Heart of Glass

Wonderland #2

by Jennifer Hillier, Brittany Pressley (Narrator), Chris Brinkley (Narrator)

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.

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.

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

13 pages, Audible Audio

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

[MarilynW · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heart of Glass BONUS CHAPTER by Jennifer Hillier

I've already read/listened to and reviewed the full Heart of Glass story and that review is below. But just before the publication of Heart of Glass, I was able to listen to the Heart of Glass BONUS CHAPTER which leads us into the beginning of the entire Heart of Glass story. In this chapter, we get to hear directly from Sam, aka The Carnival Killer, and his introduction to the town of Seaside, Washington and the girls who made his decision to stay a while "worthwhile". This bonus chapter will be a teaser for the entire story so go ahead and have the entire story on hand because you won't want to miss the chaos that comes from living in a town where the girls are bored and the men are something else.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for this bonus chapter

Now, to the review of the entire story:

Wonderland #2
Heart of Glass by Jennifer Hillier
Narrated by Brittany Pressley; Chris Brinkley; Eunice Wong; Ferdelle Capistrano; January LaVoy

I thoroughly enjoyed this complex story and am so glad I was able to have the ebook in front of me as I listened to the audiobook. There are a lot of moving parts here and at first I was trying to connect what was happening in the previous book in this series, Wonderland, to this book, and making things harder for me to understand. This book takes place in the same location, Seaside, Washington, more or less, as the first book, and there are some tidbits from the first book, but this book can stand very much on its own.

In the present day, Sam, aka The Carnival Killer, is recanting his confession of twenty five years ago. Now he's saying he did kill FOUR teenage girls but he did not kill FIVE girls. Sam has a good idea who might have killed the girl that he didn't kill but for the moment he's holding back on that information.

The best friends/constant bicker buddies of Lorelei, the girl who Sam is recanting killing, are panicking because they were with Lorelei part of the night that she was killed and her death has haunted their lives for the last twenty five years. One of the woman, Barb, never left Seaside, and the other friend, Nicolette, left Seaside right after Lorelei was killed, eventually making her way onto a very popular reality TV show, and the two women want nothing to do with each other.

We get the POVs of a lot of characters and the audiobook shines with the fantastic narrators. There is never a sense of peace with this story, bad things have happened, many more bad things than seem to have found the light of day, and it's easy to know that more bad things will happen. Slowly things come together although it's hard to know just who did what and when. This is a book that I wanted to read/hear straight through but, alas, I had enjoy it over two days thanks to the need for sleep. Be sure to check the reviews of Jayme and DeAnn for their thoughts on this story.

Publication August 25, 2026

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books, SMP Early Readers and NetGalley for this ARC

[Sydney Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel like this was written for me 🤣 Reality TV, a serial killer, an unsolved mystery. Ate it up.

[Josh · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

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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[Jayme C (Brunetteslikebookstoo) · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Laura Lovesreading · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!!!
💙🤍💙🤍

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 3 out of 5]

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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[Liana Gold · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️ 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

[Heather Adores Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Rachel Hanes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I haven’t read anything by this author since “Things We Do in the Dark”, and I’ve been anxiously waiting for a new release! (If I’ve missed one since then, please let me know). As you can imagine, I was super excited to read an early copy of this. I will say, I did enjoy this book, but out of all the books I’ve read from this author (four in total now), this was my least favorite.

This story begins with a docuseries focusing on the “Carnival Killer”. This serial killer was accused of murdering five women, including one teenage girl from the small town of Seaside. The “Carnival Killer”, whose real name is Samuel Figg, claims that he never killed five women, only four…. If that is the case, then who killed Barb and Nicolette’s best friend, Lorelei? The three girls and Sam Figg were all together on Lorelei’s last night of her life, when they met Sam at the Wonderland amusement park.

Since Lorelei’s murder, Barb and Nicolette have gone their separate ways. Nicolette moved out of town, as she said she would. Barb unfortunately is still stuck in Seaside, writing for the small-town newspaper. Barb also writes anonymously for a reality blog, seeing that she follows reality television religiously.

After being shut down for many years, the Wonderland amusement park is reopening. In the park’s reopening, a flood of memories come rushing back to Barb from the last night that Lorelei was alive. A new set of women also go missing. Could this have something to do with Wonderland’s reopening?

As Barb goes searching for answers, we meet many people along the way. We also get flashbacks to 2001, when Barb, Nicolette, and Lorelei were last together. We also learn how Sam Figg’s confession changes everything.

There was a lot of “reality tv talk” in this story, and I can understand why it’s in here. However, for me, I didn’t really care for it (but that’s just a personal preference). I also knew that a twist was coming at the end, and that didn’t quite work for me either. In fact, I feel like everything wrapped up a bit too neatly (I kept waiting for some shock value).
Regardless, this was still a good read. I think if you are a reality TV fan, you will definitely get more enjoyment from this book than I did. I also want to note that I never read Wonderland from this author, but I plan on reading that book very soon!

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books, and the author for a DRC, in which I had the pleasure of reading for an honest review.
Publication date: August 25, 2026

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping, thrilling, chilling, mysterious, and hard to put down, Jennifer Hillier's addictive Heart of Glass kept me turning the pages and loving every single page! Whew! A serial killer recanting his confession of killing of a high school girl, a body washing ashore, an amusement park ready to open, missing reality TV stars, and old friendships merge in Heart of Glass. I thought this book was very well done.

Barb, Nicolette, and Lorelei were high school best friends hanging out when night when they met, "Sam" a drifter, at Wonderland. Lorelei's body is found days later. Nicolette and Barb go on to live their lives - Nicolette as a Reality TV Star and Barb as a writer who remained in their hometown.

This book has an eerie vibe that simmers under the surface. I loved the mystery from the past involving Lorelei and also the current mystery of the missing Reality TV stars. I kept thinking how is this all going to come together?????? Then I remembered this is a Jennifer Hillier book and sat back and enjoyed the ride. I enjoyed the suspense, the mystery, the secrets, the characters who range from likeable to unlikeable, and the well thought out plot. This is the 8th book I have read by Jennifer Hillier, and I can't wait to read what she writes next!

This is the second book in the Wonderland book series but can easily be read as a stand-alone novel. Having said that, Wonderland is a great book and will introduce you to the town and the amusement park.

*I had both the book and the audiobook. I found the audiobook to be very well done. I thought the five narrators did an amazing job of bringing Heart of Glass to life.

**A Witches Words buddy read with Mary Beth. Please read her review to get her thoughts on Heart of Glass!

Thank you to Minotaur Books, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

[megs_bookrack · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

Heart of Glass is a follow-up to Jennifer Hillier's twisty 2015-release, Wonderland. Set at an amusement park, Wonderland ended up being a 5-star read for me. I had a blast with it.

I never expected to be returning to the world of Wonderland, so was delighted when I first heard about Heart of Glass. After all this time though, could it stand up?



This worked great for me!

I'd heard some mixed things about it, so was a little nervous going in, but yeah, I had such a fun time with it, and would recommend it to anyone else who loved Wonderland.



In this book, there's a few different things happening. It kicks off with a True Crime podcast that interviews The Carnival Killer, the man who was sent to prison for the killings from the 1st-book.

He shocks the nation when he claims that one of the victims, a local high school girl, wasn't killed by him. He was with her that night, he admits, but he did not kill her.



It's been 25-years. Why would he be saying this now?

Regardless of his motives, this startling recantation sends shockwaves through Seaside, the small town home of Wonderland. We then get the perspectives of Barb and Nicolette, the two best friends of the murdered girl, Lorelei.

We find out what has become of them since their best friend was brutally murdered. They were with her that night, they met The Carnival Killer, who was calling himself Sam at the time. They witnessed him and Lorelei making out, but what else happened that night? Lorelei never returned home, and their lives were forever impacted by that fact.



Not only do we get the podcast, and the two women's perspectives, but we also get flashbacks to the past and what really happened on the night that Lorelei disappeared.

I found this to be incredibly well-plotted. I was hooked from the start. The audiobook production was fabulous and featured some of my favorite narrators. It also included fun sound effects, which made it extra engaging, IMO.



I do think perhaps the audio format would be the best way to take in the story actually. So, if you have that available to you, I highly recommend it.

Another notable aspect of this is the reality show angle. Nicolette, in her life since Seaside, has become a star on a popular reality show, think Real Housewives. So, there's a lot in here just about that and her life, which was fun.

Even though I don't watch reality television, the exceptions being some competitions shows like Survivor, DWTS and The Traitors, I have found that I really enjoy the incorporation of reality tv characters in my fiction for some reason.



It was fun for me too just seeing Barb and Nicolette as adults. Their lives had both changed so much since they were teens, and it was interesting watching them coming together again for a common goal.

I love Hillier's writing. She's great at character creation, and always has fantastic pacing and fun reveals. She never fails to draw me in and keeps me invested and at the edge of my seat. This was such a delightful and engrossing read.

Thank you to the publisher, Macmillan Audio, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I look forward to whatever Hillier has coming next!!!

[Ceecee · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Marialyce · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[suspenseisthrillingme · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Kaceey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book two of the Wonderland series.
I did read the first book, Wonderland, but I’ll be honest… the details escaped me. So, this felt very much like a stand-alone to me!

Three best friends had a close brush with a serial killer dubbed The Carnival Killer at the Wonderland amusement park as teenagers.

Now, twenty-five years later, with the park’s grand re-opening around the corner, the notorious Carnival Killer denies his part in one of the killings he previously confessed to. Ruh-roh!

With a multitude of characters and subplots, it was difficult at times to keep everything straight. But this is a Jennifer Hillier book, so I was confident she would weave her magic and bring it all together!❤️‍🩹

I had both the audio and digital versions of this book. I started the read as an audio with an all-star cast of narrators. Midway through, I switched over to the digital copy. Both formats work great! Can’t go wrong either way.

✍️ Jennifer Hillier
🎧 13 hours
🎤 Brittany Pressley, Chris Brinkley, Eunice Wong, Ferdelle Capistrano and January LaVoy.
🗓️ Anticipated release date: August 25, 2026
📈 4/5🌟🌟🌟🌟
👉 Thriller, suspense, book two of the wonderland series

Thank you to NetGalley, St Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio

[Dutchie · Rating 4 out of 5]

“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.

[JanB · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 generous stars

This started out with a great premise. During a podcast episode of Criminal Confessions, the Carnival Killer, who is now dying, confesses to 4 murders, not the 5 that sent him to prison.

The girl in question was 15-year-old Lorelei. One of her best friends at the time, Barb, is now a local reporter and also anonymously writes Reality Bitch, a gossip column for a reality show, called Trophy Wives. Lorelei’s other best friend, Nicolette, now known as Cole, is one of the stars of Trophy Wives.

Teenage drama and trophy wives? No thanks.

So if the Carnival Killer did not kill Lorelei, who did?

Instead of a story of an official investigation into her death, we are given a deep dive into the girls’ teen past, which gives the book a YA feel, and a deep dive into the reality show, both of which I found boring. I really, really dislike both of these themes.

There’s also a side story into the disappearance of Kylie, one of the actresses on Trophy wives. And a lone foot washes ashore.

So there’s a lot going on, which affected the pacing of the story, and much of which I found uninteresting. After a while I could not have cared less what happened to any of them.

This is billed as a sequel to Wonderland, but it works as a standalone. The characters and stories are completely different, with the only similarity is both books take place in the small town of Seaside, which features the amusement park, Wonderland.

The audiobook had a cast of narrators, including several of my favorites, Eunice Wong, who narrated the Vera Wong series, and January LaVoy.
Sadly, this wasn’t enough to save this story,

* I received digital review copies via NetGalley

[Whitney Erwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Jonathan · Rating 1 out of 5]

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.

[Lily Steeper · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Classic suspense thriller where a woman has a secret from her past, involving her friends, all who've gone off doing other things to avoid one another, except the girl who died. The serial killer recants his confession from 25 years ago, so now we need to solve the crime. Hillier brilliantly sets the tone and ambiance in this story. Heavy-laden with stagnant air. Passive-aggressive personalities. Secrets you think you know but only learn get more complex. Is it truly just a case of an older man having an illicit affair with a teenage girl? But what about when celebrities get involved? Loved the way the story was told, also from the victim who's been kidnapped - even she doesn't know the killer's identity. Several bodies turn up. Keeps the brain questioning all you thought you knew. Ended well, but I wish we knew more about the why!

[Alya | short TBR clearance era · Rating 4 out of 5]

As my first Jennifer Hiller read, I really enjoyed this, the way she sets the scene and then pulls you in till the very end. I haven't read wonderland and according to my searches Heart of Glass can be read as a standalone - I think I'll read the first book in the future at some point. As much as I did enjoy this I did feel it was a tad dragged out but overall as a first experience I will definitely come back for more as Jar of hearts has been on my TBR for neon years.

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[Melissa (Always Behind) · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Be sure when you step, step with care and great tact. And remember that life is a great balancing act." (Dr. Seuss)

Heart of Glass was like juggling sofas in the air. Far too many and the weight will get you killed in the end. I'm a big fan of Jennifer Hillier and have read all of her books. This was not my favorite book. It's still a worthy read by all means. You don't have had to read Wonderland in order to read this one. Let's chat.

Seaside, Washington has a reputation for shaking out creepy situations. The amusement park, Wonderland, has been the scene for missing women and eventual dead bodies. But our story takes place twenty-five years later and Seaside is experiencing a big boom. New construction and an expanding population have given rise to resurrecting Wonderland once again with a grand re-opening. But old memories seem to seep in from the past.

Barb is a journalist for the local Seaside newspaper. She's lived in Seaside all her life. But something happened in the past that still haunts her. She and her fellow fifteen year old friends have clamped down on a horrendous secret that took place twenty-five years ago. They've guarded that secret relentlessly. Lives would be shattered if it comes to the surface.

Jana Jones, a renowned podcaster, is interviewing Sam Figg, also known as the Carnival Killer. Sam is dying of cancer and has been on death row for a multitude of murders. But the numbers don't add up according to Sam. He knows that he's not responsible for that last murder. No way. And that, dear readers, will open a sizable can of those proverbial worms.

Jennifer Hillier tried to pack this one up with a multitude of situations including a line-up of reality TV Housewives. Yup. And that was sandwiched in between a rampant serial killer and a newbie who is just waiting in the wings. We get all the ins and outs of these Housewives and their lives while Barb and Nicolette are guarding their secret and while women are still going missing.

Even the airlines will bust you if your luggage is too weighty. And that's what happened here. Far too many superfluous avenues in this storyline....like the streets of New York City at rush hour. And the number of characters just grew and grew. Heart of Glass just tried to take on too many possibilities in order to keep us readers engaged. Too much is often too much. Know when to say when. But do check this one out. You may see it with different eyes.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Minotaur Books and to Jennifer Hillier for the opportunity.

[Dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

HEART OF GLASS is worth the wait because it's Jennifer Hillier's best novel yet!

I know bookstafam, this is a big statement to say, but I haven't loved a Hillier novel this much since I read Jar of Hearts and it blows all her other books out of the water.

Twenty-five years after the infamous Carnival Killer murdered their best friend, Lorelei, in the small town of Seaside, Washington, former teenage friends Barb and Nicolette (Cole) have built separate lives while trying to leave the tragedy behind. But when the convicted killer recants his confession and a new body is discovered just as the local amusement park prepares to reopen, long-buried secrets resurface, forcing them to confront a past that could destroy everything they've built.

This book is technically a follow-up to Hillier's booktok hit Wonderland, but you do not have to read or re-read it if you'd like to jump right in. In fact, I forgot a lot of Wonderland, but I didn't miss a beat when it came to HEART OF GLASS. This book has reality tv/real housewives lore, SA Cosby mentions, marriage and relationship drama, substance abuse, and a killer (ba dum tss) mystery, expanding the world from Wonderland that you will never expect. HEART OF GLASS is thrilling, juicy, bingey, and a total blast from beginning to end. I don't mind if I have to wait more than a year for a Jennifer Hillier novel if it means getting more books like HEART OF GLASS. This book will be in my top reads of the year for sure. STARS: 5, PUB: 8/25