Sarah Pekkanen kills it again 👏🏻👏🏻 whether she writes a book alone or with Greer Hendricks, she always writes an exciting thriller. This one gave me the same vibes as Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware (which I loved also). You have a house with off putting vibes, a family with secrets, and a creepy child (this one who has gone mute since the death of her nanny). A perfect whodunnit mystery with an array of characters who really make it hard to piece the puzzle together of what happened to the nanny when she fell out the window.

I really had a hard time putting this one down. So many suspenseful moments and eerie scenes that’ll give you goosebumps. I’m still shocked at the turn of events at the end. Definitely one to look out for when it releases!

3.5 Stars

Pekkanen does a great job here making you wade through the lies and half truths to try and figure out what really happened to Tina, Rose’s nanny who fell out a third floor window, and who, if any, of the Barclay’s should be trusted. Stella knows they’re all lying or hiding something, but I was right along with her trying to figure out exactly what that was.

Stella’s backstory provided good depth to the story and her character. It allowed for this to be more than just a psychological thriller as I stayed engaged even when Stella wasn’t directly working on Rose’s case.

I hovered around the truth for a large part of the story, but I loved that I could never quite pin down what was going on in the house void of glass. It made me continue to turn the pages in hopes of finding it out before Stella. The ending was satisfying and I enjoyed that we got a final glimpse into Stella’s story and future as well.

𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
This was a fun, quick, and easily bingeable read. I found it to be creepy at times, and all of the characters seemed suspect and questionable. Pekkanen captivated me from the first chapter and kept my attention throughout. There were plenty of twists and turns, suspense, and drama to keep me fully entertained and wanting to devour this book. The first half of the book is a definite slow burn, but the second half of the book definitely makes up for it! I love how Pekkanen weaves in the themes of complex relationships and family drama throughout this book. This is a book that has you trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together until the very end, and trust me….that ending did not disappoint!


𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗜𝗳 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗘𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆:
✦A creepy and disturbing child
✦Plenty of mystery, twists, suspense, and drama
✦A great slow burn
✦Themes of complex relationships and family drama weaved throughout
✦An ending that does not disappoint!


𝐌𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️4/5

I love everything Pekkanen writes and I quickly finished this one! I did not fully guess many of the twists. One star taken off because the ending felt s little rushed and far fetched.

This book was so good!! I was intrigued and on the edge of my seat for almost the entire story. I also loved that it was a little bit spooky!

This was my first book by this author and it definitely won’t be my last because I did have such a good time reading it!! I expected a little bit more of the ending but it was still a great read.

This book is psychological thriller that unravels the dark secrets of the Barclay family, who outwardly appear to have the perfect life. When their nanny falls to her death under suspicious circumstances, young Rose Barclay, who witnessed the incident, stops speaking and starts collecting sharp objects. Enter Stella Hudson, a lawyer with her own traumatic past, assigned to determine the best custody arrangement for Rose...but ends up potentially biting off more than she can chew.

From the moment Stella steps into the opulent yet eerie Barclay home, where not a single piece of glass is found, she realizes the case is more complex and the family more troubled than she anticipated. As she delves deeper into their lives, she finds herself entangled in a web of lies and deceit, and maybe even danger. Each family member is a suspect, including the little girl that is now her client.

Pekkanen masterfully weaves a tale of suspense and intrigue, where everyone has something to hide, and the truth is elusive. "House of Glass" keeps readers on the edge of their seats, blending psychological depth with a chilling mystery that culminates in a surprising and satisfying conclusion.

Thank you Sarah Pekkanen, St. Martin's Press, and Netgalley for the advanced copy!

I liked this one ok, but I wouldn't say it's my favorite of Pekkanen's novels. Overall, I didn't like our MC, but I can't quite identify why. The red herrings almost got me but weren't quite convincing enough that I couldn't see through them. It wasn't entirely clear to me why Rose's parents were treating someone, whose recommendations about who would have custody of their child would hold a lot of a sway, with quite so much hostility. The ending, while not disappointing, was a bit messy and dramatic for me. Not a bad thriller, but I've read much better from Pekkanen.

A huge thank you to the author and the publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

Loved this one!!! I read a ton and this was something different! Always a fan of this author and will continue to be.

Stella Hudson is a best interest attorney for a 9-year old girl named Rose Barclay who watched her nanny, Tina pushed out a window and killed in front of her. Is Rose the victim or the murderer? She has been collecting sharp objects, is suffering from traumatic mutism, and her family members including her parents and grandmother are all under suspicion. AND they have removed all glass from their home!

Positives:
This one was suspenseful and kept me guessing
Twists I didn't see coming
I enjoyed all the minor characters and side plot storylines
I enjoyed this from the first page and couldn't stop reading,
An original plot


I give this one 5 stars and have already recommended to many others as something different. A great twisty thriller.

This captivating story is about a lawyer who is assigned to determine the best custody solution for a wealthy divorcing couple and their daughter. The family has just experienced a traumatic and mysterious loss of the child's nanny which has left the child mute. The female main character is Stella, an attorney tasked with finding the best arrangement for Rose, a traumatically mute little girl who brings up memories of Stella's own childhood where she also experienced a period of traumatic muteness. As we dive into this world, we learn more about what led to Rose's situation and the mystery of the nanny's death and Stella is forced to deal with her past as well. This is a fast-paced psychological thriller that was easy to get sucked into and read quickly. I can't say I was surprised by the ending, however, it was still a thoroughly enjoyable read and I was invested in the characters. I gave this a 3.75 stars overall, rounded up to a 4 star. I enjoy Sarah Pekkanen's books and this was another great read from her. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is a fan. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

There's a true crime show called Accident, Suicide or Murder, and House of Glass could very well have been an episode. A beloved nanny falls to her death, and the only witness to the incident is nine year old Rose Barclay. Rose is not speaking after seeing such a traumatic event.
Stella, a court appointed advocate for Rose, knows first hand how trauma can make a person go mute. It's her job to protect Rose and decide which parent should be given custody of Rose, as the parents are going through a contentious divorce. Could one of them have hurt the nanny? But there's something about Rose that just seems a bit off. Or could this all have been an unfortunate accident?

I thought the novel was well paced and found myself racing to the end to figure out how everything plays out. I enjoyed the dual timeline of the present story but also the flashbacks to Stella's own story. It was well done in showing how the past can influence the present decisions. Characters were cleverly written, a bit sinister, and flawed. I think those who enjoy a fast-paced thriller in the likes of Rachel Hawkins, Shari Lapena, or Ruth Ware would really like Sarah Pekkanen's latest novel.

Thanks to the publisher and netgalley, I was able to read an advanced digital copy. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

I absolutely loved this book and this author. Highly recommended to anyone who loves a good thriller. I love a good whodunit and this did not disappoint.

This was such a well-crafted novel. Great character development and a mystery that keeps you guessing to the end. The book starts with a nanny either falling or being pushed out of a window to death, causing young Rose to become mute from the trauma. There’s a lot going on in the family, as well as in Stella’s life (the attorney assigned to recommend custody of Rose). This is a can’t-put-it-down book!

My favorite kind of psychological thrillers is one that keeps you guessing! In House of Glass, author Sarah Pekkanen sets up so much intrigue, where everyone is a suspect--even a little girl!

I enjoyed the pace and subplots in this book. I think the main focus of Stella's role as Rose's lawyet worked well with Stella's past and personal revelations as well.

Definitely a great page turner.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A slow burn done right!

This was an unsettling thriller filled with dread, suspense and a sense of foreboding that never lets up. Despite not much happening for the first half, I was kept engrossed and guessing.

I also enjoyed how the author explores complex family relationships and dynamics. It reminded me of the mother-daughter ties in Gone Tonight, which I loved so much.

Wasn't super mindblown by the whodunit since I had some inkling, and the protagonist is one of those detached ones so I wasn't super fond of her until much later. However, the ending was so good and made it all worth it.

Sarah Pekkanen never disappoints!!

This was an enjoyable thriller. The house and characters had a good creepy vibe and you don't feel like you can trust any of them. I liked the parallels between the main character Stella and the little girl, Rose. I both read and listened to the audio and I thought the narrator did a good job. I give this one 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio for an advance copy of this book for review purposes

Stella Hudson is a BIA (best interest attorney) who takes the case of Rose Barclay. Rose is a 9 year old whose wealthy parents are in the midst of a divorce and fighting for custody of Rose. Rose is suffering from traumatic mutism since her nanny, Tina, dies after falling or being pushed through a third story window. Stella must figure out what is going on in the house and do what is best for Rose. It is a difficult case for Stella, as it triggers memories of her own horrific childhood. I loved the character of Stella. She is a flawed person that takes her job seriously and will do all she can to protect Rose. The character is so well written, you feel all the anguish and determination Stella has. The other characters are interesting as well and offer challenges for Stella in different ways, but instead of her retreating from the case, it forces Stella to push for the truth even harder. I thought the story kept me guessing and was filled with tension and suspense throughout. I highly recommend this book! I give it 5 stars out of 5.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be published on August 6, 2024.

This book was an emotional rollercoaster, moving at such a relentless pace that I couldn’t put it down. The plot is expertly designed to keep you on edge, constantly guessing what might happen next. Sarah Pekkanen never misses! Each chapter ended in a suspenseful cliffhanger, prompting me to repeatedly stay up late reading it. The final chapter, in particular, left a lasting impression and solidified my love for this story and author.

a few days later & I’m still sitting with my thoughts on this one!! I enjoyed it way more than sarah’s last solo thriller, but there was something about this that didn’t execute well for me 🥲🤔

the first half of the book focused mostly on stella, a child advocate lawyer for parents going through a divorce, and her client rose, who suffers from traumatic mutism after witnessing her nanny die in front of her. the mystery behind the nanny’s death and how rose was involved was a key component of the plot, and while I figured out the plot twist quite early on, it was a very entertaining ride!

the second half of the book did a 180 for me, focusing more on stella’s backstory and her own experience with traumatic mutism after her mother’s death. I thought that “mystery” of sorts was pretty obvious and didn’t need to be as fleshed out as it was - especially since it ultimately didn’t connect to the present day mystery at all.

and can we talk about that random side romance? it came completely out of the blue and felt very trauma bonding rather than an actual relationship. also, what was the point? 🤔

TDLR: an entertaining fast-paced bingeable thriller but ultimately not my favorite. thank you to netgalley and st martins for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review! you can get this one early through BOTM 🫡

rating: 3.5 stars
wine pairing: sonoma coast chardonnay

Rose Barclay is a nine-year-old girl who witnessed the possible murder of her nanny - in the midst of her parent's bitter divorce - and immediately stopped speaking. Stella Hudson is a best interest attorney, appointed to serve as counsel for children in custody cases. She never accepts clients under thirteen due to her own traumatic childhood, but Stella's mentor, a revered judge, believes Stella is the only one who can help.

Keep you interested from page one for sure! If you love twisty mysteries...read this!

This is a fast paced page turner I couldn’t put down. Each chapter seemed to end on a cliffhanger that made me say “ok, just one more.” It’s a story that will keep you guessing and on the edge of your seat. And I shed a few tears in the process. A perfectly satisfying ending. I loved the last chapter!