The next thrilling novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Sarah Pekkanen, House of Glass.

On the outside they were the golden family with the perfect life. On the inside they built the perfect lie.
A young nanny who plunged to her death, or was she pushed? A nine-year-old girl who collects sharp objects and refuses to speak. A lawyer whose job it is to uncover who in the family is a victim and who is a murderer. But how can you find out the truth when everyone here is lying?

Rose Barclay is a nine-year-old girl who witnessed the possible murder of her nanny – in the midst of her parent’s bitter divorce – and immediately stopped speaking. Stella Hudson is a best interest attorney, appointed to serve as counsel for children in custody cases. She never accepts clients under thirteen due to her own traumatic childhood, but Stella’s mentor, a revered judge, believes Stella is the only one who can help. From the moment Stella passes through the iron security gate and steps into the gilded, historic DC home of the Barclays, she realizes the case is even more twisted, and the Barclay family far more troubled, than she feared. And there’s something eerie about the house itself: It’s a plastic house, with not a single bit of glass to be found.

As Stella comes closer to uncovering the secrets the Barclays are desperate to hide, danger wraps around her like a shroud, and her past and present are set on a collision course in ways she never expected. Everyone is a suspect in the nanny’s murder. The mother, the father, the grandmother, the nanny’s boyfriend. Even Rose. Is the person Stella’s supposed to protect the one she may need protection from?

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martins Press for this review copy!

Sarah Pekkanen’s HOUSE OF GLASS  is a captivating psychological thriller that will keep you guessing until the very end. The story centers around Stella Hudson, a lawyer appointed to represent a young girl caught in a bitter custody battle. The situation takes a dark turn when it is revealed the girl’s nanny recently fell from a window to her death, leaving a cloud of suspicion hanging over the entire household. The author skillfully weaves together elements of mystery and psychological drama. The reader is constantly questioning who to trust and what truly happened the night the nanny fell.

Pekkanen excels at building suspense. The story unfolds at a steady pace, slowly revealing cracks in the seemingly perfect facade of the Barclay family. Each character harbors secrets, and the lack of windows in their house adds a constant sense of unease. The narrative cleverly shifts between Stella’s investigation and the perspective of young Rose, the traumatized girl at the center of the case. This dual perspective allows the reader to delve deeper into the emotional toll of the situation and the complexities of Rose’s trauma. It also adds intrigue, as the reader is not sure who might be an unreliable narrator.

One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its characters. Each member of the Barclay family is flawed and complex, grappling with their own demons and motivations.  Pekkanen expertly explores the dynamics of family relationships. The atmosphere of the house itself is also a character in its own right. Pekkanen creates a sense of unease and foreboding that permeates every page, making the mansion feel like a living, breathing entity with its own dark secrets waiting to be uncovered. The setting is vividly described, evoking a sense of isolation and claustrophobia that adds to the novel’s tension.

Summary:

  • Intriguing Premise: The combination of a child custody case and a suspicious death creates a layered mystery with high stakes. The lack of windows in the Barclay household adds a creepy atmosphere, making the reader wonder what the family is trying to hide.
  • Compelling Characters: Stella is a well-developed protagonist. She’s empathetic yet determined, making her a character you root for as she navigates the complexities of the case. The other characters, including the Barclay family members, are shrouded in secrecy, keeping the reader guessing about their true motives.
  • Suspenseful Plot: Pekkanen masterfully builds tension throughout the novel. The story unfolds with a slow burn, dropping subtle clues that leave you piecing together the puzzle. However,some readers might find the initial chapters a bit slow.
  • Focus on Trauma: The book deals with themes of child trauma and loss, which can be emotionally heavy for some readers.

HOUSE OF GLASS is a gripping and thought-provoking thriller. Pekkanen’s sharp writing and exploration of family dynamics make this a page-turner. If you enjoy character-driven mysteries with a touch of psychological suspense, then this book is definitely worth checking out. The exploration of family secrets and the unreliable nature of memory make for an entertaining story. Highly recommended for fans of authors like Tana French and Gillian Flynn, or for anyone who enjoys a good domestic mystery with a twist. Readers who enjoy piecing together clues and analyzing characters will find themselves engrossed in the story. The mystery itself is well-crafted, with enough red herrings to keep you guessing until the satisfying – and perhaps surprising – conclusion.

Want your own copy? You can pick it up here.