In House of Glass, a young nanny dies from a fall or a push or a jump. Was she killed? A nine year old girl, Rose Barclay, has not spoken since the accident, and is dealing with her parents splitting up and who will get custody. 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. She reluctantly takes the case and not only has to determine what is in Rose's best interest, but ends up in the middle of determining what happened to the nanny. The house itself seems to be hiding things, with no glass anywhere. Rose, collects glass wherever she can. The more answers Stella guesses at, the more questions she has. The more she digs, the more danger she puts herself in. How did the nanny die, and who was responsible?

I have enjoyed several Sarah Pekkanen books, and this was another gripping story. It is a combination mystery and thriller and is full of unreliable narrators. Stella has to wade through a lot of bull to find what is true in this family. At times, even Rose was a suspect. The story starts slowly and I wasn't sure if I would like it, but when it picks up, I read and listened every moment I could. The twists that came near the end has my jaw drop, I never would have suspected. I don't want to give anything away, so will stop there. With her skill at developing characters, Sarah Pekkanen gave us 5 people that seemed real. Did I like them all? Definitely not. I thought her parents, especially her mom to be selfish and were both hiding things. Her grandmother was the one who cared for Rose, homeschooled her, and was worried about her mental health. Stella is a great character. She always worked in the best interest of Rose, and tried hard to communicate with her. I felt bad for Rose. Not knowing if she was the one responsible for the nanny's death or not, I was always worried about who might be next. I highly recommend this book in whatever format you enjoy. I did a read/lesson and enjoyed both of those experiences. Laura Benanti does an excellent job with the various voices, giving them each their own personality and voice. She definitely enhanced my enjoyment of this story.

One thing I noticed about thrillers is some authors use a lot of unnecessary filler to make the story more interesting or longer. This story has a small amount of that but not enough that it makes you walk away from the book.
However, once I got into the story and the plot more, the less I noticed. The story itself becomes really interesting, and you never see the unexpected twists coming. The story itself is 4 1/2 stars, but the unnecessary filler made it a 4 for me. If you like a slower story with a few unexpected moments and a mysterious who did it feel, you’ll likely enjoy this one.

Audiobook Review
I enjoyed the narrator. However, with how slow she narrated the book, I found it better at a quicker speed while listening. Other than that, I found the narrator did a great job bringing the story to life, especially the main character.

4.25 🌟 House of Glass | 4.75 🌟 Audiobook
Perfect for fans of thrillers, mysteries, and a touch of courtroom drama. The story follows Stella, a lawyer tasked with determining custody of a young girl named Rose, an eerily quiet child with a fascination for sharp objects. As Stella digs deeper into the case, unsettling truths begin to surface. Along the way, she also uncovers long-buried secrets about her own mother’s disappearance two decades earlier. A gripping dual-layered mystery with strong emotional undertones.

I’m so glad I finally got to this one. I didn’t think I would enjoy it as much as I did! It was so close to being a favorite of mine - but I can’t quite pin point what made it not a favorite. I ended up rating it 4.75 stars out of 5. This was such a good read!!

House of Glass is a fast-paced, psychologically tense thriller that delivers suspense with every chapter. Sarah Pekkanen expertly draws readers into a web of secrets, lies, and unexpected twists, all set against the backdrop of a glamorous glass house that hides more than it reveals.

The main character is sharp and compelling, and the story unfolds with just the right mix of tension and emotional complexity. Pekkanen does a great job exploring themes of trust, manipulation, and survival, keeping you guessing until the final page.

Perfect for fans of domestic thrillers with a strong female lead and a twisty plot—House of Glass is both binge-worthy and satisfying.

An Absolute Must-Read and a New Favorite Author!
Wow. Just, wow. House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen is an absolute triumph! As this is my second book by her, I can confidently say that Sarah Pekkanen is now a favorite, must-buy author for me. She has a remarkable talent for crafting stories that completely pull you in and refuse to let go.

From the very first page, this book was utterly addicting. I found myself tearing through chapters, desperate to know what would happen next. The pacing is perfect, the plot intricate, and the suspense builds beautifully, making it genuinely impossible to put down. Sleep felt like a distraction when all I wanted to do was get back to this story.

And when I finally did finish? I truly had a book hangover. The characters, the twists, the emotional depth—it all lingered with me for days afterward. That's the mark of a truly exceptional read, one that stays with you long after the final page is turned. If you're looking for a book that will consume you entirely and leave you thinking about it for days, pick up House of Glass. You won't regret it!

I really enjoyed this thrilling audiobook. Thank you so, so much to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for allowing me to read this title!

Blurb:
On the outside they were the golden family with the perfect life. On the inside they built the perfect lie.

A young nanny who plunged to her death, or was she pushed? A nine-year-old girl who collects sharp objects and refuses to speak. A lawyer whose job it is to uncover who in the family is a victim and who is a murderer. But how can you find out the truth when everyone here is lying?

Rose Barclay is a nine-year-old girl who witnessed the possible murder of her nanny - in the midst of her parent's bitter divorce - and immediately stopped speaking. 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.

From the moment Stella passes through the iron security gate and steps into the gilded, historic DC home of the Barclays, she realizes the case is even more twisted, and the Barclay family far more troubled, than she feared. And there's something eerie about the house itself: It's a plastic house, with not a single bit of glass to be found.

As Stella comes closer to uncovering the secrets the Barclays are desperate to hide, danger wraps around her like a shroud, and her past and present are set on a collision course in ways she never expected. Everyone is a suspect in the nanny's murder. The mother, the father, the grandmother, the nanny's boyfriend. Even Rose. Is the person Stella's supposed to protect the one she may need protection from?

DNFd at 16%

The FMC felt unsubstantial and stakes weren’t obvious. This felt flat and the mystery wasn’t compelling to learn more about it.

*thank you so much Macmillan audio for an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

House of Glass is one of those thrillers where the tension quietly builds and you’re never sure who to trust. The family drama, secrets, and emotional layers really worked for me. It felt raw and real.

Allyson Ryan's narration was solid—she handled the different voices well and matched the story’s vibe. I wouldn’t say it’s fast-paced, but it’s definitely absorbing. If you like character-driven suspense with emotional depth, you’ll enjoy this.

Incredible thriller that has be taking all sorts of theoretical roads throughout.

Stella is tasked with determining little Rose’s custody agreement after her nanny dies under mysterious circumstances in the home where the nanny lived with Rose, her parents and her grandmother.

The in-depth look into Stella’s own saddening background further propels readers into what happened to Tina, the nanny, but more importantly, whodunit.

The characters are intriguing and keep readers propelled into finding answers until the shocking end!

Thank you, NetGalley, for an audio-ARC of House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen.
House of Glass is a fast-paced psychological thriller that keeps the reader guessing. Stella, an attorney appointed to serve as counsel for Rose in a custody case, is forced to deal with her own personal feelings while trying to sort details of a murder. At times the narrative got bogged down with the main character's past trauma, but most of the past was important for Stella to develop empathy for Rose. I struggled with the narrator, Laura Benanti's voice and inflection. Benanti overemphasized words during suspenseful scenes, which made the narration sound too forced.

Although this was not an outstanding five-star read and not very thrilling, it did hold my interest for the most part. I also enjoyed the author's writing style, so I am intrigued to check out more of her work. The narration was very good.

This was good until it become ridiculous. As a reader/listener, I am offended, because there is no need to make this whole thing weird and overcomplicated for me to understand and enjoy the story. But this is what happen after 50% mark here.

HOUSE OF GLASS review

⭐️⭐️⭐️.75/5

🏠I love a bingeable thriller and that’s exactly what HOUSE OF GLASS was! I was invested immediately after the first chapter or so! I needed to keep reading to find out what would happen next. 👀

🏠Here’s a summary of the plot:👇
A young nanny has fallen to her death while working, but was her death an accident or intentional?? The only witness was a 9 year old girl who refuses to speak. When no one in the house can be trusted, how can the truth ever come to light?

🏠I loooove stories about families hiding big secrets. 🫢 There were a looooot of secrets in this one! The ending really surprised me and almost felt like it came out of left field? I enjoyed it overall but the ending lost me a tiny bit! I’d still recommend picking this one up!

🏠Thanks to @stmartinspress and @macmillan.audio for my digital copies!

This is my first book by Sarah and definitely won’t be my last.I was sucked in right away. So many fingers to be pointed, who’s to blame for the nanny’s death? I spend the whole book questioning every character.

The audio sucked me in from the beginning. Laura did a great job helping me connect with all the characters.

Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for my copy of this book.

If you’re looking for a fast paced, easy to read thriller then this one is for you!

I loved the mystery surrounding the old nanny’s death. The plot twists kept coming, yet I seemed to be able to figure out the ending. There was a bit of a lull halfway through but it finished out strong.

The audiobook was fantastic. I really enjoyed how the narrator helped bring the characters to life!

I really enjoyed this, even though I figured out what was going on around 2/3rds through. It was still a good twist! I listened to it in one day and stayed wrapped up in the story. I enjoy when an author doesn't throw a lot of unnecessary characters into the mix and you can easily get caught up in the book. The writing and pace were great. I didn't ever feel bored or like there was a lot of fluff that could have been edited out, so that was nice!

I recommend picking this one (and her other books) up if you are a fan of thrillers!

House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen is a compelling and emotional domestic thriller that explores secrets, betrayal, and the complexity of family dynamics. The story follows the Glass family, whose seemingly perfect life unravels after a shocking event. As the narrative unfolds through multiple perspectives, the characters’ hidden truths and past mistakes come to light, revealing how far they’ll go to protect their own. Pekkanen’s writing is both gripping and insightful, capturing the nuances of family relationships with depth and intensity. This book is a must-read for fans of psychological dramas with twists and emotional depth.

House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen was my first (solo) book by the author. I listened to the audiobook and I enjoyed that format. Considered a psychological thriller, there were definitely some unpredictable twists! The house and family in the house have lots of secrets. A nanny to the daughter in the home, was killed after falling from a window in the house. A lawyer is sent in to spend time with and interview the family to see if there is any foul play. While this is the lawyer's normal age to work with, she has been called in for similarities to the case. Rose (the daughter) has stopped speaking and started collecting sharp objects. Lots of mysteries and twists for the lawyer to uncover. I recommend it for readers of psychological fiction.

𝘙𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘴 𝘶𝘱, 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘦𝘧𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴 𝘶𝘱 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳’𝘴.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘸, 𝘵𝘶𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘺.

𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘐 𝘴𝘢𝘸 𝘪𝘵. 𝘐 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘺-𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘬 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱.

𝘈 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘨𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘴, 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘥𝘢𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘳, 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘢𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘯 𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘭-𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘵.

Sarah Pekkanen’s House of Glass is a gripping domestic thriller that centres on Stella Hudson, a best-interest attorney representing vulnerable children in high-stakes custody battles.

Stella is assigned to the case of nine-year-old Rose Barclay, who has become mute following the mysterious death of her nanny amidst her parents’ acrimonious divorce. As Stella becomes involved, she uncovers unsettling truths about the Barclay family.

In addition to her stage and screen work, Laura Benanti brings her skill as a narrator to House of Glass with an expressive and nuanced delivery.