House of Glass by Sophie Littlefield
Published by Harlequin MIRA
Publication Date February 25, 2014
Source: Bought
Genres: General Fiction
Goodreads
Bestselling author Sophie Littlefield delivers a riveting, ripped-from-the-headlines story about a family put to the ultimate test when two men take them hostage inside their home. Jen Glass has worked hard to achieve the ideal life: a successful career, a beautiful home in an affluent suburb of Minneapolis, a seemingly perfect family. But inside the Glass house, everything is spinning out of Jen's control. Her marriage to her husband, Ted, is on the brink of collapse; her fifteen-year-old daughter grows more distant each day; and her five-year-old son barely speaks a word. Jen is on the verge of breaking, but nothing could have prepared her for what is to come. On an evening that was supposed to be like any other, two men force their way into the Glasses' home, but what begins as a common robbery takes an even more terrifying turn. Held hostage in the basement for more than forty-eight hours, Jen and Ted must put aside their differences if they have any hope of survival. They will stop at nothing to keep their family safe;even if it means risking their own lives. A taut and emotional tale of a family brought together by extraordinary forces, House of Glass is a harrowing exploration of the lengths a mother will go to protect her children, and the power of tragedy to teach us what truly matters. Sophie Littlefield shows considerable skills for delving into the depths of her characters and complex plotting. South Florida Sun-Sentinel
House of Glass is a combination of the TV shows Crisis and Hostage both are suspenseful and deal with being held captive, along with the terror it includes. House of Glass is a lot like that. Ted Glass was very reminiscent of Dermot Mulroney’s character, he just seemed too calm and something didn’t feel quite right. Having said that, one’s suspicion isn’t focused on what I felt was supposed guilt thrown Ted’s way, but has his wife and daughter questioning “what if” what could I have done to cause this domino effect, all the while trying to hold it together for Teddy, the baby in the family.
House of Glass was a little predictable, I have seen Panic Room after all. What could one expect with a novel on a family held captive , I couldn’t see Sophia Littlefield taking inspiration from the home invasion/fire from 2007. It felt a little too gruesome, but how would they escape? It was because of this why I read so reverently.
The criminals themselves were well-developed. While creepy, and left your skin itchy, I didn’t loath them and while I wanted these two to pay I enjoyed reading of their development as characters and the relationship (or lack there of) being hostage and robber.
Overall, House of Glass is an intense read-in-a-day kind of book. Although I would not recommend this for the faint of heart, I am not trying to imply that it is a scared to go to sleep story, it is far from The Shinning but might be a little to intense for some. As for those who like a good thriller, I would highly recommend The House of Glass, a novel that keeps your mind spinning.
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