✨ The Title/Cover Draw:
Jennifer Mcmahon is one of those authors I recently discovered and had to read more of.

💜 What I liked:
This book was a beautiful homage to Frankenstein. It is told between the past and present. In the past, 2 children are living with their grandmother near a psych hospital where she works. In the present, a monster hunter podcaster is looking for a solution to some missing girls. It is so creepy and mysterious.

😱 What I didn’t like:
There was the ending that seemed out of place, but also not (difficult to explain). But there is a major twist I should have seen coming but didn’t. It’s a good read nonetheless.

🚦 My face at the end: 🤓

💭 Reasons to Read:
1. Psychiatric patients
2. Past connections
3. Disappearing girls
4. Monster hunter



🕧 Mini-Summary:
Lizzie Shelley is on the hunter to find monster sightings and the location of missing children. Is it a real monster or her sister?

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Received from Netgalley.

💯 For more details on the books we read, be sure to follow me on TikTok (@zaineylaney) or check out our Podcast - Elated Geek!

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started this one and didn’t know if I would like it, but the story and characters really drew me in. I really liked the back and forth timeline when usually that annoys or confuses me. But it worked here, and the twists were unexpected and gratifying. Will read this author again. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

I have not read a book involving monsters before. The writing was very good and the storyline was engaging. There was a great twist at the end that sealed the deal for me. Highly recommend this.

Excellent Read!!!

If you were a kid that chased monsters, watched horror movies, and appreciated good fiction you will get sucked right into this book.

Lizzie Shelley is a monster hunter. A real one. She has a famous podcast and has appeared in a reality TV show. She is constantly searching down the legendary monsters in various towns across North America, until a missing girl who disappears in a place with a famous "monster" catches her attention. Because the monster she feels she is hunting is a real one from her past.

Mcmahon does a wonderful job of slowly building the tension and keeping the reader just out of reach. The longer you read the more you contemplate the theme of Frankenstein. Is it the legendary monsters we should be afraid of, or the ones hiding in plain sight?

The book does flip flop from present to the past as Lizzie relives her childhood with her brilliant psychiatrist grandmother and her two siblings. It isn't confusing and is necessary to the story as a whole.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading more from this author.

Somewhat creepy, with a bit of a slow start, but lots of secrets and lies, and a few excellent plot twists in just the right places. The two timelines, 1978 and the present, were interwoven expertly, revealing just enough information to keep you turning the pages. The monster-hunting part had me flashing back to episodes of Scooby Doo for some reason, which was not what I was hoping for with this book. However, as I got further in and realized the extent of what had been done to the children in the name of science, it lost the cartoony feel, and I could more clearly see the tribute to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.

This book was sent to me electronically for review by Netgalley…it is a book of mystery and surprises…intrigue…horror…guessing…sometimes right and other times wrong…characters who are just not that likable and cozy…mysterious characters…this is a book that is difficult to read but difficult to put down…this author has written an ingenious story that we believe or not…words escape me when trying to discern what is real and what is not…be prepared for surprises and red herrings…the way the book ended, I have to wonder if there is a sequel, but how can there be one? This story leaves the reader wondering…questioning…and thinking…not one to easily forget…

Such a dark, atmospheric book that would be perfect to read near halloween! I loved all the monster parallels and also I loved the setting. An old psychiatric hospital where you don't know exactly what's going on? Really enjoyed this and can't wait to read more by this author!

Holy.. Wow! I started this one not thinking I would finish it so quickly but I simply couldn’t put it down! Admittedly, the paranormal is not my thing but this book was truly captivating! Psychology has always been an area that interests me so I was hooked as soon as I realized that this took place in a home for the mentally ill. I loved the dual timelines and multiple narrators. The added addition of the article on the Helping Hands of God, really added a creepy idea element to the story as well. I was absolutely captivated and I was taken completely off guard by the twist at the end. I actually stopped and went back because everything I THOUGHT I knew was wrong. That is a true hallmark of an amazing author! Wow. This one totally gave me the creeps and the story will stay with me for some time!

It’s 1978 and Violet and Eric live with their grandmother, renowned psychologist, Dr. Hildreth. In addition to the house the live in the ground also has a home for the mentally ill. Considered by many to be groundbreaking, the Inn is a quiet place for people to heal. When Vi’s grandmother brings home a little girl, named only Iris, who has no memories of the where she came from, the two set out to discover where Iris came from. They soon learn the horrible truth and nothing is ever the same. Fast forward to 2019, young troubled girls are disappearing and the common link is each girl claimed to have seen a mythological monster before their disappearance. After the tragic events from 1978, Lizzy Shelly is determined to find the missing girls and the monster she knows is her sister before it’s too late.

In 1978, Violet and Eric live with their Gran, who is the director of a psychiatric hospital in Vermont. Independent and precocious, the two children are used to being around Gran’s patients. Gran brings home a young girl, Iris, who has no memory but soon becomes a sister to them. However, Violet can’t relax until she finds out where she came from, and Gran is offering no help on the subject.

In 2019, Violet and Eric have changed their names and now live very different lives. “Lizzy” is in her 50s and is a semi-famous monster hunter, with a blog and a role on a TV show. She discovers a pattern involving monsters and missing young girls that immediately captures her attention. Lizzy tracks a new monster, but who is the hunter and who is being hunted?

Selections from two books are also presented throughout the story. The Book of Monsters (written by Violet, Eric, and Iris Whose Last Name We Don’t Know) and The Helping Hand of God: The True Story of the Hillside Inn, written by Julia Tetreault in 1980. These snippets provide depth and context to the main narratives.

First off, I love the nod to Frankenstein. I almost wished I saved this book for October instead of reading it right away, but I’m glad I didn’t wait. Also, I found both storylines to be engrossing. I was dying to find out what happened back in 1978, what was worth writing a book about–a book that eventually became famous and even had a movie based on it. I thought I knew what the twist would be, but wow did McMahon completely surprise me with this one. The one drawback for me, however, was the lack of scary moments in the book. There were some definite end-of-chapter cliffhangers and a bit of suspense, but the story stayed firmly planted in the mystery genre. Overall, The Children on the Hill was incredibly entertaining with a great monster theme, some great reveal moments, and a perfect ending. 4 stars.

Thank you NetGalley, Gallery Books, and Jennifer McMahon for the advanced copy of The Children on the Hill in exchange for my honest review!

It's 1978, and Dr. Helen Hildreth is widely renowned and admired for her groundbreaking work with the mentally ill. What she appears to be most proud of, however, are her grandchildren: Vi and Eric, to whom she is just Gran. One afternoon, Gran brings home another girl to stay with them. She doesn't speak, and could be described as slightly feral.

Violet quickly warms up to their new friend, Iris, and she and Eric invite her to join the Monster Club, where they're currently writing a book about all the different types of monsters and how to defeat them. As the three begin to do everything together, Iris starts to come out of her shell.

Fast forward to 2019. Lizzy Shelley, critically acclaimed host of the podcast "Monsters Among Us" is headed to Vermont where a young girl has been taken after claiming she saw a local legendary monster. Not many people believe she really saw the monster, but Lizzy knows all too well that monsters are real. After all, her sister is one of them.

I don't want to risk spoiling a single thing so I will keep it pretty short and sweet: I loved everything about this book. Just when you think all the twists are done, more keep coming. The characters are fantastic, we get insight into both 1978 and 2019, and the ending is absolute perfection. I think it's safe to say this will be one of my favorite books of the year.

It’s 1978 and Violet and Eric have an unusual upbringing, as their grandmother runs a renowned mental health treatment center. One day she brings home a girl, Ivy, their age to live with them. But Ivy is quiet, and skittish, and something has happened to her.

If you have any interest in psychology and the history of psychology, you’ll love this one. The monster factor added an additional creepiness. I did guess the major twist early on, but it didn’t ruin the story for me. There was still another twist that I totally wasn’t expecting! This was influenced by Frankenstein, which is a book I’ve never read and now need to! Also a note from the story that really made me think…. Our monsters mirror the anxieties of our society.

“The first thing you need to know is that monsters are real. They’re all around us, whether we can see them or not.”

The Children on the Hill comes out 4/26.

Vermont 1978: Dr. Helen Hildreth, psychiatrist, is acclaimed for her work with the mentally ill at her renowned treatment center. At home, she is just Gran when taking care of Vi and Eric, her grandchildren. One day Gran brings home a child to stay with the family but Iris does not behave like a normal girl. Vi and Eric invite Iris to join their Monster Club. They catalogue all kinds of monsters and makeup ways to defeat them. Iris begins to come out of her shell.

2019: Lizzy Shelley is the host of the popular podcast, Monsters Among Us. A young girl has been abducted. A monster has been sighted in the town. Lizzy is determined to hunt the monster down. Lizzy knows better than anyone that monsters are real because one of them is her very own sister.

This is a story about monsters. I enjoyed the references to Mary Shelly's Frankenstein novel. The characters were unique and the plot has a very surprising twist in the end. The story is told in two timelines (1978 Vi and 2019 Lizzie). I have read all of Jennifer McMahon's books and have enjoyed each one. I look forward to reading her next book as I do enjoy her writing. If you like monster stories then you will enjoy this one. I would like to thank Gallery/Scott Press and NetGalley for a ebook for an honest review.

In my opinion, Jennifer McMahon is a must read author! I absolutely loved her latest book “The Children on the Hill” 🖤 It’s inspired by the classic Mary Shelley novel “Frankenstein.” It is creepy with monster hunts and ultimately looking at the definition of monster. I cannot recommend reading this book enough!

Thank you NetGalley Gallery Books & Scout Press Books for allowing me to read this book ahead of publication in exchange for my honest opinion.

Jennifer McMahon never fails this is the third book of hers I’ve read and the third book that kept me reading late into the night.This book had so many twists and turns kept me guessing to the end.#netgalley #gallerybooks.

I always get excited for a @jennifermcmahonwrites novel because I know I am going to be transported wherever she sets her novels. This was no exception. A multi layered story that alternates POVs between 4 narrators. One of which is our main character 13 year old Vi.

Inspired by Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (one of my all-time favs I even have a tattoo homage for it) We delve into the belief that monsters are real and can actually be created. I loved the idea and where she took this. The use of a psychiatrist and an “Inn” for mentally unstable patients was a unique and different spin to Shelly’s original story. In true McMahon fashion she creates that creepy atmosphere that sends chills up your spin while reading. I may have lost a few finger nails in the process too.

I really enjoyed the nostalgia of the two timelines (70’s and 90’s) and felt it really help add to the setting. The characters are well fleshed out and I could literally hear a thirteen year old in my head. I did figure out the major twist, but I still enjoyed the story and the ending. I wish we could find out more! No spoilers but I bet you will feel the same. I enjoyed McMahon’s previous but I connected much more with this!

Thank you @netgalley for my advance copy!

The premise really caught my attention. And while it was an enjoyable story, the pace, in general, was too slow. Thankfully, that improved in the second half, but not much. The "big surprise" is somewhat obvious, and I expected a bit more with the reveal. I enjoy storylines with alternating POVs and timelines, and both were well written. I really liked the grandmother, and I would've liked a bit more on her background. There is a solid mystery and a creepy factor that many readers will enjoy

This is a really slow book.

While I appreciated the way the author built the atmosphere, the first half of the book is glacially paced. The second half does move faster – never fast, but faster.

I really did like the idea of the book, even though the big surprise is evident very early in the book. By the time it’s revealed, you’re kind of like…yes, but what now?

Overall, it’s a good book with good ideas, and should please folks who appreciate a chilling atmosphere and slower world building. Maybe I just wasn’t quite in the mood?

*ARC Provided via Publisher

An excellent tribute to Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, this was my first novel of Jennifer McMahon's. McMahon expertly crafted complex, layered characters, and, having just taught my students about POV and narration, I appreciated the unreliable narration of this story.

The Children on the Hill parallels two connected timelines: the 1970s, which provided backstory to main character Vi; and 2019, in which we travel alongside Lizzy, a famous podcaster, back home to Vermont to track a monster that abducts troubled teenage girls. McMahon drips details about Vi and Lizzy like a slow, leaky faucet, together with Eric, Vi's brother, Gran aka Dr. Hildreth, the children's grandmother, and Iris, Gran's mysterious new patient at the Inn where she practices psychiatry (among other nefarious things). As Lizzy gets closer to finding the monster in present-day Vermont, we reach a climax of the mystery of Iris in the 1978 timeline. The climax is such a delicious twist, I will admit it was not even on my radar as I progress through the story.

All that being said, the descriptions can be a little superfluous at times, during which I found myself skimming. Otherwise, the many secrets of this novel are best read on your own.

This book was absolutely brilliant. the prologue hooked me and I could not stop reading. The plot really had me questioning what was going on. It really made me question everything. I thought I knew why the monster was, than I didn’t… than I thought we might need dealing with actual monsters, I was wrong. There were so many twists and turns that I felt like I have whiplash. There were very creepy undertones and I was glad to be reading during the day.

I will now be looking up everything this author has written and will write.

I'm not a huge fan of scary but I am a huge fan of Jennifer McMahon and for all my "I don't do scary books" people, I always recommend her books because they are just the right amount of scary mixed with mystery and thriller. This book was exactly what I was hoping for and I very much enjoyed it. I really liked the tie to the Mary Shelley as I am a huge fan of Frankenstein. I am also a fan of the mythic creatures like big foot, loch ness monster, ect, so that made this book fun for me, as well. I loved the twist at the end that I DID not see coming. The only thing I wasn't a fan of and that I felt could totally be left out and didn't add anything to the storyline was the weird kissing encounter between Vi and Iris. They are 12 or 13, they aren't lovers, nothing about them and their relationship seems sexually motivated at all, so that was a really strange part of the book. And then the ghoul saw them kissing but it literally never comes up again - ever. What was that for? Other than that, exactly what I was hoping for. Quite a disturbing ending, but it fit and I like that as well.