Scan barcode
emmy80g's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mags0914's review
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Kept me guessing but there were so many tangents and subplots, I felt like the book was a little more long-winded than it needed to be.
cajun_reader's review
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Child abuse
Moderate: Sexual assault
dhood721's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
0.75
spatterson12's review against another edition
3.0
I might’ve read one too many thrillers before this one, so it was easy to predict or figure out some major plot points since I was already in that mindset. I am interested to read others by this author because I’ve heard great things.
A woman is discovered covered in her dead husband’s blood. A husband who was much older and much more famous, so it was easy for his assistant to point the finger and accuse her of murder. At least 1/3 of the book leaves behind this opening storyline to focus on a true crime journalist podcaster who is investigating the release of a notorious Canadian killer.
With this book broken into parts, after the long podcaster part, it improves on the distribution and balance between the two storylines.
A woman is discovered covered in her dead husband’s blood. A husband who was much older and much more famous, so it was easy for his assistant to point the finger and accuse her of murder. At least 1/3 of the book leaves behind this opening storyline to focus on a true crime journalist podcaster who is investigating the release of a notorious Canadian killer.
With this book broken into parts, after the long podcaster part, it improves on the distribution and balance between the two storylines.
loriluo's review
4.0
At first glance, Paris Peralta seems to have it all. She's a yoga instructor recently married to famed comedian Jimmy Peralta - a man thirty years her senior who's just about to sign a multi-million dollar deal with Netflix competitor, Quan. Things immediately fall apart though, when she's discovered at the scene of her husband's death, covered in his blood and holding his straight razor in her hand. What ensues is a story that simultaneously follows Paris's seemingly impossible case as she firmly stands by the fact that she didn't kill her husband, as well as a look back in time to her childhood and backstory.
Twenty five years earlier in Canada, Ruby Reyes, the "Ice Queen", was also convicted of murder in a similar crime. Her young daughter Joelle "Joey" Reyes is taken into Child Protective Services, and placed into foster care with her extended family... until she tragically dies in an unexpected fire in a basement apartment she shared with her friend. Things aren't always as they seem though, and in in the present, ex-journalist Drew Malcolm tries to put together the pieces that led to his friend's eventual demise.
"Things We Do in the Dark" is a well-laid out mystery novel that ties together these different characters and storylines beautifully, giving readers plenty of hints and red herrings throughout, but still managed to surprise me in the final few pages. Hillier managed to craft a persuasive female protagonist in Paris; despite the mystery and uncertainty of her background, I rooted for her throughout the story. I appreciated as well how she managed to cover difficult topics like child abuse, racial discrimination, and the mistreatment of women throughout; it isn't revealed until later in the novel that Paris is Filipino, but the subsequent nods to her culture and background were ones I greatly appreciated.
Definitely a recommended summer read for when "Things We Do in the Dark" is released in July!
Thank you Macmillan & Minotaur Books for the advance copy of this novel!
Twenty five years earlier in Canada, Ruby Reyes, the "Ice Queen", was also convicted of murder in a similar crime. Her young daughter Joelle "Joey" Reyes is taken into Child Protective Services, and placed into foster care with her extended family... until she tragically dies in an unexpected fire in a basement apartment she shared with her friend. Things aren't always as they seem though, and in in the present, ex-journalist Drew Malcolm tries to put together the pieces that led to his friend's eventual demise.
"Things We Do in the Dark" is a well-laid out mystery novel that ties together these different characters and storylines beautifully, giving readers plenty of hints and red herrings throughout, but still managed to surprise me in the final few pages. Hillier managed to craft a persuasive female protagonist in Paris; despite the mystery and uncertainty of her background, I rooted for her throughout the story. I appreciated as well how she managed to cover difficult topics like child abuse, racial discrimination, and the mistreatment of women throughout; it isn't revealed until later in the novel that Paris is Filipino, but the subsequent nods to her culture and background were ones I greatly appreciated.
Definitely a recommended summer read for when "Things We Do in the Dark" is released in July!
Thank you Macmillan & Minotaur Books for the advance copy of this novel!
juliannecridlin's review
4.0
TW for the book:
Child abuse, sexual abuse, murder, rape, suicide
Tl;dr: a twisty story about child abuse and reinvention that made my heart ache.
Things We Do in the Dark was a dark and twisted story that made my heart ache for every person who has experienced or is experiencing abuse in any form. This story highlights an all too real reality for many children, and adults, who deserve nothing but love and care. I found myself so proud of Joey/Paris for being able to reinvent herself, make her story hers, and feel love. I was sick with hate and disgust toward Joey's entire family, and the people her mother brought into her life.
I found that I had worked out the biggest twist in the story early on but I wasn't disappointed with the predictable nature of the plot. I do think the final twist, Elsie's story, was a bit unnecessary but it still fits the story just fine.
Child abuse, sexual abuse, murder, rape, suicide
Tl;dr: a twisty story about child abuse and reinvention that made my heart ache.
Things We Do in the Dark was a dark and twisted story that made my heart ache for every person who has experienced or is experiencing abuse in any form. This story highlights an all too real reality for many children, and adults, who deserve nothing but love and care. I found myself so proud of Joey/Paris for being able to reinvent herself, make her story hers, and feel love. I was sick with hate and disgust toward Joey's entire family, and the people her mother brought into her life.
I found that I had worked out the biggest twist in the story early on but I wasn't disappointed with the predictable nature of the plot. I do think the final twist, Elsie's story, was a bit unnecessary but it still fits the story just fine.
krystal_'s review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
laurabsteele's review
5.0
I’m not usually a guess the twist thriller reader, but I caught some of this one. Even guessing what the twist were the writing was great to enjoy how it actually happened.
TW: SA, self harm, murder
TW: SA, self harm, murder