This novel is a suspense thriller that drew me in from the beginning and captivated my imagination with multiple layers in both the plot and the characters. The narrator and a best interest attorney named Stella is reliable, but the other characters just cannot be trusted. As Stella investigates the placement of young Rose Barclay, Rose’s parents are getting a divorce, Rose’s grandmother is homeschooling her and Rose’s Nanny was just found dead outside a window that she fell from while on duty at the Barclay house. Stella leads us seamlessly into the mystery of how Tina died and whether anyone had killed her or it was an accident. The fact than Beth, Rose’s mom, is obsessed with having no glass in the house was fascinating as was the fact that the dad Ian admitted to an affair with Tina and seemed not to be too concerned about the ramifications of his adultery. Both parents want custody of Rose, so Stella has her work cut out for her. The plot is multi-layered because in addition to the mystery of the Barclays, there is Stella’s past and her mother’s death that she is still dealing along with relationships she has made in her private life. There is also the added point of interest that Rose is mute following Tina’s death and Stella’s investigation is somewhat limited by not being able to question the child about her wishes. I was totally captured by the twisted plot and the unexpected surprised that came along during Stella’s investigation. I enjoyed the story and found it to be compelling and believable.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16th CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

Stella Hudson is a lawyer, and she's taking on a new case. One that reminds her of her own childhood. Rose Barclay has completely stopped talking after her nanny died, and both of her parents are suspects. Stella is there to help her as her parents go through a divorce where they both want full custody of Rose. She must determine which parent is safe to leave Rose with. Nothing is quite as it seems, and the house is devoid of glass with nothing but plastic in its place. What's going on here?

This was a fascinating thriller with an eerie tension throughout. Each family member is a suspect, and it almost seems impossible to solve. You could feel Stella's anxiety as she navigates the situation.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

4.5 stars

Ohhhhh, I liked this one! Totally has this creepy atmospheric vibe the whole way through.

Author kept me guessing at what/who/where the evil feeling was coming from and everyone was a suspect! Hard to put down!

Stella was a stellar main character and I enjoyed the authors storytelling method. I would 100% read another book by this author or about this character, as I could easily see how one could write a series surrounding Stella Hudson.

Really enjoyed, I recommend it!

I really enjoyed this book and found it creepy at times.

The plot was so unique and had me on the edge of my seat to figure out what was actually going on.

I enjoyed the short chapters but also felt the book could have been a bit shorter.

Thank you NetGalley, author Sarah Pekkanen, and St. Martins Press for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

House of glass is another psychological thriller by Sarah pekkanen, but this time with a slightly gothic twist. Rose barclay from a wealthy family and seems to have anything a 9 year old girl. That all changes when rose witnesses her nanny’s fatal fall and goes mute. Stella is an attorney appointed to rose when her parents are going through a divorce and Stella may be the only one who can unlock the secrets rose holds. Stella also went mute as a child after the traumatic loss of her mother and working closely with rose is causing Stella to reexperience long-buried memories and trauma. What dangers await Stella as she uncover the mysteries of the Barclay family? That’s the question that will keep the pages turning!

This is probably pekkanans best effort to date-a suspenseful mystery, well-defined characters, and depth and weight to the story. I liked the gothic elements and the creepy house where there is no glass to be found anywhere..

Well worth the read!

Thanks to the publisher for providing the arc via NetGalley in exchange fir an honest review.

Stella is a lawyer; she works for her clients who are the children. This is the case she never wanted. The child, Rose, suffers from traumatic mutism since her nanny was either killed or simply fell from a window. The nanny was pregnant, Rose’s parents are going through a divorce, and her grandmother lives with them. Who could be the guilty party? Stella also suffered from traumatic mutism as a child thus identifying maybe too much with this case. Is Rose a murderer or is she in danger from one of the adults in her house? This book will draw you in and keep you guessing until the end. Read it!

House of Glass was so good! This is probably going to be one of my favorite psychological thrillers this year! The setting and the characters pulled me in and I couldnt put this book down!

Our main character Stella, a best interest attorney, has been tasked with figuring out which parent would be the best fit in raising Rose, Beth and Ian Barclay’s child who has recently become mute after the death of her nanny. Was it a murder? Was it an accident? The story weaves back and forth as new details surrounding the nanny’s death comes to light.

Between the setting and the characters, I truly found this such a creepy thriller!! I really enjoyed the writing style of Sarah Pekkanen and I look forward to reading more of her books in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my advanced reader copy. All opinions are all my own.

BOOK: House of Glass
AUTHOR: Sarah Pekkanen
PUB DATE: 8/6/2024 by St. Martin’s Press
PAGES: 352 pgs
RATING: 4
GENRE: Mystery/Thriller

A BIG Thank You to @netgalley, @stmartins and the author for gifting me an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review!

FAVORITE QUOTE: “The things we try to bury are often the things that need the most sunlight.”

QUICK & SPOILER-FREE REVIEW: What a great mystery suspense this was! I couldn’t put it down and I did not guess the ending. Fast paced and an intriguing, “who dunnit”! I definitely recommend this book!

Happy Reading!

Loved this book!!! Great characters, great character development, and lots of twists that I didn't see coming at all! As a lawyer, I'm also pretty familiar with GALs, the best interest of the child analysis, and the family court system in the US. The author did a really nice job accurately portraying these in a fictional setting while developing an engaging family drama / thriller. A 5 start read for me! Thanks NetGalley!!

Pekkanen
🔍🏡💔 Sarah Pekkanen's House of Glass is a mesmerizing thriller that delves into the secrets and lies of a seemingly perfect family. With its complex characters and gripping plot, this novel will keep you on the edge of your seat from start to finish.

🌟🧩 A Web of Lies and Deceit
On the outside, the Barclays appear to be the golden family with an enviable life. But beneath the surface, they harbor dark secrets. The story kicks off with the mysterious death of a young nanny—was it an accident, or was she pushed? Adding to the mystery is nine-year-old Rose Barclay, who witnessed the incident and has since stopped speaking. Her unsettling behavior and collection of sharp objects only deepen the intrigue.

👩‍⚖️🕵️‍♀️ A Compelling Protagonist
Enter Stella Hudson, a best interest attorney known for her dedication to children in custody cases. Though she usually avoids taking on clients under thirteen due to her own traumatic past, she makes an exception for Rose at the behest of her mentor, a revered judge. Stella's journey into the Barclay household reveals a family far more troubled than she anticipated.

🏰🔒 An Eerie Setting
The historic DC home of the Barclays is more than just a backdrop—it's a character in itself. The plastic house, devoid of any glass, adds an eerie and unsettling atmosphere that enhances the sense of danger and mystery surrounding the family.

🔪🌹 Everyone is a Suspect
As Stella digs deeper into the nanny’s death, she finds herself entangled in a web of lies. The list of suspects includes the mother, father, grandmother, and even the nanny's boyfriend. The tension escalates as Stella realizes that the person she's supposed to protect might be the one she needs protection from.

🌟 Final Thoughts
House of Glass is a masterfully crafted thriller that explores the themes of trust, trauma, and the lengths people go to hide their secrets. Pekkanen's storytelling is compelling, with a plot full of twists and turns that keep you guessing until the very end.

📚🔎🔄 If you enjoy psychological thrillers with intricate plots and deep character exploration, House of Glass is a must-read. Prepare for a chilling and immersive experience that will leave you questioning the nature of truth and deception.

Don’t miss out on this thrilling novel that promises to captivate and intrigue you from beginning to end!

Another spectacular, twisty psychological thriller from one of my favorite authors! As with Sarah’s other thrillers, this story packs in more than a typical mystery. It weaves depth into the main character creating a captivating and suspenseful storyline that kept me guessing. With all the vibes of an entitled wealthy family, a creepy child, a focused attorney, and unexplained incidents, I thought this storyline was going in one direction until it wasn’t! It just kept getting better as I got to know each character and bits of the mystery were revealed. I started out with the physical book then switched to audio and thought the narration was excellent!

House of Glass is a gripping thriller, built on a foundation of secrets and childhood trauma. Though some of the story’s many layers seem unnecessary, the troubled characters and the complex story make it an engrossing read.

Full review published on NightsAndWeekends.com and aired on Shelf Discovery.

Stella is a best interest attorney, representing children caught in contentious custody battles. When her mentor requests that she take on the case of a 9-year-old girl whose nanny mysteriously fell to her death in the shadow of her parents' impending divorce, Stella steps in to help the traumatized child who has ceased to speak since the incident. Rose displays concerning behavior when Stella as suspicion surrounds who may be responsible for the nanny's fall.

With a suspicious death, a high-stakes divorce, and a disturbed child, I was immediately drawn into this psychological thriller. The story is well-paced, keeping the pages turning with a sense of urgency. Rose lends an aura of horror, ramping up the tension and suspense, while Stella's struggle to maintain emotional distance for professional objectivity brings humanity to the situation.

Add this to your reading list for a suspenseful page-turner that immerses you in its unsettling family dynamic and compelling MC side plot.

🔎 The way this book grabbed me, and wouldn’t let me go! This page turner by @sarahpekkanen is out today! Thank you to @stmartinspress for the sneak peek.

🔎 In the vein of The Push this has an undercurrent of ‘is she or isn’t she’ evil element, that sets the tension tight as a rope throughout the whole novel!

🔎 Our MC is a lawyer hired on behalf of a child to make a recommendation to court— about what her custody arrangement should be after a divorce. The MC has her own interesting back story as well, making for a twisty-turny tale.

🔎 I was reading this and another book over a weekend, but this ended up getting all my attention! I couldn’t put it down! There was a point in the middle it got a LITTLE sluggish, but overall I really enjoyed this read!

Wow wow wow! Pekkanen writes magic again! I absolutely love her mystery/thrillers. This was the perfect case of who did it.

I loved how emotionally connected that the main character, Stella becomes with Rose and her situation/story. I thought that the author did an amazing job keeping us guessing throughout.

It left me on the edge of my seat.

I did think some certain situations felt unfathomable, which I know can be an “issue” for some readers, but I think it made the story more exciting and unpredictable.

This story leads the reader on a merry chase! And I enjoyed it! I knew something was wrong in this house and with this family but I just had no idea what kind of twist was coming! And everyone, including the nine year old Rose, is a suspect.

Rose’s nanny has recently died. She fell or was pushed out her bedroom window. Now her parents are getting divorced. Stella Hudson is a best interest attorney, appointed to serve as counsel for children in custody cases. She never accepts clients under thirteen due to her own traumatic childhood, but Stella’s mentor, a revered judge, believes Stella is the only one who can help. As Stella comes closer to discovering the secrets surrounding this family, she knows she herself is in danger and time is running out.

I enjoyed how this author slowly reels you in. She creates such a web of deception and lies! Did Rose kill her Nanny? She keeps sharp objects hidden everywhere. And now she is not talking. What about Rose’s parents? Affairs were had!!!! And what about the grandmother? She has some unique ideas about who should have custody. You need to read this to find out!

The narrator, Laura Benanti, is not really my favorite. She tended to speed up during the intense sections. And, in general, too dramatic for me.

Need a good thriller with a twisted ending…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

Wow! This one grabbed me from the beginning and didn’t let go. Who is lying? Who is telling the truth? Hold on to your seat for a pulse-pounding thriller that will leave you guessing every step of the way!

House Of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen is utterly propulsive and addicting!

How did the nanny die? It could have been an accident, or she could have been murdered at the hands of her boyfriend or by anyone in the Barclay household. It's Stella Hudson's job to assess the Barclay family and ascertain who gets custody of nine-year-old Rose after her parents’ divorce - all while trying to get to the bottom of the nanny's death. To make matters more difficult, Rose has been afflicted with traumatic mutism.

Main character Stella has a methodical and analytical mind that breaks down every decision, constantly weighing the pros and cons - and I want to read more of her! The Barclay's are a bunch of unlikable yet memorable characters, each plotting, lying and cunning to get their way. House Of Glass is a character driven psychological thriller at its absolute finest! Although it was never "just" a thriller; it had romance and a mystery encased alongside the main plot for added depth and character development.

This audiobook will go down in history as one of my very favourites! Laura Benanti did an outstanding job with her narration! She embodied Stella and made the story so believable! She had a knack at heightening the suspense with her diction, tone, and the punctuated use of her voice. Absolutely phenomenal!

House Of Glass is utterly thrilling and atmospheric. And I didn't guess the outcome at all!

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for the complimentary copies to read and review.

House of Glass is a book with creepy suspense, questionable characters, and a protagonist who never lets her override her mission to help others. Stella was the best part of this book for me. She has a life filled with loss, but she works every day to improve other children's lives rather than wallowing in her own plight. She was the reason I kept reading.

I would recommend this book to people who love domestic suspense and thrillers and readers who appreciate the unreliable characters trope. This is 4 star read, rounded up from 3.5. I wasn't too invested in the plot, as much of it dragged, and I've never heard of a lawyer who works as minimally as Stella (one guardian case at a time, that's it?).

This psychological thriller gripped me from the beginning and kept me engaged and turning pages until the very last one. The atmosphere felt claustrophobic with much of the setting in a glassless home with a sense of foreboding lurking within. The writing, setting, plot, and messy characters were all perfection.

Stella Hudson works as an attorney appointed to serve in the best interests of children in custody cases. She meets a nine year old Rose Barclay during a very difficult time in her life. Not only are her parents fighting for custody of her, but her nanny has just mysteriously fallen from a window of the family home resulting in her untimely death, with Rose as a witness. Questions are spiraling around this family and the cause of death surrounding the live in nanny. To make matters worse Rose is suffering from traumatic mutism as a result of witnessing something so horrific. Stella only takes on this case because of her beloved mentors request. Usually she only serves in the interests of children over thirteen due to her own traumatic childhood. As soon as she starts this case she begins seeing parallels between this case and her past.

This eerie house is holding secrets and Stella must try to unravel what each of the family members is telling her and what the truth actually is. Will her past warp her view? Who can she trust when it seems everyone is lying?

I loved every minute of this story! Thank you so much to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. If you love a good mystery or thriller you should definitely check this one out.