point or another, I hated them all and isn’t that what good books do? Evoke strong emotion as they carry you along on a story.

Sarah also created a compelling second plot line, that of Stella’s long-hidden past. She then used a very creative tool to
link them both. So interesting!

You guessed it, I will be researching SP’s backlist. Five glimmering stars for me. I’m certain you will love it too!

After the nanny of a wealthy family falls to her death from a window, lawyer Stella is brought in to determine what is best for the young girl who witnessed it all. Rose is traumatized from the incident. Her parents are now seeking a divorce, and her grandmother has been living in their basement apartment recovering from surgery and offering a hand with Rose.

Stella does not typically take on children as clients, but is urged to help Rose, who has developed traumatic mutism. Stella can empathize with Rose. She lost her mother to an overdose as a child and developed the same mutism. She becomes extra invested in Rose, and in trying to determine what is the best custody agreement for her, she becomes more entwined in the family than she bargained for. Is Rose really innocent in all this? Or did she play a part in the nanny’s death?

These questions and more kept me turning pages. I enjoyed this creepy thriller and found myself having to take a breather every now and then because it was making me anxious. Overall, a very enjoyable read.

Thank you to Sarah Pekkanen, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an advance e-copy of the book for an honest review.

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House of Glass
By: Sarah Pekkanen
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Pub Date: 8/6/24

Stella Hudson is an attorney whose clients are children going through divorce and custody battles. It’s her job to assess the situation make a recommendation to the court as to whom the child should live with. She has her own trama from her childhood both her parents dying at different times and her moms struggle with drugs.
When Stella’s mentor Charles reaches out and wants her to work with 9 year old Rose she decides to meet with the family and that’s where things start to go off the rails.
The Barclay’s are an extremely well off family whose nanny was killed on their property by their 9 year old daughter. Rose hasn’t spoken since the accident. She’s doing odd things like hiding weapons and reading books that aren’t meant for a 9 year old. Her father had cheated with the nanny and gotten her pregnant which is the cause of the current turmoil in the family.
Rose’s grandmother Harriet lives in the home and helps out with Rose. Rose has been pulled from school and is being taught at home. Her life is very secluded but Stella is starting to see cracks. What really happened when the nanny was killed? Where was each member of the family really? I promise you won’t see the twist coming with this one! Definitely one of my top thrillers of this year!

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

The way this book grabbed my attention from the very beginning and kept it. I have read almost every book by this author and have never been disappointed. The speed was perfect and at times I was like omg what is about to happen.

Highly recommend this book and I can't wait for more books by Sarah

Ooo I loved this one! My kids are Back in school so I finally had time to binge, and binge I did. Kept me guessing and engaged the entire time!

An eerie little girl…or is she just terrified? A loving family…or are they? An accident…or a murder? A woman whose own tragic childhood will either distort her present or come to her aid…

Let me start by saying I very much appreciate the general cleanliness of Pekkanen’s books in regard to language and explicit scenes - both lacking. That’s hard to find in this genre it seems. I also just enjoy her storytelling; every book is an easy and enjoyable read.

This story had an eerie quality, from the cast of characters to the foreboding house, that I haven’t felt from other Pekkanen (and Hendricks) books. This quality and the seasonal setting make this the perfect book to usher in fall.

The characters in this book were a mixed bag of all sorts of people! I definitely found that intriguing and a great tool to keep the reader asking, “Who did it?”.

I consider Pekkanen (and Hendricks) to be one of my favorite authors for this genre; but this was my first solo Pekkanen book and it didn’t pack quite the same punch. It was very obvious what story she was spinning: making the reader think the offender was one person but also knowing it couldn’t be because it was too obvious. This made the reveal not all that revealing, certainly not a twist, but the twist(s) is what I enjoy most about her and Hendricks’ books, so this one left me a bit wanting. There was also a strange last quarter relationship blossoming that felt unnecessary.

Though this wasn’t my favorite, I’m happy to have read it and will certainly continue reading more from her!

I would give this a 3.5 stars. I enjoyed the storyline and the writing style, there really wasn't anything that made this book bad. But also there wasn't anything that made it outstanding either. It fit right in the middle for me. Overall happy I picked up the book and read it!

Stella is a best interest attorney assigned to figure out the best living situation for Rose, a young girl who's parents are getting divorced. To complicate the situation, Rose's nanny recently died under mysterious circumstances - by falling through a second story window. The police think the nanny may have been pushed - but by who? Now, all glass has been removed from the entire house, Rose is collecting sharp objects, and Rose has become mute due to the trauma. Stella of course wants to find the best situation for Rose, but she also starts investigating the nanny's death, and all of this leads to her uncovering secrets from her own past.
This book is very creepy and reminded me of the movie The Orphan, although not nearly as scary. It kept me captivated and turning the pages to see if I had correctly guessed who did it (I didn't). Recommend checking this thriller out, it's out now and available everywhere!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.
ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A Nanny falls to her death from a 3rd story bedroom. A little girl Rose witnesses her fall. Her mom & dad want a divorce and her Grandma Harriett lives with their family in a basement apartment. Poor Rose is so traumatized she can not speak. Enter lawyer, Stella, who as a child lost her mother to an overdose when she was seven years also developed traumatic mutism. She is on the custody battle and has to figure out where Rose should live. With the neurotic over protective mom, or the dad who was having an affair with the Nanny. The story goes into both the lives of the Barclay's and back tracks to Stella's early days before and after her mom died. It is a very interesting, creepy thriller that I could not put down. At times I was so anxious. It was like watching a scary movie with one eye open and the other closed shut. It was a great read.
Thanks to #netgalley, #stmartinspress and @sarahpekkanen for an ARC of this thriller.

An absolute page turner. The story has so many twists and tuns, I thought I knew the ending but I was wrong. Loved every minute of this story

After a nanny fell to her death, a lawyer/child advocate interviews the nanny’s employers to decide which parental home would be best for the 9-year old mute Rose. The nanny’s death and preceding affair has lead to DIVORCE. Stella senses danger around her and questions if Rose is as innocent as she seems. You see, Rose is precocious and she can relate to Rose in her muteness. As a child, herself, Stella witnessed her mother’s death and became mute herself.

After spending time with Rose and her family, Stella stars to unveil a some secrets. Will Stella discover the family’s deep, dark and deadly secret before it’s too late?


𝓜𝔂 𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼: Spoiler Alert!
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Mysterious and suspenseful, this domestic thriller was full of secrets and had a TWISTY ending! I enjoyed reading this! Fans of Michelle Campbell and Rachel Hawkins will like this one!

House of Glass hooked me from the very start. I really enjoyed the beginning of the book and then it honestly started to stall out. I did enjoy it but was not surprised by the twists at the end. I found it to be pretty obvious as to what was going on. I am still excited about anything Sarah Pekkanen writes. She will always be an autobuy author for me!