Creepy, spooky and very suspenseful, House Of Glass, was the perfect audio book to listen to on a very long car trip. Stella is an attorney charged with getting to know the wealthy Barclays family to determine which parent, Ian or Beth, should retain custody of their daughter Rose. After their pending and bitter divorce. The child has witnessed the murder or was it an accident?.) of her nanny, Tina ,and has remained mute ever since. A la Agatha Christie, Sarah Pekkanen, creates a scenario in which every character has a motive to want Tina dead. But whodunit? And how can Stella make a good determination of parental fitness when she too was traumatized as a child and also suffered from selective mutism ?

All glass has been removed from the house as Rose seems to have a penchant for sharp objects. Her behavior is sinister as she watches and waits and seems filled with rage. Ian had been having an affair with Tina. Did he want her to just go away, any which way? What about Beth? The aggrieved wife has plenty of reason to despise Tina. Grandma Harriet, ever present, meddlesome and controlling might not simply be a loving grandma, Or did Tina just accidentally fall? So much to unravel. It was hard to figure this one out. Some twists and turns later all is revealed.

Listening to an audio book is very dependent on the reader. In this case she did a great job with pacing and using great voice enhancements for each character.

My only issue was there’s a bit too much focus on the lawyer’s past. Comparing that to Rose’s situation again and again rang a bit false. Nonetheless, Pekkanen writes a great thriller. Not my first experience with her books and definitely won’t be my last. Four well deserved stars for a very eerie story that will keep you hangin on until the end. Publication date in August 6, 2o24. You’ll want to read this one. My thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Creepy kid
LGBTQ rep
Eye catching cover
Unexpected twists

I went back and forth with this book between reading it with my eyes and listening. I got to listen to this book as a part of the Macmillan Audio Influencer Program. Thank you so much to @macmillan.audio for this ALC copy and St. Martin’s Press @NetGalley for my eARC!

Stella works as a best interest attorney and is appointed to make a parental custody recommendation in the case of Rose Barclay, a 9 year old girl who is struggling with traumatic mutism after witnessing her nanny, Tina, die from falling out a window. As part of her job, Stella must get to know Rose’s family and she quickly starts to notice strange happenings with the Barclays. Stella begins to suspect everyone in the Barclay household of having something to hide, but were any of them involved in Tina’s death? Stella needs to make sure that Rose isn’t in danger, but what if Rose is the dangerous one?

I was really into this book for the first ~40% where it focused majorly on the main plot line of the suspicious death of Tina, Rose’s nanny. I was super interested as Stella did her job to investigate and learn more about the Barclay family in order to determine who Rose should live with as her parents are going through a divorce. So many books that I’ve read lately have amateur sleuths trying to solve a murder, and I’m kind of getting sick of this trope where random people are putting themselves at risk, oftentimes in order to “solve” a case that has nothing to do with them. But in this book, it 1000% made sense that Stella was looking into the strange circumstances around Tina’s death because it was her job to ensure Rose’s safety. I was invested in the dirt that she would dig up on the super rich Barclay family and could not wait to get to the bottom of who (if anyone) killed Tina.

But then we got really deep into the subplot, which I felt was unnecessary and it distracted me entirely from the main plot. I wish that the book had continued to focus more on the Barclays and less on Stella’s personal life and her past. Looking back at my notes I took while reading, there was a lot of information that I wrote down regarding characters in Stella’s life that actually had no weight on the story at all. I felt like we kind of dropped off of the main plot and just went into an entirely different storyline that did not add to the book. At one point, I actually had to check my phone and make sure that I was still reading the same book… The conclusion of the main plot in itself is satisfying, however, it was delivered in the midst of the subplot, and therefore I kind of even forgot that we were waiting to find out who killed Tina.

Laura Benanti as our audiobook narrator did a great job throughout the book and I certainly leaned more towards listening on audio when I started to lose interest during the subplot parts of the book. Laura’s narration was able to keep me listening and engaged through the end of the story. Her voice fit my idea of Stella as a character and the pacing throughout the book was perfect. Production quality was great overall.

Thank you NetGalley for the prerelease copy of this audiobook! I’m a big fan of this author so I was excited to have it. I enjoyed the story, the plot was interesting and engaging. There was a lot of backstory that I felt wasn’t entirely necessary to the plot line. I appreciate the effort to make this book more than just a “cheap thriller” but I’m not sure the effect was fully realized. The characters and list of suspects were balanced and hard to pinpoint. The twist will probably surprise you! I would definitely recommend you give this one a read!

I received a free Advanced Reading Copy via NetGalley in exchange for a complete and honest review.

Two suburban sisters' seemingly perfect lives begin to unravel after tragedy strikes and long-buried secrets come to light. In this engaging suburban drama, Pekkanen crafts an insightful look at the fragility of family bonds and the importance of truth. While the plot developments are occasionally predictable, Pekkanen's deft character work and exploration of complex sisterly dynamics make House of Glass a compelling, emotionally resonant read. Her authentic depiction of the challenges of modern womanhood and the sacrifices of motherhood elevate this novel above typical domestic fiction.

Super twisty and turny. I got kind of bogged down in the beginning, but the last third blew by. I thought I had the ending pegged but wasn’t anywhere close. Great choice if you want a suspenseful whodunit.

This took a bit to get going and then once it did, I really liked it. The beginning was pretty slow and repetitive, it made me nervous that it wasn’t going to get me very engaged since too much repetition makes me zone out. I’m happy this got a lot better.

I love how everyone was a suspect in this book, including the daughter. It made for a very difficult puzzle to figure out.

Thanks NetGalley and publisher for the digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

I absolutely DEVOURED this book! So addictive I couldn’t stop listening! A great audiobook. I was on the edge of my seat. It was utterly creepy and suspenseful, a perfect thriller in every way with non stop twists and shocks that at times I guessed and at times I didn’t. If you’re a lover of thrillers you’re going to want to read this! 100% recommend!

Thank you NetGalley for the ALC!

House of Glass was one my most anticipated books to read this summer because I am a HUGE Sarah Pekkanen fan & let me tell you-- it did NOT disappoint!!⁠ 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
⁠
I was lucky enough to receive this audio book as a part of the Macmillan Audio Influencer Program! Thank you SO much @macmillan.audio & @sarahpekkanen! You're the best!⁠ 🖤
⁠
Just so you’re aware-- creepy kids scare the crap out of me. As a kid that watched ALL the scary movies with no problem, Children of The Corn literally traumatized me. So let's just say when this book featured a creepy kid that has no friends & stashed sharp objects in her coat pocket, I was sold.⁠ 🫣
⁠
In this summer must-read, Stella is tasked with the job of recommending who 9 year old Rose should spend most of her time with after her parents divorce. The problem is that Rose isn't your typical 9 year old. She dresses very formal, has no friends, doesn't go to school, just watched her nanny fall to her death from the window in the home, & now has stopped speaking.⁠
⁠
The nanny's death was ruled an accident-- but Stella isn't so sure. Is the person Stella is supposed to protect, someone that everyone else needs to be protected from?⁠ 👀🔪
⁠
CHILLS!! ⁠😳

I couldn't stop listening to this!! Everyone in the family is suspicious but perhaps 9-year-old Rose is the most suspicious of all. Could she really have killed the nanny? After the incident, she stops speaking, which makes it harder for attorney Stella (who has been appointed to help determine which parent should receive custody of Rose amidst their divorce) to uncover the truth about what really happened. And what's more, Stella has her own traumatic past, which leads to its own mysterious and twists in the story. Another great suspense/thriller, I'd recommend this one!!

Nine year old Rose has been accused of killing her Nanny and now rufusing to speak, but was she really the one who committed the crime? Or could it be one of her parents that are in the middle of a divorce or her elderly grandmother? The answer may surprise you.

HOUSE OF GLASS by Sarah Pekkanen with the audio narrated by Laura Benanti was a suspense filled family drama surrounding a murder.

In short, the nanny falls to her death, young Rose witnesses and stops talking, her parents are in the middle of a nasty divorce, and Stella is the advocate for Rose to determine custody. As Stella tries to help Rose, she gets entangled in the murder investigation and there seems to be no one free from suspicion, making it difficult to choose a path for Rose. Oh, and there is no glass in their house. Weird.

I was pretty sure I had this one pegged early on. It made me think of another suspense/thriller I'd recently read. I was wrong. I was led like the silly blind follower to my conclusion, still enjoying the process, until I saw my error. Sometimes I delight in guessing incorrectly!

I did enjoy this psychological suspense and its various looks into childhood trauma. I loved being able to switch between audio (performed excellently) and digital to fit my surroundings. I did not love one particular aspect of Stella's journey in this book, but anyone who knows me knows I don't do romance...but this one felt extra forced and rushed. I have very little expertise in this, so don't mind me. Overall, a solid suspense that was a win for me!

When this title comes out on August 6th, it will be worth a go. Let it take you along that path of false confidence to drop that surprise. It feels fun that way.

Thank you to @macmillan.audio @stmartinspress @netgalley for this really fun read! I am a fan of Pekkanen and will always be up for her books!

Thank you Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy. This thriller did not disappoint. The main character was relatable and I enjoyed learning more about the nanny's death. It was a perfect mix of flash backs and current events, which is sometimes hard to do with the audiobook. I would definitely add this novel to your TBR list this summer!

House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen is a thriller that delves into the dark secrets of the seemingly perfect Barclay family. As lawyer Stella Hudson navigates the complexities of a possible murder involving a young nanny, the story builds a suspenseful tale of deception and danger. The characters, especially young Rose, add layers of mystery to the story, while the eerie setting of a glassless house intensifies the chilling atmosphere. The author keeps readers on the edge, unraveling a web of lies where everyone is a suspect, leaving us questioning who can be trusted. The audiobook version of this book is equally fantastic, featuring an outstanding narrator.

Sarah Pekkanen has quickly become an author I read every summer. I recently was able to enjoy her newest one House of Glass on audiobook.

When a nanny falls to her death and a nine-year-old girl won't speak, it is up to Stella, an attorney, to see if she can open Rose up, and what really happened to the nanny.

This gave me Silent Patient vibes, so I liked this one! A classic who done it with a big reveal at the end. I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed the narrator! If you're looking for a new thriller this summer this is a great one to pick up on August 6, 2024! 4 out of 5 stars!

This book was an easy read. It was a thriller and it did keep me wondering who committed the murder. It was pretty twisted but dragged on parts. I wasn't overwhelmingly great but it was a good book.

Absolutely loved this book!!
In a nutshell, there’s been a death, a nanny. The house where the nanny dies has a couple divorcing, their little girl and grandma. The couple is fighting over custody of the child. The death of nanny is not solved, possibly an accident, but it’s fishy. Little girl can’t talk due to trauma, seeing her nanny die. Court appointed lawyer works on best case scenario recommendation for the little girl’s custody.
Lots of questions, a lot of little twists.
I think main reason I couldn’t put this book down was because of its excellent pace. It’s hard to find that perfect spot for pacing a mystery/suspense book.
Narration was perfect, too. Highly recommend!! Grab it when it comes out in August :)

House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen more than kept my attention. I read the e- book in less than 24 hours ago, and I barely put it down. I listened to the audio version quickly, too. The narrator, Laura Benanti, does a nice job with Stella’s voice.

Rose is a young girl that has faced a major trauma and now has traumatic mutism. Rose’s parents, Beth and Ian, are divorcing and fighting for custody of their only child. Because of the trauma, Rose has been removed from school and is being homeschooled by her paternal grandmother, Harriett, who lives with the family.

Stella is an attorney, who determines the best placement for children whose parents are fighting for their child’s custody.

Stella must delve into the lives of Rose, Beth, Ian and Harriett to decide which custody arrangement is in the best interest of Rose.

This task is difficult with Rose’s mutism, as well as parents and a grandma who appear to have an agenda.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillian Audio for the advanced listen of House of Glass in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

4.5 stars

Sarah Pekkanen's psychological thrillers continue to be some of the best out there. They're twisty and atmospheric, and she really makes you suspect every single character. I particularly enjoyed the interplay between Stella's past and her current case with Rose. It makes a thriller far more interesting to read when the "investigator" has a murky past that may blur the lines and skew perceptions. The audiobook was very well done and made for an enthralling listen. Highly recommend.

Oh my goodness!! This one was so good!! Stella is a best interest attorney and represents Rose, a child who can no longer speak due to witnessing a horrible
accident.
This one has complex characters and several red herrings. Now, I will say that Rose was a bit of a creepy kid, but that’s just how well the story was written and narrated by Laura Benanti.
The narrator did a wonderful job portraying many of the characters. Such an addicting listen.

The novel begins with Stella, a passionate advocate, diving into the case of Rose, a mute nine-year-old girl caught in a custody dispute. There are many secrets that need uncovering to protect Rose from being placed with the wrong parent.

The eerie mansion setting gives off those spooky vibes, even though it's not exactly a haunted house. Sarah, the author, does a fantastic job leading readers in one direction, only to surprise us with a clever twist. The plot keeps you on your toes, and I couldn't stop listening to the audiobook. The narration was absolutely top-notch, making the story even more captivating.

A big shoutout to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for letting me enjoy and review this fantastic audiobook. If you're into mystery and intrigue with a twisty plot, this one's for you!