Jennifer McMahon repurposes Mary Shelley's Frankenstein in a fascinating and deadly cat-and-mouse game between sisters. Toggling between the past and the present cleverly prolongs the mystery, filling in the necessary details at a measured clip. The past builds atmosphere and dread effectively; you're waiting for the shoe to drop on pending tragedy. The present is less engaging as the podcast Lizzy Shelley tirelessly pursues a sister she's sure is taunting her with deaths. How these two timelines eventually intersect leads to what feels like a rushed conclusion, and familiarity with Frankenstein might make it much easier for a reader to connect the dots ahead of reveals.

Such a fun and interesting book! To weave Frankenstein and Eugenics together is so smart! I will be excited for her next book!

Oh wow. Just when you think you have it all figured out - you know nothing - the clues mean nothing. The story has left you twisting in the wind. The perpetrator is hunting the victim - is that right or reverse? What a masterful story of gothic horror except it is steeped in truth, history and what has gone before. Oh, the words - the images they convey - the staccato punches of phrases and what they might mean but maybe not. There is a sense of normalcy - almost. But something is slightly off - just enough to make you want to look behind the curtain, dig a little deeper. Be careful because there are outrageous thoughts and actions and scary stuff lurking just outside the carved wooden sign that spelled out “HOPE”.

Warped genius, freakish experiments, closed and locked doors, terror within Vermont’s Hillside Inn, considered one of the best psychiatric facilities- and in that one word is the beginning of all that is to come. Eugenics - it should make your blood pressure spike and reveal that horrors abound.

Remember, “monsters are unpredictable. This is one of the things that make them truly dangerous and must be remembered whenever you face one.” Beware you are about to face the worst of them.

Thank you NetGalley and Scout Press for a copy of this astounding book.

*Thank you to Gallery books, Jennifer McMahon, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review*

Previously at https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/the-children-on-the-hill/

“Sometimes human places create inhuman monsters.”

‒ Stephen King

Do you believe in monsters? In Vermont, in 1978, Violet and Eric are living their best lives as carefree children, taken in by their grandma after their parents die in a car accident. They are home-schooled, but no one is actually teaching them. The children teach themselves; they ride their bikes; they make their own lunches, and they start their own monster club. Vi and Eric even have a home in the woods for their monster club, where they have their monster tools and monster book to help them hunt. Their grandma is the director of The Hillside Inn, a lunatic asylum, deep in the woods of Vermont. They are home-schooled because they are not allowed to mingle with townspeople or other children. Their Grandma thinks they are too smart for everyone else.

When Gran brings home Iris, she is very secretive about who the young girl is. Iris is a shell of a girl with scars all over her body and selectively mute. Their Grandmother tells them to be good to her and to report back on how she does. To “treat her like a sister”, she instructs them. Vi, being extremely intelligent with a natural curiosity, she can’t let it rest. She is determined to find out who Iris is, especially because Vi’s scars match Iris’ almost perfectly. Vi investigates the locked basement at the asylum, BWest, that their Gran told them never to go into.

The Children on the Hill has dual timelines; 1978 when they are all children and 2019, where Lizzy Shelley is a popular podcaster and monster hunter. She has become famous for her role since she was on a TV special about hunting monsters. But in actuality, she spends her time looking for her long-lost sister, whom she believes is a serial killer, responsible for many teenage girls who have gone missing. The dual timelines work well in this book, as we get to know Vi and Iris as children and as adults.

All of Jennifer McMahon’s books have a dark aroma to them. This is no exception. It is at once, creepy, dark and isolating, where the reader (me) wants to turn on all the lights in the room. The author has a way of creating multi-layered characters, with creepy atmospheres and surprising twists. There are always unreliable voices and a perfectly put together story that only makes sense as you get to the last pages. It is a direct parallel to Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, where a monster is not born but created and it does not end well.

Another reader described the twist at the end as delicious, and that is very true. I did not see it coming, and it made this amazing horror story even better. Kudos to Jennifer McMahon for a horror book that has you looking under your bed before you go to sleep to make sure there are no monsters hiding.

Finished this fun monster hunt today. Another solid McMahon novel. I loved the dual story lines and am a sucker for the science gone wrong trope. I figured out the first twist early on, but it let me read the book from a different angle and did not take away from my enjoyment of the story. The ending was unexpected and satisfying, like most of her books. This would be a fun series; I'm hoping for a sequel.
Thanks to #netgalley and the publisher for an #arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to publisher, author, and NetGalley for giving me this arc in exchange for my honest review!

W O W! What a thrill. This book kept me engaged and focused. It kept me guessing and I had no idea it was going to end the way it did! What an incredible story. If you’re looking to read a quick engaging thriller, this is the one!

Interesting concept for a thriller. I'm not much into the "monster" theme, so I wasn't sure I would enjoy this, but the way it worked out was well done. I am fascinated by the horrible way we once treated the mentally ill and this provided a new look into an old concept (I won't reveal it to avoid spoilers). While it was horrifying, it was not surprising. Great character development and I appreciated not knowing for sure who the main "now" character was in the flashbacks until the end - I definitely was guessing the entire book, but didn't feel completely sure until the reveal. I didn't like this as much as a previous McMahon book I've read, but it was still good and I'll definitely read more.

This book was well-written and suspenseful. There are many twists and turns and an ending that is not expected.

The story follows the exploits of a doctor at a mental institution and very grandchildren. The kids are fascinated with monsters, and this fascination continues into adulthood, as told in alternating storylines: their lives as kids in the 1970s and their adult lives now.

The kids watch monster movies, form a monster-hunting club, and write a "book" about monsters and the truths they came up with--oddly correct truths for ones so young.

The book explores the nature of monsters, leading to a conclusion about what monsters really are.

I've read hundreds of horror novels and stories, and this is one of the best.

I don't know exactly how to describe this book, which is a mixture of the thriller, horror, and mystery genres, so I'll defer to the book description:

"1978: at her renowned treatment center in picturesque Vermont, the brilliant psychiatrist, Dr. Helen Hildreth, is acclaimed for her compassionate work with the mentally ill. But when she's home with her cherished grandchildren, Vi and Eric, she’s just Gran—teaching them how to take care of their pets, preparing them home-cooked meals, providing them with care and attention and love.

Then one day Gran brings home a child to stay with the family. Iris—silent, hollow-eyed, skittish, and feral—does not behave like a normal girl.

Still, Violet is thrilled to have a new playmate. She and Eric invite Iris to join their Monster Club, where they catalogue all kinds of monsters and dream up ways to defeat them. Before long, Iris begins to come out of her shell. She and Vi and Eric do everything together: ride their bicycles, go to the drive-in, meet at their clubhouse in secret to hunt monsters. Because, as Vi explains, monsters are everywhere.

2019: Lizzy Shelley, the host of the popular podcast Monsters Among Us, is traveling to Vermont, where a young girl has been abducted, and a monster sighting has the town in an uproar. She’s determined to hunt it down, because Lizzy knows better than anyone that monsters are real—and one of them is her very own sister.

The Children on the Hill takes us on a breathless journey to face the primal fears that lurk within us all."

OK, one other reason I did that is this book is so amazing and creative, and it's best to go into it as blind as possible, and I don't know exactly how to go about describing it without giving away too much information. It's like an amazing puzzle that you can just tell from the beginning is going to be beautiful and extraordinary when finished, so you just enjoy the ride getting there. An wow, is it a good ride!

The book is told along two main timelines: the 1978 timeline from Violet's point of view, and the modern-day storyline with Lizzie, interspersed with excerpts from the "Book of Monsters" written by Violet and her siblings as children and some chapters by "The Monster." The book flows really well between each viewpoint and I was never confused or overwhelmed by the storyline. And the ending was just perfect for the book overall. It was such a great fit. That's all I can say.

I cannot recommend this book enough for lovers of mystery/thrillers, horror, suspense and everything in between. It was a great time reading and left me wanting more from this author, who has proven her writing chops time and time again.

Don't miss out on this one!

Jennifer McMahon has never let me down! The story follows Eric and Vi as children through adulthood. They are raised by their grandmother in an unconventional fashion. She is an esteemed psychiatrist and works at a mental hospital on the same property as their home. The children are used to her bringing home different patients. They are really happy when she brings home another child called Iris. The kids take her on as an adopted sister. They soon learn that Iris has no idea where she came form and set out to solve the mystery.

The book has lots of twists and turns and will keep you guessing until the end.

The Children On The Hill by Jennifer McMahon

I want to start out saying I have read a ton of books this year already I believe I am 80 something books in for the year and well this is the best book I have read this year so far it is that good. This is a retelling of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein and boy oh boy Jennifer McMahon did not disappoint. I read this book slowly because I did not want it to end and I wanted to savor each little morsel of this great story.

The main characters are Dr. Helen Hildreth who appears to have a god complex but when you read this you will understand. Violet Hildreth or Vi for short she is someone you connect with instantly in the story she starts off as a young girl along with her brother Eric they formed a monster club. Later in the story another sister arrives who is Iris.

This story follows two time lines one when they are kids and one timeline the adult version of the kid. The story had a little creepy vibe to it and that made the story even better. I cannot stop speaking about this book. I recommend anyone who likes retelling's or a good creepy story this book is for you it is that good.

There are some surprises where you get the WTF moments and that add so much to the story. This is a book that I will return to and read again in the future it is one that just needs to be read.

Lizzy Shelley is a pod-caster who talks about the monsters amongst us. I like the bits about the monster it is something that just connected with me. I cannot stop giving so much praise to this book. I will go back and read other things from this author she knows how to hook her reader in to her in depth character development she throws a few twists that give you the WTF moment that makes for great story telling.

All you horror lovers need to read this one.

Thank you to Netgalley and Gallery Books for a free copy of this book for an honest review.

While I finished this entire book, I did have some qualms with it. Mainly that I enjoyed the sections concerning the children's past more than I did the discoveries the reader made while reading what was happening to them in the present. I do think that readers who enjoy thrillers ans mysteries and are squeamish about horror novels will enjoy it. I just personally felt that some sections left something to be desired and I wish the reader had been left with more ambiguity about the Frankenstein connection instead of being hammered over the head with the word monster. That being said, I would absolutely give reading Jennifer McMahon another shot.

A great read! As a fan of Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein," I enjoyed how the story was inspired by this monster classic but still told in a unique way. "The Children on the Hill" contains many characteristics that I believe readers will be attracted to; while multiple mysteries are unraveling we're also hunting for monsters and tracking down missing persons cases. There's mystery, psychological suspense, supernatural elements, and even family drama with some twists to keep the reader guessing!

THE CHILDREN ON THE HILL Review – A Not-So-Scary Novel About the Monsters of Our Past

Maddy Flowers Sheehy calls this novel a fun young adult read but not scary enough for gore-loving horror fans.

THE CHILDREN ON THE HILL is the new novel by Jennifer McMahon, the New York Times bestselling author of The Drowning Kind (2021). The suspenseful thriller published by Simon & Schuster, Gallery Books, and Scout Press spans four decades, following monster-loving Violet, a 13-year-old girl in 1978 Vermont. The novel propels forward to 2019, where we meet Lizzy Shelley, host of the podcast Monsters Among Us returns to her childhood home in search of real monsters following the abduction of a young girl.

In 1978, we meet Violet living with her little brother Eric and grandmother Dr. Helen Hildreth, “Gran” to the children. Gran is a loving caretaker, home-schooling the two children. She teaches them how to be kind, compassionate, and curious. Gran is a well-known psychiatrist at a treatment center in Vermont, home to many mentally ill and troubled patients at her day job.

Gran brings home a young girl to stay with them named Iris. Iris doesn’t talk. She’s anxious and acts skittish. Eric and Violet welcome her into the family immediately, and she joins their Monster Club. In this secret activity, they track and write about monsters in the “Book of Monsters” guide they’ve created. The more we learn about Gran’s professional life and the mysterious goings-on at the treatment center, we discover that monsters may be more real than the kids ever imagined. After snooping around in forbidden areas, eavesdropping on phone calls, and making connections with a nurse at the treatment center, Violent suspects her Gran might not be who she’s grown up to believe.

Fast-forward to 2019, Violet has renamed herself Lizzy Shelley and hosts a paranormal podcast chronicling her travels across the country, investigating monster sightings. She’s on the trail of a long-hunted monster, who she suspects is her estranged sister Iris. The reader is in the dark about what traumatic incident occurred in 1978 and what fractured the family.

THE CHILDREN ON THE HILL is an engaging read, with chapters switching the narratives between Violet, Lizzy, news articles about the treatment center, and the kid’s “Book of Monsters.” This unique form of storytelling is a great way to slowly feed the reader bits and pieces of the mystery, with other background details and information falling into place as the story unfolds. The shifting narratives between past and present and news article excerpts help drive the mounting tension and feelings of suspense and dread, but the final payoff sadly doesn’t satisfy after the build-up. The scares are consistently eerie but didn’t create any fear for me that suited my definition of horror. The reveals are more subdued than shocking, especially when Lizzy is investigating her sister’s whereabouts and the truth of Gran’s activities at the treatment center.

While said to be inspired by Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1818), influences from recent science-fiction and horror films and television like Stranger Things (2016), American Horror Story: Asylum (2012), and even Malignant (2021) are evident. McMahon’s novel is an excellent choice for young adult readers looking to dive into the genre. However, for fans of grittier horror fiction, it might disappoint. While the novel’s pacing and shifting narrative kept me turning the page, it fails to contain anything that will terrify horror fans. The plot may not offer enough depth for those looking for more mature literature. In every chapter I read, I expected a shocking scene with gruesome details, but I came to find that this wasn’t that type of story. As the mystery reveals, there are tinges of more sinister content waiting for the reader’s pleasure, but the twists and shocks never fully satisfied.

The young adult aspect made me incredibly nostalgic throughout the 1978 storyline. The children’s Monster Club and their ever-evolving “Book of Monsters” were fun to read, and it reminded me of projects I created for myself as a pre-teen. Bike rides on summer nights, catching and caring for wildlife in the woods, and playing outside until I was tan, muddy, and exhausted were some of my favorite parts of being a kid, and THE CHILDREN ON THE HILL captured that spirit perfectly.

While the 1978 narrative is realistic, readers may cringe at the dialogue for the 2019 teenagers. The authenticity of McMahon’s characters is lost as she writes unrealistic quips for modern teens. That side of the plot was a miss for me.

Ultimately, THE CHILDREN ON THE HILL was not for me, despite having no trouble finishing it in just a few sittings. The young adult aspects were a bit simple, and plot points are spelled out, but it’s engaging enough to finish. I have nothing against popcorn fun or a light read, but I was expecting something scarier after reading the plot summary, with allusions to Frankenstein, Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1886), and primal fears. I’d recommend this novel to those who want a breezy read that includes creepy, atmospheric settings and a trauma-filled coming of age story but won’t be disappointed by the lack of thrilling scares and gore.

THE CHILDREN ON THE HILL is available today. Buy the book on Amazon and Barnes & Noble in Hardcover and Paperback, ebook, and Audiobook.

I read about 20% of this one, but I didn’t really like the long chapters and didn’t understand the direction it was going in. Unfortunately, I didn’t like this one, but might return to it at a later time when the mood strikes. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me a free copy.

Once again, Jennifer McMahon's creativity drew me in and amazed me. I love that real world meets (a hint of) make believe and challenges what you know to be true.

I first came across Jennifer McMahon’s writing with The Winter People which still remains my favorite. This was less creepy and supernatural to me but I love the idea of monsters, urban lore, Frankenstein and science all meshed together. I think this may be a broader and more accessible read to many but still long for her earlier style. Definitely enjoyed though.

While this book is described as “genre-defying,” I felt it was a fairly straightforward thriller, employing commonly seen tropes in this genre including isolated locale, missing child(ren), and a few more that may be spoilers. I liked that the sinister nature of the book was both visible and subtle depending on the time period / POV, and enjoyed the exposé book about the Hillside Inn being cut into the narrative, getting you to ask questions and look for clues. What didn’t work for me was getting zero insight into the villain’s convictions or medical epiphany - an unsatisfying hole for me, and a big miss for character development. The children were more successful in their stories, personalities, and voices. I’ll admit that I thought had it all figured out ahead of time, that I was successfully misdirected until the very last twist, which was a good one. The ending wasn’t what I’d predict for this type of book, and overall I really wanted a lot more tension.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book!

Story started off very slow for me and I was ready to DNF, but I’m glad I didn’t. I really ended up enjoying this story. The twist did catch me by surprise which was good. I also would have liked more backstory on the grandmother in this book as well. Overall, it was a good read and I enjoyed this story way better than The Drowning Kind, by this author.

Perfect book at the perfect time and I tore through it! I've always loved the black and white creature features. This book is an inventive riff on a classic. The story unfolds through alternating timelines in a way that made it hard for me to put down!

If you were a kid that loved Scooby Doo and classic creature feature movies, I think you will love it!

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#ChildrenOnTheHill