This was fine but I definitely thought I was going to enjoy this more than I did. I liked following our main character Stella and how she observed this family and the lies surrounding the death of their nanny. I also enjoyed Stella trying to figure out whether or not the young girl Rose was at the center of the chaos caused because of the murder. However, I did feel like parts of the story was slow and dragged on a bit. I didn’t care for the side plot of Stella trying to figure out the truth behind her mother’s death. I understand we got all that background info to show why Stella was so invested in Rose, but those scenes only slowed down the story for me. The ending was underwhelming as well. I honestly didn’t guess what was really going on but the reveal wasn’t that shocking and I feel this story really could have taken it there....

While I’ve read a few of her books that were written with Greer Hendricks, House of Glass was my first solo Sarah Pekkanen book!! I am so excited about this book!
This book was so exciting it seriously played out like a MOVIE in my head. (I hope it becomes one!) A wealthy couple is in the middle of a nasty divorce, when their nanny is found dead at their home. Now the 9 year old, Rose, is suffering from trauma and Stella Hudson, attorney, is tasked with stepping in a figuring out which one will earn full custody of Rose.

This story was full of unreliable narrators, was extremely creepy, and had me confused (in the best way) at every turn! I loved this story so much, Stella was such a bad ass and never gave up even when really weird shit started happening to her. I loved the ending to! I think sometimes thrillers can get a little goofy in their endings but this one had such an exciting explanation!!

Overall, this is a must read thriller that I am so obsessed with!! It reminded me of THE HOUSEMAID. Just a creepy crawly thriller!
PUB DAY: August 6th

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to be an early reader. All opinions are my own!

Thank you to the NetGalley, the publisher, and Sarah Pekkanen for my advanced copy of House of Glass in exchange for my honest review.

I have read Sarah Pekkanen's co-authored works in the past, however, this is my first time reading her standalone work,. This is a story about a nanny who mysteriously died while caring for a peculiar little girl, Rose. Rose's parents are in the midst of an acrimonious divorce and Stella, an attorney appointed to represent children in custody disputes, finds herself thrust into the death investigation of Rose's nanny. As an added twist to the story, Rose was so deeply traumatized from the death of her nanny and the tumultuous divorce of her parents, she has gone entirely mute.

This was a fun, twisty read that was a "popcorn" read. The use of Stella's own personal experiences to tie her to the story and Rose's wellbeing makes House of Glass a riveting read. There are points in the story that Pekkanen gets a little too into the weeds rehashing the same events in somewhat repetitive language. Ultimately, the twist at the end of the book was fun and what made this a 3 star read for me.

Who killed the nanny??

9 year old Rose witnesses the death of her nanny, by falling from a second story window.
Did she trip? Was she pushed? Was it suicide? Rose now suffers from traumatic mutism so we may never know unless someone else in the house knows what happened? Is the family protecting a secret? Why did they suddenly remove all glass and sharp objects from the home??

@sarahpekkanen has written another fast paced, gripping thriller. The short chapters make for a page turning suspense that leads you to believe you know who’s done it right up until the end.

Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for an eARC edition in exchange for an honest review.

Do you have any go to suspense/thrillers that you recommend?

#houseofglass #newrelease #sarahpekkanen #netgalley #netgalleyreview #stmartinspress #kindlereads #thriller #suspense #bookstagram #bookreview

I really enjoyed this new book by Sarah Pekkanen! It was a great read for a weekend by the lake. Although enjoyable to read, there was something that just felt a little off about this to me - maybe something unifinished or left to be desired regarding Stella. That being said, I would still recommend it for people who love a thriller!

Stella is child advocate lawyer and has been sent to help Rose the nine year daughter of the Barclay’s that witnessed the nanny falling from a third story window. Rose becomes non speaking. The husband’s mother also lives in this house after she had surgery and needed help. This case is so close to Stella’s childhood that at times gets really difficult for her. Rose collects sharp objects and the family goes to great lengths to protect her! The indiscretion of the husband has lead to a divorce so a lot for Rose to handle. Lots of twists and turns to keep you wanting to continue reading.

I received this ARC for free from Netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

3.5 stars. Stella Hudson is a 'Best Interest Attorney,' called in to help the Family Court of Maryland determine the fate of children caught up in the mess of their parents' divorces. She prefers to only handle teen cases because she herself had a troubled childhood but her good friend and father-figure, Judge Charlie Q. Huxley, has asked a special favor of her to handle the case of a nine-year-old girl named Rose Barclay.

Elizabeth and Ian Barclay are not only divorcing but are persons of interest in the death of Rose's nanny, Tina, who was pregnant with Ian's child when she fell to her death from a third floor window of the Barclay mansion. Rose witnessed the tragic aftermath of the fall and hasn't spoken a word since. This phenomenon is referred to as 'traumatic mutism' and it just so happens that Stella Hudson went through something similar as a child when she found her mother dead.

It's Stella job to determine which parent will have sole custody of their little girl but she can't help but get caught up in the murder investigation which has grown cold. She's noticed that all glass has been removed from the Barclay home but even so, little Ruth is hiding away some small, sharp weapons. Is it a sign of madness? Or is she terribly frightened of someone?

This is such a quick, entertaining read that it's possible to ignore some glaring plot holes (like why couldn't Ruth, who is supposedly so smart, communicate with them in writing?) and some plot twists that seem a bit obvious. Suspend your disbelief and enjoy a page-turning summer suspense thriller.

Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this new suspense thriller via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

This book is a masterpiece in suspense and mystery.
The story revolves around the death of a pregnant nanny, Tina, and the four suspects: the dad (who got her pregnant), the wife (who is understandably furious), their daughter Rose (who's had some concerning behavior), and the grandmother. How did Tina die? Was she pushed out the window, or did she trip?
Enter Stella, a court-appointed lawyer assigned to determine the best place for Rose as her parents are divorcing. Stella, who experienced a childhood trauma that left her mute, is thought to be the perfect advocate for Rose, who is also now mute and not talking at all.
Sarah Pekkanen weaves a story that takes you down numerous paths. She's a genius when it comes to thrillers, keeping you guessing about each character's involvement. Just when you think you've figured it out, another twist throws you off. There's even a side mystery involving Stella's childhood trauma that adds another layer to the intrigue.
I couldn't stop listening to this enthralling and suspenseful story. Sarah Pekkanen has delivered another 5-star read that kept me on the edge of my seat. Highly recommend!

Wow, just wow. I loved seeing the 2 different mysteries come together. I guessed the main storyline & wasn’t surprised by most of the revelation around it, but thoroughly enjoyed the journey to the MC figuring out the details. As for the side story, just wow.

4.5⭐️ rounded up!

I absolutely loved this book and couldn’t put it down! The twists I didn’t see coming and I just wanted to know what happened! Only reason it’s not 5 stars is because I felt like it dragged just a tiny bit in the middle! I 100% recommend this book!

Secrets, lies, a bitter divorce and an accidental death, or was it murder? These are all present in this tense book. The nanny for nine year old Rose has fallen out of a third story window. Rose saw her fall and is so traumatized that she suffers from traumatic mutism. Her parents are divorcing and are engaged in a bitter custody battle. Stella is a best interest attorney who must decide which parent would serve best as the custodial parent for Rose. As Stella spends time with the Barclay’s she became more and more convinced there is something seriously evil in their house. Is it the mother, the father, the grandmother or Rose herself?
The author is so good with leading you down the path of who you think the protagonist is, only to throw a curve into your thinking. An excellent thriller, so thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for an early copy. The comments and review are my honest opinion. #4.5Stars

Stella doesn’t usually work with young children because she didn’t have the best childhood herself, but something about Rose intrigues her. Rose has traumatic mutism brought on after the death of her nanny and her parents impending divorce. Stella’s job is to decide which parent Rose should live with. But every time Stella goes to their house she feels a sense of doom and can’t put her finger on it. Who was responsible for the nanny’s death? One of the parents? The grandmother? Or could it have been Rose?

I love a story of a disturbed child and this game me vibes like The Perfect Child and The Push, I was into it!

💕✨️💕✨️💕✨️💕✨️💕✨️💕✨️💕

I found House of Glass to be incredibly gripping, fascinating and thrilling. I enjoyed it so, so much. I absolutely flew through it. Another great delivery from Pekkanen!!

This story focuses on the Barclays, a wealthy couple currently in the midst of a heated divorce. Adding fuel to the dumpster fire, their live-in nanny very recently plunged to her death out of one of the windows of their estate. Their 9-year old daughter, Rose, hasn't spoken since the traumatic incident. The family now finds themselves shrouded in suspicion. Was the nanny's death a freak accident, or was she pushed?

We follow Stella Hudson, a Best Interest Attorney, who has been called in to evaluate the family, as well as Rose's condition, to determine what is in the best interest of the child when it comes to the divorce. The recent suspicious death of the nanny adds a whole new layer to what should have been a fairly standard evaluation for Stella. Nevertheless, she is ready for the challenge and is anxious to determine what is actually going on within the Barclay household.

I'm not going to say anything further about the plot, or set-up, of this one. It's definitely best to just go in and let Pekkanen roll it all out for you as she sees fit. I got pulled into this story incredibly-quickly. The audiobook narration was fabulous for Stella's perspective, IMO. I felt like I was going along with her on this investigation.

I have never read a story where the MC has had this profession before. I thought the idea of a Best Interest Attorney was such a clever way to insert our main character into the lives of the Barclays. Stella had a real reason for digging into all the dirt in this family and she wasn't afraid to do it. I thought it was a nice change of pace from following your typical law enforcement type handling the investigation.

We also got quite a bit of background into Stella herself and she was a fascinating character. Through her backstory, you could see what inspired her to pursue this particular career. The mystery around the death of the nanny kicks off so quickly. It was easy to get lost in this one. It was clear Stella didn't think it was an accident and I had my suspects too.

I loved the vibes and mystery that Pekkanen built up around Rose as well. It was extremely well executed for ultimate creep factor. This actually got my pulse racing. While I may have wanted a different resolution to the mystery, at the end of the day, I'm still so freaking happy with this reading experience.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, and St. Martin's Press, for providing me with copies to read and review. I recommend this to anyone looking for a gripping Psychological Thriller. This one is an absolute ride!!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a complimentary copy of this novel! Inside the Barclay residence you will find Ian and Beth, husband and wife in the midst of a divorce; the grandmother Harriet, Ian’s mom and grandmother to Rose, Ian and Beth’s 9 year old daughter suffering from traumatic mutism. Stella, a best interest attorney and who also had a traumatic childhood, has been called in to serve as counsel to Rose to help determine the best placement for her in her parent’s divorce. But as soon as Stella arrives at the Barclay residence she gets a sense that something is not right. For one thing, there is no glass or knives in the house. As Stella works with Rose and her family, she discovers that Rose’s nanny, Tina, died falling out a window in their house. It is possible she may have been murdered. But what was the motive and who could have done it? Is Rose’s mutism related to the death of her nanny? There are numerous suspects in the household and each with a reason to have murdered the nanny. Is it possible the person Stella least suspects is the murderer?
I really enjoyed reading this Psychological thriller by Sarah Pekkanen!!! There were revelations at the end I was not expecting!!! 4 stars for me! AVAILABLE August 6, 2024

I think I give up on having hope of ever really loving a book from this author or her frequent co-author; they’re always fine reads but leave me wanting more and this one was no exception. the title makes for such an intriguing premise (the family removed all glass from their house because their daughter could use it as a weapon) but i felt like that was never really explored much. the story went in a few different directions, and i personally wished it focused more on the little girl’s storyline and went further with the ‘creepy child’ trope. overall another ~okay~ read from this author and i’ll probably continue to pick up her/their books because they’re at least very readable but never memorable.

OMG!! This book grabbed ahold of me and wouldn’t let go. Much like Stella I found myself constantly wondering what to believe and who to trust. The twists and turns never stop coming and insane levels this family goes to, both to protect each other and to shift blame, are out of this world. A fantastic fast paced read perfect for any suspense thriller lovers!!

Overall I really enjoyed this book! I’d give it a 3.5/5 stars. I thought there were lots of twists and turns and I genuinely wasn’t sure how it would end. I thought it was creepy in a good way and it definitely made me engaged throughout the entire story. I do think it dragged on a little bit and then had to be wrapped up really quickly, but I was satisfied with the way the book ended. I’d definitely recommend. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and #NetGalley for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. This book publishes 8/6

What to expect in this book:

-Psychological thriller
-Singular POV
-Domestic thriller
-Childhood trauma
-Eery and suspenseful
-Short chapters

Thoughts

I find sometimes when I love a book it is harder to write a good review without spoiling it, but let's just say this is my favorite book by this author yet (including her duos with Greer Hendricks!). If I was given an uninterrupted period of time to read this book, I could have. Set in the DC area, Rose Barclay is a child who has endured much suffering. Her parents are going through a tumultuous divorce and her nanny recently, mysterious died at their opulent and ominous home, resulting in a traumatic type of mutism. Stella Hudson is a best interest attorney given Rose's case due to special interests and employed to determine who should get custody of Rose. However, as Stella begins to get to know the Barclay family, she realizes this case is much more twisted than she could imagine and their sinister home is full of secrets. Eery, creepy, and suspenseful--this is the perfect thriller for the psychological thriller lover.

I have read and loved all of this author and her duo author, Greer Hendricks' books and loved them. I also read this author's most recent book released in 2023 and found it was fantastic, so when I was approved for House of Glass, I was elated. As the title suggests, this story unfolds primarily within the home of Barclays. However, this home is not made of glass, but plastic. The family has seemingly replaced all of the glass in the home with plastic. I found this element to be so atmospheric and loved imagining this home as I read. Much of the story is focused on the characters of the family members as well as the development of what led Stella to be a court appointed advocate. As someone who works in mental health, I enjoyed seeing the representation of the best interest advocate in Stella.

While there is much mystery and intrigue, there is not much in this story that is very dark. So for fans of suspense and psychological narratives, you might find this one especially interesting. I know that this will for sure be among my favorite 2024 thrillers!

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This thriller kept me guessing. Filled with plenty of twists and complex characters, House of Glass was a fun and easy read. The main female character had a lot of depth and backstory, as I continued to read I got The Orphan vibes but there were plenty of “whodunit” moments. I enjoy Sarah Pekkanen’s writing and am glad I was able to pick this one up.

Creepy kids are so fun for me, so I was definitely absorbed in House of Glass. I really liked how the story was set for this one, and was constantly questioning who committed the murder. I loved the plot twist and flew through this story, I was tense and on the edge of my seat the entire time. I listened to this one on audio after switching from the eBook, and enjoyed both but really liked the audio version – the narration was great. The setting and atmosphere were perfection, the plot was unsettling and the twists were oh so satisfying. Thank you to Macmillan Audio and St. Martin’s Press for my advanced copies. House of Glass will be published 8/6.