Jar of Hearts

Jar of Hearts is about three best friends, Angela, Georgina, and Kaiser- one was murdered, one is in prison, and one is searching for answers.

Angela Wong was 16 years old when she went missing, not to be found until 14 years later...

During this time no one ever suspected one of her best friends, Georgina, was involved. But Angela’s remains were found near Georginia’s childhood home, and she has been implicated in some way.

Kaiser is now a police detective, and he discovers that Angela was a victim of Calvin James, a serial killer. It’s not that simple, though. Georgina was involved, obsessively involved, with Calvin at the time of Angela’s death, and she knew what happened to her best friend all this time but said nothing.

And now more bodies have turned up. Whatever really happened is complex and fraught with layers upon layers of secrets.

Jar of Hearts is a well-written, tragic tale of friendship, obsession and murder. There were some graphic scenes that churned my stomach, but the overall pay-off in the form of this compulsively addictive thriller was worth it for me in the end. It was that good. Thriller fans, rejoice! Jennifer Hillier is one to watch!

Thank you to the publisher for the advance copy.

JAR OF HEARTS is Jennifer Hillier's fifth and finest novel. Geo Shaw, the onetime Big Pharma executive who loses everything and goes to prison for a deadly mistake in her deep past, is a complicated, understandable protagonist, not quite a heroine but not a horrible person either. Sure, she made dumb mistakes a long time ago and kept on making them for years afterward, but if we're honest, we never doubt her choices, because who among us hasn't chosen the wrong person—or the wrong path, even those with deadly consequences? The plotting is tight and the characterization, while deeply layered, is rendered with a light touch that never slows the story's momentum. At its heart lies a universally relatable question: What if the rest of our lives were determined by the dumb things we did in our teenage years?

(Minus one star for inexplicably abandoning a potentially tantalizing subplot — a prison guard who has fallen in love with Geo and wants to continue the coercive, sexually manipulative relationship after she's released, only to vanish from the story. And for a slightly overheated resolution that depends on slightly too convenient timing. But even with that, I recommend this superior suspense-thriller without reservation. "Pretty good" isn't "perfect," but it's more than good enough.)

Chilling, disturbing, and oh so good! This is the first book I’ve read by this author and will be adding more to my to-read list.

This book is wonderfully written and sectioned into five stages of grief/loss: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. So fitting and perfectly fitting as the story unfolds. I also loved the flashbacks between past and present revealing just enough information to keep you on the edge of your seat the entire way. I read the last half of the book between yesterday and today. I did not want to put it down although some disturbing scenes made me take a water or bathroom break. So here is my warning: some graphic sections of rape, murder, and dismemberment. I promise this book is chilling and will keep you turning the pages to find out more.

I’ll be watching for more Jennifer Hillier books!

If you like suspenseful, murder mysteries, then THIS is the book for YOU! It has a LOT of twists and turns, but it was a great ride. It was a very easy to read book - I actually read the book in one day - it is that good. This is the first book that I have read by this author, Jennifer Hillier, and she writes beautifully even though it is about death and murder.

If you are a fan of the recent books "GONE GIRL" or "THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN", this is MUCH better writing, MUCH better character development, and a MUCH better story-line.

This is a definite recommend for fans of murder and suspense mysteries!! This is not your light and easy summer reading!!

4 Stars!

Thank you to Minotaur Books for gifting me an ARC of this book!

Geo's Ex boyfriend also known as the sweet boy strangler is on trial. Geo's best friend, Angela, was murdered fourteen years ago and there's finally been a break in the case. Calvin is known as a serial killer but in the court room he's not the only one speaking to the court, so is Geo.

How could anyone think Geo is part of this and needs to testify in court? She's a super successful woman who has a lot of money and is about to marry a very successful businessman. The police must have gotten it wrong, right? The funny thing about her warrant is that her other best friend from fourteen years ago is the one who has to take her in...

This book not only dives into the murder case but also what it's like to be a convicted felon and how to work with it. The chapters continuously hop back and forth between fourteen years ago an present day. So we get to know who the characters were in the past and how they've evolved in present day.

Trigger warnings: if you don't like abuse, rape, graphic violence or sex then I wouldn't suggest this for you. The acts are very detailed in this story.

Overall I would recommend this book, especially for thriller lovers

Angela Wong’s body is found buried and dismembered fourteen years after her disappearance in Jar of Hearts. DNA links the crime to Calvin James, aka the Sweetbay Strangler, who is ultimately found guilty of four murders. His 16-year-old girlfriend at the time of the murder, Geo Shaw, is found guilty too but receives only a five-year sentence due to her testifying against Calvin.

Jar of Hearts tells the story of the trial, Geo’s prison time, and what happens when she gets out of prison. Each section is based on one of the stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. I think it is best not to tell more of the plot. Personally, I read a review that gave away the surprise twist ending, which is just rude.

The book is recommended for thriller fans. How Geo survives in prison is an interesting story but the meat of the story is in the last two thirds after she gets out. There are some twists in the story and the ending is good so Jar of Hearts receives a solid 3 stars from me. Be aware that there is a rape scene and a sexual assault in the book if that bothers you.

Thanks to the publisher, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for an advanced copy.

When she was sixteen, Georgina Shaw (Geo) helped cover up the gruesome murder of her best friend, Angela Wong, by the young man she thought she loved. Now 14 years later, the crime has been uncovered and her world is crumbling as she heads off to prison for five years. And her lover, Calvin James, dubbed the Sweetbay Strangler, is sentenced to life imprisonment for Angela's death and three subsequent murders.

But before her prison term is finished, Geo learns Cal has escaped from prison and now more bodies have been found near Geo's home--is this psychopath she once loved back at work? Is he leaving her a message?

I enjoyed the pacing of this psychological thriller, as the secrets of the past are slowly revealed through flashbacks. Hillier adds some nice plot twists near the end to surprise the reader.

I'm not sure whether I can honestly say I 'liked' any of the characters but they make for some fascinating reading. Some sex and graphic violence are depicted--a warning for those readers faint of heart.

Thank you to netGalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity to read this new thriller. I definitely look forward to reading more of her work

Advance Review Copy

If you love thrillers, murder mysteries and want to read one of this years top ten books, look no further than JAR OF HEARTS by Jennifer Hillier.

JAR is the story of best friends, the most popular girls in school and the people in their lives. I sat reading, trying my best to pick up any clue, trying to figure out the ending. Was this possible? Maybe that? Turns out everything I guessed was wrong. Just sit back and enjoy this very tightly - not to mention well written - adult thriller. It has everything you could possibly ask for.

From St. Martins Press, this is an amazing book that I am happy to recommend.

4.5 stars
From the beginning to the end, this book caught and held my attention. It was gripping, violent, twisted and suspenseful… a true mystery/suspense thriller. The story was very original, well written, and flowed easily. It’s told from past and present form, back and forth, so you have to read the entire book to find out the whole truth behind the mystery/story.
There were many unlikable characters in this book. I really couldn’t relate to any of the characters, which is totally ok. I read to escape into a different world, and get lost in a story. It was very violent and detailed. It seems in today’s society, writers are always making books more and more violent/gruesome than the last in this genre. I really liked this book; it held my attention throughout, it was interesting and I was very surprised by the turn it took in the ending.
This is the first book I’ve read by Jennifer Hillier, and I look forward to reading more of this same genre from her. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good suspenseful mystery.
*A very special thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review*

For Georgina "Geo" Shaw being the youngest Vice President at Shipp Pharmaceuticals Company isn't always easy but her mid-level six-figure salary and being engaged to the company owner's son who also happens to be the company CEO makes life pretty darn good. What isn't anywhere near as good, to put it mildly, is being incarcerated in Hazelwood Correctional Institute - otherwise known as "Hellwood." She was arrested in the middle of her presentation at work, then made a plea deal. She was sentenced to five years of living hell because she never told the police the location of her friend's body or who murderd her. Of course she knew all the details because she was there when it happened.

I found this to be an interesting read. The description of Geo's life in the women's prison was fascinating and yet also horrifying. How author Jennifer Hillier described the adjustments Geo made after her release from prison was thought-provoking. I was glad to see that Detective Kaiser Brody, who was Geo's arresting officer, never forgot their school friendship and his feelings for Geo. This was a very different read for me but I liked it.

Terrifically tense, very strong thriller that delivers on almost every count

Not for the squeamish, but if you like reading while constantly looking over your shoulder (my reaction to "Silence of the Lambs", as well) this is precisely your cup of grue

WOW! What a thrilling ride this author takes you on!! Starting from the first chapters when Geo gets sentenced to five years in prison .. you want to know why, how ,what happened.?? Did she kill Angela or did Calvin? As you fly thru the pages this book gets better and better till the thrilling ending! I absolutely loved this book it has everything I look for in a thriller. Great characters , great story, lot of suspense and the books keeps you captivated. DO NOT miss out on reading this book this is by far one of the best books I have read so far this year. I would give it more then five stars if i could... read it.. YOU will agree with me!

Let me just say that this book is downright creepy and made me squirm many times. It is not a "light" thriller. It's a heavy, complicated, layered thriller with complex characters that made me change my opinion of them several times. Some of the content is graphic and disturbing. It messed with my head. I read this book before bedtime, and it kept me awake thinking about it.

While the topics are heavy and the descriptions are graphic, I thought that the writing is stellar. It enthralled me. It reminded me that every little choice that you make in life can impact your journey, or change it.

The characters of Geo, Angela, Kaiser, Calvin were very well developed. Jennifer Hillier fully lays out their motivations, desires, insecurities, and needs, and this was especially important understand as ties to the central plot.

I loved how the full story is revealed slowly through switching timelines, flashbacks, and perspectives. Slowly, the entire situation is uncovered, and the truth is unexpected, shocking, twisty, and left me with my mouth hanging open several times.

Unforgettable read and highly entertaining!

The decisions of a sixteen year old girl result in a lifetime of complications. This intelligently written psychological thriller was mesmerizing. I will never look at cinnamon hearts without thinking of this book!

At 16, Georgina Shaw is raising herself. While her ER doctor, single parent father is working to save lives hers is spinning out of control.

Fourteen years after the disappearance of her BFF, Angela, Geo finds herself serving a five year prison sentence - her successful career and high society wedding disappear.

The plot twists seem inevitable as the story behind Geo's life decisions and experiences are revealed in flash backs.

I was completely absorbed in the tragedy that is Geo's life yet never gave up hope that it would improve when she could find her way back to what should have been if only her mother hadn't died young.

I am definitely finding Jennifer Hillier's previous four novels while I wait for her next one!

I volunteered to read an ARC from St. Martins Press through Net Galley.

This was a well written, but very dark, thriller. I debated whether to rate it 3 or 4 stars, but decided the overall unlikable aspects of each of the main characters deserves only three stars. It was an interesting enough story; not sorry I spent time reading it, but it's filled with basically one dimensional characters. It also had some stereotypical assumptions in a couple of ways that bothered me.

“Because buried things, can, and do, come back.” - Jennifer Hillier, Jar of Hearts

I received an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for my honest review of the book.

Wow! I was hooked from the very beginning of this book. I love a protagonist that you root for even if you know they’re far from perfect. I thought Geo was a really well-written, well-developed character, and I was fully invested in her from the beginning.

I’ve read a lot of books this year that all seem to share very similar plot lines (though that could just be my book choices...) and this was nice because it was completely original. The plot was quick-moving and kept me guessing and wanting more.

I really, really enjoyed this one and highly recommend.

This is an exceptionally well-crafted thriller with an ending that completely surprised me.

While the prison scenes are especially well done, the entire book transports you – sometimes to places you’d rather not go.

While the story is a violent one, there’s so much emotional heartbreak and abuse in the book that the psychological aspect of it is just as jarring and horrific as the physical aspect.

And while our characters surprised and even shocked me at times, I loved them.

I will very happily read this author in the future!

*ARC Provided via Net Galley

Very interesting murder mystery. Geo, a woman who once had it all, is on trial for involvement in the murder of her best friend that happened while she was in high school. The true killer is involved with a few other murderers and thus labeled a serial killer. The detective on the case, Kaiser, is also a child best friend. A few years later, Geo is out of prison and similar murders start happening again. Kaiser is on the case trying to find out how they are all connected and to catch the Killer before he strikes again. The book jumps around a lot and sometimes hard to follow between the past and present.

Thanks to NetGalley, Minotaur Books, and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was looking forward to this book as there was a lot of hype about it. It was a great psychological thriller. The novel begins with the trial of a murderer in a case that went unsolved for 14 years. As the novel develops, Geo, who was involved with the murderer back then, reveals more and more about what happened that fateful night when her best friend was murdered.
After serving time in prison as part of her plea bargain, Geo sees that murders similar to the one that happened long ago are happening once more.
Kai, a cop, and former best friend of Geo’s, is on the case. He is concerned that Calvin, Geo’s former boyfriend, is responsible.
The mystery continues to unfold until it reaches a climax. There are clues along the way, but you may be surprised at the conclusion of the story.

This was a riveting page turner right from the beginning. As a teenager, Geo falls in love with an older boy which totally consumes her life. It has even affected her relationship with her best friend, Angela. When Angela turns up missing, Geo keeps the secret of her part in it for fourteen years. When it comes out, she spends five years in prison. This is just the beginning. As the author drops many hints throughout the book, you think that you know what happened, but you’ll probably be wrong. The ending is shocking and well worth the read.

Wow! Just finished devouring this book and am looking forward to reading another book by this author. First, the storyline was unique…nothing was predictable, even when you think you know what happens next, you don’t! I love books that keep me on the edge of my seat and then have some incredible twists and turns. I loved her character development. The author really puts you into the mind and emotions of the main character, Geo. While there were some questions in my mind as I continued to read, they all were answered at the end. I wish, however, the author would have provided a background story on Calvin (just enough for us to understand him better). All in all, this is one of those books I will long remember and definitely recommend to others. I was given a copy of this book for my honest opinion; even so, I would have gladly paid for a copy!

This book was both thrilling and horrifying. I read it in two nights and stayed up far later than I should have because I couldn’t put it down. At the same time though there are parts I wish I had never read because they will haunt me for a long time. The story is told from multiple view points, as well from the past and the present, and its done very well. The story is full of enough twists and turns to keep you guessing until the very end. The next part of what I’m going to say is a little bit spoilery so if you are concerned don’t read on. Thrillers that enough children and their deaths, or other horrible things happening to them, bother me in a serious way. This book seems pretty straight forward in the beginning but it gets twisted and downright gross towards the end and that really bugged me. I get why the author put that in but I also felt like the story could have used a little less of that. Then again I think that is just because I’m a new mom and that is effecting my thinking.  If you like thrillers, especially twisty creepy ones that are very well written then check this one out!

"Because buried things can, and do, come back."

Georgina (Geo) Shaw has learned all too well, that nothing stays buried when what was the biggest mistake of her life finally catches up to her. 14 years earlier Geo and her two best friends, Angela and Kaiser, stop at the 7-Eleven as they always do to grab some slurpies, only today is different. While there, they meet Calvin James, Geo and Angela are immediately drawn to the older more confident Calvin, 5 years older, and with a swagger that none of the boys at their school currently possess. Calvin is instantly drawn to Geo, though Angela is beautiful and alluring, to everyone's surprise, Calvin can't help but see something in Geo. Angela, used to be the center of attention, and Kaiser, currently secretly in love with Geo are none too pleased by Calvin's interest in Geo.

It's not long before Calvin and Geo become inseparable, the relationship becoming what some could consider toxic. A combination of jealously and possession are soon causing their young romance to come apart at the seems. Angela has never been a fan of Calvin for many reasons, but of course the biggest reason is that he didn't choose her. In an effort to accept Calvin in Geo's life, Angela suggests stopping by Calvin's place after a high school party turns out to be a bore. If only Angela could have realized that this decision would be the worst decision she's ever made, and it would ultimately be her last.

It's 14 years before the truth about that night finally comes to the surface, figuratively and literally. Geo is faced with the truth of what she and Calvin have done. She's faced with the harsh reality that she's not the person she's been pretending to be, her pure heart died right along with Angela that night.

"Living a life that isn't meant for you is its own version of hell."

This is my first Jennifer Hillier novel, and I have to say, I enjoyed her writing style. I will certainly look into some of her other work. While many scenes were not what I would call vividly graphic, she does an excellent job of providing the reader with the full picture. Meaning that sensitive topics are present and not glossed over, there is tact with it's delivery and somehow it all just works. The emotional state of the characters can be felt, it's raw and credible. The only thing that truly felt forced to me was the concept of the "jar of hearts" this doesn't in my opinion tie into the story all that well. It's meaning becomes not as significant as I thought it would be.

As far as advanced reader copies go, it's been a while since I've read one that has suffered so many errors. I highlighted 30 typographical errors, and then just stopped keeping track. I get that I'm reading an "uncorrected copy" of the novel, but to be honest, it does become distracting. I certainly hope these were caught before publication.

I want to thank NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Jennifer Hillier for allowing me the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for my review.

My Rating: 4 stars

Technically, this one falls somewhere between 4 and 4.5 stars for me. To start off, I will say that yes, this is yet another excellent, well-written suspense thriller, one that hooked me from the start and had me turning pages breathlessly as the plot unfolded from one chapter to the next. However one of the things that set this one apart from other thrillers for me was that this one went quite a bit deeper into several very important societal and moral issues that actually left me some “food for thought” when all was said and done (sorry if I’m being vague, as I don’t want to spoil things for those who haven’t read this one). For this reason, I feel that this book would make a good group or buddy read, as there are definitely a few things worthy of discussion here.

This review will be shorter than most of the ones I write, as I’m trying to refrain from saying too much because this is definitely one of those books where you should go into it knowing as little as possible. Unlike a few of the other thrillers I’ve read the past few months, this one didn’t have a lot of twists and turns -- there was basically only one major reveal at the end (which I definitely hadn’t seen coming). From the first page, the author Jennifer Hillier took her time revealing parts of the plot, with things getting more complicated as the story built up chapter by chapter, yet at no point did I feel that the story was slow – in fact, this one was so fast-paced and engaging that I found it difficult to pry myself away even for a few minutes. I actually had pockets of time throughout the day to read this one and when I was forced to put the book down briefly to tend to other things, I couldn’t help thinking about it still and wanting to get back to it as quickly as possible – goes to show how much I truly enjoyed this one!

One thing I do have to mention is that this thriller was actually a lot darker and grittier than what I usually read and it was also more graphic than I expected, though the scenes were brief enough and didn’t dwell on too much detail so it was still within acceptable level for me. This one was definitely more intense than other thrillers though and I would go so far as to say that it’s not for the faint of heart, so just be aware before picking this one up. The one complaint that I had was that the ending felt a bit rushed, which was a little disappointing given that the author had done such a great job seamlessly laying out the plot and making me invested in the characters. While I would consider the ending satisfying in terms of closure, I still felt like I had missed a significant chunk of the story when it jumped from the “ending” to the epilogue that obviously took place way later. In the grand scheme of things however, I would say that this is a minor complaint and didn’t affect too much my overall enjoyment of the book. This one is definitely recommended, especially for thriller fans who are looking for a read that is a step above in terms of others in the same genre.

Received ARC from Minotaur Books / St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley.

Summary from Goodreads:

"This is the story of three best friends: one who was murdered, one who went to prison, and one who's been searching for the truth all these years . . .

When she was sixteen years old, Angela Wong—one of the most popular girls in school—disappeared without a trace. Nobody ever suspected that her best friend, Georgina Shaw, now an executive and rising star at her Seattle pharmaceutical company, was involved in any way. Certainly not Kaiser Brody, who was close with both girls back in high school.

But fourteen years later, Angela Wong's remains are discovered in the woods near Geo's childhood home. And Kaiser—now a detective with Seattle PD—finally learns the truth: Angela was a victim of Calvin James. The same Calvin James who murdered at least three other women.

To the authorities, Calvin is a serial killer. But to Geo, he's something else entirely. Back in high school, Calvin was Geo's first love. Turbulent and often volatile, their relationship bordered on obsession from the moment they met right up until the night Angela was killed.

For fourteen years, Geo knew what happened to Angela and told no one. For fourteen years, she carried the secret of Angela's death until Geo was arrested and sent to prison.

While everyone thinks they finally know the truth, there are dark secrets buried deep. And what happened that fateful night is more complex and more chilling than anyone really knows. Now the obsessive past catches up with the deadly present when new bodies begin to turn up, killed in the exact same manner as Angela Wong.

How far will someone go to bury her secrets and hide her grief? How long can you get away with a lie? How long can you live with it?"

My Thoughts:

Jar of Hearts was just as dark and twisted as the above summary sounds! It was also a compelling thriller that I couldn't stop reading! This is only the second book by Hillier that I've read but I am truly hooked on her books at this point. She is fast becoming a must read author for me thanks to how much I enjoyed both of her books that I've read so far. One of the things that really has stood out to me while reading both of her books is how completely fearless she is when it comes to her writing choices. She isn't afraid to make choices for her characters and plot lines that I just don't feel like many other authors would take. It makes for such a fascinating read because as the reader I just never know what to expect. In this book especially I was constantly trying to figure out how everything was going to turn out. Because let's be honest here - it sure didn't seem like anything could turn out well for Geo after everything she had done. I really loved her as the main character! The past is something that she holds very close to her chest and we only get pieces of what happened slowly throughout the book. It gives her that questioning feel that I love similar to an unreliable narrator. I was always questioning her true intentions on everything that she did and her motivations behind it all. I don't think that it is too spoiler-ey to say that she keeps secrets throughout the book - as the reader you know that- even if you don't know what they are and why she is keeping them. It all just builds up layer by layer creating this building tension and suspense. I just couldn't get enough of it! I kind of guessed parts of the ending but that didn't make it any less horrifying or suspenseful! I literally had to force myself to slow down at the end just so I could take it all in. What a book!

Overall, this book was everything that I look for in a thrilled so I loved my time reading it. It had a unique premise which really made it stand out for me in the sea of thrillers and mysteries that are out there. This book had a main character that I wanted to root for even though I didn't fully trust her. It was dark, tense, and a page turning read! I will definitely be there for anything and everything that this author writes in the future! I believe I have a different book of hers on my shelves so I really need to bump that up on the TBR list. I would recommend this book to fans of thrillers and suspense. Be warned that there is some definite triggers in this book that may deter other readers. It wasn't always an easy book to read but it was one that I won't soon forget!

Bottom Line: A five star read for me.....enough said!

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher and NetGalley. Thoughts are my own.

Ooo, this was deliciously dark and a crazy kind of twisted! Kept me guessing pretty much right til just before the actual reveal, when I suddenly got that "aha" moment!
We start in the middle of our timeline with a trial. Calvin James is convicted of being the Sweetbay Strangler. Responsible for the deaths of three women and also, more importantly for our story, the death of Angela Wong. Georgina Shaw is also a key part of that trial as she played a part in Angela's death, plea bargaining her testimony for a lighter sentence. We then go, alternately back and forward in time, back to when our three main characters were 16 and forward to the present day. Back at school, Angela is that popular kid that everyone wants to either be or be with. She is pretty, and she knows it! Best friend Georgina, better known as Geo, is a wee bit jealous of her but they pretty much rub along well. Making up the trio is Kaiser Brody who is a bit (lot) in love (lust) with Geo. We witness the day that Geo first met Calvin and, eventually, as the story progresses, see the events leading up to that fateful night when Angela went missing. Returning to the present and Kaiser is now a cop, actually the one that arrested Geo five years previously, and, just before Geo's release, he and his team make a gruesome discovery. Fresh bodies of dismembered women are found, but this time along with small children. There's also a message attached to each child. Could Calvin have come back? Kaiser has been on his trail ever since he escaped prison many years since. As our story gets darker and more convoluted, can Kaiser cut through all the secrets and lies and figure out what exactly is going on once and for all?
I simply drank in every single word of this book, desperate to get to the end but, at the same time, not wanting to miss a thing. There was so much going on in this book. So many subtle hints and clues. Some deliciously misleading, others more matter-of-fact. Some I picked up on, others I kicked myself for missing. But that's the thing, this book is jam packed full of deception. Of secrets, lies and more than a bit of duplicitous behaviour. I mean, Geo kept her secret for 14 years!
The way the author drip-fed information in was timed to perfection. All the way through, there was this undertone that shouted out that all was not as it seemed and, every so often, she slipped another part of the backstory in to peel back just one more layer until, eventually, at the very end, the whole truth was revealed. This kept me both a bit confused but, at the same, time intrigued and yearning for more. I really needed to know!
The two main characters, Geo and Kaiser, were so well created. I connected with both of them from the off, even knowing what I did about then at the time when we met. They are both very complex but came across to be completely credible. Even knowing what she did, I couldn't help feeling for Geo as she served her time. Flitting between despising her and admiring her was quite tiring at times. I'd love to qualify that more but spoilers prevent me. Kaiser was pretty wounded throughout, never quite having got over what happened and the unrequited nature of his first love.
It's a story of love, lust and infatuation. Of family and secrets. Of dark things in the past that eventually, as they all do, come to light. It's quite graphic at times and does feature some very hard hitting content that some may find disturbing. But all speaking to plot and story, never included for shock tactics. But also, to redress the balance, there are some really brilliantly woven in more tender moments. Some that really did tug at my heartstrings.
It's a story that sucked me in from the start, wholly and completely. I had only panned on reading a bit before going out for the afternoon but it pretty soon became obvious that I was going nowhere until I finished it. It was a very emotional read for me which left me both satisfied and, at the same time, completely spent. The ultimate ending did jar me a little at the time of reading but, as I have done with other books, I sat with it for a while and now, thinking back, maybe it's as it should be. I'm not completely comfortable with everything but I'm willing to accept it.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

4.5 Stars

Georgina Shaw was sixteen years old when her best friend disappeared.

Her name was Angela Wong and she was the prettiest and most popular girl in school. Captain of the cheerleaders. Ruler of the Cool Kid’s table in the cafeteria. Resident trend-setter and expert at finding the best party in town. She was a queen bee in a sea of common workers and drones. A girl to be admired, and she was . . . especially by Georgina.

One day Angela was there – her light shining the brightest in a sea of lesser stars – and the next, she was gone. The teenage girl had vanished without a trace. It was a disappearance that rocked the community and brought the girl’s parents to their knees in grief, shame, and bewilderment. Grief, in that Angela was their only child and they’d never have opportunity to raise another. Shame, in that they hadn’t made time to be a bigger part of the girl’s life. Bewilderment, in that a ransom note never came and no whisper of her whereabouts was ever sent down the line. The girl was simply gone – never to be seen or heard from again.

Everyone had given up hope and moved on with their lives, Geo included. The Wongs eventually divorced, unable to cope together with the loss of their child. Georgina went off to college and after graduation, began the inevitable claw to the top of the heap, eventually making her way into a prime spot (right next to her fiancé, who was coincidentally the owner of the thriving cosmetics company she worked for). But regardless of her successes in life, Geo continued to live in fear . . . right up until the day Angela was found.

The bones were 14 years old and the clothing that still remained attached was nothing but mere scraps and rags. Angela was a ghost brought back to life from a shallow grave, one that had been hastily dug behind Georgina’s house in the quiet neighborhood she’s grown up in with her father. It was the house where Angela had promised her parents she was spending the night when last she spoke with them . . . mere hours before she was brutally murdered.

The fear Geo had lived in for 14 years – it vanished like a puff of smoke. In its place came feelings of clear acceptance, a cool calm, and a stoic relief.

She’d carried this secret for most of her life. She’d been there the night Angela was murdered; she’d played a part in it. And when her boyfriend from way back when, the enigmatic Calvin James, was brought up on murder charges, Geo knew it was only a matter of time before her name came up as an accomplice. She fully expected the outcome – that she would end up in jail – but she guessed the one thing she didn’t expect was the fact that her one of her oldest friends, Kaiser Brody, would be the officer leading her there in handcuffs.

Officer Brody spent much of his teenage years following Angela Wong and Georgina Shaw around like a lovesick puppy. Which one he was in love with, well, that was a hard question to answer. Angela was so vibrant and full of life, no matter the fact that her attitude could turn on a dime and her pretty mouth could emit such scathing critiques or harsh words. Georgina was the soft to Angela’s hard; she was quieter and much more interesting, considering the fact that you had to scratch way beneath the surface to see what truly lay beneath the facade. He’d tagged along behind them all through high school, enjoying afternoons at Angela’s huge house spent lazing about in front of the tv sharing a pizza, or Friday night’s cheering both the girls on from the stands as they cheered on the football players. The last place Kaiser expected to be was on the side of the law against Geo, but . . . he’d always known that Calvin James was trouble . . . he’d tried to tell her plenty of times.

They said Angela’s murder was part of a serial killing, that Calvin was a sharp-tongued predator who cut down young women in their prime. He’d lure them to the woods, rape them, and then cut them into small pieces before burying them. He’d used tools from the shed behind Georgina’s house to slice up Angela Wong, and he didn’t feel sorry for it one bit. They said Georgina had watched, horrified, but frozen in time against a man who could just as easily have done the same thing to her. They said she stayed silent, and that was her crime.

Well, they got a few things right. But . . . they got more than one thing, wrong.

When she passed Calvin in the courtroom after her sentencing, Georgina felt invisible icy fingers travel up her spine. He’d passed her a note, but she was too terrified to read it. He’d nodded at her, slightly, an acknowledgment of their secrets. He looked the same. He was still the man she’d fallen in love when as a gullible teenager; he was still charismatic and charming and hopelessly good-looking.

And Geo hoped that the things they shared between them remained buried a hell of a lot better than Angela had.

Jar of Hearts is the newest novel by Jennifer Hillier, an author best known for her singular spin on psychological thrillers and her twisting plots. While this is the first novel I’ve personally red by Hillier, I don’t mind admitting that I am dying to read more (no pun intended).

The novel is fast-paced and a bit bone-chilling. Geo’s character has so many faces, it’s almost hard to keep up. The portrait painted of her serial killer boyfriend, Calvin, is cruel and as uncomfortably bumpy as a wooden roller coaster ride. The story is set in several parts – Geo’s teenage years leading up to Angela’s death, Geo’s time spent in prison for her part in the crime committed, Geo’s life after parole, and the perspective of Kaiser Brody (Geo’s childhood friend and detective assigned to the mysterious and gruesome killings that begin to take place after Geo is released from prison).

While books that bounce back and forth between time periods and perspectives can often become cumbersome, Jar of Hearts is the exact opposite. It reads like a reel of film noir, creaky and creepy and full of dark corners. The psychological aspect is well-planned and executed beautifully, while often keeping the reader on their toes and wary about making alliances with any of the characters.

I give Jar of Hearts 4.5 out of 5 stars, and recommend it to those who enjoyed books such as The Wife Between Us or Shari LaPena’s The Couple Next Door.

First drawn in by the lush cover, I was completely sold upon finishing the synopsis. It turns out I was instantly drawn to Jar of Hearts for many good reasons. Craving a story full of delicious twists and turns, I have to admit that Hillier delivered and exceeded on all my expectations.

The Skinny..

As this is a mystery (a dark and beautifully twisted one), I will refrain from divulging too many details in terms of actual plot but I do want to attempt to sum it up briefly. This is a classic case of whodunnit with very unexpected results. We are introduced to Georgina Shaw (Geo) a successful executive in her fiancee’s pharmaceutical company 14 years after the disappearance of her teenage friend Angela Wong. When Angela’s remains are discovered in the woods very close to Geo’s childhood home and her past boyfriend Calvin James, who was later convicted of several other murders, becomes the primary suspect, she soon finds herself at the center of the investigation. When she decides to open up about what really happened all of those years ago she is sent to prison. But now new victims are beginning to surface, pointing to bigger secrets. The story is far from over.

If it sounds like a lot, that’s because Jar of Hearts has a lot going on in the best of ways!

“…but the guilt is still there, stinking like an invisible piece of rotting garbage underneath your bed that won’t go away no matter how many attempts you make to clean it. Because that smell – of rotting flesh, of rotting soul – is you.”

What I appreciated..

Jar of Hearts is one of those rare, gripping page-turners that hooks you within mere pages making it impossible to put down. Many will find this to be a one sit read.
Hillier’s writing is smart, crisp and incredibly raw lending a tremendous amount of credibility to story and characters that rewards the reader with a gripping and fully atmospheric experience.
This is a complex, multifaceted plot that relies on revelations, continually delivering the unexpected while feeding us just enough to encourage further exploration.
The protagonist Geo is beautifully flawed. Her struggles and emotions transfer to page with great ease creating an emotional connection with the reader that is viable and strong.
An unforeseeable and explosive ending left me begging for more. I can honestly admit that Hillier took me by complete surprise and I loved it!

“…years had passed, and it seemed like maybe the past would be buried. A bad pun, but fitting nonetheless.”

Challenges some may encounter..

This is a very graphic read. Please be warned that there are multiple triggers including violence, rape, and more. I am trying to refrain from divulging details but please feel free to contact or message me with any questions or concerns before starting this one.
The ending while successfully surprising did feel slightly rushed, however, I still walked away ready to read more from this author.
Jar of Hearts is the sort of read that defines my expectations for the mystery and thriller genre and then easily exceeds them. Hillier offers readers a rewarding experience that draws them in from the first page and refuses to let go until the very gripping end. Be prepared to sit on the edge of your seat and hold your breath.

*I would like to thank Minotaur & Netgalley for this advanced copy. The quotes included above are from the advanced copy and subject to change. This review is my own, unbiased and honest opinion.

Holy moley.....where to even begin!! I'll start by saying that I would give this book more than 5 stars!! It was seriously that good!! It really kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. The twists & turns had me constantly guessing, incorrectly lol, about what was going to happen next. I love a good thriller a this book definitely did not disappoint!! And DANG, that ending was epic and totally unexpected!!

This book was given to me at my request and I provided this review voluntarily

Twenty years ago, Geo was sixteen years old and madly in love with her older boyfriend, Calvin. Geo's relationship with Calvin caused a rift between Geo and her best friends, Angela and Kaiser. Angela, used to being the one who gets the attention from boys, was jealous, and Kaiser, who had secretly been in love with Geo for years, found it hard to watch her fawn over someone else.

When Angela disappears, all of the friendships and relationships between the group are fractured, and for good reason. Fifteen years later, Geo has moved on with her life, and has tried her hardest to put the past behind her. Her new life shatters when Angela's body is uncovered, and she's arrested in relation to the murder - it turns out, her ex boyfriend Calvin was a serial killer known as the Sweetbay Strangler. What's worse, is the fact that Geo knew what happened to Angela and never told.

After spending five years in prison, Geo returns home. While everyone thinks they finally know the truth, there are dark secrets buried deep, and what happened that fateful night is more chilling than anyone knows. Now, the obsessive past catches up with the deadly present when new bodies begin to turn up, killed in the exact same manner as Angela. How far will Geo go to protect her past?

I've been a big fan of Jennifer Hillier's since reading Creep, so I couldn't wait to get my hands on Jar of Hearts, especially after reading the synopsis of the book! Jar of Hearts is a twisted, dark, story that brilliantly intertwines the past and present until it reaches its explosive finale.

The first part of the book is told while Geo was still in prison, and I thought that was a nice touch to the book, rather than catching up with Geo after she's released. Despite being a morally flawed character, as shown through multiple actions, I couldn't help but root for Geo, and to me, that's a sign of great writing!

Jar of Hearts alternates between the past and present, and I thought it was done really well. Alternating timelines is always hit or miss for me, because I feel like it's easy for the reader to put the book down, or fall out of the story when those time jumps happen, but in this case, it worked even better than telling the story in a single timeline would have. We slowly uncover what exactly happened the night Angela died, which builds suspense and leaves the reader able to put the pieces together as the plot reaches its climax. Until the facts were hitting me in the fact, I didn't figure everything out, so I was racing through the end of the book to see how everything would play out!

All in all, this was an explosive, twisted, 5 star read for me that I highly recommend for fans of the thriller genre! I continue to be impressed with Ms. Hillier, as her books keep getting better and better! She's definitely a "must read" author for me, and if you haven't read Creep and Freak yet, but enjoyed Jar of Hearts, pick them up ASAP!

"Someone has to be alive to remember them. If they're not remembered, then it's like they never existed in the first place. And so, if not me, then who?" -Caroline Robinson, Jar of Hearts

Jar of Hearts by Jennifer Hillier is the thriller I have been waiting for!! This book reignited my love for all things sick and twisted in the literary world. The story is broken down into five parts that coincide with the five stages of grief, denial, anger, bargaining, depression and ultimately acceptance. I was immediately enamored with the characters in this novel. We have seen similar stories on the news or social media, a popular teenage girl goes missing, gone without a trace. What happened to Angela Wong? We quickly discover where Angela ended up, but as for how and why she ended up there, you'll want to clear your schedule to find out. This is a story about three high school best friends, Angela Wong who disappeared, Georgina Shaw a current high powered executive and, the male of the trio, Kaiser Brody who became a detective with the local police department. The lives of these richly developed characters is mostly depicted from Georgina's perspective but we are treated to Kaiser's POV at times and I loved being inside both of their minds. This is an engrossing and gratuitous tale of obsession, envy and murder and I was here for all of it. This book is the definition of unputdownable. When I turned the final page, I felt slack-jawed and awestruck. What did I just read? Thank you to every single bookstagrammer who put this on my radar, Chandra, Dennis, Shannon and Katie. THANK YOU!

I actually put this one on hold at my library but now that I know how utterly fantastic it is I am going to buy a copy for my bookshelves. Normally my library fails are due to not having read them before their return date. This time my library fail is due to the fact that I still plan to buy the book. Well done, Hillier!!

If you like dark and gritty reads the likes of Karin Slaughter, look no further, this is the thriller for you!

I give this one 5 gripping stars out of 5.

Wow! Just finished devouring this book and am looking forward to reading another book by this author. First, the storyline was unique…nothing was predictable, even when you think you know what happens next, you don’t! I love books that keep me on the edge of my seat and then have some incredible twists and turns. I loved her character development. The author really puts you into the mind and emotions of the main character, Geo. While there were some questions in my mind as I continued to read, they all were answered at the end. I wish, however, the author would have provided a background story on Calvin (just enough for us to understand him better). All in all, this is one of those books I will long remember and definitely recommend to others. I was given a copy of this book for my honest opinion; even so, I would have gladly paid for a copy!

This book was both thrilling and horrifying. I read it in two nights and stayed up far later than I should have because I couldn’t put it down. At the same time though there are parts I wish I had never read because they will haunt me for a long time. The story is told from multiple view points, as well from the past and the present, and its done very well. The story is full of enough twists and turns to keep you guessing until the very end. The next part of what I’m going to say is a little bit spoilery so if you are concerned don’t read on. Thrillers that enough children and their deaths, or other horrible things happening to them, bother me in a serious way. This book seems pretty straight forward in the beginning but it gets twisted and downright gross towards the end and that really bugged me. I get why the author put that in but I also felt like the story could have used a little less of that. Then again I think that is just because I’m a new mom and that is effecting my thinking.  If you like thrillers, especially twisty creepy ones that are very well written then check this one out!

This was an excellent psychological thriller. As the blurb states, you think you know the truth, but you don’t. This book is written in a style I don’t normally like, but it works for this storyline. You slowly learn throughout the whole book what happened that fateful night. As you think you know the whole story, BAM it takes a turn you never expected. It’s going to take a few days to mull over this storyline. It was truly a very engrossing tale. Received an advance review copy in exchange for an honest review by NetGalley

"Lying was easy. Telling the truth however, was impossible."
This book will have you up all night to find out whose telling the truth and who isn't.
Who is killing people and chopping them up into pieces and then burying them and why? What is the connection?
It's an action packed novel! I had no clue as to the ending ,until the last few pages of the novel and I can't believe the ending!
I will tell you this- Be prepared to not sleep, eat or move until you read every bit of this thriller!

"Because buried things can, and do, come back."

Georgina (Geo) Shaw has learned all too well, that nothing stays buried when what was the biggest mistake of her life finally catches up to her. 14 years earlier Geo and her two best friends, Angela and Kaiser, stop at the 7-Eleven as they always do to grab some slurpies, only today is different. While there, they meet Calvin James, Geo and Angela are immediately drawn to the older more confident Calvin, 5 years older, and with a swagger that none of the boys at their school currently possess. Calvin is instantly drawn to Geo, though Angela is beautiful and alluring, to everyone's surprise, Calvin can't help but see something in Geo. Angela, used to be the center of attention, and Kaiser, currently secretly in love with Geo are none too pleased by Calvin's interest in Geo.

It's not long before Calvin and Geo become inseparable, the relationship becoming what some could consider toxic. A combination of jealously and possession are soon causing their young romance to come apart at the seems. Angela has never been a fan of Calvin for many reasons, but of course the biggest reason is that he didn't choose her. In an effort to accept Calvin in Geo's life, Angela suggests stopping by Calvin's place after a high school party turns out to be a bore. If only Angela could have realized that this decision would be the worst decision she's ever made, and it would ultimately be her last.

It's 14 years before the truth about that night finally comes to the surface, figuratively and literally. Geo is faced with the truth of what she and Calvin have done. She's faced with the harsh reality that she's not the person she's been pretending to be, her pure heart died right along with Angela that night.

"Living a life that isn't meant for you is its own version of hell."

This is my first Jennifer Hillier novel, and I have to say, I enjoyed her writing style. I will certainly look into some of her other work. While many scenes were not what I would call vividly graphic, she does an excellent job of providing the reader with the full picture. Meaning that sensitive topics are present and not glossed over, there is tact with it's delivery and somehow it all just works. The emotional state of the characters can be felt, it's raw and credible. The only thing that truly felt forced to me was the concept of the "jar of hearts" this doesn't in my opinion tie into the story all that well. It's meaning becomes not as significant as I thought it would be.

As far as advanced reader copies go, it's been a while since I've read one that has suffered so many errors. I highlighted 30 typographical errors, and then just stopped keeping track. I get that I'm reading an "uncorrected copy" of the novel, but to be honest, it does become distracting. I certainly hope these were caught before publication.

I want to thank NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Jennifer Hillier for allowing me the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for my review.

My Rating: 4 stars

Technically, this one falls somewhere between 4 and 4.5 stars for me. To start off, I will say that yes, this is yet another excellent, well-written suspense thriller, one that hooked me from the start and had me turning pages breathlessly as the plot unfolded from one chapter to the next. However one of the things that set this one apart from other thrillers for me was that this one went quite a bit deeper into several very important societal and moral issues that actually left me some “food for thought” when all was said and done (sorry if I’m being vague, as I don’t want to spoil things for those who haven’t read this one). For this reason, I feel that this book would make a good group or buddy read, as there are definitely a few things worthy of discussion here.

This review will be shorter than most of the ones I write, as I’m trying to refrain from saying too much because this is definitely one of those books where you should go into it knowing as little as possible. Unlike a few of the other thrillers I’ve read the past few months, this one didn’t have a lot of twists and turns -- there was basically only one major reveal at the end (which I definitely hadn’t seen coming). From the first page, the author Jennifer Hillier took her time revealing parts of the plot, with things getting more complicated as the story built up chapter by chapter, yet at no point did I feel that the story was slow – in fact, this one was so fast-paced and engaging that I found it difficult to pry myself away even for a few minutes. I actually had pockets of time throughout the day to read this one and when I was forced to put the book down briefly to tend to other things, I couldn’t help thinking about it still and wanting to get back to it as quickly as possible – goes to show how much I truly enjoyed this one!

One thing I do have to mention is that this thriller was actually a lot darker and grittier than what I usually read and it was also more graphic than I expected, though the scenes were brief enough and didn’t dwell on too much detail so it was still within acceptable level for me. This one was definitely more intense than other thrillers though and I would go so far as to say that it’s not for the faint of heart, so just be aware before picking this one up. The one complaint that I had was that the ending felt a bit rushed, which was a little disappointing given that the author had done such a great job seamlessly laying out the plot and making me invested in the characters. While I would consider the ending satisfying in terms of closure, I still felt like I had missed a significant chunk of the story when it jumped from the “ending” to the epilogue that obviously took place way later. In the grand scheme of things however, I would say that this is a minor complaint and didn’t affect too much my overall enjoyment of the book. This one is definitely recommended, especially for thriller fans who are looking for a read that is a step above in terms of others in the same genre.

Received ARC from Minotaur Books / St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley.

Summary from Goodreads:

"This is the story of three best friends: one who was murdered, one who went to prison, and one who's been searching for the truth all these years . . .

When she was sixteen years old, Angela Wong—one of the most popular girls in school—disappeared without a trace. Nobody ever suspected that her best friend, Georgina Shaw, now an executive and rising star at her Seattle pharmaceutical company, was involved in any way. Certainly not Kaiser Brody, who was close with both girls back in high school.

But fourteen years later, Angela Wong's remains are discovered in the woods near Geo's childhood home. And Kaiser—now a detective with Seattle PD—finally learns the truth: Angela was a victim of Calvin James. The same Calvin James who murdered at least three other women.

To the authorities, Calvin is a serial killer. But to Geo, he's something else entirely. Back in high school, Calvin was Geo's first love. Turbulent and often volatile, their relationship bordered on obsession from the moment they met right up until the night Angela was killed.

For fourteen years, Geo knew what happened to Angela and told no one. For fourteen years, she carried the secret of Angela's death until Geo was arrested and sent to prison.

While everyone thinks they finally know the truth, there are dark secrets buried deep. And what happened that fateful night is more complex and more chilling than anyone really knows. Now the obsessive past catches up with the deadly present when new bodies begin to turn up, killed in the exact same manner as Angela Wong.

How far will someone go to bury her secrets and hide her grief? How long can you get away with a lie? How long can you live with it?"

My Thoughts:

Jar of Hearts was just as dark and twisted as the above summary sounds! It was also a compelling thriller that I couldn't stop reading! This is only the second book by Hillier that I've read but I am truly hooked on her books at this point. She is fast becoming a must read author for me thanks to how much I enjoyed both of her books that I've read so far. One of the things that really has stood out to me while reading both of her books is how completely fearless she is when it comes to her writing choices. She isn't afraid to make choices for her characters and plot lines that I just don't feel like many other authors would take. It makes for such a fascinating read because as the reader I just never know what to expect. In this book especially I was constantly trying to figure out how everything was going to turn out. Because let's be honest here - it sure didn't seem like anything could turn out well for Geo after everything she had done. I really loved her as the main character! The past is something that she holds very close to her chest and we only get pieces of what happened slowly throughout the book. It gives her that questioning feel that I love similar to an unreliable narrator. I was always questioning her true intentions on everything that she did and her motivations behind it all. I don't think that it is too spoiler-ey to say that she keeps secrets throughout the book - as the reader you know that- even if you don't know what they are and why she is keeping them. It all just builds up layer by layer creating this building tension and suspense. I just couldn't get enough of it! I kind of guessed parts of the ending but that didn't make it any less horrifying or suspenseful! I literally had to force myself to slow down at the end just so I could take it all in. What a book!

Overall, this book was everything that I look for in a thrilled so I loved my time reading it. It had a unique premise which really made it stand out for me in the sea of thrillers and mysteries that are out there. This book had a main character that I wanted to root for even though I didn't fully trust her. It was dark, tense, and a page turning read! I will definitely be there for anything and everything that this author writes in the future! I believe I have a different book of hers on my shelves so I really need to bump that up on the TBR list. I would recommend this book to fans of thrillers and suspense. Be warned that there is some definite triggers in this book that may deter other readers. It wasn't always an easy book to read but it was one that I won't soon forget!

Bottom Line: A five star read for me.....enough said!

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher and NetGalley. Thoughts are my own.

Ooo, this was deliciously dark and a crazy kind of twisted! Kept me guessing pretty much right til just before the actual reveal, when I suddenly got that "aha" moment!
We start in the middle of our timeline with a trial. Calvin James is convicted of being the Sweetbay Strangler. Responsible for the deaths of three women and also, more importantly for our story, the death of Angela Wong. Georgina Shaw is also a key part of that trial as she played a part in Angela's death, plea bargaining her testimony for a lighter sentence. We then go, alternately back and forward in time, back to when our three main characters were 16 and forward to the present day. Back at school, Angela is that popular kid that everyone wants to either be or be with. She is pretty, and she knows it! Best friend Georgina, better known as Geo, is a wee bit jealous of her but they pretty much rub along well. Making up the trio is Kaiser Brody who is a bit (lot) in love (lust) with Geo. We witness the day that Geo first met Calvin and, eventually, as the story progresses, see the events leading up to that fateful night when Angela went missing. Returning to the present and Kaiser is now a cop, actually the one that arrested Geo five years previously, and, just before Geo's release, he and his team make a gruesome discovery. Fresh bodies of dismembered women are found, but this time along with small children. There's also a message attached to each child. Could Calvin have come back? Kaiser has been on his trail ever since he escaped prison many years since. As our story gets darker and more convoluted, can Kaiser cut through all the secrets and lies and figure out what exactly is going on once and for all?
I simply drank in every single word of this book, desperate to get to the end but, at the same time, not wanting to miss a thing. There was so much going on in this book. So many subtle hints and clues. Some deliciously misleading, others more matter-of-fact. Some I picked up on, others I kicked myself for missing. But that's the thing, this book is jam packed full of deception. Of secrets, lies and more than a bit of duplicitous behaviour. I mean, Geo kept her secret for 14 years!
The way the author drip-fed information in was timed to perfection. All the way through, there was this undertone that shouted out that all was not as it seemed and, every so often, she slipped another part of the backstory in to peel back just one more layer until, eventually, at the very end, the whole truth was revealed. This kept me both a bit confused but, at the same, time intrigued and yearning for more. I really needed to know!
The two main characters, Geo and Kaiser, were so well created. I connected with both of them from the off, even knowing what I did about then at the time when we met. They are both very complex but came across to be completely credible. Even knowing what she did, I couldn't help feeling for Geo as she served her time. Flitting between despising her and admiring her was quite tiring at times. I'd love to qualify that more but spoilers prevent me. Kaiser was pretty wounded throughout, never quite having got over what happened and the unrequited nature of his first love.
It's a story of love, lust and infatuation. Of family and secrets. Of dark things in the past that eventually, as they all do, come to light. It's quite graphic at times and does feature some very hard hitting content that some may find disturbing. But all speaking to plot and story, never included for shock tactics. But also, to redress the balance, there are some really brilliantly woven in more tender moments. Some that really did tug at my heartstrings.
It's a story that sucked me in from the start, wholly and completely. I had only panned on reading a bit before going out for the afternoon but it pretty soon became obvious that I was going nowhere until I finished it. It was a very emotional read for me which left me both satisfied and, at the same time, completely spent. The ultimate ending did jar me a little at the time of reading but, as I have done with other books, I sat with it for a while and now, thinking back, maybe it's as it should be. I'm not completely comfortable with everything but I'm willing to accept it.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

4.5 Stars

Georgina Shaw was sixteen years old when her best friend disappeared.

Her name was Angela Wong and she was the prettiest and most popular girl in school. Captain of the cheerleaders. Ruler of the Cool Kid’s table in the cafeteria. Resident trend-setter and expert at finding the best party in town. She was a queen bee in a sea of common workers and drones. A girl to be admired, and she was . . . especially by Georgina.

One day Angela was there – her light shining the brightest in a sea of lesser stars – and the next, she was gone. The teenage girl had vanished without a trace. It was a disappearance that rocked the community and brought the girl’s parents to their knees in grief, shame, and bewilderment. Grief, in that Angela was their only child and they’d never have opportunity to raise another. Shame, in that they hadn’t made time to be a bigger part of the girl’s life. Bewilderment, in that a ransom note never came and no whisper of her whereabouts was ever sent down the line. The girl was simply gone – never to be seen or heard from again.

Everyone had given up hope and moved on with their lives, Geo included. The Wongs eventually divorced, unable to cope together with the loss of their child. Georgina went off to college and after graduation, began the inevitable claw to the top of the heap, eventually making her way into a prime spot (right next to her fiancé, who was coincidentally the owner of the thriving cosmetics company she worked for). But regardless of her successes in life, Geo continued to live in fear . . . right up until the day Angela was found.

The bones were 14 years old and the clothing that still remained attached was nothing but mere scraps and rags. Angela was a ghost brought back to life from a shallow grave, one that had been hastily dug behind Georgina’s house in the quiet neighborhood she’s grown up in with her father. It was the house where Angela had promised her parents she was spending the night when last she spoke with them . . . mere hours before she was brutally murdered.

The fear Geo had lived in for 14 years – it vanished like a puff of smoke. In its place came feelings of clear acceptance, a cool calm, and a stoic relief.

She’d carried this secret for most of her life. She’d been there the night Angela was murdered; she’d played a part in it. And when her boyfriend from way back when, the enigmatic Calvin James, was brought up on murder charges, Geo knew it was only a matter of time before her name came up as an accomplice. She fully expected the outcome – that she would end up in jail – but she guessed the one thing she didn’t expect was the fact that her one of her oldest friends, Kaiser Brody, would be the officer leading her there in handcuffs.

Officer Brody spent much of his teenage years following Angela Wong and Georgina Shaw around like a lovesick puppy. Which one he was in love with, well, that was a hard question to answer. Angela was so vibrant and full of life, no matter the fact that her attitude could turn on a dime and her pretty mouth could emit such scathing critiques or harsh words. Georgina was the soft to Angela’s hard; she was quieter and much more interesting, considering the fact that you had to scratch way beneath the surface to see what truly lay beneath the facade. He’d tagged along behind them all through high school, enjoying afternoons at Angela’s huge house spent lazing about in front of the tv sharing a pizza, or Friday night’s cheering both the girls on from the stands as they cheered on the football players. The last place Kaiser expected to be was on the side of the law against Geo, but . . . he’d always known that Calvin James was trouble . . . he’d tried to tell her plenty of times.

They said Angela’s murder was part of a serial killing, that Calvin was a sharp-tongued predator who cut down young women in their prime. He’d lure them to the woods, rape them, and then cut them into small pieces before burying them. He’d used tools from the shed behind Georgina’s house to slice up Angela Wong, and he didn’t feel sorry for it one bit. They said Georgina had watched, horrified, but frozen in time against a man who could just as easily have done the same thing to her. They said she stayed silent, and that was her crime.

Well, they got a few things right. But . . . they got more than one thing, wrong.

When she passed Calvin in the courtroom after her sentencing, Georgina felt invisible icy fingers travel up her spine. He’d passed her a note, but she was too terrified to read it. He’d nodded at her, slightly, an acknowledgment of their secrets. He looked the same. He was still the man she’d fallen in love when as a gullible teenager; he was still charismatic and charming and hopelessly good-looking.

And Geo hoped that the things they shared between them remained buried a hell of a lot better than Angela had.

Jar of Hearts is the newest novel by Jennifer Hillier, an author best known for her singular spin on psychological thrillers and her twisting plots. While this is the first novel I’ve personally red by Hillier, I don’t mind admitting that I am dying to read more (no pun intended).

The novel is fast-paced and a bit bone-chilling. Geo’s character has so many faces, it’s almost hard to keep up. The portrait painted of her serial killer boyfriend, Calvin, is cruel and as uncomfortably bumpy as a wooden roller coaster ride. The story is set in several parts – Geo’s teenage years leading up to Angela’s death, Geo’s time spent in prison for her part in the crime committed, Geo’s life after parole, and the perspective of Kaiser Brody (Geo’s childhood friend and detective assigned to the mysterious and gruesome killings that begin to take place after Geo is released from prison).

While books that bounce back and forth between time periods and perspectives can often become cumbersome, Jar of Hearts is the exact opposite. It reads like a reel of film noir, creaky and creepy and full of dark corners. The psychological aspect is well-planned and executed beautifully, while often keeping the reader on their toes and wary about making alliances with any of the characters.

I give Jar of Hearts 4.5 out of 5 stars, and recommend it to those who enjoyed books such as The Wife Between Us or Shari LaPena’s The Couple Next Door.

First drawn in by the lush cover, I was completely sold upon finishing the synopsis. It turns out I was instantly drawn to Jar of Hearts for many good reasons. Craving a story full of delicious twists and turns, I have to admit that Hillier delivered and exceeded on all my expectations.

The Skinny..

As this is a mystery (a dark and beautifully twisted one), I will refrain from divulging too many details in terms of actual plot but I do want to attempt to sum it up briefly. This is a classic case of whodunnit with very unexpected results. We are introduced to Georgina Shaw (Geo) a successful executive in her fiancee’s pharmaceutical company 14 years after the disappearance of her teenage friend Angela Wong. When Angela’s remains are discovered in the woods very close to Geo’s childhood home and her past boyfriend Calvin James, who was later convicted of several other murders, becomes the primary suspect, she soon finds herself at the center of the investigation. When she decides to open up about what really happened all of those years ago she is sent to prison. But now new victims are beginning to surface, pointing to bigger secrets. The story is far from over.

If it sounds like a lot, that’s because Jar of Hearts has a lot going on in the best of ways!

“…but the guilt is still there, stinking like an invisible piece of rotting garbage underneath your bed that won’t go away no matter how many attempts you make to clean it. Because that smell – of rotting flesh, of rotting soul – is you.”

What I appreciated..

Jar of Hearts is one of those rare, gripping page-turners that hooks you within mere pages making it impossible to put down. Many will find this to be a one sit read.
Hillier’s writing is smart, crisp and incredibly raw lending a tremendous amount of credibility to story and characters that rewards the reader with a gripping and fully atmospheric experience.
This is a complex, multifaceted plot that relies on revelations, continually delivering the unexpected while feeding us just enough to encourage further exploration.
The protagonist Geo is beautifully flawed. Her struggles and emotions transfer to page with great ease creating an emotional connection with the reader that is viable and strong.
An unforeseeable and explosive ending left me begging for more. I can honestly admit that Hillier took me by complete surprise and I loved it!

“…years had passed, and it seemed like maybe the past would be buried. A bad pun, but fitting nonetheless.”

Challenges some may encounter..

This is a very graphic read. Please be warned that there are multiple triggers including violence, rape, and more. I am trying to refrain from divulging details but please feel free to contact or message me with any questions or concerns before starting this one.
The ending while successfully surprising did feel slightly rushed, however, I still walked away ready to read more from this author.
Jar of Hearts is the sort of read that defines my expectations for the mystery and thriller genre and then easily exceeds them. Hillier offers readers a rewarding experience that draws them in from the first page and refuses to let go until the very gripping end. Be prepared to sit on the edge of your seat and hold your breath.

*I would like to thank Minotaur & Netgalley for this advanced copy. The quotes included above are from the advanced copy and subject to change. This review is my own, unbiased and honest opinion.

Holy moley.....where to even begin!! I'll start by saying that I would give this book more than 5 stars!! It was seriously that good!! It really kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. The twists & turns had me constantly guessing, incorrectly lol, about what was going to happen next. I love a good thriller a this book definitely did not disappoint!! And DANG, that ending was epic and totally unexpected!!

This book was given to me at my request and I provided this review voluntarily

Twenty years ago, Geo was sixteen years old and madly in love with her older boyfriend, Calvin. Geo's relationship with Calvin caused a rift between Geo and her best friends, Angela and Kaiser. Angela, used to being the one who gets the attention from boys, was jealous, and Kaiser, who had secretly been in love with Geo for years, found it hard to watch her fawn over someone else.

When Angela disappears, all of the friendships and relationships between the group are fractured, and for good reason. Fifteen years later, Geo has moved on with her life, and has tried her hardest to put the past behind her. Her new life shatters when Angela's body is uncovered, and she's arrested in relation to the murder - it turns out, her ex boyfriend Calvin was a serial killer known as the Sweetbay Strangler. What's worse, is the fact that Geo knew what happened to Angela and never told.

After spending five years in prison, Geo returns home. While everyone thinks they finally know the truth, there are dark secrets buried deep, and what happened that fateful night is more chilling than anyone knows. Now, the obsessive past catches up with the deadly present when new bodies begin to turn up, killed in the exact same manner as Angela. How far will Geo go to protect her past?

I've been a big fan of Jennifer Hillier's since reading Creep, so I couldn't wait to get my hands on Jar of Hearts, especially after reading the synopsis of the book! Jar of Hearts is a twisted, dark, story that brilliantly intertwines the past and present until it reaches its explosive finale.

The first part of the book is told while Geo was still in prison, and I thought that was a nice touch to the book, rather than catching up with Geo after she's released. Despite being a morally flawed character, as shown through multiple actions, I couldn't help but root for Geo, and to me, that's a sign of great writing!

Jar of Hearts alternates between the past and present, and I thought it was done really well. Alternating timelines is always hit or miss for me, because I feel like it's easy for the reader to put the book down, or fall out of the story when those time jumps happen, but in this case, it worked even better than telling the story in a single timeline would have. We slowly uncover what exactly happened the night Angela died, which builds suspense and leaves the reader able to put the pieces together as the plot reaches its climax. Until the facts were hitting me in the fact, I didn't figure everything out, so I was racing through the end of the book to see how everything would play out!

All in all, this was an explosive, twisted, 5 star read for me that I highly recommend for fans of the thriller genre! I continue to be impressed with Ms. Hillier, as her books keep getting better and better! She's definitely a "must read" author for me, and if you haven't read Creep and Freak yet, but enjoyed Jar of Hearts, pick them up ASAP!

"Someone has to be alive to remember them. If they're not remembered, then it's like they never existed in the first place. And so, if not me, then who?" -Caroline Robinson, Jar of Hearts

Jar of Hearts by Jennifer Hillier is the thriller I have been waiting for!! This book reignited my love for all things sick and twisted in the literary world. The story is broken down into five parts that coincide with the five stages of grief, denial, anger, bargaining, depression and ultimately acceptance. I was immediately enamored with the characters in this novel. We have seen similar stories on the news or social media, a popular teenage girl goes missing, gone without a trace. What happened to Angela Wong? We quickly discover where Angela ended up, but as for how and why she ended up there, you'll want to clear your schedule to find out. This is a story about three high school best friends, Angela Wong who disappeared, Georgina Shaw a current high powered executive and, the male of the trio, Kaiser Brody who became a detective with the local police department. The lives of these richly developed characters is mostly depicted from Georgina's perspective but we are treated to Kaiser's POV at times and I loved being inside both of their minds. This is an engrossing and gratuitous tale of obsession, envy and murder and I was here for all of it. This book is the definition of unputdownable. When I turned the final page, I felt slack-jawed and awestruck. What did I just read? Thank you to every single bookstagrammer who put this on my radar, Chandra, Dennis, Shannon and Katie. THANK YOU!

I actually put this one on hold at my library but now that I know how utterly fantastic it is I am going to buy a copy for my bookshelves. Normally my library fails are due to not having read them before their return date. This time my library fail is due to the fact that I still plan to buy the book. Well done, Hillier!!

If you like dark and gritty reads the likes of Karin Slaughter, look no further, this is the thriller for you!

I give this one 5 gripping stars out of 5.

From the moment I started reading Jar of Hearts, I was on edge (in a good way).  The writing is strong and often gritty.  The plot is tense and moves at a good clip.  The characters are haunted and frequently do the wrong thing...even when they're supposed to be the good guys.  I don't often find binge-worthy books, but this one kept me reading.

Like I said, Jar of Hearts is a gritty book and oftentimes an uncomfortable one.  There are murders and dismemberments.  There are fraught sexual situations between a sixteen-year-old girl and an older, more dangerous man.  There are toxic relationships galore.  Luckily, however, nothing was too over the top for me as I tend to be a squeamish reader.  There was also no actual jar of human hearts in the novel.  Still, as I turned the pages, I kind of expected to run across one.

Surprisingly, I didn't really like the main character.  Although she isn't completely without merit, Georgina, aka Geo, is tough and does what she needs to survive.  I didn't hate her; I just didn't trust her.  Kaiser, Geo's long-time friend, was better, but he too made some poor choices.  Yet, even though these characters weren't perfect, I was invested in them both and I did want the best for them.

The worst part of the book was the epilogue.  It was needed to be sure, but the tone of it didn't match the rest of the book.  It was too sunny and bright.  Having something cast a shadow at the end would have been better in my opinion.

Overall, though, Jar of Hearts was a fantastic thriller.  I give it a solid four out of five stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the review copy.

Fourteen years ago, Georgina "Geo" Shaw's best friend, Angela Wong, disappeared without a trace. The girls were only sixteen years old. Now Geo is a successful executive--and it comes to a surprise to everyone (except Geo) when she's arrested at her pharmaceutical firm for her role in Angela's murder. It turns out, fourteen years ago, Geo was involved while her older boyfriend, Calvin James, killed Angela and buried her remains in the woods behind Geo's childhood home. Calvin has gone on to become a serial killer known as the Sweetbay Strangler. But to Geo, he's Calvin, her first love, despite their abusive and turbulent relationship. For all these years, Geo carried the secret of what happened that fateful night with Calvin and Angela. She told no one, not even the girls' best friend, Kaiser Brody, who is now a detective with the Seattle PD and working on Angela and Calvin's cases. Geo is sentenced to prison and all her secrets appear to be out in the open. But are they truly? And what does it mean when more bodies start appearing, killed in the same manner as Angela?

This was just a great thriller. It alternates its viewpoints, with pieces of the novel told from Geo and Kai and changing between the past and the present. The result is completely captivating. I was mesmerized by this compelling and well-executed novel, which draws you in from the start. The characters in this one are excellent; rarely do you get two such strong vivid main characters, but I felt drawn to both Kai and Geo.

The story slowly works its way back to that fateful night. Hillier unravels things so adeptly that I was kept guessing for quite some time, meticulously starting to work out pieces of the plot, feeling quite triumphant when I was proved right. This novel is just so intricately plotted and incredibly creepy at times--it's simply a pleasure to read. It's deep and dark, propelled by its wonderfully written characters. Honestly, I can't rave enough about both the plot and the characters.

Overall, you can't go wrong with this one. It features compelling characters and a twisted, dark story that will keep you reading until the very end. I need to track down more of Ms. Hillier's books and soon! Highly recommend.

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.

Huge fan of Jennifer Hillier. She just writes great thrillers. There are no fancy words to describe how much I love to read her books. They are that summertime thriller that you look forward to all year long.
This thriller is about Georgina Shaw and her older boyfriend, Calvin James, getting into some serious trouble. The crime happened in high school for Georgina and it included her best friend, Angela.
Unfortunately the investigation caught up with Georgina. Even though she has proven herself to be a successful businesswoman at Shipp Pharmaceuticals, her luck was crumbling around her. Detective Kaiser Brody, her high school friend, was there to take her in for questioning about her best friend’s death and the mutilation of Angela’s body.
After doing her prison sentence, Geo was released back into life and living with her father. Things seemed normal until new, dismembered bodies and dead children began showing up with cryptic messages aimed at Georgina.
Life would never be the same and she had a lot of questions to answer. Jennifer Hillier takes us into a deep and dark forest filled with secrets and lies. No one is safe and everyone is a suspect.
Just buckle up because you are about to enter the deep and dark world of Jennifer Hillier’s mind. It is a haunting and dark story that I could not quit thinking about ... even weeks after I read the book. But, all of Hillier’s books do that for me. She takes your hand and leads you down that dark path that your mother warned you about. But, you have to follow that path because Jennifer Hillier is a damn good writer and you want to see what secrets are unveiled.
I highly recommend this book and all of her other books. So dark and brutal. I loved them all.

Geo, Angela, and Kaiser were inseparable as teenagers until, at age sixteen, Angela went missing. Fourteen years later Angela's remains have been found and a successful, engaged, nightmare-ridden and not-surprised Geo is arrested for her part in the murder. What WAS her part in Angela's murder, and what did Calvin James - the Sweetbay Strangler - have to do with it? Geo plea-bargains in exchange for a five-year prison sentence, loses everything, and now, at thirty-five, is out of prison and living with her father. The neighborhood is none too happy to see her, but Kaiser, who has loved Geo since he was fourteen, is now a detective, still has feelings for her, and wants answers. When new murders are committed in the area all hell breaks lose, and as Kaiser tries to figure out what's going on I can't tear my eyes away from page after page of Geo remembering every gritty, graphic, and life-changing detail of what happened to Angela - and to her. And my heart breaks. And I hurt.

Jennifer Hillier has written a taut, gut-wrenching suspense thriller about love, obsession, control, loss, and perception being reality. Jar of Hearts is not for the faint of heart but it is a story that MUST be read - because you really do need to know what happened. My heart still hurts.

I received this free book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

This book is a few different things and miraculously I loved them all. It’s a mystery, it’s an acclimating to prison life tale, and it’s a love story gone about as wrong as a love story can go! It’s dark and it’s addictive and it’s getting all the stars I have to give.

Georgina, Angela and Kaiser (Kai) were the best of friends in high school but when Georgina starts seeing an older guy, everything gets all messed up. One of them dies, one later goes to prison and another ends up being the arresting officer. There’s also a recent spate of atrocious serial killings that may be connected to the past murder . . .

The big draw here is finding out the why just as much as the who. Why did one of these friends die? What really happened that night? Who is keeping secrets? And, who is killing innocents in the modern day? Also, why is Angela such a witch? That one is is never answered, she just is! None of it makes sense until the very end where it all comes together in a glorious rush of craziness that worked for me in every way.

Most of these characters are imperfect and awful, cruel, jealous, vindictive and selfish but I could not, did not want, to stop reading for a moment. This book is so addictive. If you like this stuff, you MUST read it.

“Because that smell – of rotting flesh, of rotting soul – is you.”

4.5 Creepy Stars ????.5

“Who do you Think you are? Runnin’ ‘round leaving scars. Collecting your jar of hearts. And tearing love apart.“
Christina Perri ?Jar of Hearts?

What if you had thought you got away with murder for 14 years? What if you found out your high school boyfriend was a serial killer? Welcome to Geo’s world! Geo was a complicated character... I found her very likable, but I knew she had a huge dark secret, and had done something bad.... I mean she was in jail and she wasn’t claiming that she was innocent.... but how big a part did she play in the murder of her high school BFF Angela?

Loved how this story was told... Clues were given and memories were revealed at the perfect pace... I felt the tension and terror that Geo felt throughout the entire story.... The parts of the book that took place in prison were interesting, however some of them were downright disturbing.... but at least in prison she was safe from Calvin her ex-boyfriend who was a serial killer, or was she?

Kaiser who was BFFs with both Angela and Geo in high school was Geo’s arresting officer... Kaiser has always had a thing for Geo, so he was very conflicted.... really liked him and couldn’t help but think... had she just dated him all of this could have been avoided... so many twists and an ending I did not see coming...

Absolutely recommend to fans of the psychological thriller with a bit of a darker side???

*** many thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book ***

Brief Summary: A gripping page turner that tells the story of three best friends and one night that changed everything. One friend is dead, one is convicted of assisting with her disappearance and covering her death and the third wonders how everything went so wrong.

Highlights: This book centers on what lengths would a person go to to cover up a terrible mistake. It’s also an interesting take on the concept of karma. The page turning plot that alternates between past and present. The unexpected twists. I finished this book in three days during an incredibly hectic week. When I wasn’t glued to my kindle I was thinking about the characters and trying to figure out what happened. I could certainly relate to Geo and didn’t necessarily consider her the terrible person she did of herself. I also found the prison culture and the cast of characters fascinating. I loved the unlikely relationships that Geo developed both out of need for survival in the prison setting and a desire for friendship.

Explanation of Rating: 4/5 stars! This book was headed for a 5 start rating until the end. It isn’t tied together as nicely as I’d hoped it would be and the reader is left wondering and trying to draw their own conclusions. The author also never tells how the original crime was discovered years later especially she makes a note to point out no one noticed the crime the night it happened.

Psychology Factors: Geo’s depression in the aftermath of the crime, her covering her abusive relationship, her rape; all areas of forensic psychology. Each was accurately portrayed. This is a very realistic example of the perils of an abusive relationship. It is easy to understand how she got so caught up in making the choices that she did.

This is an easy read and perfect to pack into your beach bag this summer! This thriller definitely holds its own among other recent blockbusters. I can see this being a good book club read as well. Fans of Orange is the New Black may also enjoy it.

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Question - What if your childhood sweetheart turns out to be a serial killer?

Dark, chilling, edge of your seat thriller. Jennifer Hillier pulls out all the stops on this one! And dark and chilling is exactly what you’ll get here in spades!

Jennifer Hillier is the queen of obsessive, misguided love. I read one of her previous books a few years ago Creep and thought it was brilliant. Now Ms. Hillier has done it again. And this time it’s over the top!

Calvin is the boy every teenage girl’s father warns her against. He’s big trouble through and through. But isn’t that what draws every teenage girl in? The ultimate bad boy.

Georgina is just 16 when she falls for the charms of the first older boy to show her attention. It isn’t long before her grades begin slipping and her lifelong friendships are wavering. She’s in way over her head and not totally sure she even wants to find a way out.

There’s been a lot of positive buzz around this book and it absolutely deserves every bit of it. It had just the right amount of twists to keep you guessing but not so many that you lose your way. Well written from beginning to end. I thoroughly enjoyed it! Highly recommend!

A buddy read with Susanne!

Thank you to NetGalley, St Martin’s Press and Jennifer Hillier for an ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

Jennifer Hillier is one of my favourite mystery/thriller authors and she doesn't disappoint with "Jar Of Hearts".
High school students Angela, Georgina and Kaiser were best friends who did everything together. One fateful night everything changed. One was murdered, one went to prison and one became a cop to search for the truth and justice.
What happened that crucial night is more complex and chilling than anyone knows. As the details emerge we are taken on a roller coaster ride of thrilling, chilling moments that make this book unputdownable.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Fourteen years ago, Geo's 16 year old best friend, Angela, disappeared.

Alternating between the past and the present, Jar of Hearts explored both the sometimes complicated relationship between Geo and Angela, as well as the tumultuous relationship between Geo and her first boyfriend, Calvin James. Could Calvin, who is now a convicted serial killer known as the Sweetbay Strangler, have had anything to do with Angela's disappearance? If so, why didn't Geo speak up? Where has Angela been all this time and could Geo have saved her?

"In every story, there's a hero and a villain. Sometimes one person can be both."

After Angela's disappearance, Geo moved on as best she could, living her life to the fullest, knowing full well that:

"You carry the past with you because it transforms you. You can try to bury it and pretend it never happened, but that doesn't work ... Because buried things can, and do, come back."

What happened when Geo's past finally came back to haunt her? Read this shocking, dark, and downright chilling story to find out!

I'd recommend this for fans of the Orange is the New Black TV show!

I received an advance copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Location: Seattle, Washington

Jar of Hearts is my first book from Jennifer Hillier and I loved it! I loved the story and her writing so much that I just bought several of her other books! Jar of Hearts is twisted, intense and so clever. Every time you think you know what's happening...BOOM!...Jennifer threw another twist at you! I read a lot of thrillers and can say Jar of Hearts is an awesome one! Trust me, you're not going to know what hit you! I Highly recommend this book!

A person that is mysterious, puzzling, or difficult to understand.

Georgina
is mysterious, puzzling, and difficult to understand.

Not quit sure what to make of this book. The writing was good and pacing was good but just didn't connect with Georgina Shaw or the story.

Sitting here trying to figure out why i didn't like this.....the police procedure part of the book didn't make sense. After Angela was missing for a couple days why didn't they use cadaver dogs to find her? That's how they found the other bodies. What about all the blood on Georgina's clothes and the tools they used to cut Angela up? Did the father not notice? He did the yard work.
Plus kidnapping two children and their birth mothers from separate homes. No.
Harry Bosch would have figured it out in no time.

The ending really painted Geo in a bad light. Just never fully understood her behavior. I understand teenage angst but this was a bit much. Geo was not a victim her father was.
Anyway not a bad book but not five stars.
Just a warning a lot of violence towards women and children. Disturbing.

To look at Georgina Shaw one would not imagine she had been involved in a horrific crime . A crime with searing repercussions. Jar of Hearts, a novel by Jennifer Hillier, is the masterfully crafted psychological thriller in which there is much that is not what it seems. The multi-layered story unfolds slowly and is meticulously detailed. The characters are well defined and often terrifying. Just when we think we understand them, we find that we don't. Jar of Hearts is an intense, riveting and totally engrossing story. It is a must read! Highly recommended.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Jar of Hearts by Jennifer Hiller
Book Review by Dawn Thomas

311 Pages
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books
Publication Date: June 12, 2018

Mystery & Thriller, Suspense

Georgina Shaw is a young successful executive at a pharmaceutical company. She is engaged to the owner’s son and has everything going for her. Her life comes crashing down when actions from her past emerge. Angela Wong is a beautiful sixteen year old. She is the girl every girl wants to be and every boy wants to be with. She disappears one night after a party and no one seems to know where she went. Kaiser Brody is a police detective and must put the pieces together to find the truth.

This is a riveting story written in the third person point of view. The characters are complex and the storyline is fast pace. The story moves from the present to flashbacks of the past. I could not put the book down I once I started it. There are so many twists and turns I did not figure it out until the end. I highly recommend this book to anyone that enjoys fast pace thrillers with a lot of suspense.

This is a story of three best friends , one murdered , one in prison and the remaining one searching for the truth . Wow !! This book blew me away ! A chilling and disturbing thriller with so many dark secrets ! Full of twists with an intense , explosive ending !! I highly recommend this book !! Thanks to #Netgalley , #St.Martin'sPress and #MinotaurBooks for the digital copy in exchange for my honest review ! #JarOfHearts

Jar of Hearts by Jennifer Hillier
4 stars
M/F Thriller
Triggers: Murder, Stalking, Rape
I was given this book for an honest review by Wicked Reads.

This is a dark story. Just be prepared for that if you're taking this story on. It is wonderfully written and there is a lot of really good development.

Geo is a character that you want to do well - you want her to succeed. However, there is a part of you that wonders if she really should get that second chance. I enjoyed the fact that you were able to see the story from the before perspective and after - it gave the book a depth that really helped the reader know the mindset of the characters.

As you read, you see that the flaws of Geo are due to immaturity and not necessarily malicious intent. However, as you keep reading, there are aspects that definitely make you question her.

I loved this story and the only reason I didn't give it the 5 star rating is that I found it to be somewhat predictable. You saw the ending before it happened and that was somewhat disappointing after a wonderfully complex story unfolded.

I requested this book and received it from NetGalley.

I have not read any of this author's previous books. That is sure to change now.

I was riveted. I started reading and found myself picking it up when I was waiting on hold on a phone call, waiting for water to boil while cooking dinner, when a commercial came on while I was watching Jeopardy. When my eyes wanted to slam shut at night.

Part of the love is for the characters, who are knowable. You know these people. You've seen them. You've talked to them. But the larger part is this author's way of doling out information. The whole time I was reading, I knew there was more. There was one thing more. And then one thing more. I would guess, I would speculate, I would overthink it, but I knew there was one thing more. Was I missing it or was it not there yet? It was addictive. I needed to know. The one thing more, I needed to know what it was.

Wow. What a ride. I cannot express enough what an enjoyable experience it was to read this book. Should you read it? You should have started yesterday.

Georgina Shaw was involved with covering up the murder of her high school best friend, Angela, by her boyfriend, Calvin. When the truth comes to light years later, she goes to prison for five years for her role, and Calvin gets a life sentence but soon escapes. When it’s time for Geo to be released, more bodies start turning up, killed the same way as Angela, and it seems as though Calvin is on the hunt again and coming back for Geo. All is not as it seems in this suspenseful novel though. Told in alternating timelines between present day and the days leading up to Angela’s murder, the truth slowly and eerily unravels. Complicating matters is Geo and Angela's other best friend, Kaiser, who still carries a torch for Geo but was responsible for sending her to prison. Can they reconcile and move forward, or will Geo's past and her terrible deeds haunt her forever? The final ‘denouement’ is rather sad, with Geo having to make a heartbreaking but necessary decision. A worthy “summer” read!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an early review copy.