Horror isn’t usually my choice for reading material. But, the description of this book by Daisy Pearce was just too intriguing to pass up. It’s a solid, creepy book about Mina, an inexperienced child psychologist who agrees to help Alice, a teenager who appears to be haunted by a witch. She travels to Banathel with a journalist who’s covering the story of the girl, her family, and their village that’s shrouded in superstition and tradition.

Something in the Walls has a great premise, along with a creepy setting and good characters. There’s a certain sense of desperation that pervades the story – not only with Alice and her family, but the residents of Banathel as well. While I found this all compelling, the pace of the story bothered me, as well as the way it seemed to judder from past to present. At times the story lagged, while there were other instances when events seemed hurried and sometimes without a lot of explanation. This made me feel unsettled, which may have been the author’s intent.

In the end there are many answers that are only alluded to and it left me feeling a little frustrated. The ending was also less than satisfactory nor what I expected. NetGalley provided an advance reader copy.

This book was engaging from the beginning, I found it to be a quick read that slowly builds and ultimately leads to a suspenseful and tense ending. Mina is a child psychologist who agrees to evaluate young teen Alice who believes a witch is haunting her. It had some elements of witchcraft and folklore which I enjoyed. Spooky vibes that were eerie and contributed to a witchy horror atmosphere. I would read this author again.

This story is told by Mina in first person. Mina studied child psychology but hasn’t been successful in getting experience to secure a position in her field. Her fiancé Oscar prompts her to start attending her grief group again after she thinks she sees her dead brother in a photo. She meets a grieving father in the group who works as a journalist and is following the story of a girl in a remote village in Cornwall that claims to be haunted by a witch. Despite her fiancé’s disapproval, Mina accompanies Sam to visit the girl, named Alice, and help her through what she believes is a psychological crisis.

I started with the audiobook, which was narrated by Ana Clements. This was my first audiobook listen by this narrator. I found the narrator’s voice for the characters to be pleasant and distinctive, and though I found the story to be atmospheric in this format, I made the decision to switch to the ebook due to distraction, which I felt was minimizing both the story and atmosphere for me. It worked much better for me in this format, whether that is because of my mood, I’m not sure.

This story is just as much about the village as it is about Alice and her affliction, or however you want to view her haunting/psychological trauma. I have an affinity for stories where there is a question about paranormal or realistic cause and effect. The characters in this village can be described as personable, remote, cold, and secretive often all wrapped up in one. I loved the atmosphere of the setting in the remote village and especially the descriptions of the dilapidated cottages with ominous chimneys, which made for a few suspenseful moments.

I was a bit frustrated with the story at times since it seemed like Mina spent more time navigating the people surrounding Alice than she did with her patient. Not to mention the time she and Sam spent with their own ulterior motives in investigating the paranormal due to their personal shared grief. While the climax made me scream at Mina a few times there’s also an intrinsic horror here in how realistic the outcome could be as the story brings the reader full circle into the resolution.

Recommended to readers that enjoy a witchy story and the psychology surrounding witch trials.

Thank you to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for a copy provided for an honest review.

I went into this book after reading the description very excited. But wow there was a lot going on in this book. Was kind of confused about her and her husbands relationship after she left to go help the family and were never in any contact. As you get further into the book it gets creepier and more disturbing. So it kept getting higher and higher, peaking my interest. The possession and unexplained things that happened I loved them and kept wondering how why what. But at the end of the book I felt like I had a lot of left over questions that I really needed answered. It was a good over all book with all the creeping feelings. Would make a good fall read and a book club discussion book! Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for the read in turn for my honest opinion. 4 star read

Thank you to the publisher for the digital ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

There were moments that captured my attention, but the pace felt a bit slow, and at some points felt a bit predictable. I think the plot started strong but unfortunately had a bit of a lack luster finish.

Thank you Netgalley for giving me the ebook version of this book!
I enjoyed the premise; it gave The Conjuring meets Sixth Sense.
My one complaint is that the ending felt a bit lacking. I wasn’t surprised by the outcomes and was left with a few unanswered questions.



————-SPOILERS—————-

I would have liked to have one last Sam and Mina scene when she woke up from the hospital (or a mixed media piece of Sam's article showing his final thoughts)

I appreciated all the historical tidbits and lore planted around the story; it really added to the eerie vibe

Why did Mina have to kill Bert at the end?? I didn’t care for that ending. Also, if he did recover wouldn’t he be going to jail for child abuse and murdering his wife? he could have gotten justice that way and now Mina is responsible for murder too.

I loved the tension between scientific fact and supernatural occurrences. Everyone has different opinions of what was happening and the plot helped draw these out.
- The seemingly rehearsed interviews
- Alice’s dad seeking out the publicity
- the mobs and graffiti
- belief in witches
- delusion
But then none of these tensions were addressed??!? Why did we not get any answers about Alice and the witch? Is she ok now? Was the haunting real? Was it all in her head?

Well hello you creepy little book!! 😍 This book had a pub day this week! 🥳 Thank you so much @minotaur_books #smpinfluencers for my gorgeous gifted copy!! 🥰 I mean.. look at this cover! 😳

This was a horror book that slowly built an atmosphere that kept me pretty much freaked out the entire time. 😬 It was oozing with dread and an underlying sinister feeling. 😵‍💫

Mina who is a child psychologist may have gotten in over her head. In fact… this is her first case.. and it is… a challenge…😬… She found herself in a small town surrounded by a community that believes that witches .. 🧙‍♀️…spirits.. curses are all around… the are convinced that a young girl is possessed.😳 Are they right?? Get the hell out of town Mina!! 🏃‍♀️ She didn’t… I tried to warn her🤦‍♀️🤷‍♀️

That ending!! 😳😳😳 I never saw it coming!!

2.5 stars

Something in the Walls by Daisy Pearce had a very tense and creepy beginning. Mina, a newly graduated child psychologist, travels to a small town for her first case involving thirteen year old Alice who believes she is haunted by a witch. There are some menacing townspeople and strange happenings. The setting is creepy and atmospheric. But something wasn't right with this book. I felt like Mina didn't spend time with Alice and tried to write off the things happening as something else. The creepy townspeople were never really mentioned again and nothing else interesting happened in the plot until the last 10% of the book. It felt like I was reading two different books and I was disappointed. Maybe horror just isn't for me? Or maybe this book wasn't well written...It does have a number of great reviews so I encourage anyone who likes creepy, atmospheric horror stories to give it a go.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

This was a good horror novel. I thought there were some very creepy and horror elements that were well done enough that could keep you looking around when you were reading the book, to make sure you were indeed alone. I love stories about witches and there was alot of good details and story having to do with the lore of witches. There was also the ghost element of this book that I really liked so there were multiple paranormal elements that take place and that add to the creepiness of the story.
My only issue is that the story seemed slow and dragged out in places. I didn't feel the urgency and fear in Alice that I would have liked to see. Overall, the book was solid and creepy and I think horror fans would enjoy this read.

Creepy Vibes but Kinda Meh

Okay, so Something in the Walls definitely brings the creepy vibes. The old house? Super eerie. The weird noises and unsettling moments? Solid. Daisy Pearce knows how to build suspense, and there were a few scenes that genuinely gave me chills.

But… the pacing was all over the place. Some parts dragged on forever, and then suddenly, big moments were rushed through like they didn’t matter. The main character also made some frustrating choices, which made it hard to stay fully invested. And the big reveal? Kinda predictable. I was hoping for something that would really catch me off guard, but it didn’t quite get there.

If you’re in the mood for an easy, spooky read with good atmosphere, this might work for you. Just don’t expect anything too mind-blowing.

A really well done mix of suspense and psychology. It kept me guessing and at the edge of my seat. I give this book 4/5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to review Something in the walls by Daisy Pearce.

This book doesn’t know what it is. Is it a spooky story about witches? It’s not spooky enough. Is it about the affects of being the victim of child sexual abuse? It wasn’t explored well enough. This book is slow. We didn’t receive enough information. Mina is supposed to be helping Alice but she barely tries to talk to her. I child psychologist would never say she hopes there’s a “normal girl” still in Alice. Mina isn’t using any counseling techniques on Alice to try to help. Also, who would let a stranger share a room with their child? I didn’t like the ending at all. We didn’t get enough closure or explanations.

This book is a unique and atmospheric read, filled with tension and unease. While I loved the eerie, witchy elements, the plot felt implausible, and the characters didn’t fully work for me, especially the child psychologist, who acted more like a detective. The writing and atmosphere were engrossing, but the storyline never fully gripped me.

If you enjoy psychological thrillers with a witchy horror vibe, this is worth checking out. I seem to be in the minority with my thoughts, so give it a try and see for yourself!

Thank you to the publisher for the digital ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Overall, this is between a 3.5-4 Stars.

I enjoyed the supernatural element of the story and throughout the story I just kept hoping that there wasn't going to be a surprise Scooby Doo ending. I got half of a supernatural story by the end.

I enjoyed the discussion of holding onto grief and hope after a loved one dies. I always had to remind myself that the main character, Mina, is only 22/23 years old and that her youth is part of the reason she has some immature beliefs...however...she is also a strong woman who is grieving and in a shitty relationship.

I genuinely felt spooked and had the chills in a few scenes where the witch and the atmosphere collided. I thought the use of the hottest summer and the chilling ice of the witch were good contrast to create an unsettling vibe. Reading from Mina's perspective the internal thoughts and chills helped to amplify the unsettling atmosphere.

Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an ARC of the story! I enjoyed it and would recommend to my friends who are getting into thriller/horror.

Thank you, Minotaur for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I couldn’t put this book down unless it was before bed, I legitimately got spooked and had to pause until daytime. Daisy Pearce had me constantly wondering whether Alice was possessed by the spirit of a witch or if she was suffering from trauma that was manifesting in dark energy. Her writing transported me to the eerie little town of Banathel and right into the story of Mina, a young psychologist, who has been called on to help a young girl named Alice with some strange behaviour. I highly recommend this book, it is now available for purchase!

Add to your TBR if you like...
-Folklore horror
-Midsommar/The Haunting of Hill House
-Witchy/possession vibes
-Cult mentality

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur books for the gifted copy!

When I first saw this cover months ago, I KNEW it was a must-read for March. When I got the acceptance email from Netgalley, I couldn't download the book fast enough... This story is unnerving and unsettling in all the best ways, making the hair stand up on the back of your neck.

The story has you constantly questioning what is causing Alice's behavior. Is it possession, psychological issues, the heat wave, or small town herd mentality?The only reason I can’t give it five stars because the story never truly reveals what is happening with Alice. I was left with more questions than answers at the end.

Something in the Walls by Daisy Pearce
Mina, a recent graduate, child psychologist, is green and in need of experience. She spends a lot of time contemplating her upcoming nuptials to Oscar. She also attends a grief support group to help with working through old scars from her brother’s death. She meets Sam at one of the grief sessions and Sam offers her a job to gain experience. There’s a thirteen-year-old, Alice, that claims she is haunted by a witch. Living with her family, Alice’s symptoms get worse. Mina thinks she can help Alice.
Things go awry in a town full of superstition and witchcraft. They believe the world is filled with evil and have their own ways of dealing with it. They don’s welcome outsiders.
This was full of suspense and I enjoyed it. I did get lost a few times. The paranormal elements were great. I felt it was a little incomplete, wanting something more. Overall, it was good. 3.5/5 ⭐
I would like to Thank NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book.

Thanks SMP and Macmillan Audio for the ARC!

Oooh this was creepy. I loved the incorporation of psychology in this story, and the unspoken struggles all women go through. It was dark, scary, and horrifying. There were points I had to stop because it was actually so messed up, which is why it's a perfect horror book. Yes, I know it's marked as thriller, and it is a thriller, but I also think it belongs in the psychological horror category.

If you enjoyed Roanoke Girls, Rosemary's Baby, or female rage stories, I'd recommend this one.

I was given an advanced readers copy by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have such mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, it was a fast read and the insidious nature of what's going on in Banathel kept me reading and guessing. The ending left me so disappointed, though. We get no answers about what is going on with Alice and the "twist" was predictable and unsatisfactory. A 5 star start, and a 1 star ending.

Such a good read. It’s a little disturbing what keeps happening to Alice as her symptoms arise but that’s half the fun of the story! The book really was able to capture my attention from start to finish, and the characters were well thought out and I felt like the story flowed very smoothly