Jennifer Hillier

'Jar of Hearts will have readers gasping in shock. Suspenseful, gritty and utterly unforgettable.' Riley Sager, author of Final Girls Five years ago, Geo's first love was revealed as a terrifying serial killer. But he escaped custody and went on the run. Now, bodies have started turning up, killed in exactly the same way as before. The message is clear: he's making his way to her, one murder at a time...

The 'riveting, stand-out thriller' perfect for fans of Lisa Gardner and Riley Sager

Jar of Hearts

"Jar of Hearts grabs you by the throat! The perfect blend of riveting characters, chilling details, and gasping twists in this standout thriller will keep you frantically reading until the explosive end.” – Lisa Gardner, New York Times bestselling author of Right Behind You • A Top 10 bestseller (CrimeReads) • A June 2018 LibraryReads pick • 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? Find out in Jennifer Hillier's Jar of Hearts.

I don’t know how much I love dark fiction. The story kept my interest. I enjoyed the suspense.

Jeannie Gallagher

This was a good read! It definitely had some twist and turns I wasn’t expecting, especially in parts 4 and 5. The short chapters kept me engaged in the story and each character introduced had substance. It was overall a good book and I would recommend it to any true crime lover. 

Tatyana Owens

Captivating read. Lost a star for being predictable, but it did a great job of keeping you hooked. A little darker than the typical thriller so be warned. 

Jillian Roberts

alexandria slocum

A slow book, not the best read but the ending had an amazing twist

This book was wayyyy darker than I thought. The ending left me feeling very uncomfortable 

Murphy-Ann Craig

Isabella 

my thought process: omg - i know what's about to come - i knew it - what just happened??

on an objective note, too much inconsistencies and i didnt like the epilogue but still giving this a 4 because i was interested all throughout the book and couldnt put it down

➺ 
  4/5 🌟


I wasn't expecting anything at all when I started this book. I just picked it up because it's been on my e-reader for ages and I thought it was about time to get it off my tbr list. And I finally did!

The mystery seriously got me so hooked right from the start. It started off with Georgina in the trial of her best friend's murder and her receiving a five-year imprisonment. It was not the mystery of who killed Angela all those years ago. It was clear from the start that the killer was Geo's ex-boyfriend and that she 'somehow' had a hand in the tragic event, but we don't know exatly what she did. Did her guilt came from the fact that she stayed silent despite knowing who the real killer is? Or did she directly contributed with killing her?

The way that I was so sure of my guesses and then the revelation came and it threw all my speculations away. I appreaciate that the revelations happened one at a time, bits and pieces, letting the readers wanting for more. You think you know what happened but actually you don't. The series of plot twists happening, especially at the last part, just slapped me so hard, I was left gawking at my e-reader for a long time. The confrontation scene at the end is seriously so messed up. It happened so abruptly and quickly I thought I was having a whiplash.

Calvin, the killer ex-boyfriend, might now be included in my most hated fictional character to ever exist. He actually didn't appear that much, mostly only in the flashbacks, but his presence is palpable. Maybe because of the degree of his crime, the terror his name as the serial killer brings just by mentioning it, it felt like he's been lurking all throughout the whole story. He's an arrogant, gaslighting animal who deserves an excruciating death. 'She's wearing provocative dress and danced like she's asking for it, it's not my fault for raping her' -- his non-verbatim excuses. JUST. GO. STRAIGHT. TO. HELL. 

Anyway, there are a lot of trigger warnings so if you're planning on reading this book, beware of that. I can't recommend this to everyone, but to those who love reading crime/suspense/mystery book, you might want to pick this up. It's not the best thing ever, in my opinion, but still great on its own.

i really enjoyed this book a lot! i like how it all built up and you slowly get through the recaps on how the night of Angela happened and then the last few chapters showing how involved Geo actually was. i will continue to look more into the other works of the artist

Daniela Mauricia

So I did figured out the big twist about halfway through the book, but it was still great. There is a lot of back and forth in time, so an audiobook you have to pay attention to that, but I thought the transitions were very clear. Narrator did an incredible job. Overall I really enjoyed it. There are so many triggers in this book though. Read with caution 🫶🏻

🚨 tw: sexual assault, rape, murder, descriptive death scenes, alcohol abuse, death of child/ren, reference to death by cancer, drug abuse 🚨 

So I did figured out the big twist about halfway through the book, but it was still great. There is a lot of back and forth in time, so an audiobook you have to pay attention to that, but I thought the transitions were very clear. Narrator did an incredible job. Overall I really enjoyed it. There are so many triggers in this book though. Read with caution 🫶🏻

🚨 tw: sexual assault, rape, murder, descriptive death scenes, alcohol abuse, death of child/ren, reference to death by cancer, drug abuse 🚨 

Denaiir

Definitely lived up to the hype, it was a wild ride and Jennifer Hillier is now in my top authors list

Shelby Wheeler

Alexa M

Melyssa Tromberg 

This book tells the story of best friends- Geo, Angela and Kai who were inseparable in high school until one night Angela disappears. 14 years later, Geo now an executive at a pharmaceutical company and Kai a detective, Angela's remains are discovered in the woods near Geo's childhood home. Not only that, but Angela's death is proven to be connected to a serial killer named Calvin, aka the Sweetbay Strangler- and so the questions begin.

This book was just so so so good. Jennifer's writing style is impeccable with the amount of twists + turns and her ability to keep you guessing + wondering throughout- The beginning of the book leaves you with so many questions that it's impossible to not keep reading.

Just when I thought I had the plot figured out or a character's motivation down, a new secret or revelation would appear. One thing I really loved- some of the decisions these characters had to make were unfathomable but the author makes you feel the justification/understanding behind them. I was genuinely sad when the book was over and I can't think of one single aspect of the book I didn't like.

Overall, If you're a true thriller junkie, I highly recommend this book & this author!

Liz B

Dark as fuck. Like too dark, even for a thriller. Also a fairly unbelievable ending, a pretty obvious twist, and some big plot holes. Loved Little Secrets but this author, but this one didn't measure up.

Heather Miller

Warning! Possible spoilers ahead!



  As always, please be aware of trigger warnings…

Rape, dismemberment, death of women and children, murder, gun violence, incarceration, and pregnancy.
 
(Source: Trigger Warning Database)

At just sixteen years old, Geo’s life is changed forever. Her and her first love, Calvin, cover up the murder of her best friend, Angela Wong, after he rapes and strangles her. A few nights after, after raping Geo, she never sees Calvin again.

Fourteen years later, Angela’s remains are finally discovered, and both Calvin and Geo go to trial, and eventually prison. Geo has very deep, dark secrets that are only known by her and her ex-boyfriend Calvin, and he covers for her so she only has to serve a short five year sentence.

Kaiser, Geo’s other best friend of sixteen years ago, is now a detective with the Seattle Police Department. Just as Geo is set to be released after finishing her five year sentence, bodies begin turning up all over again by her childhood home. Kaiser investigates with the help of his partner Kim, and finally gets the truth out of what happened that night from Geo.

Kaiser is quick to presume it is Calvin all over again, who had escaped from prison years ago and still hasn’t been found, but his partner is quick to remind him that although there are similarities, there are also major differences, and killers typically stick to one way.
The biggest question both Kaiser and Geo have to ask themselves is whether or not this is Calvin sending Geo a message, or if there is a possibility someone else just as dangerous as him is out there murdering innocent women and children.

* * *

I put my other books aside in order to focus on this one, as I couldn’t put it down! The pacing, the dual timelines, the characters were just beautifully put together. This was most definitely a dark, wild thriller written masterfully with a twisted ending, and Jennifer Hillier never fails to deliver that!
I had a problem with the ending though. It was chilling, unexpected, and unthinkable and felt more like an afterthought. If felt overly brutal and like something better could have come of it. Maybe a little forced. I also don’t understand how she got away with it. I was left with questions and would’ve really liked the satisfaction of a complete ending. I still very much recommend it and give it a 4.5 star rating.

“Intense and compelling. This page-turner will grip your imagination until the very last, astonishing twist.” —Chevy Stevens An explosive, edge-of-your-seat read about three friends, one murder, and a whole world of secrets... Angela was one of the most popular girls in her high school before she disappeared without a trace. Nobody ever knew what became of her—not Georgina, her best friend, nor Kaiser, who was close with both girls. Then, fourteen years later, Angela’s remains were discovered in the woods near Geo’s childhood home and Kaiser—who became a detective with the Seattle police department—finally learned the truth: Angela was a victim of Calvin James. To the authorities, Calvin was a notorious serial killer. But back in the day, Calvin was Geo’s first love. Their relationship bordered on obsession from the moment they met, right up until the night Angela was killed. Geo carried the secret of Calvin’s dark deeds until the evidence landed her in prison. But now, just as Geo is about to be released, new bodies start turning up—killed in the exact same manner as Angela. . . and soon Geo, Kaiser, and local law enforcement officials realize that what happened that fateful night is more complex and chilling than anyone could have imagined. “Thrilling...terrifying, Jar of Hearts is definitely not something you’ve read before.”—Cleveland Plain Dealer

Bonita

this was a really strong thriller & once i got to the 70%ish mark I just couldn’t put it down… knocked down a star since I kind of predicted the twist, but it was still shocking & well done! definitely going to be making my way through this author’s backlist now :) 

also i love u kaiser 🫶🏼

Rebecca

Wow. This story was so well written. There was the perfect amount of character description, the pace was perfect, & I truly enjoyed reading it. 

The only negative was the lack of suspense in some parts, but other than that this book was a great suspense novel.

The story was a little slow at first, but it picked up and was wonderful. I finished it in 2 days.

Katie H

Trigger warning for SA.......

That's all I'm going to say about it. 

The story was a little slow at first, but it picked up and was wonderful. I finished it in 2 days.

i...dont get the hype for this. it was so boring, the characters felt too flat, and the plot didn't grip me as much as i thought it would be. i was thinking to dnf this book 200 times already and when i got to the end, i regretted my decision to continue. 

aurelia 

Carol

Found myself a little disappointed with this one after seeing a few glowing recommendations. There were certainly moments/twists that compelled me as the story progressed. However the events got darker and darker to the point it felt... Almost gratuitous? 

I read a lot of horror/thrillers, so I'm no stranger to darkness in my books. But something about the series of events in this book felt like the writer was just relentlessly piling onto this protagonist for the sake of drama. It didn't succeed in making me sympathise more with the character - It just made me kind of depressed and the book fairly predictable. And because of the pattern of escalation, I found myself calling all the twists well before they came up on paper. 

I'd give it a solid 2.5* rounded up to three - there were times I enjoyed reading this and it's certainly a memorable story but it just wasn't it for me.

Mimi Thompson

Read 01/07/2022 - Audio

This was weird, but really good! People can very much surprise you. I will be thinking of this book for a long while.

daisy

Carol Bailey

Crazy

This story started out nutty and then took a crazy turn at the end. All of which was a good thing. There were some parts of the story that were slow but they laid a foundation for the finish. I found that the further I got along with the story the more I got sucked in. I will however say, I didn't think the bits about Kaiser and his affair added real depth to the story. That part felt like the author just needed something to fill out his character. On a brighter note I did not see the end coming.

Kristina Masone

It took me a moment to get into this book, but once I did, whew what a ride! This book was so twisted, but I'm so glad I read this.

Jar of Hearts The 'riveting, stand-out thriller' perfect for fans of Lisa Gardner and Riley Sager

Reviews