3.5 stars rounded down.

An intricately plotted and leisurely paced mystery which worked really well as an audiobook.

Paris Peralta is accused of murdering her husband, famous comedian Jimmy Peralta, but she can’t prove her innocence without dredging up the past. We are just settling into this story when we flip into a completely different one, in which Drew, a true crime podcaster, is researching the upcoming release of Ruby Reyes, the notorious “Ice Queen” murderer. What’s the connection?

That’s it on the plot front as I don’t want to give away any of the surprises (mostly expected but one or two are not) which are expertly woven through the different time periods and places. Suffice to say it all knits together very satisfyingly.

The leisurely pacing of the story (this is quite a long book) really helped on the audiobook front, giving me, the listener, plenty of time to absorb the swerves as they came. There is some fairly upsetting material here, related to physical and sexual abuse of children, and the narrator does a decent job of making this horrifying but not prurient. The narrator grew on me over the many hours we spent together - I initially found her to be a little robotic but I settled into her delivery and she keeps the many characters distinct and tonally appropriate.

Overall, I enjoyed listening to this as part of my Covid isolation but I feel I may have got a little impatient with it as a read.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for a review copy of the audiobook.

This was my first Jennifer Hillier book and it will definitely not be my last -- Things We Do in the Dark was one of the best thrillers I have read this year. It starts with the murder of Paris Peralta's husband, comedy legend Jimmy Peralta. Paris discovers Jimmy bleeding out in his bathtub. Paris is arrested for the crime -- the problem is, she has an alibi but revealing her alibi would open another can of worms.

This was most definitely 5 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I have read her other books, and they were beyond creepy. This one was definitely scary, but not creepy. It had more of a supernatural feel to it. It was an awesome book. My second favorite by her.

Paris has been accused of the murder of her famous husband. She knows this is what she should be most worried about. Sadly, this is not the case. She is terrified of the media. When her face is plastered all over the country, she knows her past will come back!

Paris is lady with many faces. At first, I didn’t quite know what to think about her. But, as the story starts to unfold, her past tears my heart up! I could hardly stand her being hurt all over again!

I am big fan of this author. I have read all her books and they are all intense, especially Jar of Hearts. This book is right up there with it! I absolutely loved the mystery surrounding Paris! You knew enough as a reader to know not all is as it seems. BUT…you just don’t know it all till the end!

Need a great story which will have you guessing…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

I really enjoyed the audiobook of Things we do in the Dark by Jennifer Hillier. It was a gripping tale of a woman who is suspected of murdering her husband. She is found in the bathroom, holding a razor blade while he lays dead on the floor. Although this looks really bad, it is not as bad as someone from her past who recognizes her and can destroy her life forever. I loved the twists and turns in the book. It really kept me reading and intrigued until the end. I would definitely recommend this book to my book club and for my library. I give it a solid 4 stars.
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC and for my honest review.

Enjoyment: 5
Total rating: 5

Things We Do in the Dark by Jennifer Hillier

Things are not looking good for Paris when she is arrested in her own bathroom, covered in blood, holding the weapon that killed her celebrity husband. Surprisingly what worries her is not the looming murder charge but the media attention her case brings.

Paris has worked really hard to build a new life, and now she knows someone from her past will find her and force her to confront the past she is running from. It's not long before Paris finds Ruby, recently released from prison, back in her life, threatening to expose all her secrets... Left with no choice, Paris must finally confront the dark past she escaped once and for all.

"the only thing worse than a murder charge are two murder charges."

I went into Things We Do in the Dark with very high expectations, which is not always good. But unfortunately, this is a hole Hillier dug for herself - it's her fault for releasing increasingly better thrillers.

I am happy to report that not only did she not disappoint, but this is also her best novel yet. Everything about Things We Do in the Dark felt "real." Hillier describes places and situations and gives life to characters, making the reader feel like they are hearing a first-hand account of horrific events that happened to a close friend.

The little details and the immense emotional pull attached to them always get me when reading a Hillier. I have always felt transported to the worlds she creates and taken them for granted as I have never been to the west coast of the U.S. Parts of Things We Do in the Dark take place in the GTA, an area I am very familiar with, and the way she subtly captured the essence of places described is mind blowing.

Her books are gritty and dark. No question about it, but they are also nuanced. Her main characters are flawed; they make mistakes and accept responsibility, but they fight. Paris is all that and so much more. I cried most of the book for her. Her life wasn't easy. She was raised by an abusive, toxic mother and has faced more loss than anyone should endure. Yet, she allows herself to offer all she can to those she loves. All I can say is that I wish I knew Paris in real life. What a woman.

I have no more words - unforgettable characters, tense atmosphere, perfect pacing, beautifully plotted. Emotional, entertaining and visceral. One of my favourite books of the year.

I have read the book and listened to the audiobook, and all I can say is - get both! Reading Hillier is an experience, and Carla Vega met the challenge.


Disclaimer: In exchange for an honest review, I am thankful to the publishers, and NetGalley for providing a copy of Things We Do in the Dark

This was my second book by Jennifer Hillier and once again I wasn’t disappointed. The book has a compelling opening that immediately draws you in as Paris, the main character, wakes up on her bathroom floor surrounded by police officers, covered in blood, confused about how she got there and why she’s holding a straight razor…and her celebrity husband dead in the bathtub. Paris denies killing her husband, but her internal narration reveals that she has a lot of secrets and and is being blackmailed by a notorious murderer awaiting parole threatening to reveal Paris’s true identity and the past she’s been hiding from for years. The story alternates between past and present narration by multiple characters, and Hillier does a masterful job of pacing her plot, developing the characters to keep you invested, and giving enough information to let you to figure out pieces of the mystery while keeping you guessing about how they connect to reveal who Paris is and what happened to Jimmy. She also avoids outlandish twists or unbelievable plot points by explaining exactly how the characters were able to accomplish certain actions and what motivated them to make decisions.. Well written, engaging, and creative- highly recommend!

Paris Peralta has the dream life. Her husband is a rich and famous comedian, she owns her own yoga studio, they live in a mansion and she has a 200,000 wedding band. Everything is perfect until her husband Jimmy commits suicide and she is swept up into the allegations as murder suspect number one. The media attention threatens everything she has worked for not to mention it threatens to expose her for who she really is. She is not Paris Peralta, and while she didn't kill Jimmy, she has killed before and this could ruin everything.

Told in a series of flashback cut scenes to her life from before, Paris must process her own trauma and childhood sexual abuse as well as her trauma from her abusive mother.

Overall I really liked this book. I was engaged and wanting to know the truth behind Paris while I was reading. My one critique would be the meandering plot path. I feel like the story and details could have been told in a more succinct manner which would have made the book more engaged. Aside from pacing, I loved this book. Paris was a character we weren't sure if we could trust at the beginning and by the end of the story you will question everyone in Jimmy's circle.

I also appreciate how Hillier handled the abuse scenes. Paris disassociates during the act, as many abuse victims do, and as an abuse survivor this was hard to read but I felt she handled the topic as gently as she could.

This was my first Jennifer Hillier, and I really enjoyed it! I can see why she’s loved by so many, and I want to read some of her older books now!

The way the timelines were woven between past and present were woven together so well! They fit together seamlessly by the end of the book!

I loved the mix of a true crime/podcast element added to the story which built to the mystery throughout the book.

This is a twisty story of wealth, lies, secrets, and running from your past. I was so engrossed! I didn’t see any of the twists coming, which is my favorite type of thriller!

Overall, a solid thriller filled with many twists that will keep you invested!

Switching identities, multiple murders and a monster family. This book did not disappoint. I found myself rooting for Joey and Paris the whole time. This is my first Jennifer Hillier book but it definitely wont be my last.
If you enjoy a story where everything is not what it seems you will enjoy Things We Do In The Dark.

In terms of thrillers, Things We Do in the Dark is one of the most forgettable ones I’ve come across in recent years. In fact, I almost hesitate to classify this as a thriller because despite the marketing it seems to function much better as a work of contemporary fiction. It touches on heavy topics like child abuse and the impacts of maternal neglect ranging across generations in a way that reads much more like a contemporary novel than one instead driven by a fast pace and high stakes more typical of the thriller genre. This book also features a dual timeline that so intently focused on the main characters' childhood that it didn’t leave much room for the present day timeline to really ever dedicate itself to what it tried to present as a mystery. This instead came across more as an exploration of Paris’s childhood and how it led to her current situation on trial for murder, and how that establishes her character. Which is fine. But it’s still not a thriller.

I don’t think a thriller needs absurd plot twists along the way or even a big reveal at the end to really sell me on the experience. But be it the timeline swapping that could have removed Drew’s entire POV and not impacted the story in the least or the lack of tension in the present day timeline, I was underwhelmed. Not in a way that I would highlight anything particularly bad per se, but the only distinct feeling I was left with having finished this was how little I knew it was going to stick with me even days later.

I think this book could work for people going into this expecting much less a thriller, and more a family drama with a vague and predictable mystery plotline lurking in the background. As this is my first attempt with Jennifer Hillier, I’m not sure if this is typical of her “thrillers” or just a poor one to start with. But while I’ll laud her for exploring these dark topics in a gritty, unpleasant reality I don’t think the pacing and plotting of Things We Do in the Dark ever sold me on the premise.

Thank you to the publisher Macmillan Audio for providing an audiobook ARC via NetGalley for an honest review.

This is a 5-star thriller! From the moment that Paris Peralta is charged with the murder of her older, rich and famous husband, the reader is quickly led to believe that Paris possesses a past full of secrets--and that murder may be among them. But, did she have reason to kill her husband? The story moves back and forth through an examination of the life that Paris has created in Seattle as a yoga instructor with a solid marriage, and the life she led once upon a time. As she tries to escape the murder charge, she is being blackmailed by a woman who is serving a life sentence for the long-ago murder of her lover, and this woman was also the mother of a young woman who perished in a house fire. Is there a connection between these disparate events, or are they simply connected to Paris? And, who exactly is Paris? As each event is explored--and new details come to light--the tension builds. I was fascinated by the characters and the relationships between they as they are unveiled, and I loved the perfect resolution! Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this beautifully-narrated audiobook. I have already started recommending this book to friends!

Jennifer Hiller shows that your past can always come back to haunt you:
Paris Peralta wakes up on the bathroom floor, covered with her husband's blood and she is being arrested by police and charged with his murder. The case looks really bad and with her husband's celebrity status she knows that there will be a lot of media coverage, something that Paris wants desperately to avoid. Twenty-five years earlier Ruby Reyes, The Ice Queen, was convicted of murdering on of her lovers with an ice skate. Ruby recognizes Paris, knows her secrets and threatens to expose them all.

This is the first book that I have read by Hiller and it was a good book, but I will say that my expectations were let down a bit with all the rave reviews I have been seeing. I enjoyed the plot, characters, pacing and LOVED the format that this book is written in (dual timelines) but I found that the book was predictable and I was able to figure out all of the twists, I missed having something shocking come my way.

I really enjoyed Paris as a character and everything that she has gone through to get to this point in her life. The amount she has suffered and dealt with you know that she is a strong individual. It was such a happy point to see her find love with Jimmy and finally have a life that is worth living.

I'm a big fan of duel timelines as I find that you get to know characters better and this case, it is very much before and after some really critical events. I also liked the addition of Drew's perspective that enters later in the story as through him we get some of the investigative information (though I think that this information was wasted a bit) around the Ice Queen and Joey's death. I wish we would have had a final chapter of the podcast that Drew wrote about the Ice Queen, I think it would have been an interesting take and would have brought the book full circle in a way.

I was pretty shocked at the warnings that were given before this book and with those warnings I thought that the book would be a lot darker than the book was. Yes, the events that are warned about in the book happen, and they are not overly glazed over but they are not given in such a full description that I think that it warrants warnings at the beginning. I have read books that had no warning about any of the subject and they were much more descriptive and darker in nature than this book.

This was a good book, more character driven than plot driven, as I did find it predictable. As this is the first book that I have read by Hiller, I look forward to reading the other books that she has already released.

Enjoy!!!!

Paris Peralta has tried to live a quiet life, married to retired comedian Jimmy Peralta, working at her yoga studio and living in their large home. She avoids social media because she has secrets and knows someone from her past might recognize an image of her and she will have to face the demons from her past. Jimmy has a lot of demons. Paris is not his first wife. When he was working, he was using drugs and drinking, but he is sober now. When is assistant hooks him up with a streaming company, he signs a contract to do three specials, which forces them into the public eye. After the first show became a huge hit and the second is in the can, something terrible happens. Paris returns from a yoga convention to find Jimmy dead in the bathtub. He has bled out and she can't save him. When the police arrive, she is on the floor covered in blood, holding his straight razor. She is immediately arrested for his murder. Meanwhile, someone from her past has found her and is about to reveal all the secrets she has tried to keep hidden.

I really enjoyed this story. I don't want to give it away because it is best to go into it with only the information given in the synopsis. There are dual timelines as we learn about Paris' past and the secrets she is keeping. The present story is Paris' arrest, and the investigation to find out what really happened to Jimmy. There are not a lot of characters so you get to know them and form your own opinions, of course I was wrong plenty of times. I liked the present timeline much more than the past, as there was a emotional and physical abuse in the past. I wanted Paris to find a friend, a real friend to help her deal with all that was happening, not just someone she was paying to do so. As always in Jennifer Hillier's books, there were several twists, and the final one had my jaw drop. If you enjoy a psychological thriller and are okay with some reference to parental abuse, then this is a book for you. It is gripping from start to finish. Carla Vega does a wonderful job with the narration. She gives great voices to the characters which along with the descriptions in the story, allowed me to picture them easily. Her tone and expression was perfect to build up the tension. I definitely recommend this audiobook, if you enjoy that format.

Jennifer Hillier is definitely an auto-buy author for me and this book did not disappoint. It is dark and gripping with so many twists and layers. The way Hillier weaved this story was so engaging and I felt so invested throughout. Paris was such a complex character and I could not put this book down wanting to get all the puzzle pieces to fit together. Definitely a wild ride of a psychological thriller and so well done!

This book starts out with main character Paris Peralta waking up with a head wound next to her dead husband and covered in his blood. She is quickly charged with killing her rich and semi famous husband.
Now a whole bunch of characters join the story as it unfolds according to different view points and time frames, there is a true crime podcaster with a personal angle, a convicted murderess trying her hand at extortion, a victim of child abuse who gets dealt one bad hand after the other, a personal assistant who seems a bit too eager and the deceased’s best friend acting as defense attorney … The twists and turns of this book make the revelation very satisfying. Some characters in this book are very likeable and easy to root for, others are more dark and villainous all are intriguing well developed people.
The story flowed at a steady pace set in Canada and the US!

Thank you to Minotaur Books, Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an ARC and ALC of this book.

Things We Do in the Dark
By: Jennifer Hillier

Narrated by Carla Vega

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗪𝗲 𝗗𝗼 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝗿𝗸
𝗕𝘆: 𝗝𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗿
𝙉𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝘾𝙖𝙧𝙡𝙖 𝙑𝙚𝙜𝙖




Happy Pub Day to a 2022 favorite thriller of mine!

🖤📚🖤

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗪𝗲 𝗗𝗼 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝗿𝗸
𝗕𝘆: 𝗝𝗲𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗲𝗿 𝗛𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗿
𝙉𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝘾𝙖𝙧𝙡𝙖 𝙑𝙚𝙜𝙖

🖤📚🖤

#ThingsWeDointheDark, may be my favorite #JenniferHillier book yet!
Such a great storyline and characters! I need a tv adaptation stat!

#CarlaVega’s narration is perfection!

Thank you so much, @jenniferhillier, @MacmillanAudio, @minotaurbooks, & @NetGalley, for my early #audiobook to read & give my honest review! Five stars!

Paris Peralta is found in the bathroom dripping in blood with a straight razor in her hands, her beloved comedian husband dead in the tub behind her, she must be guilty right? The normally calm yoga teacher who prefers a night at home, is now thrust into the spotlight, and obligated to defend herself. With all the new attention, Paris is forced to confront her past she has so carefully hidden before it destroys her future, and in order to do this she has to relive all kinds of trauma to move forward.

Ruby Reyes aka the Ice Queen made national headlines twenty five years ago when she was convicted of brutally murdering her married lover. Now, out early for good behavior, she sees the headlines and she knows Paris’ real identity. She requires a little bit of blackmail money to keep a secret and fund her new life as a free woman. She figures Paris, if found not guilty of murder, will have plenty of money to go around. And she owes her.

This book, like most mysteries/thrillers reads very fast. Carla Vega did a great job with the audio version. Fair warning there are quite a few triggers, most frequent being child abuse: mental, physical, and implied sexual. Things We Do in the Dark is a good add to the genre, though I wish the author would have done more to reinforce how smart and clever Paris actually is. Get ready for a lot of twists you won’t expect!

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and of course Jennifer Hillier for the advanced copy. Things We Do in the Dark is out now. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this book! It had a bunch of twists and turns that I did NOT see coming, but I really liked it. I do think it could have been a bit shorter, but overall it was a good quick read!

3.5 stars rounded up

Entertaining mystery with well developed, interesting characters that kept me engaged throughout despite the ho-hum plot. The two plot twists were fairly predictable and expected, especially to readers of mysteries. Would recommend to patrons looking for a quick summer read, but would advise readers about the rape and child abuse content.

Audiobook narration was excellent with distinct voices for each character. My only issue is that at times it was a little hard to follow the time shifts with the minimal clues given. Might have been easier with a print version, but it didn't detract from my enjoyment of the story.