Amazon.ca:Customer reviews: Things We Do in the Dark: A Novel

Top positive review

Great Fun!

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on November 28, 2022

This book was quite the wild ride. I did figure out some of the plot twists before they were revealed, but certainly not all of them. Well written, kept my interest and was thoroughly entertaining.

Top critical review

All critical reviews›

Zara

Meh.

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on August 17, 2022

It’s just ok. An easy, light read. Not adding the author to my favourites list. Purchased on release day due to a sale, wouldn’t go back and buy it again though.

Sort by

Filter by

4,280 total ratings, 84 with reviews

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

From Canada

Amazon Customer

Great Fun!

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on November 28, 2022

Verified Purchase

This book was quite the wild ride. I did figure out some of the plot twists before they were revealed, but certainly not all of them. Well written, kept my interest and was thoroughly entertaining.

Helpful

Great author

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on October 24, 2022

Verified Purchase

Awesome book, great read as expected from Jennifer Hillier.

Helpful

Patricia Kidd

Riveting

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on August 18, 2022

Verified Purchase

I’m not quite finished reading this book but it’s not taking long! I don’t want to put it down! Excellent read! Easy to follow!

3 people found this helpful

Helpful

Zara

Meh.

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on August 17, 2022

Verified Purchase

It’s just ok. An easy, light read. Not adding the author to my favourites list. Purchased on release day due to a sale, wouldn’t go back and buy it again though.

Helpful

Best summer read!

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on August 8, 2022

Verified Purchase

Jennifer Hillier never disappoints. One of her best novels!

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Zeynep

The book came crooked, the side is cut unevenly

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on January 18, 2023

Verified Purchase

At first I assumed it was a factory error, but when i returned the book in exchange for a new one, the same problem occurred. The book is cut unevenly and looks hideous. It is so noticeable and i had to go through the whole process of returning a package just for the new one to arrive just as bad.

Helpful

Paulina Medeiros

One of the best thrillers of the year

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on August 8, 2022

Enjoyment: 5
Total rating: 5

Things We Do in the Dark by Jennifer Hillier

Things are not looking good for Paris when she is arrested in her own bathroom, covered in blood, holding the weapon that killed her celebrity husband. Surprisingly what worries her is not the looming murder charge but the media attention her case brings.

Paris has worked really hard to build a new life, and now she knows someone from her past will find her and force her to confront the past she is running from. It's not long before Paris finds Ruby, recently released from prison, back in her life, threatening to expose all her secrets... Left with no choice, Paris must finally confront the dark past she escaped once and for all.

"the only thing worse than a murder charge are two murder charges."

I went into Things We Do in the Dark with very high expectations, which is not always good. But unfortunately, this is a hole Hillier dug for herself - it's her fault for releasing increasingly better thrillers.

I am happy to report that not only did she not disappoint, but this is also her best novel yet. Everything about Things We Do in the Dark felt "real." Hillier describes places and situations and gives life to characters, making the reader feel like they are hearing a first-hand account of horrific events that happened to a close friend.

The little details and the immense emotional pull attached to them always get me when reading a Hillier. I have always felt transported to the worlds she creates and taken them for granted as I have never been to the west coast of the U.S. Parts of Things We Do in the Dark take place in the GTA, an area I am very familiar with, and the way she subtly captured the essence of places described is mind blowing.

Her books are gritty and dark. No question about it, but they are also nuanced. Her main characters are flawed; they make mistakes and accept responsibility, but they fight. Paris is all that and so much more. I cried most of the book for her. Her life wasn't easy. She was raised by an abusive, toxic mother and has faced more loss than anyone should endure. Yet, she allows herself to offer all she can to those she loves. All I can say is that I wish I knew Paris in real life. What a woman.

I have no more words - unforgettable characters, tense atmosphere, perfect pacing, beautifully plotted. Emotional, entertaining and visceral. One of my favourite books of the year.

I have read the book and listened to the audiobook, and all I can say is - get both! Reading Hillier is an experience, and Carla Vega met the challenge.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Karen V. Mcnicol

Wow!!!

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on September 3, 2022

Found it very hard to put this book down, life got in the way a few times! I think this is her best book yet. (Jennifer has a lot of good books). It flowed so well from the past to the present, Joey I always wanted to hug her and tell her that not all people where bad/evil like her mom and all those men.
Thank you Jennifer for delightful hours of reading, I did not want the book to end.

I recommend this book to everyone who loves great writing!

Helpful

Sanda

Dark and twisty thriller

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on July 19, 2022

When Paris Peralta is arrested for the murder for her celebrity husband, murder charge is not the only thing she needs to worry about. The intense media spotlight she finds herself in threatens to expose secrets she worked really hard to bury. Meanwhile in Toronto a podcast journalist is working on a new podcast about convicted murderer Ruby Reyes, also known as The Ice Queen. Ruby is being released on parole after serving a 25 year prison sentence and her release.

This was the first Jennifer Hillier book I've read, even though I own both of her previous works (time t tackle that TBR stack). After reading Things We Do in the Dark I am definitely a fan. This was a well written, suspenseful story with great character development. Though some twists were less surprising than others, overall the engaging storytelling trumped my need for surprises. I enjoyed both story-lines but there was definitely an added element of nerdy enjoyment to Toronto one as that's the city I call home. This read is perfect for fans of medium paced, character driven, dark and twisty thrillers! Even if you're not necessarily an avid thriller fan, I'd recommend this book as it this holds appeal beyond genre expectations.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

StarterQuest

Mediocre at best

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on January 12, 2023

This book is advertised as a dramatic thriller, but it's pretty lackluster and mediocre at best - not sure what these 5-star reviewers were reading.

The story revolves around a potential murder (perhaps suicide?) of a famous actor-comedian whose body is discovered by his significantly younger, new wife, who may have been out-of-town at the time (and may stand to inherit nearly $50M, which she supposedly doesn't know about). She's eventually charged with murder by the police, but did she actually do it?

**Cue the dramatic music**

It's a similar plot we've seen before, done in the past by other authors, but Hillier attempts to make it 'darker'...she takes readers down the rabbit-hole of the wife's sad past, including child-abuse (both physical and sexual), family tensions, poverty etc. throwing in organized crime figures, strippers, drug dealers, evil bankers etc and a healthy dose of profanity along the way.

Hillier deserves credit for the organization of the plot, but after a while, the constant flash-backs become distracting. It's a fast read, but if you take your time, you're likely to get lost in what time-period the story is in.

Regardless, I wasn't crazy about the book - there were some pretty big plot holes that made the story less and less convincing and eventually irritating (warning to review-readers, details below):

- We spend a good chunk of the book learning how Ruby, the wicked mother, abuses the hell out of her daughter...she's eventually locked up in prison for the murder of her banker-boyfriend. Ruby seems to genuinely despise and hate her daughter, yet she keeps her mouth shut the entire time of her own trial and eventual incarceration to protect...her daughter? Why, exactly? Someone that interested in themselves would do anything to save themselves; not help others, especially by being in prison for decades.

- Joey turning into Paris is solely predicated on a strip-club bouncer (and lover) keeping quiet, procuring fake IDs in exchange for $100k in drugs. Okay...

- Speaking of those drugs...How did they get hidden in Joey's 'secret' hiding place for her money in her apartment? She apparently told no one yet somehow her friend and co-worker knew. And how did her friend / co-worker get inside her apartment to hide the drugs in the first place?!

- Toronto police are either lazy or incompetent - they don't investigate the arson / mutilated body at all and apparently DNA evidence doesn't exist to them.

- The murder of Mae's gangster boyfriend is glossed over. Okay...guess it just happens. Again, Toronto police don't really investigate.

- "Mae" runs away...okay, but you mean to tell us, NO ONE is looking for her? No family, no friends, co-workers, not even the CRA for tax purposes?! Seems to convenient.

- What was Joey / Paris doing all those years between running away from Toronto and getting married in Seattle? It's just glossed over as well. "She opened a yoga studio."

- The actor-comedian's murder gets wrapped up near the end WAY too fast - not enough context and the actual killer makes no sense.

Overall, the book wasn't satisfying as a "thriller"...felt more like a cheap TV-movie. 2/5

Helpful

Need customer service? Click here

‹ See all details for Things We Do in the Dark: A Novel

5 star		44%
4 star		37%
3 star		15%
2 star		3%
1 star		1%

Amazon Music Stream millions of songs	Amazon Advertising Find, attract, and engage customers	Amazon Business Everything for your business	Amazon Drive Cloud storage from Amazon	Amazon Web Services Scalable Cloud Computing Services

Book Depository Books With Free Delivery Worldwide	Goodreads Book reviews & recommendations	IMDb Movies, TV & Celebrities	Amazon Photos Unlimited Photo Storage Free With Prime	Shopbop Designer Fashion Brands

Warehouse Deals Open-Box Discounts	Whole Foods Market We Believe in Real Food	Amazon Renewed Like-new products you can trust	Blink Smart Security for Every Home

Things We Do in the Dark: A Novel

›

Customer reviews

Customer reviews

Things We Do in the Dark: A Novel

Top positive review

Top critical review

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

From Canada

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

Things We Do in the Dark: A Novel › Customer reviews

Customer reviews

Things We Do in the Dark: A Novel

Top positive review

Top critical review

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

From Canada

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

There was a problem loading comments right now. Please try again later.

Things We Do in the Dark: A Novel

›

Customer reviews