This is my first book by Sarah Pekkanen and I did enjoy it.

A classic slow burn thriller with a who did it plot. It follows Stella, an attorney who’s task is to figure out what parent is best suited to take care of Rose after her nanny was mysteriously murdered.

I thought the pacing was good, the twists and turns kept me hooked.

Solid 3.5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me an eARC of this book for review.

I have always enjoyed Sarah Pekkanen books but I think that this one was definitely my favorite! Wow I didn't want to stop reading this! It was sooo good! I will be recommending this to everyone I know to read this! It pulled at my heart with this poor little and everything that she'd been through. I enjoyed the main character, Stella, development was great in that what she was going through with Rose helped her to dig into her past and discover new things about herself.
I don't want to give away any spoilers but 10/10 read this! Wouldn't change a thing!

3.5 stars, rounded upwards.

Author Sarah Pekkanen is known for writing psychological thrillers, and her newest novel, House of Glass, is a real page turner. My thanks go to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the invitation to read and review. This book will be available to the public August 6, 2024.

Our protagonist is Stella Hudson, and she works as guardian ad litem, which is a professional whose job it is to represent the best interests of a child when he or she is the subject, or an important participant in, a court case. Stella’s father figure and mentor is a judge, and a case has come up that he feels Stella is uniquely qualified for. It’s a divorce case, two wealthy individuals squabbling over a child. The child, Rose Barclay, has experienced a great trauma that has left her mute. She saw her nanny fall (be pushed?) out of the attic window and die, and she hasn’t spoken since. By convenient coincidence, Stella also experienced the same condition after a childhood trauma of her own; this is why Charles, her mentor, has asked her to serve.

I’ll tell you right now, I am not terribly impressed with this book. A protagonist who’s been traumatized in ways related to her task at hand is fast becoming a trope, and I’m ready to be done with it. Rose is a prodigy, brilliant in every way, which is also overused, and very convenient for an author that doesn’t want to deal with developmental stages even though the child is a major character. Also, Stella’s job does not require her to solve the nanny’s murder, that’s the job of the cops. Yet the book leads us to believe that this is part of a guardian ad litem’s work.

But the most annoying facet of this mystery is that I had it solved before the 20% mark. That’s just straight up ridiculous. If I had solved it because I am so darned clever, that would be one thing, but I feel as if my cat could probably have done the same. First, a suspect that’s identified very early in the story is almost never the killer, and then of course, the person least suspected by the other characters is often the one that did it. And so at first I waited hopefully for some new spin or plot twist that would make me change my mind, but it never damn happened.

Consequently, I was prepared to give this book a rating of 3 stars, which is lower than my average, but one thing stopped me. I noticed that, however cranky I felt about this transparently obvious mystery, I didn’t want to stop reading it. I could have quit at the halfway mark, skimmed the ending to be certain I was right, and then written my review, yet even though I knew exactly how it would shake out, I still wanted to see/hear the rest of the story.

I was fortunate in having both the digital review copy and the audiobook, and the narrator, Laura Benanti, does a first rate job. That’s worth something, too.

Because of the fact that Pekkanen’s mysteries are beginning to feel formulaic, I am probably finished with this author, but I also think there are a great many readers that will like it. Nevertheless, my recommendation to you is to get it free or cheap, rather than to pay full cover price.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. The story starts with a nanny plunging to her death and 9 year old Rose may have been a witness to this horrible tragedy but no one knows for sure because Rose is so traumatised that she refuses to speak. Stella is appointed to act on behalf of Rose which she is not too happy about as she never takes on clients under 13 yrs old as it reminds her of her own tragic past. Stella reluctantly agrees as it is her mentor who is requesting this of her.

Stella notices that this case is quite strange and so are the members of this family. The parents are going through a divorce and everything in the house is plastic. There is not one piece of glass anywhere and no sharp objects

As Stella tries to get Rose to open up and trust her, strange things begin to happen and she wonders if Rose is the reason that the nanny fell to her death and now she feels her own life may be in jeopardy as well. This was a great read and Sarah Pekkanen did it again!!!! Enjoy!!!

House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen ebook 4 stars. This was an easy to read, solid, slow burn thriller. There wasn’t anything too crazy that happened but there were a few twists that left me a bit shocked. I think the book had good pacing and I feel like the story wrapped up nicely. The story plays out from Stella’s point of view as she tries to navigate through the Barclay family and tries to figure out what happened to their Nanny. Stella relates to her young client, Rose, as we learn more about what happened to Stella in her past. A modern whodunnit. Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and the author for an ebook ARC. Much appreciated!

Sarah Pekkanen never disappoints! This is another winner from this author, and it it my new favorite!

Stella Hudson is a BIA - a Best Interest Attorney. A judge, Stella’s mentor, asks her to take a case of a young girl whose parents are divorcing and who has also witnessed a traumatic event. Her name is Rose, and the trauma has taken her voice. This is something that Stella has personal experience with. Stella enters the world of the Barclay Family where she has to make decisions that are in the best interest of Rose. She also has to spend time in the Barclay home, and the home itself has its own secrets.

Everyone in this story has secrets. This is one of the most character-driven stories I have read in a long time, and it made the story even better! You get to know everyone, and that really helps to challenge the perceptions the reader makes about the mystery at the heart of the story. I really liked Stella a lot. She has her flaws, but she gets up every day to fight for her clients. Rose is also a fascinating character. She has secrets of her own, but you really feel for her and her struggles.

Stella unravels this mystery methodically. I was glued to the book when I wasn’t listening to the audiobook. Laura Benanti does a phenomenal job with the narration of this one! There are so many twists and turns throughout the story, and there were chapters where I swear I had to remind myself to take a breath. I loved the ending of this book - it was perfect!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to read and listen to this marvelous book! It releases on August 6th - preorder it now! I highly recommend this one - it is the mystery/thriller you are looking for, and you won’t be disappointed!

I really enjoyed this book. It absolutely drew me I. From the very beginning and I was desperate to know what was going to happen next. The primary plot with Rose and her family was great and I liked the twist. I give four stars because in a couple places I felt like this book was trying to do too much with the subplots between Stella and Charles and the romance subplot that pops out of nowhere towards the end. Overall I really enjoyed and would recommend to thriller/suspense fans!

House of Glass was a gripping thriller/mystery about Stella, an attorney assigned to represent the interests of a young girl, Rose, as the court determines custody in her parents’ divorce. As an added complication, the girls’ nanny recently fell to her death at the house with no explanation. As Stella gets closer to the family, she finds reasons to suspect every family member had involvement in the crime, even Rose, who hasn’t said a word since the incident.

I was captivated during this entire book and read it over just two days. The red herrings really kept my guessing and the ending was so satisfying. This was a perfect summer thriller and I’m excited to pick up more by this author! Also, as an attorney, I always like when a legal-adjacent thriller gets the details right!

I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest feedback.

This is by far the best book I've read in quite some time. I absolutely loved the story and trying to figure out who did it. I couldn't and didn't. The story was suspenseful and kept building more and more until finally the truth is revealed.

Hey BookFam! 📚🔍 I just devoured a twisty thriller that I absolutely loved! From the remarkable writing to the gripping storyline, this book had my attention from the very first page to the last.

Stella’s character was fantastic, and I found everything and everyone else so relatable and real. I’m so glad I took a chance on this one, and I can't wait to read more from Pekkanen! I highly recommend this twisty thriller—it was so good I read it in less than 24 hours! 😲

I did expect another twist at the end, but that didn't take away from the enjoyment. Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and the author for the ARC. Keep an eye out for this one, expected publication date is August 6, 2024! 🌟

"The menace twines greedily around me, as if seeking a new host. It wraps me in a vise so tight I feel nailed to the chair."

That quote from this book describes my reading experience perfectly. Talk about a page-turner! 👀

Stella Hudson is a best interest attorney that works with kids whose parents are divorcing. It's up to her to decide what is best for the child and to which parent is granted custody. She's about to get a case like no other.

Meet the Barclays: Beth, Ian, Rose, and grandmother Harriet. Beth and Ian are divorcing and both are demanding full custody of nine year old Rose. They choose to remain living together within the walls of their opulent home since Rose experienced a traumatic experience. She witnessed her Nanny fall from a third floor window tragically to her death. She hasn't spoken a word since then.

Was it an accident? Was it suicide? Or was it murder? You'll have to read this to find out.

Holy creepy kid alert. 😨 Yikes! I've always been a fan of the creepy kid trope and this one was done exceptionally.

Pekkanen nailed the menacing atmosphere. My anxiety level was at a 10 for most of the book . Except for Stella no one at all seemed trustworthy. All were lying and keeping secrets and I couldn't tear my eyes away.

Along with the story of Rose and the dead Nanny we get the back story on Stella who also suffered traumatic mutism as a child which makes her ideal for taking on the case. Throughout the book we learn of Stella's tragic past and while I know this helps us get a better understanding into Stella's character I just didn't find it nearly as interesting as the Barclay's story which had me fully captivated. That's a very small complaint though because this book is truly outstanding otherwise. 4 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my complimentary copy.

#BookReview 🎧 #AudiobookReview
🙏🏼 Thank you @stmartinspress and @macmillan.audio for the gifted copy.

📚 This is about a seemingly perfect family (the Barclay family) with many hidden secrets behind closed doors. There was a young nanny who plunged to her death, and each family member is a suspect, including the 9 yr. old daughter Rose. Rose stopped speaking after the incident. All of this happened during her parents' bitter divorce. Stella is a best interest attorney assigned to the case to help make the best decision for Rose and her custody. Once Stella arrives at the Barclays home, she immediately notices things that make her wonder. And as she's closer to uncovering secrets, she might possibly be in danger herself.

I went with the audiobook for this one, It was narrated by Laura Benati. It was perfectly done. She did a great job. I really enjoyed her performance. This book has me hooked right from the start. It has really great twists. I honestly thought I had it figured out numerous times, but nope!! I love this author. This was my second book by her and I loved BOTH. HIGHLY RECOMMEND.

House of Glass has a very intriguing premise, that unfortunately had a few extra plot lines that really derailed the story. Stella Hudson is a best interest attorney who has recently been hired to evaluate which parent Rose Barclay should live with after her parent's divorce. Beth and Ian are going through a divorce after Ian's affair with Roses' nanny was exposed which happened at the same time she fell to her death out of an attic window at the Barclay's home. Rose witnessed this tragic event and has been experiencing traumatic muteness ever since. Stella can relate deeply to Rose as she also went through the same thing after she experience a tragedy as a child. I enjoyed the main plot and the narrator did a great job adding to the drama of the book with her voice work. The parts about Stella's past, her personal divorce, and her mysterious father figure Charles were the plot Iines I felt really took me out of the story and could have done without. 3/5 for plot and 5/5 for propulsive and entertaining read!

✨𝐑 𝐄 𝐕 𝐈 𝐄 𝐖✨

𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐛𝐲 𝐒𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐡 𝐏𝐞𝐤𝐤𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐧

Oooh this one was so bingeable! Thanks so much to @stmartinspress & @macmillan.audio for the gifted advanced copies 🫶🏼

👍🏼: I did a mix of audio & physical reading for this one, which seems to be the only way I can read books this day since I’m rarely sitting down 😂 but I loved both versions!! A dead nanny, a mute child who allegedly witnessed the event & a lawyer who is in charge of the child’s best interest investigating what really happened in this house - the plot was fast- paced & super creepy at times keeping me interested. Truly such an enjoyable read from start to finish! I will also say it was very refreshing to read a mystery/thriller book where the main character was so smart, relatable & didn’t just throw herself into dangerous situations blindly 😂 loved! 👏🏼

👎🏼: I started to suspect how this one would end about 60% through the book, so I wasn’t super shocked by the ending. I do enjoy the shock factor in a mystery/thriller, but this one still ended up being great & I enjoyed how everything played out!

I definitely recommend picking this one up when it publishes on 8/6! 📚 I’ve seen other awesome reviews so far & think many others will enjoy too!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
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#houseofglass #sarahpekkanen #augustbookrelease #stmartinspress #mysterythrillerbooks

Creepy, spooky and very suspenseful, House Of Glass, was so enjoyable that I decided to read the book after listening to the audio version. And I was glad I did. Stella is an attorney charged with getting to know the wealthy Barclays family to determine which parent, Ian or Beth, should retain custody of their daughter Rose. After their pending and bitter divorce. The child has witnessed the murder or was it an accident?.) of her nanny, Tina ,and has remained mute ever since. A la Agatha Christie, Sarah Pekkanen, creates a scenario in which every character has a motive to want Tina dead. But whodunit? And how can Stella make a good determination of parental fitness when she too was traumatized as a child and also suffered from selective mutism ?

All glass has been removed from the house as Rose seems to have a penchant for sharp objects. Her behavior is sinister as she watches and waits and seems filled with rage. Ian had been having an affair with Tina. Did he want her to just go away, any which way? What about Beth? The aggrieved wife has plenty of reason to despise Tina. Grandma Harriet, ever present, meddlesome and controlling might not simply be a loving grandma, Or did Tina just accidentally fall? So much to unravel. It was hard to figure this one out. Some twists and turns later all is revealed.

My only issue was there’s a bit too much focus on the lawyer’s past. Comparing that to Rose’s situation again and again rang a bit false. Nonetheless, Pekkanen writes a great thriller. Not my first experience with her books and definitely won’t be my last. Four well deserved stars for a very eerie story that will keep you hanging on until the end. Publication date in August 6, 2o24. You’ll want to read this one. My thanks to NetGalley and st Martins Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The books starts and ends with the same energy, I couldn’t put it down from reading the first few pages.
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Creepy kid
LGBTQ rep
Eye catching cover
Unexpected twists

I went back and forth with this book between reading it with my eyes and listening. I got to listen to this book as a part of the Macmillan Audio Influencer Program. Thank you so much to @macmillan.audio for this ALC copy and St. Martin’s Press @NetGalley for my eARC!

Stella works as a best interest attorney and is appointed to make a parental custody recommendation in the case of Rose Barclay, a 9 year old girl who is struggling with traumatic mutism after witnessing her nanny, Tina, die from falling out a window. As part of her job, Stella must get to know Rose’s family and she quickly starts to notice strange happenings with the Barclays. Stella begins to suspect everyone in the Barclay household of having something to hide, but were any of them involved in Tina’s death? Stella needs to make sure that Rose isn’t in danger, but what if Rose is the dangerous one?

I was really into this book for the first ~40% where it focused majorly on the main plot line of the suspicious death of Tina, Rose’s nanny. I was super interested as Stella did her job to investigate and learn more about the Barclay family in order to determine who Rose should live with as her parents are going through a divorce. So many books that I’ve read lately have amateur sleuths trying to solve a murder, and I’m kind of getting sick of this trope where random people are putting themselves at risk, oftentimes in order to “solve” a case that has nothing to do with them. But in this book, it 1000% made sense that Stella was looking into the strange circumstances around Tina’s death because it was her job to ensure Rose’s safety. I was invested in the dirt that she would dig up on the super rich Barclay family and could not wait to get to the bottom of who (if anyone) killed Tina.

But then we got really deep into the subplot, which I felt was unnecessary and it distracted me entirely from the main plot. I wish that the book had continued to focus more on the Barclays and less on Stella’s personal life and her past. Looking back at my notes I took while reading, there was a lot of information that I wrote down regarding characters in Stella’s life that actually had no weight on the story at all. I felt like we kind of dropped off of the main plot and just went into an entirely different storyline that did not add to the book. At one point, I actually had to check my phone and make sure that I was still reading the same book… The conclusion of the main plot in itself is satisfying, however, it was delivered in the midst of the subplot, and therefore I kind of even forgot that we were waiting to find out who killed Tina. The conclusion of the subplot was surprising to me, but again, to me, it felt like I was reading two different books that were merged together.

This was a fantastic page-turner for me! I mindfully try to read slowly now because everything else in life seems so sped up (admittedly my podcasts and audiobooks still are at 1.5x). But I myself couldn't slow down when reading House of Glass because I felt like the characters were hurtling towards an inevitable destruction. In my opinion the main character was (understandably) the most fleshed out but I wish there was a little more detail given to the entire family. Otherwise, I was on the edge of my seat and satisfied!

While this is more of a family drama than a thriller, it was still a gripping storyline. The story follows a family whose nanny has recently died tragically, and somewhat suspiciously. The daughter is mute because of the tragedy and the story unravels the suspicious death and the circumstances surrounding. It was very gripping and there was a few twists.

This book was unhinged! I have to give it to Sarah because I fell for the most obvious red herring. I loved the unnerving vibe the little girl gave off and how you think you know what happened only to be proven wrong at the end.