I'm so happy I finally found a thriller that I actually loved. This book has everything; a main character who you love even though she's flawed and you root for her the whole time, perfect pacing (imo), and some really good twists and turns that are well spaced out. This was a complete win for me and I had such a fun time reading it I can't wait to read more from this author and check out some of her older works too!

i really liked this! this was my first book by this author and it will not be my last. it was a slow burn but not in a bad way. i absolutely loved the main character which feels rare for a thriller. i did predict most of the twists. overall, definitely recommend.

The wife of a rebounding star finds herself accused of his murder. As she navigates the justice system and deals with her husband’s death, she must also deal with secrets from her past that might undo her entire future. Author Jennifer Hillier gives the thriller genre a thoughtful read in the compelling, entertaining book Things We Do in the Dark.

Paris Peralta wakes up one morning in her Seattle home to the police bearing down on her, and it seems as though they have good reason. Even though she doesn’t remember a thing, Paris is holding a straight razor and her celebrity husband, Jimmy Peralta, is in the bathtub dead. Paris is covered in Jimmy’s blood, and his assistant, Zoe, is standing over her screaming that Paris murdered Jimmy. That definitely isn’t true, but the police take her in anyway and charge her.

For Paris, the entire thing seems like déjà vu. Years earlier, she escaped another bad situation that made her look equally guilty. Back then she managed to get away and reinvent herself. She took a new name and yoga classes and met Jimmy, the world-famous comic. Despite the decades-long age difference, they fell in love and she became the fifth Mrs. Peralta. It seemed like Paris had managed to outrun her past. But as she sits in a jail cell going over everything, she realizes she should have known that she can’t outrun what’s always been with her.

In Toronto, journalist-turned-true crime podcaster Drew Malcolm is livid. Ruby Reyes, the woman who killed her lover and is responsible for the death of Drew’s childhood friend, Joelle “Joey” Reyes, is set to make parole. Drew wishes he could do something to keep Ruby in prison. At the very least, he plans to focus his next episode on Ruby and make sure people know that she’s a criminal. It doesn’t matter that she’s done her time. Joey is never coming back, and Drew will never forgive Ruby for it.

As he digs into Ruby’s story, though, he starts to discover some inconsistencies with what has always been accepted truth. Drew considers the fact that maybe there’s more to Joey’s story than he realized. Maybe, even though she’s dead, he can actually get justice for her after all.

Time is running out for Paris, both with the authorities and in a more personal way. Ruby somehow learned the truth about who Paris really is, and she’s been blackmailing her. As Paris and Drew both deal with their individual crises, they’ll eventually find their paths crossing. Each will face the hard truths of their circumstances and what led them to the choices they made.

Author Jennifer Hillier’s novel will keep readers swiping or flipping pages. Despite the mystery at the heart of the story about Paris’s identity and how she might be connected to Drew, Hillier takes the time to dig into the characters, their lives, and why they are the way they are. While some of the choices might feel predictable, they’re no less enjoyable for how the characters get to the major conflicts of the book.

By setting the novel in both Seattle and Toronto, Hillier challenges the status quo of making celebrities live and move around Los Angeles and the choice works. It’s also a reminder that in their hearts, celebrities are people just like anyone else. Hillier makes this clear by the conversations Paris and Jimmy have. Although Jimmy has his fair share of faults, Hillier allows him to redeem himself in flashbacks through his relationship with Paris.

It would have been helpful in framing the story to know of the characters’ ethnicities earlier; Paris is Filipino, and Drew is Black. Hillier’s choice not to offer the information sooner might jar some readers out of the story a bit, making them reframe the information they’ve already absorbed with what lies ahead. Hillier should be applauded for wanting to make her characters’ ethnicities one element of who they are and not the sole method for identifying them, but readers in those communities might have appreciated the opportunity to feel an affinity for the characters sooner.

Those who enjoy a thriller that takes a more measured approach to an inevitable ending will enjoy this book.

Paris Peralta has just been arrested for her celebrity husbands murder. As bad as that is, it’s not what she’s really worried about. Paris has a checkered past, and with the media focused on her for this murder, someone might recognize her and expose the secrets she wants to keep in the dark.

This was the first book I’ve ever read by this author and I’m rushing now to order her previous books! Jennifer Hillier really knows how to expertly weave a story from dual points of view as well as the past and present, all to come together into one merging, shocking ending. There were several “twists” in this book and I didn’t see them coming which is always great for a seasoned mystery reader like myself! This is one of my favorite books I’ve read this year. Highly recommend!

Overall I liked this one. I am usually slightly unhappy when we go for a long period of time with one narrator and then switch, but I adapted and it worked for the plot. And that cover. Am I right?

I kept guessing about so many things in the first three quarters of the book, and it is hard to fool a thriller junkie like me. There are so many moving parts and at times I wondered how they might all fit together but the author did a good job of intertwining the pieces.

The story is both plot and character driven, which seems to be more common in psychological thrillers these days. I had higher hopes for the ending and it felt a little flat to me, but it didn’t take away from the pleasure I had through most of the book.

And I shouldn’t forget to mention I loved how many times the book name popped up as you read. So many meanings.

I think this will be a book readers talk about all summer and I can’t wait to read her next one.

Amazing. Jennifer Hillier just gets better and better. You're going to love Joey and Paris. This is a one-sitting read and you'll be holding your breath to the final page.

Hillier is ALWAYS a must buy/read author for me. I have loved every single one of her books no matter what mood reading I am in. Another 5 star performance!

Paris Peralta awakens to police warning her to drop her weapon. Startled by the sight, she is covered in blood as well as her dead husband soaking in a bloody tub. Her multi-millionaire husband Jimmy is a celebrity on Netflix and is 30 years older than her. With less than a year married, probable cause paves the way to a guilty scene. Although she claims her innocence that she found him that way, the assumption is there waiting to tear her story apart.

Hillier creates so many avenues this could go in. Paris with her dark abusive history is running from a past that is delivered late in the book that will haunt you. She is threatened by Ruby Reyes tagged as the Ice Queen Killer soon to be released after 25 years in prison. She knows who Paris really is and writes letters of bribery to keep her from revealing another murder Paris was involved in.

A lot of interesting characters are introduced that drive the story to a shocking, twisted ending. Even if you guess the setup, it will still deliver a fantastic punch. A creative scheme with things that can only happen in the dark. I love how I can never figure out where her endings will go!

Paris Peralta gets arrested for the murder of her famous husband - a murder that looks eerily similar to a murder committed by Ruby Reyes twenty years earlier. Paris knows her arrest could jeopardize her long-buried past. Now, it’s only a matter of time before someone recognizes her. Well, Ruby Reyes knows exactly who Paris REALLY is, and when Ruby is unexpectedly released from prison, Paris must confront the past she thought she escaped.

I’m really impressed TWDITD! Unlike a couple of Hillier’s other books I’ve read, this one didn’t have a major twist, at least not for me. I figured out “the who,” but “the why” is the winner here. Hillier develops a character-driven psychological thriller that slowly unveils the lasting effects of abuse, neglect, and childhood trauma. The toxic relationship between mother and daughter is written brilliantly, riddled with emotional abuse, physical abuse, and generational trauma. Bravo to Hillier for putting the trigger warnings at the beginning of the book because this one tackles lots of dark themes.

4.5 stars

Wow, this book was jam-packed with mystery and suspense!

Paris Peralta is the prime suspect in her celebrity husband’s death. This comes as no surprise when she is found covered in blood and holding a straight razor next to her husband’s dead body in the bathtub. But being charged with murder isn’t her only worry, as she is being black mailed by someone from her past. Ruby Reyes, a convicted killer, knows who Paris really is and threatens to expose all of her secrets. Now Paris must confront her dark past while fighting to prove her innocence.

This was a fantastic book I loved how essentially two stories came together as one for an epic reveal. The suspense factor was well paced and grabbed my attention from the very beginning, never once wavering from the big picture. If you love a good murder mystery like I do, then you will love Things We Do in the Dark!

*Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for providing a copy of this book to review.*

I could not put this book down. "Things We Do in the Dark" grabs your attention from page 1 -- "There's a time and a place for erect nipples, but the back of a Seattle police care definitely isn't it." As a new fan of Hillier's I went in knowing the twists and turns were going to take readers on a wild ride. "Things We Do in the Dark" is a psychological thriller so binge-worthy, you won't want to put it down.

The first of 2 big twists, I suspected. But after chasing more than 1 red herring, the novel unfolded, giving me a shock I didn't see coming. While I should have, can't say why or I'd be spoiling it, I was impressed that Hillier was able to pull one over on me, when it was such an obvious answer. Well played, Jennifer, well played.

While all books have to have an ending, I was bummed when this one was over. While "Things We Do in the Dark" is chalked full of content that may be triggering for some, I found that I really loved the story, the characters, and the "darkness" that each character experienced and fought against.

In typical Jennifer Hillier fashion, this story has dual timelines. One is present day with our protagonist, Paris Peralta being accused of murdering her much older, famous, and very wealthy husband. The media has immediately tried and convicted her through their coverage of the story of her husband Jimmy being dead in his bathtub with a wound to his thigh and blood surrounding his body. Paris was supposedly out of town in Canada and returned unexpectedly early to Seattle. Many pieces of the story are questionable and the police have difficulty finding evidence to support her story that she was not in Seattle at the time of her husband’s death.
The other timeline is in the past and focused on Ruby Reyes, an abusive and neglectful mother of her daughter, Joelle. Joelle ends up in child protective services and lives with her grandmother and aunt and uncle in a rural area of Canada. We know early on that all the moving parts don’t add up but how they fit together is unclear. As the story builds, each timeline merges more and more.
I enjoyed the story as always with this author. I think I liked her Creep and Freak series best of her books (I have read all but one), but this one was an entertaining story.

#ThingsWeDoInTheDark #NetGalley #StMartinsPress

This was my first read by Jennifer Hillier and absolutely loved it!! Twists and turns, couldn't turn the pages fast enough.

Paris Peralta is in trouble. After being discovered in a pool of blood on the bathroom floor, with a straight razor in her hand, her celebrity-husband, Jimmy, dead in the bathtub behind her, she's promptly arrested for his murder. Not a great way to start a day, following a night she can hardly remember. It appears Paris suffered a head injury at some point during the night. This must be why she can't remember what happened.

A flurry of media activity immediately flocks to the action. Jimmy Peralta was a well-loved comedic actor, who had recently made a giant comeback. His death is big news. Paris is devastated and swears that she is innocent. In spite of everything happening around her, Paris actually has bigger worries.

When Paris and Jimmy met, she was a yoga instructor and he attended her classes. He was smitten fairly quickly and she was as well, but she was never truly honest with Jimmy. She never told him about her past. A past she has been hiding from for years.

Twenty-five years ago, Ruby Reyes, dubbed the 'Ice Queen' by the media, was convicted for the murder of a man in Canada. It was a very high profile case, with people still discussing it to this day. Ruby feels like she knows who Paris really is and she spends the final days of her prison stay writing Paris threatening letters. Apparently, blackmail is a hobby you can participate in from anywhere.

Drew Malcolm is an investigative journalist turned podcaster. His specialty happens to be my favorite: true crime. When he hears that Ruby Reyes is going to be released from prison, he can hardly believe it. Drew grew up in the same area where Ruby lived and committed her infamous crime. He feels personally connected to the case and decides to make it the next hot topic for his podcast.

Using alternating perspectives, as well as both past and present timelines, the Reader gets taken on a real journey in Things We Do in the Dark. I didn't pay much attention to the synopsis before I started this, Jennifer Hillier's name on the cover was enough to get me to read it, and I'm happy I went into this pretty much blind. I was so surprised each time the direction and perspective of this story shifted.

Unsurprisingly, Hillier's writing drew me in from the very start. I loved Paris as a character and her relationship with Jimmy. I found it completely fascinating.

For me, Jimmy was that quintessential stand-up comedian turned actor, who suffers from depression and substance abuse issues. He found this beautiful young lady who truly seemed to make him happy and he started to turn his life around. I loved that aspect. I felt like I knew him, even though he really didn't play a role in this story.

As far as Paris was concerned, I just got her. I liked her. Learning about her past, I truly felt for all she had been through in her life, all she had overcome and achieved in spite of it. Additionally, Drew was a fantastic character. I liked how much his investigative journalist background contributed to the story. This man was on a mission.

I had so much fun with the reveals in this, as the three threads begin to weave together. I felt this was expertly-plotted and a great way to escape the world for a while. I did listen to the audiobook and felt that is was super well done. I was enchanted by the narration. Once I started, it was really hard to put it down for anything.

Dinner, that can wait. Sleep, who needs it? Work, it will be there tomorrow.

In short, I loved this. Fast-paced, compelling and with so many elements that I tend to enjoy, Hillier won big for me with this one!

Thank you so much to the publisher, Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. It's clear I am a huge fan of Hillier's work and this one is no exception. I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next!!

“There’s a time and a place for erect nipples, but the back of a Seattle police car definitely isn’t it.” (Crucial detail: this is the first line. Buckle up.)

To be honest, I’m STILL reeling from the ending of Jar of Hearts (which I read after Little Secrets… both phenomenal) and now I’m a third of the way through this one and have to physically extricate myself from my reading nook so that I don’t consume it too quickly. Seriously. I am panting heavier than I did in my middle school phys ed fitness test because WHAT. IS. GOING. TO. HAPPEN. NEXT?!?!

I think thrillers read better when you go in 80% clueless, so all you need to know is that Paris Peralta is accused of killing her celebrity husband after his assistant finds him having bled out in the bathtub. Naturally, Peralta is holding a straight razor and is drenched in blood. Now I could toss a slew of adjectives in this portion of the review to entice you even more, but they would be so woefully inadequate. Just buy this one. Then buy her whole backlist. Hillier is one of the most talented (and special) writers out there and she just doesn’t miss.

I have loved every book I’ve ever read by Jennifer Hillier, and this one is no exception. While I might argue that this is more of a domestic suspense novel than a downright thriller, it was still thoroughly enjoyable and I never wanted to put it down.

This book combines death, murder, mystery, alternative identities, secret pasts, and extra twists so that even if you think you’ve figured it all out, there’s likely still something left unsolved by the end that will leave your jaw hanging wide open.

The book begins with Paris being arrested for the murder of her husband, who was dead when she arrived home. As she worries about what will come of her if no one believes her, readers are brought on a journey that gives glimpses into Paris’ past.

But what I always love about Hillier’s writing is how she sections her books out into different sections that all tell individual parts of the story and don’t fully piece together until the end. And this one did just that.

If you haven’t read a book by this incredible author, you need to. So far, Little Secrets is still my favorite, but you can’t go wrong with any of them.

Comedian Jimmy Peralta was in the midst of a comeback when the police found his wife Paris in their Seattle home next to his dead body, lying in the bathtub. She is holding a straight razor covered with blood. Did the successful yoga instructor kill her much older and wealthy celebrity husband? Paris is arrested and we learn that her problems go even deeper than a murder charge as she is being blackmailed by convicted killer Ruby Reyes (known as the Ice Queen). After being in jail for 25 years on a life sentence, Ruby has been granted parole and is threatening to reveal secrets about Paris. Drew Malcolm, a true crime podcaster, is planning his next season around Ruby's high-profile case, which is personal for him. Drew was friends with Ruby's daughter Joey, who perished in a fire after her mother was sent to prison and then turned to a life as a stripper.

Things We Do in the Dark by Jennifer Hillier is a creative story with a lot going on. It starts off very strong with the focus on Paris and the death of her husband Jimmy. The storyline that features Ruby and her abusive treatment of daughter Joey was sad and disturbing. It might be too disturbing for some. Told in present day and flashbacks, the stories of all these characters eventually come together. There were some very effective "aha!" moments that kept me highly engaged. Overall, I felt it was an entertaining read from a talented storyteller.

This was another great thriller from Ms. Hillier. It was pretty twisted, but the multiple points of view, and multiple timelines continue to be a great hook for me. The twist at the end was largely gratuitous and didn't add much to the story, but the quality of the story itself forgives that. Overall, a very solid thriller that I would recommend. It made for a quick read!

When Paris Peralta is arrested for the murder for her celebrity husband, murder charge is not the only thing she needs to worry about. The intense media spotlight she finds herself in threatens to expose secrets she worked really hard to bury. Meanwhile in Toronto a podcast journalist is working on a new podcast about convicted murderer Ruby Reyes, also known as The Ice Queen. Ruby is being released on parole after serving a 25 year prison sentence and her release.

This was the first Jennifer Hillier book I've read, even though I own both of her previous works (time t tackle that TBR stack). After reading Things We Do in the Dark I am definitely a fan. This was a well written, suspenseful story with great character development. Though some twists were less surprising than others, overall the engaging storytelling trumped my need for surprises. I enjoyed both story-lines but there was definitely an added element of nerdy enjoyment to Toronto one as that's the city I call home. This read is perfect for fans of medium paced, character driven, dark and twisty thrillers! Even if you're not necessarily an avid thriller fan, I'd recommend this book as it this holds appeal beyond genre expectations.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an early review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Brace yourself!
This is an astonishing story that had me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end.
Bold, suspenseful and haunting, this psychological thriller/murder mystery was on a league of its own.

Told in several parts past and present, this story developed and flowed flawlessly. Rich, dark and complex, this haunting story was a brimming with nail biting twists and turns.
Flawlessly written, for me, the best part about the writing was how easy to follow it was. I was completely captivated by this read trying to figure out the mysterious details surrounding a murder our heroine Paris Peralta is accused of.

A murder is shrouded with mystery as we try to figure out who did it.

Oh… the suspense… the build up, the subtle clues thrown inadvertently here me there.
Trying to figure out the clues and who these characters were and how they were connected was a giant puzzle that embarked me on this suspenseful and even chilling journey.

The ending was a real gotcha moment and I love it!
This is my first read by this author and I’m a fan.
I highly recommend this read!

#ThingsWeDoInTheDark:⁣
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“If you deny something over and over again, and for long enough, people might eventually believe you. It works for politicians. Bonus: You might even convince yourself it’s the truth”. ⁣
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Fun fact, Billy Joel is one of my favorites. It’s a reason my husband and I connected because at 18, no one understood his greatest hits like we did. She’s Always a Woman is my favorite song ever. So, if you’re going to start a book off with that, you better deliver. Jennifer Hillier did. ⁣
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This book had so many funny moments from the audio that I couldn’t help but giggle. “Don’t go looking for her” next page “of course he’s going to look for her” ⁣
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The audio was okay. I wasn’t blown away by the performance, but I definitely wasn’t bored by it either. There’s some audio readers that can make or break a book, and I am glad that did not happen with this. ⁣
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I didn’t know where this book was going. The twist was not what I was envisioning, but I liked it. This did keep my interest and instead of reading other books, I just kept gravitating towards Things We Do In The Dark in the different media because I wanted to know what was going to happen! ⁣
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Overall, another solid Jennifer Hillier book! She’ll always be an auto buy author for me. I was worried TWDITD was getting *too* much hype and it wouldn’t deliver, but she hasn’t let me down yet! Thank you so much @minotaur_books and @macmillan.audio for the gifted copy! Things We Do in the Dark is out 7/19!