Jar of Hearts by Jennifer Hillier Also by this author: Little Secrets
Published by St. Martin's Press on June 12th 2018
Genres: Crime, Fiction, Psychological, Thrillers
Pages: 320
Angela Wong was sixteen years old when she disappeared without a trace. Fourteen years later, her remains were found buried in the woods near her childhood best friend Geo's home. Georgina (Geo) Shaw, Angela and Kaiser were an inseparable trio back then. Now, one is dead, one is arrested for her murder, the other is the arresting officer.
Geo and Angela were close when they were young. That all changed when Geo met Calvin. Calvin was handsome and swept Geo off her feet. Their relationship was great...until it wasn't. Calvin was jealous and controlling, always wanting Geo to dress sexy, but not attract the attention of other men. This caustic relationship lead to Angela's death, and the fourteen years worth of lies and secrets that left her disappearance a mystery. Through those fourteen years, Geo was left to bear the weight of what transpired that horrific night that stole her best friend from her and ruined her life forever. She kept secret her involvement in Angela's death and the horrific hours that followed.
Nearly 20 years after Angela's disappearance, Geo is set to be released from prison. She testified against Calvin, eventually named as the Sweetbay Strangler. He, too, faced punishment for the crime but it is Geo who know faces the consequences. For shortly after she is released, the body of a young woman and child are found in the same spot as Angela's remains. The similarities to Angela's death are uncanny. As the past comes rushing to the present, Geo is forced to come to terms with the decisions she made in life, eventually dealing with the horrific consequences.
I’ve been impatiently awaiting this book for what seems years! I devoured her previous titles (Creep, Freak, The Butcher, and Wonderland) and couldn’t wait for more! The wait was well worth it for this was, without a doubt, my favorite of them all.
Hillier has crafted this dark and twisted thriller with expertise. As the reader begins this dark journey through Geo’s life, both present and past, they are conflicted regarding their feelings about her character. Should it be anger for the secrets she kept for fourteen years, or sympathy for what she has, and continues to, endure.
Geo has never gotten over her feelings of of guilt and grief not only for Angela’s death but decisions she’s made since then. Therefore, each section header is one of the stages of grief. Geo continues to go through the healing necessary following such an incident, and Hillier has invited the reader to join her in this journey. Don’t get too comfortable in your journey, however…
For what makes this read so phenomenal are the completely unexpected twists and turns, the way Hillier still manages to completely shock and astound me (in the best and creepiest ways, of course), all this time later. While I picked up on some things, others came completely out of nowhere and made my head spin.
If I haven’t convinced you to read this yet…what’s wrong with you!? All kidding aside, this will undoubtedly top my favorite titles of the year. Pick it up and read it now…and then devour her backlist. Highly, highly recommended.
