I have not read everything by Jennifer hillier, but I continue to be so impressed by her books! She always delivers that gut-wrenching thriller moment that I as a reader live for. This book has plenty of twists, turns, and darkness as it moves from a mystery to a character study to a thriller and back. It was not what I expected in the best kind of way!
Thanks to Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!

Jennifer Hillier delivers a riveting story of reinvention, murder, and abuse with her latest— THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK.

The story opens with a shocking scene—Paris Peralta holding a bloody razor over her celebrity husband’s dead body. From there, the story spirals into a dark ‘whodunit’ as media attention reaches a fever pitch and she begins to run out of options.

Meanwhile, rewind 25 years, and we meet Ruby Reyes—the Ice Queen—who was convicted of a cold-hearted murder in nineties. Reyes holds a secret over Paris, and as she’s unexpectedly released from prison, she’s determined to collect her due or else expose the secret Paris can’t afford for the world to learn.

These two lives inextricably tangle over the span of years, with murder, abuse, and affairs shaping their indeterminate futures.

The narrative imbues twists aplenty as characters take shape, deepening the investment you have in what awaits for each of them. While I guessed a couple plot points, it’s the journey to the end I found compelling. Hillier expertly probes the line between good and evil, drawing you into this twisted tale of trauma. She gradually unravels character backstories, so you understand intentions, actions, and outcomes—the whole story kept me totally absorbed.

A solid psychological thriller and definitely not my last from Hillier.

This book was a solid suspense story. Your typical twists & turns made for a good story. My only complaint is that I didn’t feel fully invested in the main character Paris. It was written well though & I did enjoy reading it.

Things We Do in the Dark is the name of a podcast by a Canadian investigative journalist, Drew Malcolm. His next story is going to be about convicted murderer Ruby Reyes, who is just about to be released from prison. The case/story is personal to Drew as Ruby's daughter, Joey, was his former roommate and best friend. Drew knows only too well how evil Ruby is and what a tormented childhood her daughter survived. The last time Drew saw Joey, she was working at a strip club in Toronto where Drew's bachelor party was happening. He's thoroughly disgusted by how Joey is supporting herself, and he doesn't hesitate to let her know it. When later that night Joey's apartment goes up in flames with her inside, Drew is devastated. But now, with the new Ruby Reyes podcast, Drew begins digging deeper into the night of the fire and Joey's death.

Meanwhile, down in LA we meet Paris Peralta. Paris is married to an old, but famous, comedian named Jimmy. In his heyday, Jimmy was one of the best-known comedians on the scene, but societal changes and new, younger comedians took over, and Jimmy became yesterday's news. Until recently, that is. Jimmy's star is on the rise again thanks to a new streaming service. We readers don't really get to know Jimmy very well because when we meet him, it's as a corpse. He's found in his bathtub, and his wife, Paris, is discovered holding a bloody straight razor.

Jennifer Hillier's newest thriller takes us for quite a ride with Paris's arrest for murder. What's more, Paris is being blackmailed by the about-to-be-released murderer, Ruby Reyes. Hillier weaves a riveting narrative through the POVs of Drew, Joey, and Paris, and for me, it was another unputdownable novel. The characters were all relatable and well-developed. Jennifer Hillier has done it again.

Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books/St. Martin's Press for providing me an eGalley. I will be recommending this one to all my thriller-loving friends!

Enjoyment: 5
Total rating: 5

Things We Do in the Dark by Jennifer Hillier

Things are not looking good for Paris when she is arrested in her own bathroom, covered in blood, holding the weapon that killed her celebrity husband. Surprisingly what worries her is not the looming murder charge but the media attention her case brings.

Paris has worked really hard to build a new life, and now she knows someone from her past will find her and force her to confront the past she is running from. It's not long before Paris finds Ruby, recently released from prison, back in her life, threatening to expose all her secrets... Left with no choice, Paris must finally confront the dark past she escaped once and for all.

"the only thing worse than a murder charge are two murder charges."

I went into Things We Do in the Dark with very high expectations, which is not always good. But unfortunately, this is a hole Hillier dug for herself - it's her fault for releasing increasingly better thrillers.

I am happy to report that not only did she not disappoint, but this is also her best novel yet. Everything about Things We Do in the Dark felt "real." Hillier describes places and situations and gives life to characters, making the reader feel like they are hearing a first-hand account of horrific events that happened to a close friend.

The little details and the immense emotional pull attached to them always get me when reading a Hillier. I have always felt transported to the worlds she creates and taken them for granted as I have never been to the west coast of the U.S. Parts of Things We Do in the Dark take place in the GTA, an area I am very familiar with, and the way she subtly captured the essence of places described is mind blowing.

Her books are gritty and dark. No question about it, but they are also nuanced. Her main characters are flawed; they make mistakes and accept responsibility, but they fight. Paris is all that and so much more. I cried most of the book for her. Her life wasn't easy. She was raised by an abusive, toxic mother and has faced more loss than anyone should endure. Yet, she allows herself to offer all she can to those she loves. All I can say is that I wish I knew Paris in real life. What a woman.

I have no more words - unforgettable characters, tense atmosphere, perfect pacing, beautifully plotted. Emotional, entertaining and visceral. One of my favourite books of the year.


Disclaimer: In exchange for an honest review, I am thankful to the publishers, and NetGalley for providing a copy of Things We Do in the Dark

Things we do in the dark kept my interest from the first scene to the end.

The main character is Paris Peralta. She is found by the cops in the bathroom with her husband’s dead body in the tub and she is holding the murder weapon in her hands.

Looks bad, right?

Worse, her husband Jimmy Peralta is 30 years older than she is. Jimmy is also famous. He was part of a show that everyone remembers and recently he has come back from retirement to do a couple of comedy specials.

Paris knows the situation is dire. Yet, it can be worse if they find out the truth of who she really is. Although, someone already knows and is blackmailing her.

Ruby Reyes, the Ice Queen, is in prison in Canada. She is about to be released back into society after murdering a man. She knows who Paris is and wants money in exchange for silence.

Drew is an investigative reporter in Toronto. His next true-crime podcast is about Ruby Reyes and her daughter. He wants the world to know what an awful person Ruby really is. Drew feels guilty. He made mistakes and he is relieving the time when he let his friend down.

Joey Reyes is the daughter of Ruby Reyes. She suffered in the hands of Ruby's verbal and physical abuse.

Things we do in the Dark has three POVs. Paris, Drew, and Joey. We get to know Joey and what she went through from early childhood. It was quite heartbreaking.

I found the audiobook to be perfect for this novel. It kept the timelines straight for me. I enjoyed all 3 POVs and despite guessing the twists, I found that I liked the overall picture.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Minotaur Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really loved this dark and twisted thriller. A few of my favorite aspects:
- despite having a somewhat predictable ending, it kept my interest throughout the entire book. While I love to be shocked at the end, Hillier tells such a good story, that I still wanted to keep reading
- Dual timelines
- Drew's character & his relationship with Paris. How it started, to how it fell apart and then ended when he thought she was dead, and then how they came back together.

Will 100% be purchasing more of Hillier in the future.

This is an excellent page turner. The story is told in two time periods of the protagonist’s life. It opens with her awakening with a bloody head injury after finding her husband dead in the bathtub. As she navigates a murder charge, her memories unveil why it’s so important to not be considered a suspect in this crime. The writing is good, the characters great and the suspense high. What a great read!


I received an ARC from St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books through NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion or rating of this book. I am voluntarily submitting this review and am under no obligation to do so.

Book Review: Things We Do In The Dark by Jennifer Hillier

Another quick review for a new July release!

😍Loved: The Toronto setting, dual timelines and multiple POVs, more than one twist! The end scene was great! I did figure out one of the twists but not all. There are little Easter eggs throughout which are well done.

😀Liked: Really rooting for the MC, enjoyed knowing that all of the characters are likely going to have a link at some point, the VILLIAN is despicable, musical lyrics sprinkled throughout.

😐Lukewarm: There are lots of trigger warnings for this book. The crime and violence in the plot read very realistic. Personally, I felt uncomfortable during certain scenes.

😯Page turning potential: The desire to find out how everything unfolds is strong and the creepy factor is high. Everyone has secrets and is a suspect. Definitely a good read!

Thank you to for the advance ecopy! Out now!

Do you like an unreliable narrator? I often do! So sneaky!

Special thanks to St. Martin's Press and Netgally for the ARC of this book.

I liked this book. The storyline was well paced and the book kept me interested all the way through. The characters are greatly descripted and the book is written in 3 sections, each one a different POVs.

I definitely kept ready, I wanted to see how the story ends for Paris, the main character. Spoiler alert there is a good deal of childhood trauma from sexual abuse brought up and not too graphically. I think author Jennifer Hill hit a home run w this book and their is also a mystery. I give this book 5 stars. I really enjoyed it and recommend it.

I enjoyed “Things We Do in the Dark” but I wouldn’t classify it as a thriller. While it has some familiar thriller tropes: past trauma (TW: child abuse - physical and sexual), unreliable narrator, multiple POVs, and hidden secrets, it reads like a mystery to me and not a very hard one to decipher at that. However, just because I easily figured out the two mysteries (I can’t even call them twists), I still fully enjoyed this book. The characters are well fleshed out, the storyline is fast paced and kept my interest, and it’s well written. The novel is written in three sections, each focusing on a specific POV. I did find the second POV (Drew - the podcast host/amateur sleuth/former friend of one of the characters) a little jarring at first and wondered if that transition could have been a little smoother, but overall the format of the book worked well to provide context while still moving the story forward. I was never afraid or tense, so it didn’t keep me up at night and I found myself reaching for the book often, interested in finding out how Paris’ story ends. I appreciated that the sexual abuse and child abuse sections weren’t graphically detailed but rather implied or briefly mentioned. I also applaud how the author conveyed the emotional/mental fallout that arises from such trauma and provided empathy for decisions that those who have experienced trauma and hardship have to make in order to survive. All in all, a fast and interesting mystery with well developed characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a good mystery and the characters were very well-developed.. The book is written at a very steady pace (no worries about running into lulls half-way through!). I definitely couldn't figure out who the killer was and kept changing my mind throughout the book. Due to all of this, I highly recommend it if you're into psychological thrillers!

Jennifer Hiller shows that your past can always come back to haunt you:
Paris Peralta wakes up on the bathroom floor, covered with her husband's blood and she is being arrested by police and charged with his murder. The case looks really bad and with her husband's celebrity status she knows that there will be a lot of media coverage, something that Paris wants desperately to avoid. Twenty-five years earlier Ruby Reyes, The Ice Queen, was convicted of murdering on of her lovers with an ice skate. Ruby recognizes Paris, knows her secrets and threatens to expose them all.

This is the first book that I have read by Hiller and it was a good book, but I will say that my expectations were let down a bit with all the rave reviews I have been seeing. I enjoyed the plot, characters, pacing and LOVED the format that this book is written in (dual timelines) but I found that the book was predictable and I was able to figure out all of the twists, I missed having something shocking come my way.

I really enjoyed Paris as a character and everything that she has gone through to get to this point in her life. The amount she has suffered and dealt with you know that she is a strong individual. It was such a happy point to see her find love with Jimmy and finally have a life that is worth living.

I'm a big fan of duel timelines as I find that you get to know characters better and this case, it is very much before and after some really critical events. I also liked the addition of Drew's perspective that enters later in the story as through him we get some of the investigative information (though I think that this information was wasted a bit) around the Ice Queen and Joey's death. I wish we would have had a final chapter of the podcast that Drew wrote about the Ice Queen, I think it would have been an interesting take and would have brought the book full circle in a way.

I was pretty shocked at the warnings that were given before this book and with those warnings I thought that the book would be a lot darker than the book was. Yes, the events that are warned about in the book happen, and they are not overly glazed over but they are not given in such a full description that I think that it warrants warnings at the beginning. I have read books that had no warning about any of the subject and they were much more descriptive and darker in nature than this book.

This was a good book, more character driven than plot driven, as I did find it predictable. As this is the first book that I have read by Hiller, I look forward to reading the other books that she has already released.

Enjoy!!!!

Paris Peralta has tried to live a quiet life, married to retired comedian Jimmy Peralta, working at her yoga studio and living in their large home. She avoids social media because she has secrets and knows someone from her past might recognize an image of her and she will have to face the demons from her past. Jimmy has a lot of demons. Paris is not his first wife. When he was working, he was using drugs and drinking, but he is sober now. When is assistant hooks him up with a streaming company, he signs a contract to do three specials, which forces them into the public eye. After the first show became a huge hit and the second is in the can, something terrible happens. Paris returns from a yoga convention to find Jimmy dead in the bathtub. He has bled out and she can't save him. When the police arrive, she is on the floor covered in blood, holding his straight razor. She is immediately arrested for his murder. Meanwhile, someone from her past has found her and is about to reveal all the secrets she has tried to keep hidden.

I really enjoyed this story. I don't want to give it away because it is best to go into it with only the information given in the synopsis. There are dual timelines as we learn about Paris' past and the secrets she is keeping. The present story is Paris' arrest, and the investigation to find out what really happened to Jimmy. There are not a lot of characters so you get to know them and form your own opinions, of course I was wrong plenty of times. I liked the present timeline much more than the past, as there was a emotional and physical abuse in the past. I wanted Paris to find a friend, a real friend to help her deal with all that was happening, not just someone she was paying to do so. As always in Jennifer Hillier's books, there were several twists, and the final one had my jaw drop. If you enjoy a psychological thriller and are okay with some reference to parental abuse, then this is a book for you. It is gripping from start to finish.

True to its title, this one is dark. I found it slower than most of her books, but the twists still delivered. My favorite thing about the book was Drew’s character.

Jennifer Hillier is definitely an auto-buy author for me and this book did not disappoint. It is dark and gripping with so many twists and layers. The way Hillier weaved this story was so engaging and I felt so invested throughout. Paris was such a complex character and I could not put this book down wanting to get all the puzzle pieces to fit together. Definitely a wild ride of a psychological thriller and so well done!

This was the second book I have read from this author and I really enjoyed it. I thought the plot was unique and it stood out from the dozens of other thrillers I have read. As a Torontonian I enjoyed the pieces of the GTA that were sprinkled throughout the story. The characters were very interesting and I thought the pacing was done very well to keep the reader engaged.

I received an ARC of this book from St. Martins Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The story opens with Paris Peralta being arrested in her bathroom, her famous comedian husband lying dead at her feet. It looks like an open and shut case of younger wife killing older husband for a money payoff. But as the layers begin to peel back, we find this murder stretches back 20 years.

Drew Malcom is a journalist who lost his career in newspapers, as so many did, but revived it with a podcast called, "Things We Do In The Dark" (what a great name!). He is set to do a podcast series on Ruby Reyes, a beautiful and notorious killer jailed in Canada for the murder of her lover, and it was her daughter, Joey's, testimony that helped put her away. Joey was an abused child and died tragically in a fire when she was twenty. Drew knows all this because he identified Joey's body, and she was his best friend, and he loved her.

As the dual timelines unfold, we begin to get answers on what connects Paris Peralta to the murder that took place over twenty years ago in Canada. The story is filled with sadness and also with understanding, about how people are a product of their environment and sometimes drastic times call for drastic measures.

I enjoyed reading Jennifer Hillier's latest book, and although it was a great mystery, I feel it had even more depth as a story that looks at the forgotten population of children who grow up without adult support and love, and what happens to them. Ultimately this leads to a greater understanding of what drives peole to do the things they do and the choices they make.

Although this was a pretty long book, I sped through it and enjoyed every minute. This was a 4.5 read for me,, but I'm upping it to five because I feel like it kept me so invested in the outcome (which was satisfying).

Paris has had a very interesting life….a life not many are aware of.
She currently stands accused of murdering her very rich and much older husband.
She didn’t do it, but that will be hard to prove since she has secrets she doesn’t want out.
This is a page turner, kept coming back to find out what is next.
You will be impressed with the plot which has a few turns you won’t see coming.
I do recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me this ARC

I haven’t read this author before, but heard great things about Jar of Hearts, so I dove right in.

Paris wakes up, covered in blood and husband dead in the tub! What a first chapter. She’s taken to jail, locked up and there her story takes off. At the same time Ruby Reyes aka The Ice Queen is being released after 25 years and sends threatening letters to Paris. How are they connected? A true crime podcaster enters to do a story on Ruby, and he finds secrets long buried.

I can’t say this was a thriller with one huge shocking reveal, but just good storytelling that slowly unwinds showing us the good, the bad and the ugly. After I figured out where the story was going, I settled in and threw myself into enjoying the story. Heartbreaking, dark, sad. Characters had great development, except the ones incapable of change.

Thanks to Ms. Hillier, St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone.