Author: Sarah Pekkanen
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Format: Kindle and Audiobook ARC
Narrators: Laura Benanti
No. of Pages: 352
Length: 10 Hours
Date of Publication: August 6, 2024
My Rating: 5 Stars
A young nanny who plunged to her death, or was she pushed? A nine-year-old girl who collects sharp objects and refuses to speak. A lawyer whose job it is to uncover who in the family is a victim and who is a murderer. But how can you find out the truth when everyone here is lying?
Rose Barclay is a nine-year-old girl who witnessed the possible murder of her nanny - in the midst of her parent's bitter divorce - and immediately stopped speaking. Stella Hudson is a best interest attorney, appointed to serve as counsel for children in custody cases. She never accepts clients under thirteen due to her own traumatic childhood, but Stella's mentor, a revered judge, believes Stella is the only one who can help.
From the moment Stella passes through the iron security gate and steps into the gilded, historic DC home of the Barclays, she realizes the case is even more twisted, and the Barclay family far more troubled, than she feared. And there's something eerie about the house itself: It's a plastic house, with not a single bit of glass to be found.
As Stella comes closer to uncovering the secrets the Barclays are desperate to hide, danger wraps around her like a shroud, and her past and present are set on a collision course in ways she never expected. Everyone is a suspect in the nanny's murder. The mother, the father, the grandmother, the nanny's boyfriend. Even Rose. Is the person Stella's supposed to protect the one she may need protection from?
MY THOUGHTS:
Rose Barclay is obsessed with sharp objects. She is a nine-year-old girl who apparently has selective mutism. Perhaps this is a trauma response to her parents impending divorce. Previously, the Barclay’s nanny died under suspicious circumstances, with the niggling suspicion that Rose had something to do with her death. Rose’s mother has set a very unusual environment at home. Things that would be glass objects have been modified to be plastic in one form or another. Their home is best described as a plastic house. Strange indeed.
Stella Hudson is an attorney who becomes involved with the Barclays as a favor to a friend. When she approaches the house, she can sense a strong sense of evil emanating from the house. Trauma no doubt exists there, and the situation makes Stella often think of her own disturbing past. In fact, as the story develops, Stella’s memories of the past are woven into the story that is the present.
So, Stella is there to do her job, despite presenting as a bit damaged by her own past. Meanwhile, the nanny’s death is still suspect, and she must wonder who she can trust. Who she can believe. Then nine-year-old Rose and her proclivities must be taken into consideration. This book was the perfect example of how no one could be trusted. Certainly kept me on my toes with twists and turns that captivated my attention..
House of Glass was an exceptionally captivating read. The audiobook narrative’s pacing was impeccable, and the storytelling was of the highest caliber. The unreliable narrator added an intriguing layer to the plot, making it an unforgettable experience. The pervasive eerie atmosphere throughout the book further enhanced its suspenseful nature. As an avid reader of Sarah Pekkanen’s works, particularly those co-authored with Greer Hendricks, I am always thrilled to have the opportunity to explore her solo endeavors.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
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