Things We Do in the Dark
by Jennifer Hillier
Summary
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.
Because the only thing worse than a murder charge are two murder charges.
GoodReads Nominee for Favorite Mystery & Thriller 2022
My Review
This was my first time reading a book by this author. I’d heard good things about her work, but unfortunately, this one didn’t resonate with me. It was extremely dark and gritty, which I could handle, but the subject matter felt unsettling, and I didn’t enjoy it. It leans more toward mystery than thriller, with few suspenseful or thrilling moments. Be sure to check the trigger warnings before diving in, as it deals extensively with various aspects of abuse, which could be disturbing to sensitive readers.
This story started strong, and I was initially invested in the murder mystery, but it quickly became bogged down with too much backstory. If you’re a fan of detailed backstory, you might enjoy it, but it was too much for me. Overall, I didn’t connect with the characters, didn’t care for the plot, and found the ending a bit predictable.
There’s quite a bit of foul language and some moments of wokeness that made me roll my eyes.
I will try this author again with some of her backlist books, but I wouldn’t recommend this particular book.