Jennifer Hillier has knocked it out of the park again! So many twists and horrible characters that you don’t know who to root for. It was gripping, emotional and non-stop listening for me. A dark ride that I am all in for!!
Paris marries Jimmy Peralta, a retired comedian who is much older than her and when he is found dead in their apartment, she is presumed his murderer. But when podcaster Drew Malcolm does a series about the Ice Queen, who had also been charged with the murder of her much older lover, and is now about to be released from prison after serving 25 years, it threatens the tightly woven web that Paris has created for herself to escape her past.
Drew has also never gotten over losing the love of his life in a house fire many years ago. Joey was physically and verbally abused all her life by her mother and her mother’s boyfriends and drew wants to be her savior. But as he digs into the Ice Queen’s case, he finds links to the two cases that no one knew were there. Does Paris know something about how Joey died? Did she really kill Jimmy?
This was well written, well researched and being based in Ontario (my former home) I was able to relate to a lot of the places that were mentioned along the way which added a whole other benefit for me. I can’t wait to see what she writes next!
The audiobook was well done as well. Strong narration with very distinguishable character differences.

When Paris Peralta is arrested in her own bathroom—covered in blood, holding a straight razor, her celebrity husband dead in the bathtub behind her—she knows she'll be charged with murder. But as bad as this looks, it's not what worries her the most. With the unwanted media attention now surrounding her, it's only a matter of time before someone from her long hidden past recognizes her and destroys the new life she's worked so hard to build, along with any chance of a future.

Twenty-five years earlier, Ruby Reyes, known as the Ice Queen, was convicted of a similar murder in a trial that riveted Canada in the early nineties. Reyes knows who Paris really is, and when she's unexpectedly released from prison, she threatens to expose all of Paris's secrets. Left with no other choice, Paris must finally confront the dark past she escaped, once and for all.

"She can kill with a smile, she can wound with her eyes" Billy Joel, WHAT AN OPENING


I really like Jennifer Hilliers writing and this book definetly kept me on my toes. however maybe too much plot? Is that a thing? just felt the story got bogged down in all the backstory.... the ending didnt have as big as a payoff.

Will read anything she writes

Canadian author Jennifer Hillier is a go to author for me. Her previous books have been captivating and some of my favourites.

Things We Do in The Dark releases next week and again she has written a captivating story that is a touch grittier and comes with trigger warnings.

After her arrest Paris isn't 100% concerned about the murder charge, well she is but it’s her past that she has worked hard to bury that could come back to haunt her. Told from a couple POV and jumping to the past this book was addicting in its mystery and heartache. There was a diverse cast of characters, some I could barely tolerate and others I wanted to hug. This is a dark domestic gritty story of despair, hope and strength. There is abuse and violence, so not for the faint of heart.

On one hand I liked the ending, it was satisfying but it did leave me wondering, well honestly I can't say much more without giving something away.

I did a combo read and listen. Carla Vega was the reader and did a great job bringing Paris's story to life. She is always a pleasure to listen to.

My thanks to Minotaur Book and Macmillan Audio for advanced copies in exchange for a honest review.

4/5 Stars

What makes a perfect thriller? Twists, suspense, complex characters? Things We Do in the Dark has all of this and more. It is your quintessential contemporary thriller. Following multiple perspectives and timelines the novel is guaranteed to peak reader’s interest from the first chapter.

Paris, wife of a famous comedian finds herself charged with his murder. Despite the murder charges Paris has a bigger concern… what if this newfound publicity exposes who she really is and where she came from?

Flashback twenty-five years prior and Ruby Reyes is charged and convicted of a similar murder. Only weeks away from being released for this crime Ruby knows who Paris really is and is ready to expose all of the past’s dark secrets.

There wasn’t anything wrong with this book in fact it was near perfect. The only issue, I was able to guess many of the twists. I have a feeling those who read thrillers extensively will have the same issue. However, I think this is an excellent novel for those new to the genre or for people who just want something fun and engrossing to read.

. It is a rare occurrence that I say no characters in a book fell flat, but this is an exception. All the characters were fully developed and had their own unique and intriguing voice. I particularly loved the sections narrated by Paris. Her story was the most intriguing to me and I enjoyed her character’s candid inner monologue

Overall, a very good read that has everything you want in a thriller.

This mystery suspense was my second novel by this author and she’s done a really good job pulling the reader (me) into her stories.
This one pulled on my heartstrings because I’ve been through a lot of what the main character experienced. Turbulent, abusive relationships and a good dose of mystery drove this.
Paris felt so shut down until I began to understand her story. I found all of it good but there was something bugging me. I still can’t put my finger on it. Like maybe something wasn’t said that needed saying. I don’t know but over all a good novel. I chose to listen to this book on audio and Carla Vega did a great job. I highly recommend listening to this one.
Thanks Macmillan Audio via NetGalley.

📖🎧BOOK REVIEW🎧📖
🌟🌟🌟🌟
Publishes: JULY 19, 2022

Jennifer Hillier has done it again! I was sucked into a dark and twisted hole of suspense and secrets. And completely blindsided by some of them. The ending was superbly gratifying. It’s such a treat each time JH releases a new book!

Paris is a fascinating and complex character, to say the least. She married a retired comedian, thirty years her senior. Of course, she was depicted as a golddigger. And now she’s the prime suspect when she finds Jimmy murdered in their home. She’s found holding the murder weapon and immediately arrested. But did she do it? JH takes us down a mystifying “rabbit hole” to discover the truth.

<i>“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.”</i>

LITTLE SECRETS and JAR OF HEARTS are still my favorites but I’ve yet to read one of her books that I didn’t enjoy! I was lucky enough to receive both the ebook and audiobook, which I alternated between. The narrator was incredible! I’m already itching to read Hillier’s next book.

Sincere thanks to Macmillan Audio and Minotaur Books for providing complimentary copies through Netgalley and Edelweiss. This review is my honest opinion.

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#mysteryandthrills #thrillerafterthriller #readwithme #bookaddict #thrillersofinstagram #bookrecommendations #bookstagrammer #coloradoreader #lovebooks #thrillerfiction
#bookreviewersofinstagram #lovetoreadbooks#cantstopreading #fortheloveofbooks #comingsoon #favoriteauthor

Things We Do in the Dark was a fun, fast paced thriller. This was my first Jennifer Hillier read and I look forward to reading more of her work. Overall the twists were pretty easy to predict and did not really shock me but I did enjoy the writing. I appreciated that there were Pacific Islander and Black characters.

CW: child abuse, sexual abuse, pedophilia, murder, discussion of suicide

The story opens with Paris Peralta covered in her much older celebrity husband's blood with a weapon in her hand. To the naked eye, she's obviously the murderer and she's charged with her husband's murder, but all Paris can think about is how this attention could potentially uncover the secrets of her past and leave her penniless, destitute and without a future.

Drew is a journalist and podcaster for "Things We Do in the Dark." He's especially interested in the Ice Queen herself, Ruby Reyes, for his next podcast episode. She's about to get out of prison after serving time for murder.

Ruby is trying to get some money out of Paris by blackmailing her, but what is it about these two very different women that connect them? Perhaps Paris knows some information about the tragic death of Ruby's daughter, Joey, and Drew wants every bit of information since he was the last person to talk to Joey on that fateful night.

I loved both Joey and Drew's characters the most in this story. Joey's story was so sad to me. She experienced so much abuse, heartache and trauma during her years as a child and teen, mostly by the hands of her toxic mother and uncle. Some parts of the book can get very dark and disturbing, so pay attention to the trigger warnings.

I finished listening to this audiobook in two days because I just loved it so much. I became so invested in the story and the characters and so curious as to how it was going to all transpire in the end that I just put my whole life on hold for a couple days and pressed play. I encourage you to do the same. You won't be disappointed in this one!

Special thanks to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an ALC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Things We Do in the Dark, by Jennifer Hillier, is a complex, emotional, captivating dark thriller that follows two timelines and two plots that are connected to one another, but also distinct. Paris Peralta is found by her dead husband’s side, in shock, with a potential weapon in hand. She is hauled off as a suspect and the story truly begins from there.

Paris suffered a ghastly childhood and has had to make her own way in life. Intriguingly, Paris was not her childhood name, and not only does the story reveal her tumultuous past and how Joelle (aka Joey) became Paris, but it also follows her notorious mother Ruby, the “Ice Queen”, newly released from prison and discloses her story. Eventually the two backstories collide into the present and we uncover who is responsible for the death of legendary comedian, Jimmy Peralta.

Things We Do in the Dark contains some content that is quite graphic and there is some language included, but I also found it to be a very engaging story that made me feel for the characters. The author reveals the human side of Joey (Paris). We get glimpses of her affection for, and true connection to her older husband, Jimmy Peralta. We see her friendship with a fellow dancer who struggled alongside her, and we witness a second chance at friendship and love. Some have said the mystery was obvious and expected, but I didn’t think so. I thought the story was gripping and captured my attention throughout its entirety. While it wasn’t my favorite thriller of the year, it was a compelling, well-written, impactful story and I’m glad I read it.

I will add that the narrator of the audiobook was fine, but wasn’t my favorite. I found her to be a bit bland, unnuanced, almost bored sounding, but she was understandable and the story was well told regardless.

Wowowow this book. Dark, intriguing, mysterious, twisty, creepy, and so many other adjectives bouncing around my head when I’m trying to think of how to describe this. It gripped me from the opening pages and I literally couldn’t stop reading because I was so invested. I looooved how Hillier split the books up into different parts, and each one ended with a huge reveal/cliffhanger. It kept me engaged and wanting to know more. And this was another example of a plot that kept me guessing about wtf was going on. I changed my mind so many times and in the end I was completely wrong 🤯 There we’re so many different moving pieces of the story but done in a way to at wasn't too complicated and came together in a satisfying way.

But I’ll stop there so I don’t spoil anything because this really is a book to dive into blind. I would just like to note that there are some very intense and disturbing parts of the book so pay attention to the content warnings on this one. I liked that Hillier began the book with a disclaimer about this, I do think it’s so helpful to know whats coming to be prepared. I’ve copied it in the content warning section below.

Rating: 5/5 ⭐️
Read if you like: whodunnit, mysterious leads, multiple POVs, multiple timelines
Content Warning: murder, child abuse, sexual violence, suicide, addiction, racism, body shaming, misogyny

Wow. It’s so hard to say that you like a book with such difficult and potentially triggering themes, however, this story captivated me and was full of twists and turns. Very enthralling, some likable and some despicable characters, and definitely holds your attention throughout. I reviewed the audiobook version for NetGalley, and the narrator was fantastic.

When Paris Peralta is found in the bathroom covered in blood next to her dead husband who in the bathtub, the police ask “did you kill your husband?” She responded “I don’t know.”

Jennifer Hiller is masterful in her writing of twisty thrillers. I appreciated the trigger warnings: child abuse, rape and murder. The story is a story within a story going back and forth between Paris and her mother Ruby Reyes, the ice-queen and Paris and her dead husband Jimmy, the famous comedian.

IF you are wanting a thriller, you will not be disappointed. The book kept me guessing. The narration was well done.

Thank you #NetGalley, #MacmillanAudio, #MinotaurPress, #St.Martin’sPress #JenniferHiller and #CarlaVega for the advance audio version for my honest review.

This was an amazing read! The story kept me guesing and I was not able to figure out the ending. Twisty, thriller! Loved it.

5 AMAZINGLY DARK AND OMINOUS STARS for yet another BRILLIANT NERVOUS NAIL BITING, HOLY F*****, DIDN’T SEE THAT COMING, Jennifer Hillier masterpiece: Things We Do in the Dark. JH you wonderfully talented, yet sort of psychotic (in the best way possible) minded scintillating author, knocked it out of the park AGAIN! Little Secrets captivated me, Jar of Hearts disturbed me , TWDITD emotionally wrecked me, ALL three of these were gripping and un-put-downable , masterfully written wonders by Jennifer Hillier, but this one was truly the first to stop me in my tracks, catch me off guard and give me CHILLS!!!

My husband and kids are literally pissed at me because they know I will be checked out until I am finished with ANYTHING Jennifer Hillier offers ! Luckily , it usually only takes me 1-2 very quick days because I can’t sleep, won’t stop, cannot put down her books and Things We Do in the Dark does not disappoint!

I was riveted immediately, “Did you kill your husband Mrs. Peralta? I don’t remember….” Covered in blood, holding the murder weapon of her very old, very rich, very famous husband we begin this twisted story. Paris’s life begins to unravel and this is just the beginning of this wild ride. Polite Paris has a pain filled, repressed life, which we soon come to find is filled with secrets.

Three narrative POV’s intermix brilliantly and as I haven’t seen quite like this before from this author, Hillier brings the weaving back together reliably and effortlessly . I find even the most heinous dislikable characters reliable, psychologically layered, and beyond complicated.

RUN OUT ON JULY 19th and GET THIS BOOK, its a SICK and TWISTED WINNER!

Special thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for sharing advanced audio copies in exchange for my honest review .

What a great read! I loved this book, it kept me on my toes and dying to know what happens next.
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When Paris’s husband, the infamous Jimmy Peralta, is found dead in his bathtub, everyone looks to her. Why else would a woman 30 years younger than him marry a millionaire???? With Paris in the limelight, her past skeletons comes back to haunt her (literally).
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I loved the narrator in this book, she did an excellent job of portraying Paris, probably one of my favorite yet on netgalley. This was a 4.5 read for me !

MC Paris is found with the dead body of her husband (Joe), with a weapon in hand. Paris doesn’t remember what happened and is soon arrested for his murder. Paris is also being blackmailed by someone from her past (Ruby Rae), a past she has tried hard to bury. True crime investigator podcaster, Drew, is still looking for answers on the death of his friend, Joey, years ago; the friend who just so happens to be the daughter of Ruby Rae and past friend of Paris. Current and past lives intertwine and weave into a story of lies, deceit and loss. Another great read from author Jennifer Hillier!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion and review. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4.5 stars!
When Paris’ famous husband who was a comedian is found dead in their mansion with her holding the weapon, she immediately becomes a suspect. Paris becomes paranoid when she is thrown in the spotlight by the media. She has a dark past she is trying to cover up as this isn’t the first time she’s been accused of murder. How long can Paris keep her past a secret?

This book had two dual investigations going on which I loved! There was so much to get into as both storylines evolved. There were lots of little twists and I loved the Canadian setting! It was so cool being able to actually envision where some of the events were taking place. There was representation for Filipino culture as the main character was of that descent. The narrator on the audiobook was excellent. I listened to this one on audio and read it thanks to @macmillan.audio, @stmartinspress and @netgalley. There wasn’t really a big surprise but I just really enjoyed this one. This author is becoming an auto-buy for me!

Thank you to the publishers, author and NetGalley for the free copy of this audio book.

This was a very enjoyable read. Plenty of suspense and it kept me guessing. The switching timelines was well done, and I really liked the characters. The narrator was good too!

This book started off very strong. Part one totally had me hooked. However, part two had me wondering what was going on? BUT stick it out! It all pulled together as I hoped it would and I totally understand the switch in gears. Loved the book!

Thank goodness this came with trigger warnings of all sorts because this novel was INTENSE. Jennifer Hillier has such a gift in being able to tell a story while completely creeping you out at the same time. And I love it.
Paris Peralta wakes up one morning in her husband’s bathroom. She’s covered in blood. He’s dead in the bathtub, luxuriating in blood. He has a fatal cut. She’s holding the straight razor. That’s how the police find them.
However, Paris didn’t kill him…and yet she’s arrested on suspicion of murder.
Elsewhere in the world, Investigative Journalist Drew Malcolm is getting ready to produce a new season of his podcast…focusing on convicted killer Ruby Reyes. She’s about to be released from prison. It seems that Ruby knows who Paris is (and is blackmailing her for all her secrets), but how?
I read this book in one day. That's how good it is. Edge of your seat thriller!

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur for a copy of this e-arc.*