This was my first book by the author, but it will not be my last. "House
of Glass" by Sarah Pekkanen is an intense psychological thriller that
will have you pouring over the pages from start to finish.
The book follows Stella Hudson, a best interest attorney, who serves as
counsel for children in custody cases. She is asked by her beloved
mentor to take the case of nine-year-old Rose Barclay, who suffers from
traumatic mutism (so she doesn't speak) after witnessing the suspicious
death of her nanny. Her parents are in the process of a bitter divorce
and battling for custody. Stella, herself a victim of a traumatic event,
hesitates at first but then consents to take the case and determine who
should have custody.
The police never ruled whether the death of the nanny was an accident or
murder, nor did they succeed in pinning the fault on anyone in the
household. As Stella starts visiting the mansion and interviewing the
members of the household, she notices the entire house is made of
plastic. The more she digs, the more she remembers from her own troubled
past and finds a darkness at the heart of this case more dreadful than
she had ever imagined. The eerie atmosphere of the house sets her, and
the reader, on edge. Danger lurks around every corner, but she is
fearless in her pursuit of the truth.
I enjoyed the book immensely. At first, I thought the plot was going to
be a little predictable, but it was anything but. Just as I thought I
knew what was going on, the author threw a curveball. The pace builds
and quickens towards the end of the book as Stella starts to make sense
of the information she has gathered, with the climax being exhilarating,
and the reader gets caught up in the suspense of the story as well.
The author did an excellent job portraying the characters. Introducing
the main characters' backgrounds into the plot has deepened the
storyline and humanized the characters. I loved the insertion of
Stella's personal story into the plot and the way it is woven together
with the main plot. At one point, her integrity is tested, which doesn't show her in a good light, but it didn't diminish my appreciation for her.
The writing is taut and suspenseful, and the author expertly builds the
tension and unsettling atmosphere throughout the book. The book explores
themes of troubled children, family, trust, grief, and evil. If you are
into a psychological thriller that makes you think, this is definitely a
book for you. I give this multilayered, well-thought-out, and a
beautifully woven tale full stars!
*
Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.
* For more info about the book: "House of Glass" by Sarah Pekkanen
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