This story had me hooked from the very beginning. If you are looking for a psychological suspense story, this is one you won’t want to miss. I enjoyed the parallels of Stella’s past along with the current case she is working with Rose at the center. Mutism is not a theme that I see often in books, so it was very intriguing. It also had an ending I didn’t see coming which is always a plus!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A solid 5/5 stars, I would absolutely recommend!

In a thriller from the author of “The Wife Between Us”, “The Golden Couple” and “Gone Tonight, among many others, Sarah Pekknen does it again!

A family facing turmoil of a divorce custody battle, now finds themselves also facing scrutiny for the nanny who plunged to her death from the second story. Murder or accident, know one knows…Stella is brought in to represent the 9 year old daughter and make recommendations for a custody agreement. She must look into the family and those that know them to determine who the daughter should go with. Unfortunately, this brings more questions than answers. Mainly, why is there no glass in the house? Is the daughter who she supposed to be protecting being protected by the family?

Sarah Pekkanen's "House of Glass" delves into the delicate intricacies of family dynamics, secrets, and the elusive nature of truth. In this captivating novel, Pekkanen skillfully crafts a narrative that is both emotionally resonant and suspenseful, drawing readers into a world where appearances can be deceiving and the past holds the key to understanding the present.

"House of Glass" is definitely a slow-burn thriller and the resolution of certain plot points felt somewhat contrived. However, these minor flaws are outweighed by the novel's strengths, including its rich character development and atmospheric setting. Sarah Pekkanen's skillful storytelling and keen insight make this novel a must-read for fans of domestic suspense!

I absolutely devoured this book. It was twisty and shocking which are two things that make me love a thriller. The suspense was present from beginning to end.

Totally will recommend this book to all my thriller loving friends. Loved this one.

House of Glass was a classic "bad seed" book. Creepy, atmospheric setting, I couldn't put it down. I hope to read other Pekannen standalones in the future!

This was my first book by the author, but it will not be my last. "House of Glass" by Sarah Pekkanen is an intense psychological thriller that will have you pouring over the pages from start to finish.

The book follows Stella Hudson, a best interest attorney, who serves as counsel for children in custody cases. She is asked by her beloved mentor to take the case of nine-year-old Rose Barclay, who suffers from traumatic mutism (so she doesn't speak) after witnessing the suspicious death of her nanny. Her parents are in the process of a bitter divorce and battling for custody. Stella, herself a victim of a traumatic event, hesitates at first but then consents to take the case and determine who should have custody.

The police never ruled whether the death of the nanny was an accident or murder, nor did they succeed in pinning the fault on anyone in the household. As Stella starts visiting the mansion and interviewing the members of the household, she notices the entire house is made of plastic. The more she digs, the more she remembers from her own troubled past and finds a darkness at the heart of this case more dreadful than she had ever imagined. The eerie atmosphere of the house sets her, and the reader, on edge. Danger lurks around every corner, but she is fearless in her pursuit of the truth.
I enjoyed the book immensely. At first, I thought the plot was going to be a little predictable, but it was anything but. Just as I thought I knew what was going on, the author threw a curveball. The pace builds and quickens towards the end of the book as Stella starts to make sense of the information she has gathered, with the climax being exhilarating, and the reader gets caught up in the suspense of the story as well.

The author did an excellent job portraying the characters. Introducing the main characters' backgrounds into the plot has deepened the storyline and humanized the characters. I loved the insertion of Stella's personal story into the plot and the way it is woven together with the main plot. At one point, her integrity is tested, which doesn't show her in a good light, but it didn't diminish my appreciation for her.

The writing is taut and suspenseful, and the author expertly builds the tension and unsettling atmosphere throughout the book. The book explores themes of troubled children, family, trust, grief, and evil. If you are into a psychological thriller that makes you think, this is definitely a book for you. I give this multilayered, well-thought-out, and a beautifully woven tale full stars!

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for this advance copy of House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen. The opinions stated in this review are my own honest thoughts on this novel.

The novel is about a young girl named Rose Barclay who has witnessed the terrible death of her nanny in her mansion home. Her parents, who are in the midst of a divorce, have been shielding, and overprotective of Rose especially since Rose has stopped talking after the tragic accident. Or was it an accident? Stella has been appointed as counsel to Rose and will make a recommendation to the court on who will receive custody of Rose. Everything about this family is shrouded in secrecy. Will Stella be able to help Rose regain her voice? Will the cause of the death be determined and if it wasn’t an accident, will Stella be able to find the culprit?? Who will get custody of little Rose? So many questions!

Sarah Pekkanen has become a must read author. Her books are always full of suspense and twists galore. She obviously spends a lot of time researching the subject matter and presenting it as if she had gone to law school herself.

Things I loved:
Fast pacing of the book. There were no big lulls or parts where you would want to gloss over. I was riveted from the beginning.
The relationship between Stella and her mentor was such a warm and caring relationship.
The parallels between Rose’s silence and Stella’s. Stella had also gone silent after the death of her own mother. She uses her own experiences to help Rose.
The resolution at the end of the book. No loose ends or unreconciled issues.
Ms. Pekkanen has a way of making even the most unlikeable characters likeable. I didn’t think I was going to like Rose’s parents much but at the end of the book I was rooting for them to get back together.

Things I didn’t love:
Nothing really.

I will be looking forward to the authors next novel!

House of Glass is Sarah Pekkanen's latest thriller. Unlike her previous work, this had an eerie element to it -  can a child be inherently evil? The book quickly draws you in and does not let you go. I finished this one in one day and could not put it down. Pekkanen does a great job with the setting of the thriller - I found myself getting goosebumps thinking about the Barclay's house!

I did guess the ending and it did not have the surprise twist I was looking for in a psychological thriller. The thing that bothered me the most was the behavior of both the Judge and main character, Stella. As an attorney, this was a tough read for me in many ways. The conduct of both Judge and the best interest attorney was unethical and not realistic.

Overall, this is a sold thriller with a decent plot twist.

Thank you NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review! House of Glass comes out on June 11, 2024!

This book was a 5 star book for me! It grabbed me from the first chapter and kept me wanting to read to find out what was going to happen. I could not put the book down! The amount of characters was great, enough to keep the story interesting, but not too many that you have trouble remembering them all. I also liked the way the author developed the characters! Overall, I would highly recommend this book if you love thrillers!

Twists galore! This one was very enjoyable. You’ll think you’ve figured it out, but have you?! Find out for yourself!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for letting me read this. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

I approached a highly anticipated thriller with hopes of a gripping and unpredictable narrative, centered on the mysterious death of a young nanny in a tangled web of suspects and motives. While the premise held intrigue, I was let down by early reveals of the perpetrator and predictable plot twists, overshadowing the overall storytelling. I appreciated the claustrophobic setting and clever explanations but ultimately felt the novel lacked the unexpected twists that define great thrillers. Though giving it 3.5 stars for its concept, I longed for a more engaging and surprising read.

This was a good book. It follows the story of Stella a best interest attorney who has to decide who Rose will live with after her parents divorce. Tina was a woman who mysteriously died while working as a nanny for the family. Rose begins to look into the murder and things start getting weird. The twist was not what I expected.

Sarah Pekkanen never disappoints and her latest, House of Glass might be my favorite!! It is full of family drama, twists and turns and kept me turning page after page until the end. Highly recommend for a thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Thank you to net galley for the arc in exchange of an honest review.

This has to be one of the most intense suspense thriller I have read. It was intense right off the bat. I had to keep putting the book down to get my bearings again. I got so wound up. So many suspects and I couldn’t tell which one it was. It also had unexpected twists every time I turned around. My first time reading a book from this author and I look forward for more.

Stella Hudson is assigned to evaluate which parent nine year old Rose Barclay should live with once her parents divorce. Rose has been mute since her nanny died from a fall which she witnessed. As Stella looks into the family and their relationships, the question arises as to whether the fall was accidental or not. Rose exhibits anger and violent behavior at times and the parents and grandmother do everything possible to from a protective circle around her. Will Stella be able to get Rose to open up and find out what really happened?
#HouseofGlass StMartinsPress #NetGalley

My own personal ick is I do not like the troubled child trope. I never have & I simply never will. I also feel like this book dragged a bit and there weren’t many twists and turns except the very end. Probably my least fave by this author so far

This one felt very “meh.”

I can’t honestly review this one without major spoilers, so read at your own risk.

Rose being the culprit was pushed entirely too hard to be believable. It felt very obvious that she WASN’T to blame, but that did still leave a mystery as to who really was.

There was obviously a connection between Charles and Stella’s mom, you just had to find out about it really late.

The story just didn’t draw me in. The writing was done well, the story itself just didn’t do much for me. It all felt very predictable.

The relationship toward the end of the book felt forced and didn’t need to happen. Why is this being pushed so much? This story didn’t need a love interest, at all.

Stella Hudson is an attorney who represents children in custody cases. She is a somewhat damaged individual as the result of a traumatic childhood, but the one constant support in her life has been attorney now judge, Charles. When he asks her to investigate the case of nine year old Rose Barclay whose parents are battling for custody, she is reluctant because she usually does not deal with children that young. However, she takes on the task because it is Charles who has asked.

There is something very amiss in the opulent Barclay home where the nanny, who was impregnated by the husband, jumped or was pushed to her death. Everyone is a suspect and when Rose who exhibits traumatic mutism (as did Stella when she was a child) is discovered to be stowing away pieces of glass and other weapons, suspicion falls on her as well.

I have always liked Pekkanen as a writer. In this well plotted story, she creates a strong atmosphere of suspicion and foreboding. The characters, even the minor ones, are well developed. Fast paced, it is an engrossing, suspenseful read with twists, turns, and surprises.

Thanks to #netgalley and @stmartinspress for the DRC.

Stella is a Best Interest Advocate for a girl named Rose whose families nannied died or was murdered?? This book had excellent twists and turns and a lot of redemption but the decisions in Stella’s personal life at the end seemed disjointed and unrelated to the rest of the book. I was disappointed that she tried to throw a “love interest” in at the very end.

Sarah Pekkanen’s "House of Glass" is a riveting psychological thriller that grabs hold from the first page and doesn’t let go until the stunning conclusion. The novel masterfully unravels a tale of deceit, trauma, and twisted family dynamics that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.

The story centers around Stella Hudson, a best interest attorney reluctantly drawn into the case of nine-year-old Rose Barclay, who has stopped speaking after witnessing her nanny's mysterious death. Pekkanen deftly portrays Stella’s internal struggle as she faces her own childhood demons while trying to protect Rose in an environment where everyone is a suspect. The characterization of Stella is profound and relatable, her vulnerability adding depth to her role as the children's advocate.

The Barclays’ historic DC home, devoid of glass and cloaked in an eerie atmosphere, serves as a perfect backdrop for this chilling mystery. Pekkanen’s descriptive prowess brings the house to life, making it almost a character in itself – one that harbors secrets and exudes a sense of foreboding. The tension is palpable as Stella navigates the labyrinth of lies constructed by the seemingly perfect Barclay family.

This book is exactly what the "about" section describes: a little girl is mute after a traumatic event with her nanny dying after falling out of the attic window of her home. She meets Stella, a lawyer who has to decide who the girl will live with as her parents have filed for divorce. The reason for the divorce is that the father was having an affair with the nanny, and she was pregnant. As Stella enters into their home and their lives, she realizes some peculiar things – they have removed all glass from the home, they have removed the daughter from school, and more. Stella also has to deal with her past, as she can relate to the girl because when she was young, she was hiding in the closet as her mom died and she was mute after that experience.

Pekkanen's narrative is taut and engaging, with each chapter peeling back layers of the Barclay family’s facade. The suspense builds steadily, punctuated by shocking revelations and moments of intense emotion. The psychological intricacies of the characters are explored with finesse, particularly Rose’s silent turmoil and the fractured relationships within the family. The subplot involving the eerie peculiarity of the house adds an intriguing, almost gothic element to the modern thriller.

The supporting characters, from the embittered parents to the enigmatic grandmother, each contribute to the story’s complexity. The depiction of Rose, a child both innocent and potentially dangerous, is haunting and adds to the psychological tension. Stella’s interactions with the family members are fraught with suspicion, making it difficult to discern who can be trusted.

I found it a little predictable in the end, but I enjoyed the discovery process along the way. In the epilogue, it answers some of the holes in the story, but none of them are too major to make it unbelievable. If there is a minor critique, it is that the conclusion, while satisfying, feels slightly rushed. The final revelations come quickly, leaving a desire for a bit more exploration into the aftermath of the family’s unmasking. However, this does not significantly detract from the overall impact of the story.

"House of Glass" is a compelling read that expertly combines elements of mystery, psychological drama, and a touch of horror. Sarah Pekkanen has delivered a novel that is both thought-provoking and thrilling, making it a must-read for fans of the genre. The chilling atmosphere, complex characters, and intricate plot twists make this book deserving of a solid 4.5 stars.