The Children on the Hill by Jennifer McMahon

In 1978 Vermont, Vi and Eric have a hybrid sort of carefree yet also highly structured life. Carefree because they are able, behind their Gran's back, to have a clubhouse in the woods where their Monster Club is housed. They get to ride their bikes to the drive in movies late at night, they get to have pets, and assist their Gran with some of her simple science endeavors. They can play in the great outdoors and their homeschooling puts them way ahead of other children their age. But they aren't allowed to mingle with the townspeople or kids their age. Gran doesn't think those people are good enough for them so Vi and Eric live a lonely life when it comes to human interaction. Sure there is the groundskeeper and the receptionist at Gran's clinic but they are usually chasing them away or being mean to them. And there are the mentally ill patients of Gran's but do they ever get better?

Gran is a psychiatrist and she and her work associate are very secretive about their work, what with patient confidentiality and all. But Vi is extremely smart and curious and when Gran brings home a sad, broken girl, thirteen years old like Vi, and says Iris is going to be their new sister, Vi can't just let things rest. Iris has a scar across her head, she seems to be empty inside, a shell of a girl. But Vi and Eric let her join the Monster Club and teach her all about monsters and what to look for when you hunt them.

There is also the 2019 timeline with Lizzy Shelley, who hosts the popular podcast, Monsters Among Us. Lizzy has a lot of fans now since she gained fame on TV for her monster hunts. But her strongest ambition is to find her long lost sister, a human monster, who might be responsible for girls who have gone missing. Both timelines work well, interspersed with each other, as we get to know Vi and Iris and the horrors they encounter, and Lizzy, who can't let the past go.

Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for this ARC.

The Children on the Hill keeps the reader guessing on whether it is a supernatural tale or merely humans acting monstrously. This was a very engaging book that I read in one sitting. The author did a great job of building suspense and giving *just* enough information about the past while moving forward in the present. I could have done without the very last chapter, as I preferred it how it ended a bit nicer before, but I understand the intent and think many readers will enjoy it. Perfect for a book club read!

This book brings up some interesting things to ponder: are the scariest monsters internal or external? Which is more difficult to concur? Which should we be more afraid of? A fun and interesting thriller full of strange twists and monstrous turns.

This is only the second book I’ve read of this author and I am hooked. The book takes place in two timelines and multiple points of view. Vi and her brother Eric live with their grandmother who is a brilliant psychiatrist who works with the mentally ill. One day the grandmother brings home a girl named Iris who is one of her patients. The girl acts strange and Vi takes on the task of helping her to behave normal. Vi and Eric are fascinated by monsters and bring Iris into their monster group. Soon Vi starts getting suspicious about what her grandmother is doing at the institution.

Lizzy is a monster hunter and is always traveling, on the hunt for monsters. The monster she really wants to catch is her sister. Girls have been going missing for years and she believes her sister is responsible. Her hunt is dangerous but she is determined.

I figured out one of the twists but the ending got me. There is a lot of tension and it made me anxious to see what was next. This is a good one!

This story gives an inside view of a practically secret, side of history. Eugenics. Dr. Hildreth is a psychiatrist, with surgical training as well. She runs a treatment center for psychiatric patient who are considered difficult cases. She is very successful with the work she does.
In her private life, Dr Hildreth is Gran. She is raising her grandchildren, Violet and Eric, home schooled and in almost complete isolation. Violet and Eric spend their free time researching monsters for the monster hunting field guide they are creating in their secret monster hunter club house. One day Gran brings them a new sister, Iris. As the girls grow closer Violet wants to help Iris to remember who she really is, and begins to investigate on Gran's notes and patient treatment files. What the children learn will change them forever.
As an adult, Lizzy Shelley, is a monster hunter Podcaster. She travels the country searching out local monster stories, while hunting her own Monster, the sister who doesn't exists and is leaving a trail of missing teenaged girls for Lizzy to follow.
This story alternates timelines 1978 and 2019. It kept me hooked beginning to end.
Thank you to Netgalley, Gallery/Scout Press and Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to experience this e-ARC.

I couldn't put my finger on what it was about this novel that left me feeling unsatisfied. There are many components I typically enjoy reading about--warped family dynamics, discovery of patient maltreatment, and eugenics (I think I may have read some of the same research books as the author). I just wasn't convinced of the fast "sister-sister" bond between Iris and Vi, and the transformation into the monster. I also guessed the monster's identity pretty early on, which is fine; I did enjoy the twist at the end.

I found THE CHILDREN ON THE HILL to be a fun read! It was mysterious with some ghost story-like and supernatural elements. I loved the past timeline the best, following the main character as a child. McMahon created a unique story that kept me wanting to know more.

The Children on the Hill
“The Children on the Hill,” is the first book I read from Jennifer McMahon. I was thrilled when I requested a copy from NetGalley that they accepted my request. The story has two dual timelines one in 1978 and the other one in 2019. In 1978 at a famous treatment center in Vermont, psychiatrist Dr. Helen Hildreth is famous for her compassionate work with mentally ill patients. Helen is also known by her grandchildren Violet and Eric as Gran. Gran brings home a girl named Iris who doesn’t remember who she is or acts like a normal girl. Violet and Eric invite her to be a part of their monster club though not everything is as it seems. In 2019 famous blogger, podcaster and t.v. lady Lizzy Shelley comes to Vermont to investigate a monster sighting who many suspect has been kidnapping young girls. Lizzy has a sinking feeling though that her sister is behind this. While it’s entertaining, it was slow at first and it felt like the story didn’t know who they wanted as their target audience. It read like a bad Scooby Doo fanfiction mixed with stories about mental hospitals.

Pros
I like the setting of Vermont. I also like how you wouldn’t think the dual timelines work it manages to. I also enjoyed the newspaper clippings about the mental hospital that slowly places what dark secrets were brewing at the place. I liked the side characters better than the main characters like Julia that journalist from 1978 and the nurse Patty who was the niece of one of the doctors. I will give credit where credit is due I did not see how it was going to end like I thought I would.

Cons
Unfortunately I was able to see the obvious twist about Dr. Helen and what was going on at the hospital and the twist about not just Iris, but with Violet and Eric and how two of these characters are now Lizzy and Charles. Also in 1978 Violet was 13 years old but yet she has this monster obsession and the way she acts way younger than 13. Also Lizzy was stupid for allowing the constables son Shink in getting involved with dangerous situations. While the main characters were not unlikeable they weren’t that interesting either. I have to agree with other reviewers who reviewed it that it was just too predictable. Like I mentioned above the story seemed confused about whom the target audience is. Is this book for kids? Is this book for adults?

Overall
Overall it was worth the read. Is it the worst book in the world? No. After all I did stay up till 1 in the morning finishing it. Did the book have its flaws? Yes. Thank you again NetGalley for allowing me to read this book early. “The Children on the Hill,” will be published on April 26th just three days before my 30th birthday on the 29th. I definitely want to read more from Jennifer McMahon in the future.

I really tried to read this book. It is so confusing. It jumps from the past to the present. Until you start the chapter you don’t know where in history you are. It’s confusing. I would not recommend this book.

This was my first Jennifer McMahon read and I loved it!! She does a great job intertwining two timelines that seem completely unrelated but come together to illustrate the whole picture and I really loved that about this book.

Vi and Eric live with their Gran, a doctor at Hillside Inn, which is described as a psychiatric facility. When Gran brings Iris home, Vi is tasked with trying to get Iris to open up and talk about her past. Once Iris arrives and begins talking, Vi is interested in finding out more about Iris - who she is and where she came from. Once Vi gets to investigating, she ends up uncovering way more than she bargained for.

I didn’t see many, if any, of the twists in this book!! If you are one to enjoy slow build, creepy, monster stories, you will love this one!!!

Overall, this was such a great read! The writing flowed so well and kept me turning the pages! I couldn’t put it down!

Thank you NetGallley & Gallery/Scout Press for my ARC digital copy! Publishing April 26,2022!

I really love Jennifer McMahon and her books. I couldn't put this one down, and totally devoured it in three days. If you're a fan of monster films, you'll love this one!!

McMahon's novels (which are all standalones) of late all have to do with the supernatural and paranormal. While this one definitely touches on monsters, cryptids, and the like, the "creep" factor didn't seem to deliver too much for me and I was left wanting just a little bit "more". You may like this book more than I did. Even though it wasn't my favorite Jennifer McMahon book, it's still worth reading and she's still one of my favorites.

Thank you, Netgalley, for my arc.

This book would best be enjoyed by someone who enjoys a slow build up with interest to mythical monsters. I was the wrong audience, however the writing style flowed very nicely.

The Children on the Hill by @jennifermcmahonwrites

🔥 release date April 26 🔥

Violet Hildreth has always been obsessed with monsters. She and her brother Eric even have a Monster Hunting group. When her grandmother, the brilliant Dr. Hildreth, director of the institution The Inn, brings home Iris, Violet has both a sister and mystery. Told from both the past and present, with intermixed texts of two books (a biography of The Inn and the Monster Book written by the children), this book will keep you guessing with each turn of the page.

I’ll be honest, I was GASPING with each twist and when I thought it had it figured out, I was wrong. A Jennifer McMahon book is an automatic must read for me and this book was amazing.

*thank you to @netgalley and @gallerybooks for the ARC

Jennifer McMahon is the queen of creepy mysteries!! This book was different than the others that I have read from her but still really enjoyable. One thing I always look forward to in Jennifer’s books is the was she writes creepy paranormal / supernatural in the most superb way. I love and look forward to her books e ER year.
This is the story of Vi, Iris and Eric. They live at this creepy dark psychiatric facility where you just know things are not as they appear. We are also following Liszt who is a monster hunter and appears to be chasing a monster on this abandoned facility years later in the future. There are rumors of sinister things happening at the facility and the monster that now lurks there. That’s all I will say so I don’t spoil anything.
Jennifer is a fantastic author who can build an entire world with her words and make the hair on the back of your neck stand up, make you feel like you are being watched and just generally creeped out. This book will give you all of that and more. Highly recommend!!

Wow! I loved this book and I want to shout it from the rooftops. “Monsters are real and living among us.” That is the belief of Vi and Eric. They are obsessed with any and everything that has to do with monsters. They get the chance to share their monster obsession with Iris, a young girl their grandmother, psychiatrist Dr. Helen Hildreth, brings home. Vi is told to treat her like a sister. The three children are soon inseparable. Eventually Iris becomes a member of their monster club where they discuss ways to hunt monsters. ‘They can pass as human. They hide in plain sight.” Needless to say, this book gripped me from the beginning. Switching from 1978 to 2019, the past and present collide with twists and turns I never saw coming. This book is described as genre- defying and I couldn’t agree more. It’s not horror, yet there were times that the book sent chills down my spine. I wouldn’t classify it as a thriller, but it had twists that were jaw-dropping and totally unexpected. It’s atmospheric, chilling, emotional and captivating. I highly recommend this book!! Jennifer McMahon’s writing is transcendent. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Thank you NetGalley and Gallery/Scout Press for my ARC.

The Children on the Hill, by Jennifer McMahon, is a wildly chilling reading experience. Patterned after the legendary Frankenstein, this modern day tale explores childhood, secrets, and living with the unknown.

This eerie story follows two children raised by their grandma, who is a psychiatrist at a local mental hospital, after their parents are killed in a car accident. As children often are, they are obsessed with monsters and learn all they can about them. When grandma brings home a young girl one day from the hospital, the two siblings invite her into their monster club and into their world. Their obsession now is not only with monsters, but also this mysterious girl who is now living amongst them.

This story follows two timelines, and both weave together seamlessly to create a united, captivating story. Jennifer McMahon’s writing is exceptional and her unique storytelling and creative insights are one-of-a-kind. She incorporates fiction and folklore, with touches of the supernatural, and elements of horror. This gothic thriller is absolutely gripping and one you won’t want to miss.

I loved this book! It was atmospheric and creepy. I loved the way Jennifer McMahon told this story. This is the first book I have read from this author but it won't be my last. Highly recommend this book.

Vi and Eric live in Vermont in a house next door to The Hillside Inn, a treatment center which their Gran (the brilliant Dr. Helen Hildreth) runs and operates. The children live a seemingly normal but secluded life being homeschooled and not allowed to play with the other children in town. Like most children do, they believe in monsters and have even created their own little Monster Club with its own guidebook. One day Gran brings home a strange girl named Iris about Vi’s age and tells the kids that she’s now their sister. Iris is very shy, doesn’t talk, and wears an old ugly orange hat all the time. With the arrival of this strange girl Vi starts to question everything. She wants to know this girl’s story and where she came from. She wants to know just what happens in the supposedly empty and not used B West section of the treatment center. The Children on the Hill is a gothic, eerie, creepy, slow burn horror novel that will have you horrified one minute and dumbstruck next. The plot twist near the end is one I can definitely say I didn’t see coming. I’ve read a few of Jennifer McMahon novels and this one stands up well with her other novels. Thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for the arc copy in exchange for a honest review!

What a story! Violet and her younger brother Eric welcome a new sister, Iris, when their grandmother brings her home from the Hillside Inn. She is different, non-verbal, Vi's age, thirteen. It is Vi's job to report to Gran about how Iris progresses. Gran is also Dr. Hildreth. She's a psychiatrist and she is in charge of the mental hospital.
The children have a lot of time to themselves. Sweet, endearing siblings, they are innocent of much of the world as Gran homeschools them. One major past time is their Monster Club. Vi includes Iris in the writing of their book on monsters and Eric is the illustrator as they make it a mission to find local monsters. It is 1978.
2019, girls have disappeared from various places around the country. Lizzy Shelley, an investigator connected to the tv series, Monsters Among Us travels to various areas seeking out monsters that others have sighted. She happens to travel where a young girl has recently disappeared to check on a monster sighting in Vermont.
This book is written from two time periods and from more than one viewpoint. Usually, I have a problem with that, but the author kept things moving so smoothly that I was wrapped up in the story line. Her characters, the girls in particular, are so magnetic. I felt empathy and curiosity about them. Something just wasn't right.
This book brings thoughts of the earliest episodes of the show Stranger Things to Mind along with horror novels I've read over the years. At one particularly dramatic point I was reading in one room while my husband was watching a tv show in another room. He reacted to something on the show and spoke aloud. I jumped and nearly dropped my Kindle; I was so intense in wondering if Lizzy was next to the monster.
I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for my advanced reader's copy of the book. It's really good! 4.5 is my rating This is my own opinion.

Jennifer McMahon is a master of psychological suspense: she first grabbed me with her 2021 take on a modern day ghost story - The Drowning Pool. Now, with her latest offering, THE CHILDREN ON THE HILL, a sharply written, wildly entertaining tale of monsters and childhood memories she has surpassed herself and once again kept me reading into the wee small hours of the morning.

Spanning the years between 1978 and 2019 McMahon utilizes two intersecting story lines to relate the tale of a private psychiatric hospital in Vermont run by an acclaimed doctor Helen Hildreth. The story focuses on the doctors three wards, Vi, Eric and Iris, children obsessed with investigation of and search for monsters in all their forms. Upon discovering some of Dr. Hildreth’s clinical notes on an individual only identified as Patient “S” the group begins their own investigation with horrific results.

Now years later, an investigative reporter/pod-caster has come to Vermont in search of a story about recent monster sightings and the possible link of the sightings to a string of missing girls.

Part gothic mystery and part psychological thriller this haunting page turner will hook readers as if it were a narcotic.