Jar of Hearts, by Jennifer Hillier

Several of my friends have been telling me to read anything written by Jennifer Hillier and I don’t know why I waited so long. Jar of Hearts was just the thrilling ride I needed. I read this one in a day and a half and didn’t want it to end! This crime based thriller had me lost in its pages.

Geo, Angela, and Kai are best high school friends until one night Angela goes missing and it changes Geo and Kai forever. 14 years later, Angela’s remains are found. Geo is sentenced to 5 years in prison for her role in Angela’s murder and her high school boyfriend, Calvin James, is found guilty as well. Right before Geo is released from prison, a string of murders similar to Angela’s start to terrify the community. Geo comes home to a completely different life than the one she knew before prison and tries to start over, but her past doesn’t just come back to haunt her…it’s chasing her down.

Secrets, lies, and betrayal….there’s no shortage of any in this book. Although the ending felt a little predictable and rushed…with a couple of unbelievable situations that took this book from a 5 to 4 star rating…I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed the story overall. It was incredibly fast paced and hooked me from the first page. I absolutely loved the author’s writing style and was completely riveted with how the story was told.

This is anything but your average psychological thriller. Dark and creepy with so many different layers. Yes, there’s a twist, but for me that wasn’t the star of the show. This might have been my first Jennifer Hillier book, but it certainly won’t be my last.

4 out of 5 stars.

TW: graphic violence; gore; rape; explicit sex scene; murder