Things We Do in the Dark by Jennifer Hillier
3 🌟

What I loved:
-- Twists and turns in this WHODUNIT mystery
-- Narration by Carla Vega -- great character differentiation

What I didn't love:
-- A bit flat and unbelievable.
-- Jolty plot that had me going back to catch up on which POV I was listening to (switches between Paris, Drew's snd Drew's characters)
-- Not easy to listen to and focus on without full attention

Thanks to Macmillan Audio for the listener copy.

I enjoyed the storyline of this book, but at times found it repetitive. Loved the references to Canada and that this was written by a Canadian author.

I listened to about 20% and felt like this was predictable and nothing had happened. I heard great things about this one but I didn't really care enough to continue on.

This is one of my most anticipated reads of 2022. However, this book was listed as a thriller. After starting the book (I have both ebook and Audio) I realized the book is not a Thriller. So, If you have every intention reading this book based on it being a Thriller, I would find another book to read. However, If you go into this read knowing it's not. You may enjoy this book. I did not though.

If you are interested in this author and have not read anything by her, I would start with her previous works first!

I am lucky to have the audio and ebook versions to read/listen to, especially since there are mentions of Filipina culture. I am a bit partial to the culture, food, and Filipino language and think the audio version made me enjoy the book more than reading it did. I am becoming a big fan of Jennifer Hillier and this book did not let me down. There are many twists and turns that I did not expect.

This was my first experience with Ms. Hiller's work and I have to say I'm glad I picked it up. I listened to this story as audiobook, and I really enjoyed it. Paris' story is emotional, gripping, and I was totally surprised by the plot twist that came along. The story takes you on an emotional ride, but also a suspenseful one, and you don't know what's coming next. The twist at the end was a real surprise, too. No matter how hard Paris tries to run from her painful past, the lies have a way of catching up with her and exposing it all. The story caught my attention from the start and kept my interest all the way through. I became completely immersed and caught up in Paris' story. I think the narrator did a good job of distinguishing each character and bringing them to life. Plenty of suspense and intrigue kept me turning the pages to see what would happen next. The unique plot made this a very suspenseful and interesting read.
I received a complimentary audiobook copy from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

Things We Do In The Dark
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Thriller
Format: Physical Book and Audiobook
Date Published: 7/19/22
Author: Jennifer Hillier
Publisher: Macmillan Audio (audiobook) and Minotaur Books (physical)
Pages: 352
Narrator: Carla Vega
Goodreads Rating: 4.07

TW ⚠️: Child Emotional Abuse and Physical Abuse.

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Macmillan Audio and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

Synopsis: 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. 25 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.

My Thoughts: While I got the physical from BOTM, I got the audio from NetGalley and I am so GLAD I did. The narrator is fantastic and really breathes life into the characters and just does an amazing job with the voices; it is a replica of listening to a movie. The details and emotions was mind-blowing. The story is narrated by various people so you have to pay attention so you know who is heading the chapter. The secrets, betrayals, lies, and scandals was top notch. The characters were well developed with depth, mystery, emotion, and creatively written. The author’s writing style was complex, suspenseful, twisty, and just brilliant. The story starts with a bang, then the backstories of the various characters are built, the plot is delivered in layers of twists, and then the ending is one final whoa where did that come from twist. This book released last month and I would highly recommend picking up and I would recommend the audio over the physical book due to the amazing narrator.

This book just wasn't for me unfortunately. I did not feel very invested in the storyline and did not find myself liking any of the characters. The premise of the story is what drew me in and I was excited to listen to it, but there was just too much going on for me in the plot that did not seem relevant and I did not vibe with any of it. I'm giving it 3 stars because while it was not my cup of tea, I think it was still a good book for folks who like slower paced mysteries. The audiobook itself was well done though!

This was an entertaining read full of twists and turns. I would definitely recommend it to my fellow thriller lovers.
It was at time predictable but I enjoyed the whole journey.

I’ve read a lot of thrillers lately, and I have to say this is one of the best!

I really liked how the story was told through multiple POVs, and through different time periods. There were so many angles within the plot, that I was left on the edge of my seat multiple times throughout the story. That to me, is a sign of a great thriller.

The story starts in Seattle with Paris Peralta being accused of murdering of her famous comedian husband. Paris claims she didn’t do it, and is forced to prove her innocence … all the while running/hiding from her past life back in Toronto.

I loved how the author used various POVs to tie in the storylines of the characters. Jennifer Hillier did a great job of writing this one!

By far, my favourite part of the story was how the title of the book was tied into the story *Chefs kiss*

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good suspenseful thriller, and loves stories told in multiple POVs and timelines.

This story may have an Ice Queen, but my review is lukewarm. 😬

⛸ REVIEW: THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK ⛸

By Jennifer Hillier

📖 SUMMARY: Paris Peralta is arrested for the murder of her celebrity husband. It’s her worst nightmare, and not because of the murder charge — all the media attention might mean that secrets from her past will come to light. She’s somehow connected to Ruby Reyes, a.k.a. The Ice Queen, who has spent 20+ years in prison for murdering her lover. Ruby knows who Paris really is… and she isn’t willing to stay quiet.

💭 THOUGHTS: I saw so many positive reviews for this book, so I was excited to jump on once I was approved for the audio ARC on Netgalley. Unfortunately, this book fell flat for me. It didn’t pack much of a punch because I guessed every single twist. However, I still enjoyed the storytelling. After a big chunk of the book from Paris’ POV, we switch to another character and it’s like starting another book, until you find out how the connect. I thought this was well-written and the audiobook narrator did a good job, but ultimately, it wasn’t for me. I think readers would enjoy if they typically don’t see twists coming in thrillers.

Thank you to @netgalley and @macmillanusa @macmillan.audio for the ARC. This came out in July.

✨ RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

🥰 YOU’LL ENJOY IF: you like a story that spans decades and has lots of twists and turns

I highly recommend listening to the audiobook if you can. The narrator does a great job with this twisted story! There are several warnings before the book begins about possible trigger subjects, and I think the author handled them well.
This is the first book I've read by this author and will definitely check out her other books. We have a dual story, and although we know how the two are connected, the author does a fantastic job of weaving intricate details to both stories where we need to read more to find out what plot twist will happen next.
Paris Peralta's story is one of a woman with great wealth mourning the sudden death (murder or suicide?) of her much-older-but-loved famous husband, a death that is now shining a spotlight on her. One Paris tried very hard to stay away from.
We also have the story of ice queen, Ruby Reyes, and her abused, ignored, assaulted, down but not not giving up daughter, Joey. Joey has kicked, clawed, and done things she'd rather forget, just to get out of the horrendous life she grew up in. These two stories are well written and even though you can guess some of the outcome, you likely won't guess every twist and turn.
Great story and a fantastic job by the narrator! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me a copy.

Unlike other reviewers, I greatly preferred this book to Hillier's previous bestseller Little Secrets, which lacked characterization and depth. I loved the main character of Things We Do In the Dark, a girl from the wrong side of the tracks who marries a much older man. As someone who was married to a man 19 years my senior, I felt the dynamics of their marriage and her genuine feelings of love and tenderness toward her husband were well described.

The book opens with this older husband dead and our protagonist covered in his blood. How she got to that point is revealed gradually, as is her darker history, her relationship with her husband, and her relationships with the other characters in the book, including with a woman attorney who represents her. Motivations seem genuine, feelings seem real, and I was completely swept away by this story.

I also am always happy to be reading a book by someone who isn't a white woman (as the majority of the books I read are by white women) and I appreciated the references to the main character's Philippina background. (I appreciate Hillier's ability to let us know her characters are American first, as well.)

Thanks to Netgalley and McMillan Audio for providing me with a free advanced copy of the audiobook version of this novel. It was a pleasure to listen to this compelling story.

This book grabbed me on page one and did not let me go! I loved the character of Paris and the peaceful life she built with Jimmy before his death. Then when the backstory started to take the driver’s seat and we learned about Joey and Ruby, I was thrilled with the mystery of what happened all those years ago in the house fire. Things lost steam when the murder charge facing Paris was so quickly resolved. The tension of the book disappeared and at that point it felt like a checklist to tie up remaining plot points. Even so, it was still a 4 star book for me.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the gifted audio with pairable nail glow! Things We Do in the Dark was a blend of dark mystery with a dash of thriller. The audio is narrated by Carla Vega with smooth tones and emotional grip.

Hillier touches on a few dark topics that I did not expect but found really well done. From sexual and physical child abuse, drugs and seedy situations; the title was pretty fitting considering all things involved. I also found this to be a book I wouldn't want to explain the plot for. It's almost like giving away the plot points if I tried explaining what happens. Stick to the synopsis, its much better going in blind with the way this is setup.

I do feel less could've been more. Some things were slightly predictable in the whodunit aspect and some scenarios weren't as plausible as I like. However, having Vega narrate kept me glued to the audio rendition. The cadence and tone along with her character voice elevated the plot for me.

For readers who enjoy suspense novels with darker topics and uniquely done storylines, I'd recommend this one to you.

Things We Do in the Dark is a story within a story. It is that inside story that gets the most time and from alternate views. The original story is that invented but the hidden crime is entertaining and affects everything these characters do from the beginning. I just wish there was more time on the murder story.

🎧 Audiobook Review 🎧⁣
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⁣I’ve really enjoyed some of Jennifer Hilliar’s past works (especially Little Secrets) so I was super disappointed to find myself feeling very MEH about Things We Do in the Dark. It just somehow missed it’s mark. I wanted more twists and turns! ⁣
⁣⁣
⁣Instead- we got a thrilling opening bogged down with a lot of plot! Plus- I never really felt connected to the characters. It was entertaining and a quick listen, but I doubt I will ever think about it again after writing this review. ⁣
⁣⁣
⁣I’m going to give this one three stars… ⭐️⭐️⭐️ They are lots of people raving about it though, so I’d still encourage you to check it out… especially the audiobook. ⁣
⁣⁣
⁣Thank you to NetGalley for a free audiobook ARC in return for my house review.

Thank you NetGalley, Dreamscape Media, and Jennifer Hillier for this advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Wow. This book was so good! Every time I thought I had figured it out, something happened and I wasn't sure of anything anymore. I didn't finally know for sure what had actually happened until nearly the very end. There were some really emotional and sensitive parts in here that Jennifer Hillier did such an amazing job tackling. Quite a few times I had to hold back tears because I was so connected to the main character. Wonderful writing and I highly recommend to all!

Carla Vega did a spectacular job narrating the audiobook. She really brought the characters to life and showed the emotions of them so well.

This was my first foray into Hillier and it started out slowly (for me). And then came the end of part two, and I was completely hooked.
The story went back and forth between a few different narratives and time frames. There are multiple mysteries going on at once. But somehow, it did not get confusing and just made me want to keep reading as I was putting the pieces together.
The narrator did a great job with the different voices. The rate and lilt made it easy to listen.

I liked this book so much more than I thought I would!! It was a little slow at first, but once Drew’s storyline came in with the podcast, I was hooked (though it did take me a minute to figure out what was going on with the narrative shift!)

I like thrillers where the plots don’t go too off the rails, and this one achieved that. The characterizations and plot twists remained believable and Hillier’s writing was allowed to take center stage by building interest and tension. I did sort of see some of the twists coming, but that didn’t take away from my enjoyment listening to the story.

The narration here was good. Nothing was distracting and I was able to listen without being taken out of the story. Nothing was spectacular, but I didn’t need it to be! I found the narrator easy to listen to and her voice matched the character I visualized in my head.

This probably won’t be on any “best of” lists at the end of the year, but it’s a solid and worthwhile read for thriller fans or even those looking for a less “scary” thriller read.

Thank you to Macmillan audio and NetGalley for the review copy of this book!