Thanks to Net Galley and Atlantic Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review.
My first book by Jennifer Hillier - wow - loved it from page one. Fast paced psychological thriller with a few unexpected twists along the way
Angela and Georgina ‘Geo’ are best friends, they do everything together, so when 16 year old Angela goes missing, it is expected that Geo is one of the last people to have seen her and the first person the police question about her disappearance.
14 years later, Geo has a high powered job at Shipps Pharmaceuticals, is engaged to the CEO.
Her life falls apart when while giving a presentation at work she is arrested for her friends murder and her then boyfriend Calvin is also arrested for Angela’s murder and the murders of other young woman. Geo was obsessed with Calvin at that time even though he was possessive and abusive. Calvin is now known as the Sweetbay Strangler.
Geo is sentenced to 5 years in prison and Calvin imprisoned for life. The author very cleverly portrays Geo’s prison life, Calvin escapes from prison. When Geo’s sentence is up and she is realeased she returns to her childhood home to live with her dad, she has gone from a successful young executive to a pariah in her hometown.
The story is told in past and present and the truth of what happened to Angela unfolds. A creepy story of murder, rape and so much more.

I absolutely loved all the massive twists in this book. I have to admit that a few parts did drag a little, but you can totally overlook that for the last few chapters and the copious big reveals. I loved how there were loads of depth and backstories to each of the characters as it meant that you could honestly grow to love and hate them. A great thriller to read.

Georgina (Geo) is about to go to prison for five years for her part in the murder of her best friend, Angela. Her High School boyfriend, Calvin, is the Sweetbay Strangler, a serial killer who preys on young women. Was Angela his first victim or is there more to the story?

You know that feeling when you know something bad is going to happen but you literally can't look away? That was me reading this book. It's up there with Karin Slaughter for the sheer brutality of what happens and the author does not pull any punches. It was absolutely compulsive reading.

TW: violence, dismemberment of dead bodies, rape.

This is an interesting twist on an antihero story.

Geo helped her ex boyfriend, Calvin, dispose of her best friend's body after he murdered her. 14 years later, she's finally paying the price for her crime. But Angela's body isn't the only secret waiting to be uncovered.

Despite concealing her friend's death, Geo is a sympathetic character, desperate to make up for what she did. But with Calvin escaping from prison and bodies mounting up, can she ever be free of her past?

A compelling page turner, this book hooks you from the start and doesn't let go until all the secrets are out in the open.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC without obligation.

Absolutely love love LOVE this book. Was gutted when I finished it and was totally thrilled when I realised she’s written other books. This story has some ooofff moments but it’s believable and the characters are fantastic. 5/5 easily. Off to buy her other books

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...

I thoroughly enjoyed this edge of your seat thriller which explored childhood mistakes, guilt and family issues in a clever and imaginative way, Geo was a solid character, strong but likeable even when the truth came out, she took the punishment she thought she deserved well and adapted to her situation, even when she arrived back home to the shocking truth that would uncover in the days to follow.
The plot was tense and brutal, the setting perfect from the outset especially the detail in the prison scenes, the flow of the book rolled along at a good pace, never losing my interest, I recommend this for those who like a gritty thriller with a bit of a difference.
I will definitely read more from this Author.

Geo has what appears to the outside world everything, but she has a secret which she knows one day will catch up with her. The book starts with this secret, and how her first love is a serial killer. After striking a deal she serves five years in prison but as she comes out of prison similar murders occur. Although there appears certainty as to who is behind the murders there is a twist which changes everything. Really enjoyed this book from start to finish and would highly recommend.

Brilliant book. kept me gripped from the start to finish. Loved the characters and the way they all took their parts in the story.
Love the twists throughout and brilliant ending.

I would firstly like to thank Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

"Five years ago, Gio'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 the exactly the same way as before. The message is clear: he's making his way to her, one murder at a time.."

I loved this book! I was hooked right from the very beginning and found it very difficult to put this book down! I learned immediately that the blurb is actually very vague and the plotline is a lot more intriguing then I first thought! Because of this, the whole book is shocking, thrilling and definitely a heart-racing read!

I can't say too much about thos one without spoiling it but this is honestly one of the best books that I have read this year! With cleverly-written characters, a riveting plotline that had me guessing the whole way through, and an ending that I certainly didn't see coming; this book is a must read! Definitely recommend this one!

Twists and turns and a unputdownable read. Really good plot, and great characters. Loved this book- one of those “I’m finishing this tonight even if it take me past midnight

Had seen rave reviews about this book so had to read it for myself and I wasn't disappointed! A dark and twisted psychological thriller that was almost impossible to put down

Loved this book and couldn’t wait to get to the end and see what happened. I wanted to give five stars because it was such a well planned and fascinating plot but for one section and as I don’t give spoilers I can only say it was near the end and I suppose was trying to add some information about Geo’s character but it seemed oddly disjointed and unnecessary and did take away a lot of my overall good feeling about the book.
That said I would still really recommend it to all thriller readers and you can just make your own minds up. I look forward to reading other books by this author now.

This book was almost a love story,almost a who done it,all ran together nicely.i didn’t want to put this book down.i can usually guess what’s going to happen but I couldn’t this time,I felt sorry for the girl main character in the book.excellent holiday read ,you won’t want to put this book down,I give this book five stars

Jennifer Hillier at her best with another sharp psychological thriller that will keep you up reading throughout the night. A great work that will not disapoint

An old murderer brought to justice by the testimony of his former girlfriend who is far from blameless. Both are imprisoned but he escapes and just as she is released the murders start up again. Where is Calvin? and what is the meaning of these new murders. This book moves seamlessly between the past and the present presenting a narrative which is gripping and horrifying by turns. The author has truly captured the thoughts and feelings of the characters. Her portrayal of prison life is masterful. The relationships between characters are often bittersweet. Ok i cant really see the development of the relationship between law enforcer and perpetrator ever being possible but apart from that there is a realism to the narrative that i enjoyed. I loved the title and what it meant in the storyline.

I could see where the solution was coming from but not too soon and the ending was excellent

This is an excellent read and an author who is new to me but one i will probably read more from.
Thank you to net galley for the copy

I have also rated it on Amazon but am not getting the link

Jar of Hearts tell us the story of Georgina Shaw, or Geo, who made a horrific mistake at the age of 16. This secret laid buried, literally, for 14 years until the bones of her school friend Angela, are uncovered. Little did she know but her boyfriend back then, Calvin, is now the renowned Sweet Bay Strangler and when he is also arrested, she is offered 5 years in jail for her complicity in the murder in exchange for her testimony against him.

Whilst in prison she learns that Calvin, who had received multiple life sentences, has managed to escape. When she is eventually released to go and live back in her childhood home with her father, a new murder is discovered - very close to her home and Angela’s original burial site. Calvin is clearly making his way back to Geo in the most terrifying way he can...

This is a great book. The story plays out in the present with visits to the past to fill in the events that took place those years ago. Geo is an interesting lead character, she has clearly done wrong but I truly felt for her and the suffering she has been through as the result of her actions. The more the story evolves the more we understand of her and why she dealt with certain situations as she did.

Hillier’s writing style is such that it is so easy to absorb and the reading process is effortless and totally engrossing. This is another book that would be great as a holiday read as it can be easily consumed in large chunks. The tension gently builds throughout to culminate in a twist at the end which I admit I did guess but not too long before and I don’t feel that marred my reading experience! Definitely recommended.

My thanks to #NetGalley and #AtlanticBooks for a copy of #JarOfHearts in return for an honest review

This is a suspenseful, gritty and unforgettable novel. Fascinating characters, unsettling details and so many twists make this a real page turner keeping you on the edge of your seat until the last page. My thanks to the author, the publisher and Net Galley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a fantastic book, got you hooked from the start. It was about a couple of teenagers keeping a secret for 14 years, their lives having moved on, then boom, all falling apart and secrets coming out. I absolutely loved and didn't see the twist coming, so well written and kept you hooked

A dark, gritty and totally riveting. I loved it! Highly recommended for .anyone who wants a high suspense thriller

First Love can be murder.

Three best friends, one now a cop, one going to prison and one is dead.

Angela Wong is 16 when she disappears, the other two grow up. Georgina becomes a big-time executive and Kaiser becomes a cop, obsessed with the Angela case. He will stop at nothing to find the truth in a dark web of lies. Georgina has something to hide, apart from the destructive first love she had with the killer Calvin James. Is Georgina involved in her best friend’s disappearance all those years ago?

This book is a compelling read. The author gives you snippets to whet your appetite but not enough for you to guess the whole plot.

The characters are strong as is the story. My only complaint is the number of spelling and grammar errors, 35! This confused me sometimes as the sentences didn’t make sense when the wrong word was used. This did spoil it a bit.

Georgina is a complex character - one minute you like her another you hate her. Kaiser is a little irritating, and I wanted to slap him because he was a bit whingy and love-struck, and easily led by his libido.

All in all, a very good book, that I recommend for any reader who likes a suspense thriller with a murder mixed in.

Chester

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of this book to review.