Okay I liked this one but not as much as I enjoyed her other books. I felt like a lot of stuff was repeated more than enough times to the point where it got tiring reading some points. While I found it somewhat predictable, I enjoyed it.

I loved this one!!
It is fast paced, has some twists and turns, is very well written, and held my attention the entire time!
I flew through this one because it was so good I didn't want to put it down.

I could see how some might say it's slow, but for me it really works with this storyline and I loved everything about it!

Also, in full disclosure I haven't loved the endings of two other JH books I read and this one was perfect! No complains from me!

*Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my eARC in exchange for my honest review! This one comes out July 19th and y'all wanna grab it!

I have always loved Jennifer Hillier’s books and initially I was interested in this storyline. After a few chapters, I could not get into this one. I really, really tried to push through but ended up putting this one in the “do not finish pile.” This is an extremely popular book that many readers have enjoyed. It will be published on 7/19/22 and it has received tons of positive reviews and will continue to; however, I felt it lacked strength of concept and depth of characters. Hillier is incredibly talented as she demonstrates an authentic writing style yet I never felt any psychological suspense or captivating themes in the narrative. Thank you to the publisher for my review copy & I will definitely read future novels from this author. I’m sad I couldn’t share the love for this one. Don’t let my feedback stop you from reading this one as it has been well-received.

Paris Peralta wakes up on her bathroom floor, covered in blood and holding a razor. Her husband is dead and she has no idea what happened. When she is arrested for his murder, she is not afraid of jail so much as she is her secret past coming out. Twenty-five years ago, Ruby Reyes (aka: The Ice Queen), was convicted for a similar crime in Canada. Ruby is up for parole and knows about Paris’ past. Drew, a podcast host, has an invested interest in Ruby Reyes and tries to contact her.

This book was so good! I thought the author did a great job telling Paris’ story, weaving between the past and present. I figured out one of the twists early on but that didn’t stop me from enjoying how the story unfolded. I loved Paris and Drew so much too - I wanted to hug them at some points! While most of the story was from Paris’ perspective, we had a little from Drew’s point of view as well. I felt that made their friendship full circle.

This was actually the first Jennifer Hillier book I read but I can’t wait to check out her other work!

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and Jennifer Hillier for the ARC! “Things We Do in the Dark” releases July 19th.

This review will be posted to my Instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly 😊

“In the dark, it didn’t happen.”

Absolutely Phenomenal – compelling, gripping and enthralling from page 1!

Things we do in the Dark is the most captivating page-turner that I have read all year. When famous comedian Jimmy Peralta is found dead in his bathtub, all fingers point to his 30-year younger wife, Paris, who just happens to be found at the scene holding a straight-razor. Paris immediately hires her husband’s best friend to defend her, which is risky if there is a chance that Elsie believes she did it. Elsewhere, Ruby Reyes is being released from prison for a murder she committed years ago, and Journalist Drew Malcom wants her story to come to life on his Podcast: Things we do in the Dark. But when Drew starts investigating, the answers are not what he is expecting, shocking us all.

Past collides with the Present in this full circle novel about buried secrets, abuse, and self-preservation. Paris learns that: “While you can reinvent yourself, you can’t outrun yourself.”

There are numerous twists and turns – and while you may expect some, you indisputably aren’t expecting them all. Even if you guess some, the story is not ruined by any means. Yes, the book is a tad repetitive with a lot of backstories, but it is all necessary to fully understand what is happening in the present.

This book was a complete surprise for me; I have never read Jennifer Hillier before and didn’t know what to expect. I went into the novel blind, not knowing any premise or plot line and was glad I did – I loved the plot and character development. I was engrossed from the beginning and did not want to put it down.

I will be buying Hillier’s previous novels – she is a MUST READ! The last page left me with a smile! I definitely recommend this book to anyone that loves psychological and domestic thrillers, who isn’t skittish around triggers such as severe child abuse and graphic sexual content – because we all know, “bad things happen[] in the dark.” 5 Stars!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this novel, all opinions are my own!

Really enjoyed this one (more than Little Secrets or Jar of Hearts)! While it wasn't super "twisty," there was so much going on and it was written and woven together so well that you didn't need big twists to make it enjoyable or shocking. A page turner!!

Where has Jennifer Hillier been all my life?! I cannot believe that this is the first book I have read of hers, but I can guarantee that it will not be my last. From the first line, I was hooked. Hillier throws the reader right into the plot within the first chapter. Paris Peralta is under arrest for the murder of her husband, famous comedian Jimmy Peralta. The scene looks suspicious. He is found dead in a bathtub, bled out from a wound in his thigh caused by an old fashioned shaving blade that he frequently used. Paris is found covered in his blood and holding the murder weapon. What starts as a murder mystery, slowly unfolds into so much more.

I loved the dual timelines and multiple character perspectives that brought this story to life. I am a huge fan of thrillers that start out with a bang, giving you a million unanswered questions, then going through the backstory of the characters to slowly answer them. That is exactly how Things We Do in the Dark plays out. We learn more about Paris and who she truly is, as well as her infamous mother who was convicted of murdering her married boyfriend.

I loved this book and could not put it down. I immediately put Hillier's backlists on my library hold list.

If you haven't been keeping an eye on Jennifer Hillier as a fun new voice in thrillers, you really have to do so now. THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK is the third novel of hers that I've read, and it had me hooked from start to finish. What I thought was going to be a pretty straight forward mystery had some really deep and dark layers, and it was more a character study about trauma, resilience, race, and preconceived notions about certain people. Our main character Paris has secrets, and lots of depth, and as we slowly get to know her through her own eyes and through the eyes of others around her, questions arise, questions resolve, and all the while you become incredibly invested in her, even if you aren't so sure you're seeing all of her. I kind of figured out one of the reveals pretty quickly, but that said, it didn't matter because I was enjoying the ride so very much. There are lots of satisfying moments, lots of dark moments, and lots of moments that had my heart racing as I flipped pages to see what happened.

THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK tackles hard topics (definitely be aware, there are content warnings for sexual abuse and child abuse), but Hillier's storytelling prowess and mystery construction are superb. Can't wait to see what she comes up with next.

At the heart of this domestic thriller are two stories: Paris’ Peralta’s arrest and trial for killing her famous comedian and billionaire husband, who was thirty years older than her, and journalist Drew Malcom’s wildly successful podcast called “Things We Do in the Dark.” These two stories, including much twisty, dark and often disturbing backdrop to them, are woven together seamlessly to create a compelling thriller about secrets and revenge. This is a well-written page turner with interesting characters that will suck you in and the beginning and keep you reading until the end. A great summer read!

An interesting read, not an absolute favorite, was not an “I can’t put this down” but drawn in enough to finish. I typically enjoy all from this underrated author, so will probably reread this one later and have an even more impressed opinion. Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this ARC opportunity!

Things We Do In The Dark is a story about a woman who is running from her past, but is about to have it catch up with her. It’s difficult to talk about this book without spoilers so I’ll just kind of leave it at that.

Much like the other Hillier books that I read, I found this book somewhat on the predictable side. I don’t know that that’s necessarily a bad thing? I like to be shocked by a good twist, but there’s also some satisfaction in guessing correctly, and it may just mean the author has done a good job of foreshadowing in the end.

I liked the characters. Paris isn’t the kind of character I think most people will feel sympathy for right off the bat, but she feels authentic, and you can’t help but feel for her in the end.

I think the thing that holds this back from being a full five stars for me was just that it spent a little too much time on Paris’s backstory. By the time we dig into the meat of it- we already hate the villain of the story. I just didn’t feel like we needed to wallow in the details of it, honestly. Which are very dark, and very depressing.

Otherwise - it was well written, there's enough intrigue at the start to keep me hooked and reading, and the ending was good.

Trigger warnings: <spoiler>child abuse, sexual abuse, pedophilia, talk about drug use, suicidal scenes, domestic abuse…. I think that covers it?</spoiler>

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eGalley I received in exchange for a review.

I loved the sample of this that I read via the Minotaur Sampler but the beginning turned out to be the strongest part of the book for me. It lost steam with a long reveal of Paris’ backstory, plus a lot from the POV of a podcaster/reporter in the current day. I figured out at least two of the twists so it wasn’t very suspenseful and I wouldn’t call it a thriller. I sped through the book mainly to get to the end.

I’ve never read anything by this author and, based solely on this book, I’m not sure I’d seek out another by her.

Note: Publisher’s blurb only mentions Paris’ dark past but gives no hint that it includes child abuse and sexual assault.

I bounced between the audiobook and the ebook for this title, which was very convenient. The audiobook was narrated well by Carla Vega.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook and to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

At first glance, Paris Peralta seems to have it all. She's a yoga instructor recently married to famed comedian Jimmy Peralta - a man thirty years her senior who's just about to sign a multi-million dollar deal with Netflix competitor, Quan. Things immediately fall apart though, when she's discovered at the scene of her husband's death, covered in his blood and holding his straight razor in her hand. What ensues is a story that simultaneously follows Paris's seemingly impossible case as she firmly stands by the fact that she didn't kill her husband, as well as a look back in time to her childhood and backstory.

Twenty five years earlier in Canada, Ruby Reyes, the "Ice Queen", was also convicted of murder in a similar crime. Her young daughter Joelle "Joey" Reyes is taken into Child Protective Services, and placed into foster care with her extended family... until she tragically dies in an unexpected fire in a basement apartment she shared with her friend. Things aren't always as they seem though, and in in the present, ex-journalist Drew Malcolm tries to put together the pieces that led to his friend's eventual demise.

"Things We Do in the Dark" is a well-laid out mystery novel that ties together these different characters and storylines beautifully, giving readers plenty of hints and red herrings throughout, but still managed to surprise me in the final few pages. Hillier managed to craft a persuasive female protagonist in Paris; despite the mystery and uncertainty of her background, I rooted for her throughout the story. I appreciated as well how she managed to cover difficult topics like child abuse, racial discrimination, and the mistreatment of women throughout; it isn't revealed until later in the novel that Paris is Filipino, but the subsequent nods to her culture and background were ones I greatly appreciated.

Definitely a recommended summer read for when "Things We Do in the Dark" is released in July!

I was thrilled to receive an E-ARC of this book as I have read and enjoyed several of Jennifer Hillier’s previous works. I really didn’t read the synopsis before jumping right into this story. Unfortunately, it was not my favorite by this author. At one point, I believe in part two, I forgot that the characters in part one were in the same book. There were a lot of flashbacks which generally doesn’t bother me, but in this case, I struggled to keep up.

There are trigger warnings for many things in this book including child abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, addiction, and suicide to name a few. This book fell into the middle lane for me.

This was excellent. I’m not a huge thriller reader but I was just totally sucked into this the whole time. Slapped!

This heart pumping murder mystery is written by an author new to me. It begins with some adult content and is set mostly the Seattle and Vancouver area.
Jimmy, had recently unretired as an famous actor-comedian making a successful comeback.  Married just two years, his latest and much younger wife, Paris, has just been arrested for his murder.
Both Jimmy and Paris have the usual past history, mistakes, secrets, other loves, etc. Paris has more hidden in her troubled past and a lot to lose. They don't share or dwell on their pasts, choosing to enjoy each other now. She really loves Jimmy despite the media gossip and snide remarks people make. She runs a successful yoga business with partner, Henry.
Jimmy's assistant, Zoe, is overly helpful, overstepping and pushing boundaries. Elsie is a lawyer and Jimmy's long time best friend. They shared many years of highs, lows and secrets.
Upon her arrest Elsie is the one Paris calls. Paris steadfastly denies killing Jimmy but, proving it will put her in a much worse situation.
Paris had a horrific childhood with a self-centered and abusive mother. The only thing she inherited from her unknown father is stunning Filipino beauty. It's her biggest asset, surpassing that of her mothers, which is almost a curse. The endless stream of unsavory men her mother persued should have broken Paris. Instead she's learned to survive and adapt.
Ruby Reyes is serving life for murdering her husband. Her own daughter, Joey, was also killed in a separate incident, a terrible fire, and Ruby holds someone responsible.
Drew was a journalist, had to pivot and now has a successful podcast "The Things We Do in the Dark". Drew is shocked to read that Ruby is getting paroled. Joey and Drew had once been best friends. Drew begins to investigate and research for a new episode about Ruby on his podcast. He will uncover long buried secrets and may not be prepared for the shocking facts from the past.
Paris will soon learn who's really on her side as she tries to keep her past buried. She and Jimmy had a prenup, but unknown to her, he recently revised his will. Then there's the blackmail letters she's been receiving.
The intricate plot weaves through the lives and pasts of Paris, Joey, Drew, Ruby and several supporting characters. Very well described characters, some likable and relatable, some evil. Some of the details nearly tore my heart out, some events made me cry, some made me angry. The story draws you in, just to discover all your theories were wrong. It is a well written, suspense filled story. You won't see the twists coming. I would recommend and would read this author again.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advance digit copy of "Things We Do In the Dark" by Jennifer Hillier and to Minotaur Books. These are my honest personal thoughts and opinion given voluntarily.

Thank you to the publisher for a free Netgalley!

As always, JH writes quite the story. This story was not for the faint of heart and if you want trigger warnings, please message me.

I found the book to be really enjoyable. I did guess the killer pretty early, so that is probably why I gave it 4 instead of 5. It just made that part of the story anticlimactic.

I enjoyed the story for our characters overall and I enjoyed our main protagonists.

JH is 100% an auto read author for me!

Jennifer Hillier will always be an auto-buy author for me and I was so excited to get approved for an early copy of Things We Do in The Dark. This book was amazing. The plot took a different turn than I thought it would but I still loved it all the same. Will continue buying every book that Hillier writes! 5 stars!

“𝙎𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙨𝙪𝙧𝙥𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙮 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨. 𝘽𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠, 𝙞𝙩 𝙙𝙞𝙙𝙣’𝙩 𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧. 𝙄𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠, 𝙞𝙩 𝙙𝙞𝙙𝙣’𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙣.”

This book is told in 3rd person and is broken into 6 parts. This was my 2nd book by Jennifer Hillier and let me just tell you she did the damn thing once again 👏🏻👏🏻 (which means now I’ll be going through her backlist of course).

I’m not going to say too much because you really need to go into this blind but I really loved this book. It sucked me in from the very first page because I was so intrigued to learn about each character. Also be prepared for some wild unexpected twists and turns that will leave you blown away 🤯 ~ great psychological thriller that I highly recommend!

“𝙎𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝙖𝙛𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠 𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚. 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙙𝙤 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙞𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙙𝙣’𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮 𝙙𝙤𝙣𝙚.”

Blood. Fire. Abuse. This book has it all!

The book started off slow. Then there were switches in POV, plus time shifts between past and present. I was thinking this would be a 3 or 4 star read, then all of sudden, I got involved with the characters and their actions. Five stars.

A fascinating read. Trigger warning: blood, fire, abuse.

Many thanks to Netgalley!