Things We Do in the Dark by Jennifer Hillier
Things We Do in the Dark is a brilliant new thriller from Jennifer Hillier, the award-winning author of the breakout novels Little Secrets and Jar of Hearts. Paris Peralta is suspected of killing her celebrity husband, and her long-hidden past now threatens to destroy her future.
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.
Review:
I’ve read a couple of Jennifer Hillier’s other books and really enjoyed them. I especially enjoyed Jar of Hearts – mostly because of that reveal toward the end – I didn’t see it coming at all. With “Things We Do in the Dark,” Hillier has written a decent mystery with a familiar yet engaging plot, though I will say I wasn’t exactly blown away.
The story begins with Paris Peralta finding herself in a nightmarish situation. Her famous husband’s assistant found her in the bathroom of their home covered in blood, a razor in her hand, and her husband bleeding out in the bathtub. Paris is arrested and faces a murder charge; however, it is not only the murder charge that troubles Paris. With the relentless media attention now focused on her, she fears that someone from her past will recognize her and unravel the carefully constructed life she has built.
The narrative then takes readers back twenty-five years earlier, introducing Ruby Reyes, aka the Ice Queen. Ruby had been convicted of a similar murder that captivated Canada in the early 1990s. Ruby was sentenced to life in prison but, surprisingly, is about to be released. With intimate knowledge of Paris’s true identity, Ruby threatens to expose all of Paris’s secrets unless she pays Ruby a hefty sum. Left with no other option, Paris must finally confront the dark past she had managed to escape, risking not just one murder charge but two.
In terms of writing style, Hillier begins with Paris’ arrest and interrogation and then flashes back to Parris’ past. We see things from both Paris’ point of view and a true crime podcaster named Drew, who is covering Ruby’s case. Through these two perspectives, we get a full picture of how these two women’s lives intersect.
The book really does begin with a bang, and I can say that the pacing is pretty even throughout the book – even when it jumps between Paris and Drew, unraveling Paris’ past and revealing how she is connected to Ruby. The story is strong – even if it does feel familiar, and I was never bored with the book.
I think my biggest problem with this one was that it just felt somewhat formulaic, and I think readers like myself may find themselves drawing comparisons to other similar works. I guessed the connection between the two women early on, and there were really no surprises going forward. The familiarity of the plot prevents this one from being a true standout for me.
Additionally, the characters, while complex, didn’t fully resonate with me. Although Paris and Ruby have intriguing backstories and personal struggles, their journey – like the story – was as expected. I liked Paris, and I definitely rooted for her. Ruby really was a piece of work and a decent villain, but again, nothing about them really stands out.
Overall, Hillier delivers a decent mystery with an engaging plot. However, the book’s familiarity and lack of character depth prevent it from truly standing out. If you’ve not read any of this author’s books, I would recommend “Jar of Hearts” or “Creep”. I enjoyed both of those books more. If you’re okay with familiar and predictable, then I would definitely check this one out. It’s well-written, and I did like the ending, but overall, it was just okay.
