I loved Little Secrets and admittedly, this book had big shoes to fill. I thought the ending was quite predictable but I did enjoy the twists we got along the way

Jennifer Hillier is back with a dark, twisty thriller that might have one of my favorite opening lines of all time. I absolutely loved Things We Do in the Dark!

This almost felt like a two-for-one special! There are multiple storylines and timelines occurring within the plot and all of them are juicy and addictive AND the whole thing is executed flawlessly. I love Hillier’s writing and I have to say this is some of her best work. I didn’t think she could top Little Secrets, but here we are!

I’m not going to give anything away with this review, but I’ll caution you to check trigger warnings if necessary.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book; all opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to be an early reader.

I was very excited to be approved for an ARC of this book because I recently tore through Jar of Hearts and Little Secrets and was looking forward to another twisty, hard to put down thriller.

The book opens with Paris Peralta accused of killing her much older famous comedian husband after he’s found dead in a bathtub and she’s holding a bloody knife. Great start! But then the book delves into a lengthy backstory about people from Paris’ past who we aren’t sure why were supposed to care about, and takes a long time to get back up the action, by which point I didn’t care as much.

While this was a good read that I had trouble putting down, I’d say it’s not quite as twisty and unpredictable as Hillier’s other books. I think it attempts to throw shocking twists into the mix but I guessed them all very early on, or maybe I was supposed to? Regardless, this reads more like straight fiction vs. psychological thriller and there is a lot of backstory. I found Paris’ life with Jimmy and his subsequent death very intriguing but I didn’t much care for Drew as a character - he felt very flat and pretty judgy to me - and his sections really dragged.

3 stars from me! Thank you to Minotaur Books and Netgalley for this advance readers copy.

Thanks To NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

4+ stars

Paris Peralta is the much younger wife of a legendary comedian. She is found covered in blood and holding a straight razor with her husband dead next to her. Paris has plenty of secrets about her past but says she is innocent of killing her husband. Convicted killer Ruby Reyes is trying to blackmail Paris. The story goes back and forth from current day Paris to Ruby and her daughter 25 years ago

Jennifer Hillier did a great job of making you care about Ruby’s daughter Joey.

Great book. Highly recommend.

I LOVED THIS BOOK. This is the book TBR ended a nasty book slump. And renewed my faith in thrillers. I am SO glad it’s a BOTM pick! It deserves it!

I didn’t like Jar of Hearts at all. That is one book I will gladly admit I DNF’d. I was so nervous to start this one! I knew there were some trigger warnings and didn’t know if I could handle it. I was so glad I did. Most (not all!!) of the major problems I was worried about happened off page and were part of the story. I thought it was done so well!

This book was so well done. There are two major twists, and while the first one was predictable, I still surprised me 😂 loved it. Every page was enticing and I couldn’t get enough of it.

Highly recommend if you are a fan of dark thrillers!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC to read and review.

Paris Peralta was arrested for the murder of her husband, actor and celebrity, Jimmy Peralta. Paris has a secret from her past and when she finds herself being thrust into the spotlight, it leads convicted murderer Ruby Reyes right to her. Ruby knows about Paris’ true identify and threatens to tell everyone the truth.

In true Jennifer Hillier fashion, this book was full of twists and turns. There are three point of views that alternate to tell the story. It started a little slow for me, but by around 20% into the story, I was definitely hooked and flew through the rest. I did find the twists a bit predictable—I was able to figure them out before the reveals. I still found the story enjoyable and the characters well developed. There are definitely some triggers (abuse, sexual abuse), so proceed with caution if you are sensitive to those subjects.

This may not have been my all-time favorite Hillier thriller, but I still liked it and will continue to read her work in the future.

I loved this book. She does it again! I mean was there a doubt. Could this be my new favourite Jennifer Hillier book. I can’t fully commit until I reread Jar of Hearts. ( My current favourite)
Read this if you like:
▫️Unique Thrillers
▫️Great Villains
▫️Two Storylines in One
Jennifer’s books are always so full of intricate details that always come together so well. This one started with two completely parallel storylines that flowed into one amazing suspenseful mystery. Past and present always merge so well you are never confused. I loved all the Canadian details and I especially loved how she linked this one to the butcher and Creep worlds. (did you catch that)
I love all her amazing crafted characters. Her villains are amazing and I love how even our hero’s are always a bit morally grey! The best.
Lastly as usual we get the binge worthiness I always expect and twists galore! I highly recommend this one!

This was a great mystery that had me hooked right away and I loved the fast paced chapters which jumped back and forth in time. I caught on to a couple things right away so I wasn’t too surprised by the twists and the ending was just okay. However I still really enjoyed this one and read it in just a couple sitting so I’ll be recommending it!

This is my first time reading from this author and I really loved her easy flowed style of writing. It makes the pages go by so fast and I felt as if I was watching tv show. Loved the diverse cast and the ode to certain Canadian cities. There were tiny clues throughout about certain plots that stuck in my subconscious and I knew what was coming but was still surprised at some of the reveals. Overall 5/5 I couldn’t put it down and look forward to reading more of Hiller’s work!

I loved this book as much as I expected to based on the author. There were a couple different storylines and perspectives but they all fit together nicely. This was a story that I couldn’t stop trying to figure out how each part was going to wrap up. At one point all of the possibilities ran through my mind but it wasn’t clear until the reveals. Loved it! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital arc!

Just fantastic...great characters......gripping storyline....twists at the end...all of my favorite things and so well done!

I read two of Jennifer Hillier’s previous novels last year and really enjoyed both. Naturally, I was excited to see that she is publishing a book in July. I was even more excited to find out that Things We Do in the Dark is going to be a June Book of the Month selection. I love a great author getting broader exposure.

Things We Do in the Dark is a dark and suspenseful novel that follows the life of Paris Peralta in all her iterations. When Paris’s celebrity husband is murdered, she is the prime suspect which also makes her vulnerable to her past being exposed. While I would not necessarily say Things We Do in the Dark is a heart-racing thriller, it is a good story you will want to plan on reading in one sitting.

Things We Do in the Dark has a strong plot with a lot of depth. Multiple timelines are used to build the breadth of the story. You follow Paris at several points in her life. Hillier also creates several mysteries within the tale that will keep you reading. I personally thought that ending was incredibly satisfying and fitting.

What I love more than a typical mystery or thriller is one that has fully-developed characters. Hillier writes great characters that are well-fleshed out. I think it is easy for her readers to feel strongly about her characters, whether that is like or hate. Things We Do in the Dark also has a diverse cast of characters which is so nice to see.

After reading some other reviews, I want to note a few things that do not decrease my enjoyment but seem to be problematic for others. Things We Do in the Dark has some graphic scenes so if you are appalled by those, I would skip this. I have also read some reviews that have issues with the tale’s plausibility. I have no issues suspending belief but I also did not think this novel was unbelievable. Please also note that there are a few strong triggers within the book’s pages. If those effect you, I would look into them prior to reading.

Overall, I really enjoyed Things We Do in the Dark and highly recommend it. Jennifer Hillier continues to be one of my favorite thriller authors.

When Paris Peralta is found with her older husband’s dead body, she is instantly blamed. While her arrest is worrisome, she is more concerned about her past coming out. Some secrets take effort to hide.

There are so many thrillers out there these days so I hold my standards high. I really liked this one because it had a very strong and detailed backstory. The backstory really made the plot and the current events. I loved how everything tied together. I especially loved the flawed characters and how we hate to love them.

“Because while you can reinvent yourself, you can’t outrun yourself. As a woman once reminded her a long time ago, the common denominator in all the terrible things that have happened to you is you. Everywhere you go, there you are.”

Things We Do in the Dark comes out 7/19

Paris Peralta is found standing in the bathroom wet and covered in blood, clutching a straight razor next to her husband, allegedly murdered. Her husband is Jimmy Peralta, the comedy actor who peaked decades ago but has recently made a comeback prior to his suspicious death. Paris claims she didn't murder him, this famous man 30 years her senior, but will her secrets from the past coming rushing forward in the wake of this high profile death?

Okay this was GOOD. I felt like I was peeling away layers and layers of this story as the pages turned. I loved how the side plots were expertly woven in, keeping me both engaged and guessing. I was invested from the start and couldn't put this one down for fear of missing a beat. I had read Jennifer Hillier once before and this one gripped me just as much. Great read for anyone who enjoys multi-dimensional thrillers that pack a twisty punch.

Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. LOVED IT!!!

Things We Do in the Dark is my second thriller by Jennifer Hillier and it solidified my love for this author. In the midst of a stretch of midnight shifts for work, where I barely even pick up a book usually, I could not put this one down! I loved seeing all of the plot points and characters come together for an edge of your seat ending! I loved how chaotic the story felt at times because on one chapter I would be convinced I had the mystery all figured out and by the next chapter I was back to square one. The author did such a great job of putting doubt in the reader's mind. I will now be prioritizing all of her backlist thrillers I still need to read.

Trigger warnings, including: child abuse, sexual assault, emotional/physical abuse, and racial slurs

This will be a thriller that I will be recommending to others all the time. Things We Do in the Dark will be a huge summer hit when it publishes this July!

Another hit from Jennifer Hillier! After Paris Peralta is found covered in blood next to her deceased, comedian husband, the secrets of her past begin to unravel. I adored Paris’ character and her story did not go in the direction I was expecting. It’s full of surprises that kept me binge-reading late into the night. Beneath the fast-paced and sometimes brutal plot points, there is a rich human element that makes the story both thrilling and touching. I appreciated how the author delicately addressed the impact of trauma within the sex work industry. The title is also perfect for this book and I thought it was tied into the story brilliantly. Without giving too much away, it relates to my favorite character and perhaps the most authentic one in the book: a podcaster named Drew. I loved his devotion and how he played an essential role in bringing the past and present together in a beautiful way. Thank you to the Minotaur Books and NetGalley for providing me with an e-galley!

I will be thinking about this book for some time, I have read all her books and enjoyed this one as well. It could have been a little tightened up in the middle, I guessed a lot of it, but that didn't take away from the reading of the book, some strong zinger lines in there and a lot about the damage abuse of all kinds does. I was rooting for the main character and while the ending could have been stronger., it is still a very good book 4.5

This book ended up being much different than I anticipated. From the beginning mystery, it jumps to another situation from the past and spends a ton of time setting up that background. I didn't love it, and the whole time it felt like I know how they were going to connect. It felt like the story really dragged at various points, and I struggled to keep reading. Overall, not great.

I loved loved loved this book no surprise since Jennifer Hillier is my favorite author. I've read all her books, and this one was no exception. Great concept, great writing, and a thrill seeking read.

I had enjoyed the author’s previous book, Jar of Hearts, so was anxious for this one. It did not disappoint! A multi-layered thriller with a great storyline. Recommended for people looking for a good thriller to keep their interest.