An addicting new thriller from Jennifer Hillier, Things We Do in the Dark kept me hooked through the whole book
Paris Peralta is arrested in her own bathroom, covered in blood while her husband sits in a bathtub full of blood. As the story unfolds, we discover that Paris has a lot of secrets hiding in her past.
Highly recommended. Superb character development had me hooked from the first chapter.

* I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books in exchange for my honest review.

This book stands out from the other thrillers I’ve read this year. It started out as a typical thriller, but soon it morphs into an intriguing story about a young girl with a dangerously narcissistic mother. This book was both fascinating and terribly gripping.
There are several mysteries wrapped up in this one book, which makes it a fascinating read. I also liked how everything came together in the end. Although there were a lot of different threads and red herrings, the ending felt strong and satisfying.
My only ‘problem’ with this book was that occasionally the time lines became confusing. However, that didn’t impact my enjoyment.
If you like murder mysteries and domestic dramas, then this book is for you.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Releasing this week! THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK is a twisty whodunnit with secret pasts and secret lives.

In the two Jennifer Hillier books I've read, she does a great job of going a little beneath the surface, which I love. You're going to get a great twisty-turny suspense-thriller, but you'll also get fleshed-out, dynamic characters and at least a few moments that really make you think.

Major content warnings for this one, though, especially for child abuse. The main character experienced significant child abuse in her past and it's a primary focus of her story. I was not prepared for that, and honestly, that's the reason I didn't *super* enjoy this book the way I enjoyed Hillier's LITTLE SECRETS.

(Instagram post forthcoming @fromsarahsbooknook).

A big thanks to Netgalley, the author, and Minotaur Books for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Read this if…you like celebrity gossip and a good underdog story.

Paris survived a horrendous childhood and has literally created a new life for herself, as well as a new identity. All of her hard work threatens to come crashing down when she becomes the main suspect in her husband’s murder. This is a high profile case since her husband was a famous comedian and Paris is found at the scene of the crime, covered in blood and holding the murder weapon. Now that her face is plastered all over the gossip magazines, Paris is worried that someone from her past will recognize her and blow her cover. Can she prove her innocence all while keeping the skeletons in her closet hidden?

This was my first Jennifer Hillier book and it won’t be my last. I really enjoyed Paris’s story. It was hard to get through the parts where she was abused by her mother and others, but I was really rooting for her. There were so many other unlikable characters in this one that it would be hard not to like Paris just by comparison. Ruby is a heartless monster and Drew’s character was just kind of “meh” for me. I liked the parts of the story told from his POV much less than the ones told from Paris’s perspective. It was a bit slow in the middle, but the pacing picks up nicely about two-thirds through. Overall, I enjoyed the book. It was an interesting mystery with a satisfying ending.

Jennifer Hillier has such a way with words! I absolutely love her writing style. I enjoyed how the book gave different perspectives from past and present. I felt like the story was told perfectly this way. Got a little bit of information a piece at a time, There were parts of this book that were absolutely heartbreaking. I felt so bad for Joey and what she experienced in her life. There were some things that I expected to happen. But it was written in such a way that it didn't even matter that I saw it coming. There were things that I somewhat expected but it didn't happen exactly like I thought. Then there were things that came out of left field that wasn't expected at all. As with any JH book, I greatly enjoyed this one and highly recommend it to others. My favorite characters were Joey, Paris and Drew. I wish we could have had a little bit more from Debbie and Belinda. But it seems this book was over ran with despicable people, unfortunately. I also like how there wasn't an epilogue. We were just kind of allowed free reign on how we wanted to interpret what happened once the book ended.

I was surprised by this one, but I really enjoyed it! It was slightly too long, but I love love an alternating POV and dual timeline. The twists really just kept coming and I'm excited to read something else by her! 3.5 stars!

One of those instances where I wonder if I read the same book as everyone else.

The story is told in dual timelines but I preferred the present, in which Paris is accused of murdering her celebrity husband Jimmy. It sure kept me guessing! On the other hand, the past timeline was terribly predictable despite it trying to be dark and gritty. I never warmed to any of the characters and wasn't a fan of Joey or Drew (who sucks). I got real bored fast after Part 1.

Overall, this is just another run-of-the-mill thriller. It was an okayish read and I'd actually wanted to give it 3 stars until the ending, which I hated. I am not a fan of thrillers that derive pleasure and satisfaction from the dehumanizing and downfall of women, no matter how reprehensible they might be. Plus I'm of the belief that people are layers of grey, not black and white.

As I told a friend – if Little Secrets (which I loved) is pro-mother, Things We Do in the Dark is anti-mother. Not a bad book but not my cup of tea!

✔️ I read this in less than a day; it was fast paced and kept me engaged . There’s a lot of dark and sad undertones but I found the author did a good job of capturing it without being too explicit
✔️ I thought the strip club setting was unique and added a different vibe
✔️ can’t help but be thrilled that Toronto was a major player in the book
🔘 I pretty much predicted all the twists early on - having said that, that almost made it more enjoyable for me ( who doesn’t want to be right all the time ? 😆)

This book has been marketed as a thriller, but it’s not at all. So with that out of the way I did enjoy the story. The story started off strong, the middle did drag a little and the ending was good. There was one twist that got me and that made me so happy. I actually cheered at the part when it was revealed. This is my second novel by Jennifer Hillier and she continues to impress me with her storytelling.

This is a story about a girl whose on at least her 2nd life.

I really enjoyed elements of this one- Hillier’s writing style always lands for me, and I the child-welfare elements were done really well… but I vastly preferred one of the narrative choices over the other, which was disappointing since the sections were long. Overall, I wouldn’t necessarily call it a thriller, but if you go in looking for a solid legal drama, you won’t be disappointed!

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️. 💫rounded to 4!

Thank you so much @netgalley @macmillan.audio @minotaur_books &@stmartinspress for the advanced e & audio copies 🖤

Thanks to NetGalley I got an advance copy.

Unfortunately, this one is a dud!

Saw the twist right at the start and no redeemable characters.

Book is also very choppy.

I have been wanting to read one of Jennifer Hillier’s books for a year, so I was thrilled to get a copy from Libro.fm a little early. It’s super fun to have an author interview at the end with a podcaster (that contains spoilers). Like she says, there are so many characters with backstories that keep you not knowing. It’s interesting she didn’t really know how it would end until she got there. She said she reads it out loud four times so she can hear it and the rhythm of it. Interesting!

She based the story on a crime news story about a boy who didn’t survive abuse. And she wondered, if he lived, would he be an abuser or what might his life have been like. So, this book is about a mother that allows sexual abuse to happen to her daughter (from multiple people), and she just wasn’t a good mother. She didn’t care about her daughter and was just a selfish person.

This daughter grows up and through a tragic experience, changes her identity and marries a famous older comedian. She returns from a yoga trip to find her husband dead in the bathtub and is accused of his murder. Most of the book is almost more literary fiction - backstories of characters. Main character is Filipino (based on her mother coming to Canada). Jennifer herself is Filipino-Canadian, born and raised in Toronto, and spent eight years in Seattle.


Fictional Seattle world (Green Bean coffee shop in both of her books, a Cuban restaurant) Toronto - Little Park is based on Lakeshore strip / Golden Cherry based on House of Lancaster - when she lived there in the 90s

This is the first book I read of this author. It was pretty good. I figured out part of the mystery but there were a few surprise nuggets. I really liked the characters but not everything was wrapped up in a bow.

If you want to read one of the best psychological thrillers of the summer, then you need to read Things We Do In The Dark by Jennifer Hillier. This is a well written thriller with dynamic and complex characters, some you will love and some you will love to hate! It is told in the past and present timelines and from different point of views. Ms. Hillier will keep you on the edge of your seat but you better hold on because your are in for the ride of your life!! It is filled with secrets, lies, mystery, abuse, loss and some love to name a few. She has the twistiest of twist and turns that will knock you off your seat!! An intensely written story with one of the cleverest plots I have ever read. This one had me wondering how it was going to end and then Ms. Hillier dropped that shocking ending that put my jaw on the floor!! I highly recommend this enthralling book by a very talented author! Jennifer Hillier does not disappoint!!

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books and Jennifer Hillier for the honor to receive an advanced copy of this brilliantly chilling book in exchange for my honest review.
#netgalley #stmartinspress/minotaurbooks #thingswedointhedark #jenniferhillier. #stminfluencer. #arc
#psychologicalthriller

Jennifer Hillier may just be my new favorite author of thrillers. Things we do in the dark pulls out every emotion you have, shocks you at every turn, and leaves you feeling like you've taken a free fall off a cliff.

The story line of this one was one I thought I knew, I was pretty sure I'd figured out the killer and the relationships before we got there but I've never been more wrong. The psychological warfare that goes on in your mind as you're reading this book is fantastic, there were serious moments of how did I not see that coming but I'm so glad I didn't.

Our characters in this one, can I just say wow, the writing of Paris, Jake, Zoe, Drew, Ruby, such different personalities that all cross paths over and over again just missing the bigger picture. The detail in the story kept me glued to it and I can't believe how well developed our characters were.

I loved the multiple time points of view, it added so much while keeping me from thinking to much about what was going on currently, a masterclass in taking the reader where you want them and not where they want to go.

I so wish I could go back to the start of this one and read it again knowing what I know now, to see if I'd pick up on the little clues, if the moments that made me gasp still would, and if the tears would fall in the same places.

I cannot thank Netgalley enough for this one, I'll be rereading it on the first dark and stormy fall night of the year.

Wow! Jennifer Hillier nailed it with this book. I was hooked from the first page. Paris is accused of murdering her actor husband, which leads us on a story or love, deceit, trials, and mistakes. I loved the dual timeline and has fun trying to figure out the twists and turns. This is a great summer read that keeps the reader engaged in the story and needing to find out what happens next!!

"Jennifer Hillier is a Mystery/Thriller author that never disappoints."

Full review to come on FreshFiction.com.

Jennifer Hillier is a master of writing books that remain enjoyable even when you guess the twists - and somehow still managing to write conclusions that will shock you. This book was crazy enjoyable. I’m still waiting for her to write something that will TRULY shock me but I’ll still pick up her books every single time!

Thank you to Jennifer Hillier, the publisher, and NetGalley for the review copy in exchange for my honest review.

Things We Do in the Dark by Jennifer Hillier is a thriller about a woman who wakes up in her bathroom, covered in blood, holding a straight razor, with her dead husband in the bathtub beside her. Paris is immediately arrested and is extremely concerned about the media attention since she has a past that she's trying to keep secret. This story goes back and forth between past and present; and while I enjoyed most of the story, I didn't find the ending to be very satisfactory. Thanks to NetGalley for the free digital review copy. All opinions are my own.

This was a dark psychological thriller. It was a slow burn but the story was captivating right from the beginning and held my interest the whole way through. However, the ending with the Ice Queen was a little unbelievable and a letdown. The story was well-written with solid character development. Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Jennifer Hillier for a copy of "Things We Do in the Dark" in exchange of an honest review.