Paris Peralta awakens to a scream. Police command her to drop the weapon. She looks down and sees a bloody straight razor in her hand. Behind her, her husband Jimmy is dead in their en suite bathtub. Paris can remember nothing of what occurred. This is the headrush scenario of a new mystery thriller, Things We Do in the Dark.

After a banging first third where we see the police charge Paris with her husband’s murder, the tempo slows down considerably with the story of a Canadian podcaster’s coverage of a murderer being released from prison. We also learn about Paris’ tragic childhood. This part was my least favorite part of the book. Eventually, the book links the two stories together but even that feels contrived. I also felt that some of the earlier resolutions, like what happened to Jimmy, were better than the actual ending.

I was disappointed by Things We Do in the Dark. I loved the author’s prior book, Little Secrets, so maybe my expectations were too high. This book is okay but that one was great. 3 slightly disappointed stars.

Thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for a digital review copy of the book.

So thrilling and fun!} the writing isn’t spectacular, but it works with the themes and plot of the novel. I’ll definitely be recommending the author to friends and students looking for a mystery/thriller written by a woman for women

Pretty solid thriller! I enjoyed the twist about half way through and couldn't put it down. I enjoyed Paris and Drew together and the interweaving of past and present to tell their stories. Everything comes together nicely in the end. No shocking ending, in my opinion, but still a fun compulsive thriller that I definitely recommend.

Jennifer Hillier is a new auto buy author to add to my short list of favorite authors. I honestly don’t even know how she comes up with these plots, and despite figuring out that I knew one of the twists, it didn’t even matter because there were so many more coming. Paris Peralta is arrested for murdering her husband and the thing she is most worried about is her troubled past coming back to haunt her. She has successfully kept herself hidden thus far, but will she be able to maintain it? I highly recommend and will be telling everyone I can to read this book. The only reason I’m giving this four stars out of five is that I felt there was a little too much backstory with the dual timelines and multiple points of view, but it didn’t take away too much from the main story lines.
Thank you to Netgalley and Minotaur books for the opportunity to read this advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Paris Peralta has been charged with the murder of her husband. But even worse than that, the media attention has opened a door to her past that she would have preferred stayed shut. Twenty-five years earlier, Ruby Reyes was convicted of murder in Toronto, but due to some other circumstances, she has been released. Ruby knows who Paris is and threatens to expose her.

This was a super fast read. I loved the suspense and the mystery of Paris, as well as the back story of Ruby and her conviction. I really didn't want to put it down, yet at the same time, didn't want it to end.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for gifting me an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Available July 19, 2022.

Read/Listen If You Like:
🔪 Multiple Timelines
🔪 Multiple POV & Unreliable Narrators
🔪 Multiple Murd3rs
🔪 Manipulation of the Truth

Book Review:
What can I say except Jennifer Hillier is a queen of thrillers and I will read anything and everything she writes. I was so blessed to get an ARC copy of this one and she absolutely knocked it out of the park.

The way Jennifer weaves truth and lies to subtly manipulate The Truth to the Character’s Truth was so masterfully done.

Jennifer also knows how to give you nuggets to make you think you have it all figured out, but leaves enough detail out or tweaks the truth just enough to give you still a big plot twist and ending that you wouldn’t see coming even with thinking you have it all figured out. I also loved that she gives you that feeling of predictability where you think you get it, but really that was just another deception to keep you on your toes because that nugget you got right still kept you from the real truth in the end.

This book is full of characters you will love to hate and I hope you enjoy this one as much as I did if you choose to add it to your TBR!

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of this book! I am so grateful to obtain a copy to read in advance of its release in exchange for my honest feedback!

This one was solid. I called the twists way early, but I expect that from the better mystery/thriller books these days (it’s almost like being unpredictable doesn’t actually make them better). I was much more compelled by Drew and Joey than I was by Paris, and I really think she could have had way less screen time as it were.

I also really appreciated the inclusion of Filipino characters, even though they weren’t necessarily painted in a good light. The thriller genre is so homogenously white/cishet that having a Filipina writer include Filipino characters, language, food, and culture in a mystery (and a Black character, too!) was a very nice change.

So why 3 stars? It’s a me thing. People who love mysteries and thrillers more than I do will love this one.

THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK, Jennifer Hillier
Pub Date: July 19, 2022, St Martin’s Press

This was one of my most anticipated books and I tore though it in record time!

Jennifer has a knack for building suspense filled plots with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing.

In Things We Do In The Dark Paris’ high profile husband is found dead and Paris is thought to have killed him. As we unravel the details of his death and the suspicious circumstances around it, Paris is scrambling to keep her own past buried. A past where she lived many lives, suffered abuse and neglect, and barely made it out alive.

As a child protection worker in Canada, I felt Jennifer did a great job in weaving in child protection and kinship care pieces as well as framing child welfare in a helping role. Thank you for that!

This book had multiple POV changes with each part. This can be confusing and hard to craft, but Hillier makes it work and it really added an interesting dimension to the book.

As a former Torontonian, I loved “seeing” references of Toronto where this book is based. It was fun reading about places I have been and know about. I also loved all the music references, especially The Tragically Hip!

As an added bit of excitement, Jennifer will be at the Eden Mills Writers Festival on September 11, 2022. A 20 mins from where I live! I’m really hoping to met Jennifer and have her sign my copy! (fingers crossed 🤞🏻)

Paris Peralta is arrested in her husband's bathroom, holding one of his straight razors, while her husband lay dead in the tub behind her. Unfortunately for her, this murder charge is just the tip of the iceberg. This will thrust her into the spotlight... a place she can not afford to be since she has been in hiding for years. Twenty-five years earlier, Ruby Reyes, infamously known as the Ice Queen, murdered her married lover and went to prison for it. Reyes knows who Paris really is, and when she sees Paris's face plastered all over the tabloids, she starts sending letters blackmailing her. She wants millions of dollars in exchange for her silence when she gets out of prison, and the time is coming up very soon.
I am a huge fan of all of this author's books and this one did not disappoint. It was a dual timeline book, with the past timeline told in the voice of Joey Reyes, Ruby's daughter, and the current timeline told in the voice of Paris. There are a couple of mysteries to solve - was Paris' husband murdered and if so, who did it, and who was the body in the apartment fire in the first timeline? Paris was someone you could get behind and root for, because she was likeable and she had such a crappy past. There was plenty of suspense to keep you turning the pages, making you want to read just one more chapter, until next thing you know, an hour or two has gone by. This is the kind of story you get lost in. There is some child abuse if that is a trigger for you, and the murder scene from where Ruby Reyes killed her boyfriend was somewhat graphic and stomach turning. If you are a fan of thrillers, then you definitely need to put this on the top of your TBR pile.

“Some people wear their hearts on their sleeve. Joey wore her trauma around her neck.”

At the center of this great psychological suspense is a woman who is desperately trying to escape her abusive childhood.

A fair warning - this story contains rape, murder and child abuse.

The characterization is the star of this book. I was in awe of how well-rounded each character was and how quickly I was invested in their safety or gasping to make sure they were put behind bars. I think a part of this was that the author chose to alternate between past and present so I got a fuller picture of what life was like for the main character. The result was that I was rooting for this plucky heroine. The background on the love-to-hate character was amazing and I really disliked every minute her name popped up on the page. Cheers to great characterization.

The setting was excellent. Some of the establishments I’d never enter, but my preconceived ideas meshed with what the author was describing. On the other hand, it was fabulous to see my home city represented! Any Vancouverites? You’ll love the international yoga conference and expo references and places.

Pacing? Excellent. Each piece of the puzzle was doled out at just the right time and kept readers involved and made it a compelling read.

Although this contained ‘things’ I wasn’t comfortable with, I kept reading because the writing was spectacular. This was a new-to-me author and I’m certain I’ll be checking out her future works.

The opening line! What a way to capture our attention. You're curious now, aren't you? You'll have to read to find out.

I was gifted this advance copy by Jennifer Hillier, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

I wouldn't call it a thriller, more a legal mystery, or a whodunit kind of read, but I did enjoy it overall. Paris is actually a pretty fascinating character and the writer dishes out chunks of her timeline so we can piece together all the parts of her life that has lead her to this moment. The backstory is sad and may be triggering for anyone with a history of abuse, though nothing is revealed in graphic nature. Lots of misdirection in this one but still, not a complete shock when what really happened is revealed due to foreshadowing, etc.

Reads easily and kept me intrigued the whole way through. Always enjoy this author.

This title was consumed both by reading using Kindle and listening from the audio release on NetGalley.

TW: abuse, sex/ sexual references, crude and harsh language, drug/alcohol/substance usage, violence, crime, murder, suicidal ideations, missing persons, adult venues, corrupt foster care, etc …

Joey has lived a hard life with difficult people surrounding her. Her childhood was filled with disappointment as others resented her because of her existence. Joey was often downcasts when it came to priorities if her mother, who as she would say had a bad mother as well. Joey experienced events a child should never be a part of, and knew if she told anyone, no one would believe her.

Deborah is the light in Joey’s life.
Deborah gives Joey a glimmer of hope that she has never had. Joey sees that Deborah is genuine and authentic. Deborah is able to read through the lines and provide an extremely valuable outlet for Joey, by reading Joey’s diaries and advocating for her.

Ruby has what seems to be a selfish agenda as the role of her character develops.

Paris is caught in a whirlwind of emotions as she is questioned for and accused of her husbands death. Paris has been intentional to live and operate with a private life, however news of her marriage has leaked because her husband is well known in the public as a comedian. When asked if she killed her husband, her response was “I don’t remember”.

Drew has dealt with internal and personal turmoil since the night he left Joey, unknowingly for good. Drew seems justice for his friend Joey and seeks out truths.

“Lies were more easily believed than the truth.” (Chapter 38 / 84%)
“She didn’t murder Jimmy. She didn’t murder Mae. But she is a murderer.” (Chapter 45 / 94%)

Twisty. Thought provoking. Clever, yet Deceitful.

This is my first book to read by this author but I cannot wait to read more by them! This is such a uniquely written story that you will find yourself thinking about long after you finish it. Highly recommend!!

Whewwww, mixed feelings about this one!

I LOVED the mystery surrounding Paris, and her murky backstory. The character voice, the flashbacks, the present circumstances. The story was masterfully unwound, little by little. I ACHED for her. This is not a story for the faint hearted—make sure you read the trigger warnings, of which child abuse is one (though not explicit).

Going along with that, my main drawback is that a significant few chapters revolve around Paris’s history as a stripper—something I’d have love to know *before* reading/requesting this book! For that reason, I can’t really recommend Things We Do in the Dark. The other thing was the ending—everything was very neatly, quickly resolved, without much raising of stakes or tension. It was a bit of a letdown, after the masterful way the author kept upping the tension.

Bummed about parts of this story, but would love to give Jennifer Hillier another chance.

So grateful to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc!

-A

Paris Peralta, younger wife of 68 year old comedian, Jimmy Peralta, is arrested for his murder in part one of this book (told in six parts.) I was interested right away as the first line is quite intriguing: “There’s a time and place for erect nipples, but the back of a Seattle police car definitely isn’t it.”

After the first part was where it went off for me. I guessed the twist right away (if you can call it a twist.) There’s a lot of backstory and flashbacks that took away (for me) the Paris and Jimmy part of the story. I was glad when Part Three took me back to her present day situation.

I am a big fan of the author. Jar of Hearts is my favorite thriller! This one just wasn’t very thrilling for me. There are a lot of five star reviews, so you can decide for yourself. Even though this wasn’t a favorite, I will still continue to read her next books.

Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for my advanced readers copies. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I have read a previous book by Hillier named Jar of Hearts. I loved that one and was excited to read Things We Do In the Dark.
I was not disappointed at all. Sometimes after having such high expectations it's hard for a book to live up to them. Not in this case.

Paris wakes up near her dead husband, covered in blood and holding the murder weapon. But she maintains her innocence even after her arrest. It doesn't help that the world sees her as a gold digger since her husband is much older than she.

Meanwhile, journalist Drew is preparing to do another podcast series. This time on Ruby Reyes, a convicted murderer who is about to be released.

Well written with realistic characters who have interesting backstories. There are some uncomfortable moments, for sure, but they were necessary to the story. Lots of intrigue that kept me turning the pages until the conclusion.

Can't wait to see what Jennifer Hillier writes next.

Thanks to netgalley and Minotaur Books for the arc

ARC audiobook provided in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! I really enjoyed Carla Vega’s narration of this book! She did great with all the characters voices and made it easy to distinguish when she switched between characters. The story was very well written and I love how it seamlessly switched between timelines and had separate parts to show the distinction between Joey and Paris. The twists caught me off guard which I love and the book kept me engaged and wanting more the entire time! I would definitely recommend for anyone that enjoys psychological thrillers with unreliable narrators!

A huge thank you to @minotaurbooks as always for the gifted copy of Jennifer Hillier's newest thriller, "Things We Do in the Dark". An immersive thriller, Hillier is a master of her craft, and I am here for it. I immediately purchased all Hillier's past novels, and she has her own special place on my bookshelves.

Just so everyone knows, this book GLOWS in the dark, so it's front and center. What a fun cover; kudos for the idea! The story of Paris starts out fast paced and kept me turning pages late into the night. I finished this book in one setting, even if I didn't want it to end. The drama, the scenes, the writing, the fear, this story is incredible. Immersive and a detailed web of lies and whodunit was created brilliantly. The timelines are flawless, the characters are well developed, and the setting was described so vividly I could picture everything in my mind. While Paris is accused of the murder of her much older, wealthy husband, were left wondering about the other people that surround Paris and her husband, as well as the past coming back to haunt her. With a plot twist that is brought together perfectly in the end, "Things We Do in the Dark isn't to be missed. I can't wait for Jennifer Hillier's next thriller!

Thank you for the gifted copy!

Paris Peralta returns early from a yoga convention to find her much older, celebrity husband dead in their bathtub. She slips in his blood and hits her head, regaining consciousness to find herself surrounded by police officers with weapons drawn and a bloody straight razor in her hand. She’s arrested, and with all the unwanted media attention, she fears someone from her past will recognize her and come forward to expose the truth of who she really is.

“Ice Queen” Ruby Reyes knows all about Paris’ past, and after serving 25 years in prison for murdering her lover, she’s being released and threatening to destroy the life Paris has worked so hard to create unless she receives a substantial payoff.

This psychological thriller has well-written characters that will fill you with rage one minute and break your heart the next. What an emotional and gripping read!

St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books via NetGalley kindly provided me an ARC of this book, which I have read and reviewed honestly.

I cannot put a finger on WHY I didn’t love this book! The beginning completely hooked me. I thought the writing was great. These characters were all written so well, with the author seeming to have a full grasp on who they ere individually.

Unfortunately, there wasn’t anything about this that stood out to me. After the first part of the story gives way to other characters, though, it felt like a completely different book.

I enjoyed the reveal, though I was able to call it from early on. I am just saddened that I couldn’t connect with this one like so many others have.