Pub: July 12, 2022 by @minotaur_books

This was a total 5 ⭐️ read for me!! If you love dark & intelligent thrillers, you need this ASAP.

Facts:

✔️ This book will make you want to take a sick day to keep reading

✔️ The pre- release marketing has been top notch & I work in marketing. Shoutout to the awesome @minotaur_books team!

✔️ The plot is so freaking clever and the multiple timelines are perfectly executed to build intrigue and tension

✔️ This Toronto girl is still squealing with joy at all the local references to places & cases

✔️ Hillier has been able to capture some truly Canadian experiences. I was Drew as a kid, reading Buffalo papers and even trying to get Buffalo TV news with “bunny ears” during major trials in the 1990s

✔️ Joey, Joey, Joey

✔️ Drew let me play Nancy Drew (no pun intended, or is there ?) along with him which is a style of thriller I love

✔️ I don’t know how Hillier is able to pull on my heartstrings while also making my heart race. But she does.

✔️ The book so freaking clever.
And the ending !!!

✔️ I will read anything and everything @jenniferhillierbooks writes

The second I saw the book, it instantly reminded me of reading under the covers with a flashlight at night as a kid. My parents had no issue with me using a regular light to read at night, but there was something special about that sneaky kind of reading. And I probably saw it in a movie and thought it was cool.

Jennifer Hillier's Things We Do in the Dark is a dark thriller about the wife of a famous comedian who was murdered and her dark and secretive past might end up in the light of day. Paris Aquino Peralta becomes front-page news when her very famous husband, Jimmy, is found stabbed to death, and she is found by the police holding the murder weapon. Now an accused murderer, Paris' perfectly crafted life is in shambles, and she is in danger of not only facing murder charges but also being exposed for who she really is: Paris has a dark and dirty past.

“Because while you can reinvent yourself, you can’t outrun yourself. As a woman once reminded her a long time ago, the common denominator in all the terrible things that have happened to you is you. Everywhere you go, there you are.”

This book is separated into four parts. Part I is pretty much the author laying out the alleged facts of what Paris is accused of doing and who the key characters that you should be paying attention to are. Including Elsie Dixon and Zoe Moffett. Abused from early in her childhood by her mother and countless men, Joey became tough to survive until she got a chance to escape and start again. There are plenty of emotional triggers for those who are susceptible to them but the author doesn't actually get into the dirty parts.

The second part is from the perspective of Drew Malcolm. Drew is a podcaster of a show called Things We Do in the Dark. He was a reporter at the time of Ruby’s murder trial and knows what she did to her daughter. 20 years ago, Drew knew a young woman named Joelle (Joey) Reyes. Joey was his roommate for a brief time before he left the city. Joey was allegedly killed in an apartment fire. It was Drew who identified the body. Something body should have to do. Drew still blames himself for not doing enough to save the girl he loved.

What if she didn’t die in a traumatic accident? Drew is now laser focused on her mother Ruby Reyes for his podcast who the media is now portraying as a victim because of #MeToo. And now that the Ice Queen is being released, Drew wants to get answers from her as to what happened to Joey. To make matters even more twisted, Drew sees a familiar face in the news which makes question everything he knew about Joey. However, this Joey has found herself deep into trouble, and it's not looking good for her future.

Ruby knows Paris's true identity and could ruin everything for Paris. Reyes begins to blackmail Paris - she wants money, lots of it, or she'll expose Paris's secrets. It is unknown to me and others how Ruby found out about Joey being alive. (I guessed it may have had something to do with the wedding announcement). Joey was allegedly killed in an apartment fire. but there was another young woman who went missing at almost the exact time. The women could have been twins, and often danced together in a local strip club.

Paris's past is told in several story lines. The past and present are explored as we uncover that Paris had no chance at a normal childhood let alone an adult one. While some of the things she did to survive were pretty bad, they weren’t nearly as bad as what was done to her by her mother and her boyfriends. Paris scrambles to figure out how to handle the situation knowing she was nowhere near Jimmy when he was murdered. She has worked too long and hard for everything to fall apart now. Will Paris be able to confront her haunted past without shattering her chance for a better future?

I have to tell you, I had feelings. Ruby was just plain awful and she should have gone to prison for what she did to her own daughter. But I digress since Ruby uses the #MeToo movement to claim that she was being abused which is truly despicable. There are some good people who cross Paris over her lifetime including a certain social worker who Joey took shine to because she actually felt loved and wanted. There are of course, some plot twists when it comes to Jimmy's murder, as well as how Paris has to deal with Ruby.

This book was amazing. I have to admit, there were plot twists that were very well done - maybe other people will see them coming, but I love me a good thriller and I had no idea. Twist after twist rounded every corner and I just sat back and enjoyed the ride. And it was a hell of a ride. 4 stars and I will DEFINITELY continue reading Hillier.

Another slam dunk for Hillier. Her books are so twisted, and down-right thrillingly evil. I loved it, and Ruby was a villainess for the ages. Yes, I figured out most of the surprises, but these novels are a ride, and everyone should know about these books!

This one grabs you from the first page - the first sentence actually - and doesn't let go! The story is broken into six parts and has multiple POVs. I loved the character development; it was so well done! I really liked Paris and Drew and thought that Joey's story was so heartbreaking. There are lots of twists and turns as you try to uncover the mysteries and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it!

Jennifer Hillier is an auto buy author for me, so even though I was approved for this book on Netgalley, I had to have a physical copy when I saw it was a BOTM pick!

Thank you @netgalley @stmartinspress @minotaur_books and @jenniferhillierbooks for the e-arc of this book!

3.5 stars. I enjoyed this book, but not as much as I was expecting I would. The character development was done well. The mystery or suspense of the plot was very lacking. This one just lacked the tenseness that the author's previous reads had. And the twists were a little too easy to figure out, but oveall it was entertaining.

Jennifer Hillier does it again! This is a dark murder mystery/thriller that will take you on twists and turns through the entirety of the book. The story opens with a popular comedian found dead in his bathtub. His much younger wife is of course the prime suspect. This story will definitely have you turning the pages past your bedtime.

Hillier is an absolute genius when it comes to dark mystery/thrillers. I’ve read everything she’s written since Jar of Hearts and would find myself remiss if I don’t read the very next book she pens.

Thank you to #netgalley and #stmartinspress/minotaurbooks for allowing me to read the eARC of this book. All opinions expressed above are my own.

This was a good twisty, psychological thriller. It was a bit slow to start, but once they started to introduce the backstory for Joey it definitely picked up.

The twists kept me guessing, although it did wrap up a little to cleanly for my tastes.

Still, an excellent read that I’d recommend to others.

I received this book free I’d charge from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Somewhat predictable but always engaging. Paris Peralta has many layers and peeling those back is the aim of the story. Her much older husband, Jimmy I kept picturing as the late James Caan. A novel about child abuse is always a tough read regardless of any comeuppance for the perpetrators. You can't take that trauma away and its hard to read about. This was one I couldn't put down with a couple of surprises. I wish there had been more about the true crime podcasts.

Copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley

I had the opportunity to read this prior to publication as an ARC from the publisher, Minotaur Books, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! It’s a murder mystery/thriller that weaves together stories of a present day stand-up comic, his much younger bride, a tabloid killer from the 90s, and an exotic dancer in the wrong place at the wrong time. While there is just about every content warning I can think of, it manages not to be gratuitous with violence or sexual content- if you’re a fan of thrillers and darker reads, I highly recommend this. Fabulous pacing and almost a noir quality to the storytelling.

Things We Do In The Dark is a multilayered, complex thriller delivered through multiple points of view in a past/present story line. Per Hillier's now signature style, characters are deeply complex and plot lines are convoluted. At least three story lines appear to run concurrent through much of the story before finally being woven together with some major revelations by the end.

This story opens with an intense scene that quickly grabs readers' attention when Paris Peralta awakens on the floor of her upscale bathroom holding a bloody straight razor and staring at an armed police officer yelling at her to drop the weapon. Paris is confused and disoriented, but there's no denying the horrific fact that her celebrity husband Jimmy is dead in the bloody bathtub. What happened? As bad as it looks, Paris fears it'll get worse when the devastating news and pictures hit the national tabloids and newspapers. If someone from her past recognizes her, the carefully constructed facade she's been living for twenty-five years will be blown. She can't afford for her past to catch up with her.

The story continues with the introduction of Ruby Reyes aka the Ice Queen who’s being released from prison after serving 25 years for the murder of a man. She’s fully aware of Paris's real identity and is using the information to threaten and blackmail Paris. The clock's ticking down to a full blown confrontation when Paris's location hits the news. And finally, we have Drew Malcolm - a journalist with a wildly popular podcast called Things We Do In The Dark. He's fully aware of how cruel and evil Ruby Reyes is and doesn't believe for a minute that she's been rehabilitated. Drew is determined to expose her for the villain he knows her to be at all costs. Maybe if he can do that, he'll be able to silence his own demons and finally lay the past to rest.

All the elements of a perfect storm are present in Hillier's Things We Do In The Dark. Readers are quickly sucked into the opening and through past/present chapters, they learn the backstory of each main player and the events that tie them together. They listen to each character's voice and are charged with deciding whose version of the story is authentic. As the story progresses, the author does a great job weaving in a missing person case, building suspense while rehashing the events of one tragic night twenty five years ago. In doing so, she's set up her game board with all the players including their secrets and motivations. However, there comes a point where the backstory begins to overshadow the present and the repetitiveness slows the story to a crawl, and in this reader's opinion, the end result comes dangerously close to disclosing information better left for readers to discover on their own. It's at this point that I had an Aha moment with the realization of exactly where this story was headed which proved to be true, serving to diminish the mystery and suspense there on out for me. As the story continues, the pace picks back up and readers will enjoy some typical Hillier twists before the final reveal.

Hillier's characters are always dimensional, well-developed, dark and deeply troubled and the same holds true in Things We Do In The Dark. She brilliantly manipulates these characters through dark, convoluted plot lines in settings that add to the dark, ominous tone. While Things We Do In The Dark won't go down as my favorite work of Hillier's, she continues to be one of my favorite, extremely talented authors, and I look forward to more of her work. I'm recommending this book to fans of dark, suspense thrillers.

This book was fast paced and got my attention from the start! I am not a fast reader but I couldn’t put this one down and read it in 2 days. I have read several Jennifer Hillier books and loved them so I couldn’t wait to read this one and it did not disappoint! This book was suspenseful and full of twists and thrills! I loved it! Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read the advance reader copy in exchange for my review! I would definitely recommend this book to others!

4.5/5

Jennifer Hillier has quickly become one of my favorite authors, so I couldn't have been more excited to get my hands (and ears) on a copy of Things We Do in the Dark. For now, Little Secrets remains my favorite of hers, but this is definitely a close second! The story is told in 6 parts along with a couple of different viewpoints and 2 dual timelines. I loved the mix of the timelines as well as the decision to break this down into parts with each beginning with a quote from a song. There were quite a few things that surprised me about this book, and I didn't have any of the twists guessed.

The pacing was a bit on the slower side although totally unputdownable for me, and I was really glad that I got to listen to the audiobook which is narrated by Carla Vega. I usually prefer different narrators for different viewpoints (there is a male viewpoint after all), but I thought Vega completely crushed it. She was definitely the perfect person to narrate, and I loved how she handled every part. There are some triggers in Things We Do in the Dark, so I recommend checking out the TWs before starting, and I appreciated the fact that the audiobook starts with a content warning. There was a podcast aspect that I wish we would have gotten a little more of, but other than that I really had no complaints! I love Hillier's books and I can't wait to see what she will write next.

Thank you to the publishers for my advanced listening and reader copies of this book. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

A fantastic suspense with dynamic, addicting characters. The storyline moves at breakneck speed, weaving past and present with one shock after another. Hillier shines in her storytelling, enigmatic plot line, and exemplary characterization. Highly recommended.

Thanks to #NetGalley for ARC of #ThingsWeDoInTheDark which was read and reviewed voluntarily.

Things We Do in the Dark was a gripping and emotional novel about secrets, lies and the things that need to be done to survive. Most of the characters felt compelling and fleshed out, and although it was a thriller, I found myself rooting for a rekindled relationship between Joey and Drew. I did enjoy the celebrity aspect of it, but wished we got a little bit more of a backstory from Jimmy and the people in his life that claimed they were closest to him, since they were important to the story. The abuse between Ruby and Joey was upsetting to read, but the ending definitely gave the closure I was hoping for. I definitely could anticipate most of the twists but was still surprised by certain elements and would definitely recommend the book. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc.

This is one of the best books I've read this year and one of the most complex as It alternates between the past and the present. I was rivetted to this story.

Paris Peralta is happily married. One day she finds her much older husband dead in the bathroom and is suspected of killing him. This creates a lot of media attention for her as her husband is a celebrity. Media attention is dangerous for her as Paris is not who she seems - she has created a new name and a new life for herself. The death of her husband, although an accident, exposes her to being found by people she has hidden from for years. People who wish her harm.

I don't want to give anything away as this book reveals events in layers and Paris has a complex and heartbreaking history. It is astonishing that she escaped her previous life, and now she must save herself again - and not only from law enforcement.

My thanks to publisher St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book. These are my honest opinions of the book.

Paris Peralta isn't entirely sure how she ended up in her husband's bathroom, covered in blood, with him dead in his bathtub, but she's sure she didn't murder him. Unfortunately, aside from the facts of the case, there's also that she is much younger and much poorer, so everyone assumes the worst about her.

But her greatest fear is that someone will discover her past. Ruby Reyes, the "Ice Queen" who murdered her wealthy lover twenty years ago in Canada, is already trying to blackmail her.

Jennifer Hillier writes delightfully twisty suspense and this book is one of her best. #ThingsWeDointheDark #NetGalley

This was an awesome thriller! I couldn’t stop turning the pages! I read it in one sitting! I absolutely loved it! Highly recommend!

Jennifer Hillier is one of my favorite thriller authors and I normally read her new releases as soon as they come out. Things We Do in the Dark is another captivating book from her. Although not my favorite (that honor belongs to Jar of Hearts) I did find the mystery interesting and appreciated the true crime podcast twist. Characters were well-developed and I really was curious to see how three points of view would intersect. I did guess one twist but another was a surprise. Can't wait for her future works.

I received a free advance copy from NetGalley for review.

A wealthy actor/comedian named Jimmy Peralta is found dead in his bathroom. His much younger wife, Paris, is found by police standing beside the bathtub, and she’s covered in blood with a straight razor in her hand.

You wouldn’t think it would take Sherlock Holmes to solve this one.

However, there’s a lot more to the story than it would seem at first glance, and Paris has more problems then just a murder charge to worry about. She’s a woman with secrets, and the publicity surrounding the celebrity death may expose them. Meanwhile, a true crime podcaster is digging into the story of a notorious murderer dubbed the Ice Queen who is about to be released from prison, and his investigation is very personal.

This is the third Jennifer Hillier novel I’ve read, and like her others, I enjoyed it quite a bit. She has a real knack for coming up with plots that seem like they could be Lifetime movies, but she’s got the ability to ground them with enough realism and emotion to keep them from seeming silly. Hillier also doesn’t shy away from including some genuinely nasty edges in the work, and that also gives her books more weight than a similar story might have in lesser hands. She’s also good at distracting a reader by dangling an obvious twist but then revealing it early while keeping the bigger surprises hidden for later.

It's another dark and tangled story from a woman who really knows how to write ‘em.