Unfortunately this book fell flat for me :( I'm a big fan of Jennifer's writing and had such high hopes, but this just totally missed the mark. Found it to be predictable and didn't hold my attention.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book before its release in exchange for an honest review.

I have to say that this book disappointed me a little. From the get-go, I was able to easily predict what the twists were going to be and because of that, this book lost its "wow" factor that typically keeps me on the edge of my seat when reading thriller books.

When the author gives those two big reveals by the end of Part 3, it had me excited to see what brilliant thing they would do to make this book stand apart from the rest in the genre. Perhaps it was my mistake to assume that, but it ended up being a book that had a big climax in the first third of the book and then slow-burn storytelling for the rest of the 2/3 of the book.

All of this to say, I did not hate this book. Despite there being no big twist for me to enjoy, I still couldn't put it down because I had to know what happened to Paris all those years ago. I think what brings this book down is the fact that the most interesting parts are during the flashbacks. Because of this, it feels like the parts in the present are a nuisance and overstayed their welcome. What happened to Jimmy Peralta was uninteresting because I cared more about what happened to Paris 20 years ago. I would recommend this to anyone who needs a dark, mellow mystery in their life.

I am probably going to be in the minority for this review, but I don't think that "Things We Do in the Dark" lives up to all of the hype and buzz that it is getting. The pacing of the story is quite slow, and the "twists" are fairly easy to see coming from a long way off. The past timeline of the characters takes up far too much of the novel and makes it drag. This is just an OK read, and I would recommend going to other things before picking up this one.

I really liked this book! The twists and turns felt organic and believable the characters felt true. I would recommend it. It was an interesting thriller that didn’t go for cheap thrills and was a quick summer read.

Paris Peralta is being accused of murdering her much older (and much wealthier) husband, for the exact reasons one would assume, but she remains firm on her innocence. She loved her husband, and he loved her, but there are secrets from her past that threaten to muddy those facts, and possibly paint her as the suspect that everyone thinks that she is. Not far from this bubble of drama, Ruby Reyes, dubbed the 'Ice Queen' after murdering HER older and wealthier boyfriend, is being released from prison after serving a reduced life sentence. Ruby is not only leaving with her freedom but also with the knowledge of Paris's secrets and a plan to use them against her if she doesn't get paid. With the help of many unexpected hands, Paris works to clear her name and keep her secrets in their grave where they belong.

I've waited a long time to use the phrase "everything but the kitchen sink", and my final thoughts and review for THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK seems like quite an appropriate place to use it. This book was disheartening, in a way that seemed to be done more for intrigue and shock, rather than for purpose. There was so much backstory and reasoning provided in the narrative, but none of it felt like enough of a foundation to make the twists worth it or even to make them make much sense.

What I did enjoy, was the many familiar references to my hometown of Toronto, the character diversity and how Hillier was able to create voices that were believable and felt genuine—my favourite character had to be Drew, a former journalist whose perspective we get to hear from alongside Paris's. The pace of the book was fast, and justice was served, even if it wasn't very satisfying. The bulk of my enjoyment lay in the characters themselves, so much so that I would have loved for the book to be at least another 50 pages, if only to see them rounded out a bit more. This was my second book by Hillier, and I'll definitely be picking up more in the future!

Trigger warnings: sexual assault of a child, physical abuse from a parent, drug use and graphic murder.

Jennifer Hillier never disappoints and Things We Do in the Dark is another favorite to add to my list. I love the shifts between the past and present and the different POVs. Things We Do in the Dark kept me flipping pages way up in the night. Definitely recommend adding this one to your list.

Here I am again, in this valley of betwixt and between.

I loved the beginning of Things We Do in the Dark. We have grit and heavy topics that made me think about how easily a life can derail.

Then…

I figured out the twists WAY before they happened. While I’d like to credit my innate brilliance, it’s more likely that all the foreshadowing made everything obvious.

I would’ve been okay with knowing the twists had the story kept up a good pace and blazed an interesting path to the end. But it mostly felt predictable and slow.

The story is told via past and present timelines. We spend too much time in the past, dawdling along. Yes, traumatic things happen. But we didn’t need to see every detail, which took us through multiple, complex backstories. These long treks through the past only served to disengage us (or, at least, me) from an intense present.

Then the final reveal seemed too convenient, going the way of sudden true confessions because how else are we going to learn the truth if someone doesn’t decide to unburden themselves?

I’m not saying this is a bad book. I’m just coasting along here in neutral. I know lots of readers have loved and will love it, and I respect their views. That’s the nature of reviews, which are only opinions, and you’re certainly free to ignore mine.

THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK is going to easily land its way in my top 2022 reads—aaaand swipe for the coolest cover everrrr 🤩🥵🔥

where are my @jenniferhillierbooks fans at?! 🙋🏼‍♀️ at this rate, i would read this woman’s grocery list

🌟 rating: 5 stars
📖 genre: thriller // mystery
#️⃣ pages: 352
🥳 pub day: 7/19
#gifted from @minotaur_books
✍🏼 same author of JAR OF HEARTS and LITTLE SECRETS
read if you like: murder mysteries, serial murders, whodunnit plots, dual POVs

it feels like we’ve been waiting ages for a new novel from JH and she is BACKKK with an unputdownable, delicious thriller you won’t be able to stop thinking about! i mean, when the book starts with the MC waking up in her bathroom covered in blood standing over her famous dead husband, how could it not grip you from the start?!?! THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK had a lottttt going on, but it all worked. Hillier did an amazing job weaving all the characters and plots together and divided it up into 6 parts with quick chapters to keep you entertained. there were SO many twists (yes, plural!!) and i was here for it 🔪 she made me so emotionally attached (hated and loved!!) to all the characters. it reminded me a lot of JAR OF HEARTS but in my opinion, this is her best work yet 🔥

THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK follows an MC with a messed up, mysterious path. when her husbands death goes viral—and she’s the main suspect—she’s worried that people will destroy the new life she’s tried so hard to build. then the book flips back 25 years ago where we learn just who the MC is… and you will not see how that plot unfolds coming 👀👀

the multiple POVs, twisted family drama, disappearances, murder mysteries (yes i said two), backstabbing, murder trial, wealth… all divided up in six parts?!?! SHEESH. this was such a ride—and i tried my best to make it last but thought about it every time i put it down and immediately snatched it up when i had a minute of spare time 🥲 some scenes are pretty intense/graphic so beware going in. i’ve seen some mixed reviews/dnfs for this and i’m so confused as to why!

This had a great hook but felt a little predictable as the story unraveled. I do think mystery/thriller readers will enjoy it regardless!
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc ebook in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This book is fantastic! Jennifer Hillier keeps you riveted from the first to last page. I couldn’t put it down. Thanks Netgalley for the advanced copy.

WOW! Once again Jennifer Hillier has crafted an emotional rollercoaster of a page turner. I was gripped from the beginning. Completely invested in the story and the characters. When Drew entered the picture it really intensified. I couldn't put this book down. There were plenty of surprises to keep you guessing. Then there were the love to hate characters. They were just as complex and interesting. Highly recommend. This is one hell of a great read!

I thought I had this one figured out, but the twist ending got me! Things We Do in the Dark is brilliantly written and will keep you on your toes until the last page!

Absolutely brilliant! Such and amazing story. Will keep you on the edge till the end. Amazing. I recommended this book to everyone I know!

With multiple points of view & dual timelines, Jennifer Hillier's story of Paris Peralta and her foiled attempt at a quiet life when she is accused of the murder of her celebrity husband, was an absolute ride! The through line of pole dancing and a podcast made the story unique and multilayered. This read was full of twists and was truly a page-turning read. Highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan for the ARC of this book.

Thank you Net Galley and Minotaur Books for the sampler that included this book. I might not have seen or selected it and that would have been my loss.

Things We Do in the Dark is a well-written thriller/mystery with a wealth of excellent characters. Paris, Joelle, Ruby, Elsie and Zoe were well structured, emotionally evocative people. The roles they play throughout kept me guessing about the death of Jimmie until nearly the end of the book. Was it murder, suicide or accident? What part did these women play? Very seldom does a book keep me so completely “in the dark”.

Not to leave any loose threads, Ms. Hillier spends time polishing off the story with a very satisfying ending.

This review wouldn’t be finished without a mention of Drew, Joelle’s lifelong best friend. Long suffering, emotionally attached to Joelle, but apparently unable to say so. Drew is the shovel that kept digging at the mountain of incongruity which was at the heart of this story. He was critical to plot movement and resolution.

Great job Jennifer Hillier and Minotaur Books.

Thank you to NetGalley, Minotaur Books, and Jennifer Hillier for the advanced copy of Things We Do in the Dark in exchange for my honest review.

I am very mad at myself that it took me until the year 2022 to start reading Jennifer Hillier. I've begun working my way through her backlog but was very excited to receive an early copy of her upcoming book.

The dark, fast-paced, suspenseful elements fans of Hillier have grown to expect from her are all on full display in this book. Those who have enjoyed her previous works surely won't be disappointed on that front. (Please check triggers!)

I absolutely flew through the pages, but not necessarily because I *needed* to know what happened, I was just so invested in how the plot developed. It's rare for me to enjoy a book so much if I figure out a twist or two, and it's a true testament to Hillier's writing that I largely figured out what was going to happen and still give this one 5 glowing stars.

I look forward to continue working my way through Hillier's backlist, and I'll be (im)patiently waiting for her next release, whenever that may be!

Things We Do in the Dark will be on US bookshelves July 19.

I have seen a ton of people really loving this one, but it just fell flat for me. I had the "twist" figured out very early on, and it was just slow. I would still read more by this author because I loved Jar of Hearts and Little Secrets, but this one just wasn't to great for me.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

This is an excellent gripping story! I didn’t want to put this one down. Paris has been through so much in her lifetime. She worked hard to reinvent herself only to be accused of murdering her husband. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg in her deep story. Highly recommend this one.

This was definitely my kind of mystery!! It took me forever to pick up Little Secrets, so when I got this one, I knew I needed to get to it sooner rather than later!! I really enjoyed this story, and even though I had big portions of the story figured out, the writing and flow of this one kept me on the edge of my seat! I found it hard to put this one down once I started it and definitely recommend to other mystery/thriller readers!!

Paris Paralta is charged with murder after she finds her celebrity husband dead in the bathtub. Ruby Reyes was charged with murder twenty-five years ago. Reyes knows who Paris really is and she threatens to expose all of Paris’ secrets. This is a heart-pounding and surprise-filled plot that started out slow but heated up and kept me turning pages until the very end. The timeline switches between the past and present. If you love action thrillers then you will enjoy this one. I would like to thank NetGalley and Minotaur Books for a copy for an honest review.