Nail-biter
I was #gifted Something in the Walls by Daisy Pearce from @netgalley and @stmartinspress in exchange for my honest review.
First off, let’s judge a book by it’s cover – and this one definitely sets the tone, with the eye looking out of the slats behind the wallpaper. I was ready for a creepy read. Okay, maybe not as prepared as I thought!
The story follows Mina, who is just starting out as a child psychologist who is trying to make a name for herself, while preparing for her upcoming wedding to researcher Oscar. One day she meets Sam Hunter, a journalist who also attends a local bereavement group that she attends to try to deal with the death of her brother.
Sam presents her with an opportunity to bring her experience to help Alice Webber, a young teenager who claims a witch is haunting her. After she agrees, Mina travels with Sam to see if she can help the girl, however she quickly realizes that the town they visit is steeped in superstition about witchcraft and their steadfast beliefs on how to handle that evil.
This book hooked me from the get-go. Full of spooky occurrences, and unhinged townsfolk, it left me questioning everything. The folklore that held strongly onto all the people of the small town, added to the all their actions and left me feeling like something was truly watching me at all times. It was creepy and I hadn’t read such a spooky book in a long time.
To be honest, I wasn’t a huge fan of the main character, it always felt like she was missing something which left me, as the reader, feeling the same. And yet, I was still hooked all the way to the end. I will admit that I really think the end could have had a bit more…something. But I still enjoyed the book.
I gave this book four stars. It left me feeling uneasy about what was next, and yet I couldn’t wait to find out what was happening.
The book hits shelves February 25, 2025.
#bookreview #daisypearce #somethinginthewalls #mystery #thriller #fiction #2024reads #readmorebooks #gifted #womenauthors #bookthoughts #bookaddict #bookrecommendations #netgalley #stmartinpress #digitalarc

Something is the Walls is a blend of witchiness, intrigue and folklore. Its atmospheric setting in Alice's bedroom, the creepiness of the chimney, its peeling wallpaper and the noises created a mysterious lurking in the pages. In the end, I guess I expected more horror than thriller with the books story.

Thank you, St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books

This book has incredible pacing and I absolutely loved the ending. Something In The Walls follows a newly certified child psychologist into a creepy little town to live alongside a haunted girl.

Filled with the generational trauma of an entire town, this book is rooted in secrets and dives deep into what it means to turn your back on the truth. At once thrilling and scary, this story ended up being a perfect listen for the dark days of the beginning of winter.

Check this one out if you love horror, witches & witch hunts, thrillers, and mysteries!

**Thank you to Minotaur Books for the advanced copy of this title and to Macmillan Audio for the accompanying audiobook!**

“Something In the Walls” is by Daisy Pearce. This book follows a newly minted child psychologist, Mina, who is recruited by a reporter, Sam, to help determine if a young teenager, Alice, is possessed/haunted by a witch or spirit. Mina has questions about her own brother’s death … and Sam has questions about his daughter’s death - so that gets added to the mystery surrounding Alice. For me, this book was a bit all over the place. Alice’s father seems to have an agenda - but it’s mentioned, the dropped. Mina’s relationship with her is mentioned, brought up a few times, then dropped. Strange things happens while Mina is with Alice - but so much time seems to be dancing around the issue (“what is going on with Alice?”). Mina spends a lot of time talking to others more than she does Alice. Sam does some investigating on his own, so his disappears from the story for a while. When Mina stumbles across something (which I predicted from clues the author dropped) then the story does an abrupt change - and it felt rather disappointing. For me, this book was a bit all over the place - almost as if it changed about 3/4 of the way in to be something else. I can see why some readers would find this book good, but for me, it missed the mark.

A solid 4 star creepy book for me. I had an idea of what the "twist " in this horror story would be fairly quickly after all the characters were introduced, but it was still a good read. Finished it in one go and I enjoyed my time.

This book was a mixture of terror and mystery. The creep factor was definitely there. Half the time reading I thought one of the characters were just dreaming but I was wrong! Good characters, great mystery. Witchy vibes. 4 star read for me!

HOLY SHIT. This book is SO GOOD.

“Something in the Walls” by Daisy Pearce is an unforgettable horror novel that expertly weaves psychological suspense with eerie supernatural elements. The story centers on Child Psychologist Mina, who moves into a home to help identify what is going on with the teenage daughter Alice… but quickly
uncovers there’s a chilling presence lurking within the home’s walls. As the tension builds, Mina’s journey into the house’s disturbing history keeps you hooked. Pearce’s vivid, atmospheric writing draws you in, and the fresh take on horror feels both creative and deeply unsettling. This book completely exceeded my expectations and proved to be a standout read—definitely deserving of 5 stars! (And I don’t tend to read Horror, ever!)

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC.

I really enjoyed this book. It’s something I really enjoyed. The question about is ghost real. Can people talk to them like this is 100% what I love to read if you enjoy that you’re gonna enjoy this book.

This book goes to show what happens when girls aren’t quiet and obedient. It’s been happening for centuries. I loved all of it. The characters, the plot, the evocative writing. This was marvelously done!

“I walk into the pharmacy on Union Street for two things: my photographs and a pregnancy test. ”
Here are reasons to read the Horror book:

Child psychologist - Mina is a child psychologist ready to jump into her life
Witch - when she meets a journalist named Sam with an interesting request - come with him to meet a girl who everyone thinks is haunted by a witch
Fact or Fiction? - The more Mina digs into this town, the more she wonders if there is some truth to what the town is saying

I read this book through Audio as well as an ebook, so I will say that maybe some of the nuances of the writing may have been missed. The first 75% of the book was very creepy and fast paced. They are investigating not just what is happening in the town, but both Sam and Mina are dealing with family deaths that cause them to also want to discover if ghosts are involved. The ending, while very understandable, as mostly everything points to it, left me unsatisfied with quite a bit left unexplained. If you like open ended books, this one may be one to pick up.

I heard great things about this book, but I was not impressed. I pushed through to see how it turned out and the ending did get better. Just not good enough.

I guess I didn’t pay close enough attention to the description for this one, because it was much more of a horror novel than I was expecting, and horror is just not for me. I do think that the story will probably have great appeal to those who enjoy the horror/supernatural genre. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Mina is a child psychologist with little experience. She attends a grief group to help her deal with her brother’s death. There she meets journalist Sam Hunter. Sam Hunter knows a girl named Alice who claims a witch is haunting her. Mina can gain some experience by working with Alice and Alice will hopefully get better. Unfortunately, instead of getting better Alice’s behavior becomes even more inexplicable and intense.

I really wish I had liked this book more. The author did a great job building the suspense and creating a chilling atmosphere at the beginning of the book. However, as the book continued the pace became uneven. It was also a bit confusing to follow at times and I did not enjoy the ending. I really expected more horror. Something more haunting and exciting. I give it 3/5 stars.

The Sisters’ Spellbinding Take on Something in the Walls

Hey there, witches, horror fiends, and supernatural seekers—gather ‘round, because we’ve got a book that’ll cast a spell on your shelves. Today, The Sisters are rambling about Something in the Walls by Daisy Pearce, a chilling story that’s equally witchy, scary convincing, and utterly gripping.

Brenda’s Take: A Brew of Superstition and Suspense

Strange things are bubbling in the remote, shadow-drenched village of Banathel, and at the heart of it all is thirteen-year-old Alice. This town is steeped in witchcraft and superstition, a cauldron simmering with fear, secrets, and the ever-present threat of something sinister lurking just out of sight. Some villagers swear by the existence of evil forces, while others harbor agendas even more blistering than the heat wave surrounding them.

Enter Mina, a novice psychologist with her own haunted past, stepping into this web of tension and whispers. Tasked with untangling the mystery of behavior, her family, the watchful villagers, and those drawn to Alice for help, Mina quickly finds herself out of her depth.

Oh, and just when you think the situation can’t get any stranger? Mina starts to suspect something—or someone—in the walls is trying to get her attention.

And let’s not forget: Mina isn’t as innocent as she seems. Secrets trail her like shadows, and you can’t help but wonder if her hidden motives might just fuel the fire in Banathel’s cursed cauldron.

The tension in Something in the Walls builds like a spell gone awry—thick, bubbling, and on the verge of spilling over. It’s steeped in witchy vibes and layered mysteries, the kind that hooked me so completely I found myself peeking over my shoulder while reading.

Daisy Pearce’s writing? Pure potion perfection. Steeped in witchy vibes and eerie folklore, The themes are richly layered, unsettling, and brimming with a witchy depth that invites you to linger in their thought-provoking shadows. The tension crackles like static in the air, the atmosphere feels almost tangible, and the folklore is seamlessly woven into every chilling moment, casting a spell that keeps you entranced from start to finish.

The Sister’s Final Thoughts

Something in the Walls is one of those books that doesn’t just get under your skin—it burrows deep and stays there. If you love your horror tinged with folklore and dripping with witchy vibes, this one’s for you!

Trust us—you’ll be enchanted.

Just remember to listen for something in the walls!!

I received a digital and audiobook copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. While I thoroughly enjoyed the audiobook and thought the narrator did an excellent job bringing the story to life, I found the experience even more intense when reading it. There was something about diving into the words on the page that brought out more of that creepy feeling I wanted while increasing the tension.

A small town holding secrets, deeply held superstition, tales of witches and possession, and a dangerous heatwave made for a story that captured my attention on the first page.

The atmosphere was very well done. This small town had an air of menace and wrongness from the beginning, and I loved how the soaring temperature and curfew added to the building tension.

The back and forth about whether events were supernatural or the result of something explainable helped create a sense of creeping dread and evil lurking just out of sight. There were a few questions not fully answered, of which I'm not always a fan, but for this type of story I thought it worked well and enough resolution was offered to leave me satisfied with the ending.

I didn't fully love the direction taken toward the end, and I struggled with the main character, Mina, but overall I enjoyed this atmospheric slow burn horror story and will pick up the author's next book.

I’m giving this book 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5!

This story follows Mina, a new, inexperienced child psychologist who is unable to break into her field full of experts. Instead, she spends her days aimlessly, her time taken up planning her upcoming wedding to her researcher fiance, Oscar, and being consumed by grief after the previous loss of her younger brother Eric. That is, until she connects with a journalist, Sam, who convinces her to join him to the village of Banathel, where a thirteen year old girl named Alice claims she is being haunted by a witch. Taking this job will give Mina the experience she needs and she is convinced that she can help Alice recover from these delusions. However, Alice’s symptoms only become worse, and the surrounding village is not so convinced Alice is wrong. And they have ways to deal with witches…

The writing in this book was superb and kept me at the edge of my seat the entire time. Half a star off because I felt like some side characters were not fully explored and weren’t fully necessary, and felt like they were included as an afterthought. That being said, the rest of the book was so phenomenal. I have never really found witches scary, more campy or cartoony, but I was genuinely scared reading some of these scenes. The way that the supernatural was blended with psychological trauma was really interesting, and you aren’t sure which is the source of Alice’s behavior until the end. The main character, Mina, was highly relatable and was easy to like. The way her backstory was threaded into the present day was engaging and left me really understanding her character by the end. The ending of the book was really excellent, and wrapped up the story nicely. I will definitely be picking up a final copy when it releases on Feb 25, 2025 and any future releases from Daisy Pearce!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books for early access in exchange for an honest review.

Well written and undeniably creepy, I would absolutely recommend this book for autumn/spooky season. It has a plot filled with ghosts and haunted small towns; the writing, in certain instances, freaked me out so much, I had to take a break from reading. This still didn’t stop me from finishing this in three sittings. Only complaint in the ending. It was a little bit of a cop out for me and the only factor that stopped me from giving it 5 stars.

2 ⭐️

Thank you to netgalley & the publishers for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

The description of this read was intriguing, however, I found myself having for force myself to finish the book. The overview was interesting enough..: a girl who is having psychological issues and a newly graduated psychotherapist runs to try to help her (while dealing with her own trauma of her brother passing). She quickly determines the entire town seems to be haunted by what seems to be a witch, but turns out to be a human who thinks he is a witch hunter who puts on riddances for girls who have issues.

It felt a bit drug out and without a clear thesis.

Wouldn’t recommend.

A spooky story of a teenage girl haunted by a witch in an equally unsettling village. It started out strong for me but as the story went on there were too many pieces that didn't really see resolution. There's a bit of a plot twist, but some of what drew me to the story -- such as the main character's deisre to contact her dead brother who shows up in a picture -- never really becomes a major plot point beyond a generic sense of guilt over his death.

It was readable and the writing was enjoyable, but overall it was just grim and lost my interest about halfway through.

Something in the Walls was a unique take on the thriller/horror genre. Mina was a likeable protagonist who was looking to answer questions to her own grief and I enjoyed the relationship that she formed with Sam. I found the mystery interesting and it left me wondering what could happen next. While I found the first few chapters slow and confusing the story picks up and sucks the reader in.