I really liked this book a lot. The book centered around the death of a family’s nanny. A woman is hired by the court to determine what is best for the child when the parents decide to get a divorce after the death of the nanny.

The child has been traumatized by this event and can no longer speak. The woman hired by the court goes to visit the family and tried to figure out what happened. Did one of the parents kill the nanny, the grandmother who lives with them, or worse did the child herself do it?

This book kept me guessing. I wasn’t sure what to believe. I thought the author did a great job putting all the pieces together for the reader.

There’s a little romance thrown in at the end that just seemed pointless to me and didn’t go with the overall story so that’s why I took off a star. If it wasn’t for that, this would be 5 stars.

This was my second novel by Sarah Pekkanen, and it enjoyed it just as much. Pekkanen is so great at creating characters that you can not help but want to know. You'll keep flipping the pages of House of Glass to unveil everyone's secrets and figure out what in the world is going on. This thriller follows Stella, a lawyer specializing in childcare/custody in divorces. But she's called into a job that completely consumes her. Stella is called in to help with custody of nine year old Rose, who, after the death of her nanny, is now mute. This was a great psychological thriller that has you constantly flipping the pages and really feeling for these characters. A huge thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced e-copy.

This one definitely hooked me. Lots of great suspense in this story with twists and turns that kept me guessing. I definitely did not expect that twist at the end. This was a slower moving read but it did have a good engaging plot that keeps you turning the pages. Great suspenseful read!

I received an arc and this review is my own.

Thank you Netgalley, Sarah Pekkanen and St. Martin's press for this copy.

Wow I loved this book. I enjoyed The Golden Couple and Gone Tonight by this author, so I was looking forward to picking up her newest book! I was expecting to enjoy it, but it blew me away. Definitely one of my top thrillers for the year so far. Every time I thought I knew what was happening, it took things in another direction. I couldn’t put it down and couldn’t stop thinking about it!!

I loved the main character and her backstory. I loved the eerie setting and the creepy characters. And I loved the fast pace of the book. So much happened and it never once felt like it was dragging on.

Can’t wait to pick up more books by this author!! Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Another must-read thriller for this summer! House of Glass is packed with twists and turns that will keep you hooked. Even if you guess a few, it doesn’t spoil the fun at all. Rose and Stella are such well-developed characters, and their relationship, along with Stella and Charlie’s, really shines. The suspense is gripping, and I couldn’t stop coming up with theories as I read. Perfect for a beach read or a cozy night in. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️5/5 stars!!

Meh. This was just okay.
I liked the aspect of Rose's story. The questioning of did she had something to do with the nanny. Was it intentional or an accident. What caused her to beute, guilt or something else. Plus, everyone else had a reason to want the nanny out of their lives, even if they had decent alibis.
What I didn't care about was Stella's story. Her working through decades old shit as it related to Rose just took away from the story for me. I didn't care about the borderline inappropriate relationship with her pseudo-father Charles. And then the random sprinkling in of her and the detective felt completely unnecessary and out of left field.

I don't think I can recommend this one. I only finished because I wanted to know what happened with Rose and I ended up skimming Stella's storylines. Would have dnf'd otherwise.

If you like legal/psychological thrillers, add Sarah Pekkanen’s House of Glass to your TBR stack! Stella Hudson, a lawyer who advocates for teenagers whose parents are going through divorces, has now been asked to investigate and recommend the best situation for a much younger child. Reluctant to work with younger children, she wants to decline. but Charles, the lawyer asking her to handle the case, is the closest person she has to a father, and he insists only Stella can speak for this particular child. Rose, who does not speak, has suffered from traumatic mutism since seeing her nanny’s bloody and broken body on the patio after a fall from a third-story window on the Barclay family estate.

Stella follows procedures, meeting with both parents, the husband’s mother living in the home since failed knee surgery, Rose's piano teacher and Chinese tutor, her former school principal, the nanny’s boyfriend and best friend, and, of course, voiceless Rose, herself.

Did Tina, the nanny, commit suicide? Was she murdered? Nearly everyone, including young Rose, proves suspect. As Stella struggles to assemble the puzzle pieces, strange things begin to happen, and those frightening events combine with Stella’s own childhood memories to make her investigation increasingly difficult.

Sarah Pekkanen’s House of Glass will keep readers turning pages, wishing they had nothing to do but read to the end..

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance reader egalley.

🪞Book Review 🪞

Thank you to Negalley and publisher for an arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

Publication: August 6, 2024

Rating: I enjoyed it!

This is my second book by Sarah and I enjoyed this one more than her first. I’ve also really liked the books she cowrote with Greer.

The first part of the book went by quickly! I found myself speeding through the short chapters. The middle slowed down immensely which I found a bit frustrating, however the ending picked right back up!

This isn’t necessarily thrilling with crazy out there twists but rather a mystery that has surprises/secrets that come to light as you investigate with Stella.

🌟 Perfect for fans of:
🪞First person POV
🫙Popcorn chapters
🪞Murder mystery
🫙Sub- plot line
🪞Dysfunctional family

🌟 What to Read Next
🫙The Push by Ashley Audrain

House of Glass is narrated by a Guardian ad Litem (Stella) who either goes way above and beyond OR crosses professional boundaries and perhaps breaks the law, for the sake a of a little girl that reminds her of herself (Rose). In a household that banishes all things glass (plexiglass windows, boat-safe non-shattering mirrors, plastic glassware) after a fatal accident involving Rose's nanny, the little girl is either a target for or a perpetrator of violence. It's not immediately clear and the lives of several people will be forever changed no matter what Stella discovers as truth. She works tirelessly to uncover Rose's family's secrets...also, surprisingly, finding the time and energy to dig into her own distant past trauma.

This was a quick read for me, and it was able to keep my interest even though I had trouble connecting with Stella, mostly due to her unprofessionalism and her backstory being less compelling than the current mystery.

The narrator in the audiobook version wasn't my favorite...mostly because her soothing voice coupled with some of the longer, descriptive writing passages made it hard for me to keep focused. Also, the grandmother character was supposedly only in her 60's but she was voiced like someone in her 90's. It changed the character for me and made the elements with grandma less believable in the end.

Overall, a worthwhile thriller. 3.5 stars, rounded up.

Thank you so much to @stmartinspress @netgalley for the ARC!
4.5⭐️

🔍 𝙈𝙮 𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 🔍
This is a gripping, suspenseful, psychological thriller that will have you on the edge of your seat! Stella is asked to act as a best interest attorney, a child advocate, for 9 year old Rose Barclay after the death of her nanny.

Rose has been mute since her nanny’s death, and while everything looks wonderful from the outside of the Barclay estate, it’s very fragile on the inside. Parents planning on divorcing, and Rose has been collecting sharp objects, while the house has been cleared of any glass or sharp objects.

Stella’s past also comes forward as she digs into this case. Her experiences parallel some things with Rose and gives her the right knowledge on how to approach this case.

Going through this story had me on the edge of my seat! I had different guesses as to what could have happened to the nanny, but the author still knew how to take you through the wringer and not know who to trust!

I enjoyed seeing Stella have her own mystery she was uncovering from her past as well. Stella helping Rose motivates her to dig into her own past and face her own trauma.

🏠 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚:
🔍 Domestic Suspense
🔍 Psychological Thrillers
🔍 Fast-Paced, Tension Building
🔍 PTSD
🔍 Best Interest Attorney/Child Advocates

I am a huge fan of Sarah Pekkanen and absolutely loved her last book Gone Tonight. It consumed me. So my expectations were very high for House of Glass. While it started out with a bang and drew me in, about half way through I started loosing interest. Unfortunately there were too many sub plots that distracted me from the main storyline, they felt unnecessary, making the story drag on.

That being said, the main story line was intriguing. 9 year old Rose Barclay has suddenly become mute after possibly witnessing the death of her nanny Tina. Tina’s death was tragic and very suspicious. Did she crash through the third story window of the Barclay’s home accidentally or was she pushed? All four Barclay family members have motives to want Tina gone. Rose’s mother just found out her husband was having an affair with Tina. Rose’s adulterous father just found out his affair with Tina resulted in a pregnancy. Rose’s grandmother hated all the family turmoil that started upon the arrival of Tina? Even Rose had motive. After all she too could have discovered the illicit affair happening between her father and Tina.

As a result of the affair, Rose’s parents are going through a contentious divorce and each wants custody of Rose. This is where our main character Stella comes in. Stella is a lawyer who has been court appointed to figure out who is the safest and best person for Rose to live with. But the moment Stella sets foot in the Barclay mansion the hairs on her neck stand on end and her spine starts to tingle as she can feel the darkness that emanates from the home. Although Stella’s focus is to figure out who Rose should live with she can’t ignore the bigger questions. How did Tina die and why is Rose mute after her death?

Stella discovers the Barclay family are not who they portray to the outside world. They clearly are hiding the truth from Stella and lying to cover it up.

I definitely think this book is worth a read especially if you enjoy a slow burn thriller with several side stories. I would have enjoyed the book more if there was more focus on Rose and Stella’s relationship, the death of Tina and less on Stella’s past.

Thank you St.Martin’s Press and Netgalley for my e-arc of House of Glass. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Pub Date: August 6th, 2024
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

🪞Psychological thriller
🪞Murder whodunnit
🪞Creepy house
🪞Crime/lawyer
🪞Childhood flashbacks

Gosh Rose is creepy! A nine year old, with adult tendencies, who can’t speak? Yikes. And with her whole family lying and scheming, it gets intense.

There was so much going on in this book. There were two major twists. While I saw one coming, it was still layered and well thought out. I’m sad I didn’t feel super connected to our FMC narrator, and wish we saw a bit more of Rose, but overall this was a great twisty read. Great pacing with short chapters, it kept my attention wanting to know more about the Barclays and what was really happening.

I feel like maybe my overall rating may be influenced by all the hype this book is receiving. Was it good? Yes absolutely. But maybe my expectations were too high going into it. That said, I’ve read and enjoyed several of this author’s books written with Greer Hendricks, and will continue to read her work.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of House of Glass. This was a pretty solid thriller from Sarah Pekkanen. There is a long list of characters who might have killed Tina, the nanny of Rose, who now suffers from traumatic mutism. Stella is a best interest attorney who is uniquely qualified to help Rose in her current situation. Unless something happens to Stella before she can help, just like Tina. If you’ve enjoyed Pekkanen’s past novels, definitely check this one out! Releases 8/6!

A murder mystery with more depth than expected!

Who killed the nanny? Why? Does the child Rose, whose trauma has made her mute, hold the key? What is the Barclay family hiding? And, where is all the glass in the house...?

Unlike the usual "let out a breath I didn't know I was holding", heart-racing thriller House of Glass keeps the reader hooked, while granting ample time and detail to get to know all the characters, their motivations, and thus begin to unravel the mystery for themselves.

To my delight, main character Stella is a complex and competent character. She's not a rookie stumbling through her first case and it is her expertise in being a Best Interest Attorney for her adolescent clients that lends to some of the greatest cat and mouse scenes. Even with a tragic backstory that she is still working through, and is exacerbated by this most recent case, Stella professionally works through her issues and stays calm and collected.

As good as the mystery was, I did feel that the ending had too much exposition for certain events and scenes that would have been fine being left out of the plot entirely. Also, two of the characters quite a double coincidental connection that just muddied the waters at the end.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an eARC!

3.5 rounded up
This book started a little slow. There was a part about a woman not introducing herself as doctor that really irked me. However, the further I read, the story became better. The theories constantly change as more information comes to light. Very suspenseful!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced release copy in exchange for an honest review.

Much thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the ARC of "House Of Glass in exchange for an honest review.
Now here's the kind of thriller I live for. Fast moving, loaded with no end of psychological dread but never ever, as so may similar books do, bogs down into a morass of internal monologue blah-blah-blah.
Sarah Pekkanen's plot keeps a reader whipping through the pages, even while her lead character is already heavily weighed down with a horrendous backstory of her own.
Lawyer Stella Hudson, survivor of a childhood filled with tragedy and abuse, now serves as a court appointed advocate for children caught in the middle of their parents' ugly divorce and custody battles. Based on her assessment of the family and child, it's her recommendations that will inform a judge's ruling as to which parent's awarded either full or partial custody. Her own traumatic childhood normally keeps her away from cases involving small children but as a favor to a beloved mentor, she agrees to represent the best interests for 9 year old Rose Barclay.
Rose, an unnaturally wise-beyond-her-years gifted child, stands in the middle of a wealthy family currently embroiled with scandal and sudden violent death. Now afflicted by muteness, the little girl may have witnessed her live-in nanny's fatal plunge out of a window, a suspicious death with no shortage of family suspects......her mother Beth, her grandmother Harriet, and her father Ian, whose affair with the nanny left the girl pregnant, touching off the divorce and custody war between the Barclays.
Armed with a court order to conduct an overview of Rose and her family, Stella must plunge into the maelstrom of the Barclays' darkest secrets and the nanny's death, a mystery that's currently stymied the police. And all of her attempts to bond with the strangely silent, enigmatic (and just possibly, murderous) Rose, have brought back all the nightmarish memories of Stella's own childhood, including mysteries surrounding
the death of her mother.
While I can't claim the twists and reveals are all that shocking, the suspense, ominous clues and red herring pile up nicely and the pacing never lags for a single moment. The story does an exemplary job in making a reader constantly worry about Stella's safety and sanity, which for me, more than compensated for the absence of the usual head-shaking, 'say what, now?' twists. I'm always all in for a book that makes you race to the finish and this one even includes a heart touching moment that might leave you misty eyed. A full 5 star 'grab it' for sure.

Thank you to NetGalley for the newest thriller on my list! House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen is such an atmospheric read that sucks you in and takes you along for the ride. I will admit, the first 10-15% of this book was more difficult to get through as we establish the story. Immediately we as the reader are able to pick up on the fact that the vibes in this house aren't what they seem, and it only thickens from there. My desire to pick up the book was smaller in the beginning, but as we continued the pace picked up and I felt much more encouraged to continue. So far this author has not missed for me, and after this success I look forward to seeing what else she comes up with!

I actually liked this a lot more than I expected. Sometimes thrillers have a tendency to border on ridiculous and, while I don’t have a problem suspending my disbelief for a story, they are often so bonkers that it’s harder for me to appreciate them.

That didn’t happen here. While House of Glass had some of your typical thriller elements, it was grounded in reality so much that the story felt believable to me. And that made it all the more unsettling.

This story works so well because it is creepy. The atmosphere is palpably tense and full of obvious danger. All of the characters are shady in their own ways, which makes in impossible to guess what is really going on. While it wasn’t all that twisty, I genuinely wasn’t sure what direction the story would take until the end. I did think it wrapped up a bit too neatly, but that’s a minor complaint.

All in all, I really enjoyed this! Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for the ARC. House of Glass is out 8/6!

4.5/5

I enjoyed this one overall with its good creepy description of the house where a young nanny falls to her death and parallel storylines about childhood trauma. I also enjoyed the first person narration and the writing was easy to read. The main character, Stella, was likable.

However, I found parts of the novel to be quite slow moving. The outcome/revelation at the end was not that surprising as there was a limited number of suspects. The addition of a romance near the end seemed to come out of left field.

Overall, a good but not excellent thriller read for me.

Thanks to the publisher for this complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

Another great thriller by Sarah Pekkanen! I love the creepy kid trope, and this one delivers in a big way. While the story was slower placed, the payoff is huge in the last several chapters when we get some wild twists. There was one particular subplot that seemed completely out of left field, and while I didn’t dislike it, it just seemed like a strange choice go include. I didn’t enjoy this one as much as Pekkanen’s previous novel Gone Tonight, but I still think it’s worth a read for thriller lovers!