This is one of my most anticipated reads of 2022. However, this book was listed as a thriller. After starting the book (I have both ebook and Audio) I realized the book is not a Thriller. So, If you have every intention reading this book based on it being a Thriller, I would find another book to read. However, If you go into this read knowing it's not. You may enjoy this book. I did not though.

If you are interested in this author and have not read anything by her, I would start with her previous works first!

Things We Do in the Dark is one dark story. Be forewarned there are a lot of triggers here including rape, child abuse, molestation, suicide, drugs, murder, death, and more. With that said, Jennifer Hillier delivered yet another great thriller.

There's a lot to unpack in this story and I don't want to give any spoilers away. I really liked the first 40% - the story was interesting and had a good pace. I felt the middle of the book was a bit slower and I had a harder time paying attention, BUT the last 30% was solid and it ended strong. I definitely wasn't expecting the outcome it had.

Definitely a good one to add to your TBR pile!

Thank you Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the eARC!

Things We Do In The Dark
Jennifer Hillier, author

A splendid novel.... One with twists I didn't see coming, until the end. I couldn't put it down... in fact, I had to reread the last half of it ... it's that superior.

Paris Peralta is under arrest for the murder of her husband. Can this really be happening? As she works with her deceased husband's lawyer to prove her innocence, Paris is presented with the reappearance of her painful and disturbing past. A double whammy. She's tried for years to put it behind her, but now, it seems that she must deal with it; one last time, before putting everything to rest.

I was gifted an advanced reader copy of the novel from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion. I can easily recommend this novel to everyone who enjoys a wonderful thrilling read.

To start, I am clearly in the minority when it comes to those who have read this book - most love it. I found it very....meh.

This thriller - and a very chill thriller at that - follows a murder investigation in present day that is eerily similar and connected to a murder in the past. We learn the connections between all the players and each new truth revealed gets us closer to the (rather neon indicated) final twist. The story is well-written technically and the pacing is perfect for a thriller with aptly timed flashbacks that aid in the truth reveal. Content warnings abound, so make sure you go in prepared for some rough content. None of it was gratuitous, but I had to skim some scenes. I did like the characters and every reveal felt fair, but as with most thrillers, they were statistically absurd. Makes for great entertainment though!

This was a middle-of-the-road tale for me, but it is clearly well-loved, so feel free to disregard my opinion!

**Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC**

Jennifer Hillier does it again! This book was suspenseful and shocking. I could not flip the pages fast enough while reading this. This may be my new favorite from her! I'm glad I got a copy from Book of the Month!

BOOK REVIEW: THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Lemme start off by saying - WOW! I have never read a book by @jenniferhillierbooks that I didn’t LOVE!🤩 Her writing style will have you absolutely hooked!! Even when I wasn’t reading this book, I was thinking about when I could pick it up again!

THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK has it all- a mix of a slower burn as we find out more of the main character, Paris’, past as well as lots of action that unfolds throughout the 6 parts and some seriously good twists! I have to warn ya though- his one was veryyyyy dark and twisted!

If you’re looking for a solid thriller or are hoping to find a book to get you out of a reading slump, this one is a solid pick! 10/10 recommend!

This book follows two story lines. One is the story of Ruby, who is convicted for the murder of the married banker she had an affair with. Her daughter, Joey, is faced with two choices. Go into the foster care system or live with her momma's momma. Joey finds out that rotten fruit doesn't fall far from the tree. As Joey gets older, she learns that "...if your Spidey senses are tingling, villains abound".

The other follows the story of Paris Peralta, who seems like the obvious suspect for the murder of her husband when she is found next to the body, the murder weapon in her hand. Paris seems almost resigned to her arrest, until a new lawyer takes over her case.

But in the meantime, Ruby is out on parole. and knows secrets about Paris. But podcaster Drew knows some secrets too, and he is determined to get to the bottom of them (although we never really get to hear any of his podcasts).

I found this story had many predictable bits, but it had a great plot with a nice twisty ending.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance reader's copy.

4.25⭐️ - this was super engaging and enjoyable. There were definitely a few moments were I had to suspend disbelief, but it was still a great read!

Thank you so much for this ARC!

Another five star read by Jennifer Hillier! I really enjoyed all the elements of this story - troubled past, attempt to start over, celebrity lifestyle, old secrets haunting the present.

Such a great thriller. Hillier has an amazing writing style .

This was a great thriller. Kept me guessing until the last minute. We follow Paris and her husband, Jimmy, just died. We see her in the first scene covered in blood and holding what is to be known as the murder weapon. That was an incredible start! I was hooked from the first sentence and couldn’t wait to see where we were headed next. We are able to see Paris’ upbringing and how she was let down at multiple points in her life.

I really enjoyed the way this was told and it was easy to follow with so many twisty turns along the way. Definitely recommend!

This book dragged me in, hooked me, and kept me reading to the very end. Even though I did guess a few of the twists early on, I was invested in seeing where the author went with the overall plot. I thought that the characters were interesting, and their backstories were logical. I liked how the author used more than a few red herrings to keep the reader guessing. Dividing the story into different sections was also effective because it set clear markers in the course of the story. I did think that Paris’ past was a little stilted, and the whole subplot of organized crime could have been better fleshed out – more fear of it in the present would have added an edge of suspense. But the author dealt with sensitive topics (namely child abuse and molestation) in a manner that was effective but respectful. I highly recommend this book, especially if you’re looking for a unique page-turner that is off the beaten path of storylines.

Wow! You know it’s a good read when you finish a book in a day and a half. Yes, I was on vacation, but still….that’s quick for me. This book keeps you on your toes with multiple mysteries all thrown into one story. Plus there is quite a dysfunctional family element as well. It all begins with a woman being arrested for the murder of her famous, older husband. Afterall, she was found next to the body, holding the assumed murder weapon so why wouldn’t you assume she killed him? And then immediately you are told she’s not who she claims to be and that she’s been using a fake identity. What? Why? I can’t tell you any of that. It would spoil the book. You’ll just have to read it to find out more.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for gifting me with an advanced copy to read and review.

Paris Peralta is found covered in blood beside the body of her famous husband. She maintains her innocence for this crime, but the media coverage the case receives could expose the secrets she has tried to keep hidden about her past. The story is split between the present day case and her backstory. Both stories are compelling, and we were invested in finding out what had happened to her husband, but also what had occurred in her past life that led her to her present situation. A well-written thriller and an overall good read!

I’m completely hooked on Jennifer Hillier books. After reading Things We Do In The Dark, I actively sought out her backlist and bought as many as I could.

How can you not be hooked from the very first page when a wife is caught holding a weapon that most likely killed her husband. Really?!?
How can you expect me to get any work done when a book starts off like that!


Paris Peralta has had one hell of a life, and she’s worked really hard to leave it behind while try making a normal like for herself. She's co-owner of a popular yoga studio, and married to a celebrity (and I should also mention, a much older celebrity). But now two people from her past have found her, AND she is accused of murdering her husband. Thank god she knows a really good lawyer.

In this 352-page thrill ride you can look forward to: a true crime podcaster uncovering secrets, narcissistic murderer aptly named “The Ice Queen”, a missing stripper, blackmail, sketchy relatives. Did I miss someone? Maybe. There’s a lot going on, but so worth it!

4 stars!

I must also add, Jennifer Hillier has included many song lyrics to start a chapter, including one of my faves, Bobcaygeon by The Tragically Hip. Now, I like her even more!

Another fantastic thriller from Jennifer Hillier! I enjoyed every minute of Things We Do In The Dark. It was fast paced, suspenseful, mysterious and best of all: heartfelt. I felt such a connection to Joey and really appreciated the way Hillier was able to develop such amazing characters and turn their unfortunate circumstances into what made the novel compelling and suspenseful! But that's not to say that this book doesn't get gritty at times, because it does(see trigger warnings below). But I think the author does a good job of pushing when she needs to push and holding back when it's the right time to hold back. Perfectly balanced!

This book is outlined in chunks, with the first section being about Paris and her husband's death. The second part is all about Joey. And then...you guessed it, the parts crash together and it made the reading experience so fun! I thought the pacing was perfect, I honestly couldn't put this one down! I highly recommend it!

Trigger warnings: Difficult family relations, rape, pedophilia, physical abuse, foster care

I received a free digital copy from the publisher, all opinions are my onw.

Paris Peralta has kept her life low-key and under the radar. When she marries a celebrity, she only does so because he’s retired and living a quiet life in Seattle. But then one night, her much-older husband is found dead in a blood-filled bathtub, with her nearby, holding a straight razor.

Charged with murder, Paris is now on everyone’s radar. And she’s terrified her past will now catch up with her.

Twenty-five years earlier, Ruby Reyes was put in prison for life for the stabbing death of her wealthy, much-older lover. Now, Ruby has made parole, and she knows who Paris really is.

Paris has to figure out who really killed her husband and how to protect herself from the past rearing up to ruin her future.

Things We Do in the Dark goes between the past and the present and between points of view of a few main characters. It’s definitely compelling and the story of Ruby’s daughter is heartbreaking. It’s fairly easy to figure out who is who in the story. But there are a few options for how Paris’s husband ended up bleeding out in a tub, and I didn’t know for sure what was the real cause until it was revealed. Hillier writes a page-turner. I just don’t think I would have read it had I known how much of the story involves child abuse and rape. It’s not detailed but still is haunting.

Hillier is the queen of dark, page-turning thrillers and 'Things We Do in the Dark' is no exception. An addictive and twisty read that will leave readers clamoring for more.

Wow. Wow. Wow. This book addressed so many things and was not what I expected! I thought I would be more spooked, but it was still a thriller and a mystery. There are some deep conversations and trigger warnings, but I thought it was well written and I was able to connect with the characters and their stories.

I am a big fan of Hillier. This book was fast paced and kept me turning the pages as quickly as possible.

Ruby Reyes is one mean mama. Her daughter, Joey, a victim of child abused and sexual assault wants to get away from her sucky life. When her mom is out in prison for killing her boyfriend, she thinks she is free at last, but somehow people around her are always dying. Will Joey turn out like her mother?

Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the #gifted copy.

I have loved every one of Hillier's books and Things We Do in the Dark was no exception. Using alternating perspectives, as well as both past and present timelines, the Reader gets taken on a slow burn journey. It wasn't full of too many twists and I guessed early on what was happening, but the character development makes this book exceptional and feel real emotions toward the character in the book. There were some heavy topics explored, though, so read the trigger warnings below if you're concerned. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.