‘The Things We Do In The Dark’ by Jennifer Hillier | #20BooksOfSummer

Author : Jennifer Hillier
Title : TheThings We Do In The Dark
Pages : 350
Publisher : Minotaur Books
Publication date : July 19, 2022
Source : Owned

| ABOUT THE BOOK |

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.

| MY THOUGHTS |

Jennifer Hillier is an auto-buy author for me so I didn’t read the book description, and I had no idea what ‘The Things We Do In The Dark‘ was about. It was definitely one my most anticipated novels of the year though, and the minute it arrived on my doorstep, I cleared my scheduled and dove in.

I dare say there aren’t many good things we do in the dark and that is definitely true in this story. Paris Peralta is arrested for the murder of her comedian husband. Things look bad, obviously, but Paris is more worried about someone from her past recognising her and destroying everything she’s worked for. Especially Ruby Reyes, currently serving a prison term for murder. She knows who Paris really is and when she’s unexpectedly released from prison, she threatens to reveal all of Paris’s secrets unless she’s paid good money.

Once you start reading, it really doesn’t take a genius to figure out how the two storylines are connected. Did I care? Nope. Because there is always something entirely engrossing and absorbing about the way Hillier writes that it feels almost impossible to physically let go of the book you’re holding. ‘The Things We Do In The Dark‘ is told through various parts and other than part one, which deals with Paris’s arrest, I really don’t feel I can talk about any of it for fear of spoilers. Except to say that the parts dealing with the past were by far some of my favourites.

I had a difficult time with Paris. I didn’t particularly like her or, even worse, care about her predicament. Furthermore, I again didn’t really think it took much brain energy to realise what happened to her husband. Did I care? Also nope. The supporting cast mostly got on my nerves, except for a character called Drew, who turns out to be far more instrumental than I anticipated. He was someone I felt sorry for, carrying around a lot of guilt because of something he had zero influence over.

This story is definitely addictive. Even when you know what’s coming, it’s always nice to discover you were right. It’s often slightly uncomfortable to read. Not to worry, it never goes into all the dirty details but your imagination will still fill in the blanks just fine. But what was undoubtedly missing was tension and suspense. Entertaining but missing the thrill in thriller. And despite the fact that I didn’t mind the predictability, I suppose somewhere deep down I was hoping for something that would at some point rock my socks off but it never really came.

I’m a huge fan of Jennifer Hillier’s books and I absolutely loved her previous one, ‘Little Secrets‘. It’s quite possible the next one was always going to struggle a little bit since my expectations were sky high. ‘The Things We Do In The Dark‘ left me somewhat conflicted. I very much enjoyed it but I expected more. I really liked it but I didn’t love it. If you use star ratings, it’s that difference between 4 stars and 5. Great, yet lacking that certain something that makes it awesome. That said, still a fan and I’ll definitely be at the front of the line when Jennifer Hillier drops her next book.

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20 Books of Summer : 15/20