Things We Do in the Dark

"Propulsive and chilling." --People Magazine

"An intoxicating thrill ride. Hillier jams her foot on the accelerator and never lets up." --New York Times Book Review

Things We Do in the Dark is a brilliant 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.

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Published May 23, 2023

368 pages

Average rating: 7.65

508 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

CheriF
Sep 25, 2025
8/10 stars
I was lucky enough to get both the audiobook and ebook versions of this ARC and used them both. I've been getting back into reading with my eyeballs and ereader but when the narrator is particularly good - and I've got other books going with my eyes - I'm very happy to take advantage of audiobooks. And the narrator was very good!

This twisty tale about family and murder and deception was very enjoyable. There was lots of moving back and forth in time but it was done in larger chunks so it didn't give me whiplash. And both timeframes were interesting and helped with the unfolding of events. I found myself cheering for both Paris and Joey, even when they did naughty things.

There was one section that made me cringe but the vast majority of the book was great fun. Dark, gritty fun.

Jennifer Hillier has become one of my go-to authors for twisted thrillers and I definitely recommend Things We Do in the Dark.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for hooking me up so well.
Mommadukes69
Apr 05, 2025
5/10 stars
It was a decent story. Ok writing style. A bit predictable. The Italy saw the twist coming. Overall it was not a waste of my time.
Pagereader01
Mar 15, 2025
8/10 stars
Sad story but a twisted juicy book! Was hoping for more at the end tho.
bookshelf.at.tiffanys
Dec 19, 2024
6/10 stars
Paris has returned early from a weekend yoga retreat to find her famous comedian husband, Jimmy, dead in their bathtub. Paris is arrested and immediately suspected to have killed him as they found a straight razor in her hand and she's covered in his blood. She's going to be tried for murder... and that's not the scariest part. Paris has some skeletons in her closet that the unwanted media attention could bring to light. Paris isn't exactly who she says she is and she's worked hard to build the life she's currently living.

A similar crime was committed 25 years earlier by the "Ice Queen", Ruby Reyes. Ruby was sentenced to 25 with the possibility of parole. Well, parole time has come around and she's being released... Ruby knows Paris's true identity and could ruin everything for Paris. Reyes begins to blackmail Paris - she wants money, lots of it, or she'll expose Paris's secrets...

I really enjoyed the audiobook. I think the narrator did a great job and the book was well written. The plot and storyline was easy to follow. My complaint is that this was pretty predictable and it was "put down-able", I wasn't completely hooked or engrossed in the story. I saw the major plot twist coming way before it happened. The final twist was surprising, but there was enough time to guess that one too. Overall, I would recommend this if you're looking for a quick read thriller.

⚠️ Be sure to check the trigger warnings prior to reading this book, there are A LOT of them ⚠️
Karen
May 25, 2024
8/10 stars
This book was so intriguing. You never knew where it was going to turn. Though, some things were a little unsurprising. Still, it kept me captured and I couldn’t put it down.

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