Heart of Glass

Jennifer Hiller is one of my favourite authors for dark and twisty thrillers. Jar of Hearts, Little Secrets, The Butcher ... all delightfully chilling! I recently read and loved Wonderland a few weeks back and was excited that Heart of Glass would bring me back into Seaside, the small Washington state town that hosts an amusement park that attracts visitors ... and serial killers.

But besides the setting, Heart of Glass doesn't have a lot in common with Wonderland. There are a couple of brief cameos, but the theme park is barely mentioned and not at all pivotal in this book. So, if you're concerned about reading Wonderland first, you can jump right into this book (but I'd recommend reading Wonderland at some point - it's awesome!).

Heart of Glass is a slow burn and lengthy read with a lot going on. There are many characters to keep track of including reality stars (with more baggage than Samsonite), plus a few subplots including a podcast, abducted women and an interview with a serial killer, which will keep readers on their toes to keep track of it all.

The premise gives 'dark thriller' vibes, but I thought the story had more of a contemporary fiction feel with its focus on angsty reality TV stars leaving the kidnapped women/serial killer storyline playing second fiddle until the second half when things pick up and the different storylines finally merge. 

And I'll be honest; I don't do well with slow burns and I would have liked tension that grew throughout and I had hoped for a darker, edge of my seat that had more connection to Wonderland.

Jennifer Hillier is clearly a very talented writer, and despite this not being one of my favourite books of hers, this book held my interest and if you're a reality TV lover, you will love all the drama! I will always be a huge fan of this Canadian author and can't wait to see what she comes out with next. 

Disclaimer: Thanks to Minotaur Books for the complimentary digital advanced copy that was given to me in exchange for my honest review.

My Rating: 3.5 stars

Author: Jennifer Hillier

Genre: Suspense

Type and Source: ebook from publisher via NetGalley

Series: Wonderland 2

Publisher: Minotaur Books (SMP)

First Published: August 25, 2026

Read: Aug 9-16, 2026

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

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

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

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