House of Glass by Sarah PekkanenMy rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Whoa, creepy central! Sarah Pekkanen is a master of ratcheting up the ominous creepy tension. Stella Hudson reluctantly agrees to be the guardian ad litem/lawyer for Rose Barclay, a nine-year-old who witnessed the death of her nanny, who fell through a window of the family's third story home. The Barclays live in a spacious mansion, but they are divorcing, and Stella must decide what is best for Rose. Rose is suffering from traumatic mutism and hasn't spoken since her nanny's death. The police could not arrest anyone, but Rose's parents, grandmother, and even Rose herself are under suspicion.
As Stella digs into Rose's life, she finds the Barclay home unnerving. There's no glass anywhere, not even in a picture frame, and she soon realizes her young charge is hoarding sharp weapons. Rose's parents appear to be hiding something about their daughter, as does her grandmother, who is Rose's alibi for the incident. The Barclays empty (and glass-free) home makes for a wonderful and eerie setting.
The small cast of characters keeps you guessing; I love a thriller where you have an inkling but can never be sure. There's nothing quite like a rich, slightly off family, and a spooky kid. Now Stella seemed more like a PI rather than a lawyer, but I guess we have to let that one go. She's drawn to Rose due to her own childhood trauma, and the book explores Stella's own past, as well as her relationship with a cop who is both investigating the nanny's death and helping Stella look into her mother's long ago death. I could totally see these two characters reappear in another book!
This is a quick page-turner that looks at childhood trauma, divorce, and family secrets coupled with an atmospheric and tense story. 3.5 stars, rounded up.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and St. Martin's Press in return for an unbiased review.
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