Twisted, clever, and utterly satisfying!

I was lucky to receive early access to Jennifer Hillier’s latest psychological thriller, THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK, published July 19th, 2022. After catching numerous rave reviews online I started reading and couldn’t put it down. The novel is skilled at covering extremely dark themes and managed to keep me satisfied with an in-depth backstory and intriguing plot.

There are so many scenes that still haunt me but one, in particular, is when Joey is sent to live with her aunt and uncle after her mother is incarcerated. The image of her lying in bed as the shadow of a figure looms in the doorway watching her sleep is so beyond creepy. And when the truth is revealed behind this encounter, and she finally gets revenge it had me racing through the chapters to the end.

I loved the skilled use of dual timelines to create depth of character and suspense. When the main reveal happened midway, everything leading up to that point felt worth it, and the pieces fell into place for me. I love clever use of structure in suspense novels, and when done correctly, it gives a novel so much more than just a story—TWDITD accomplished that and I felt like I was piecing together a puzzle. The cast of characters is diverse in this story and each one is so unique, that I was invested in every single outcome. The way Hillier shifted my feelings for Paris with each twist and turn was masterful, eventually leading me to a satisfying ending I was definitely ready for. I loved that there was more than one mystery to this story too. It kept my attention and the pages turning.

This was the first Jennifer Hillier book I’ve read and did not disappoint. I’m so excited to have discovered a new author who’s not afraid to write about the disturbing things that keep us awake at night. She’s definitely one to watch going forward and I can’t wait to read what she publishes next!

Oooof what a page turner!!! 👏🏻 This one folks is JH’s best yet. It follows the wife Paris Peralta who’s been arrested and accused of murdering 🪒 her much MUCH older.. almost 30 years older.. very rich husband, Jimmy. We find out Paris is living under a new identity 🥸 and running from a questionable past in Toronto 🤫.. and what that is (???) isn’t entirely revealed until later in the story. Jimmy’s past isn’t so squeaky clean.. a 4x divorcee with drugs, two over-doses and a bankruptcy under his belt.

Red herrings 🤥 are thrown into the plot along with suspicious 👀 female side characters.. that had me shaking my head.. questioning, then backtracking my previous suspicions. Who the heck did kill Jimmy!?! 🤷🏼‍♀️

But wait.. now that the soon-to-be-released Toronto Ice Queen is shaking Paris down.. could it be that Paris would be up for not one, but two murder charges. Things can’t possibly get any worse.. or can they.. Dun da da Dun. This is getting crazy good 🤯👍🏻 at only 20% into the book!

Ex-journalist Drew Malcolm of “The Things We Do in the Dark” (true crime) podcast, furiously sets out to right the wrongs of the Ice Queen.. for her to pay for abusing her daughter, Joey. His motivation is tell the TRUE tale to his 3 million listeners.. about his bff Joelle (Joey) Reyes that died in a fire at the age of twenty. Or was she murdered.. Dun da da Dun.

Whoa. What Drew does find is UNBELIEVABLE!!! 😳 WOWWW who would of guessed it.. not I! 🤦🏼‍♀️ And down the rabbit hole he goes.. piecing together a thrilling tale that kept me on the edge of my seat.. my pulse quickening.. adrenaline rushing. This book is freaking fantastic. ❥ Recommend!!!

I’ve decided I need one thriller for every 10 romance books that I read, just to keep things interesting. And guys, if you are a thriller fan and haven’t read Jennifer Hillier, you are MISSING OUT! She never disappoints.

Told in duel timelines, it takes a bit to put all of this together, but once the story gets moving it is unputdownable! Technically a psychological thriller, it’s not scary at all and really felt more like a mystery. Throughout the story we are solving two different crimes in one. Hillier has a way of slowly developing characters, making you fall for them, and simultaneously question everything! Joey’s life was seriously heartbreaking. I was rooting so hard for her to find happiness. I also loved Drew and his devotion to finding answers.

As with all of her books, there are very heavy topics and I found myself so sad throughout this book. 🖤 Please check out the MANY triggers in this one and DM me for specifics!

I absolutely love Hillier, and while this wasn’t my absolute fave of hers (the previous two are a lot to live up to), it’s my favorite thriller of 2022 so far! 4.5⭐️

This was the first book of Hillier's that I have read and it did not disappoint! The book grabs your attention right from the first line and keeps you engaged right to the end. I really enjoyed the multiple timelines and the unreliable narrator. I felt that the twists were all surprising and unpredictable. The ending was also equally satisfying and I felt it wrapped up the story in a great way. I would highly recommend this one to anyone who is a mystery/thriller fan or someone looking to try it for the first time. I will definitely be reading more from Hillier in the future.

Canadian author Jennifer Hillier is a go to author for me. Her previous books have been captivating and some of my favourites.

Things We Do in The Dark releases next week and again she has written a captivating story that is a touch grittier and comes with trigger warnings.

After her arrest Paris isn't 100% concerned about the murder charge, well she is but it’s her past that she has worked hard to bury that could come back to haunt her. Told from a couple POV and jumping to the past this book was addicting in its mystery and heartache. There was a diverse cast of characters, some I could barely tolerate and others I wanted to hug. This is a dark domestic gritty story of despair, hope and strength. There is abuse and violence, so not for the faint of heart.

On one hand I liked the ending, it was satisfying but it did leave me wondering, well honestly I can't say much more without giving something away.

I did a combo read and listen. Carla Vega was the reader and did a great job bringing Paris's story to life. She is always a pleasure to listen to.

My thanks to Minotaur Book and Macmillan Audio for advanced copies in exchange for a honest review.

4.5/5!

Jennifer Hillier first stole my book loving heart with JAR OF HEARTS and since then I’ve picked up everything she releases religiously. I love how easy it is to fall into Hillier’s books and become completely engrossed with the story, the characters, and the mysterious plot. (Just don’t remind me how I’m seriously slacking on reading her backlist!)

THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK centers around our main character of Paris Peralta. The story launches with Paris being accused of her husband’s murder, but there is a lot more to unpack within this book. Hillier not only gives the reader an interesting present day story, but also gives a look back into the very tangled web that is Paris’ past. I’ve seen a few reviews saying that the twists in this book were too easy to guess, but I actually believe that was the whole point. Hillier is putting Paris’ entire life out there for the reader to absorb and understand. The goal really isn’t to trick the reader with a red herring here and there, but to guide us to how Paris’ past and present collide and intersect. I absolutely loved this story and was completely invested in every aspect! I can’t wait to see what Hillier dreams up next!

CW: There are a lot of potential triggers within this book and as always I suggest checking out the full list readers have compiled on Storygraph.

A huge thank you to. Minotaur Books for my gifted copy!

Actual rating: 2.5 stars rounded up to 3.

This is the second book I've read by Jennifer Hillier (I also read Little Secrets, which I gave the same rating). I think this author's books aren't for me. I'm not a fan of thrillers that revolve around people cheating and having sex, which both books I've read by Hillier focused on. I want to read thrillers that shock me, and make me feel on edge with the suspense and tension. And a main character that I can root for doesn't hurt either. In this case, none of the characters were likable.

A large portion of the book was told in flashbacks, some of which didn't seem necessary to the overall plot. I kept reading because I thought there would be a big reveal. Maybe I've read too many thrillers because I guessed the plot twist and I was left disappointed with the ending, which felt rather anti-climatic.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and Jennifer Hillier for the free eBook ARC in exchange for leaving an honest review.

Things We Do in the Dark, by Jennifer Hillier, is a complex, emotional, captivating dark thriller that follows two timelines and two plots that are connected to one another, but also distinct. Paris Peralta is found by her dead husband’s side, in shock, with a potential weapon in hand. She is hauled off as a suspect and the story truly begins from there.

Paris suffered a ghastly childhood and has had to make her own way in life. Intriguingly, Paris was not her childhood name, and not only does the story reveal her tumultuous past and how Joelle (aka Joey) became Paris, but it also follows her notorious mother Ruby, the “Ice Queen”, newly released from prison and discloses her story. Eventually the two backstories collide into the present and we uncover who is responsible for the death of legendary comedian, Jimmy Peralta.

Things We Do in the Dark contains some content that is quite graphic and there is some language included, but I also found it to be a very engaging story that made me feel for the characters. The author reveals the human side of Joey (Paris). We get glimpses of her affection for, and true connection to her older husband, Jimmy Peralta. We see her friendship with a fellow dancer who struggled alongside her, and we witness a second chance at friendship and love. Some have said the mystery was obvious and expected, but I didn’t think so. I thought the story was gripping and captured my attention throughout its entirety. While it wasn’t my favorite thriller of the year, it was a compelling, well-written, impactful story and I’m glad I read it.

When Paris Peralta is found in the bathroom covered in blood next to her dead husband who in the bathtub, the police ask “did you kill your husband?” She responded “I don’t know.”

Jennifer Hiller is masterful in her writing of twisty thrillers. I appreciated the trigger warnings: child abuse, rape and murder. The story is a story within a story going back and forth between Paris and her mother Ruby Reyes, the ice-queen and Paris and her dead husband Jimmy, the famous comedian.

IF you are wanting a thriller, you will not be disappointed. The book kept me guessing. The narration was well done.

Thank you #NetGalley,#St.Martin’sPress and #JenniferHiller for the advance copy for my honest review.

Things We Do in the Dark is a dark, complex thriller/mystery that hooked me into staying up well past midnight.

I love a good thriller that follows multiple points of view and multiple timelines.  

In this book, Paris Peralta is married to a much older man, a wealthy celebrity comedian.  The book begins with Paris being arrested in her bathroom in Seattle, holding a straight razor, with her husband dead in the tub beside her.  Meanwhile in Canada, crime podcaster Drew Malcolm is investigating the case of a female killer from the 1990s, who has a connection to Paris’ past.

I’m used to mysteries where the chapters alternate viewpoints, but I really liked the way Hillier wrote this, sucking me in completely to Paris’s story before bringing in Drew’s perspective.  It completely immersed me in the different timelines and investigations.  

The characters especially sold me on Things We Do in the Dark.  When I read that Paris was a celebrity wife I assumed she’d be a love-to-hate character, but her compassion and backstory was fascinating.  Finding out what was going to happen to her kept me turning pages well past my bedtime.

I did find the ending of this one a bit underwhelming, with a few plot points feeling rushed. However, I enjoyed the book as a whole so much that I’d still recommend it, and the end was emotionally satisfying enough.

Content warning: This one does have themes of child abuse, including sexual abuse.

Thank you to Minotaur Books/St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for my review copy of this book.

All the hype you've been hearing about this book is spot on! This book has mystery, murder, and mayhem! When your nationality causes you to stand out, it task of blending in becomes extremely difficult, but that's exactly what Paris Aquino does, until she doesn't. Growing up with a selfish, jealous, just looking for her next paycheck mother, she also becomes a fighter in more ways than one. Never quite knowing who she can trust, she makes her own path and lives well, until her past catches up with her. What will she do now? And who knows who she really is? A MUST READ!!!

My second Jennifer Hillier book did not disappoint!!

Can I just start by saying that I loved Joey & I was rooting for her til the very end. After everything she’s been through, she deserves nothing but the best.

Although we never got to really meet Jimmy, I liked him too and I was happy for him and Paris. I felt like they had such a pure relationship & I was sad they didn’t get more time together.

Totally pulls you right into the story. Love the twists that I didn't see coming. Couldn't put this one down. Not surprised as this author never disappoints.

Thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an early release of this book.

4.5 stars!
When Paris’ famous husband who was a comedian is found dead in their mansion with her holding the weapon, she immediately becomes a suspect. Paris becomes paranoid when she is thrown in the spotlight by the media. She has a dark past she is trying to cover up as this isn’t the first time she’s been accused of murder. How long can Paris keep her past a secret?

This book had two dual investigations going on which I loved! There was so much to get into as both storylines evolved. There were lots of little twists and I loved the Canadian setting! It was so cool being able to actually envision where some of the events were taking place. There was representation for Filipino culture as the main character was of that descent. The narrator on the audiobook was excellent. I listened to this one on audio and read it thanks to @macmillan.audio, @stmartinspress and @netgalley. There wasn’t really a big surprise but I just really enjoyed this one. This author is becoming an auto-buy for me!

This book started off very strong. Part one totally had me hooked. However, part two had me wondering what was going on? BUT stick it out! It all pulled together as I hoped it would and I totally understand the switch in gears. Loved the book!

3.5 stars!

I absolutely love Jennifer Hillier's books, and I've read almost all of them (one left!). So I was really excited to receive an e-ARC of Things We Do In the Dark (thank you Netgally and Minotaur Books)!

Overall, I enjoy this book, but it wasn't my favorite by Hillier. It was quick-paced and a great popcorn read; I think it'd be a good starting place for people new to thrillers. But, I found the twist to be fairly obvious from early on--it was good, but predictable.

And I was expecting a lot more from the ending. It wrapped up so quickly and tamely. Not what I was expecting. I think there were some unanswered questions.

Thank you Minotaur Books and Netgalley for the #gifted eARC of THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK!

To steal a line from Book Lovers… I’m in love with Jennifer Hillier’s nightmare brain.

It is truly twisted and magnificent.

There’s not much more I can say without giving anything away, but THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK reminded me why I love thrillers. It got my heart racing and kept me guessing. I just needed to know what was going to happen next!

I think if I had been in a different headspace and had a healthy child while reading this one, I would have stayed up all night to finish it.

THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK is out July 19!

Cw: child abuse, rape, partner abuse, suicide, drug addiction

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4509612478
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cf_4SPSrEl4/

Thank goodness this came with trigger warnings of all sorts because this novel was INTENSE. Jennifer Hillier has such a gift in being able to tell a story while completely creeping you out at the same time. And I love it.
Paris Peralta wakes up one morning in her husband’s bathroom. She’s covered in blood. He’s dead in the bathtub, luxuriating in blood. He has a fatal cut. She’s holding the straight razor. That’s how the police find them.
However, Paris didn’t kill him…and yet she’s arrested on suspicion of murder.
Elsewhere in the world, Investigative Journalist Drew Malcolm is getting ready to produce a new season of his podcast…focusing on convicted killer Ruby Reyes. She’s about to be released from prison. It seems that Ruby knows who Paris is (and is blackmailing her for all her secrets), but how?
I read this book in one day. That's how good it is. Edge of your seat thriller!

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur for a copy of this e-arc.*

3.5 stars. Things We Do in the Dark doesn't cover a lot of new territory as far as thrillers go, but I still really enjoyed it and was engaged from start to finish.

Told on two timelines, this is the story of Paris Peralta and her famous comedian husband, Jimmy. At the beginning of the book, Paris discovers Jimmy's body in their bathroom and is arrested for his murder. Meanwhile, in Canada, vicious murderer Ruby Reyes is being released from prison after serving 25 years for the brutal slaying of her older, rich boyfriend. When Paris's legal troubles thrust her into the spotlight, Ruby sees an opportunity to expose Paris's secrets.

Jennifer Hillier immediately made my must-read list with Jar of Hearts, which is to this day one of the best thrillers I've ever read. Things We Do in the Dark wasn't quite on that level for me, but it's still a solid offering. Hillier's writing feels effortless, and she knows how to weave various plot threads to create tension and drama in her narratives. She also has a willingness to take her plots and characters to some incredibly dark, seedy places (content warnings abound for this one); she is not one to shy away from the most disturbing aspects of human nature. But rather than just including graphic scenes for shock value, they feel organic to the development of her central characters.

Readers of this genre will see the twists coming a mile away -- I certainly did, but I can't say that did anything to detract from my enjoyment of Things We Do in the Dark. It's compelling, textured, redemptive and satisfying. Hillier is a true talent, and I can't wait for her next novel.

I was so thrilled to receive an ARC from NetGalley. This author is a auto read for me. Little Secrets was a wonderful book and I also really enjoyed Creep and Freak. This book was good and did keep me engrossed and entertained. However, I felt a real disconnect with the characters. I really did not care very much about any of them. The big surprise really was not a big shocker but I did enjoy the ending. Not a neat bow but still satisfying. All in all a very satisfying and fun read - just not my favorite from this author. Again thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.