Jar of Hearts by Jennifer Hillier
Release Date: June 2018
Publisher: Minotaur Books
Pages: 311 pages
Source: NetGalley
Description 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?”
Jar of Hearts is a compulsively readable thriller! Geo, Angela, and Kaiser were best friends in high school until Angela’s mysterious disappearance. Now, 14 years later, Geo is arrested in connection with her murder. Geo’s high school boyfriend, Calvin, is as well. But what is the truth of what happened to Angela? Why did Geo keep it a secret? And are there still more secrets to come?
I really enjoyed this story and, as evidenced by my blowing through it in one day, it really kept you flipping pages! It reminded me of Criminal Minds in novel form – and also just as graphic. I think it was one of the more graphic novels that I’ve read in terms of describing rape, etc. so be forewarned of that.
I thought it was unique that it basically started with the closing of the case and Geo going to prison – which I found to be an intriguing setting as well. The fact that there was a new mystery to solve even as the secrets of the past were revealed was probably my favorite part of the plot as the multiple timelines pieced clues together, it kept me reading searching for the next one.
You need this book if you’re looking for a quick thrilling read! But be aware of graphic content.
Entertainment Value: 5
Characters: 3-4
Voice: 4
Plot: 4
Overall: 4 stars
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
See my reviews @ mamaneedsabook.blogspot.com
And see below for a clip of Jennifer Hillier talking about the book!
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