What do you think?
Rate this book
Sharp Glass
Sarah Hilary, Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year winner and author of Black Thorn, returns with Sharp Glass. Trapped and alone in a remote house in the country, one woman must find a way to defeat a captor who has no intention of letting her go.'A master of her craft. In every book she makes the words sing' Ann Cleeves The last thing she remembers is standing outside the empty house. One she was employed to pack, ready for removal. Her job is her life. It is her compulsion to take care of an owner’s precious possessions, to do whatever it takes to help them move on. Now she is cold, dirty, damp, trapped in its cellar with no chance of escape, miles from anywhere. His prisoner. And then he returns. Her captor believes she holds the answers to why a young girl was murdered a year ago. He refuses to let her go until she reveals her secrets. But he doesn’t know she has hidden depths, and an anger she works hard to control. The battle lines are drawn. They are the only two people who can solve the mystery of the dead girl, but when the truth is revealed whose life will shatter…?
385 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 11, 2024
19 people are currently reading
215 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Hilary
39 books583 followersSarah’s debut, Someone Else's Skin, won Theakstons Crime Novel of the Year and was a World Book Night selection. The Observer's Book of the Month ("superbly disturbing”) and a Richard & Judy Book Club bestseller, it was a Silver Falchion and Macavity Award finalist in the US. No Other Darkness, the second in the series was shortlisted for a Barry Award. Her DI Marnie Rome series continued with Tastes Like Fear (longlisted for Theakstons Crime Novel of the Year 2017) and Quieter Than Killing (Observer’s Thriller of the Month). Come and Find Me was published in 2018, with Never Be Broken to come in 2019.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
March 27, 2024
.....”I remember arriving at the old house, ready to pack it’s contents for the owner who is selling it. For reasons best known to myself, I decide to arrive at night and being miles from anywhere, it’s extremely dark out here. That’s when he hits me over the head and takes me to the cellar. I’ve been in here for three days, trapped in the pitch black with my imagination running riot. What does he want? We’ve come from opposing angles - but am I right or is he? Whose is the truth about the dead girl???”.......
This is an intense slow burner with the author making me feel as if I’m trapped in the cellar with the character as her thoughts fluctuate between the rambling and the rational as she tries to assess her captor. Who they both are is really intriguing and you’re kept in suspense trying to figure out who is telling the truth as it becomes apparent that neither are reliable. It goes round and round as you try to sift through the secrets, the abundance of lies and so becoming a mystery wrapped in a huge conundrum. What also becomes clear is that the characters are damaged, obsessive, despairing and complicated people, one or two are truly terrible, plumbing the depths of human nature. It’s a suspenseful read with palpable tension and a dark psychological thriller. The ending is especially tense with unexpected twists.
However, it can’t be denied that I find it slow and repetitive in places as it bats back and forth between the central protagonists. This results in the narrative becoming stop/start before it revs up again. Equally though, I thoroughly enjoy trying to establish who is the least unreliable and trying to peak into the truth. This is the fascination of the novel.
Overall, it’s a terrific premise, it’s well written and a good read if you don’t mind an uneven pace.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Pan Macmillan for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
This is an intense slow burner with the author making me feel as if I’m trapped in the cellar with the character as her thoughts fluctuate between the rambling and the rational as she tries to assess her captor. Who they both are is really intriguing and you’re kept in suspense trying to figure out who is telling the truth as it becomes apparent that neither are reliable. It goes round and round as you try to sift through the secrets, the abundance of lies and so becoming a mystery wrapped in a huge conundrum. What also becomes clear is that the characters are damaged, obsessive, despairing and complicated people, one or two are truly terrible, plumbing the depths of human nature. It’s a suspenseful read with palpable tension and a dark psychological thriller. The ending is especially tense with unexpected twists.
However, it can’t be denied that I find it slow and repetitive in places as it bats back and forth between the central protagonists. This results in the narrative becoming stop/start before it revs up again. Equally though, I thoroughly enjoy trying to establish who is the least unreliable and trying to peak into the truth. This is the fascination of the novel.
Overall, it’s a terrific premise, it’s well written and a good read if you don’t mind an uneven pace.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Pan Macmillan for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
February 29, 2024
This was a strange one for me. Normally suspense/thriller type books, I can race through in a day or day and a half however I found this one took me a few days to get through.
This isn't a criticism of the book, I actually really enjoyed it however the story and writing were disjointed and very stop/start which meant I wasn't able to race through it as I normally would. Please don't take that as a criticism of the book, in fact the disjointed nature of the story requires this type of story telling however I think some people might be put off by that.
In terms of the story, I don't want to add anything over and above the synopsis as to do so, firstly, would be difficult and, secondly, would ruin the element of suspense.
If you like books where you never know where the story is going, then this is for you.
Things I Know To Be True:
- This book is impressive.
- I will definitely be reading more of this author.
- This list will make more sense when you read the book.
Enjoy!
Thanks to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan, Macmillan for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
This isn't a criticism of the book, I actually really enjoyed it however the story and writing were disjointed and very stop/start which meant I wasn't able to race through it as I normally would. Please don't take that as a criticism of the book, in fact the disjointed nature of the story requires this type of story telling however I think some people might be put off by that.
In terms of the story, I don't want to add anything over and above the synopsis as to do so, firstly, would be difficult and, secondly, would ruin the element of suspense.
If you like books where you never know where the story is going, then this is for you.
Things I Know To Be True:
- This book is impressive.
- I will definitely be reading more of this author.
- This list will make more sense when you read the book.
Enjoy!
Thanks to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan, Macmillan for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
June 14, 2025
A first time read from this author and boy was it a thrill ride.
I was pulled in straight from the outset as we learn of Grace's capture a the initial chapters set in the cellar are really gripping.
We also follow Daniel's viewpoint who's holding her captivie and wants to know about the murder of a girl Elise.
I like the way both characters flaws are examined and the list of facts are a nice addition.
A unique and clever way to explore the hostage/capture dynamic with some powerful layered themes.
I was pulled in straight from the outset as we learn of Grace's capture a the initial chapters set in the cellar are really gripping.
We also follow Daniel's viewpoint who's holding her captivie and wants to know about the murder of a girl Elise.
I like the way both characters flaws are examined and the list of facts are a nice addition.
A unique and clever way to explore the hostage/capture dynamic with some powerful layered themes.
July 12, 2024
Grace is obsessed with the killer of Elise, who is a 12-year-old child. Imprisoned by Dan, Grace turns the tables and becomes Dan's captor.
The story flows with ease from the outset, Sarah Hilary's captivating writing style making it a thrill to read as the scene between Grace and Dan teeters on a knife edge. The characteristics of the duo are excellent, and the interchanges between them fascinating.
There are surprises throughout, and the ending is truly inspired.
The story flows with ease from the outset, Sarah Hilary's captivating writing style making it a thrill to read as the scene between Grace and Dan teeters on a knife edge. The characteristics of the duo are excellent, and the interchanges between them fascinating.
There are surprises throughout, and the ending is truly inspired.
June 22, 2024
Sharp Glass is a strange read. We open with a woman realising she’s being held hostage in a cellar. We don’t know who’s holding her, or why. Over the course of the novel we come to realise exactly who she is and who has taken her, and how it links to the disappearance of a young girl in the area.
Initially told through the eyes of our female character, it’s evident she’s hiding something but we’re never quite sure what. Then the book switches to the view of Dan, the man who was holding her. Once we know how he links to the story we are then given the story as they both experience it. And we realise nothing is quite what we thought.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this before publication. It was not what I expected, and I’m not sure whether the structuring made it harder to engage with.
Initially told through the eyes of our female character, it’s evident she’s hiding something but we’re never quite sure what. Then the book switches to the view of Dan, the man who was holding her. Once we know how he links to the story we are then given the story as they both experience it. And we realise nothing is quite what we thought.
Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this before publication. It was not what I expected, and I’m not sure whether the structuring made it harder to engage with.
June 4, 2024
Sharp Glass by Sarah Hilary is the story of a woman trapped and alone in a remote house in the country. Why is she trapped in this house, has she been kidnapped or being held to account for something she has done.
She was employed to pack up the home, that is her job, that she is very accomplished at. She has instead been locked in the cellar.
Her captor believes she knows why a young girl has been murdered and who is responsible. They are the only two people who know why this young girl was murdered.
The storyline is very drawn out and whilst the climax is very sad, when we find out who is responsible for the young girl’s death and other deaths, it wasn’t one of my favourite reads by this accomplished author.
She was employed to pack up the home, that is her job, that she is very accomplished at. She has instead been locked in the cellar.
Her captor believes she knows why a young girl has been murdered and who is responsible. They are the only two people who know why this young girl was murdered.
The storyline is very drawn out and whilst the climax is very sad, when we find out who is responsible for the young girl’s death and other deaths, it wasn’t one of my favourite reads by this accomplished author.
March 9, 2024
‘Sharp Glass’ is written round an interesting premise. Sarah Hilary explores in great detail the relationship between a captor and his prisoner and the ways that they rely on each other. It’s not quite as straightforward as that but to say much more about the plot would be to reveal the psychological twists and turns of the novel.
Did I enjoy it? Not much. The pace was extremely slow and, whilst that doesn’t concern me if I am fully involved in the characters and their motivations, I wasn’t here. The narrative felt rather too far- fetched and the author’s exploration of the results of poor parenting not particularly insightful.
Has Hilary’s Marnie Rose disappeared into the ether? I sincerely hope not. That series was the author at her best.
My thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.
Did I enjoy it? Not much. The pace was extremely slow and, whilst that doesn’t concern me if I am fully involved in the characters and their motivations, I wasn’t here. The narrative felt rather too far- fetched and the author’s exploration of the results of poor parenting not particularly insightful.
Has Hilary’s Marnie Rose disappeared into the ether? I sincerely hope not. That series was the author at her best.
My thanks to NetGalley and Pan Macmillan for a copy of this book in exchange for a fair review.
May 28, 2024
It's hard to write a review for this as I was interested in the synopsis of the novel and although it was advertised as a slow burn it really was too slow and repetitive for my liking. However it did give off a claustrophobic and tense atmosphere. I have read a Sarah Hilary book before but sadly this one was not for me.
July 10, 2024
This is probably one of the most complex psychological thrillers I’ve ever read.
“Sharp Glass” reads like an exploration of trauma and how it can affect people. Gwen and Dan are looking for the identity of a killer, but they are both showing signs of not entirely being in their right minds. Not crazy, more like their minds are broken. In their search for answers, might they somehow be able to fix one another?
Sarah Hilary has come up with one intricately laid puzzle that quite frankly made my head hurt. I often felt as confused as the characters, my mind going off in various directions, never quite able to zero in on what was important. I did have an inkling as to the killer’s identity but, here too, Hilary created uncertainty and I was never entirely convinced of my deductions.
”Sharp Glass” is unlike any thriller I’ve ever read. The psychological insight is from another level entirely. This one digs incredibly deep into the lives of these characters, how they ended up here, in the mental state that they find themselves in. It makes for extremely compelling reading, as you’re never really sure how either one will react next.
As important as finding out who the killer was for these characters, that wasn’t always the case for me. I was more interested in finding out who would survive this complicated and volatile situation. Both characters kept me on my toes, never really sure if they were reliable narrators, or where the danger would be coming from. Considering their actions who could blame me.
An intriguing and massively fascinating read, it has its uncomfortable and disturbing moments for sure. But fans of the psychological slow-burner and a captivating character-driven tale will undoubtedly admire Sarah Hilary’s remarkable storytelling and find themselves completely absorbed by the suspense.
“Sharp Glass” reads like an exploration of trauma and how it can affect people. Gwen and Dan are looking for the identity of a killer, but they are both showing signs of not entirely being in their right minds. Not crazy, more like their minds are broken. In their search for answers, might they somehow be able to fix one another?
Sarah Hilary has come up with one intricately laid puzzle that quite frankly made my head hurt. I often felt as confused as the characters, my mind going off in various directions, never quite able to zero in on what was important. I did have an inkling as to the killer’s identity but, here too, Hilary created uncertainty and I was never entirely convinced of my deductions.
”Sharp Glass” is unlike any thriller I’ve ever read. The psychological insight is from another level entirely. This one digs incredibly deep into the lives of these characters, how they ended up here, in the mental state that they find themselves in. It makes for extremely compelling reading, as you’re never really sure how either one will react next.
As important as finding out who the killer was for these characters, that wasn’t always the case for me. I was more interested in finding out who would survive this complicated and volatile situation. Both characters kept me on my toes, never really sure if they were reliable narrators, or where the danger would be coming from. Considering their actions who could blame me.
An intriguing and massively fascinating read, it has its uncomfortable and disturbing moments for sure. But fans of the psychological slow-burner and a captivating character-driven tale will undoubtedly admire Sarah Hilary’s remarkable storytelling and find themselves completely absorbed by the suspense.
July 12, 2024
"Sharp Glass" is a gripping and unsettling psychological thriller that left me breathless and deeply moved. As someone who relishes the intricate dance between suspense and human psychology, I found this book to be an exceptional addition to the genre.
The narrative kicks off with an intense premise: a woman, whose job is her lifeline and obsession, finds herself trapped in the cellar of a remote house she was hired to pack up. The isolation and desperation of her situation are evident, creating a suffocating atmosphere that Hilary maintains throughout the novel. The claustrophobic setting amplifies the tension, making each page turn an exercise in controlled anxiety.
The protagonist, whose meticulous nature and dedication to her job are her defining traits, is compelling and relatable. Hilary crafts her with a precise touch, filling her with a complexity that reveals itself layer by layer. Her captor convinced that she holds the key to solving a young girl’s murder, is a chilling and enigmatic figure. The dynamic between them is loaded with psychological warfare, as each tries to outmanoeuvre the other in a deadly game of wits and secrets.
One of the best elements of "Sharp Glass" is Hilary’s style. Ann Cleeves rightly describes her as a master of her craft, making the words sing. Hilary’s writing is both lyrical and precise, painting vivid images and evoking strong emotions without ever becoming overwrought. The tension between the captor and the captive is skilfully rendered, with each confrontation peeling back new layers of their characters and the mystery at the heart of the story. The plot is intricately woven, with twists that are both surprising and inevitable in hindsight. Hilary doesn’t just rely on shocks to keep you engaged; she builds a narrative that is rich with psychological insight and emotional depth. The revelations about the young girl’s murder and the true nature of the captor's motives are handled with finesse, leading to a climax that is as satisfying as it is heartbreaking.
"Sharp Glass" reflects Sarah Hilary’s ability to craft a thriller that is as intellectually stimulating as it is emotionally rich. It’s a book that lingers long after the final page, its themes of entrapment, resilience, and the search for truth ringing deeply. For fans of psychological thrillers, this is a must-read that showcases the best of what the genre has to offer.
https://featzreviews.com/sharp-glass-...
The narrative kicks off with an intense premise: a woman, whose job is her lifeline and obsession, finds herself trapped in the cellar of a remote house she was hired to pack up. The isolation and desperation of her situation are evident, creating a suffocating atmosphere that Hilary maintains throughout the novel. The claustrophobic setting amplifies the tension, making each page turn an exercise in controlled anxiety.
The protagonist, whose meticulous nature and dedication to her job are her defining traits, is compelling and relatable. Hilary crafts her with a precise touch, filling her with a complexity that reveals itself layer by layer. Her captor convinced that she holds the key to solving a young girl’s murder, is a chilling and enigmatic figure. The dynamic between them is loaded with psychological warfare, as each tries to outmanoeuvre the other in a deadly game of wits and secrets.
One of the best elements of "Sharp Glass" is Hilary’s style. Ann Cleeves rightly describes her as a master of her craft, making the words sing. Hilary’s writing is both lyrical and precise, painting vivid images and evoking strong emotions without ever becoming overwrought. The tension between the captor and the captive is skilfully rendered, with each confrontation peeling back new layers of their characters and the mystery at the heart of the story. The plot is intricately woven, with twists that are both surprising and inevitable in hindsight. Hilary doesn’t just rely on shocks to keep you engaged; she builds a narrative that is rich with psychological insight and emotional depth. The revelations about the young girl’s murder and the true nature of the captor's motives are handled with finesse, leading to a climax that is as satisfying as it is heartbreaking.
"Sharp Glass" reflects Sarah Hilary’s ability to craft a thriller that is as intellectually stimulating as it is emotionally rich. It’s a book that lingers long after the final page, its themes of entrapment, resilience, and the search for truth ringing deeply. For fans of psychological thrillers, this is a must-read that showcases the best of what the genre has to offer.
https://featzreviews.com/sharp-glass-...
September 18, 2025
3.5
Now this was a really hard book to rate, and it has taken me some time to rate this! Having finished this on Tuesday, I gave myself a little time to review! This follows a woman who wakes up trapped in the cellar of a house. All she remembers is that she was due to help a family move possessions to this address! Now I loved the first 40% of this book, it had me hooked and I was definitely intrigued by the premise of this! However, this went on for a little too long for me (I won't say how to avoid spoilers!) and I found myself wondering when the twist and change of scene would happen! This also had a dual timeline and POV that I really struggled to follow! The plot twist was good, but the ending left me extremely angry, hence the drop in rating! It ended in such a bizarre place and I felt the3 story didn't really wrap up!
Now this was a really hard book to rate, and it has taken me some time to rate this! Having finished this on Tuesday, I gave myself a little time to review! This follows a woman who wakes up trapped in the cellar of a house. All she remembers is that she was due to help a family move possessions to this address! Now I loved the first 40% of this book, it had me hooked and I was definitely intrigued by the premise of this! However, this went on for a little too long for me (I won't say how to avoid spoilers!) and I found myself wondering when the twist and change of scene would happen! This also had a dual timeline and POV that I really struggled to follow! The plot twist was good, but the ending left me extremely angry, hence the drop in rating! It ended in such a bizarre place and I felt the3 story didn't really wrap up!
July 14, 2024
Judging by all the good reviews, this just wasn’t for me.
September 18, 2024
I'm not too sure how I finished this book. It seemed never ending, didn't enjoy it whatsoever
May 15, 2025
I found this a very disjointed story that was hard to follow, it just didn’t flow well at all
March 8, 2024
I have long been a fan of Hilary's writing and a new Sarah Hilary book is a source of great excitement for me. I can't say that I loved Sharp Glass but I, once again, hugely appreciated Hilary's writing.
I found this book to be a bit slow. Where I'd usually race through a book of Hilary's, Sharp Glass took me a while to read.
That said, Hilary's stop-start narrative, the frustration of unreliable narrators, and the slower pace all added to the tension in this book. I found myself so frustrated with the characters, desperate for answers. which Hilary carefully drip-feeds to the reader.
Not my favourite of Hilary's work but I lapped up her writing.
I found this book to be a bit slow. Where I'd usually race through a book of Hilary's, Sharp Glass took me a while to read.
That said, Hilary's stop-start narrative, the frustration of unreliable narrators, and the slower pace all added to the tension in this book. I found myself so frustrated with the characters, desperate for answers. which Hilary carefully drip-feeds to the reader.
Not my favourite of Hilary's work but I lapped up her writing.
July 1, 2024
‘My cellar is a box inside a box. I know this from the way sound travels, and because all houses are the same. Boxes inside boxes, inside boxes. Houses are my business. There is nothing you can teach me about houses.’
‘Sharp Glass’ is a dark, seductive and irresistible novel. Sarah Hilary’s writing is overwhelmingly exquisite; her ability to simultaneously bewilder and entrance is, I think, unparalleled in contemporary writing, rivalling Patricia Highsmith and Ruth Rendell writing as Barbara Vine. Worthy of all the awards.
‘Sharp Glass’ is a dark, seductive and irresistible novel. Sarah Hilary’s writing is overwhelmingly exquisite; her ability to simultaneously bewilder and entrance is, I think, unparalleled in contemporary writing, rivalling Patricia Highsmith and Ruth Rendell writing as Barbara Vine. Worthy of all the awards.
July 28, 2024
I am an avid reader of Sarah Hilary's books books..She has honed her already considerable craft and now produces some of the best writing I have read. Her characters are so three dimensional and multi-layered and in Sharp Glass, she peels back the layers of her characters until we start to understand what’s going on in their minds.
Sharp Glass is, in that sense, a psychological thriller. It delves deep into the characters, making you at first believe one thing about them and showing you that what you thought was going on is just the surface; these are people with much, much more going on under the surface.
Sharp Glass is literary fiction, too. Of that there can be no doubt. Structured in three parts it first introduces us to a young woman. This woman is a professional packer; the kind that understands how important your most valued possessions are and will wrap and pad and look after them with all the care and precision that she can. When we first meet her we understand that this is a role that allows her to lead a life where she can work in isolation, surrounded by other people’s treasures and she gets quite obsessive about them. She has her own treasures, too. These she carries with her, in a shoe box. Not always perfect, they are nevertheless the things she values most and she can’t bear them to be out of her sight.
Now, she is working in a remote, currently unoccupied house in the country, working for a client who hired her over the phone. Or at least she would be if she hadn’t been trapped in a cellar by an unknown male assailant. She doesn’t know why he has held her. She isn’t being mistreated; this man brings her food and water, but he won’t let her out.
As she spends time in her isolated darkness, unable to find any way out, we hear all her thoughts and speculations over what is happening to her and why. We learn a little about this woman. Her life has not been easy and her thoughts ramble as she gives us clues into who she is, but not why she is an abductee, confined to the overwhelming dark that shrouds her like a blanket. For three days, she lets her imagination run riot. It is an intense and deeply claustrophobic experience made more so by her thoughts. You can’t help but wonder if everything she thinks is entirely rational. Can we believe everything she says?
Then we learn more about her captor. The two have conversations and we learn that he is a successful ophthalmologist. He is clearly intelligent and just as clearly he has no personal designs on this woman. Yet, he too, has mental health issues he simply prefers not to deal with. Both these characters are fragile and both have had very difficult childhoods and adolescence. Both are damaged individuals and it is not clear whether you can wholly believe either of them, but you are caught up trying to work out which you think might be the more reliable. It isn’t east and this slow burn of a novel catches you in an intense war of words between the two, trying to navigate the lies and find the spots of truth in what they say.
As their conversations develop it becomes clear that there is one event that they have in common. An event that was so tragic and traumatising that neither has fully recovered from it. As the perspective changes between the woman and the man and then we are privy to the back and forth of their conversations, we think we have a handle on what happened and why these two are at each other’s throats, but Sarah Hilary allows the narrative to wrong foot us at every turn.
The reader’s emotive intelligence switches between these characters are the layers are slowly revealed, but even then we can’t be sure that we are placing our empathy in quite the right place.
There is cruelty here and violence, but most of all there is a damaged and emotional game of cat and mouse that switches from anger to calm and from hope to despair. Deeply buried secrets seep out and there are some shocking moments that pivot the relationship between these two.
Verdict: This is such a well written psychological novel. It is a tense, claustrophobic and astonishing read; one that is so well worth taking time with. I am so impressed with Sarah Hilary’s ability to give her reader such a deep insight into these flawed but highly memorable characters. Unquestionably Sharp Glass is a 5 star read!
Sharp Glass is, in that sense, a psychological thriller. It delves deep into the characters, making you at first believe one thing about them and showing you that what you thought was going on is just the surface; these are people with much, much more going on under the surface.
Sharp Glass is literary fiction, too. Of that there can be no doubt. Structured in three parts it first introduces us to a young woman. This woman is a professional packer; the kind that understands how important your most valued possessions are and will wrap and pad and look after them with all the care and precision that she can. When we first meet her we understand that this is a role that allows her to lead a life where she can work in isolation, surrounded by other people’s treasures and she gets quite obsessive about them. She has her own treasures, too. These she carries with her, in a shoe box. Not always perfect, they are nevertheless the things she values most and she can’t bear them to be out of her sight.
Now, she is working in a remote, currently unoccupied house in the country, working for a client who hired her over the phone. Or at least she would be if she hadn’t been trapped in a cellar by an unknown male assailant. She doesn’t know why he has held her. She isn’t being mistreated; this man brings her food and water, but he won’t let her out.
As she spends time in her isolated darkness, unable to find any way out, we hear all her thoughts and speculations over what is happening to her and why. We learn a little about this woman. Her life has not been easy and her thoughts ramble as she gives us clues into who she is, but not why she is an abductee, confined to the overwhelming dark that shrouds her like a blanket. For three days, she lets her imagination run riot. It is an intense and deeply claustrophobic experience made more so by her thoughts. You can’t help but wonder if everything she thinks is entirely rational. Can we believe everything she says?
Then we learn more about her captor. The two have conversations and we learn that he is a successful ophthalmologist. He is clearly intelligent and just as clearly he has no personal designs on this woman. Yet, he too, has mental health issues he simply prefers not to deal with. Both these characters are fragile and both have had very difficult childhoods and adolescence. Both are damaged individuals and it is not clear whether you can wholly believe either of them, but you are caught up trying to work out which you think might be the more reliable. It isn’t east and this slow burn of a novel catches you in an intense war of words between the two, trying to navigate the lies and find the spots of truth in what they say.
As their conversations develop it becomes clear that there is one event that they have in common. An event that was so tragic and traumatising that neither has fully recovered from it. As the perspective changes between the woman and the man and then we are privy to the back and forth of their conversations, we think we have a handle on what happened and why these two are at each other’s throats, but Sarah Hilary allows the narrative to wrong foot us at every turn.
The reader’s emotive intelligence switches between these characters are the layers are slowly revealed, but even then we can’t be sure that we are placing our empathy in quite the right place.
There is cruelty here and violence, but most of all there is a damaged and emotional game of cat and mouse that switches from anger to calm and from hope to despair. Deeply buried secrets seep out and there are some shocking moments that pivot the relationship between these two.
Verdict: This is such a well written psychological novel. It is a tense, claustrophobic and astonishing read; one that is so well worth taking time with. I am so impressed with Sarah Hilary’s ability to give her reader such a deep insight into these flawed but highly memorable characters. Unquestionably Sharp Glass is a 5 star read!
July 10, 2024
I adore Sarah Hilary's writing. I have read everything that she has written and enjoyed all of her novels to date. This is an author whose books I really look forward to. The reader never quite knows what they will get, and Sharp Glass is, quite possibly, her best book to date.
The female lead character opens the story thinking about her recent journey. She is a professional packer, employed by people to pack up their homes for moving. The job suits this woman. She's insular and also very structured, she likes things in their place. She's very good at her job. She travelled at night time, to an isolated house in the country, she hasn't met the person who hired her.
We become aware that the woman is being held in a cellar. Captured as soon as she arrived, she was put in the cellar by an unknown man. Her thoughts run wild, the man is not treating her badly, he brings food and water, he tries to make her as comfortable as possible, but she is trapped.
This is an extraordinary piece of writing. The structure of the novel is incredibly clever and the meandering thoughts of the woman raise so many questions. We hear her innermost thoughts. It is clear that she has led a fractured, difficult life. That small things that she has collected over the years and kept in a shoe box are very important to her. Is she reliable? We only hear her story, there must be a reason why this man has captured her.
It is filled with suspense and tension, there is a darkness that is so overwhelming and so powerful. The woman's internal narrative is full of clues to her character, but we still don't know why she is there.
It is a story of three parts, and in the second, we learn more about the man who holds her captive. He is another fractured soul. A man who tried his best to escape from his life of pain. An educated, intelligent man who has an important, useful job, but who suffers from the memory of his earlier life. As these two people gradually get to know each other, it becomes clear that they have more in common than we would imagine. They are bound together by the tragic death of a young girl a year ago. That story is central to the theme and the horrors that unfold are shocking.
Whilst we do not actually meet any other characters, we hear about many, especially in the third part. We hear about the cruelty, the sadness, the need for revenge. There are well hidden secrets, there are unexpected shocks in store.
This is an immersive, sharply written and quite devastating novel that features characters who are flawed and will often make the reader feel uncomfortable. However, those characters are magnificently portrayed, formed with an incredible insight into how the mind can work.
This is an absolute wonder of a novel that will challenge but will also take you so deeply into the minds of these characters that you will find it hard to leave them. Highly recommended by me.
The female lead character opens the story thinking about her recent journey. She is a professional packer, employed by people to pack up their homes for moving. The job suits this woman. She's insular and also very structured, she likes things in their place. She's very good at her job. She travelled at night time, to an isolated house in the country, she hasn't met the person who hired her.
We become aware that the woman is being held in a cellar. Captured as soon as she arrived, she was put in the cellar by an unknown man. Her thoughts run wild, the man is not treating her badly, he brings food and water, he tries to make her as comfortable as possible, but she is trapped.
This is an extraordinary piece of writing. The structure of the novel is incredibly clever and the meandering thoughts of the woman raise so many questions. We hear her innermost thoughts. It is clear that she has led a fractured, difficult life. That small things that she has collected over the years and kept in a shoe box are very important to her. Is she reliable? We only hear her story, there must be a reason why this man has captured her.
It is filled with suspense and tension, there is a darkness that is so overwhelming and so powerful. The woman's internal narrative is full of clues to her character, but we still don't know why she is there.
It is a story of three parts, and in the second, we learn more about the man who holds her captive. He is another fractured soul. A man who tried his best to escape from his life of pain. An educated, intelligent man who has an important, useful job, but who suffers from the memory of his earlier life. As these two people gradually get to know each other, it becomes clear that they have more in common than we would imagine. They are bound together by the tragic death of a young girl a year ago. That story is central to the theme and the horrors that unfold are shocking.
Whilst we do not actually meet any other characters, we hear about many, especially in the third part. We hear about the cruelty, the sadness, the need for revenge. There are well hidden secrets, there are unexpected shocks in store.
This is an immersive, sharply written and quite devastating novel that features characters who are flawed and will often make the reader feel uncomfortable. However, those characters are magnificently portrayed, formed with an incredible insight into how the mind can work.
This is an absolute wonder of a novel that will challenge but will also take you so deeply into the minds of these characters that you will find it hard to leave them. Highly recommended by me.
July 24, 2024
With thanks to the publisher for the copy received. I have read all of Sarah Hilary’s novels and this is definitely the most complex and thought provoking of all of them.
There are a few characters in this novel but most of the focus is on two, Grace and Daniel. The others feature as part of the storyline but not in person if that makes sense, so I felt that I knew about their grief, anger and loss without actually meeting them. Until the latter stages.
Grace and Daniel are complex, disturbed and unhappy characters who initially appear to have little in common. But as their relationship progresses and they start to understand why they are in their situation, they open up to each other more. Grace is a professional packer, who tends to get too close to her clients, in particular Tess who is the mother of Elise whose murder has gone unsolved. Daniel, an ophthalmologist, is a close friend of Tess and her husband Clark and unbeknown to Tess, they along with two other friends have a Friday evening vigil at the murder site which gradually gets more violent as their grief and anger escalates.
Whilst the murder does feature this novel it is mainly about Daniel and Grace. Both seemingly successful, but both have issues that they struggle to accept. Their difficult childhoods have caused mental health issues for both of them that they both acknowledge have had an impact on their adult lives. But can their version of events be relied on?
It is in the latter stages of the novel that the truth about the murder and the reason why Daniel and Grace face their predicament is revealed and it all became clear. And my understanding of both of them was completely wrong. I thought I knew who the murderer was and I thought I understood the characters. I was wrong on just about everything. I don’t for a minute think I’m the only reader who experienced this.
This novel is one where I really needed to concentrate on reading. It is extremely clever, an addictive but not a quick read because I was constantly rereading certain parts checking that I had understood it correctly. If there is one thing this author has demonstrated it is that it is so easy to believe what people tell you.
I will definitely read this book again, it’s a brilliant story and I want to experience reading it knowing what actually happened
There are a few characters in this novel but most of the focus is on two, Grace and Daniel. The others feature as part of the storyline but not in person if that makes sense, so I felt that I knew about their grief, anger and loss without actually meeting them. Until the latter stages.
Grace and Daniel are complex, disturbed and unhappy characters who initially appear to have little in common. But as their relationship progresses and they start to understand why they are in their situation, they open up to each other more. Grace is a professional packer, who tends to get too close to her clients, in particular Tess who is the mother of Elise whose murder has gone unsolved. Daniel, an ophthalmologist, is a close friend of Tess and her husband Clark and unbeknown to Tess, they along with two other friends have a Friday evening vigil at the murder site which gradually gets more violent as their grief and anger escalates.
Whilst the murder does feature this novel it is mainly about Daniel and Grace. Both seemingly successful, but both have issues that they struggle to accept. Their difficult childhoods have caused mental health issues for both of them that they both acknowledge have had an impact on their adult lives. But can their version of events be relied on?
It is in the latter stages of the novel that the truth about the murder and the reason why Daniel and Grace face their predicament is revealed and it all became clear. And my understanding of both of them was completely wrong. I thought I knew who the murderer was and I thought I understood the characters. I was wrong on just about everything. I don’t for a minute think I’m the only reader who experienced this.
This novel is one where I really needed to concentrate on reading. It is extremely clever, an addictive but not a quick read because I was constantly rereading certain parts checking that I had understood it correctly. If there is one thing this author has demonstrated it is that it is so easy to believe what people tell you.
I will definitely read this book again, it’s a brilliant story and I want to experience reading it knowing what actually happened
July 24, 2024
🤪🍷𝔹𝕠𝕠𝕜 𝕊𝕡𝕠𝕥𝕝𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥🍷🤪
𝑺𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒑 𝑮𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒔 𝒃𝒚 𝑺𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒉 𝑯𝒊𝒍𝒂𝒓𝒚 @sarah_hilary999
AD-PR Product
"It only takes a little damage to turn glass into a weapon"
Sharp Glass is a brilliant, strange and sinister slow burn of a thriller with a unique, compelling writing style and premise. Hilary expertly drip feeds teeny bits of information throughout, gives one puzzle piece at a time, sloooowwwly peels back the layers of the complex plot and characters back stories and this technique had me hooked!
In the beginning I was finding some things a little repetitive, but quickly realised this was an essential part of getting to grips with our two main characters. At points I almost felt as though I were inside their minds...which is a pretty dark and unhinged place to be!!
We switched between the POV of Grace and Dan and flipped back and forth in time, which took a minute to get used to but once I did was absolutely brilliant. The ping pong of banter between them was amusing to read and added the perfect touch of humour to what is otherwise a suspense filled psychological thriller.
Trying to decipher the truths amongst the lies had me in a spin. I had no idea where we were going to end up which kept me on my tippy toes.
I even learned a thing or two, did you know that it is called 20:20 vision because at the time the average classroom was 20 feet? 🤯
I dusted off my own Matryoshka dolls from my childhood for a little photoshoot, you will have to read it to find out why. Perhaps I'll rename them Genevieve, Gertrude, Gwen, Gypsy, Gillian, Grace...on second thought perhaps not!
I don't want to spoil the suspense for you by elaborating too much so I'll leave you with this.
The Facts As I Know Them:
- I love me a likeable psychopath
- Dark and twisty is my jam
- I prefer Rosie and Jim's narrow boat tbh
- I am off to check out Sarah's other books, which one should I read next?
- Lists are great 👀
A great read and out now! If you have read this, let's discuss!! Thank you @randomthingstours @panmacmillan for having me on the book tour!
#sharpglass #sarahhilary #thriller #psychologicalthriller #unhinged
𝑺𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒑 𝑮𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒔 𝒃𝒚 𝑺𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒉 𝑯𝒊𝒍𝒂𝒓𝒚 @sarah_hilary999
AD-PR Product
"It only takes a little damage to turn glass into a weapon"
Sharp Glass is a brilliant, strange and sinister slow burn of a thriller with a unique, compelling writing style and premise. Hilary expertly drip feeds teeny bits of information throughout, gives one puzzle piece at a time, sloooowwwly peels back the layers of the complex plot and characters back stories and this technique had me hooked!
In the beginning I was finding some things a little repetitive, but quickly realised this was an essential part of getting to grips with our two main characters. At points I almost felt as though I were inside their minds...which is a pretty dark and unhinged place to be!!
We switched between the POV of Grace and Dan and flipped back and forth in time, which took a minute to get used to but once I did was absolutely brilliant. The ping pong of banter between them was amusing to read and added the perfect touch of humour to what is otherwise a suspense filled psychological thriller.
Trying to decipher the truths amongst the lies had me in a spin. I had no idea where we were going to end up which kept me on my tippy toes.
I even learned a thing or two, did you know that it is called 20:20 vision because at the time the average classroom was 20 feet? 🤯
I dusted off my own Matryoshka dolls from my childhood for a little photoshoot, you will have to read it to find out why. Perhaps I'll rename them Genevieve, Gertrude, Gwen, Gypsy, Gillian, Grace...on second thought perhaps not!
I don't want to spoil the suspense for you by elaborating too much so I'll leave you with this.
The Facts As I Know Them:
- I love me a likeable psychopath
- Dark and twisty is my jam
- I prefer Rosie and Jim's narrow boat tbh
- I am off to check out Sarah's other books, which one should I read next?
- Lists are great 👀
A great read and out now! If you have read this, let's discuss!! Thank you @randomthingstours @panmacmillan for having me on the book tour!
#sharpglass #sarahhilary #thriller #psychologicalthriller #unhinged
September 7, 2024
Sarah Hilary is a writer at the top of her game who has written her best book yet with her latest novel, Sharp Glass.
Grace Maddox is a professional packer who loves her job. She gets a huge amount of satisfaction from helping her clients move to their new home and making this most stressful of endeavours easier for those who employ her services. Her latest job takes her all the way to a remote house far from civilization and although initially Grace thinks that this is just an ordinary job, it soon proves to be anything but…
Grace’s last memory is of standing in front of an empty house with a box – and the next minute she wakes up cold, damp and dirty and trapped in a cellar with no way out. How did Grace end up here? What had she done to deserve this cruel fate? Who is behind her imprisonment? Is she a victim of a mistaken identity? Or of something much more chilling and sinister?
When she meets her captor Daniel, he makes it clear that he demands answers from her. But her jailer hadn’t counted on Grace’s resilience and tenacity and ability to turn the tables when her back is against the wall. Daniel might think he has the upper hand, but Grace quickly shows him that she won’t be easily cowed. As long-buried truths are revealed, whose entire world will come crashing down? Grace? Daniel? Or both?
Sarah Hilary writes with tremendous insight and acuity into the human condition and with Sharp Glass has penned a visceral, propulsive and nuanced thriller that shocks, chills and keeps readers glued to its pages. Sarah Hilary is brilliant at exploring the dark side of the human heart and in Sharp Glass exquisitely peels back the layers of her characters and has written a superb tale that gets under the readers’ skin and will linger in their mind long after they’ve turned the last page.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Grace Maddox is a professional packer who loves her job. She gets a huge amount of satisfaction from helping her clients move to their new home and making this most stressful of endeavours easier for those who employ her services. Her latest job takes her all the way to a remote house far from civilization and although initially Grace thinks that this is just an ordinary job, it soon proves to be anything but…
Grace’s last memory is of standing in front of an empty house with a box – and the next minute she wakes up cold, damp and dirty and trapped in a cellar with no way out. How did Grace end up here? What had she done to deserve this cruel fate? Who is behind her imprisonment? Is she a victim of a mistaken identity? Or of something much more chilling and sinister?
When she meets her captor Daniel, he makes it clear that he demands answers from her. But her jailer hadn’t counted on Grace’s resilience and tenacity and ability to turn the tables when her back is against the wall. Daniel might think he has the upper hand, but Grace quickly shows him that she won’t be easily cowed. As long-buried truths are revealed, whose entire world will come crashing down? Grace? Daniel? Or both?
Sarah Hilary writes with tremendous insight and acuity into the human condition and with Sharp Glass has penned a visceral, propulsive and nuanced thriller that shocks, chills and keeps readers glued to its pages. Sarah Hilary is brilliant at exploring the dark side of the human heart and in Sharp Glass exquisitely peels back the layers of her characters and has written a superb tale that gets under the readers’ skin and will linger in their mind long after they’ve turned the last page.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
October 31, 2024
A young woman is hired to pack up an isolated empty house. When she arrives she is knocked unconscious and wakes to find herself held captive in the basement. Her captor is convinced she knows something about the murder of a teenage girl.
I went into this book completely blind. Obviously, I knew it was a thriller, but other than all the praise it has garnered on Twitter I knew nothing about it. Dare I even admit I didn't read the blurb beforehand, not that it would have made any difference to me selecting the novel.
This is one of those twisty thrillers where you really have to keep your wits about you as you read. We are faced with not one but two unreliable narrators. Grace Maddox (or is it Gwen Leonard?) is hired to pack up the contents of an empty house. As she arrives at the isolated property she is knocked unconscious. When she wakes she finds herself trapped in a basement. Her captor, Dan, promises her she is safe, all he wants is information from her.
Dan, a gifted doctor, is grieving. The daughter of close friends was murdered a year ago. The murder remains unsolved and desperate for some closure for himself and his friends he's kidnapped Grace, convinced she can shed some light on the murder.
Over a number of days, the questioning goes back and forth. I was reminded very much of two well-matched fighters circling each other; ducking, weaving, and feinting. Trying to land a decisive blow that would bring their opponent to their knees. Both characters are tenacious and neither can be relied upon for total honesty and reliability. Various suspects are offered up as the interrogation continues, suspects who have means and opportunity. There are red herrings galore though, not just in the unreliable narrators.
By the conclusion I felt as if I'd been a punching bag for both characters, my head was reeling. I didn't like either character at the beginning but by the end I had some sympathy and respect for both.
I went into this book completely blind. Obviously, I knew it was a thriller, but other than all the praise it has garnered on Twitter I knew nothing about it. Dare I even admit I didn't read the blurb beforehand, not that it would have made any difference to me selecting the novel.
This is one of those twisty thrillers where you really have to keep your wits about you as you read. We are faced with not one but two unreliable narrators. Grace Maddox (or is it Gwen Leonard?) is hired to pack up the contents of an empty house. As she arrives at the isolated property she is knocked unconscious. When she wakes she finds herself trapped in a basement. Her captor, Dan, promises her she is safe, all he wants is information from her.
Dan, a gifted doctor, is grieving. The daughter of close friends was murdered a year ago. The murder remains unsolved and desperate for some closure for himself and his friends he's kidnapped Grace, convinced she can shed some light on the murder.
Over a number of days, the questioning goes back and forth. I was reminded very much of two well-matched fighters circling each other; ducking, weaving, and feinting. Trying to land a decisive blow that would bring their opponent to their knees. Both characters are tenacious and neither can be relied upon for total honesty and reliability. Various suspects are offered up as the interrogation continues, suspects who have means and opportunity. There are red herrings galore though, not just in the unreliable narrators.
By the conclusion I felt as if I'd been a punching bag for both characters, my head was reeling. I didn't like either character at the beginning but by the end I had some sympathy and respect for both.
June 28, 2024
The last thing she remembers is standing outside the empty house. One she was employed to pack, ready for removal. Her job is her life. It is her compulsion to take care of an owner's treasured possessions, to do whatever it takes to help them move on. Now she is cold, dirty, damp, trapped in a cellar with no chance of escape, miles from anywhere. His prisoner. And then he returns. Her captor believes she holds the answers to why a young girl was murdered a year ago. He refuses to let her go until she reveals her secrets. But he doesn't know she has hidden depths, an anger she works hard to control. The battle lines are drawn. They are the only two people who can solve the mystery of the dead girl, but when the truth is revealed, whose life will shatter?
This is a bit of a slow burn, but I think this was the correct pace for this story. A woman is being held hostage in a cellar. She had been employed by the owner of the house to pack up, so it's ready for removal. It's slowly revealed who the woman and man are. At first, the story is told from the woman's perspective, later it switches to the man's. Her captor believes she knows all about a young girl's murder.
I was intrigued to find out the outcome of this story, how things would work out between the captor and the woman in the cellar. It was obvious the woman knew more than she was letting on. It did feel a little far-fetched. There were twists and turns in this psychological thriller. It's quite an emotional read.
Published 11th July 2024
I would like to thank #NetGalley #PanMacmillan and the author #SarahHilary for my ARC of #SharpGlass in exchange for an honest review.
This is a bit of a slow burn, but I think this was the correct pace for this story. A woman is being held hostage in a cellar. She had been employed by the owner of the house to pack up, so it's ready for removal. It's slowly revealed who the woman and man are. At first, the story is told from the woman's perspective, later it switches to the man's. Her captor believes she knows all about a young girl's murder.
I was intrigued to find out the outcome of this story, how things would work out between the captor and the woman in the cellar. It was obvious the woman knew more than she was letting on. It did feel a little far-fetched. There were twists and turns in this psychological thriller. It's quite an emotional read.
Published 11th July 2024
I would like to thank #NetGalley #PanMacmillan and the author #SarahHilary for my ARC of #SharpGlass in exchange for an honest review.
July 12, 2024
I am a big fan of Sarah Hilary's writing; she doesn't settle into a standard story-telling pattern but always stretches herself to achieve something even greater and more challenging than the book before. That's very apparent in her latest book Sharp Glass which is very different to her previous works; it feels more like literary fiction and less standard crime fiction.
'Sharp Glass' has not one but two unreliable narrators, a storyline that twists and turns on itself, changing the narrative and challenging the reader's perspective and understanding of the situation, who the characters even are and their motivation for what they are doing to each other and where they have found themselves.
The book opens with a young woman trapped in a house that she has been hired to pack up and move. She doesn't know who has captured her, what they want or how she can escape, but she runs through lists of what she does know in order to calm her mind. These lists are a recurring feature of the book, and you notice that the 'facts' that appear in one list are subtly changed in the subsequent lists, if indeed they appear at all. Her unnamed captor is also not what he seems, and doesn't necessarily know what he wants or why he has caught the woman.
This story requires concentration and focus, its not a book to be rushed but is all the better for that. I enjoyed unwrapping the layers of mystery and discarding what I thought I knew. It is so thoughtfully constructed, the mis-directions and dead ends in the story-telling are skilfully handled. I can't wait to see what Sarah Hilary will come up with next.
'Sharp Glass' has not one but two unreliable narrators, a storyline that twists and turns on itself, changing the narrative and challenging the reader's perspective and understanding of the situation, who the characters even are and their motivation for what they are doing to each other and where they have found themselves.
The book opens with a young woman trapped in a house that she has been hired to pack up and move. She doesn't know who has captured her, what they want or how she can escape, but she runs through lists of what she does know in order to calm her mind. These lists are a recurring feature of the book, and you notice that the 'facts' that appear in one list are subtly changed in the subsequent lists, if indeed they appear at all. Her unnamed captor is also not what he seems, and doesn't necessarily know what he wants or why he has caught the woman.
This story requires concentration and focus, its not a book to be rushed but is all the better for that. I enjoyed unwrapping the layers of mystery and discarding what I thought I knew. It is so thoughtfully constructed, the mis-directions and dead ends in the story-telling are skilfully handled. I can't wait to see what Sarah Hilary will come up with next.
July 22, 2024
Gwen helps people move house. She is hired by them to pack up their belongings and move them to a new location. But her latest job doesn’t turn out to be like the others. Instead Gwen finds herself locked in the cellar by a stranger who calls her by another name. Gwen and her captor are clearly connected by the death of a young girl but the question is how.
When I finished reading this book I found it so difficult to put my review and how I felt in words because by the end my mind was blown. The storyline was creepy, confusing and disorientating with plots twists and red herrings. The way Gwen’s narrative is written I felt like I was trapped in the cellar with her. There was a feeling of panic, claustrophobia and feeling trapped emanating from the page which got under my skin. It’s clear that Gwen doesn’t know what day or time it is or why she is being held. The more that Gwen tries to process her surroundings and thoughts the more confused she becomes.
The story is told from the perspective of the two main characters: Gwen and her captor and is split into three parts. The first part is Gwen's narrative, the second part is her captor’s narrative and the third part is a mixture of Gwen and her captor’s narrative. As the story progressed it became clear that the two characters were connected in some way and as the story unfolds the reader is given a glimpse into that connection which happens to be the death of a young girl that occurred in the past. However, I found both Gwen and her captor’s narrative to be unreliable and I questioned the credibility of the information they gave. I found it difficult to know which character I should trust or who was telling the truth. The more I read I found myself switching sides between the two especially the more they interacted. It’s like they were playing a game, dancing round each other because they knew information about the other but neither of them wanted to be the first person to reveal it. As for the ending, I never saw it coming.
A thriller that will definitely keep you on your toes.
When I finished reading this book I found it so difficult to put my review and how I felt in words because by the end my mind was blown. The storyline was creepy, confusing and disorientating with plots twists and red herrings. The way Gwen’s narrative is written I felt like I was trapped in the cellar with her. There was a feeling of panic, claustrophobia and feeling trapped emanating from the page which got under my skin. It’s clear that Gwen doesn’t know what day or time it is or why she is being held. The more that Gwen tries to process her surroundings and thoughts the more confused she becomes.
The story is told from the perspective of the two main characters: Gwen and her captor and is split into three parts. The first part is Gwen's narrative, the second part is her captor’s narrative and the third part is a mixture of Gwen and her captor’s narrative. As the story progressed it became clear that the two characters were connected in some way and as the story unfolds the reader is given a glimpse into that connection which happens to be the death of a young girl that occurred in the past. However, I found both Gwen and her captor’s narrative to be unreliable and I questioned the credibility of the information they gave. I found it difficult to know which character I should trust or who was telling the truth. The more I read I found myself switching sides between the two especially the more they interacted. It’s like they were playing a game, dancing round each other because they knew information about the other but neither of them wanted to be the first person to reveal it. As for the ending, I never saw it coming.
A thriller that will definitely keep you on your toes.
July 17, 2024
Cover: Not really my thing?
The overall feeling I’ve got while reading Sharp Glass? A long, drawn-out game of cat and mouse.
It starts with Gwen, it starts with Grace, it starts with a cellar and a murdered teen. First pov, it weaves present events with past ones—and skillfully so, I should add. Part One doesn’t read as an infodumping minefield, and Hilary knows how to avoid all the common first pov traps. As we keep going, we’re lulled into a sense of false security: it’s all going to be played out in that cellar; the kidnapper is the boogeyman, Gwen&Grace&Gs is the hero turned victim turned hero. The teen will be avenged. Justice will be served. Easy, right? No.
There are a lot of twists and turns in Sharp Glass. A less skilled writer would have found it too challenging, and it kept me on my toes throughout the whole story—one I’d call a demanding read. I liked that. I appreciate plots that refuse to take the reader by the hand, that play on red herrings and unreliable characters. They’re fun, keep my mind sharp.
Downsides? The povs & tenses mix. Doing all in first would have been good, since, as I said, Hilary knows how it’s done. It’s not my favorite as a general rule, but just because it’s so hard to pull off. Switching to third, following either G or Daniel (or both) would have worked out fine, too. Going first, third, present tense, past tense it’s a bit too much for me. It throws me out of a story, as I have to go back and check
4 stars on GR.
The overall feeling I’ve got while reading Sharp Glass? A long, drawn-out game of cat and mouse.
It starts with Gwen, it starts with Grace, it starts with a cellar and a murdered teen. First pov, it weaves present events with past ones—and skillfully so, I should add. Part One doesn’t read as an infodumping minefield, and Hilary knows how to avoid all the common first pov traps. As we keep going, we’re lulled into a sense of false security: it’s all going to be played out in that cellar; the kidnapper is the boogeyman, Gwen&Grace&Gs is the hero turned victim turned hero. The teen will be avenged. Justice will be served. Easy, right? No.
There are a lot of twists and turns in Sharp Glass. A less skilled writer would have found it too challenging, and it kept me on my toes throughout the whole story—one I’d call a demanding read. I liked that. I appreciate plots that refuse to take the reader by the hand, that play on red herrings and unreliable characters. They’re fun, keep my mind sharp.
Downsides? The povs & tenses mix. Doing all in first would have been good, since, as I said, Hilary knows how it’s done. It’s not my favorite as a general rule, but just because it’s so hard to pull off. Switching to third, following either G or Daniel (or both) would have worked out fine, too. Going first, third, present tense, past tense it’s a bit too much for me. It throws me out of a story, as I have to go back and check
4 stars on GR.
July 22, 2024
A new novel by Sarah Hilary is always a real treat. It is always so clear to see in Sarah’s writing that her books are written from the heart. She has been one of my favourite crime writers for years, and her new book, Sharp Glass, is my favourite book by Sarah to date. I’m sure it’s going to be in my top ten books of this year. Sarah explores a really intriguing premise in her latest novel; a woman has been kidnapped, and is being held in her kidnapper’s basement. Her kidnapper believes she holds the answer behind the murder of a young girl that took place a year earlier. But she tries to tell him he has the wrong person, and she isn’t who he thinks she is. But is she really telling the truth here?
The atmosphere in Sharp Glass is really unsettling, right from the first page. I really liked how Sarah Hilary delved into both of her character’s here, by telling the novel from both of their viewpoints. I got a real sense of what was driving both of them, and the emotions pour out of them on the page.
I really felt for the young woman who was being held in the basement. We get a real sense of this frightening new world she is in. I could sense her fear, especially when we find out she isn’t the woman who her kidnapper thinks she is, or so she says. But I also wanted to know more about her history, and who she was, and I wasn’t sure if I could entirely trust what she was saying. This is what makes this book such a fascinating read as well. It is interesting when we come to the kidnapper’s perspective. Sarah Hilary describes the pain he is in well, and it is clear to see why he has taken the actions he has. I did feel an emotional connection to him as well, as we begin to explore why he has acted in the way he has. I was desperate to see what the outcome was going to be for both of them; they are two characters who I’m sure will stay long in my mind.
Sharp Glass is a tense, brilliantly told story that completely immerses you into the lives of the characters, and Sarah Hilary keeps the suspense and the tension ticking up a notch. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I highly recommend it.
The atmosphere in Sharp Glass is really unsettling, right from the first page. I really liked how Sarah Hilary delved into both of her character’s here, by telling the novel from both of their viewpoints. I got a real sense of what was driving both of them, and the emotions pour out of them on the page.
I really felt for the young woman who was being held in the basement. We get a real sense of this frightening new world she is in. I could sense her fear, especially when we find out she isn’t the woman who her kidnapper thinks she is, or so she says. But I also wanted to know more about her history, and who she was, and I wasn’t sure if I could entirely trust what she was saying. This is what makes this book such a fascinating read as well. It is interesting when we come to the kidnapper’s perspective. Sarah Hilary describes the pain he is in well, and it is clear to see why he has taken the actions he has. I did feel an emotional connection to him as well, as we begin to explore why he has acted in the way he has. I was desperate to see what the outcome was going to be for both of them; they are two characters who I’m sure will stay long in my mind.
Sharp Glass is a tense, brilliantly told story that completely immerses you into the lives of the characters, and Sarah Hilary keeps the suspense and the tension ticking up a notch. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I highly recommend it.
July 15, 2024
Sharp Glas is a tense, dark, and complex story exploring the cause and effect of how obsession and revenge can infiltrate the very core of people's minds, judgement, behaviour, and lives of those who are unlucky enough to get sucked into it's deadly path.
The idea behind the plotline has real substance and potential. With Sarah doing a good job of keeping her readers guessing as to who was telling the truth, what their motives were and what their hopes for a resolution are.
However, I did struggle with the slow pace, which seemed at odds with regards to the high stakes, psychologically driven plotline.
The story jumped around a lot between the past and present, and there was a lot a lot of unnecessary repetition for me personally.
Something I did like was the way in which Sarah wrote and portrayed her characters. Especially the main protagonists of Grace and Dan.
It's a story that you really need to concentrate on, and I did wonder if I would be able to finish it at first. But Sarah was obviously doing something right because I did become invested enough to find out how the story concluded.
All in all, a mixed bag from me. Buy that's the nature of all stories. No two people ever read the same one, and I know there are plenty of you there who will love it.
The idea behind the plotline has real substance and potential. With Sarah doing a good job of keeping her readers guessing as to who was telling the truth, what their motives were and what their hopes for a resolution are.
However, I did struggle with the slow pace, which seemed at odds with regards to the high stakes, psychologically driven plotline.
The story jumped around a lot between the past and present, and there was a lot a lot of unnecessary repetition for me personally.
Something I did like was the way in which Sarah wrote and portrayed her characters. Especially the main protagonists of Grace and Dan.
It's a story that you really need to concentrate on, and I did wonder if I would be able to finish it at first. But Sarah was obviously doing something right because I did become invested enough to find out how the story concluded.
All in all, a mixed bag from me. Buy that's the nature of all stories. No two people ever read the same one, and I know there are plenty of you there who will love it.
July 19, 2024
Thank you Netgalley, Sarah Hilary and Pan Macmillan for the eArc of Sharp Glass.
Sharp Glass is a twisty tale of Gwen, who is a professional house packer. After a call to do one, she gets knocked out and trapped in the basement while her captor barely feeds her or keeps her hydrated This is where Gwen's thoughts tell her story of why she is there, some of it at least. Her captor finally lets her out, only to find that they can strike up a conversation and both start telling their stories. What you get is a psychological thriller where you are not sure if either of them are to be trusted. Are they both unreliable? Or are they both telling the truth?
This is the first book of Sarah Hilary and I have really enjoyed her writing style. The plot slowly unfolds from a 1st POV, firstly from Gwen and then from Dan, her captor. It soon gathers pace and with some nice foreshadowing, things unravel. The big reveal at the end was satisfying and I also liked how the book ended. The character building for both the MC's were really well rounded, relatable and I liked them both. Ill be looking out for more of Sarah Hilary's books in the future.
4.25 stars for StoryGraph and 4 stars for Amazon, Goodreads and Netgalley
Sharp Glass is a twisty tale of Gwen, who is a professional house packer. After a call to do one, she gets knocked out and trapped in the basement while her captor barely feeds her or keeps her hydrated This is where Gwen's thoughts tell her story of why she is there, some of it at least. Her captor finally lets her out, only to find that they can strike up a conversation and both start telling their stories. What you get is a psychological thriller where you are not sure if either of them are to be trusted. Are they both unreliable? Or are they both telling the truth?
This is the first book of Sarah Hilary and I have really enjoyed her writing style. The plot slowly unfolds from a 1st POV, firstly from Gwen and then from Dan, her captor. It soon gathers pace and with some nice foreshadowing, things unravel. The big reveal at the end was satisfying and I also liked how the book ended. The character building for both the MC's were really well rounded, relatable and I liked them both. Ill be looking out for more of Sarah Hilary's books in the future.
4.25 stars for StoryGraph and 4 stars for Amazon, Goodreads and Netgalley
Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews