Reality TV, Twisted Secrets & 4 Stars
I finished this book days ago, but life ended up putting me in a bit of a slump where I just didn’t feel in the mood to do much of anything!
This was my third book by Jennifer Hillier, and if reading her work has taught me anything, it’s two things: she knows how to craft a fantastic thriller, and she has such a distinct, unique voice.
What impressed me most was how effortlessly she manages a multi-layered narrative. Tracking several subplots at once can easily get messy, but Hillier pulls it off like a conductor orchestrating a chaotic masterpiece. Watching all those disparate threads collide near the end made the pages fly by, and bringing a reality TV element into the mix added such a juicy, modern edge to the suspense. The small-town setting felt vivid and claustrophobic, and the character work had real flesh on its bones rather than just existing as props for the plot.
I’m giving this a solid 4 out of 5 stars. The only reason it isn’t a full five-star read for me is that the resolution felt a little too tidily wrapped up for my darker thriller taste, and I was left craving a bit more closure on Marty’s arc. Still, it completely pulled me out of my reading slump, and I devoured it in just two sittings.
I was so bummed to find out there wasn’t a New Jersey stop on her book tour this time around, because I would have been first in line at a signing! If you’re building your autumn reading list, make sure to add Heart of Glass by Jennifer Hillier to your Fall Thriller TBR.
