House of Glass
Sarah Pekkanen

From the first page this mystery thriller will pull you in. The protagonist narrator is Stella Hudson, a best interest attorney. She has been chosen as the court advocate to protect 9 year old Rose Barclay by giving a proper analysis of her household members. After appropriate observations, she will write a position of who should get custody. As Rose's parents' volatile divorce occurs amidst the death (murder? suicide? accident?) of their ex-nanny it gets complicated. The police ruled out murder due to lack of evidence. But the judge handling the divorce is not so sure. And the gated Barclay DC mansion is full of enough surprises to take on the personality and role as a character in this story itself! But wait, there's more. The serial cheating father has his mother living in the house - and she is not recommending her own son for custody. And the daughter Rose has gone mute and is acting strangely since her nanny's demise - which is actually why Stella was chosen to sort this out. Yes, Stella has some childhood skeletons in her family closet, and apparently that trauma caused her to experience this same type of childhood mutism long ago. Oh, and she has a mentor who is a highly respected judge who convinced her to break her personal rule against working with young children to avoid reinvoking her own childhood trauma which, no, she has not yet worked through. The mentor - judge sees this as a high stakes custody case. And it seems he could convince Stella of anything despite her anxiety with her decision of taking this on. Who can be trusted to care for Rose? Who can get through to Rose in her quiet isolation so she will tell what she knows? The judge thinks, due to Stella's own childhood mutism experience, she is the most likely person to get to the bottom of Rose's truth. So put on your seatbelt and know, before you are done, everyone mentioned so far and more will be a suspect. And more surprises about Stella's traumatic childhood will be revealed. Enjoy the ride! I received this ARC through NetGalley from MacMillan audio for House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen which will come out tomorrow, August 6, 2024. If you want a top notch mystery thriller with regular twists and turns, this is the one! Available on a well done audio version which I also recommend

House of Glass was my fourth Pekkanen thriller and it didn't disappoint!

Stella Hudson is a best interest attorney. She works with children during their parents divorce to decide whom to award custody to when an agreement cannot be met. Stella herself had a traumatic childhood, losing her father at a young age and finding her mother dead of a heroin overdose at the age of 7. She went to live with her aunt who never really showed her much love. Stella doesn't take on clients under age 13, but in the case of 9-year-old Rose Barclay, she makes an exception. Rose has traumatic mutism- she isn't speaking because of the trauma she's witnessed. Stella takes her on as a client because she suffered from traumatic mutism as well after her mother passed. Rose has witnessed her live in nanny, Tina, fall from the 3rd story window of the house to her death. Her parents are in the process of a divorce and are fighting over custody of her all the while she's being homeschooled by her maternal grandmother. Something sinister is going on in the Barclay house, you just don't know who is at fault. Tina didn't fall out of that window on her own accord. Everyone in the Barclay house is hiding a secret, including Rose herself.

I enjoyed this novel and somewhat had it figured out whom Tina's murderer was. However, I feel that it was a bit lackluster. There was all sorts of buildup for this grand finale, and it was a bit of a let down in the end. There was a lot of good, anticipatory buildup throughout the novel and Pekkanen did a great job setting the scene. Because of the ending and overall lack of twists, I deducted one star for a total of 4 stars. Overall, a great thriller. The audio was fantastic- an incredibly easy listen! I binged it within 24 hours.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC!

Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest psychological thriller by Sarah Pekkanen, with the audiobook wonderfully narrated by Laura Benanti. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars rounded up!

Ian and Beth Barclay are going through a divorce and their young daughter, Rose, is caught in the middle as they each fight for sole custody. They are all living in the same house, along with Ian's mother. But the divorce and custody aren't the only issues the family is facing. Rose's nanny, Tina, recently fell (or was pushed?) from an upper window to her death, witnessed by Rose who now suffers from traumatic mutism. Stella is hired to be Rose's best interest attorney, responsible for deciding who should get custody. Stella herself had a traumatic childhood and feels like she is the perfect person to advocate for Rose.

I loved this one! I found myself suspicious and questioning everyone's motives. It was chilling, creepy, and kept me turning the pages and listening to the audiobook whenever I couldn't read it. Just why was all the glass removed from the house? Why is Rose collecting sharp objects? What really happened to Tina? Stella's backstory is another mystery as to what really happened to her mom. All these questions and plot lines are perfectly laid out and the ending very satisfying. I really enjoyed learning more about the role of a BIA - what a responsibility. Another great book by this author!

🪞House of Glass - Sarah Pekkanen

4 ⭐️ - It’s giving “The Push” vibes and I love it. The mystery, the dead body, the creepy (maybe evil?) child; I enjoyed it all. This one is quick, addictive, and perfect for upcoming spooky season. I am definitely a Sarah Pekkanen fan and I’m already looking forward to what comes next!

4.5 stars
Wealthy child Rose had a nanny who was killed by falling out a window, or she was possibly pushed. Since that day, she has not said a word but acts suspiciously and collects weapons. Stella is a child advocate lawyer that is assigned to her case to determine which parent she will live with after their divorce.
Stella was fabulous. She had her own broken past that she used to help others. Rose was her most difficult client and the questions that arose each time she visited became very troubling. I was hooked to the story from the start. The mystery was high with little aspects such as Rose’s family having absolutely no glass or breakable objects in their house. Each member seemed to have something to hide, including Rose, and the lengths Stella took to get the answers to was nothing short of impressive.

I highly recommend this one to those that love a deep, emotionally-driven mystery!

🎧AUDIO REVIEW: I couldn’t put this one down! Laura Benanti did a great job holding that mysterious tone while also giving the touching moments their due.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the copies!

3.5 stars rounded up

Nine-year-old Rose Barclay has been afflicted with traumatic mutism ever since her nanny fell (or was pushed) to her death after crashing through her attic bedroom window. Rose’s father was sleeping with the pretty young nanny, and now her parents are getting divorced, each of them seeking custody of Rose. Stella Hudson is the child advocate attorney serving as counsel for Rose’s best interest. But this case is far more twisted than Stella bargained for, and it’s starting to look like someone in the Barclay house might be a murderer. It could be any one of them, maybe even little Rose!

I love a good creepy child plot, and Rose is definitely creepy with her sinister, silent facial expressions and penchant for collecting and hiding sharp objects. The Barclays’ house is atmospheric and the idea of a completely glass-free house is a clever one. I would have loved if the author had leaned in harder on those aspects, as I never really connected with Stella’s backstory and found it fairly predictable. Still, short chapters make this a quick read, and when the action really takes off around the 80% mark, I couldn’t wait to see how everything would play out.

The audiobook is narrated by Laura Benanti. She has an extremely expressive voice that injects plenty of drama into the narrative, especially as the action heats up.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Macmillan Audio for providing me an advance copy of this book.

This was a good book. I enjoy books that have people working with kids. It is so interesting to me how kids’ minds are. I liked the main character and I liked how she was able to draw on her own experiences as a child when working with Rose. This was fast paced and twist. Great read. I listened to the audiobook and I though the narrator was good.

This was my first time reading a book by Sarah Pekkanen and I really enjoyed this one. A complex and twisted family full of secrets, a nanny that falls out of a window, and a 9 year old that keeps collecting sharp things that won't speak to anyone. This was such a fun murder mystery that kept me on my toes guessing the entire time. I really enjoyed the way that tension kept building throughout the story and I felt like the pace was really well done.

You literally cannot trust everyone in this book and everyone is a suspect. At no point did I really have an idea of who done it and I loved the final reveal. This was a really fun, atmospheric, suspenseful, and quick read for me.

Thank you so much Macmillan audio for providing me an alc copy of this! I mainly listened to this, and Laura Benanti did a great job with the story. She portray the characters really well and the narration kept me entertained the enter time!

4.5⭐️
Such an entertaining and phenomenal audiobook! Highly recommend this story, the beginning can get a little confusing but once you get a hang of the characters, it’s incredibly well written. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my gifted audiobook.

This audiobook had me hooked within the first couple of minutes. I definitely felt creeped out by Rose and fearful for Stella, but didn’t expect the twist that came. I really appreciated the full circle moment Stella got to experience toward the end of the book regarding her vs Rose’s childhood. This book reminded me of a Lucinda Berry novel (a good thing!) and I enjoyed the narrator, as she kept me engaged from the beginning. Thank you for the opportunity to listen and review!

“House of Glass” is a gripping psychological thriller that delves into the dark secrets of a seemingly perfect family. The story revolves around Stella Hudson, a Best Interest Attorney (BIA) who is assigned to the case of Rose Barclay, a nine-year-old girl who witnessed the mysterious death of her nanny. As Stella navigates the complexities of the Barclay family’s dynamics, she uncovers layers of deception, hidden motives, and a chilling atmosphere within their historic DC home,

The novel opens with the tragic death of the nanny, which sets the stage for a tense and suspenseful narrative. Stella, who usually avoids cases involving young children due to her own traumatic past, is persuaded by her mentor to take on Rose’s case. As she delves deeper into the investigation, Stella realizes that everyone in the Barclay household is a suspect, including Rose herself.

The themes of the book include trust, betrayal, and the impact of past traumas on present actions. The story is a blend of domestic suspense and a locked-room mystery, with a gothic undertone that adds to the eerie atmosphere. The house itself, devoid of any glass, symbolizes the fragile and deceptive nature of the family’s facade.

I truly enjoy Sarah Pekkanen’s writing style as it is engaging and atmospheric. There is a slow-burn pacing that kept me invested in the mystery. The narrative is filled with tension and unexpected twists, making it difficult to put the book down. Pekkanen’s ability to create a sense of unease and suspense is evident throughout the novel.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The fluid and scintillating narration of Laura Benanti truly added to my enjoyment of this book.

All in all, I feel “House of Glass” is a well-crafted thriller that will appeal to fans of psychological suspense and mystery. The combination of a tightly woven plot, complex characters, and a haunting setting makes it a standout read. Pekkanen’s exploration of the human psyche and the impact of past traumas adds depth to the story, making it more than just a typical whodunit.

I love a thriller that centers around a creepy kid. Now give that kid traumatic mutism after potentially witnessing a murder & a penchant for collecting sharp objects? Count me in!

Unfortunately, I did guess the ending from the start, but House of Glass is full of enough twists that I enjoyed the ride anyway. Every character has a secret & seems to have some motivation to want the nanny dead or the crime to be covered up. The book also draws parallels between the FMC’s traumatic childhood and current events surrounding Rose, the creepy 9-year-old, which I wish were explored more.

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 stars. I subtracted a half star solely because I was not a fan of the narration. I felt like the tone the narrator used often didn’t convey the suspense of the book, and at times felt a bit robotic. Overall, this was an addictive thriller that I highly recommend! I’m looking forward to reading more from Sarah Pekkanen.

Big thanks to NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for the gifted ALC!

Stella Hudson takes on the case of 9-year-old Rose. Stella must determine which parent should have custody of Rose after the divorce is finalized. However, there is a catch. Rose hasn’t spoken since her nanny was killed by falling out of a window and no one knows who did it. This family is not normal but would do anything to keep the family together. I loved the lies, the secrets and the twists and turns that kept me guessing throughout the story. Very few of these characters were likable, almost all were untrustworthy but that only added to the story. The writing was great, and the short chapters drew me right in. I didn’t want to put it down. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did an excellent job. I love psychological thrillers and this one is worth the read!

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

Thank you MacMillan and NetGalley for my ALC . All opinions are my own.

Another winner of a thriller this summer! House of Glass is full of so many twists (and yes you will probably guess some of them, but it does not at all take away from the enjoyment of the read), and keeps you guessing throughout the book. I had so many theories, and I loved listening to see what would pan out and what wouldn't. Rose and Stella were both great characters, and I loved the development of their friendship (I also loved the development of the relationship between Stella and Charlie). I definitely recommend this book releasing on Tuesday!

Sarah Pekkanen hit the mark with this psychological/domestic thriller. The House of Glass follows the Barclays, a wealthy family whose nanny tragically died amid a custody battle in their contentious divorce. Their daughter Rose is experiencing traumatized mutism and Stella, a lawyer with her own painful past must observe them to make a custody recommendation. Through Stella’s point of view, I was thoroughly creeped out by the Barclays. Their big historic house and Rose, their young daughter, were vaguely threatening and I was stressed for Stella. My only note is that I don't think we need as much of Stella's background story but overall, I really enjoyed this book! I did not see any of the twists coming!

Laura Benanti did a wonderful job narrating. I felt the tension of each scene in her voice which really upped the anxiety factor.

Thank you MacMillan Audio for the opportunity to read this ALC!

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.

A big thank you to MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I first discovered Sarah Pekkanen through her collaborations with Greer Hendricks and have been a fan ever since. This book did not disappoint. I loved the slow burn and the eerie sense of questioning human capabilities. Exploring what a child might be capable of and the lengths parents will go to protect their family kept me on edge, and Pekkanen truly delivered on this front! While the narration wasn’t my favorite, the writing was top-notch and kept me thoroughly engaged and listening

4.5 stars rounded up.

This is the first novel I've read by Sarah Pekkanen and it won't be the last. I love a good thriller that keeps me guessing all the way to the end. The book focuses Stella, an amicus attorney, who is tasked to determine the best interest of a young girl (Rose) in the contentious case of her wealthy parents' divorce. Rose's parents are divorcing after her father had an affair with the nanny, who subsequently fell to her death from the family's home in a suspected murder. The novel features childhood selective mutism, as Rose has refused to speak since her nanny's death. Stella relates to Rose on a personal level, as she also had selective mutism following a childhood trauma.

Stella's childhood trauma, which clouds her judgement and leads to internal conflict about Rose's case, was a great way to make her an unreliable narrator. Along with Stella, we are second guessing who could be the killer all the way to the end, even suspecting Rose! My favorite types of thrillers are those that weave elements of psychology in a nuanced and believable way, and this book definitely delivers!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for an audiobook in exchange for my review.

I listened to the audio of this book and I really enjoyed it! It's got great suspense and keeps you intrigued to the end. I was a little disappointed there wasn't a bigger plot twist, but all in all it's a solid thriller! Highly recommend.