Stella Hudson is an unusual type of lawyer. She generally works at the behest of divorce court judges to advocate for children at the center of the most difficult and contentious custody cases. As a best interest attorney, or guardian ad litem, her sole focus is on what’s best for the children she represents.

Her devotion to her career is partially due to her own troubled childhood. As such, she usually only takes on teenagers, as younger children too often prove an unsettling reminder of that tough time in her life. But when her mentor asks her to take on the case of eight year-old Rose Barclay as a personal favor to him, she can’t say no.

Rose’s parents, Ian and Beth, are locked in a bitter custody dispute, each seeking sole physical custody of their daughter. Their divorce was seemingly set off by the tragic death of Rose’s live-in nanny. Young, beautiful Tina de la Cruz had plummeted to her death from the window of her attic apartment in the Barclay’s historic Potomac mansion, while Rose and her grandmother Harriet had been gardening below. The investigation into Tina’s unattended death revealed not only that she’d been pregnant, but that she’d been having an affair with Ian and wanted him to leave Beth for her. The police had taken a good hard look at all the Barclays, but there was no proof that Tina had been the victim of anything more than an unfortunate accident. The scandal had proven too much for the Barclays’ marriage though, and so Stella has been asked to intervene in their child custody arrangements, thoroughly investigating the family in order to make the best choices for Rose.

The atmosphere in the Barclays’ home is poisonous as the adult members of the household maneuver around one another, each with their own secret agenda. But Stella notes, with growing unease, that Rose just might be the most sinister figure of them all. As Stella interviews all the important people in Rose’s life, with her position granting her access to information she likely wouldn’t get otherwise, she learns more and more unsettling things about her young client. Even Rose’s therapist, Dr Gina Markman, feels the need to preface her evidence with caveats:

QUOTE
“Art is subject to interpretation,” she tells me. “People can look at the exact same image or read the same book and come away with very different impressions.”

“I understand.”

“Often, what we see in art is a reflection of us. Of our optics. Our mindset. Have you ever tried to read a novel and not enjoyed it, then gone back at another point in time and loved it? The story didn’t change. But you did. This is an insight into who we are at any given moment and what we bring to our unique intersection with art.”

She’s preparing me for something. What am I going to see in that folder?
END QUOTE

The more Stella investigates the Barclays, the more convinced she becomes that Tina was murdered. But which of them did it, and why? None of them will tell her the truth, and at least one of them is ready to kill again.

This inventive thriller had me in a figurative headlock one Sunday afternoon as I ignored everything else in my life in order to race to the end of the book, desperate not only to unravel the Barclays’ secrets but also to unlock the mystery of Stella’s own childhood. The way the two stories converged was breathtaking, and I felt personally invested in Stella’s ongoing happiness, especially as she grappled with thorny issues of both honesty and forgiveness. Most of all, I loved her commitment to doing the right thing, especially for troubled, vulnerable Rose:

QUOTE
But I won’t stop fighting for Rose. If this case ends in the way I fear, I’ll work to get Rose the best possible help. The Barclays have means. They can afford for Rose to stay inpatient at a place where the caregivers are knowledgeable and kind, where ample time is taken to find the best combinations of medicines, intensive therapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy. There are such places for children who seem beyond hope.

And every once in a while, with massive early intervention, a child manages to emerge and live a productive, healthy life. They are the outliers, but who’s to say Rose won’t be among them?
END QUOTE

I’m not sure whether House Of Glass was meant to be a riff on the Agatha Christie classic Crooked House, but I found this book just as gripping as its predecessor. Smart, compelling and above all compassionate, this felt like the 21st century update of a murder mystery that was definitely of its time. Fortunately for us, there are better modern alternatives to literally dying of shame, as Sarah Pekkanen so wisely displays in this excellent novel.

Stella is a child advocate working to decide which parent should have primary custody during a divorce. The child is unable to speak so that makes Stella's job all the harder. From the moment she stepped foot in their home she knew something was off. This is going to be one difficult job.

Well written characters that seem like real people with real problems. Fast paced. I was hooked from the start. I felt sympathy for all the characters at one time or another.

Thanks to netgalley and St. Martin;s Press for the arc.

Things are not as they seem in the Barclay house. When Stella takes on a new best interest case following a Nanny's death, she finds herself unable to distinguish the truth. As she interviews the family, all signs point to an attempt to covering up the tragic death of their Nanny. But, as she isn't so sure who's guilty. This book is a whirlwind, that will keep you suspecting each of the family members.

I loved the back and forth between the timeline of the story, learning more about Stella, and how she relates to Rose. Who, is extremely creepy, and who absolutely seemed guilty throughout the entire story. But, no one suspects the sweet supportive grandma!!

Woah! I did not see that ending coming and it blew me away. I really enjoy a dangerous kid storyline but that wait made it so good! It was a little slow to go at times but the end was just hit after hit.

SO THRILLING. I don’t use that word lightly. The last 60% I could not read the pages fast enough. I was able to predict a little bit but I was not disappointed. A thoroughly enjoyable psychological thriller

Unfortunately I wasn’t a big fan of this book. It started off t with a bang but I found myself losing interest. It was just okay and not very memorable for me personally.

House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen is a twisty thriller told in first person. The main character, Stella, is an attorney who is basically an advocate for her clients, usually teens, helping determine who gets custody in tough divorce cases. Her latest client, Rose, is only nine and hasn’t spoken since her nanny died under mysterious circumstances. Stella can identify in a unique way with Rose.

I enjoyed the way we learned Stella’s backstory even as Rose’s story moves forward. The writing is engaging and descriptive, setting the scenes very well for the reader. And it all wraps up in a satisfying and unexpected way.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC.

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

Stella Hudson, a best interest attorney for children, has been assigned to represent 9-year-old Rose Barclay in her parent's ongoing custody battle. There is one glaring problem, Rose may or may not have witnessed the murder of her nanny and is no longer speaking. It is up to Stella to unravel the mystery surrounding the Barclay family and their peculiar mansion, a mansion without a single piece of glass inside.

This was a stellar 4.5 stars for me! It was a slowly unraveling mystery and truly could have gone one of many different directions. I enjoyed the way Stella played detective and also the way each of the characters had something to hide. I was not able to figure out the ending which is always a win for me with thrillers!

I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a satisfying mystery.

I received a complementary ARC of this book from NetGalley on behalf of the author and the publisher.
This book was hard to put down. It's was a fast paced mystery that kept me guessing. I enjoyed the smaller chapters and quickly flew threw them. Pekkanen has a way of keeping you on the edge of your seat while weaving a whodunnit that's a slow burn. The characters were well thought out and easy to like/dislike. Stella seems to be trying to solve this mystery for Rose, as much as she's also doing it for herself and her past that's never been put to rest. Add this to your TBR!

This is my first stand alone Sarah Pekkanen (I have only read the books she has co-authored) and I really enjoyed this thriller. The writing and narration style was easy to read and made for a good binge. Ultimately, the storyline and reveals didn't really wow me or do anything really amazing, but it was a solid thriller/mystery that I would recommend to people looking for an easy and engaging story.

This book had me making theories, scrapping them, bringing them back from the dead, and trying to figure out who 'dun it, while suspecting literally everyone in the story. The characters were complicated in so many ways and we got to see a few different sides of them at different times, which was interesting. We also got the main storyline mixed in with the main character's backstory and journey to find answers for herself which broke up some of the tension in the story and kept it from getting boring. This was a really good thriller!

Once again, Sarah Pekkanen has entertained me with one of her suspenseful, intriguing stories. I love entering the worlds that she creates because I know I will be taken on a ride with twists and turns and bits I won't be expecting.

Poor Rose. She witnessed the horrific death of her nanny. Or is she the one who pushed her? Everyone suspects her, and honestly they are somewhat afraid of her. But she's an innocent 9 year old, right? Stella is there to help Rose but there are things that scare her as well. Something is not right in that house.

House of Glass is a story that captured my attention from the first page and I loved every minute of it. It kept me guessing until the end and had me holding my breath at times. Intense! Pekkanen does not disappoint with this story and as always, I'm excited to see what she writes next.

Trauma warning needed! This book was a rollercoaster and I almost didn't want to give feedback because it's just not for me, but I guess that's kind of the point of these things huh. That being said - this was NOT for me. I think in the "thriller" genre I should wait and see what people thing of books before I read them because maybe I'm a scaredy cat or maybe easily triggered by certain things but ooooof this was too much.

I could not put this book down! Sarah Pekkanen has written some of my favorite thrillers (especially her books co-written with Greer Hendricks), so I have very high hopes for this novel and it did not disappoint. House of Glass was thriller about a best interest attorney, Stella, that is assigned to determine the best living situation for Rose Barclay. The nine-year old's parents are in the middle of a divorce after an affair with their nanny and her suspicious death. I absolutely love a book where everyone is suspicious, and this was exactly that. I also enjoyed the connections between the primary plot and Stella's back story. It was not the most original plot, but it was generally a very good thriller that I enjoyed and could not put down.

Stella Hudson is a good friend of Judge Charles Huxley who took her under his wing many years ago and saw to it that she became a successful attorney. Now, she works in Washington, DC as a best interest attorney, also known as a guardian ad litem.

Her next case is to help decide who gets custody of a young girl, Rose, age 9. She recently witnessed her nanny, Tina, fall to her death through a window. Since then, she does not speak which is called traumatic mutism that can happen after a severe trauma. As it happens, Stella suffered the same thing as a child when she found her deceased mother on the floor.

Stella makes visits to the house visiting with Rose or her mother, Beth, or her father Ian. They are staying in the house with Rose but are working on a divorce and both want full custody of the child.

The police are also working to find if Tina had been murdered and if so, who in the house could have killed her. The characters are all flawed, but which one of them will win custody of Rose?

This book is quite mesmerizing and kept me glued to the story. It’s frightening how this child acts. I was actually afraid of her myself. Enjoy!

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I have read most, if not all of Sarah Pekkanens books and have enjoyed them all. This was no exception. I guess this could be filed under domestic thriller/suspense, as it definitely had both those aspects.

There is always a twist also, and just when you think you may have it figured out, it's something different. I enjoy that, it keeps me guessing. I liked most of the characters on this book, and while i couldn't really relate to them in any personal way, most were likeable.

Stella is an attorney for children going through divorce. She has a new, young client who's nanny just died at the house. Did someone kill her or was it an accident? That is one of the many questions Stella is faced with during her time spent aoth this family.
I recommend this book and author to anyone who likes a domestic thriller.

Pure perfection. I can’t think of a better phrase to describe House of Glass. From the depth of the characters to the ever ratcheting foreboding, there simply wasn’t a thing missing from this psychological thriller. The plot itself was finely layered while my thoughts were constantly plagued with suspicion. First one character was the suspect and then, with just a turn of phrase, someone else took center stage. No matter what I did, the resolution to this original plot remained firmly—and happily—out of my grasp.

The characters, however, were easily my favorite piece to this dynamite stunner. Genuine and true, each and every one felt as though they could walk right off of the page. From the potentially wicked devil child to her devoted albeit suspicious attorney, their behaviors and actions also felt 100% authentic. Along with the realism, however, there was plenty of ongoing unease that radiated from the creepy setting and ominous events. Who was behind it all? Rose? Or someone else?

The naturally unfurling plot was, in all honesty, immersive storytelling at its best. With a blood-curdling climax and more than one moment that brought me to tears, this book reminded me quite a bit of Middle of the Night, which also won me over hook, line, and sinker. From the spectacular pacing that seemed to swell with each additional short chapter to the ever present palpable tension, the twists were something to behold as the plot went along. All told, it just couldn’t have been better. I’m not exaggerating.

Done and dusted, I know without a shadow of a doubt that this book will easily compete for my top read of the year. And while I’m not all that surprised given that Ms. Pekkanen is one of my favorite authors, this one somehow took the cake in terms of my undying love. With gripping dysfunctional family dynamics, dark secrets, and plenty of misdirection, this thriller was, in a word, perfect. So order your copy today. You won’t regret it. I swear. Rating of 5+ stars.

Thank you to Sarah Pekkanen, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

Whoa! That was good. I forgot how much I love the “creepy child” thrillers - LOL

Basics; 9 year old Roses nanny has a mysterious death, leaving rose “mute” as a survival method. Her parents are in the middle of a divorce, both wanting sole custody of Rose. Enter BIA Stella, who is given the impossible task of researching the family and deciding who the child should live with after the divorce.

One MAJOR complication, Rose cannot verbally respond as to who she wanted to live with or why. Another complication is that Rose is acting strangely, and collecting sharp objects. With the case of the nanny’s death left as a “cold case”, Stella is suspicious of everyone in the house. What if she sends the child to live with a murderer? What if the child is the actual threat? Stella is handpicked for this case, because she herself had suffered mutism after the death of her own mother. Hoping to connect with Rose, and have her “voice” heard, was a driving force to this mystery.

I felt creeped out and uneasy, several characters giving me the vibes of dishonesty. I was suspicious of every character from the start. Although I had one in particular in my sites, but was tricked into believing exactly what the murderer wanted everyone to believe instead.

This was an exciting, unpredictable thriller. The plot keeps you wondering whether characters are traumatized or just plain creepy, and the topics are handled realistically. The characters and dialogue are well written, and the fast paced story makes it hard to put down!

I devoured this book in under a day!! Wow!! Sarah pekkanen writes the best dang thrillers! And I love that they’re based in DC. This one kept me on the edge of my seat dying to know “who dunnit?”