House of Glass

by Sarah Pekkanen

 

When a young nanny dies after falling through an upstairs window of her employer’s home, an investigation opens with best interest attorney Stella Hudson coming into the case to decide on the placement of the nine-year-old girl who perhaps witnessed the possible murder. To those on the outside the family appears happy and well-adjusted. They are well off and living a life of luxury in a household which includes the child Rose Barclay, her parents, and Rose’s grandmother.

If the nanny was murdered, the question becomes is Rose safe in the home. Immediately many problems appear that indicate Rose may need to be removed from the home. The parents are in the middle of divorcing. The nanny was pregnant with her employer’s child. Rose refuses to speak at all and is no help as a witness. Everyone in the family appears to be lying and covering up, but who are they covering up for?

Stella is reluctant to take this case because of her own traumatic childhood and usually only takes clients that are teenagers. Once she becomes involved, however, she is determined to help Rose even if Rose herself is the killer. Rose is either covering up for someone or is herself guilty of pushing her nanny out the window. Rose seems to be hording pieces of glass to the point that her family has removed most of the glass in the house and put in plastic. Is Rose hoarding weapons to protect herself or to kill someone else in the household?

The atmosphere in the house is unnerving for Stella and perhaps dangerous. Everyone inside the house is suspicious as is the nanny’s boyfriend. It seems impossible to decide how to protect Rose or who to protect her from so Stella puts herself in danger and sets a trap for the killer.

Stella is a smart and interesting hero with an unusual job. I was interested in how she would handle the investigation which had to be done quickly. While her past played a part in the story, I didn’t feel that it overwhelmed the main storyline. Rose’s intelligence is obvious but so is her fear. The question is who is she afraid of or is she just afraid of being caught. Definitely a mystery and a thriller and one that keeps you guessing. I think this character would make a great subject for a series.