Mutism, monitor, and meaningful mentor.

After the shocking death of their personal nanny, the Barclay family has struggled. Rose, their child has become mute, and the parents are divorcing. Enters: Stella, a child advocate attorney. She is then connected with the Barclay family with similar personal trauma of her own. Within the time she spends with the family, more questions begin to surface.

I want to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this novel!

House of Glass ultimately questions two deaths, and the answers to both surprised me. I found Stella’s development throughout the story relatable, working through old trauma during her present situation. The tension continued to amp up as the book went on, pulling you into the dual mysteries. I enjoyed this novel and definitely recommend it.

This book was really good. It starts with someone pushing the nanny out the window and the police are unsure who did it. Stella is assigned to see which parent is a better fit for custody of Rose who has become mute after her nanny passed away. Stella is determined to figure out what happened to Rose but is she getting to close, is Rose dangerous?

3.5 ⭐

Attorney Stella Hudson is asked to take on a young client, Rose Barclay, a nine year old girl who witnessed her nanny's unfortunate death. Rose has gone mute from the trauma of the event. Stella relates to this situation all too well, as she also stopped talking when she was a little girl and had discovered her mother's deceased body. Stella makes it her mission to help Rose heal and put her in the best environment possible.

At the time of the Tina's fall, Rose, her mother Beth, father Ian, and grandmother Harriett were all present at the Barclay's mansion. Stella must find out who may have been possibly involved in the death to protect her young client.

My opinions:

I was enjoying this book until the last 100 pages. If the book would have just stopped while it was ahead, it wouldn't have been a bad thriller. It was predictable, we knew it had to have been one of three people who killed Tina, but it was still entertaining enough. The whole thing with Charles was eye rolling. Harriett going to SUCH lengths (hidden cameras, recording conversations, spying, the taser) just to be lazy and no longer have to work. LOL. Imagining an old woman trying to chase you down to murder you was comical. It was too much. Then Stella suddenly becomes bisexual out of no where. The book started out fine, but it tried far far too hard.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for access to the ARC of this book! I truly appreciate the opportunity!

Wow, this one grabbed me from the beginning and it was hard to put down! Read in a day! Interesting storyline and several twists I didn’t see coming! Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

If you’re a fan of twisty thrillers, this is for you. Sometimes twists give me a bit of whiplash. However, what I loved was the house as a character. Books that do that well are catnip for me and this was no exception.

Thank you to @netgalley and @Stmartinspress for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to @macmillian.audio for a free download of the audiobook.

House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen is a gripping psychological thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat with its suspenseful plot and unexpected twists. As a fan of Pekkanen’s work, this book certainly did not disappoint.

What I Loved:
Suspense and Twists: Pekkanen masterfully weaves a tale full of suspense and unexpected turns. The plot is intricately crafted, keeping you guessing until the very end. Each twist adds a new layer of intrigue, making it hard to put the book down.
Character Development: The characters are well-developed and complex. Their motivations and secrets are slowly revealed, adding depth to the story and making their actions believable and engaging.
Atmosphere: The setting of the house itself adds to the eerie and tense atmosphere. Pekkanen’s descriptive writing brings the house to life, making it almost a character in its own right.

Audiobook Experience:
Narration: The audiobook, narrated by Laura Benanti, enhances the suspenseful experience. The narrator’s ability to convey the tension and emotion of the characters adds an extra layer of depth to the story. Their pacing and tone keep you engaged throughout, making it a compelling listen.

Overall, House of Glass is a thrilling and suspenseful read that will appeal to fans of psychological thrillers. Sarah Pekkanen delivers a story full of twists and turns, making it a perfect read (or listen) for anyone who enjoys a good mystery.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

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Thank you for allowing me to read this book as an ARC.
The storyline was truly good. It had the reader trying to figure out what is next and what is truly going on, also guessing and doubting the protagonist if she was on the right path.
Then all these things started happening and I was completely on the wrong path thinking of who did what and what truly transpired. While I found the story very unbelievable, it was still entertaining and well laid out. I didn't care for the ending and kind of wished some of the info provided was there, it was unnecessary in my opinion and I felt the author was just trying to follow a trend to feel accepted.

House of Glass is a gripping thriller that pulls you in with its haunting premise and keeps you on edge as the mystery unravels. With each revelation, Pekkanen proves adept at building tension and adding layers to her characters, leaving readers with an unpredictable, satisfying story about trust, trauma, and survival. Perfect for fans of psychological thrillers and family dramas, House of Glass is a powerful page-turner you won’t want to miss. Thank you @NetGalley for the advance early copy - definitely recommending this one to all of my friends and fans of thrillers!

I first discovered Sarah when I read books she co-authored with Greer Hendricks. They had a magic in writing these page turning thrillers. When I saw that she had her own book, I knew I had to read it. It was a fantastic book filled with twists and turns. Thankful to have received an advanced copy!

The premise of the novel was intriguing but I found there was too much detailed description and a lack of characterization with the characters. I would have liked more scenes with Rose I feel like Stella’s character fell flat at times.

I love Sarah Pekkanen’s writing and was so excited to get to read this one and it did not disappoint! It kept me hooked and on the edge of my seat the entire time and I couldn’t put it down!

This book kept me on the edge of my seat throughout. What a wild ride! This book kept me guessing at everyone's motives and who really had Rose's best interests at heart. The book embodies the saying "You never really know anyone ever"

First off, big thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin Press for the ARC of this book, sorry it took so long to get to it. While I enjoy suspense/thriller books I don’t usually read them much. This one did start off strong and I was intrigued as to what would happen. About a 1/3 of the way through I thought Rose did it for sure. Then everything seemed to point the way and the story felt at a standstill. I honestly got bored by 70% and skimmed the rest.

I definitely did not see Harriet as being behind everything the reveal would have been good if the story didn’t lose me before the big reveal.

All of the stuff with Charles felt unnecessary and Stella’s backstory really did not play a big enough role in the story for me to have it be relevant.

I always forget how much I love all that Sarah writes. House of Glass is no different.

This story is suspenseful and the characters are well draway out. She weaves a story that kept me on edge and there were a ton of unexpected twists. Her writing style creates a immersive experience that keeps readers hooked from start to finish.
This book dives into themes of trust, secrets and the complexity of basic human relationships. One of the things I've always loved about her book is her ability to craft believable dialogue and rich, immersive environments to add depth to the reading experience.

Great Book!

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion

Sarah Pekkanen’s House of Glass is a gripping exploration of family dynamics, secrets, and the complex web of relationships that define our lives. Set against the backdrop of an opulent, yet enigmatic glass house, the narrative unfolds through multiple perspectives, revealing the intertwined fates of its characters.

Pekkanen masterfully crafts tension, as the protagonist grapples with her troubled past while attempting to navigate her present. The author’s keen eye for detail brings the setting to life, making the house almost a character in its own right—reflective, transparent, yet hiding dark truths. The emotional depth of the characters is compelling, as they confront their vulnerabilities and the weight of their choices.

The pacing is well-balanced, with enough twists and turns to keep readers on the edge of their seats. Pekkanen’s writing is both poignant and thought-provoking, encouraging readers to ponder the nature of trust and betrayal within families.

Overall, House of Glass is a captivating read that combines psychological intrigue with rich character development, making it a must-read for fans of domestic thrillers.

The pacing of this book was a bit slow for me. It did pick up as towards the end . I found the twist a bit predictable.

I received House of Glass as an ARC from St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley, and it was published on 8/8/24.

In House of Glass, lawyer Stella Hudson takes on a troubling custody case involving nine-year-old Rose Barclay, who stopped speaking after witnessing her nanny’s possible murder. As Stella digs into the Barclays’ twisted family dynamics, she uncovers dark secrets in their gilded DC mansion—a house oddly devoid of glass. With danger lurking and everyone a suspect, Stella must navigate the lies surrounding the nanny’s death while confronting her own traumatic past.

Rating: 4/5

Overall, I really enjoyed this thriller. It was fast-paced and kept me guessing who the real killer was. The middle section dragged a bit as it tried too hard to convince readers that a red herring was the culprit. Had this been tightened up, it would’ve been a five-star read for me. That said, Pekkanen’s writing was sharp and engaging, with spot-on descriptions and realistic characters. If you’re looking for a good thriller for spooky season, this is definitely one to try!

I have loved this author since I read the few books she co-wrote with Greer Hendricks. I love her writing style and enjoyed House of Glass. I am absolutely planning to go back and try out her other backlist books. This book was such a quick read for me and I am so thankful to have received an advance copy to read!

House of Glass is my first book by Sarah Pekkanen and I devoured it! This was written well, creepy, dark, and well paced from the twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat and trying to figure out who done it? I read this book in "Spooky Season" and with the creepy kid and psychological aspect of the book, it definitely delivered.
I liked the back and forth from the Barclays and Charles, where Stella is trying to figure out the history of her parents death.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it if you like dark psychological thrillers.
Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Sarah Pekkanen for my advanced copy!