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Wonderland #2
Heart of Glass
Not yet published
Expected 25 Aug 26A 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.
Seaside is a small coastal town, known originally for the local amusement park. But twenty-five years ago, a serial killer dubbed The Carnival Killer confessed to the murder of a local high school girl. Now, he's recanted that confession.
Barb, Nicolette, and Lorelei were best friends - then they met "Sam" at Wonderland, the local amusement park. After hanging out with him there, and accompanying him to the drive-in movie, where the twenty-something handsome drifter made out with Lorelei in the backseat. That night was the last time Lorelei was seen alive, her murdered body surfacing a couple of days later in a local cranberry bog.
Barb's dreams of leaving Seaside and becoming a successful writer never materialized and she is a freelancer for the local newspaper and, secretly, writes anonymously about reality tv stars for a hugely successful gossip web-site called Reality Bitch. Specifically, she writes savagely about a long-running show set in Canada called Trophy Wives.
Nicolette left town shortly after Lorelei's body surfaced, never to return. Ultimately, she married a very rich man, moved to Toronto and rebranded herself as Cole Lennox, one of the stars of Trophy Wives.
With the amusement park about to reopen, revitalizing the dying town of Seaside, the Carnival Killer recants his confession about killing Lorelei, the dead body of young woman washes ashore, and the truth about what happened that night twenty-five years ago - and what is happening now - threatens not only the carefully constructed lives of Barb and Nicolette, but the very fabric of Seaside itself.
Seaside is a small coastal town, known originally for the local amusement park. But twenty-five years ago, a serial killer dubbed The Carnival Killer confessed to the murder of a local high school girl. Now, he's recanted that confession.
Barb, Nicolette, and Lorelei were best friends - then they met "Sam" at Wonderland, the local amusement park. After hanging out with him there, and accompanying him to the drive-in movie, where the twenty-something handsome drifter made out with Lorelei in the backseat. That night was the last time Lorelei was seen alive, her murdered body surfacing a couple of days later in a local cranberry bog.
Barb's dreams of leaving Seaside and becoming a successful writer never materialized and she is a freelancer for the local newspaper and, secretly, writes anonymously about reality tv stars for a hugely successful gossip web-site called Reality Bitch. Specifically, she writes savagely about a long-running show set in Canada called Trophy Wives.
Nicolette left town shortly after Lorelei's body surfaced, never to return. Ultimately, she married a very rich man, moved to Toronto and rebranded herself as Cole Lennox, one of the stars of Trophy Wives.
With the amusement park about to reopen, revitalizing the dying town of Seaside, the Carnival Killer recants his confession about killing Lorelei, the dead body of young woman washes ashore, and the truth about what happened that night twenty-five years ago - and what is happening now - threatens not only the carefully constructed lives of Barb and Nicolette, but the very fabric of Seaside itself.
13 pages, Audible Audio
Expected publication August 25, 2026
About the author
Jennifer Hillier
13 books19.7k followersJennifer 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 695 reviews
Want to Read
March 1, 2026My fave is releasing a new book!
I cant wait to get my hands on this one!
I know its going to be a five star read!
💙🤍💙🤍
I cant wait to get my hands on this one!
I know its going to be a five star read!
💙🤍💙🤍
June 8, 2026
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.
Thank you, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley, for a copy in return for my honest review.
Want to Read
March 3, 2026Jennifer Hillier is my favorite psych/thriller author. All her books are 4-5 star hits for me and I just love how she builds up dread along with plot. Very crafty, very efficient, will have your heart cranking up like it's a race. Have you read Jar of Hearts???
A carnival serial killer recants his long-ago confession regarding a small town high school girl but a new body washes ashore Seaside, Washington forcing buried secrets to resurface.
Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and the author, Jennifer Hillier for an early copy.
Publication date: August 25, 2026
A carnival serial killer recants his long-ago confession regarding a small town high school girl but a new body washes ashore Seaside, Washington forcing buried secrets to resurface.
Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and the author, Jennifer Hillier for an early copy.
Publication date: August 25, 2026
Currently Reading
June 17, 2026Thrilled to see 5 narrators for this one, and well seasoned ones at that!
Content warning from the author:
references to murder, sexual assault, violence, substance abuse, terminal illness and physical and emotional trauma
Content warning from the author:
references to murder, sexual assault, violence, substance abuse, terminal illness and physical and emotional trauma
June 13, 2026
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.
May 20, 2026
Everything worked with this novel, maybe I would call it a suspenseful mystery? Serial killers, reality tv stars, multiple pov's, dual timelines, many strings in many directions but everything worked. It is no problem to keep track of everything and everyone , and the pace was consistent throughout. Characters were flawed, but in equal parts likable and unlikable. I wouldn't change anything about the plot other than the regular proof corrections. While the plot progressed in a pretty linear way, there were not too many surprises but there were a few interesting twists along the way. Thoroughly enjoyed and this being from a Canadian writer is a bonus.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this novel.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this novel.
June 12, 2026
HEART OF GLASS
📖 / 🎧: book/audio review
Narrated by Brittany Pressley; Chris Brinkley; Eunice Wong; Ferdelle Capistrano; January LaVoy
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5)
Thank you @stmartinspress for my ARC and @macmillan.audio for my ALC #macaudio2026
jennifer hillier can write 👏 a 👏 book 👏
sam, aka The Carnival Killer, is serving five life sentences for murders he committed 25 years ago. he’s dying of cancer, and while being interviewed for a documentary, he states he only actually did 4 of the 5 murders - saying he didn’t kill the young girl named Lorelei. Lorelei’s best friends - Nicolette & Barb, are now facing the truth of what happened.
I so enjoyed being back in Seaside, and although I don’t think it’s absolutely necessary to read Wonderland first - I’m glad I did. I fully understood the setting, and caught a few red herrings and loved that! This one is definitely for fans of reality tv shows, as that actually plays a major part in it - Barb is a writer for a famous reality show, and other reality tv show stars have recently gone missing.
The audiobook gets all the stars, and will go down as one of my favorite listens of the year. Told in many POV - with a documentary feel for Sam’s POV - and the perfect cast for all the characters.. CHEF’S KISS 👌🏻
📖 / 🎧: book/audio review
Narrated by Brittany Pressley; Chris Brinkley; Eunice Wong; Ferdelle Capistrano; January LaVoy
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5)
Thank you @stmartinspress for my ARC and @macmillan.audio for my ALC #macaudio2026
jennifer hillier can write 👏 a 👏 book 👏
sam, aka The Carnival Killer, is serving five life sentences for murders he committed 25 years ago. he’s dying of cancer, and while being interviewed for a documentary, he states he only actually did 4 of the 5 murders - saying he didn’t kill the young girl named Lorelei. Lorelei’s best friends - Nicolette & Barb, are now facing the truth of what happened.
I so enjoyed being back in Seaside, and although I don’t think it’s absolutely necessary to read Wonderland first - I’m glad I did. I fully understood the setting, and caught a few red herrings and loved that! This one is definitely for fans of reality tv shows, as that actually plays a major part in it - Barb is a writer for a famous reality show, and other reality tv show stars have recently gone missing.
The audiobook gets all the stars, and will go down as one of my favorite listens of the year. Told in many POV - with a documentary feel for Sam’s POV - and the perfect cast for all the characters.. CHEF’S KISS 👌🏻
February 22, 2026
Heart of Glass by Jennifer Hillier. Thanks to @minotaurbooks for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Twenty five years ago the Carnival Killer was arrested and confessed to murdering five teenage girls, including Barb and Nicolette’s best friend, Lorelei. Now, he’s recanted his confession. Barb and Nicolle have moved one, one as a journalist and one as a reality tv star, but his recantation will shock their world especially as a new body washes up.
For those who read Wonderland, you’ll be excited to go back to Seaside! While not a sequel, it takes place in the same town, so you don’t have to have read the first book. If you have, you’ll know that something just isn’t right with the town. I liked this one a lot, especially the reality tv show background and wish it got even more into that! The dual time lines were great, although the past chapters were few. I liked the twists that occurred. They weren’t mind blowing for the plot, but the perfect amount for keep suspense and a feeling of unease. The tense kidnapping chapters were also amazing. So many different things were going on that it was impossible to be bored with this plot. I loved the ending as well; very satisfying for the characters.
“She wasn’t my victim. But invite a stranger in, and strange things will happen.”
Read if you like:
-Kidnapping plots
-Reality TV tropes
-Friendships gone wrong
Heart of Glass comes out 8/25.
Twenty five years ago the Carnival Killer was arrested and confessed to murdering five teenage girls, including Barb and Nicolette’s best friend, Lorelei. Now, he’s recanted his confession. Barb and Nicolle have moved one, one as a journalist and one as a reality tv star, but his recantation will shock their world especially as a new body washes up.
For those who read Wonderland, you’ll be excited to go back to Seaside! While not a sequel, it takes place in the same town, so you don’t have to have read the first book. If you have, you’ll know that something just isn’t right with the town. I liked this one a lot, especially the reality tv show background and wish it got even more into that! The dual time lines were great, although the past chapters were few. I liked the twists that occurred. They weren’t mind blowing for the plot, but the perfect amount for keep suspense and a feeling of unease. The tense kidnapping chapters were also amazing. So many different things were going on that it was impossible to be bored with this plot. I loved the ending as well; very satisfying for the characters.
“She wasn’t my victim. But invite a stranger in, and strange things will happen.”
Read if you like:
-Kidnapping plots
-Reality TV tropes
-Friendships gone wrong
Heart of Glass comes out 8/25.
March 16, 2026
have been eagerly awaiting a new @jenniferhillierbooks thriller and I was absolutely not disappointed!! Set in the same world as Wonderland (but completely stand alone), this is absolutely another winner. This is a cover to cover read in one sitting if you’re as eager to know what happens as I was!
Thank you to Minotaur for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to Minotaur for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
June 14, 2026
Heart of Glass by Jennifer Hillier is a suspenseful thriller that kept me guessing until the very end. The story follows three friends who meet a mysterious man named Sam at a carnival one night. When one of the friends is later murdered, it seems obvious that Sam is responsible—but the truth is far more complicated than it first appears.
One of my favorite aspects of the novel was the setting. As someone who enjoys books set in Toronto, I loved seeing the city woven into the story. Hillier also does an excellent job with the multiple timelines, gradually revealing pieces of the puzzle until everything merges together in a satisfying way.
The characters of Barb and Cole were particularly well written and stood out among the cast. Their development added depth to the story and made me more invested in the outcome. While some twists were easier to predict than others, the overall mystery remained engaging and entertaining.
If you enjoy character-driven thrillers with layered timelines, intriguing twists, and a strong Toronto setting, Heart of Glass is definitely worth picking up.
The audiobook had a solid cast…including my fav Britney Pressely.
Thank you NetGalley
One of my favorite aspects of the novel was the setting. As someone who enjoys books set in Toronto, I loved seeing the city woven into the story. Hillier also does an excellent job with the multiple timelines, gradually revealing pieces of the puzzle until everything merges together in a satisfying way.
The characters of Barb and Cole were particularly well written and stood out among the cast. Their development added depth to the story and made me more invested in the outcome. While some twists were easier to predict than others, the overall mystery remained engaging and entertaining.
If you enjoy character-driven thrillers with layered timelines, intriguing twists, and a strong Toronto setting, Heart of Glass is definitely worth picking up.
The audiobook had a solid cast…including my fav Britney Pressely.
Thank you NetGalley
April 16, 2026
Okay, this was really good (all of her books are) but I have so many questions!! I feel like in the end, there wasn’t enough details explaining the why behind everything. What were the motives behind the multiple crimes throughout this book? And the wonderland scandal - I just assumed that was about the original murder… but then there were other details that made me think more happened. But it was never fully explained (unless I totally missed it). Maybe it’s totally intentional to keep the reader guessing. Overall, I really enjoyed this book and it was a quick read but ahhhh I want more!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!
March 17, 2026
I love Jennifer Hillier’s books and was so excited to revisit Seaside. This is set in the same universe as Wonderland but you do not need to read it before jumping into House of Glass.
The first 30% of this book had it all witty dialogue, small town secrets, and a serial killer who is being featured in a documentary. Somewhere in the middle things started to drag on and the dialogue went from witty to juvenile. I enjoyed the ending but it wasn’t enough to bring it to 4 stars for me.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
The first 30% of this book had it all witty dialogue, small town secrets, and a serial killer who is being featured in a documentary. Somewhere in the middle things started to drag on and the dialogue went from witty to juvenile. I enjoyed the ending but it wasn’t enough to bring it to 4 stars for me.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
OK!!! now THAT was fun!!! RTC
May 31, 2026
Wow, this book got me out of my reading slump! I was very excited to get Heart of Glass after reading The Butcher by Jennifer Hillier last year and I can say that this book was just as good. A little slow burn in the beginning, but definitely picked up in the end. She did a great job of making you think one thing and the truth being completely different! That’s when you know a thriller has done its job. The ending did feel a bit rushed, and left me with some questions (which sounds like the characters also had these questions), but doesn’t deter the storyline. I didn’t realize that the setting was based on another of her books, so I may have to add that to my TBR!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for the eARC.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for the eARC.
March 21, 2026
I thought this book was okay. Small-town vibes with a serial killer and a number of women who have gone missing. What took the enjoyment level down a notch was the number of different characters involved in the book and all of the back stories that needed to be kept up with. I would be reading sometimes wondering when we would get back to a certain character and their story. I have read other books by this author that I would highly recommend, but this isn’t one that I personally would rave about.
Thank you to Netgalley & Minotaur Books for an advanced eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.
Thank you to Netgalley & Minotaur Books for an advanced eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.
April 10, 2026
Hillier has been one of my favorite modern thriller authors!
This one wasn’t my favorite of hers but still a solid book and a bingeable time. I’m personally just a bit tired of the missing girl trope, so the initial setup felt a little generic and took me a minute to get into, but once the story got going i felt a lot more invested. There’s a fun incorporation of real housewives type reality stars, but the story definitely takes dark turns as usual for Hillier.
This one wasn’t my favorite of hers but still a solid book and a bingeable time. I’m personally just a bit tired of the missing girl trope, so the initial setup felt a little generic and took me a minute to get into, but once the story got going i felt a lot more invested. There’s a fun incorporation of real housewives type reality stars, but the story definitely takes dark turns as usual for Hillier.
April 6, 2026
I absolutely loved Jar of Hearts, so I was beyond excited to be approved for an ARC of Heart of Glass by Jennifer Hillier. I’d seen recommendations to read Wonderland first, and I’m so glad I did. It made catching the subtle Easter eggs even more satisfying.
Going in with high expectations, I can confidently say this one did not disappoint.
I loved how the timelines unfolded, slowly peeling back the layers of the past and revealing deeply buried secrets piece by piece u til the puzzle came together. The tension builds perfectly, leading to shocking truths that completely deliver.
At one point or another, I suspected everyone of something, which made the twists even more fun. Intricate, suspenseful, and incredibly satisfying, this is a story that keeps you guessing right up until the very end.
Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press & Minotaur Books for letting me read this arc!
Going in with high expectations, I can confidently say this one did not disappoint.
I loved how the timelines unfolded, slowly peeling back the layers of the past and revealing deeply buried secrets piece by piece u til the puzzle came together. The tension builds perfectly, leading to shocking truths that completely deliver.
At one point or another, I suspected everyone of something, which made the twists even more fun. Intricate, suspenseful, and incredibly satisfying, this is a story that keeps you guessing right up until the very end.
Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press & Minotaur Books for letting me read this arc!
June 21, 2026
I didn’t realize this was a sequel to Wonderland until I started it! I have Wonderland 3 stars and the same with this one. I liked this one more than Wonderland I just felt like some parts were pretty slow.
May 24, 2026
In typical Jennifer Hillier fashion this book was disturbingly good. A thriller mixed in with some Real Housewives type drama.
A bit of a slower burn in the beginning, but the pace picks up and it gets hard to put down. I enjoyed the interview chapters and the dual timeline. The ending felt a little rushed and I wish we had more closure on who was really pulling the strings. The story is full of secrets and untrustworthy characters. It seems like everyone has something to hide in Seaside!
Thank you St Martins Press for this advance readers copy in exchange for my honest review.
A bit of a slower burn in the beginning, but the pace picks up and it gets hard to put down. I enjoyed the interview chapters and the dual timeline. The ending felt a little rushed and I wish we had more closure on who was really pulling the strings. The story is full of secrets and untrustworthy characters. It seems like everyone has something to hide in Seaside!
Thank you St Martins Press for this advance readers copy in exchange for my honest review.
Want to Read
May 5, 2026I love Jennifer Hillier! Super excited! Thank you, St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books, for sending me this ARC.
Pub Date: Aug 25 2026
As always, all thoughts are my own. 💛✨🦋
Pub Date: Aug 25 2026
As always, all thoughts are my own. 💛✨🦋
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I've read and loved all of Jennifer Hillier's books except for Wonderland, so I was hesitant to pick this one up, but I'm really glad I did! Even though this one takes place in Seaside and mentions Wonderland, it is completely its own story, and it ended up being one that I thoroughly enjoyed! It was a slow start, but once I got through the beginning, I couldn't put it down. 4.5 stars rounded up.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5 stars
I recently discovered this author and didn't realize the book was part of a series, but it stood out as a solid standalone read. Now, I'm eager to go back and explore the first book. The journey through the narrative of the so-called Carnival Killer was truly gripping.
The story is divided into five parts, including flashbacks to 2001 that draw you deeper into the plot. The inclusion of a transcript from a podcast interview with the alleged killer, Samuel Figg, immediately grabs your attention and keeps you hooked until the very end. We meet Barb and Nicolette in the present, and later, through flashbacks, we get to know Lorelei. It’s intriguing to see how characters evolve over time. Barb is a small-town freelance journalist and gossip columnist, while Nicolette presents herself as the confident, reinvented TV star of "Trophy Wives." Yet, despite their different exteriors, it becomes clear that they both share the same underlying struggles, just having matured along the way. They are enveloped in secrets and dark experiences, much like any group of teenagers.
As other TV stars go missing and the serial killer retracts his confession, tensions mount, and we accompany the characters on this wild journey. Slowly, the mystery surrounding Lorelei's fate unfolds, but the ending we anticipate soon reveals itself to be misleading. Just when we think we have a grasp on things, a body surfaces, bringing cold cases back into the spotlight. The excitement is palpable, and the story does a superb job of keeping track of its characters and events.
The writing is well-paced overall, although some sections felt a bit lengthy. Nonetheless, it maintains a suspenseful atmosphere filled with unexpected twists—especially the conclusion! I genuinely didn't foresee how it would end, which was a thrilling surprise. I had the good fortune of receiving both the eBook and the audiobook for review, and the five narrators did an excellent job! Their perfect energy and chemistry truly enhanced my overall reading experience, keeping me on the edge of my seat as I wondered what would come next.
If you're drawn to tales of serial killers grappling with their past as they face death, cold cases, and friendships steeped in lifelong secrets, you’re in for a real treat. This book offers morally ambiguous characters, a dark and sinister backdrop in Washington State, and a gripping read that balances its tempo to keep you on your toes. So, if you find yourself on vacation and it starts to rain, take the time to dive into this book—you’ll likely finish it in a single day!
Thank you, St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio, for the DRC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I recently discovered this author and didn't realize the book was part of a series, but it stood out as a solid standalone read. Now, I'm eager to go back and explore the first book. The journey through the narrative of the so-called Carnival Killer was truly gripping.
The story is divided into five parts, including flashbacks to 2001 that draw you deeper into the plot. The inclusion of a transcript from a podcast interview with the alleged killer, Samuel Figg, immediately grabs your attention and keeps you hooked until the very end. We meet Barb and Nicolette in the present, and later, through flashbacks, we get to know Lorelei. It’s intriguing to see how characters evolve over time. Barb is a small-town freelance journalist and gossip columnist, while Nicolette presents herself as the confident, reinvented TV star of "Trophy Wives." Yet, despite their different exteriors, it becomes clear that they both share the same underlying struggles, just having matured along the way. They are enveloped in secrets and dark experiences, much like any group of teenagers.
As other TV stars go missing and the serial killer retracts his confession, tensions mount, and we accompany the characters on this wild journey. Slowly, the mystery surrounding Lorelei's fate unfolds, but the ending we anticipate soon reveals itself to be misleading. Just when we think we have a grasp on things, a body surfaces, bringing cold cases back into the spotlight. The excitement is palpable, and the story does a superb job of keeping track of its characters and events.
The writing is well-paced overall, although some sections felt a bit lengthy. Nonetheless, it maintains a suspenseful atmosphere filled with unexpected twists—especially the conclusion! I genuinely didn't foresee how it would end, which was a thrilling surprise. I had the good fortune of receiving both the eBook and the audiobook for review, and the five narrators did an excellent job! Their perfect energy and chemistry truly enhanced my overall reading experience, keeping me on the edge of my seat as I wondered what would come next.
If you're drawn to tales of serial killers grappling with their past as they face death, cold cases, and friendships steeped in lifelong secrets, you’re in for a real treat. This book offers morally ambiguous characters, a dark and sinister backdrop in Washington State, and a gripping read that balances its tempo to keep you on your toes. So, if you find yourself on vacation and it starts to rain, take the time to dive into this book—you’ll likely finish it in a single day!
Thank you, St. Martin's Press and Macmillan Audio, for the DRC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 11, 2026
Another week, another surprise series read. Thankfully, unlike my last accidental foray into the middle of a series, this one never left me feeling like I had missed something important. Even though I hadn’t read Wonderland, Ms. Hillier does an excellent job weaving in just enough background information to make new readers feel grounded while still becoming emotionally invested in the story.
There is a lot happening here, with multiple characters and several intertwining subplots, so it does require a bit of extra attention to keep all the moving pieces straight. Personally, I love that kind of controlled chaos. It keeps me engaged, constantly second-guessing where the story is headed.
I was fortunate to receive both the eARC from Minotaur Books and the ALC from Macmillan Audio ahead of publication, which allowed me to do an immersion read. It ended up being the perfect way to experience this story.
The audiobook is narrated by Brittany Pressley, Chris Brinkley, Eunice Wong, Ferdelle Capistrano, and January LaVoy, and the full cast delivers a stellar performance. At this point, I’m convinced Brittany Pressley simply does not sleep. She seems to narrate so many of the books I pick up, and she consistently elevates the material. The entire cast is fantastic, and as always, Macmillan Audio proves why they are at the top of the industry with outstanding sound engineering and production quality.
One aspect I particularly enjoyed was the heavy reality television component. While I have little interest in watching reality TV in real life, I apparently love reading about it in fiction. The author also incorporates modern language and social media vernacular, including characters essentially speaking in hashtags when it fits the moment. Rather than feeling forced, it works as a clever way to anchor the story in the present day and highlight the passage of time since the first book was published more than a decade ago.
If you’re looking for a suspenseful, twisty read with multiple interwoven storylines and a fantastic full-cast audiobook, this is one worth picking up.
There is a lot happening here, with multiple characters and several intertwining subplots, so it does require a bit of extra attention to keep all the moving pieces straight. Personally, I love that kind of controlled chaos. It keeps me engaged, constantly second-guessing where the story is headed.
I was fortunate to receive both the eARC from Minotaur Books and the ALC from Macmillan Audio ahead of publication, which allowed me to do an immersion read. It ended up being the perfect way to experience this story.
The audiobook is narrated by Brittany Pressley, Chris Brinkley, Eunice Wong, Ferdelle Capistrano, and January LaVoy, and the full cast delivers a stellar performance. At this point, I’m convinced Brittany Pressley simply does not sleep. She seems to narrate so many of the books I pick up, and she consistently elevates the material. The entire cast is fantastic, and as always, Macmillan Audio proves why they are at the top of the industry with outstanding sound engineering and production quality.
One aspect I particularly enjoyed was the heavy reality television component. While I have little interest in watching reality TV in real life, I apparently love reading about it in fiction. The author also incorporates modern language and social media vernacular, including characters essentially speaking in hashtags when it fits the moment. Rather than feeling forced, it works as a clever way to anchor the story in the present day and highlight the passage of time since the first book was published more than a decade ago.
If you’re looking for a suspenseful, twisty read with multiple interwoven storylines and a fantastic full-cast audiobook, this is one worth picking up.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Jennifer Hillier is one of those authors I always look forward to, and this was no exception.
Also, if you’ve read Wonderland, I think it adds a nice layer to the experience since we’re back in Seaside. Ofc, you can read this as a standalone, but having that extra context made it more fun for me.
The story moves between past and present, showing what happened 25 years ago when three best friends, Barb, Nicolette and Lorelei, went to the amusement park… and only two of them came back. Lorelei’s murder was quickly “solved” back then, with Samuel Figg taking the blame. He was later called the Carnival Killer.
In the present, Barb stayed in Seaside and is now a reporter, while Nicolette left town and built a completely different life (Reality TV Show diva). Everything seems settled… until the killer suddenly recants his confession, right as a new body washes ashore just before Wonderland’s grand reopening.
I mean… the timing? Boombastic. Super fantastic ^^
From there, things start to unravel and it quickly becomes clear that there may be more to the story than anyone thought.
I really enjoyed going back to Seaside and following both timelines. The mystery was interesting, and I liked how everything slowly came together. For the record, I did not guessed the culprits until way later on.
That said, some parts did feel a bit slow or slightly repetitive and I do think the book could have been a tiny little shorter.
Overall, though, this was an engaging and solid thriller that kept me invested.
⭐ 4–4.25 stars
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.
Also, if you’ve read Wonderland, I think it adds a nice layer to the experience since we’re back in Seaside. Ofc, you can read this as a standalone, but having that extra context made it more fun for me.
The story moves between past and present, showing what happened 25 years ago when three best friends, Barb, Nicolette and Lorelei, went to the amusement park… and only two of them came back. Lorelei’s murder was quickly “solved” back then, with Samuel Figg taking the blame. He was later called the Carnival Killer.
In the present, Barb stayed in Seaside and is now a reporter, while Nicolette left town and built a completely different life (Reality TV Show diva). Everything seems settled… until the killer suddenly recants his confession, right as a new body washes ashore just before Wonderland’s grand reopening.
I mean… the timing? Boombastic. Super fantastic ^^
From there, things start to unravel and it quickly becomes clear that there may be more to the story than anyone thought.
I really enjoyed going back to Seaside and following both timelines. The mystery was interesting, and I liked how everything slowly came together. For the record, I did not guessed the culprits until way later on.
That said, some parts did feel a bit slow or slightly repetitive and I do think the book could have been a tiny little shorter.
Overall, though, this was an engaging and solid thriller that kept me invested.
⭐ 4–4.25 stars
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 4.5 Stars!
Heart of Glass by Jennifer Hillier was 4.5 stars of hype-worthy goodness! 🙌
Full disclosure: I got about 15% into this one before realizing it was connected to Wonderland, so I hit pause and audiobooked that first. These read more like crossover standalones than a true sequel. Similar vibe, similar style, and both had me pressing play every chance I got because I needed to know what happened next! 🎧👀
I was blessed to receive both the ALC and ARC, and I was immediately excited to see multiple narrators listed. 🎙️✨ That ended up being a *smidge* misleading since it mostly came into play during the interview snippets woven throughout the story. Those sections were actually some of my favorites, and I wish there had been more of them!
While the book is written in third person, the audiobook used different narrators for certain character-focused chapters, which gave those sections a more first-person vibe (even though they were written in 3rd person). The narration cast did a fantastic job, and I highly recommend experiencing this one on audio! 🎧👏
One thing Jennifer Hillier consistently does well is take what feels like several completely unrelated storylines and somehow weave them together into one satisfying conclusion. 🧩 Seems like no one is ever really innocent in a Hillier book ;) That's what keeps me turning pages (or hitting play!)—trying to figure out who did what, why they did it, and how it's all going to connect.
Fast-paced ✅
Suspenseful ✅
Twisty ✅
Edge-of-your-seat moments ✅
Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, St. Martin's Press, and Jennifer Hillier for the ARC/ALC and the opportunity to share my thoughts!
Heart of Glass by Jennifer Hillier was 4.5 stars of hype-worthy goodness! 🙌
Full disclosure: I got about 15% into this one before realizing it was connected to Wonderland, so I hit pause and audiobooked that first. These read more like crossover standalones than a true sequel. Similar vibe, similar style, and both had me pressing play every chance I got because I needed to know what happened next! 🎧👀
I was blessed to receive both the ALC and ARC, and I was immediately excited to see multiple narrators listed. 🎙️✨ That ended up being a *smidge* misleading since it mostly came into play during the interview snippets woven throughout the story. Those sections were actually some of my favorites, and I wish there had been more of them!
While the book is written in third person, the audiobook used different narrators for certain character-focused chapters, which gave those sections a more first-person vibe (even though they were written in 3rd person). The narration cast did a fantastic job, and I highly recommend experiencing this one on audio! 🎧👏
One thing Jennifer Hillier consistently does well is take what feels like several completely unrelated storylines and somehow weave them together into one satisfying conclusion. 🧩 Seems like no one is ever really innocent in a Hillier book ;) That's what keeps me turning pages (or hitting play!)—trying to figure out who did what, why they did it, and how it's all going to connect.
Fast-paced ✅
Suspenseful ✅
Twisty ✅
Edge-of-your-seat moments ✅
Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, St. Martin's Press, and Jennifer Hillier for the ARC/ALC and the opportunity to share my thoughts!
April 27, 2026
Jennifer Hillier does it again my friends! Wonderland was one of my favorites and to see it come back in Heart of Glass (with a twist) was a pleasant and unexpected surprise. The dual timelines between present day and a fateful night in 2001 kept me at the edge of my seat waiting to see how the pieces would fall into place.
Cole and Barb were 15 when their best friend Lorelei was murdered by a serial killer dubbed The Carnival Killer. Each of them dealt with the trauma in their own way; Cole reinvented herself and left Seaside and Barb stayed, holding onto the bitter feelings of being abandoned by Cole. The women haven’t spoken in years but a new docuseries about The Carnival Killer is about to bring them back together.
Secrets are starting to bubble up to the surface, leaving everyone with more questions than answers. What really happened that night 25 years ago? And what about the list of missing women that seems to keep growing, all somehow tied to the small town?
Heart of Glass is a page turner, guaranteed to grip you from start to finish. This author is at the top of her game and I can’t wait to see what she does next!
Cole and Barb were 15 when their best friend Lorelei was murdered by a serial killer dubbed The Carnival Killer. Each of them dealt with the trauma in their own way; Cole reinvented herself and left Seaside and Barb stayed, holding onto the bitter feelings of being abandoned by Cole. The women haven’t spoken in years but a new docuseries about The Carnival Killer is about to bring them back together.
Secrets are starting to bubble up to the surface, leaving everyone with more questions than answers. What really happened that night 25 years ago? And what about the list of missing women that seems to keep growing, all somehow tied to the small town?
Heart of Glass is a page turner, guaranteed to grip you from start to finish. This author is at the top of her game and I can’t wait to see what she does next!
April 22, 2026
Jennifer Hillier is one of my favorite thriller writers! This book aligned with what I’ve come to love about her stories. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I loved all the different elements in this book - the contentious friend group, the serial killer, the reality tv tie in, and the atmosphere of Seaside.
I also loved that I never was sure who to trust! There were so many characters introduced who could have had something to do with the crimes. I was surprised by the ending! (Although do wish we would have had a little more resolution of WHY some characters did certain things)
This was a fun read. Can’t wait til the next Jennifer Hillier book.
I loved all the different elements in this book - the contentious friend group, the serial killer, the reality tv tie in, and the atmosphere of Seaside.
I also loved that I never was sure who to trust! There were so many characters introduced who could have had something to do with the crimes. I was surprised by the ending! (Although do wish we would have had a little more resolution of WHY some characters did certain things)
This was a fun read. Can’t wait til the next Jennifer Hillier book.
May 28, 2026
This book had me hooked!
25 years ago, three teenage girls met a stranger, Samuel Figg, at Wonderland amusement park. And then one of them ends up dead. The man responsible confessed to being the infamous Carnival Killer that killed five girls. Years later, he takes it back and says he didn’t kill five girls, he killed four. So who killed Lorelei? The three girls and Figg were all together on Lorelei’s last night alive. And when another body appears right before Wonderland is set to reopen, the past these women tried to bury comes rushing back.
I was so here for all of the messy characters. Especially for some of the reality tv aspect. A twisty atmospheric thriller you won’t want to put down.
25 years ago, three teenage girls met a stranger, Samuel Figg, at Wonderland amusement park. And then one of them ends up dead. The man responsible confessed to being the infamous Carnival Killer that killed five girls. Years later, he takes it back and says he didn’t kill five girls, he killed four. So who killed Lorelei? The three girls and Figg were all together on Lorelei’s last night alive. And when another body appears right before Wonderland is set to reopen, the past these women tried to bury comes rushing back.
I was so here for all of the messy characters. Especially for some of the reality tv aspect. A twisty atmospheric thriller you won’t want to put down.
June 20, 2026
Jennifer Hillier has been of my auto-buy authors since I first read Jar of Hearts several years ago; she has such a fascinating way of writing these deeply complex psychological suspense books that make you question everything on every page.
My only problem with HEART OF GLASS is the publisher is marketing this as a standalone sequel to her novel WONDERLAND, which I did not read, and the first 60-75 pages of this book were very tough for me, as I felt like I was dropped into a world I should have already known... Even though this is a new story set in the town of Wonderland with a new body washing ashore...
Was it still a fantastic story? Yes! I loved all the twists and the reveals- classic Hillier. Solid 4.5 ⭐️
My only problem with HEART OF GLASS is the publisher is marketing this as a standalone sequel to her novel WONDERLAND, which I did not read, and the first 60-75 pages of this book were very tough for me, as I felt like I was dropped into a world I should have already known... Even though this is a new story set in the town of Wonderland with a new body washing ashore...
Was it still a fantastic story? Yes! I loved all the twists and the reveals- classic Hillier. Solid 4.5 ⭐️
May 5, 2026
Jennifer Hillier
Heart of Glass
As much as I’d love to say that I devoured this book this one was a little bit of a miss for me. Banking off of the carnival killer of Wonderland, 25 years later this is kind of like a Hollywood wives chaos party. I love Hilliers writing style, but this book was a little bit of a yawn and tough to get through at points.
In this story, there were multiple POV‘s, which was a little bit difficult to keep track of, but I enjoyed the story and got invested later on once the story got going. Thank you, NetGalley and st martins press for this advanced reader copy.
Heart of Glass
As much as I’d love to say that I devoured this book this one was a little bit of a miss for me. Banking off of the carnival killer of Wonderland, 25 years later this is kind of like a Hollywood wives chaos party. I love Hilliers writing style, but this book was a little bit of a yawn and tough to get through at points.
In this story, there were multiple POV‘s, which was a little bit difficult to keep track of, but I enjoyed the story and got invested later on once the story got going. Thank you, NetGalley and st martins press for this advanced reader copy.
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