Thank you so much to the publisher and netgalley for my e-arc in exchange for an honest review! THE CHILDREN ON THE HILL publishes today, April 26!

I’m pretty sure this is a case of, it’s not the book, it’s me. I really enjoyed McMahon’s book from last year, The Drowning Kind, and was so excited about this one! I’m feeling a little “slumpy” in my reading. I found this book kind of slow, and that not much happened until the very end, which was intense!! I really liked the ending!

The book still had the classic creepy vibes that McMahon is known for in her books- the setting and premise of the book has all the creepy vibes.

If you have read and enjoyed Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, you will really enjoy this book! The author draws heavily on it, even naming a “character” Lizzy Shelley. The quotation marks are there for a reason, one that you will understand after reading the book! By the end of the book, you will question what “makes” a monster? Who can you trust?

Overall, I still recommend this book, just because it didn’t work for me right now, I know lots of people will love this one! I full intend to continue reading the backlist books from this author!

The Children on the Hill by Jennifer McMahon  is a psychological thriller.

First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Simon and Schuster Canada and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.


My Synopsis:   (No major reveals, but if concerned, skip to My Opinions)
Vi and Eric grew up in Vermont with their gran, psychiatrist Dr. Helen Hildreth.  Gran ran The Hillside Inn, a hospital noted for their unique and compassionate work with the mentally ill.  Gran often brought patients home to live with them for a night, or a week, or so.  She felt that a "home" environment was beneficial to their recovery.

Then one day, Gran brings home Iris, a girl who doesn't speak, and when she does, she remembers nothing, not even her name. Gran says no one is to know she is living with them.  Vi is determined to find out everything she can about Iris...who she starts to think of as her sister.

Vi and Eric invite Iris to join their "Monster Club", where they are documenting all sorts of monsters and ways to banish or kill them.  Vi does the writing, and Eric draws their pictures.  Iris can help.  They discover that monsters are closer than they think.

Forty years have past, and 53 year old Lizzy Shelley is still chasing monsters.  She and her brother changed their names, but some things never change. Lizzy is the host of a really popular podcast, and is travelling the country searching for monsters.  She has a fully customized van, and she's been searching for Sasquatches, vampires, werewolves, etc.

But the monster Lizzy is really after is her sister.


My Opinions:
This was great.  The story is told in different timelines and different perspectives,  including blurbs from the "Monster Book" that the children were writing, and an article written by a journalist.  Then  there is "Lizzie's" story of her hunt for her sister/monster.

The plot was so well thought out, and the whole thing was really well written.  The characters were deep, and the topic of eugenics was rather disturbing.  The overall creepiness of the mental hospital was really well done.

The pace was good. The suspense continued to build, and when the twist came, I was stunned.  Absolutely loved it, and if that wasn't enough, the ending was!  It was a very atmospheric novel, with evil and monsters everywhere.

McMahon is an amazing writer, and I definitely recommend this one.

Here's hoping your next read is 5 stars !!!

OOOOh this was such a twisty psychological cat and mouse thriller with the best kind of jaw dropping identity swap reveal. You can't trust anyone in this dual timeline story set in the present as monster hunter Lizzy gets contacted by a serial killer from her past she's always been tracking but never been able to catch.

In the past we learn more about Lizzy's childhood, her grandmother, her brother and the new 'sister' her grandmother brings home. The three children bond over their Monster catching club not knowing that the scariest monster lives among them.

Creepy, twisty and deliciously unputdownable! Highly recommended if you enjoy a good psychological thriller. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance review copy!

CW: human experiments, abuse of children

I initially believed this would be a bit more of a horror-type novel based on the synopsis (which is a genre I usually don’t read much of) but it was definitely more of a creepy-psychological and suspenseful read. Overall, I really enjoyed it. Authors exploring “nature vs nurture” in their plot lines can be done either very well or poorly, and in the case of The Children on the Hill, McMahon writes very well, and the story flowed easily. I would suggest going into this book with little to no idea of the plot as it unfolds in a satisfying way on its own.
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for this ARC!
3.5 rounded up!

Holy cow what a story i absolutely loved the now and then timeline, how they are searching for a monster in the present and how it all came about years ago when they lived with their grandma and Holly cow was i ever surprised by the ending so well done

I was so excited to receive an arc of this upcoming release. I am a huge fan of McMahon- her books are psychological thrillers with elements of the supernatural, always creepy and bone-chilling. Things are never as they seem in her stories and her writing really draws me in.

Inspired by Mary Shelley’s masterpiece Frankenstein, this book jumps between two timelines: 1978, where Vi lives with her brother and psychiatrist grandmother who runs a treatment center in Vermont and 2019, where Lizzy Shelley spends her time hunting down material for her 'Monsters Among Us' podcast

"Some monsters are born that way. Some are made".

The premise of this book was very intriguing. Who doesn't love Mary Shelley’s masterpiece and the deeper meaning behind the monster? The mystery unraveled slowly like a ball of yarn, each thread bringing you closer to the truth. But like Frankenstein, it's not always clear who the real monsters are and what made them that way..

The topics addressed in this story had me audibly gasping. The final reveal was an emotional gut punch. I did not see any of the twists coming. The beginning was a little slow but trust me, this book is WORTH IT. It's hard to say much more without giving anything away, but I recommend going into this book blind and you will not be disappointed.

One thing I love about McMahon's books is that they primarily take place in Vermont. My parents have a house in Vermont so I understand the creepy lure. Never-ending fields. Far from civilization. Isolation. It's an excellent atmosphere which enhances her novels.

Thank you to #netgalley and #simonandschuster for an arc in exchange for my honest review!

Children on the Hill is a twisted but gripping read that grabs you from the first page.

Monsters are every where .

The book is told in dual time line which works very well and little by little you learn clues of the 2 sisters lives.

The past has them living on the grounds of a psychiatric institution (which is described so well , I wanted to run) with their brother and Gran.

The present has girls mysteriously disappearing and somehow its tied to those monsters.

The lights stayed on as I raced to the ending as my heart was pounding.

The ending was the best.

Don't miss this twisted but oh so riveting tale.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada, Simon & Schuster for a nail biting read.

Vi and Eric live with their Gran, a renowned psychiatrist. They spend their days hunting for monsters and compiling their findings. One day Gran brings home Iris who does not speak and has no memory of where she came from. Vi makes it her mission to find out more about Iris’ past and in doing so uncover some shocking secrets. This was terrific and the twists floored me. Thanks to NetGalley & Simon & Schuster Canada for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Jennifer McMahon has been on my radar for a while. I actually own a couple of her earlier works but as many of us with impossible large TBR piles I just haven't gotten around to them yet, so The Children on the Hill was my first book by this author. It most definitely won't be the last.

In 1978 Vermont, Violet and Eric are being raised by their grandmother who happens to be a psychiatrist in charge of a psychiatric facility known for its innovative way of working with those experiencing mental health difficulties. The Hillside Inn lends itself to fanning the flames of their imagination, their fascination with monsters and leads to them starting a Monster Club. Their grandmother brings home a little girl who does not remember her past and the three kids start bonding in unexpected ways.

In 2019, Lizzy Shelley is a professional monster hunter and a popular podcaster. She travels the country in search of the stories surrounding the monsters. When she hears that a young girl has gone missing in Vermont after supposedly encountering a local monster "Rattling Jane", Lizzy knows it's time to revisit her past.

What a captivating retelling of Frankenstein. The isolated asylum with creepy, mysterious vibes. A mix of genres combined with such thoughtful exploration of deep topics like family, love, how monsters are created, all make for such an engrossing read. I particularly loved the fact that the ending left me feeling so satisfied as a reader.

My rating: 4.5 rounded up to 5

A big thank you to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Canada and the author for the ARC gifted in exchange for an honest review.

The Children on the Hill caught me off guard with one big twist.

It’s 1978, and when Vi and Eric complete their homeschool assignments, they spend their free time obsessing over monsters. They even began writing a book about it called “The Book of Monsters.”

The two siblings live with their grandmother, Dr. Helen Hildreth, a renowned psychiatrist, on the grounds of the Hillside Inn. Dr. Hildreth is well-respected for her compassionate approach to treating people with various mental health symptoms.

One day, Dr. Hildreth introduces a young girl named Iris to her grandchildren, informing them that she will be living with them for the foreseeable future. Though she’s somewhat odd, the kids accept her, even inviting her to join their monster club.

2019: Lizzy, a popular podcaster, begins searching for a monster called Rattling Jane. She suspects that Rattling Jane is responsible for the disappearance of a young girl. Lizzy is confident she knows who is masquerading as Rattling Jane.

If like me, you haven’t read Frankenstein but understand the gist, you’ll still probably enjoy this without any background knowledge.

It took a while for me to become invested in this story because monsters like Sasquatch and Big Foot do not hold much interest to me. But once the story started rolling, I couldn’t put this down and was even frightened at certain points. The author nailed creating a creepy, anxious atmosphere with both timelines.

Without getting into it too much, I liked that the author explored such a dark subject. It’s wild to think that people vouch for it even today.

I recommend The Children on the Hill to those looking for an eerie story ripe with monsters.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Canada for providing an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

https://booksandwheels.com

This was my first book by Jennifer McMahon, and it won't be my last.
This was such a good read that kept you engaged throughout the whole story. I really enjoyed the different POVS and timelines throughout the book.
This book was different, but in such a good way! The ending was not one that you would expect as the outcome and I think that's also part of what made this book different from others I've read.
Thank you Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for my EARC of this copy!

It’s been awhile since I’ve read a Jennifer McMahon book. This one sounded so interesting and I went in reading Frankenstein a couple weeks ago. It’s not necessary but I’m glad I did.

Alternating between 1977 and 2017, more so the past story line and that is the one that really appealed to me.

In 1977 you know something isn’t quite right and with the appearance of Iris, out of the blue sets Vi out to discover where she came from. All three kids, Eric, Vi and Iris are obsessed with monsters which leads to The Book of Monsters which is dispersed throughout this story.

In 2017 the story continues 40 years later with mysterious disappearances and the past resurfacing. I enjoyed the intrigue and couldn’t quite figure things out.

This was a mysterious creepy read, there was suspense, intrigue and that genuine ghosty feel throughout. There were twists that threw me a couple times. But while I found the ending to be good and satisfying the execution lacked the tension and suspense that would have completed the vibes created in this book.

The Children On The Hill releases April 26 and available for preorder now.

My thanks to Simon & Schuster CA for a digital arc in exchange for a honest review.

Well that was quite a ride! I enjoyed every minute of this monster tale. I knew that this had something to do with Frankenstein going in, but I had no idea how very unique and very my kind of book this actually was going to be. I loved the dual timeline between the two sisters and the guessing game of what happened to bring us here. I also loved the little insights that we got into The Monster and their origin story. Even the ending was absolutely perfect. I loved that the story just oozed atmosphere and creepiness. I would definitely read another McMahon book.

4.5 STARS - Jennifer McMahon excels at slow burn, eerie suspense. In her latest book, The Children On The Hill, she has written an atmospheric and well-written story told by multiple POVs that blends past and present, pulling readers into a clever, chilling and engaging read.

”Monsters are real. They're all around us, whether we can see them or not.”

Inspired by Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, the book has an eerie feel as Lizzie Shelley, a monster-chasing podcaster in 2019, sets her sights on a string of abductions of young girls thought to be the act of a modern-day 'monster'. Lizzie fears she's well acquainted with the monster. This leads Lizzie to remember her unconventional upbringing with her brother Eric who were raised by their grandmother, a renowned psychiatrist at a psychiatric hospital in rural Vermont. The siblings have vivid imaginations and believing that monsters exist, they have written their own Book of Monsters and when their grandmother suddenly brings a young girl named Iris into their home, she tells them that this is their new sister. But where did she come from? Even Iris cannot tell them.

This is a good book to go into blind. The tension builds well, and I enjoyed the multiple POVs (including the monster) as well as excerpts from the kids' Book of Monsters and snippets from a book written by a journalist about the goings-on at the hospital in the 1970's. This a great pick for people who like a story with a sinister feel and while the ending wasn't quite as strong as I had hoped, this was an excellent atmospheric story that will take readers on a monster hunt and make them question who the real monsters are in our world.

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to Scout Press for my advanced paperback copy of this book provided in exchange for my honest review.

Trigger Warnings: Child abuse, Death, Torture, Trauma

Other Books I've Read by Jennifer McMahon (click for review):
The Night Sister
The Drowning Kind

This is pretty fun! It really reminded me of the books I liked reading in high school - classic monster hunting stuff - so to find something like that in my adulthood is really nice. I will admit, I did guess the twist pretty early on BUT it was one of those books were the reveal makes it worth it even if you have guessed it, a nice little AHA moment. There was also a lot of this book that made me gasp, so even though I had guessed the main twist a lot of the other plot points were still shocking!! This really made me want to check out more of McMahon's work - I think her writing style is really nice and I love a timeline shift in a book so this was right up my alley! A solid 4 for me :)

THank you to NetGalley, Jennifer McMahon and Simon & Schuster Canada for the free e-book in exchange for an honest review.

I have grown to really enjoy reading the very unique and creepy storylines that McMahon provides and this one isn't any different. I really enjoyed the two timelines and seeing it all come together slowly one chapter at a time. I liked the idea behind this one and the mental type hospital. I can't say much without giving important details away, so just go read it! It's worth it.

WOW.

I was not expecting to love this one as much as I did! I was initially pulled into the book via the intriguing synopsis, but CHILDREN ON THE HILL was so, so much more.

This one hits on quite a few hard themes (child abuse especially) and really speaks to how the "real" monsters are sometimes those closest to us.

Full of twists and turns, CHILDREN ON THE HILL is highly recommended and I will definitely be diving into this authors backlist ASAP!

Thank you to Netgalley for my #arc

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Shuster Canada for an egalley in exchange for an honest review.
Wow, Jennifer McMahon can spin a tale and whip up a suspense-filled novel that keeps me riveted to my couch like no other.

From page 1, I was hooked on this tale as the novel bounces back and forth from 2019 to 1978. In the 1978 storyline, VI and Eric live with Gran, a successful doctor in Vermont who runs a psychiatric facility known as the Inn. Vi and Eric are always on the hunt for monsters and write and illustrate a book on how to find and catch them. The children are asked to look after the new arrival, Iris who cannot remember anything about her life before arriving at the Inn. Increasingly, the children are curious about what exactly their grandmother is doing and what a strange monster known as the Ghoul has to do with it. In the 2019 storyline, we meet Lizzy, a podcaster who specializes in stories of the supernatural desperately seeking her sister and finding that her path leads to Vermont and the recent disappearance of a local girl.

I don't dabble in the horror genre at all, don't really like monster movies but Jennifer McMahon creates enough of a creepy atmosphere that I probably am better off sleeping with the lights on. All I know is that with each book I read of this author, I become more and more accepting that I will just travel down any dark path she takes me on- no matter what monsters lie waiting for me.




Expected publication 26/04/22
Goodreads review 25/03/22

Son Of A Pillsbury Dough Biscuits!! 😯😳😯😳😱🤯🤯

Oh My Fluff! FLUFF!! Jaw unhinged! Unbelievable!! The creepiness factor with this novel is off the richter scale! Think modern Frankenstein novel take. I didn't think I'd adore this as much as I did, but I surprised even myself! I mean.. what... who... What?! But then?! But she!? ... FLUFF ME!!!! 😳😳
This book goes back and forth of the telling by Violet from 1978 to 2019. In 1978, as a tween, she talks about her brother Eric, who is also obsessed with monsters & how to capture, understand and kill them; & her grandmother, Dr. Helen who is a brilliant psychiatrist, owns & runs a place called The Inn, in Vermont. She brings home a girl, Iris, one summer to stay with them who is far from normal, but soon adapts to her new life & becomes a sister to Violet. Violet partakes her wisdom onto Iris about monsters and how they are real and everywhere. In 2019, Lizzy is a podcast host of Monsters Among Us, recently becoming very infamous, hears about a girl disappearance in Vermont and knows this monster is not only real, but very well known to her.
The absolute suspense, the thrill, the creepiness is absolutely divine in this fab hit by McMahon! The queen of creepy feels, the empress of suspense has done it once again. Dark, twisted, fluffed up, crazy, & delectable! Unrelenting with its story.

Thank you to NetGalley & Simon & Schuster Canada for this DARC.
Release Date: April 26, 2022

I give this 5 / 5 Bouquets! 💐

This is a really good book, the twists towards the end were totally unexpected and had me turning pages quickly. In 1978, Vi and Eric live with their grandmother in an old Inn where she works as a psychiatrist, Vi and Eric's parents passed away in a car accident and their grandmother has been caring for them since then. One day she brings a young girl, around Vi's age, to stay with them. Iris has no memory of her life before she arrived at the Inn, she has surgical scars on her body but does not know from what. Vi and Eric are monster enthusiasts, they watch every monster type movie and book they can, have also created their own Monster Club which Iris becomes a part of. In 2019, Lizzy has a podcast, Monsters Among Us, she pursues leads provided by listeners of the podcast about monsters they have spotted. This has enabled her to visit every state, except the one from her childhood. Interspersed through the story are excerpts from a book based on the Inn where Vi and Eric's grandmother worked and what happened at the Inn. There are also excerpts from the monster manual created by Vi and Eric. All of these story lines come together very nicely, like I mentioned I did not see the twists. Highly recommend. Thank you to #Netgalley and #Galley/Scout Press for the ARC.