It's quick to hook you and it doesn't let go, Things We Do In The Dark has a tight mystery that is a tough code to crack even for a seasoned reader. My only complaint is that the opening line is super out of pocket and doesn't really fit with the rest of the tone of the book. The unreliable narrative works really well and is composed well, the information is broken off as necessary, and isn't too info dumping. The premise is a young yoga instructor, Paris, marries an older comedian that dies in suspicious circumstances. She's found holding a straight razor covered in his blood when the cops arrive. trigger warnings for substance abuse, abuse, and suicide.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book. I enjoyed this thriller that flashes back between present and past, introducing new mysteries while advancing the premise of wife charged with husband's murder. A great read.

i don't remember the last time i was so solidly engrossed in a thriller—this has undoubtedly been jennifer hillier’s most magnetizing work yet.

i love this genre because it's compulsively readable by design, fanning an urgent need to flip pages until we reach that a-ha! moment of resolution and catharsis. jennifer hillier’s prose builds on the fundamentals of the thriller/mystery genre - she writes in such a fluid, compelling manner. i felt spurred to read faster and faster, if only to uncover all the twists she had in store.

also, she wields the end-of-chapter cliffhanger really well, melding the content of one chapter into the next, dangling mesmerizing bits of plot before the reader, keeping her characters' secrets close to their chests - but also scratching my itch for clarity and information.

it's a delicate balance, keeping your reader engaged but not pissed off!

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picture this: you're paris peralta, a thirty-nine-year-old yoga instructor and happily-married wife to a celebrity comedian, residing in your beautiful home in a wealthy seattle neighbourhood. life is good - positively idyllic.

you wake with a razor in your hand and your dead husband's blood splattered all over you and your bathroom.

you are arrested and charged with his murder. you're swarmed by paparazzi and rubberneckers; you can't go to work; all your friends (except one) abandon you; you're torn apart by the internet wolves.

oh, and did i say that life was good for you before this? i forgot to mention: you're being blackmailed by a notorious canadian murderer who's been locked up for twenty-five years. because you've got secrets - dark, twisted, horribly painful secrets - that are just begging to be let out.

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i haven't read a thriller that's satiated - let alone engrossed - me in ages, and things we do in the dark absolutely did both.

most of the time, i'm dissatisfied with a thriller because 1) the twists are too predictable, 2) the writing is too choppy or bland, 3) there's too much suspension-of-disbelief required, or 4) it's pushing some pretty problematic messages about women, BIPOC, queer folks, and other marginalized individuals and communities.

i'm happy to say that, for me, this novel managed to dodge those landmines!

even though i guessed a big chunk of paris' backstory fairly early into the plot, it didn't diminish my enjoyment of the book. which is odd, right? but here's why: firstly, because hillier kept me hooked by peeling back layer after layer of paris' backstory, fleshing out the why and how beyond just the what that i'd predicted. i also liked that the book switched between past and present, between seattle and toronto, and between the POVs of paris and drew malcolm (an investigative-journalist-turned-hit-podcaster from toronto).

secondly, this story hit so many personally resonant points for me. in key ways, my history mirrors the author's and the protagonist's: i am a woman of colour who's resided in toronto for the last several years, yet i grew up in the pacific northwest. it meant something extra to me - truly near and dear to my heart - to read about toronto, canada (zellers, of all things!), and the pacific northwest, as well as reading about paris' filipino culture. not to mention, i appreciated the diverse and casual rep in this ownvoices thriller.

last thing i want to mention: this is a really dark book. BAD things happen; all the worst things you can imagine. the women in this novel suffer, repeatedly, at the violent hands of unrepentant men. and still, these women have agency and power, and vindication and resilience, and, eventually, the last word.



many thanks to netgalley and st. martin's press for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you for the advanced copy of this book! I will be posting my review on social media, to include Instagram, Amazon, Goodreads, and Instagram!

Oh, my god, poor Paris Peralta. I want to give her booze and a hug or something. And maybe a little something to get the knives out of her back.

This is a nicely twisty mystery and the ‘who’ of everything completely surprised me. Like, I did not see that coming at all!

The characters are fabulous – you love them or you love to hate them and one of them is so wrong they’re right!

The prose is sharp and the suspense is non-stop.

This one was just so much fun!

*ARC via Publisher

Jennifer Hillier does it again, 5 suspenseful stars for Things We Do in the Dark! This was my third book by Hillier and she has quickly become one of my favorite thriller authors, I will happily read anything she writes.

Things We Do in the Dark has everything I look for in a thriller: realistic characters, police investigation, a murder mystery, a well-thought-out dual timeline, and multiple twists.

I don’t want to give away too much as far as the plot is concerned (maybe even skip the blurb) because the less you know, the better. Things We Do in the Dark is a fast-paced thriller that will have you turning the pages until you reach the mind-blowing conclusion.

Thank you to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Pub Date: July 19

Review to be posted to Instagram @book_grams closer to publication date.

Hang on to your hat, it’s a wild ride! When Paris Peralta is found by police next to her husband’s dead body, she’s covered in blood and holding a razor. Immediately arrested for suspicion of murder, Paris relies on her late husband’s oldest friend to mount a defense on her behalf. But Paris has secrets, many of them, starting with her mother. This book has so many twists and turns, I couldn’t stop reading!

Thank you to NetGalley for an early copy to review. I really enjoyed this thriller. Part 1 and 2 mostly read like 2 different novels and I forgot they were the same (I listen to an audiobook at the same time I read books so occasionally I get things mixed up). But by the end of part 2, you realize the connection, if you haven’t already figured it out. I truly enjoyed the pace of everything that happened. I liked the character development of everyone and I appreciated how everything played out. The ending was very satisfying. Jennifer Hillier is a fantastic storyteller and I definitely look forward to reading more from her.

TW: child abuse, rape

All hail the Queen of Darkness! I only discovered Jennifer Hillier in the last year. After stalking her entire backlist, I was thrilled to get approved for this arc and it didn't disappoint! Things We Do in the Dark had a dual narrative and was told in dual timelines with perfect execution.

I think this is my favorite book of hers I’ve read so far! Captivating thriller that will hook you from THE FIRST LINE (IYKYK)

Thank you NetGalley & Minotaur for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

“Technology sucks, kid. Always best to go old school.”

Whew what a ride! Things We Do in the Dark is a compelling, dark, and haunting thriller. When Paris’ celebrity husband, Jimmy Peralta, is found dead in the bathtub and Paris is next to him holding a straight razor, it’s not looking good for her. Especially when he’s thirty years her elder and worth a LOT of money. But with a past she doesn’t want to come to light, Paris is more nervous about media attention than murder convictions. Told from dual perspectives, this story goes between past and present to wind the whole twisty tale together. While I was questioning what really happened to Jimmy for the whole book, there was so much else unfolding and a couple other big twists. I did find those on the easier side to guess, but the story was so engaging that I wanted to keep reading to find out if I was right and see what else happened. The subject matter of this book is dark, so definitely look up trigger warnings.

Thanks to Minotaur books for the copy of this ARC.

No surprise here, but Jennifer Hillier did it again! Her writing style does always captures my attention immediately. Things We Do in the Dark was compelling, heart-wrenching, and filled with so many secrets — filled with revenge, secrets, and a woman who will do anything to protect the secrets of past life while attempting to keep it hidden. As always, Hillier is masterful. This book had me on the edge of my seat until the very end. You will not be able to put this book down.

Thank you to Minotaur Books + NetGalley for my e-copy!

I enjoyed this book, as I expected I would based on my experience with this author. The story centers primarily on Paris, who is accused of killing her much older husband. You also get an alternating story focused on Drew, who is trying to figure out what really happened around a friend’s death years ago and a jailed woman getting ready to be freed. The 2 stories weave together until they converge in a satisfying way.

Both Drew and Paris were likable characters and I enjoyed the flashbacks that further characterized them and provided their backstories. The mystery around the death(s) was well written and believable, including twists that I didn’t see coming. The end tied up everything nicely and left me pleased with the story as a whole.

Overall, another winner from Hilliard that I would recommend to those who like mysteries and psychological thrillers. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 ⭐️

Holy dual timeline / mysterious past / terrifying family /everyone is shady af / what did I just read / thanks I loved it, Batman!

Paris Peralta wakes up in a pool of blood. Her famous husband’s blood. She’s holding a straight razor. He’s in the bathtub, and he’s not waking up.

Paris has lived this whole other life prior to the one she shared with her comedian husband, Jimmy. One that she’s kept hidden. One where she went through unspeakable things to survive.

With a high profile criminal case like this in the media, long-buried secrets don’t stay that way for long.

DUN Dun duuunnnnnn

Loved the character building, especially for it being a thriller. No shortage of shady people that have you questioning intentions. Typically, in time-hopping novels, there will be a timeline I will prefer or want more from. In this book, both timelines are fierce. FIERCE. I was in a hurry to finish, and now bummed it’s over. #UnPutDownable

Will you guess some of the reveals? Good chance.

Will it matter? Absolutely 👏 not 👏 for 👏 me. The writing is that captivating. The story that bewitching.

Pre-order, go on NetGalley, set an alarm for your Libby App, tell a friend, become a librarian, tattoo it on your arm- it’s out July 19th.

I’m feeling super freaking blessed for having read this as an arc. It is fabulous. I think Bookstagram is going to go wild about it. Thank you to @NetGalley, @StMartinsPress and @jenniferhillierbooks ! Also @booksndoggos for the buddy read ♥️

4.5/5 only because there were two little loose ends I had wanted answers to.

Final Note: This new thriller does a deep dive into all forms of abuse, so if that’s a trigger, this ain’t the one. It’s dark dark. Thought that was worth a mention.

Thanks to Netgalley, St. Martins Press and Jennifer Hillier for this ARC. First of all, Jennifer is my favorite thriller/horror author so I could never say anything bad about her. This book just didn’t grab me like all her others. I guess after reading books like “Wonderland” , and “ The Butcher” (which left me afraid to sletp for days, 😱) , I was thinking this book would be as exciting. There wasn’t as much in this book for me as those others… Maybe it was my anticipation of another great one that leads me to this conclusion.
But having said that I still enjoyed this book and might even read it again to see if it gets me the second time around. Still it’s a 4 stars

Things We do in the Dark by Jennifer Hillier focuses on Paris Peralta, a young woman married to Jimmy Peralta, a comedian/celebrity much older than her. When she is found in the bathroom of their mansion with Jimmy's dead body in the bathtub, things spiral for her very quickly. She becomes the lead suspect in his supposed murder case. Luckily, Jimmy's good friend Elsie, who also happens to be a lawyer, agrees to defend her. Things aren't so simple because Paris seems to have some secrets of her own and possibly a dark past.
Then there is Drew Malcolm, a former journalist now running a podcast called "The Things We Do in the Dark". His next story deals with, Joey, the daughter of a woman named Ruby Reyes who is in jail for a very similar situation to Paris's. He's starting to see a connection between the two cases and his investigation keeps the story going.
There are a lot of twists and turns in this one that I thought I guessed, but then there were more surprises. It really kept my interest!I love Jennifer Hillier's books! When I saw this one, I knew I immediately had to read it. Her writing is crisp, sharp, and very engaging. There is never a dull moment and it's hard to put this book down.

Things We Do in the Dark was entertaining. I felt so sorry for the lead character, Joey/Paris. Her mother was such a witch! Her abuse was absolutely brutal. She pinched her to the point of crying, she put cigarettes out on her, she hit her repeatedly, and so much more. I was so pleased when she went to prison for murdering her lover. As far as I'm concerned, prison was too good for her.

And all Joey went through. All of the sexual abuse from her mother's lovers. The attempted abuse from her uncle. All she had had when she went to live with her aunt and uncle were her books. When she caught her 4 year old cousin shredding her books she slapped him pretty hard. Her aunt learned of the slap and took all of her books, including the two new ones she'd just purchased, and burned them. Joey got back at them though. When she fled from there she stole all of the money in the house.

Joey went back to Toronto where she became a stripper. Her best friend, Drew, frowned on that but it was what she had to do in order to earn enough to finally vanish. Her close friend, Mae, somehow found a way into Joey's apartment and when she got home she found Mae brutalized on her sofa. She knew her boyfriend had done it because he'd given Mae drugs and money to hold for him. He wanted it back but apparently Mae wasn't about to give it to him. Joey thought Mae was dead but she spoke to her. Joey wanted to call the police but Mae just wanted Joey to stay with her. She finally died. This was Joey's opportunity. She found the $100,000 that Mae had hidden in her room along with the drugs. So she had that money plus $40,000 she'd saved, and she had the drugs. She took off her necklace and put it on Mae and set fire to the apartment. The necklace was to identify Mae as Joey.

Joey went to her friend and bouncer, Chaz, to get a fake ID, a new birth certificate and a driver's license so that she could begin her new life as Paris Aquino. L

She went to Los Angeles where she met and married a man 29 years her senior, Jimmy Peralta who was a Hollywood has been. They moved to Seattle, his home town, to live a quiet life. But he was asked to re-start his career as a comedian and he was a big success.

When Paris went to a conference in Vancouver, BC Jimmy died. Joey went home early and found his body. She was then accused of murder. Jimmy's lifelong friend and attorney, Elise, agreed to be her attorney but she blew it when the DA introduced in the prelim a new will that Jimmy had had drawn up. Previously, Jimmy had Paris sign a prenup and was leaving her $1,000,000. In the new will he was leaving her $47,000,000, $5,000,000 to Elise, and $5,000,000 to his assistant, Zoe. Paris was exonerated when the coroner determined that the cause of death was undetermined.

Paris's mother was released from prison after 25 years on good behavior and with a statement from her lover's daughter basically letting her off the hook. Ruby, Paris's mother, started blackmailing Paris with the fact that she knew she was alive and that she assumed Paris killed Mae. She originally requested $1,000,000. Then she went up to $3,000,000. When she learned that Jimmy had died leaving Paris a very wealthy woman, her ask went up to $10,000,000. She asked her to wire the money but Paris had other plans. Her plan was to go see her mother and present her with a cashier's check for her original ask, $1,000,000.

When she got to Canada, Drew agreed to take her to her mother. Paris wanted the urn that held Mae's ashes because they could be tested for DNA. Drew waited in the car while Paris went inside to make the exchange. Her mother was not happy with the amount and wouldn't give Paris the urn. Paris said forget it and went outside. Her mother followed her out and told her that she'd take the check but Paris ripped it up. She was standing by a pond and her mother ran and pushed her in. Paris couldn't swim and the pond was deep. Drew jumped in and saved her but the urn she was holding drifted away. When Drew saw Ruby come outside he began taping her and he called the police. The police arrested Ruby for attempted murder knowing she'd be sent back to jail co complete her life sentence.

There was a bit of a twist ending as to what happened to Jimmy. Also in the end, Drew pretty much admitted that he cared for Paris. She told him she wasn't ready and that she may never be ready. I would definitely recommend this book for book club.

I adore Jennifer Hillier's books and this was no different. The book starts with Paris being accused of her husband's murder. The twists and turns were unexpected and kept me furiously flipping pages. 5/5!

This is my first Jennifer Hillier novel so I picked a copy of Things We Do In The Dark without any preconceived notions or expectations because I love a good whodunnit. What was interesting to me was not the mystery as to who killed comedian Jimmie Peralta in his own bathtub--that seemed was almost secondary--but the mystery behind his fifth wife, Paris Peralta. The book opens with police, guns drawn, telling Paris to put down the bloody straight razor and step away from her husband's body. It's a tasty beginning and Paris has some internal dialogue that makes the reader want to know more about the past she is hiding.

Then the narrative then switches to a man named Drew with a podcast called Things We Do In The Dark. He also has a past, however his is not full of secrets, but regrets, especially concerning his long departed dear friend, Joey. Drew wants to do a story on murderer Ruby Reyes, Joey's horrible mother, for his podcast. While a large part of the book focuses on a man with no obvious relation to Paris it is interesting, sometimes more so than hers.

Then the story comes full circle with multiple twists, some we saw coming, some not at all. And while the mystery has little suspense, it keeps the reader enthralled with a lot of 'aha' moments. It's well written and the changes in narrative are well done and not confusing. This book has made me interested in checking out Jennifer Hillier's other novels because I like how she tells a story.

Many thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of Things We Do In The Dark in exchange for an honest review.

Paris Peralta is married to a much older man, a rich famous comedian, who she finds dead upon arriving home. What is worse is the weapon is in her hand.

Another fantastic book by Hillier told in multiple POV's. I will say I did figure this out about half way through, however, this did not take away from the plot line. The book flowed and was well written. Hillier is definitely a go to author for me and a must read for Summer 2022