I throughly enjoyed this episode thriller. It felt like a classic Hitchcock film with some well needed modern twists. I could see the characters and the house that they lived in. The doubts and confusion of the main character made sense and I struggled to see where the twist would be. My only small complaint is that there was a touch too much after the climax but I understand why all of it was there.

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.

Thank you for this ARC.

Audiobook was good, but something seemed off. It’s not necessarily a slow burner. It was more story showing rather than story telling. A lot of it. Understanding that the attorney’s backstory played a role, yet I think it could have been more sinister and dramatic.

Ending was too neat and over the top. Audiobook narrator was good.

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.

A suspenseful and well-narrated thriller with a good plot and many unexpected twists and turns. As always with Pekkanen, the characterizations are top notch. A fun listen that is the audio equivalent of a page-turner!

I already read the house of glass after receiving an advanced copy in the mail. I absolutely loved the story. I was excited for the audiobook to come out and listen to the narrator bring the story to live! Well done!

The uneasiness Stella was experiencing in that house was well portrayed in this novel. Looking over my shoulder occasionally gave me a spooky and unsettling feeling. Early on, I had my doubts about a certain character, but I was duped into thinking precisely what that character wanted everyone to think. This thriller had excellent writing.

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

I will post this review on Instagram on July 14, 2024.

I was so engrossed in this audiobook, that I promised myself to read more mysteries. Just when the likely suspects were established the twists and turns began and it was creepy in an engaging way. The parents had their own issues, and Rose seemed to be scary smart and talented with a bit of mystery. She apparently is suffering from traumatic mutism and has her own secrets.
Rose’s lawyer, Stella is very likable, and I was rooting for her to find happiness and closure. She suffered from a traumatic childhood as well and was unable to speak so she had a special interest in Rose. Everything that Stella goes through from her divorce to finding out more about her past is a lot for one person to sit with. She doesn’t have family, but she does have friends and her work.
What I enjoyed most is that one thing led to another, and it led to more of a mystery as it went along until the very end when you finally find out who killed the nanny.

The book is written through the point of view of Stella. She is an attorney who is tasked with finding the best option for custody placement for Rose after her parent’s divorce is finalized. Rose has become selectively mute after trauma and it is up to Stella to not place her with a murderer. The ending caught me by surprise! I listened to the audiobook version and the narrator was easy to listen to.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

HOUSE OF GLASS by Sarah Pekkanen
This is my first book by Sarah Pekkanen, but certainly will not be the last. She has created a well written thriller that has a solid storyline, with plenty of twists and turns. Just when you think that you have a handle on who murdered the nanny, it goes off in another direction and makes you think something else. Stella is an attorney who is also a child advocate. She is looking into the problem of deciding which parent gets custody of the nine year old who witnessed her nanny being murdered and was rendered mute. This is 4 stars.
I listened to the audio version of this and Laura Benanti is the narrator and she does a good job with the voices.

What a thriller! I love fast pace books that catch you from the beginning. I love guessing tell the end!

This was a well written suspense that kept me guessing until the end. The narration was also excellent.

(3.5 stars) House of Glass is a slow burn domestic suspense/thriller. If that’s your jam, you will love this book. I’ve decided that this just isn’t my kind of story, so take my review with a grain of salt.

There are two main plots going on here. The Barclays have filed for divorce and Stella, a BIA lawyer (Best Interest Attorney) has been assigned the case, because a 9-year-old girl is involved and both parents want custody. The kicker is that their live-in nanny, Tina, has died under suspicious circumstances and the little girl, Rose, has gone mute, refusing to speak at all. Was Tina’s death a tragic accident or something more sinister? The second plot point highlights Stella’s own childhood trauma. Her father died young in a car accident and her mother died shortly afterwards and Stella went mute for a while. Stella never learned what really happened to her mother, since she was so young at the time. So… is Stella the perfect BIA or is her appointment to this case totally inappropriate? You decide.

None of the characters were particularly likable, but that’s not that unusual in a story like this one. I didn't feel that the revelations for both plots were very surprising.

I bounced between the audiobook and the ebook for this title, which was very convenient, and allowed me to continue with the story even when I could not sit down and read - or when I could not listen. The audiobook was nicely narrated by Laura Benanti.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of this book and to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.

This was a really enjoyable audiobook! The narration was done really well and the story kept me listening and intrigued on what was going to happen next. It was a little predictable at times, since the main character took a little too long to come to the same idea as me, but that didn’t bother me too much since it was such an enjoyable listen with a satisfying ending.

The main plot of House of Glass revolves around a custody dispute during the divorce of two wealthy people. Main character Stella is an attorney and has been hired to represent the couple's child Rose. It's Stella's job to spend time with the family and then give her recommendation to the court on what she thinks would be best for Rose. Unfortunately the task will be more difficult than usual, as Rose has not spoken a word after witnessing her nanny falling to her death out of her window. Stella experienced a similar traumatic mutism in her childhood, and with flashbacks we get a subplot of a mystery surrounding her own mother.

I was intrigued by the premise right away. Rose was eerie and I enjoy a good creepy child story every now and then. One of my favorite old movies is called The Bad Seed and it was giving that kind of vibe. I've seen many five star reviews for this one but it just didn't wow me. I wasn't as interested in Stella's past story so every time it switched back I think I lost interest. The main mystery had a good resolution but personally I thought it was predictable. But overall I liked it, it was a quick listen, and I think many others will love it.

As for the audio, I'm not sure if I've listened to this narrator before but I thought she did an excellent job. I'll definitely be seeking out more books to listen to that she's narrated.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me an ALC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I had an absolute blast with this one. I love thrillers where EVERYONE is a suspect, because you’re always on edge. And involving possible murderous children? Yep, I’m on edge alright.

I’m not going to say whether I saw the end coming or not, because I don’t really let that affect my rating. (I’ve read too many thrillers at this point to not solve the whodunits anymore; I’m just happy as long as I don’t predict it from the premise alone.) But with more than a couple suspects, I never really knew for sure. And I do love being surprised with other twists and turns along the way.

The pacing of this book was perfect. I usually need dual POV or timelines in books to break things up and keep my focus, but despite this book having neither (except for some flashbacks), I couldn’t put it - or my headphones- down. (Okay I mean I did have to eventually as I work and have two little ones, but I listened to this in all my free time outside of that.) I wasn’t the biggest fan of the narrator, but that didn’t spoil the book at all for me in this case.

This is a must read if you’re a fellow thriller lover, and a good one to try if you’re thinking about dipping your metaphorical toes in the metaphorical water!

The perfect family, an affair, now a bitter divorce. A nanny who fell to her death and Rose, the nine year- old who witnessed it, and is now mute. Stella Hudson, the lawyer who is appointed counsel for Rose and deals with her own traumatic past. I listened to the audiobook and was glued to it. There is so many twists and turns that kept me guessing. One of the best summer reads this year don't miss it. I loved it.

Dawnny Ruby
Novels N Latte
Hudson Valley

Stella Hudson is a best interest attorney, assigned to 9 year old Rose Barclay, in the midst of her parent’s divorce. Stella has to figure to figure out which parent would be best to give full custody of Rose. Except, Rose is experiencing traumatic mutism, after witnessing her nanny’s tragic and mysterious death. Stella has dealt with her own traumatic mutism as a child, so she seems to be the best option for the case.

As Stella spends time with the Barclay family, it becomes obvious things aren’t what they seem. For starters, the house is full of plastic. The dishes, the windows, the few mirrors. Both parents seem off in their own ways, and everyone is hiding something. Each character seems to have a reason to get rid of the former nanny. Even Rose seems to be hiding something.

We get a nice look at Stella’s past as she compares it to what’s happening with Rose. I think the author did a good job pacing everything, while keeping you interested and on the edge of your seat. I listened to the audiobook, and I could not stop listening. I was eager to keep going each time I had to pause. The reveal of certain things kept me invested, and though it may have been a little predictable, I was so immersed in the story I didn’t even think about it. Rose is portrayed as a strange and kind of creepy kid, due to the mutism and her weird hobby of collecting sharp objects. Stella’s determination to help Rose and figure out what’s going on is admirable. I enjoyed the suspense and the way this hooked me instantly. I also liked how the author wrapped everything up, though things seemed wrapped up a little *too* nicely.

I rate this about a 4/5 stars!

And a big thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ARC!!

Woo! Another good thriller! The pace was fast moving and it just kept moving. Many twists and turns and you’ll think you know but really you don’t! This one’s good!
The narrator is really good on this one and the entire book kept me guessing. I highly recommend this one especial on audio!