Jar of Hearts by Jennifer Hillier

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?

π π π π

Based on my WWW Wednesday – June 27, 2018 post, some of you are very intrigued by Jar of Hearts.  I’m happy to say that it’s so much more than a pretty cover, it has an amazing story line with a mystery that had me guessing and thrown off!

This novel won’t be for everyone. It’s graphic both in the murders (which includes children) and sex scenes. It’s an uncomfortable read in that regard.

I was hooked right away. Geo is in court and she needs to testify against her ex-boyfriend, Calvin, who not just murdered her best friend, but also three other women. Geo in this moment knows that she is going to lose everything that she has built for herself, including her career and wealthy fiancé.

I loved that the story went a bit backwards. You learned who is responsible for Angela’s death and they are sent to jail. Then you learn more details about Geo’s and Calvin’s relationship and why they did the things that they did. There is also a new mystery with new bodies appearing after Geo is sent to prison.

5 calculators out of a potential 5!! If the description intrigues you then you must read it! Now excuse me, I’m off to check out Jennifer Hillier’s other novels!

Let’s be friends! Goodreads & Instagram