In this story we have Stella Hudson, who is appointed counsel for Rose Barclay. Rose is a nine year old girl whose parents are going through a bitter divorce, and she has also just witnessed the death of her nanny. During this traumatic time, Rose has developed traumatic mutism and she cannot speak.
Stella can relate to Rose because when Stella was a young girl she witnessed the death of her mother, and then developed traumatic mutism herself.
Because Rose's parents are divorcing, it is Stella's job to spend time with Rose and her parents to see who would be the better parent for Rose to live with once they divorce. We have the wealthy, uptight Beth Barclay- her mother. Then there is lan Barclay, more down to earth and not so wealthy-her father. We soon learn that lan's mother, Harriet has lived with the Barclay's for several years and is witness to many events that has happened within the family.
Which brings us to the death of the nanny, Tina. Tina fell to her death through her third story bedroom window. Was she pushed? Was it an accident? Or was it suicide? And did Rose witness what really happened that night? Also why are the parents replacing all the glass in the house? Even the mirrors are being replaced...
This book had my attention from the first page all the way through until the last! I loved Stella's character, and felt that everything and everyone else was so relatable and real. I'm so glad that I took a chance with this book, and I cannot wait to read Pekkanen's next! I highly recommend this twisty thriller!

I feel a bit like an outlier here but I found this book to be good but not great. I enjoyed the mystery of it all, but at times it felt a bit too much like telling and not showing. I love when we are left breadcrumbs to try and solve the mystery with the main character, and at times I felt like we were being constantly redirected by Stella, the narrator. I found that the inclusion of the very light romance to be strange at the end as well. While I sound critical of this book, I did still enjoy it. I thought the author did a fantastic job of describing the Barclays as people, definitely developing their characters. This is especially true of Rose. I did not know that this profession even existed as well, so it was interesting to read that part of the book. I did enjoy listening to this audiobook, though, as the narrator really brought the story to life. I found it easy to follow and entertaining. With that being said, I felt a bit disappointed in the mystery as it didn't seem to grab ahold of me as much as I wanted it to. That being said, I know I will read more from this author in the future.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced listening copy of this book. All opinions within this review are my own.

3.5⭐
Genre ~ psychological fiction
Setting ~ Washington DC
Publication date ~ August 6, 2024
Est Page Count ~ 352 (68 chapters)
Audio length ~ 10 hours 43 minutes
Narrator ~ Laura Benanti
POV ~ single 1st, present tense
Featuring ~ dead nanny, infidelity, secrets, mentions of loss of parent, childhood trauma, drug addiction

Stella is an attorney working with 9 year old, Rose, to determine which parent she should live with after the divorce. Why a divorce you ask ~ well, shockingly, [insert eye roll], the husband was sleeping with the nanny, Tina. Tina falls to her death, Rose witnessed it and she hasn't spoken since.

All characters were unlikable, but I didn't hate that so much for this book. I thought Rose's character was well written. Let's just say it wasn't a bad idea to remove all the glass from the house.

Overall, this was just fine for me. There was a heart pounding hot minute at the end, but ultimately I found it to be pretty slow moving. Bringing so much of Stella's own childhood story gave us a whole second plot that could have been it's own book. And then her love interest at the end seemed surprising to me and even Stella herself.

I'm definitely in outlier land here as everyone is loving it 🤷

I was lucky enough to have both the ebook and the audio and both worked well.
Narration notes:
Laura did a wonderful job. She gave each character a distinct voice.

CONTENT WARNING: murder, ableism, infidelity, addiction, death of a parent, trauma, grief

I’ve been a huge fan of the books Pekkanen co-wrote with Greer Hendricks, so I couldn’t wait to read this one. Unsurprisingly, I found it to be just as engrossing and enjoyable as the co-authored books. I was lucky enough to have gotten approved for both the ebook and audiobook versions, so I switched off between both versions to get a feel for both. The audiobook is narrated by Laura Benanti, and she was a great choice for this book—she perfectly captured Stella’s character and did a wonderful job with the story.

Have you ever read those posts that go around that compare statements made by children and serial killers, then ask you to guess whether the statement was made by a child or a serial killer? Well, I have, and trust me when I say that it’s shockingly difficult to tell the difference. Although not every book featuring a suspicious death that happens in the vicinity of a child reminds me of that post, this one certainly did.

Let me start with Rose, the young girl at the heart of this story. Following the traumatic death of her nanny, which she witnessed, on top of the ugly divorce that her parents are in the middle of, Rose has developed traumatic mutism. She’s nine years old, and a best interest attorney has been appointed on her behalf, to determine what actually happened and make a custody recommendation that will be most beneficial for Rose.

Stella, the best interest attorney, has taken Rose on at the special request of her mentor, a judge who took Stella under his wing. She normally doesn’t take clients under the age of thirteen due to her own traumatic childhood and experience with traumatic mutism, but in this case she agreed to bend her self-imposed rule to work with Rose. This gave Stella a lot of insight into what Rose was experiencing and how to work with her most sensitively, but it also created a lot of interference from her own experiences that could create blind spots. We saw a lot of Stella’s backstory in flashbacks of her own experiences as some of them mirror Rose’s in certain ways.

Pekkanen is a master at amping up the tension and the creeptastic factor of this story. Yeah, I don’t think creeptastic is a real word, but I just made it into one, because it’s the best one I can think of to explain this. One of the first things we learn about Rose is that she collects sharp objects, but Stella immediately notices that there is no glass to be found in the family home—not a window, a cup, a wineglass, a mirror, picture frames, nothing. The house, the tension between the members of the Barclay family (the parents, grandmother, and Rose), the nanny’s actions in the family home, and Stella’s own past and realizations about herself all work together so beautifully to slowly crank the tension up until I was flipping pages and couldn’t go to sleep until I finished reading and found out what actually happened.

I found myself wondering if it could be possible for a nine-year-old kid to be as manipulative as Rose, or if Pekkanen was just making it sound that way, and Rose's words and behavior were just that of a strange and mildly creepy little girl under extreme amounts of stress and not getting enough socialization with other children her own age.

There were a few suspects in the story, and it almost felt like the author was pushing one or two of them a bit too hard, which made me think it probably wasn’t them. I predicted the outcome of the book way earlier than the reveal, but I really liked how the author got us to the end of the story—the twists and the reveal were done beautifully, and the tension was the best part of the story. I thoroughly enjoyed this one, with the whole vibe keeping me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. Overall, I was impressed with this story, and am looking forward to checking out more of Pekkanen’s solo work. I recommend this one if you like mystery/thrillers that are tense, involve an investigator/attorney with personal history that reflects the case, and stories involving complex family dynamics.

Stay tuned for my upcoming #AuthorElevatorSeries Q&A with Sarah on pub day (Aug 6), where we will go behind the scenes of the book and this powerhouse author!

#1 NYT Bestselling author (a long-time favorite) returns following Gone Tonight with her latest riveting thriller, HOUSE OF GLASS. A perfect family with an ideal life turns sinister when a young nanny is suspected of being murdered in this twisty whodunit. (or was it an accident)?

HOUSE OF GLASS is a mesmerizing domestic suspense that combines a whodunit crime thriller with an in-depth psychological study. Its gripping suspense and tantalizing clues will keep you on the edge of your seat.

About...

Set in the Washington DC area, Rose Barclay (age 9) witnesses the possible murder of her nanny, Tina de la Cruz, amid her parents (Beth and Ian) bitter divorce. They are fighting for sole physical and legal custody of their daughter.

Stella Hudson, recently divorced, is Rose Barclay's best interest attorney. She is appointed to counsel the child in custody cases. Due to her own traumatic childhood, she never accepts clients under thirteen. However, the judge believes she may be the only one to help due to her own background and trauma.

Rose has refused to speak and collects sharp objects. There are different kinds of mutism that afflict children. Some in certain environments are called selective mutism. Sometimes, it can occur after brain trauma or surgery. Rose seems to be suffering from traumatic mutism. (After a severe trauma).

Could Rose have violent tendencies?

Stella knew all too well about mutism when she discovered the body of her mother when she was younger than Rose. She could not speak for months.

The grand Potomac, Maryland historical estate with twenty acres purchased for $12 million before the renovation, the added barn, and the two-story shed are home to the Barclays behind its stately iron gates. The property is in both Ian's (dad) and Beth's (mom) names, but ultimately, it was Beth's family's money that made the purchase.

Stella soon realizes the case with this wealthy family is much more twisted, dark, and sinister than she can imagine. Everyone seems to be hiding something and lying.

Who is the victim, and who is the murderer?

Everyone is a suspect in the nanny's murder:

Beth: Mom
Ian: Dad
Harriett: Grandmother
Rose
Pete: Nanny's boyfriend.

Everyone seems to have a motive.

In light of the latest discovery, Barclays has removed all of the glass in the home after Rose started collecting sharp objects. The removal of the glass symbolizes the family's attempt to protect Rose from potential harm, but it also hints at the fragile nature of their seemingly perfect life.

Stella sees Rose as an intelligent little girl, but she is hiding "The Stranger Beside Me," a book about the serial killer, Ted Bundy, within the covers of "Anne of Green Gables!"

We learn about Stella's complex past when her father died after swerving off the road to avoid a deer and smashed into a tree at the age of 36, and her mother turned to alcohol and drugs.

Why does Barclays seem hesitant to allow Stella to spend time alone with Rose?

My thoughts...

HOUSE OF GLASS is a thrilling, addictive domestic suspense about marriage, betrayal, family, and the secrets that push us to the edge.

Sarah Pekkanen has been a favorite author of mine since the early days of her contemporary titles, co-authored books, novellas, and latest thrillers. I have read them all and am a huge fan. No matter what genre she writes in, you can expect superb storytelling and well-developed characters that will keep you captivated from the first page to the last.

Atmospheric with Gothic vibes—the creepy mansion behind the iron gates and the sense of darkness lurking with every page turn create a chilling atmosphere that adds to the suspense and intrigue of the story combined with the suspecting characters and their hidden motives.

Everyone in the house is a suspect, even Rose, and the parallel story with Stella adds to the intrigue. Stella's own traumatic past and her growing concern for Rose's well-being create a multi-layered narrative that keeps readers guessing. Everyone seems to have a motive. Even Stella is in danger. Rose is a wild card, and you do not know what to expect from her and the silence.

Audiobook...

Drum roll, the audiobook is a must-listen performed by the fabulous award-winning actress, Laura Benanti: Tony® Award-winner and five-time Tony® Award nominee, a highly celebrated stage and screen actress. An outstanding performance! The characters come alive—Unputdownable! Highly recommend the audio.

Recs...

HOUSE OF GLASS is a clever cat-and-mouse whodunit thriller for fans of the author, and those of authors Mary Kubica, Sally Hepworth, B.A. Paris, and Kimberly Belle.

A special thank you to St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, #MacAudio2024, and NetGalley for a gifted digital ARC and ALC for an honest opinion.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: Aug 6, 2024
Aug 2024 Must-Read Books

Young Rose is not speaking. Her nanny is dead after a fall (or a push?) from the balcony. Her parents and her grandmother are keeping Rose at home, controlling everything she does. And, there is NO glass in the house! They fear Rose will do something.

Stella is hired to be Rose's attorney and her first visit to the stately Barclay home is a bit chilling, maybe sterile or even staged. Stella is determined to find out what happened to the nanny and what is going on with Rose.

A story that kept me guessing.

Really well thought out plot and characters. There are twists that you can guess and twists that you cannot. The narrators of the audio book was fantastic as well.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Sarah Pekkanen is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors, and I'm eagerly looking forward to any new books by her.. This latest twisty thriller did not disappoint. Stella is a best interest attorney, and while working with 8 year old Rose and her family, she relives her own childhood trauma.
Rose's young nanny recently plunged to her dead and while Stella tries to figure out how to help Rose, she also must investigate exactly what happened to the nanny. This book is keeping you on the edge of your seat.

I was curious about House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen even though I didn’t love Gone Tonight. I felt similarly about this one. It’s about a lawyer, Stella, who represents a nine year old girl, Rose, who is suspected of murdering her nanny. I liked the mystery of finding out who killed the nanny and learning more about why Rose is the way she is. I liked the elements of the weird house and Rose’s creepy family but I didn’t care for Stella’s side story which seemed over the top. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator Laura Benanti was good. Overall this was a solid thriller.

3.5 🌟

Stella is an attorney who had been assigned a custody battle for Rose, a 9-year old whose parents are going through a divorce, both seeking full custody. The caveat is that Rose’s nanny recently died by falling out of a two story window and Rose has been mute since. There are many culprits and unreliable characters and Stella works to discover the truth in order to make the best decision possible for Rose. In the process, lies and twists abound!

I typically like a whodunnit story, so this was right up my alley. The first half was slow but then the pace picked up in the second half as the plot thickened and secrets emerged. The plot twists threw me for a loop and were satisfying. I also really liked the atmospheric setting with a creepy house, a creepy child, and creepy things happening.

Overall, this was a decent thriller, but not Pekkanen’s best.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to this book in exchange for an honest review!

A sudden, supposed murder of the family nanny and Stella a good intention attorney is put on the case with the hope that she can decipher what really happened and who to trust. Her main goal is to help Rose, the young 9 year old that is in the middle of the case. Did she play a role? She's not speaking, she hides and keeps dangerous objects and is fearful of glass. Stella is on the case in the hopes that she can pull out of it without too much stress and remembrance of her difficult childhood.

I was definitely intrigued and curious about what was going on with Rose. Stella is willing to help in anyway she can but Rose is difficult to work with. This gave me vibes of The Push and I was all in. I thought that the audiobook was well done and bingey to listen to.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advance ALC of this book.

Wow!!!!! I LOVED this! A twisty thriller that really keeps you guessing. This book draws you in from the first chapter. Its fast paced, tense, and unpredictable. The narration was fantastic! Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

This book was an absolute five star read for me! It will pull at your heart strings, make you angry, you'll feel untrusting, and you may think some horrific things. Kudos to Pekkanen for this amazing story that combines a bit of romance, thriller, and even a bit of horror. Rose is a young girl whose rich parents are getting a divorce amidst a potential murder. Their nanny fell from an upstairs window to her death. Stella is a best interest attorney and must figure out who Rose will live with after the divorce. The house feels sinister to Stella, and she has every reason to fear what is in the house. I definitely recommend this book to thriller fans.

Really liked this! I was constantly trying to guess what was going to happen. I had lots of theories but none of them were right. I love when a thriller can keep me on the edge of my seat. I will definitely be reading more from this author. Her writing really worked for me and I need more! Highly recommend the audiobook. It was beautifully done!

Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this audiobook! This book kept me on the edge of my seat and I couldn’t wait to see what was next! There are so many twists and turns and right when I thought I figured it out, the story would twist. This was very well written, a fast read and will definitely keep you guessing.

🪟Book Review🪟
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Summary- On the outside they were the golden family with the perfect life. On the inside they built the perfect lie.

A young nanny who plunged to her death, or was she pushed? A nine-year-old girl who collects sharp objects and refuses to speak. A lawyer whose job it is to uncover who in the family is a victim and who is a murderer. But how can you find out the truth when everyone here is lying?

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.

As Stella comes closer to uncovering the secrets the Barclays are desperate to hide, danger wraps around her like a shroud, and her past and present are set on a collision course in ways she never expected. Everyone is a suspect in the nanny’s murder. The mother, the father, the grandmother, the nanny’s boyfriend. Even Rose. Is the person Stella’s supposed to protect the one she may need protection from?
*
Rating- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
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My thoughts- this was a bit of a slow start but SO worth it! I really enjoyed this audiobook, thank you @netgalley this one comes out in August but was a BOTM option for July. Twisty and creepy characters with a well rounded audio cast. I throughly enjoyed this book and it kept me guessing the entire time! Sarah Pekkanen does it again with this beauty!
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QOTD- what are your plans for the 4th of July if you’re US based ?! I’m planning to walk to the fireworks at our towns park tonight, I can’t wait ! If not any fun plans for the weekend ?!
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#houseofglass #sarahpekkanen #bookreview #bookrecommendation #bookstagram #booksofinstagram #booksofig #bookish #booklover #bookaddict #bookaesthetic #bookish #booklover #bookobsessed #booknerd #bookworm #bookwormsunite #readersgonnaread #readmorebooks #readersofinstagram #readersofinsta

Our main character, Stella, works as an interest attorney to advocate for children in custody battles. After the Barclay’s head into a contentious divorce, their nanny is murdered and a young girl (Rose) witnesses it and goes mute. Stella is working to determine who is most fit to have custody of Rose and her investigation blurs the lines with the murder investigation.

Stella soon realizes this wasn’t an ordinary nanny, but instead the pregnant mistress of Mr. Barclay. She also finds Rose hoarding sharp objects and reading about serial killers, did she have something to do with the murder? Stella also navigates her own past trauma and experiences as she begins to be threatened to leave the nanny situation alone.

There’s something eerie about the house, their private spaces, but how can Stella do her job without any investigation? Who will Rose end up with? What secrets are they keeping in the glass house ?

It was a bit of a drag for me and while I felt it was slow paced, there were revelations and twist throughout that did keep my interest. I’m going 3.5/5 because it was just okay.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 🌟 Stella an advocate is given the assignment to determine the best interests of Rose, a nine year old little girl in a custody battle between her parents. When the nanny falls from a window just before Stella’s arrival this custody case becomes a murder investigation for Stella. Is the mute Rose responsible or is another family member hiding the truth to gain custody.

I found this novel to be riveting at the beginning. There were moments it became unbelievable and over the top. Still a quick read and enjoyable. Thank you NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for this audiobook!

Unfortunately this was my least favorite read by this author. I found the story to be slow and I was not very invested in the characters or their story. I thought the grandma being the villain was very unrealistic. I will continue to read this author as I’ve loved her previous work. Thank you for the early copy.

An addicting listen I couldn’t get enough of! Red herrings that had me thinking I was so smart figuring out who murdered the nanny within the first 20%. Halfway through my original theory was out the door, and I couldn’t listen fast enough to find out whodunit and why.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy of House of Glass by Sarah Pekkanen.