Title: THINGS WE DO IN THE DARK
Author: Jennifer Hillier
Narrator: Carla Vega
ISBN: 978 1250 8623 96
Publisher: Macmillan Audio
Pages: 352
Duration: 12hours 22 minutes
Source: Audible
When Paris Peralta is arrested in her own bathroom – covered in blood, holding a straight razor, her celebrity husband dead in the bathtub behind her – she knows she’ll be charged with murder. But as bad as this looks, it’s not what worries her the most. With the unwanted media attention now surrounding her, it’s only a matter of time before someone from her long hidden past recognizes her and destroys the new life she’s worked so hard to build, along with any chance of a future.
Twenty-five years earlier, Ruby Reyes, known as the Ice Queen, was convicted of a similar murder in a trial that riveted Canada in the early nineties. Reyes knows who Paris really is, and when she’s unexpectedly released from prison, she threatens to expose all of Paris’s secrets. Left with no other choice, Paris must finally confront the dark past she escaped, once and for all.
Official Summary
06 March 2024
Jennifer Hillier is fast becoming one of my favourite author’s. I simply cannot get enough of her work. I want to read all her books before the end of the year and with some of them not readily available locally, I am happy that I can find them on Audible.
“Things We Do in the Dark” is a gripping read that thrust you into a world of deception, murder and the haunting echoes of a past that refuses to stay buried. With a narrative that skilfully weaves between the present and a period 25 years earlier, the author creates a psychological thriller that explores the consequences of one’s actions, the fragility of newfound lives and the relentless pursuit of truth.
The story opens with a shocking scene – Paris Peralta, a woman with a seemingly perfect life, is discovered in her bathroom, covered in blood, clutching a straight razor and her celebrity husband dead in the bathtub. The arrest not only propels Paris in the centre of a high-profile murder investigation, but also threatens to unravel the carefully constructed facade of her current existence.
As the plot unfolds, it becomes apparent that Paris is not the only character harbouring a dark secret. Enter Ruby Reyes, a figure from the past known as the Ice Queen, who was convicted of a similar murder that captivated Canada in the early nineties. When Ruby is unexpectedly released from prison, she poses a formidable threat to Paris, armed with the knowledge of Paris’s true identity and the potential to expose the skeletons in her closet.
This book delves deep into the theme of identity and the repercussions of one’ s past actions. The author explores the impact of long-buried secrets on the present, demonstrating how the choices made in youth can cast a long and unforgiving shadow over the years. The novel also scrutinizes the consequences of societal judgement and media scrutiny, illustrating how public perception can shape and distort the truth.
Jennifer Hillier crafts a cast of complex and multifaceted characters, each with their own motivations and flaws. Paris Peralta, the protagonist, is a compelling mix of vulnerability and strength as she struggles with the ghosts of her past. Ruby Reyes is depicted with complexity, urging readers to ponder the essence of justice and redemption. The supporting characters add layers to the narrative, contributing to the overall richness of the story.
The book oozes suspense and tension with dual timelines seamlessly transitioning between present-day events surrounding Paris’s arrest and the events of the early nineties that led to Ruby’s conviction. This dual perspective not only enhances the mystery, but also the emotional impact of the character’s struggles.
When you pick up this book you will find a psychological thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The writing is sharp, evocative and laden with suspense. The pacing is brilliant, allowing tension to build gradually while maintaining a sense of urgency. The author’s vivid imagery evokes a sense of foreboding that contributes to the story’s immersive atmosphere.
Jennifer Hillier’s amazing storytelling, coupled with a cast of compelling characters and a plot filled with unexpected twists, males this book a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. The more Jennifer Hillier books I read, the more I love this author, I cannot wait to dig into a another one. (Copies of Creep and The Butcher are waiting on my TBR shelf already.)
Also by Jennifer Hillier
Wonderland
Welcome to Wonderland. By day, it’s a magical place boasting a certain retro charm. Excited children, hands sticky with cotton candy, run frenetically from the Giant Octopus ride to the Spinning Sombrero, while the tinkling carnival music of the giant Wonder Wheel—the oldest Ferris wheel in the Pacific Northwest—fills the air. But before daybreak, an eerie feeling descends. Maybe it’s the Clown Museum, home to creepy wax replicas of movie stars and a massive collection of antique porcelain dolls. Or maybe it’s the terrifyingly real House of Horrors. Or…maybe it’s the dead, decaying body left in the midway for all the Wonder Workers to see.
Vanessa Castro’s first day as deputy police chief of Seaside, Washington, is off to a bang. The unidentifiable homeless man rotting inside the tiny town’s main tourist attraction is strange enough, but now a teenage employee—whose defiant picture at the top of the Wonder Wheel went viral that same morning—is missing. As the clues in those seemingly disparate crimes lead her down a mysterious shared path of missing persons that goes back decades, she suspects the seedy rumours surrounding the amusement park’s dark history might just be true. She moved to Seaside to escape her own scandalous past, but has she brought her family to the centre of an insidious killer’s twisted game? Acclaimed author Jennifer Hillier’s bone-chilling thriller is masterful and fast-paced, hurtling toward a shocking, bloody conclusion.
About the Author
Author bio from the author’s site
Jennifer Hillier imagines the worst about people and then writes about it.
She’s the USA Today, Toronto Star, and The Globe and Mail bestselling author of Things We Do in the Dark, described as “an intoxicating thrill ride” by the New York Times and “propulsive and chilling” by People magazine. It was a Book of the Month Club selection, an Indigo Top Ten Best Book of the Year, an Amazon Editor’s Spotlight Pick, a Goodreads Choice Award nominee, a Loan Stars pick, and her third consecutive novel to be honoured as a Library Reads pick, which places her in their Hall of Fame.
Jennifer is also the author of six other psychological thrillers. Her USA Today bestselling novel Little Secrets is currently being adapted for Peacock by Tish Cyrus’s Hopetown Entertainment, writer Melissa Scrivner Love and Universal Television, and was a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize and the Anthony Award. Jar of Hearts won the ITW Thriller Award for Best Hardcover Novel and was also shortlisted for the Anthony and Macavity Awards. Her earlier novels are Creep, Freak, The Butcher, and Wonderland, the last of which will be published in mass-market paperback and audiobook for the very first time in April 2023. Her books have been published in twenty-three languages so far.
Jennifer is Filipino-Canadian, born and raised in Toronto. She spent eight amazing years in Seattle which is where she first became a published writer. She’s a Seahawks fan who married to a Packers guy. They have a young son who looks most like her when he’s crying. She’s afraid of the dark and can’t sleep unless she’s checked the locks on the doors several times. She loves writing when it’s raining, sleeping when it’s sunny, and reading after everyone else has gone to bed. She cherishes her family (those who read, and those who don’t), and her friends (those who write, and those who don’t). She’s a cat person without a cat, which makes her sad. But she’s now back in the Toronto area permanently with her family, which makes her happy.
In case you missed it while reading my review, I am really enjoying Jennifer Hillier’s work. Are you a fan? Which is your favourite book? I have two more of her books on my TBR shelf – Creep and The Butcher – which one would you recommend I read first? Leave a comment below. Thank you for visiting, until next time…Happy Reading!
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