Heart of Glass

by Jennifer Hillier

A serial killer recants his long-ago confession regarding a small-town high school girl—and her then-best friends are forced to confront what really happened that night and what's happening now.

Twenty-five years ago in Seaside, Washington, a charming drifter named Sam met three inseparable teenage girls at the local amusement park. Days later, one of them was found dead, her body surfacing in a flooded cranberry bog not far from where she was murdered.

Barb and Nicolette were shocked to learn that the man they all met at Wonderland was the Carnival Killer. After he's arrested for the murders of five young women – one of whom was their best friend, Lorelei – Nicolette moved to the city to pursue her dreams of being famous. Barb stayed behind in Seaside, eventually becoming a reporter for the local paper. Their past safely behind them, they’ve both moved on with their lives.

But when the Carnival Killer recants his confession and a new body washes ashore on the eve of Wonderland’s grand reopening, the secrets that Barb and Nicolette have worked so hard to bury begin to resurface, threatening to destroy everything in their carefully constructed lives.

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook, Fiction, Suspense, Psychological Thriller

351 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 25, 2026

About the author

Jennifer Hillier imagines the worst about people, and then writes about it.

She's the author of seven psychological thrillers, including the USA Today, Toronto Star, and The Globe and Mail bestselling Things We Do in the Dark, winner of the ITW Thriller Award for Best Audiobook. Described as “an intoxicating thrill ride” by the New York Times and “propulsive and chilling” by People magazine, it was a Book of the Month Club selection, an Indigo Top Ten Best Book of the Year, an Amazon Editor’s Spotlight Pick, a Loan Stars pick, and her third consecutive novel to be honored as a LibraryReads pick, which places her in their Hall of Fame.

She's also published six other novels, including the USA Today bestselling Little Secrets (finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize and the Anthony Award), and Jar of Hearts (winner of the ITW Thriller Award for Best Hardcover Novel and shortlisted for the Anthony and Macavity Awards). She also wrote Creep, Freak, The Butcher, and Wonderland, which have been recently reissued by Gallery Books in beautiful trade paperback formats. Her books have been published in twenty-four languages so far.

Jennifer is Filipino-Canadian, born and raised in Toronto, but she spent eight amazing years living in Seattle, which is where she first became a published author. She's a Seahawks fan who married a Packers guy, and they have a son in middle school who wishes she wrote books like Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid series (she does too, kid, she does too).

She's afraid of the dark and can’t sleep unless she's checked the locks on the doors several times. She loves writing when it’s raining, sleeping when it’s sunny, and reading after everyone else has gone to bed. She's a cat person without a cat, which makes her sad. But she's now back in the Toronto area permanently with her family, which makes her happy.

Heart of Glass, her newest thriller, will be coming August 25, 2026 from Minotaur Books.

Reviews

[Jayme C (Brunetteslikebookstoo)]

Heart of Glass by Jennifer Hillier ✍🏻
Narrated by a fabulous full cast that includes Brittany Pressley, Chris Brinkley, Eunice Wong, Ferdelle Capistrano and January LaVoy. 🎙️

🎧 Listening time: 12 hours 57 minutes at 1x or 8 hours 40 minutes at 1.5x

WOW! Intricately plotted and unputdownable, this was the most ENTERTAINING thriller that I have read/listened to in quite some time!

Twenty-five years ago in Seaside, Washington, a small town where bad things just keep on happening-a guy named Samuel Figg was last seen hanging out with three fifteen year old girls, Lorelei, Nicolette and Barb-at the local Drive In (movie) after meeting them at the infamous Wonderland amusement park.

Days later, Lorelei was found dead in a flooded cranberry bog not far from where she was killed. Sam eventually confesses to the Crime after being arrested for four other murders.

He was dubbed the Carnival Killer, and Wonderland-also the scene of previous crimes-finally went dark.

The friendship between the two remaining girls did not survive, and Nicolette left Seaside to pursue Fame and Fortune-while Barb stayed in town becoming a reporter for a local paper, and freelancing anonymously-writing “spoilers” and gossip about the Reality Show called “Trophy Wives”.

But, Samuel Figg has now recanted his statement and he is saying that he actually only killed four girls and he didn’t kill Lorelei, in a Podcast called Criminal Confessions hosted by Jana Jones. His new claim: He only confessed to killing her, to avoid the death penalty-the deal offered in exchange for confessing to her murder as well.

When a severed foot, and then the rest of a body washes ashore on the eve of Wonderland’s grand reopening, there is a chance that the truth about Lorelei’s death, may finally be exposed.

It seems that Reality Stars are going missing-and there could be another Serial Killer in Seaside-one that has a type.

And, Barb has a theory about these disappearances that she decides to pursue with her investigative reporting.

Heart of Glass unfolds in FIVE PARTS, with each section opening with an episode from Season Seven of Criminal Confessions-an unedited interview with Samuel Figg, which is taking place from the Washington State Men’s Penitentiary, in Walla Walla, WA. On the Audible version, the conversation with the host is interactive, with sound effects which were very effective.

The story then alternates between Nicolette (now called Cole) and Barb, with occasional chapters from the Summer of 2001 when Lorelei was killed.

Despite the running length of the audiobook, I flew through it quickly-never bored and eager to learn the truth. The story felt RELEVANT with the Reality Stars from Tik Tok and TV, and BELIEVABLE, and it caught me by surprise more than once!

VERY CLEVER!

And, one scene left me emotional!

This can DEFINITELY be read as a standalone, as WONDERLAND only serves as the backdrop for both novels-with separate crimes and investigations, although there is a cameo from Castro who investigated the murders of several blonde haired, blue eyed teenaged boys who were killed at the creepy amusement park years ago.

Review for Wonderland: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Be sure to check out reviews from Marilyn, DeAnn and Mary Beth to see if they enjoyed this one as much as I did!

NOW AVAILABLE!

This was an immersion read and I would like to thank St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur books for the written ARC provided by NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the audiobook ARC provided through NetGalley shelf. As always, these are my candid thoughts.

[Josh]

3.5/5 ★

I hope I never live in a town like Seaside. 😳

In Heart of Glass, twenty-five years after their friend Lorelei was murdered, two former best friends are forced to confront the past when the serial killer who confessed to killing her recants his confession. When another body washes ashore, secrets about what really happened the night Lorelei died threaten to come to light.

This is my first time reading a thriller by Jennifer Hillier, and after hearing great things about her books in the past, I was excited to start this when it was selected by Book of the Month.

Immediately, I was drawn to the characters and the setting of Seaside, WA. It had the perfect small-town feeling that I love in thrillers, and the characters all had distinct personalities that made them easy to keep track of.

What I wasn’t expecting, and ended up really enjoying, was the number of perspectives and timelines we get throughout the story. It had the perfect mix of past and present, along with the contrast between small-town life and the rich and famous. Switching between them kept the story moving quickly and made me want to keep reading each time I picked it up.

If you’re a fan of reality TV shows, you’ll especially like the parts centered around a show that plays a role in the story. I knew enough about it to understand the references, and I thought this element added even more variety to the story and the perspectives we get to follow.

I had a great time trying to guess where the story was going and how everything would eventually come together.

Although, this was a really enjoyable thriller, it never quite reached that 5-star feeling for me. Some parts felt familiar and reminded me of other thrillers I’ve read. I also found the ending a little underwhelming compared to everything leading up to it. I was hoping for one final surprise or reveal that would really catch me off guard.

Regardless, I still enjoyed reading this one. If you’re looking for an entertaining thriller that’s easy to read and fast-paced with an interesting mystery, I definitely recommend this.

—

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[Laura Lovesreading]

SOME MESS ALWAYS GOING DOWN IN SEASIDE

In Heart of Glass, Wonderland is about to get a revamp and a convicted serial killer who recants a decades-old confession is now forcing two estranged childhood friends to confront the dark secrets of their past.

Oooh weee what a wild ride... (excuse the pun) this book was. There was so much story being told but it all came together like a perfect puzzle and i thoroughly enjoyed following this wild circus.

The characters were real and raw and i particularly like the dual timeline in this book.

The twists did what they had to do and there is one that had my head really spun as i didn't even predict it!

I need a book three in this series as i cant get enough of Seaside.

It misses the full five star mark for me as they is a plot hole that was revisited or explained and the 'has to know it all' in me is annoyed it wasn't said.

Trigger warning should be checked before reading this one!

4.5 ⭐


Finally the time has arrived!
I know its going to be a five star read!
Lets gooooooo!!!
💙🤍💙🤍

[Liana Gold]

⭐️ 4.25 ⭐️ You know what’s the difference between a truth and a lie? Perspective.

Is it just me or is there always something haunting and unsettling about carnivals and amusement parks??

Twenty five years ago, a 'Carnival Killer' murdered five women, including a 15 year old teenager Lorelei. Now the abandoned amusement park, Wonderland, is getting a revamp as the Carnival Killer recants his confession, claiming that he never killed Lorelei. So why did he admit to the five murders instead of four twenty five years ago?

Two ex best-friends, Nicolette and Barb, no longer in contact, have to revisit the traumatic events of that summer. Barb now a reporter/journalist starts digging into long buried secrets of the little Seaside town in Washington as a body is washed ashore. Nicolette, going by 'Cole' nowadays, is a reality TV star living a very different life. She's now married to Jordan, her male costar but her relationship with him is not as perfect as it is on-screen. Meanwhile, on and off, there are flashbacks to 25 years earlier where we see the three girls--Barb, Nicolette and Lorelei--being the typical wildcard teenagers, always chasing thrills and never thinking of consequences, until the night that changes their lives forever.

Split into four sections, the documentary-style interviews with the Carnival Killer that start off each section, set a suspenseful tone to each section while keeping the readers guessing.

Whoooaa. This book, this story. Jealousy drives people to do despicable things. And Jennifer Hillier never fails to deliver. I thought that the past and the present collided in a thrilling, satisfying, heart pounding way while keeping the mystery twisty and suspenseful up until the very end. I love small town thrillers because their secrets are so vile and shocking and this definitely delivered on how dark and complex the motivations were. The mystery kept me guessing and the psychological suspense remained high. It was quite clever for Jennifer Hillier to use the Reality TV/show to propel the mystery forward.

My favorite part of this novel was how two different women drove the perspective forward. Barb and Cole shared the same trauma: their childhood best friend died & they were responsible for it or were they not? They led very different lives but their secrets refused to stay buried. Each character was incredibly compelling. Hillier mapped the valley of fear in both characters by carefully deconstructing their lives. Nicolettes chapters particularly were chaotic, messy and emotionally damaging. Through flashbacks we meet Nicolette as a 15 year old girl who had no problem with getting boys to fall for her left and right. While attending a carnival, the three teens meet Samuel Figg, our Carnival Killer. Figg was quite interested in Lorelei from the very start and the four hung out until Figg realized their friendship was too messy for him and he leaves them be. But Nicolette was harboring a secret that neither Barb nor Lorelei knew. In present timeline, Cole led a very different life--her life was not as pretty as Reality TV made it to be. I didn't know if I should root for her or hate her, the flashbacks raised terrifying possibilities and sometimes I thought they would cross into her present. So for majority of the book I was left guessing & none of my guesses were exactly all accurate..Barb was more of grounded character for me. Despite the trauma, she always remained the voice of reason.

The ending was a big surprise for me. That is one twist I did not expect. Overall, I think most readers will be pleased with the ending but I can also see how it might leave readers asking more questions. There is absolutely NOTHING in the story that points to this person being the killer.

For those who are asking if you need to read Wonderland first before diving into this book, the answer is no. wonderland was released 10 years ago and while this book is connected to the events of Wonderland, this can be read as a standalone. I am someone who did not read the first book & was initially hesitant to read this. I can honestly say that I did not miss anything at all from the first story but I plan to read Wonderland sometime in the future.

Narrators really elevated my immersive experience and did such a great job!!



This book is featured on BOTM for August, get your first book just for $5 using this link: https://www.mybotm.com/bgnrjn6qk0o
Easy to sign up and easy to cancel at no additional cost to you! BOTM is my favorite book subscription as it features early releases!




Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martins Press and the author, Jennifer Hillier for an early ARC!
Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for an early copy of ALC.

Narrators: Brittany Pressley, Chris Brinkley, Eunice Wong, Ferdelle Capistrano, January LaVoy
Duration: 13 hours 57 minutes
Speed: 1.5x


Publication: August 25, 2026

[Nilufer Ozmekik]

What can I say? I’m a total fangirl of Jennifer Hillier. Waiting for her new release always feels like pure torture because I truly miss her dark, twisty psychological thrillers. So when I saw her name pop up on my NetGalley page, I didn’t even blink. I didn’t read the plot, the blurb, or even a single word about the story. I just immediately requested it and prayed to the literature gods (who usually go by the name “publishers”) that I would get approved.

And I did!

I was so happy that I literally did a little happy dance… which unfortunately ended with me hurting my knee while attempting a dramatic grand jeté. But honestly? Totally worth it. I was beyond excited.

Then I started reading.

But… yes, I hate starting sentences with that three-letter word because it usually means something disappointing is coming next. Sadly, I didn’t enjoy this one as much as I had dreamed I would.

Don’t get me wrong—there are many things that Jennifer Hillier still does extremely well here. The psychological depth of the characters is strong, and the exploration of small-town dynamics, past trauma, brutal crimes, and the mystery surrounding missing and murdered women is compelling. The story also dives into the complicated emotional aftermath of tragedy and guilt.

The book actually opens with a very intriguing hook: a reality-show style interview with the infamous carnival killer Samuel Figg, who calmly confesses that he killed four women—not five. That immediately caught my attention.

From there, we return to Seaside, a small town in Washington that is still haunted by a terrible tragedy from twenty years ago. Fifteen-year-old Lorelei became the final victim of the so-called Carnival Killer, and the place where she met her fate—Wonderland, the amusement park—is now reopening.

Barb was one of Lorelei’s best friends. She stayed in town even though she always dreamed of leaving to pursue a writing career. Instead, she now works for a struggling local newspaper that barely anyone reads. Her secret side job, however, gets far more attention: she writes anonymous online commentary about a Real Housewives-style reality show.

After years of taking care of her sick mother, Barb’s dream of leaving town slowly faded. But she still carries deep guilt about something connected to Lorelei’s death. We don’t know exactly what happened, but it’s clear she is hiding a major secret.

Then another possible crime emerges. Kylie Kahl—a reality TV star who disappeared six years ago—might be connected to a new investigation. As Barb begins digging deeper into the past, things start to spiral. Samuel Figg’s confession raises new questions about Lorelei’s murder, and Barb’s other childhood friend, Nicolette, suddenly decides to speak with reality-TV producers about the secrets they once promised to keep buried.

Barb begins to feel like the walls are closing in on her. The life she built in Seaside may soon collapse, and the truth she has been hiding could finally come out.

At the same time, a new predator might be stalking women. If Barb can uncover the identity of this dangerous killer, maybe she can redeem herself and finally face the past. But the deeper she digs, the closer she gets to danger—and she may become the next target.

As I mentioned earlier, the storytelling itself isn’t the main problem. My biggest issue was the pacing. The book feels much longer than it needs to be. There are many sections that feel repetitive or overly detailed, and trimming at least 100 pages could have made the story much tighter and more suspenseful.

Because of that, the narrative sometimes drags, and the tension loses momentum.

The final revelations also felt a bit predictable. I was hoping for bigger twists or shocking surprises that would completely change the direction of the story. Instead, the ending felt more subdued than I expected from a Jennifer Hillier thriller.

That said, I still appreciated the characters—especially Barb. She is flawed, complicated, and emotionally believable. The portrayal of the town itself is also very realistic. Hillier captures that small-town atmosphere perfectly: the way communities hold onto old tragedies, protect their own people, and sometimes push outsiders away.

The long descriptive passages sometimes create emotional distance from the central crimes—Lorelei’s murder and Kylie’s disappearance—but the story still works as a solid thriller overall.

In the end, I’m giving this one three stars. It’s still a good read, but I know Jennifer Hillier is capable of delivering even stronger, darker, and more shocking psychological thrillers. I’m definitely looking forward to her next book and hoping it brings back the jaw-dropping twists I love so much from her work.

A huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a digital reviewer copy of this anticipated thriller in exchange for my honest thoughts.

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[Heather Adores Books]

4⭐
Genre ~ psychological thriller
Series ~ Wonderland #2
Others in the series ~ Wonderland
Setting ~ Washington
Publication date ~ August 25, 2026
Est Page Count ~ 368 (56 chapters)
Audio length ~ 12 hours 57 minutes
Narrators ~ Brittany Pressley, Chris Brinkley, Eunice Wong, Ferdelle Capistrano, January LaVoy
POV ~ multiple 3rd
Featuring ~ 5 parts, dual timelines, reality tv stars, missing persons, references to cheating

Content warning from the author:
references to murder, sexual assault (references to, not explicit), violence, substance abuse, terminal illness and physical and emotional trauma

There's a documentary on the The Carnival Killer in the works. He's adamant he only killed 4 girls despite confessing and be convicted of killing 5. Why would he lie back then and say he did it when he didn't? Or is he lying now? He doesn't have much longer to live, so he doesn't have much to lose. Love the sound effect for these chapters.

Our main characters:
Barb ~ a local Seaside reporter and reality tv show gossip columnist
Kylie ~ a reality show star who has been missing for over 6 years. No one knows she's alive and being help captive, except us, and the other victims throughout the years.
Cole~, formally known as Nicolette, one of Barb’s best friends until a falling out. She is now on a super popular reality show called Trophy Wives.

We head back to 2001 and meet Lorelei, the teenager supposedly killed by The Carnival Killer.

Overall, there was a lot going on and quite a few characters to keep track of. The pace was pretty steady throughout. Happy to report I hadn't figured out who was behind the current abduction storyline, so that's always a good thing.

Series notes:
I read Wonderland back in 2023 and can't say I remember it vividly, but I always suggest it's best to read series in order. Here's my Wonderland review if you're interested.

Narration notes:
Please as punch there are 5, and well seasoned ones at that!

[Bo.reads]

Twenty-five years ago, Barb and Nicolette's best friend Lorelei was murdered by the Carnival Killer. At least, that's what everyone believed. Now the convicted serial killer admits to murdering four women but claims Lorelei wasn't one of them, and honestly, when a serial killer passes up on taking credit for a murder, you have to wonder why. Then another body washes ashore just as Wonderland amusement park is preparing to reopen, adding a present-day mystery to a case that suddenly doesn't seem quite so closed.

Heart of Glass was one of those books I found compelling enough while I was reading, but by the end, my reaction was pretty much just... okay. There were definitely moments where it had me hooked, and the mystery kept me hanging in there, but caring to the point where I needed to know what happened next was another story. The characters never quite pulled me in either, and the book just didn't have me in the palm of its hand the way I wanted it to.

This is a pretty busy plot, with a sprawling, web-like cast of characters and plenty of backstory to keep track of, but once I figured out who the main and secondary players were, I eventually found it easier to follow. Some readers will love how intricate and layered everything is, while others will find it all a bit much. I think I landed somewhere in the middle on this one. With this many moving parts, I just needed to feel more invested in the characters at the centre of it.

By the final stretch, I could feel myself hoping the reveals would be enough to really win me over, but they didn't get much of a reaction out of me either. Nothing particularly annoyed me, but nothing blew me away, and that probably sums up my experience better than anything. Suspenseful at times, interesting enough and certainly not a bad read, but ultimately, I finished with a bit of a shoulder shrug and an eh.

Quick FYI: This book is set in the same universe as Hillier's Wonderland, but it can be read as a standalone. Want the fuller Wonderland history and no potential spoilers? Start there. Not worried about either? Start here.

[Ceecee]

3.5 stars

Seaside: the murder capital of Washington State or maybe it’s the Bermuda Triangle for pretty young women. Wonderland is due to reopen after twenty five years of closure but is the body of a woman washing up on the beach a harbinger of doom? Twenty five years ago, serial killer Samuel Figg,The Carnival Killer, confesses to five murders, but now he claims it’s four, on a soon to be released docuseries. Why does he confess to a murder he doesn’t commit and perhaps, more to the point, who is the actually murderer of his ‘final victim’, Lorelie? Does her best friend, local journalist Barb, know more than she’s telling?

I loved Wonderland but this novel, which works as a standalone, is not as strong in my opinion. However, I’ll start with where I think the strengths of the book lie. The podcast ‘Criminal Confessions’ where Samuel Figg is interviewed in prison are good as they are tantalising interludes, adding to the mystery of who the true killer of Lorelai is. The dual timelines give another matching layer to this, as little by little, the reader learns of what happens between Figg, Lorelai and her friends twenty five years ago. The dynamics between the girls at the time of the murder and in the later timeline as women, are very good, especially between Barb and Nicolette. The latter has reinvented herself as Cole, a reality TV star of Trophy Wives. These characters feel very authentic and scenes between them are described vividly with plenty of barbs! Barb as a character is very strong and I come away liking her and admiring her in many ways. In addition, Seaside feels very claustrophobic, the vibe is totally skewed and off and it’s not somewhere I’d like to experience. I do think it’s a pity that Wonderland itself doesn’t feature more prominently as that’s where the creepy atmosphere comes in the book of that name, here, it’s peripheral. The ending is good, part I guess, part I certainly don’t.

Whilst there are moments of suspense and tension, they tend to get lost because the pacing is so uneven. At times it is very slow and this is particularly true of the first half. In addition, it’s too long and with 50 to 100 less pages the pace might have picked up, along with my rating. There are a lot of characters to keep track of, too many side stories, asides or plot strands which I find very distracting. There’s a reality TV element via Cole/Nicolette and other characters and that is definitely not for me!

Overall, I don’t think this is Jennifer Hillier’s best book but it still has many strengths and I definitely still want to read what she pens in the future.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Atlantic Books, Corvus for the much appreciated early copy and return for an honest review.

[Liz]

Heart of Glass is branded as the second in the Wonderland series. But I never read the first and it worked fine as a stand-alone. Barb is a freelance reporter in her late thirties. She freelances for the local paper in Seaside as well as for a gossip web-site that targets a famous reality tv show called Trophy Wives. It just so happens that her high school best friend became one of those “trophy wives”. Twenty five years earlier, these two and another friend met a man at the local amusement park. And then the third girl disappeared. The man, who was a serial killer, has now recanted that she was one of his victims. And there would also appear to be a new killer in the area, when first a foot and then the rest of the body washes ashore.
The book moves at a brisk pace with plenty of reveals to keep you wanting to go for just one more chapter. The twists just keep on coming, only two of which were apparent to me ahead of time.
The book works well as a character drama over and above the mystery aspect. Cole and Barb both have a lot going on in their lives. Neither of their lives have turned out as they expected or wanted.
I both listened and read this. The audiobook has a great cast that does an excellent job narrating the story. But I also appreciated having the e-book. The plot alternates between characters and time periods, so it helped to be able to verify the timing and keep things straight in my head.
My thanks to Netgalley,St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for advance copies of this book.

[emilybookedup]

Jennifer Hillier is so back!! i love her writing and have been begging for more work like this since JAR OF HEARTS and i'm so happy this hit the mark.

i am a big fan of serial killer thriller tropes (which this followed) and it was a lot of fun. the author had a few plots going on at the same time and it was really fun to see them all come together at the end/keep you entertained with a few diff storylines. while this ended a bit buttoned-up for my thriller taste (and i wanted a bit more resolution on the Marty plot of it all!), i devoured this in 1-2 sittings and had so much fun reading it.

the mystery was done perfectly, the twists were good, the character development was excellent, the small town setting felt so realistic, the reality tv plotline was a fun pop culture moment...there was so much to like!

add it to your fall thriller TBR :) thanks to Minotaur for the gifted copy!

[aira]

I saw this on the library website and I put a hold on it so fast...eagerly awaiting it.

[Marialyce]

1.5 stars

I will preface this by saying I have enjoyed three of Jennifer's Hillier's books, Little Secrets was a five star one for me, and both Wonderland and The Butcher earned a four star rating. However, this current book was a massive disappointment for me.

I felt that it had an extraneous amount of characters,each seeming to have a story line that went nowhere. I really wanted to enjoy this book as it had components that made it sound alluring, an age old murders committed by a serial killer, a creepy amusement park, and a killer telling the world or whoever would listen that he only murdered four girls, not five.

So starts the adventure which should have lured me into a compulsive read, but left me wishing for its conclusion.

For me, sometimes a story can have too much and besides by the middle of the book knowing the killer, it was filled with podcasts, a reality TV show, the girls stories, it felt overcrowded and eventually boring and dull.

I didn't connect with any of the characters felt their overdone telling marred the story.

All in all, it was a dissatisfying story for me. It always is when a story you were so looking forward to is insufficient in living up to your expectations.

I alternated between the text and audio and try as they might, the narrators couldn't save this book for me sadly.

[suspenseisthrillingme]

The perfect kind of thriller for lovers of true crime, Real Housewives, and twisted minds, Heart of Glass was a potent mix of creepy, small-town vibes and juicy, reality-television scandals. Taking us straight back into the dark heart of Seaside, a town we all know and love from Hillier’s prior book, Wonderland, the gossipy feel and complex relationships made me crave these pages. Don’t get me wrong, the cast list was long and the murder mystery was lacking at times, but with plenty of long-buried secrets to be found and suspicious characters on the scene, I still couldn’t get enough of this one-sitting read. You see, it was an easy-to-binge cold-case mystery that mixed suspense and drama with a very teen horror vibe. Was it a thriller? Well, not quite…until the last fifty pages or so. After all, the first two-thirds had much more of a May Cobb-meets-reality TV feel until the pace eventually picked up steam.

Despite the lack of thrills in the beginning, I do have to say that the multiple mysteries slotted in well with not only each other but the docu-soap-esque drama of unscripted TV. Speaking of documentaries, I also loved the true-crime docuseries angle, which made the whole book feel immersive and true-to-life—even as things went off the rails in a deliciously unhinged, over-the-top way. Told from the perspectives of multiple narrators as they reevaluated the horrors of the past and the present, there was an ever-present sense that something sinister was lurking just below the surface. Don’t get me wrong, the revelations weren’t exactly mind-blowing, although there were enough small twists and turns to keep me on the back foot from start to finish. So if you’re looking for your next end-of-summer binge-fest, you need to grab this one now. In spite of a few small issues, I couldn’t put it down. Rating of 4 stars.

Read if you’re a fan of:
- Long-buried secrets
- Serial killer stories
- Interconnected mysteries
- Juicy gossip
- Real Housewives
- Multiple POVs
- True-crime docuseries
- Dual timelines
- Genre-bending books
- Layered relationships
- Well-developed characters
- Toxic friendships
- A small-town setting

SYNOPSIS:

Twenty-five years ago in Seaside, Washington, a charming drifter named Sam met three inseparable teenage girls at the local amusement park. Days later, one of them was found dead, her body surfacing in a flooded cranberry bog not far from where she was murdered.

Barb and Nicolette were shocked to learn that the man they all met at Wonderland was the Carnival Killer. After he's arrested for the murders of five young women—one of whom was their best friend, Lorelei—Nicolette moved to the city to pursue her dreams of being famous. Barb stayed behind in Seaside, eventually becoming a reporter for the local paper. Their past safely behind them, they’ve both moved on with their lives.

But when the Carnival Killer recants his confession and a new body washes ashore on the eve of Wonderland’s grand reopening, the secrets that Barb and Nicolette have worked so hard to bury begin to resurface, threatening to destroy everything in their carefully constructed lives.

Thank you Jennifer Hillier, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for my complimentary physical and digital copies. All opinions are my own.

PUB DATE: August 25, 2026

Content warning: murder, forced confinement, violence, kidnapping, alcoholism, adult/minor relationship, toxic friendship/relationship, infidelity, terminal illness, rape, pregnancy, physical and emotional abuse, stalking, miscarriage, mention of: abandonment, dementia, abortion

[Dutchie]

“Seaside is gonna Seaside”

After years of being closed due to some unfortunate events, Wonderland amusement park is set to reopen in the town of Seaside. The town wants nothing more than the reopening to go without a hitch and be the successful rejuvenation the town needs.

What the town does not need is the added attention from a new documentary being produced highlighting the crimes of a serial killer dubbed The Carnival Killer. Not only is it highlighting the case, the killer claims he only killed four out of the five women. He swears up and down he did not kill the fifth girl, Lorelei.

Barb was once best friends with Lorelei and would prefer that the case would stay in the past. She was unable to leave Seaside and explore her dreams of becoming a writer and currently works for the local newspaper. When a body is discovered in town, she begins to find some connections to some other missing women.

There was definitely a lot happening in this book. I was a bit hesitant during the first quarter of the book just because it focuses on reality TV. I enjoy watching reality TV but I’m a bit leery of reading about it. But this is a Hillier book and I knew she wouldn’t let me down! So I continued on with an open mind and the remaining 3/4 of the book flew by and I really enjoyed trying to solve the mystery. There were some fun little twists and connections along the way that took me by surprise. Which brings me to my quibble…. I’m not a fan of the “who”. (I can’t divulge much more without spoilers.)

As for whether or not this can be read as a standalone…. I feel like you should read Wonderland first. I read it a while ago so my brain does not remember much about it. So when some of the amusement park’s past was referenced, I couldn’t remember what happened. It would just fill in some blanks to read the first book. Plus, there are some characters that make a reappearance. But it is not necessary to read the first book if you don’t care about the backstory of the previous events.

[Whitney Erwin]

I've read a handful of Jennifer Hillier’s books and really enjoyed them and Heart of Glass was no different. While I have to say this would fall lower in my ranking of her books, it's still an excellent book. This book has a fun mix of drama-filled reality tv vibes and small-town vibes mixed with true crime vibes. They all come together for a fun, bingeable read! The beginning started a little on the slower side for me as there's a lot of characters introduced and intertwined that you have to figure out and keep straight. The ending is more face-paced and twisty turny. The storyline was fun and now I want to go back and read her book Wonderland that took place at Seaside years ago. Overall, a great book if you're looking for an entertaining mystery. Can't wait to see what Jennifer Hillier comes up with next!

Thank you, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley, for a copy in return for my honest review.

[Tara“on a grief break”]

Happy Publication Day!

Heart of Glass had me hooked from the very first chapter; it was hard to put down. The pacing skillfully balances suspense with deep character development, making every reveal feel well-earned. Hillier crafts layered, authentic characters, and the emotional depth adds richness to the story alongside the mystery. The multiple perspectives and timelines are seamlessly woven, gradually increasing the tension without ever feeling confusing. I listened to the full-cast audiobook — which helped distinguish the voices among the many points of view and subplots, including two of my favourite narrators, Brittany Pressley and January Lavoy, as well as Chris Brinkley, Eunice Wong, and Ferdelle Capistrano. They all delivered outstanding performances. And the ending — chef's kiss, or should I say readers' kiss. Very dark and twisty.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Lily Steeper]

Set in the fictitious and eerie small town of Seaside, Washington, Heart of Glass is an addictive thriller. Twenty-five years ago, Barb, Nicolette, and Lorelei were best friends. Fifteen years old and filled with high school drama, they met the twenty-something drifter named Sam at the local Wonderland amusement park. That night at the town drive in, where Lorelei makes out with Sam in the backseat, turns out to be the last night she is seen alive; her murdered body is found days later.
The case was closed and killer found. Sam admitted everything, saying he killed Lorelei, earning the name The Carnival Killer. But back to the present, he recants his confession. Barb, now almost forty, never managed to escape Seaside, working freelance at the local newspaper and anonymously writing snarky gossip about a reality show called Trophy Wives. Nicolette, however, completely distanced herself. Marrying a rich man and reinventing herself as Cole Lennox, she became one of the hit stars on the show.
The novel alternates between brief glimpses of the night Lorelei died in 2001 and the present, when a few more women go missing. Even weirder, all the women are some type of famous; influencers, another woman from the Trophy Wives show, and a former dance contestant. The novel also spaces out a few podcast clips from Sam as he recants his confession. Barb and Lorelei are given distinct chapters before we see them reunite, slowly discovering the truth.
While reading, I did not realize this was connected to a prior novel- Wonderland. However, I found that this was addictive as a stand alone. I was truly pulled in. I love how it combined the inane drama of a reality TV show with a twisty murder. The structure was another compelling element; detailing the past against the present made things even more dramatic.
The small town setting and characters felt so realistic. It made me even more immersed in the twists. Overall, I found lots to have fun with for this novel. The pop culture moments with reality TV stars, the teenage drama, and the tense murder combined for a unique thriller!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books, and Jennifer Hillier for the ARC!

[Melissa (Always Behind)]

Engaging mystery, I always appreciate Hillier's storytelling and the way she weaves a thriller.

Important to note: Although this book takes place in the same place as Wonderland and does reference the events of that book, it is not really necessary to have read that one because this book stands alone.

Twenty-five years ago, Barb, Nicolette, and Loreli were best friends. Eager to graduate from high school and experience the world, Loreli meets an older guy, Sam, and the three friends and the man go to the drive-in. Shortly afterward, Loreli is dead, and Sam is convicted for killing many women, including Loreli. But now he is dying, and claims that he did not kill her.
Barb and Nicolette haven't spoken since then, but circumstances bring them back together in their hometown of Seaside. The Wonderland amusement park is set to reopen and there have been some mysterious disappearances in the area. When a body is discovered, Barb sets out to find out what happened.

This story is told in parallel timelines, so the reader discovers what happened in the past and how everything fits together with the present. There are a few times when the back-and-forth of the timeline felt awkward and jarring, but overall when both mysteries are resolved it is both surprising and a bit heartbreaking. This is a dark and atmospheric tale, made all the more foreboding with the backdrop of the Wonderland amusement park.

I listened to the audiobook with full cast narration and it really immersed me into the story. I was always intrigued to listen to more and discover more secrets. The creepy voice of Sam giving his interviews starts off each section, and it definitely ratchets up the tension of an already suspenseful story.

As with the other books I've read by Jennifer Hillier, this novel is well-plotted and suspenseful. I look forward to seeing what she comes up with next!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.

[Venne]

I read 📖and listened 🎧 to Heart of Glass, and experiencing this thriller in both formats made it even more immersive.

Twenty five years after a night at Wonderland amusement park ends in tragedy, one of three best friends is murdered and a charming drifter named Sam confesses to multiple killings. Decades later, he suddenly retracts one of those confessions. With Wonderland reopening and a new body discovered, long buried questions about what really happened begin to resurface.

One of my favourite things about this book was just how creatively written it was. There are multiple POVs, different timelines, and quite a few moving pieces, but I really enjoyed watching everything slowly come together. It definitely kept me paying attention and wondering how all of these people and stories were eventually going to connect.

And the audiobook was AMAZING. Brittany Pressley, Chris Brinkley, Eunice Wong, Ferdelle Capistrano, and January LaVoy brought so much personality to the story. And January LaVoy…👏🏽 I especially loved your narration for this one! The full cast added another layer to the story and made the listening experience so much fun.

Since I was reading the ARC while also listening to the ALC, I did notice a few differences in some of the delivery and story beats between the two formats, but nothing major or anything that took away from the experience. I genuinely enjoyed both.

Heart of Glass is part of the Wonderland series, but it can absolutely be read as a standalone. I never felt like I needed to have read the previous book to understand or enjoy this story.

Overall, this was such a clever, layered and atmospheric thriller. There is a lot happening and quite a few characters to keep track of, but I think that was part of what made it so interesting. I really enjoyed watching all of the separate pieces gradually fall into place.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the ARC and Macmillan Audio for the ALC. Both were wonderful experiences!

[Jonathan]

All the reviews out right now are from ARCs, and let’s be honest: nothing makes someone love a mediocre book quite like getting it for free with a digital stamp that says "Please validate me."

You’re all full of it and you know it. Not a single line from your breathless, overly enthusiastic blurb-factory review is ever making it onto the front cover of this book. Give up! Just like this author should have. Actually, I think she did...

This book has a strong start and then goes down this exhaustingly boring rabbit hole detailing reality shows, reality stars, and a reality show reviewer. This took up so much of this book it made me forget we were trying to solve who was committing all these murders. If it was broken up more equally with the other things going on I could be more forgiving.

I hated everything about this book. Naturally, it ends exactly like every other thriller about three teenage best friends always ends—because originality is apparently illegal in the genre 🥱. I also tried the audio version. I officially regret having ears. The narrator who read for Barb made it sound like a threat to public safety, though all the others were fine.

I would give this a zero-star rating if math allowed it, and frankly, I like myself way too much to ever give this author a second chance.

[Stephanie]

Thank you to NetGalley, MacMillian Audio, and Jennifer Hillier for the ALC.

I’ll be honest, I didn’t read Wonderland but was fascinated by the description. I thought this would be such a compelling read and this did not disappoint me at all.

Sam Figg is known as the Carnival Killer. He was the last seen with three fifteen year old girls and one of them ends up being found deceased. Now, he is on a podcast called Criminal Confessions where he is confessing to the crimes.

The characters in this felt real. Samuel was creepy and so unsettling, but that was the point of his character. The narration in this book was perfect, as it had different narrators for each character. I especially liked how the podcast Criminal Confessions was narrated by both the host and Sam’s character.

I didn’t read the first one as I previously stated, but I’m going to read that soon! If you enjoyed Wonderland, true crime, and believable thrillers, this should on top of the list.

Pub date. August 25th, 2026.

[CatsBnB]

FANTABULOUS!!! Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review. (Below is my review for the audiobook of the BONUS Chapter that set the stage and left me wanting more.)

What a chilling, gripping, atmospheric and emotionally charged psychological thriller!!! Jennifer Hillier has a way of drawing me into the darkness of a story and keeping me there until the very last page!

Set in the small town of Seaside, Washington, Heart of Glass moves between then and now, slowing peeling back layers of the past as old secrets begin to surface. A serial killer has recanted his confession, a new body washes ashore, and the carefully buried past begins to collide with the present. What really happened all those years ago? And how much of the truth has been hidden?

I thought I had everything figured out around the 50% mark. I was totally convinced I knew the truth. But boy, was I wrong! 😂 Twist after twist left me stunned, and every time I thought I had finally figured it out, Hillier pulled the rug out from under me all over again. I was completely caught off guard and questioning everything until the very end!

I really enjoyed the "Criminal Confessions Podcast" segments. The serial killer interviews added an intriguing dimension to the story, making me even more determined to uncover the truth.

The characters were complex and layered, and their secrets, flaws, and choices shaped the story in fascinating ways. Some were compelling, while others were downright despicable. Their decisions brought an added sense of tension and complexity, and there were certainly plenty of moments when I found myself thinking, Why would you do that?!

The atmosphere was eerie and immersive. The creepy drive-in theater and amusement park, the small-town setting, the buried secrets, the serial killer, and the reality TV element created an unsettling world where nothing felt quite as it seemed. Dark, emotional, and at times well beyond my comfort zone. This was the kind of story that pulls you in and refuses to let go.

And that ending?!?!?! I did NOT see that coming!! 🤯

OUTSTANDING! SHOCKING! ADDICTIVE!

I wholeheartedly recommend this book, and it deserves all the infinite stars!!! Definitely going on my favorites list!!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Trigger warning: inappropriate relationships involving a male teacher.


Thank you NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for granting me access to the audiobook of this BONUS CHAPTER of Heart of Glass by Jennifer Hillier.

I was so excited to see this bonus chapter available, and it immediately grabbed my attention. From the very beginning, I was hooked and completely invested and by the time it ended, I knew I wasn't ready to leave this story behind. Needless to say, I requested the digital book because I needed to continue the story!

The narration was fantastic!! I loved how this bonus chapter connects Wonderland and Heart of Glass. Getting Sam's perspective and seeing what happened before he met the girls added another layer to the story and made this such a wonderful addition.

If you haven't read Wonderland yet, I still highly recommend listening to this bonus chapter before starting Heart of Glass. It's intriguing, engaging and does an excellent job drawing you into the story while leaving you wanting more!

A fantastic bonus chapter that completely hooked me and has me ready to dive into Heart of Glass.⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Frank Phillips]

I think I can officially say it: this is Jennifer Hillier’s best book yet. 😍 I absolutely LOVED this one!

Twenty-five years ago in the small coastal town of Seaside, Washington, three best friends—Barb, Nicolette, and Lorelei—meet a charming drifter named Sam at the local amusement park. Soon after, Lorelei is found murdered, and Sam is eventually arrested and convicted as the infamous Carnival Killer, believed to be responsible for the deaths of five young women. But twenty-five years later, Sam recants his confession just as Wonderland is preparing to reopen and another young woman’s body washes ashore. Suddenly, the past isn't nearly as settled as everyone thought, and Barb and Nicolette are forced to confront secrets they’ve spent decades trying to bury.

I was completely hooked by this story! The dual timelines were fantastic, and I loved the way Hillier slowly pieced together the events of the past while simultaneously building the mystery in the present. Every new revelation made me question what I thought I knew, and just when I thought I had things figured out…NOPE! 😂

The characters were another huge highlight for me. They felt complicated, flawed, and incredibly real, and I became genuinely invested in what happened to them. There are so many secrets, complicated relationships, betrayals, and questionable decisions woven throughout the story that I never quite knew who I could trust. It’s rare for me to start a book disliking pretty much every character and somehow end up genuinely caring about—and even loving—most of them by the final page. But somehow, Hillier pulled it off!

And those TWISTS! 🤯 There were SO many twists and turns, and honestly, I did not see a lot of them coming. Hillier kept pulling the rug out from underneath me, and I absolutely loved it. I found myself constantly trying to piece together the mystery, only to realize I was nowhere near as clever as I thought I was. 😂

By the time I turned the last page, I was shocked, completely satisfied, and already wishing I could experience the whole thing again for the first time. This is exactly what I want from a thriller: a compelling mystery, characters I care about, multiple layers to the story, and twists that actually surprise me.

Jennifer Hillier has officially outdone herself with this one. Heart of Glass is easily my favorite book of hers, and probably one of my favorite thrillers I've read this year. Highly, highly recommend! 🔥

[Dee]

What a ride that was! This was amazing storytelling at its finest. Although it was a bit of a slow burn, it was still all very interesting with a heart stopping climax that had me on the edge of my seat! I loved Wonderland and this was a fantastic addition to add to the already dark and twisted reputation of this small town and all of its secrets.

Looking for an exciting thriller with that small town vibe full of mystery and dark secrets? Then stop right here and enjoy the ride. This was a modern day thriller that was easy to follow and a satisfying twist that will bring the whole story together, and for that I say…..thank you!

[Maren’s Reads]

When I think of fun, slasher-type thrillers (with a little less of the slashing and a lot more of the creepy atmosphere), this book is just what I envision. Pickup up twenty-five years after its counterpart, Wonderland, we are right back revisiting the horrors of the amusement park just as it’s set to reopen. I completely flew through this all-absorbing thriller that felt like teen horror meets reality tv show with an air of over-the-top but in the way that makes it perfect for a summer binge.

🎧 The audio is incredibly well done and the way to go if you want to feel fully immersed. The full cast, including faves January LaVoy and Brittany Pressley among others, allowed for each character to stay wholly unique, a small factor that becomes much more important with a large ensemble cast such as this one.

Read if you like:
-domestic suspense
-psychological thrillers
-reality tv
-ensemble casts
-atmospheric setting


Check out my Bookstagram post here ♥

Thank you Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copies.

[Meagan (Meagansbookclub)]

The audio production was great, but the story was all over the place. A lot of unnecessary story tangents that didn’t support the main mystery of the missing women. Sadly, this one won’t be memorable for me and doesn’t warrant above 3-stars.

[Amy]

Jennifer Hillier has become one of those authors I trust completely, and Heart of Glass is another reminder of why. This is the second book in the Wonderland series, but I jumped in without reading Wonderland first and never felt lost. It works perfectly well as a standalone while still making me curious enough to go back and read the first book.

The story hooks you immediately with one of the best openings I’ve read in a thriller this year: a convicted serial killer suddenly recants his confession to one of his murders. From there, Hillier spins together a decades old cold case, a present day murder investigation, missing reality TV stars, and long buried secrets that refuse to stay buried. There are plenty of moving pieces, multiple character perspectives, and several subplots, but everything feels purposeful and easy to follow. Instead of becoming overwhelming, each new thread adds another layer to an already compelling mystery.

One of my favorite aspects was the reality television element. As someone who loves Bravo and all the drama that comes with reality TV, I had so much fun with that part of the story. It gives the novel a fresh angle while also exploring fame, image, and the stories people tell the public versus the truths they hide. I also loved the documentary interview excerpts sprinkled throughout the novel. They added another dimension to the storytelling and made the mystery feel even more immersive.

Hillier also excels at creating atmosphere, and Seaside, Washington, practically becomes a character itself. Between the eerie amusement park, the gloomy coastal setting, and bodies turning up in the present day, there’s a constant feeling that something sinister is lurking beneath the surface. Barb was easily my favorite character—smart, observant, and determined—and I found myself rooting for her throughout the investigation. Just when I thought I’d figured everything out, Jennifer Hillier did exactly what she always seems to do: she completely pulled the rug out from under me. Those last twists were so satisfying and reminded me why she’s one of my favorite thriller authors.

Perfect for readers who love:

* Cold cases colliding with present day murders
* Reality television and celebrity culture woven into thrillers
* Atmospheric small town settings
* Multiple timelines and layered mysteries
* Clever twists that genuinely surprise
* Strong female protagonists

[CarolG]

Twenty-five years ago in Seaside, Washington, a charming drifter named Sam met three teenage girls at Wonderland, the local amusement park. Days later, one of them was found dead, her body surfacing in a flooded cranberry bog. Her death is attributed to the "Carnival Killer" but when he recants his confession and a new body washes ashore on the eve of Wonderland’s grand reopening, secrets begin to resurface.

With exceptional performances by a huge cast of narrators, including Brittany Pressley, Chris Brinkley, Eunice Wong, Ferdelle Capistrano and January LaVoy, I was totally immersed in the story. I didn't realize it was the second book in the Wonderland series but since the first book was published over 10 years ago I doubt I'd recall much of it anyway and this book stood well on its own. There are quite a few characters and threads to follow in the book as the story goes from the past to the present and back again. Everything comes together in a surprising conclusion. 3.5 Stars rounded up.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, via Netgalley, for approving my request to listen to an advance copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
Publication Date: August 25, 2026

[Deb]

Great mystery. The ending was very surprising. Well written. A must read for mystery and serial killer fans.
My daughter lent me this and glad she did.

[Matt]

4.5⭐️

Seaside, WA: a small town that despite its innocent sounding name, has one of the highest murder rates in Washington State, second only to Seattle.
Despite its charming small town feel and friendly locals, it has a sinister past (and not all of those friendly locals are exactly who they appear to be).

At first I was hesitant to request this because I have not yet read Wonderland, but a couple of people assured me that they both can be read as a standalone and don’t need to be read in order.
It took me a few chapters to get into this, but I am SO glad that I stuck with it!

I really enjoyed the reality TV theme.
As someone who doesn’t watch reality TV, it was really interesting to get into the headspace of both the people who star in it and the superfans.
I have a friends who religiously watch The Real Housewives, but I had no idea that there are actual conventions for reality TV fans.

This book has some dark parts and a few sick, horrible people in it.
One thing that I appreciated is that before the book even opens, Jennifer Hillier acknowledges this and also includes trigger warnings.

This wasn’t really what I’d call a popcorn thriller, but at the same time, after the first 10-20% there was no point at which I felt bored or didn’t want to keep reading.
Actually, I’m not sure as to whether consider this a thriller, mystery, or neither, but what I do know is that I really enjoyed it!
Hillier has a gift for putting together a story that keeps the reader engaged.

This was my first read by Jennifer Hillier, and now I definitely have to read Wonderland!

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an eARC to review via NetGalley.