Happy book birthday to HOUSE OF GLASS by @sarahpekkanen! What a treat of a whodunnit mystery-thriller this turned out to be!

Nanny Tina has been pushed out of a window to fall to her death. Nine-year-old Rose might have witnessed the fall and is now mute. Her parents are also now going through a divorce, and her family are all hiding secrets. Stella, the attorney hired to be Rose’s voice in the divorce custody battle, has a past of her own and is peeling back truths layer by layer.

I found this book hard to put down and enjoyed trying to guess the twists. I loved how it all erupted to a satisfying conclusion. Narrator of the audiobook, Laura Benanti, was a new narrator for me and she was perfect for this role. I read some on my kindle but enjoyed audio a ton so majority was read on audio. Many thanks to @stmartinspress and @macmillan.audio for the early review copies! Highly recommend for a satisfying thriller!

Holy cow this is good! This is the second book of Pekkanen’s that I’ve read so I knew I was bound to love it. Pekkanen had an amazing way of creating diversions and subtly throwing hints at the reader that come together in the end. The whole time I really thought I knew what had happened, and while one of my guesses (but really more like a “how crazy would it be if it was this person all along?”) was right I’m still a little shocked at the reveal. There are some side stories that I’m not entirely sure of what they add to the overall plot, but it does not take any praise away from this fantastic read. I pretty much always felt like I was on the edge of my seat eager to know what was going to happen next. I absolutely will be recommending this to others!

House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen
Mystery, thriller.
Lawyer Stella Hudson has a new case that eerily mimics her own history in some aspects. A nanny is dead, and the child, Rose Barclay has gone silent. Stella is an investigator assigned to uncover who in the family is a victim and who is a murderer. The house is all plastic with no glass to be found and answers are twisted as the family splits apart. Everyone is a suspect.

🎧 I alternated between an ebook copy and an audiobook. The narration was performed by Laura Benanti who does a wonderful job with voice variations and keeping the tension high and suspenseful in the appropriate times. The flow from chapter to chapter was seamless and I found no discernible recording issues. The audio kept my attention at my usual speed of 1.5 and I can easily recommend the format any reader.

A family with a killer in the midst. Who is it? A thrill ride as the clues are analyzed by Stella as she compares the current case with her own backstory. She needs to figure it out before someone else is dead.
Arresting.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley and publisher Macmillan Audio.

Proper Thriller

I want to start off by saying a slight apology to some of my coworkers. Why, you might be asking? Well, the majority of my shift today was spent reading “House of Glass” by Sarah Pekkanen. I am shocked that this is my first book by this author. I loved the audiobook and ebook in equal measure. For the first time in a long while, I read a thriller that I did not guess the ending to. Such a win in my book. This book comes at the heels of a week where I have read many five-star reads, and this is going on that pile.

“House of Glass” is an enthralling thriller that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. The story revolves around a seemingly perfect family living in a beautiful glass house, but as secrets begin to unravel, the facade of their idyllic life shatters. Pekkanen masterfully weaves a tale of suspense, with twists and turns that left me guessing until the very end.

Stella’s character is delightfully well-developed and serves as the pillar of the story. I appreciated her willingness and determination to stick with this frustrating case despite all the obstacles she faces and her own past trauma. Rose was written in equal measure creepy child and someone I wanted to hug.

The characters are well-developed and relatable, each with their own hidden depths and motivations. The protagonist’s journey through the layers of deception and betrayal is both gripping and emotionally charged. Pekkanen’s writing style is engaging and immersive, making it easy to lose track of time while reading.

One of the standout aspects of this book is its ability to balance intense, heart-pounding moments with quieter, introspective scenes. This contrast adds depth to the narrative and keeps the reader invested in the characters’ fates. The pacing is perfect, with just the right amount of tension building up to a satisfying and unexpected conclusion.

I both read and listened to the book. The audio narrator, Laura Benanti, a Tony award-winning singer/actress, brings the story to life with her captivating performance. Her steady voice and nuanced inflection keep listeners hooked from start to finish.

Overall, “House of Glass” is a must-read for thriller enthusiasts. It’s a testament to Pekkanen’s skill as a storyteller that she can craft such a compelling and unpredictable plot. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a thrilling and thought-provoking read. I can’t wait to explore more of Sarah Pekkanen’s work in the future.

Thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and St. Martin’s Press for sending me an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions in this review are my own. I look forward to reading more thrillers by this author if the characters are this well-written

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️


WOW! I received this book yesterday and wanted to call out of work today so I could finish it. I didn’t call out, but I wanted to!

Someone dies and no one is talking. Literally, Rose is not talking. Stella is brought in to help Rose through this traumatic time but is immediately taken back to her own childhood memories. Another who-dunnit that got me.


I enjoyed that there were multiple stories that weren’t just thrown together for additional storylines. Laura Benanti was amazing as the narrator! Adding her to my faves list.


Thank you NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Sarah Pekkanen for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I've cherished many of Sarah Pekkanen's solo and co-authored books with Greer Hendricks, but "Anonymous Girl" truly captivated me. The compelling premise of "House of Glass" once again sparked my curiosity, especially considering Pekkanen's exceptional storytelling skills.

Stella, a best-interest attorney specializing in child custody cases, finds herself representing a client who doesn't fit her usual demographic. As she delves into the case, her own childhood trauma resurfaces and blurs the lines between her professional duties and personal emotions. The intricate family dynamics and Stella's internal struggles make it challenging to decipher whether the nine-year-old, Rose, is a victim or a manipulative mastermind, adding a layer of intrigue to the story.

I was completely captivated by the twisted tale and its mesmerizing narrative. The author's gifted storytelling skillfully concealed the true culprit until the last moment, keeping the suspense high. Although the pacing felt slower compared to some of Pekkanen's other works, I couldn't help but be impressed by her ability to keep me guessing. I initially anticipated a thrilling read, but I quickly reminded myself that it's promoted as women's fiction.

I was lucky enough to receive an ebook from St. Martin's Press and an audiobook from Macmillan Audio via NetGalley. Switching between the two formats enhanced my reading experience. The narrator for the audiobook was superb, adding another layer of enjoyment to the story. All opinions are my own.

#HouseofGlass #LauraBenanti #SarahPekkanen #MacmillanAudio #MacAudio2024 #NetGalley #MacmillanInfluencerProgram #macmillanaudio #MacmillanPublishers

Another great book. Great twists at the end of the book. The story could have been shortened a bit. The main character seemed to act a bit more trusting or naive at times, but then insightful.

It is a twisted psychological thriller about an attorney engaged to determine the custody for a little girl whose parents are divorcing. The twist is that the little girl saw her nanny die and is not speaking at all. What a page turner. I flew through this one. I loved being in the head of the lawyer as she pieced it all together. How she never gave up, despite everything being thrown at her and fearing for her own life. It was twisted, suspenseful, stressful and just so compelling.

Great thriller and great narration. I really enjoyed this read! A solid 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you for this audio arc!

Another fantastic book from Sarah Pekkanen; it was gripping, twisty and a bit eerie. It kept me guessing and thinking from start to finish, loved the characters, loved the surprise element and mixing the book with the audio was the best way for me.
I loved everything about it.

Thank you St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for this gifted copy and complimentary audiobook.

𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀 by Sarah Pekkanen releases today!

The House of Glass was a fast moving thriller a about a very complicated family. I enjoyed the main character Stella but the others were not so likeable. The narrator was easy to listen to and this helped me to continue listening to this disturbing story.

Thank you Net Galley, Sarah Pekkanen and Macmillian Audio for the opportunity to preview this title and the opinions expressed are my own.

WOW!! This was such a unique plot! So twisty! I loved the narrator as well which always makes a huge difference! I was able to figure out the whodunnit pretty early on. However, I didn’t see a single one of the big twists coming! I’ve already recommended this to so many friends and chose it for my BOTM so I’d have the physical copy on my shelf!

Thank you @macmillan.audio for the #gifted ALC!

Addictive and fast paced! This was such a quick read for me. If you’re looking for a binge-worthy thriller, this one definitely hits the spot.

While the book takes off quickly, I felt the middle of the book grew a little stale until about the 80% mark. Thankfully the narration kept me engaged!
𝘔𝘺 𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨: 4⭐️

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁:
⭐️ short chapters
⭐️ murder mystery whodunnit
⭐️ family drama & marriage issues
⭐️ childhood trauma & psychological suspense

4.5 stars. Am in love with Sarah Pekkanen and her twisty topsy turvy plots! Stella Hudson is an advocate for children of divorce. Her latest case, 9-year-old Rose Barclay, is mute through the trauma of watching her nanny plunge to her death. But did she jump or was she pushed? Of course she was having an affair with Rose's dad, Ian. And Rose's mother, Beth, knew all about it. And Harriet, her grandmother, was with Rose when Tina fell. But everyone seems to be lying and although Stella wants to do what's best for Rose, she can't help but wonder what Rose is hiding.
Creepy gothic house setting and Stella becomes increasingly unreliable as she is plunged further into the lives of the Barclays. Super good read!

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this audio e-arc.*

I really enjoyed this one! The book kept me interested from start to finish! I liked that their were multiple plot twists! Also the narrator did a great job!

This is a who did it clue like book, you're constantly guessing and changing up your guess as the book progresses. I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed the narrator. The story felt real and gave me that feeling of being in a suspenseful movie. I loved that it felt like two books in one. On one hand you're trying to figure out who killed the nanny and on the other you're trying to figure out what happened to Stella. I really enjoyed it and was left surprised at the end. Definitely recommend it if you want a pretty fast paced thriller that will keep you guessing!

Stella is an attorney that has been assigned to work with a 9-year-old girl named Rose. The girl witnessed her nanny fall out of a window and now refuses to speak at all. Aside from witnessing something so horrific, Rose is caught in between a nasty custody battle that hopefully Stella can help settle.

As Stella makes her routine visits, she starts picking up on things that are rather strange, like the house containing not one single piece of glass.

This book covers topics like infidelity, murder, childhood trauma- you name it.

Overall, this was a good read! I enjoyed most of my time listening to it, although rather slow. The narrator, Laura Benanti, did an awesome job giving characters their own voice.

Although I was super intrigued for the majority of the time, I was able to guess the person of interest rather early on. I personally also think we spent too much time focusing on Stella’s own childhood, which took from the actual plot.

Overall, a solid book. Enjoyable. I would recommend, especially if you need something ✨different✨

Thank you so much to @stmartinspress, @macmillan.audio for the ALC, and to the author!

Rating: 3.5 ⭐️
Pub Date: August 6, 2024
How I Read It: 🎧

Synopsis
A nanny who falls to her death, a nine-year-old girl who collects sharp objects, no longer speaks, and has a mysterious evil about her; parents who are divorcing, and a custody lawyer who needs to figure out what is going on in this house. A house where glass is not allowed and an eerie feeling fills the air. Lawyer, Stella, is on a mission to uncover the Barclay family’s house secrets, all while dredging up memories and trauma from her childhood that she would rather forget.

My Thoughts
This was a good, quick thriller read. I figured out pretty early on what was going on, but there was one twist I didn’t figure out. It was lacking a little for me. I think I needed more thrill. I feel like the book would have been really interesting if we were able to see into Rose’s mind in a cryptic kind of way, one that kept the reader intrigued on this mysterious character. I did like that you couldn’t trust any of the characters, so the book did keep you guessing. It’s an easy, quick listen, and I liked the narrator a lot; she really kept you engaged while feeling all of the emotions of the characters.

❗️Of Note
🔪 Murder

Themes
Domestic Thriller
🫣 Suspense

Ratings
Characters: 4 ⭐️
Pace: 3.5 ⭐️
Enjoyability: 3.5 ⭐️
Narrator: 5 ⭐️

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book!

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.

The audiobook is narrated by Laura Benanti, who does a great job with each character. They each had a distinct voice, and she was wonderful at conveying the suspense and tension.

Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan, for this ALC. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I was wavering between 3 and 4 stars but I'll round up this time to 4 stars. I would categorize this book as popcorn thriller. You cannot put it down at the moment but it might be a bit forgettable after you finish it - you will remember that it was a page turner and you did enjoy it while giving you that "creepy" feeling on the inside. The narrator, Laura Benanti, was excellent. She can do male and female voices and everyone had distinct voices which is so important in audiobooks!