Wonderland

By: Jennifer Hillier

Narrated by: Eunice Wong

Length: 11 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

From the bestselling author of the hugely popular thrillers Things We Do in the Dark, Little Secrets, and Jar of Hearts comes Wonderland, a roller coaster of a listen. Now in audio for the first time!

After a personal tragedy and professional scandal forces homicide detective Vanessa Castro out of Seattle, she takes a new job in Seaside, Washington, determined to make a fresh start for herself and her family. The small beach town, best known for its popular amusement park, Wonderland, seems like the perfect place to raise her young son and teenage daughter.

But it's not that easy starting over, especially as the town's new Deputy Chief of Police. When a dead body turns up at the park her first day on the job, and then a teenage Wonder Worker goes missing, Vanessa's investigation is met with resistance. After all, Wonderland is the largest amusement park in the Pacific Northwest, attracting tourists from all over the country and providing thousands of jobs for the locals. A scandal that hurts the park hurts the town, but the more questions Vanessa asks, the more questions arise . . . especially when she learns that the missing teenage boy is the not the first park employee to disappear. The deeper she goes, the more she begins to suspect that the terrifying rumors about Wonderland's dark past might actually be true.

Surrounded by secrets, lies, and corruption at the highest levels, Vanessa's family is now in the center of a serial killer's twisted game . . . and there's nobody she can trust but herself.

A Macmillan Audio Production.

©2015 Jennifer Hillier (P)2023 Macmillan Audio

It was good.

It was a good book. Not great but good. It kept me interested. I recognize it.

Amazing Book 👏 Suspense and Mystery at it's Fines

A must Read! the mystery and suspense was amazing it kept me on my toes I love the storyline and the narration was great but I just want to read it again I can't believe I took so many hours listening but it was truly worth the timing a must read.

Fantastic!!

Kept me hooked from the start, and the ending was completely different than what I suspected, she nailed it.

This narrator was difficult to listen to

The story was ok but it was hard to get through because of the narrator.

Love all her books!

They’re all so good, I can’t wait for the next audio book! Great author, always can’t wait to read it in my evenings cooking dinner or on drives.

hard to follow at beginning

I had high hopes, but it was very hard to follow at the beginning. the book would be talking about one person and the next thing I knew it was on someone completely else. It became easier as I learned the patterns, and the ending was good.

Campy and predictable

I am a big fan of other Jennifer Hillier books so I was surprised by this one. Clown museums, porcelain dolls, too many characters and a predictable twist at the end.

FROM 2015 - STILL A GREAT READ!

I didn’t realize this book was from 2015 until the very end, so I kept wondering what why all the references were so dated haha — still a fantastic, entertaining read that will keep you reading. Highly recommend!

Gripping Thriller

https://featzreviews.com/wonderland-book-review/
I am enjoying Jennifer Hillier’s books and I have decided to try and work through all her books this year.
When you reach for Wonderland expect a bone-chilling thriller that takes you on a rollercoaster ride through the seemingly magical and nostalgic Wonderland amusement park in Seaside, Washington. The novel presents a contrast between the enchanting façade of Wonderland during the day and the eerie, mysterious atmosphere that descends after dark.
The story starts with Vanessa Castro’s first day as the deputy police chief in Seaside and quickly takes a dark turn when a decaying body is discovered in the heart of the amusement park. The contrast of excited children enjoying the rides and attractions during the day with the grim discovery at night sets the stage for a riveting mystery.
As Vanessa delves into the investigation, she uncovers a disturbing link between the current crimes and a decades-long history of missing persons associated with Wonderland. The inclusion of a Clown Museum, a House of Horrors, and creepy wax replicas adds layers of macabre detail to the setting, heightening the sense of unease and suspense.
Jennifer Hillier's writing is masterful and fast-paced, keeping you on the edge of your seat as the plot unfolds. The novel skilfully weaves together seemingly disparate elements, gradually revealing connections between the characters and the dark secrets of Wonderland. Vanessa's past, which she hoped to leave behind by moving to Seaside, becomes entangled with the insidious killer's twisted game, adding a personal dimension to the suspense.
The author excels in creating a vivid and atmospheric setting, making Wonderland a character in itself. The Pacific Northwest Ferris wheel, the Giant Octopus ride, and the Spinning Sombrero serve as both the backdrop for innocent childhood joy and the sinister stage for a series of gruesome crimes. Hillier's attention to detail enhances the experience, allowing you to visualize the carnival atmosphere and feel the tension as the mystery deepens.
As the narrative hurtles toward a shocking, bloody conclusion, Hillier keeps the twists coming, leaving you guessing until the final pages. "Wonderland" is a gripping and chilling thriller that combines nostalgia, horror, and suspense, showcasing Jennifer Hillier's talent for crafting a compelling and atmospheric tale of crime and dark secrets. Fans of psychological thrillers with a touch of the macabre will find themselves thoroughly captivated by this rollercoaster of a novel.
I could not walk away from this one. I was completely engrossed from start to end. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. If you haven’t yet, please add this one to your TBR. I have a copy of Creep sitting on my TBR shelf and I cannot wait to dig into that one. I look forward to getting to it soon.

Worth A Purchase

Good book. Can't say it's a great one but definitely worth the credit. Ending could have been more in-depth. Narrator great as always.