A fun, breezy mystery beach read. Sure, the revelations weren't particularly surprising for those of us who love a mystery novel, but the characters were fun, and the setting evocative. A solid, expansive thriller.

I really enjoyed piecing this novel together and trying to solve the mystery. I was hooked immediately and barely set this one down. No spoilers but there was one character that felt shoe-horned in as another twist but I just didn’t work for me. Overall, a fun read!

I wanted to read this one because I read Little Secrets by the same author last year and loved it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Things we do in the Dark by Jennifer Hillier.

🪒 A woman is accused of murdering her rich husband around the same time someone from her past is threatening to share secrets from her old life she has kept hidden for 25 years.

🔐 So, as she tries to prove her innocence, she’s also fighting to keep her previous identity a secret.

📚 You know I love a good psychological thriller and mystery. This one is great because it’s got a couple of different murder mysteries tied up into one book with overlapping character stories.

📆 Be on the lookout for this one in July!

This was a fantastic novel. There are sparks of Agatha Christie's cleverness and Stephen King's creepiness throughout, and I absolutely loved it! I had not read Jennifer Hillier prior to reading this novel, but that's definitely going to change. Hillier delivers a diverse, unique, and most importantly, interesting novel with Things We Do in the Dark. It draws you in and consistently feeds you tidbits of information, which of course makes you want to keep picking up the book.

Personally, I love thrillers that avoid relying on an unreliable narrators to build interest, so Things We Do in the Dark feels like it was written just for me. If you like storylines out of chronological order, True Crime Podcasts, and flawed, but interesting main characters, this is the book for you!

A well-earned 5/5 stars for this one.

4.5/5 Jennifer Hillier has done it again another fast-paced suspenseful thriller. Truly enjoyable and kept me wondering which way the story would go. A great summer beach read.

After reading Jennifer Hillier's Jar of Hearts and Little Secrets, I was dying to read her latest. It did not disappoint. Paris Peralta is arrested for the murder of her famous comedian husband and things are not looking good for her. All evidence is pointing her way. Paris has worked really hard to escape her abusive past and now she is scared that all her dark secrets are about to be exposed. As we travel through her shady past, we realize that Paris is no stranger to murder. As the life she has built starts to unravel, we journey through twists, turns and a story that keeps us guessing. Put this one on your want to read list- it is a good one! Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. #netGalley#ThingsWeDoInTheDark #JenniferHiller

🤯 So many twists! Up until the end, I was kept in the dark guessing.

Paris is accused of murdering her famous husband. She has a dark history she is afraid of uncovering. The book follows different characters and times to unravel what happened, who did it, and who is Paris.

Being nit picky: I wish the book had names for the chapters (past, present, etc). I feel like initially that would have helped with the jumps in story line and characters. I felt like they introduced Paris then moved on quick to Drew and Joey. It made sense later, but wish those were more blended. It took me a bit to really get into, but once in it, I was HOOKED until the end.

*The book deals with graphic/more adults subjects: gruesome murder, strip clubs, etc. so be aware.

After waking up on the bathroom floor with a bump on her head, Paris Peralta is horrified to find her celebrity husband dead. Covered in blood and holding the supposed murder weapon it’s obvious the police think that she did it. Paris can’t help but think about all the unwanted media attention this will bring. That’s not the only thing she’s worried about.

Twenty five years earlier the Ice Queen Ruby Reyes was in a similar situation. Convicted of murdering her significant other, her story was widely popular. Ruby has a connection to Paris. She knows who she really is and what she’s done. Ruby threatens to expose Paris and with her unexpected release from prison, Paris scrambles to figure out how to handle the situation. She has worked too long and hard for everything to fall apart now. Will Paris be able to confront her haunted past without shattering her chance for a better future.

Thanks NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Jennifer Hillier is a phenomenal story teller. Her books draw you in from the beginning and keep you guessing the whole time. I love her suspense- it always gets me. I devour everything she writes within a weekend and this book was no exception. Can’t wait to see what she comes out with next.

I just finished reading "Things we Do in the Dark", by Jennifer Hillier. Thanks you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
I would definately classify this as a thriller. The main character Paris Peralta is charged with killing her husband who is much older than her. The story unfolds according to different view points and time frames. Going between the past and the present, we meet a young girl names Joelle who herself is a victim of abuse. What is the connection between Paris and Joelle. The twists and turns of this book make the revelation very satisfying. The characters in this book are very likeable and easy to root for. The character of Ruby is a true villain and adds an edge to the intrigue in the book.
I liked that there were no slow parts in this book. The story flowed at a steady pace. I also liked that the story partly took place in Canada. That was cool.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. Very interesting plot line with a satisfying ending. I think all readers will enjoy reading "Things We Do in the Dark".
Happy Reading!

Paris Peralta is found, covered in blood, and holding one of her husband's straight razors. Behind her in the bathtub, her famous comedian husband, Jimmy, is found dead. Well, if that isn't how you get a reader's attention, I don't know what is. Despite being married to a celebrity, the last thing Paris wants is all of the unwanted attention since she has secrets of her own and a past that she doesn't want to catch up with her.

25 years earlier, Ruby Reyes, was convicted of a very similar crime in Canada. She knows Paris's true identity and threatens to expose her when she is surprisingly released from prison. From here the story goes between present day and Ruby's very troubled past which includes her daughter, Joey.

The book is divided into 6 parts, each part stars with clever song lyrics which I loved. I actually liked Paris and it was easy to see how her past influenced her present day life and choices. Where I had to suspend belief was Paris marrying such a high profile celebrity, given that she desperately wanted to hide from her past. While the book delves deeply into the backstory, I would have enjoyed learning more about Paris and Jimmy. This would have added to the story and balanced it out a bit. Ruby and Joey's story is very disturbing and broke my heart.
While the first major reveal was easy to figure out, the final reveal was really quite good and I didn't see that one coming. Despite this being my least favorite Jennifer Hillier novel, I really enjoy her writing and will continue to read anything that she writes. 4 stars.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Jennifer Hillier, and Minotaur Books for my advanced eARC.

I have not read a book by this author that has not been a fabulous read! When I finished all I could say was WOW! The intriguing story kept my interest the whole time. I savored it and didn't want it to end. Paris/Joey's story was heartbreaking, but I loved the satisfying ending. So glad Drew was persistent. This is a book I will recommend over and over.

FINALLY a 5 Star read this year!! Jennifer Hillier books never disappoint me and this one was absolutely AMAZING!!! I loved every single moment of this book. So much happened. So many twists and I was definitely mind blown half way through.. By far my fav read this year so far. I loved this story. I loved the characters and I loved all the twists that had my draw dropping!! Wow just wow is all I can say about this one. If you want an amazing, fast paced, jaw dropping book, THIS IS THE ONE!!!!!!!!

One of my favorite thrillers of 2021 was LITTLE SECRETS. It remains my favorite book by this author.

While I did figure out a few of the twists and how the two storylines were linked, Jennifer Hillier again was able to pull me in and keep reading until the end. I love her ability to throw me down an unknown path. In reading the description, I had NO IDEA that many trigger warnings (such as parental abuse, child abuse, child rape) were needed. Yet, I did like how this one ended.

Thank you to Net Galley and Minotaur Books for an advance copy of this compelling novel. It was the first I've read from Jennifer Hillier.
When the story opens, Paris Peralta is arrested for the murder of her wealthy, much older husband, comedian Jimmy Peralta. When she arrives home early from a business trip and finds him dead in the bathtub, she slips and hits her head, so she's not entirely clear about what happened. She doesn't think she killed Jimmy, but she's not sure, and she doubts people will believe her. Fortunately, attorney Elsie Dixon, Jimmy's oldest friend, agrees to help her prove her innocence.
Worse than the murder charge, though, is the publicity, which forces Paris to face a past she left behind years ago in Toronto. Ruby Reyes, a notorious killer, is being released from prison, and she reminds Paris that dead bodies tend to turn up whenever she's around. Ruby, seeing that Paris stands to inherit a sizable fortune if she's cleared of the murder charge, demands payment for her silence.
At about the 20% mark, the POV switches from Paris to Drew Malcolm, an investigative reporter who is doing a story about Ruby Reyes. Drew has a personal interest in the story as he was once friends with Ruby's abused daughter, Joey, who perished in a fire when she was in her early twenties.
Later, the POV switches to Joey, then periodically back to Paris.
Parts of the story were somewhat predictable, but it was still an enjoyable read. The characters were nicely developed, and I felt the ending was satisfying.

I really enjoyed this one! While it was fairly predictable, I loved the tenseness while waiting for the other characters to figure out what was going on. There was a lot of alternating between POV and past/present, but it was done really well. The ‘past’ chapters really complemented the present chapters and helped you really know the main character more fully. The pace, while not fast, was very steady and kept me interested the whole time.

Actor and comedian Jimmy Peralta is found dead in his bathtub, and Paris his younger new wife is the obvious suspect. With media surrounding her, Paris a worried her disturbed past will come to light.

Drew, a true crime podcaster is featuring his next podcast on “The Ice Queen” a woman who killed her wealthy Banker boyfriend in the late 90s. Now 25 years later, he is doing a deep dive into the case as Ruby Reyes is up for parole. But Drew has a personal connection to this case, his best friend Joelle (Joey) was the daughter of “The Ice Queen.”

Told from multiple timelines, and through multiple perspectives we find out who Paris was and what shaped her into who she is now. My heart ached at all the trauma and neglect that Joey had gone through in her childhood.

Okay, this is my first Jennifer Hillier and I am officially a fan! This was one twisty rollercoaster of a thriller that kept me guessing until the very end.

Read this if:
* You enjoy a twisty thriller
* Like a story of vengeance and fictional “true crime”
* Overcoming a difficult childhood

⚠️ TW include: murder, child abuse and sexual abuse, grief, and substance abuse

Paris Peralta awakens to find herself in the bathroom with her husband’s body in bloody water in the bathtub. She has a bump on her head and a straight razor in her hand, and is surrounded by police and ultimately charged with his murder. Her husband, famous comedian and wealthy 68-year-old Jimmy Peralta, was three decades older than Paris. With Jimmy’s history of drug abuse and mental instability, there is a chance his death was suicide and not murder, but will Paris be able to prove that she didn't kill him?

Ruby Reyes, a beautiful sociopath dubbed the “ice queen,” is about to be released from prison after serving 25 years for murdering her married boyfriend.

Drew Malcolm never got over the tragic death of his friend and roommate 19 years ago. Drew’s research for the fifth season of his hit podcast, Things We Do in the Dark, begins to dig up information about what happened to her.

Joey is a young girl who is sent to live with her aunt and uncle after a life filled with abuse and tragedy.

How these characters are connected and whether Jimmy died from murder or suicide provide enough drama and suspense to propel the reader quickly through this novel. There were a few good twists along the way to keep things interesting, including some surprises at the end.

An easy read without much foul language which I always appreciate. Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

If you are a fan of thrillers, jump on for the ride. Paris wakes to find herself covered in blood...not hers, but her husband, who lays dead in the bathtub with his agent screaming that Paris is the guilty party. Enter Elsie, her husband's oldest friend, to defend her, but only until she can find someone more suitable. There is an enticing back story that most readers will recognize but the drive to confirm my suspicions kept me reading. I didn't totally buy who the killer ended up to be which factored into my 4, instead of 5, star rating. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early copy.

Paris is married to Jimmy Peralta The Prince of Poughkeepsie, a beloved comedic actor twice her age who is one the comeback of his career, until Paris finds him dead in his bathtub and accused of his murder. Needless to say this is not the kind of attention wants, especially since she started receiving threats prior to Jimmy's death, from a long time enemy threatening to reveal all her secrets. Will Paris prevail or will the Ice Queen get the last laugh. Pick up Things We Do In The Dark immediately to find out.

I really enjoyed the page turner. First, I have been looking to read more AAPI mystery/thriller writers so I am thrilled to have stumbled upon Jennifer Hillier. Next, I loved the diversity of the characters, the fresh perspectives of an Filipino protagonist made this revenge story new. I think Ms. Hillier is a very talented writer/story teller I was hooked from the very beginning and nothing about the blurb prepared me for this story's craftsmanship. Now one draw back is that the non-linear timeline could sometimes be confusing, but once I acclimated myself it did not detract from my enjoyment of the book, it is told in three separate timelines from two very different narrators. I can definitely see recommending this book to both new and seasoned suspense readers. Well done 4.5 Stars