Member Reviews
House of Glass is a tense thriller following our main character Stella who has been called on the case to help a 9 year old girl Rose through a difficult situation.
Rose’s parents are both fighting for full custody in the midst of a messy divorce, the judge has reached an Impasse due to recent events involving the suspicious death of Roses nanny, a case that has since gone cold due to lack of evidence.
The problem is either parent could be a killer, and Stella is facing the impossible task of finding the safest home for Rose to live in, something even the police couldn’t figure out.
It is clear from the first time Stella steps foot into Roses home that something isn’t right. She senses a dark presence within the home, an unnerving feeling she can’t seem to shake. The more time she spends on the case the more she realizes there’s more than two suspects, anybody could be the killer and she has to race to figure it out whilst also battling demons from her own past that have begun to resurface.
This is a bit of a slow burn but the tension is palpable from the very beginning, throughout. Rose gave me the creeps from the getgo, a traumatized mute young girl who has a habit of collecting sharp objects.
The setting is very ominous, a large estate void of any glass which seems to be harbouring an evil presence. A dysfunctional family keeping secrets and telling lies. Dark clouds overhead that seem to get closer and closer the more Stella is triggered by her own past traumas.
This is definitely a bingeable read and I enjoyed the sinister tones throughout. The author did a great job of making the writing contrast between menacing yet poetic.
Thank you to NetGalley and saint Martin’s press for an advanced copy!
Thank you so much to NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC. I LOVED this book! I was on edge the whole time trying to figure out who the killer was. When I thought I figured it out, it took a whole turn and I didn’t see it coming!! I love a creepy/angry kid story and this was it!! Highly recommend!!
I received an ebook copy from NetGalley and the publisher.
I had read an earlier book by this author and remember that it packed quite a wallop, with a mid-book twist to end all twists that I did not see coming. I was interested to see what else this author had written.
Other reviewers have offered brief synopses of the plot and characters, and I will not repeat those here. I agree with those readers who could not put the book down, although I did actually manage to put it down when it was way past my bedtime. As is a usual thing with me, I did not guess whodunit until all was revealed at the end. The author tied up the loose ends quite nicely, not leaving the reader with unanswered questions. The protagonist had a personal twist at the very end which I found unnecessary to the overall story, and I gave the book 4 stars instead of 5 because of this.
Read through two sittings. It's a good page-turner. The twists keep readers on edge throughout the book and are original. The pacing is at the right speed, fast/slow enough for the reader to follow and understand, and still feel the tension. I like how the more the book advanced, the less Stella could trust the people around her, and it could be felt with the writing. I also liked how there were two intrigues, one with the own personal life of Stella and one with the Barclays at the same time. Nice, deep character development. I would recommend it to readers in general, not only mystery and thriller readers. It's a strong four stars.
What a creepy book! So atmospheric and twisty…I’d recommend this well paced psych thriller that kept me guessing until the end!
Thank you very much to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Best Interest Attorney Stella has quite a job ahead of her trying to determine which parent Rose should live with following her parent’s divorce. The more time she spends with each family member the more difficult the decision seems, especially with Rose’s trauma induced mutism that reminds Stella of her own traumatic childhood and makes her even more determined to help Rose. It seems like everyone, including Rose, has a hidden agenda and there are twists around every corner that will keep you guessing until the very end.
I had to go to work with 100 pages left in this book and I couldn’t get home fast enough to finish it!
I’ve truly loved every book of Sarah Pekkanens that I’ve read so far! She’s become an auto read author for me. With that being said, this wasn’t my favorite of hers but I still really enjoyed it.
Admittedly, the “evil child” trope is my least favorite trope so the fact that I still enjoyed this book, says a lot.
House of Glass follows Stella, a best interest attorney, as she tries to unravel what happened at the Barclay mansion when the nanny fell through a glass window. Between the unsettling house and the shadiness of all of the family members, including their daughter Rose, Stella has to uncover all of the twisted secrets.
This book sucked me in and didn’t let me go until I finished. I didn’t love the twist or the way some things were way too conveniently explained and wrapped up. I feel like a journal type POV from the nanny would’ve sent this book to another level.
3.5 ✨
Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the copy of House Of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen. I chose this book because I knew it would be well-written and I would be immersed in the story. I was so immersed that I went to bed really early to read and stayed awake late to finish it. Both of the stories, one about Stella’s job determining which parent Rose should live with and the other drawing parallels to Stella’s past, were spellbinding and the writing was well-paced and didn’t let me stop reading. If you love a book with characters you will care about long after you finish it and will give you hours of reading enjoyment, this is the book for you!
4.75 stars out of 5
Wow, this book is full of twists and turns that I was not expecting. It was a real page turner that I could not put down. The characters were so well written and I felt myself getting invested. I loved Stella and I was so happy how everything in the end was all tied up. Overall, this was an excellent psychological thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. A must add to your reading list when it is published!
In House of Glass, the Barclay's nanny, Tina, had died after falling from a third story window. The police didn't know who did it. Turns out, Ian Barclay was having affair with Tina and she was pregnant with his baby. Beth Barclay and Ian Barclay are going to get divorced but are having issues with custody for their daughter Rose. Unfortunately, Rose has become a mute after Tina's death. Stella takes on Rose's case to try and help find the best solution for her and her family. She must get close to the family in order to make the best recommendation but as time goes on its clear something is wrong with this family.
Thank yo Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanan is one of the best thrillers I’ve read recently. It captivated me from the very beginning to the end. The author weaves a tense, edge of your seat story, that is the perfect thriller for readers looking for an engrossing read. Thank you to NetGalley for my copy.
What a wonderfully devious book!
The author played me like a freaking fiddle. Early on, I was so proud that I’d figured everything out. I was, shamefully, wrong.
I loved our characters – even our very wrong ones – and needed to find out the truth of everything.
Also, people are warped.
The book is eminently readable and definitely compulsive. And though I hate this word that publishers love – unputdownable.
Five stars.
• ARC via publisher
I have no words! This book was utterly brilliant and twisted. Rose is a troubled little girl with traumatic mutism and Stella is the BIA assigned to her. Stella is to decide which parent gets custody of Rose after their divorce. Strange things start happening the more involved Stella gets into this case. I don’t want to spoil anything so I’ll just simply say…. READ THIS BOOK
HOUSE OF GLASS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5. What a page turner! Stella on the brink of a divorce, with her own personal trauma is assigned a new child custody case. Her job is to be an advocate for kids during custody battles to give her opinion of the court on the best living situation for the child. Her newest client Rose is a 9 year old girl, who recently witnessed the death of her nanny, and now is torn between her 2 parents vying for her full time. At 68 short page turning chapters, this book will keep you guessing til the end. A really good psychological thriller!
So lately I have been struggling to get a few pages in before nodding off to sleep at night. Not with this book! I don’t know what kind of crazy magic was used here but this book kept me up! I couldn’t put it down!
I thought the characters were believable and the book had me guessing who done it until the end! This was a great read and a great book to get lost in!
Thank you to Net Galley for an advance copy of this book!
House of Glass is a fast read, the perfect psychological thriller for fans of The Bad Seed. I love Sarah Pekkanen and I think she gets better with each book! Stella Hudson is a Best Interest Attorney, and she’s assigned to Rose Barclay. The Barclay family are hiding something…or a lot. Rose’s nanny Tina just died at the house and her parents are divorcing, leading her to become mute from all the trauma. Who is protecting who? Was Tina’s accident murder, and why did the family remove ALL the glass from the house? Stella has to figure out all the answers while also dealing with her own personal trauma. It was full of twists and turns and actually made me gasp out loud once! Highly recommend!
I received an advanced copy from NetGalley in exchange for a review and opinions are my own.
I received a late Christmas present when I was given a chance to read and review Sarah Pekkanen’s latest thriller, “House of Glass.”
The novel begins with Stella assigned to represent the interests of a nine-year-old girl, Rose, who is part of a custody battle. Rose’s nanny, Tina, fell through a window of the family’s mansion to her death and it’s unclear who did the pushing. Rose is mute so Stella is challenged with finding a way for Rose to communicate her needs.
Told in Stella’s point of view, we get glimpses of her own backstory when she found her mother’s body and forced to live with an unsympathetic aunt. Stella was saved by Charley who plays an important role in this story (he was the one who assigned Rose’s case to Stella). Pekkanen keeps you guessing—who killed Tina—was it one of Rose’s parents or possibly Rose herself? The fact that the family lives in an eerie home that cannot have any glass inside it added a gothic layer to the tale.
I have said this before, but what makes “House of Glass” stand out in a crowded market of domestic thrillers is just how well the characters are developed; even the minor characters have layers to them.
This book does not come out until August, but you need to put it on your “must read” list now.
Four and a half out of five stars.
Thanks to Sarah Pekkanen, the publisher, and NetGalley for my advanced copy.
I received an e-ARC from the publisher for my honest review. This was a fabulous read! It immediately grabbed ahold of me and never let go. Stella is a lawyer who represents minor children in disputed custody cases. She normally only represents teens but is requested to represent a 9-year-old in a high society divorce. The husband had an affair with the nanny, who subsequently becomes pregnant and then dies suspiciously. The child, Rose, witnesses the death and is now a traumatic mute.
The author does an excellent job of weaving Stella's past with her interactions with everyone involved with Rose. There is mystery, intrigue, so much tension that all combine to make this a thriller. I can't tell you the number of times I whispered Oh no! or I wouldn't do that! to myself as I was reading. The action keeps you guessing to the very end.
Loooooooooved this book, the writing style was immersive and engaging and I smashed through it in 24 hours. I loved Stella and found all of the Barclays engaging, flawed and interesting. I could not put this book down until I figured out who topped off the nanny and it was a very satisfying ending.
Thank you to publisher for gifting me a copy. It is my pleasure to write an honest review.
I like the author and the plot twists.
Unfortunately I think she abruptly ended the story and was it necessary to hint at a gay encounter.
Seems to be the pc way in much fiction at this time.
House of Glass, penned by an enigmatic author, delivers a thrilling narrative that captivates readers from the very first page to the exhilarating climax. The author masterfully weaves a tapestry of tension, leaving readers on the edge of their seats as they navigate through a web of deceit, mystery, and psychological trauma.
At the heart of the story is Stella, a seasoned counselor, whose own haunting past parallels the harrowing situation she is thrust into. Entrusted with the task of determining the best custodial arrangement for nine-year-old Rose in the aftermath of her parents' impending divorce, Stella is faced with a formidable challenge. The complexity of the situation intensifies as Rose, traumatized into muteness, grapples with the fallout of her father's affair and the mysterious death of the pregnant nanny. The narrative brilliantly unfolds through layers of suspense, presenting readers with a myriad of clues that keep them guessing until the very end.
One of the novel's strengths lies in its intricate portrayal of the characters. Stella's own traumatic history, marked by her mother's drug addiction and subsequent demise, adds depth and complexity to her character. The shadowy presence of Charles, a multifaceted figure who has played various roles in Stella's life, further enriches the narrative. The exploration of their relationships adds emotional resonance, creating a rich tapestry of interconnected lives.
The central mystery revolves around uncovering the truth behind Rose's muteness, the nanny's demise, and the unsettling atmosphere permeating the house. The author skillfully juggles multiple storylines, creating a narrative that is as intricate as it is enthralling. As Stella delves deeper into the secrets shrouding the fractured family, the reader is taken on a rollercoaster ride of suspense and revelation.
The pacing of House of Glass is impeccable, sustaining a relentless momentum that keeps readers engrossed. The gradual revelation of clues and the intricate interplay of characters create an immersive experience. The author's ability to maintain suspense until the very end is commendable, leaving readers in perpetual anticipation.
What elevates this thriller to greatness is the emotional depth woven into the narrative. The exploration of trauma, familial bonds, and the profound impact of secrets on individuals is both poignant and thought-provoking. Stella's journey becomes a metaphorical exploration of resilience, healing, and the pursuit of truth in the face of overwhelming darkness.
In conclusion, House of Glass is a literary triumph in the psychological thriller genre. Its compelling narrative, well-crafted characters, and expertly executed suspense make it a must-read for aficionados of the genre. The book's ability to keep readers guessing until the final pages, coupled with its exploration of complex human emotions, solidify its status as an absolute winner. Don't merely walk; run to secure your copy of this spellbinding thriller. The House of Glass beckons, promising an unforgettable journey into the shadows of the human psyche.