Things We Do in the Dark

Everything considered I was pleasantly surprised with this book. The three narrative threads tied together well, and the twists (while a little predictable) were well-plotted and tied up nicely. I was hoping for a little more of the “suspense” factor that would keep me more bound to the book, but there was definitely enough plot progression to craft a story I enjoyed reading.

jennifer hiller always creates dynamic, flawed characters that show all aspects of humanity but are people who you also root for. they are relatable but sometimes you feel like screaming at them through the page. that is definitely how i felt about our main character, paris throughout this book.

while we do have a main plot line that is beautifully crafter, there are multiple timelines being told that eventually all weave together and honestly those were my favorites. this is like if a classic domestic thriller combined with allegedly by tiffany d. jackson and the last housewife by ashley winstead which are two of my all time favorite thrillers.

the way the backstories of our characters were explored to show why they are they way they are today was honestly so fascinating and the dynamics between characters were also super interesting. this book was dark without crossing the line of being widely enjoyed. don't get me wrong i love a thriller or horror book that pushes the envelope when it comes to being dark and sinister but those aren't books i would often widely recommend because they are most likely too much for the average thriller reader. this on the other hand i think can be enjoyed by the average thriller lover and those who love to explore the darker aspects of life.

i was not surprised by the twist at the end and thought it was slightly predictable but there were a ton of other twists throughout the book that left my jaw wide open and the whole story just came together so beautifully, that the slight predictability did not take away from this book for me.

thank you to st. martin's press, jennifer hillier, and netgalley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review 

This book was too slow for me. I was quickly wrapped up in part one and then loved Drew's focus in part 2 but then it got very repetitive. I kept waiting for something big to happen with Ruby as it was alluded to in the description and made it feel like it would go somewhere. The last part played out way too quick, and I would have enjoyed more of a cat and mouse chase. 

It took me abt a week to actually get into the story and when I was in I was so immersed and it felt lie a definite 4 star ,but unfortunately the ending was a major let down and I guessed one of the huge ‘twists' a few chapters before it was revealed, hence the 3.25 star rating.

I loved the writing tho so I am thinking of starting another one by the author, any recs?(I read little secrets in Jan and loved it!!)

Though I wouldn't personally call this much of a thriller, Things We Do in the Dark did not disappoint.

When her well-known husband is found dead, Paris Peralta is the obvious suspect. Though she knows she's innocent, she's less worried about the murder charge itself than she is about having her face in the media. This isn't the first time she's been in the wrong place at the wrong time. 

With an alternating timeline and POV, we also meet Drew, a true crime podcaster who inevitably comes across Paris' story. We don't hear as much from his side, but it brings the story together as it alternates from past to present. However, I don't think the book necessarily needed his storyline, either. We don't learn too much about him.

What I enjoyed most were the backstories even though the topics were heavy. Paris and Ruby in particular were well-fleshed out. Where the active thrill is lacking, the characters make up for it. That's not to say there's no element of suspense, only that where a lot of what's being told is in the past tense, we know on some level how things end. The characters made it for me. I enjoyed it a lot.

Ok I did predict some things that happened in this book I didn't see that ending coming and the way it unfolded. I got intrigued with the story immediately. I absolutely loved he characters in this and the way it unfolded in the end. This isn't the most shocking and twisty thriller but it is an amazing one to me and I had a ton of fun reading it. That's the reason I read is to have fun and this one was definitely that and the way it all unfolded was excellent to me. This might be my favorite Jennifer Hiller next to Wonderland.

Rating: 2.75 leaves out of 5Characters: 2/5 Cover: 3/5Story: 3/5Writing: 3/5Genre: Mystery/ThrillerType: AudiobookWorth?: EhHated Disliked It Was Okay Liked Loved FavoritedWant to thank Netgalley and publishers for giving me the chance to listen to this book. I do love a good mystery and a good twist. This on the other hand was kind of predictable at times. I did like some of the things Paris did in her past and I am glad Drew can be a pretty smart guy.What I really didn't like was all the characters. Listening to it was a mess and a half.

I accidentally predicted the whole plot early on, but it was still an enjoyable read. I feel like Drew could have been edited out of the story and it would have been just as good. His investigation into Joey and May could have had more suspense and we found out about Joey too soon. I hate moms like Ruby. It kept me interested the whole way through even though this isn't my favorite genre.

Definitely a page turner. I overall enjoyed the book and the writing style.

The twists in the book were pretty easy to figure out, however I still really enjoyed the book. My main disappointments with the book were in the last section. I felt like there were too many questionable variables. How would Paris know Drew? Why would she accompany him on an interview with another woman who was accused of murdering her husband? Why would Elsie just give herself up easily like that? Not sure how cashier's checks work really but odd to go to the bank for one for large sum of money to give to someone you don't know..? Etc – many little details that seemed bizzare.

Less troublesome but more awkward/annoying was in the second to last chapter Paris spelled out exactly what happened the night Charles died to her mom as if her mom didn't know since she got her nickname for something she didn't do.

This is my first Jennifer Hillier book and I can see why people rave about her books. I thoroughly enjoyed it. The story unfolds between multiple POV's and two timelines which I loved. It made the unfolding of the story more interesting and gave you insights that wouldn't have been the same from a single POV and timeline.

Even though most thrillers are filled with unlikeable or unreliable characters, I actually liked all of the characters in this book. Well, that's a lie....a few I loathed, but that was the point. The subject matter is heavy and there's some serious TW, but it was approached well. There are also a few different reveals and twists throughout, which I thought were predictable but still entertaining.

Overall, I enjoyed this and it was a quick read. I look forward to reading more from Jennifer Hillier.

So Jennifer Hillier is still a pretty new author for me. I've read Jar of Hearts and The Butcher because a friend enjoys this author and figured I would too. I did enjoy both of those but Things We Do in the Dark is on a different level than those two.

While I did enjoy this for the most part, it is NOT a thriller. This is more of an in-depth, character heavy story with Joelle's background and abuse at the forefront. The writing is good for sure, but it's definitely slow and at times dull.

I can better understand all the mixed reviews now and had I gone into this one thinking it was more of a slow burn mystery, I probably would have enjoyed it more. That being said, it's still an interesting read, but it's dark and intense due to Joelle's history. My heart broke for her.

I would still recommend this one for those who have it. Just don't go into this one thinking you're going to get a thrill ride, because you won't.

I listened to this book on Audible and I found myself inventing errands so I could listen.
I heard this author on The Shit No One Tells You About Writing and picked it up from there. I haven't read as many thrillers as I used to, and I thoroughly enjoyed jumping back into the genre with this book. Well done.

I Refuse To Be My [Parent]. Yes, a version of the title line of this review is said in the book. And that was the moment the book hit particularly hard for me. Because I've lived it. Not directly, but as the child of a person that did. To be clear, it was not the same kind of abuse that my parent endured, but it was abuse and it did shape that parent in ways that have played out over the course of my own life. So at that moment, this book became very, very real for me and I could see that character's actions as clear as day and understand them on levels I don't often get to even in fiction.

The rest of the book, with a present day murder and blackmailing, a secret identity, a true crime podcast looking at a murder years ago and how it all ties together... was all excellently done. Other reviews complain about the backstory, but for me that was the actual story - because it shows everything that caused the person to utter the line I titled the review with. Overall a strong tale that survivors of domestic abuse may struggle with, but which ultimately should prove cathartic indeed even for them. Very much recommended.