This started out really strong and I flew through the pages but around 70% it began to feel a little repetitive. Some good scares.

Thank you to NetGalley, Daisy Pearce and St Martin’s press for the free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This was interesting. I still feel like I’m absorbing this one. It was a wild ride but slower paced than I would have liked. It was twisty and quite a bit more about possession and witches than I thought; but I loved that about it. That ending was jaw dropping. Loved it!

The overall atmosphere of Something in the Walls was a sense of creeping dread, in a good way! The general plot line is that a reporter who is haunted by the death of her brother goes to investigate a girl who is supposedly being possessed by a witch. I loved the atmosphere of the writing and the overall storyline. I struggled a little to maintain a suspense of disbelief with the way some of the characters acted/choices they made, but overall thought it was a good story. I enjoyed how the idea of a witch hunt and paranoia developed.

I usually enjoy gothic/folklore/horror and I did really like this book at first but partway through it, and I, seemed to lose focus a little bit. It is an interesting psychological study...or maybe its demon possession? Maybe group hysteria? Read the book and decide for yourself. There's definitely a creep factor, and if you want a book for spooky season, try it out. If you get frustrated, everything does come together at the end. Sorry to be vague but I don't like to give spoilers. Thanks to NetGalley for the review copy.

This is it, people! The creepiest ghost story I have read in a long time. The story is expertly crafted and features a protagonist who is looking for purpose in her life after college. She finds it in the form of Alice in the derelict town of Bethanel. Alice is presenting as either psychotic or possessed and the job of figuring out which is placed in the hands of Mina, a new child psychologist. The house is creepy and the family is one to beware. I read this in the dark and was delightfully spooked. I could not wait to pick it up each time. Great gothic book. Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Having just finished this book, I have to say that it left me with an eerie sense of unease and fascination. The story follows Mina, a newly minted child psychologist who feels completely out of her depth. The oppressive British heatwave isn't helping, nor is the looming anxiety of her upcoming wedding to Oscar, a painstakingly precise researcher. Mina's life feels stagnant, weighed down by grief over her brother's death, which she tries to process by attending a local bereavement group. Enter Sam Hunter, an ambitious journalist who offers her an intriguing opportunity that turns everything upside down.

The heart of the story centers around Alice, a thirteen-year-old girl living in the remote village of Banathel, who claims she's being haunted by a witch. Alice's condition grows increasingly disturbing, and Mina sees this as her chance to gain real experience, while Sam hopes to uncover a sensational story. It all seems straightforward, but nothing is ever that simple.

As Mina starts working with Alice, the atmosphere shifts from hopeful to chilling. Alice's behavior becomes more and more inexplicable, and the deep-rooted superstitions of Banathel begin to unravel in a terrifying way. The villagers' mistrust of outsiders and their shadowy beliefs in witchcraft make for an incredibly tense setting. I found myself questioning everything—whether the haunting was real, whether Mina could actually help, and what secrets the village was hiding.

What I loved most was how the author expertly blends psychological tension with elements of horror. As Mina dives deeper into Alice's case, the layers of Banathel's dark history begin to peel back, revealing unsettling truths that left me breathless. The twist that Mina's own past might be connected to these horrors was both shocking and perfectly executed. It's a story that isn't just about saving a haunted child—it's about facing demons, both literal and metaphorical, and the price that comes with it.

Overall, this book is a gripping exploration of fear, grief, and the unknown. The oppressive heat, the claustrophobic setting, and Mina's growing desperation kept me hooked from start to finish. If you're a fan of eerie psychological thrillers that leave you guessing right to the last page, you won't want to miss this one.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC copy of Something in the Walls. I was intrigued by this book as I just recently learned about the concept of mass hysteria. Overall, this book was spooky and full of build up. A perfect way to end October! I’ll keep an eye out for this author in future.

Well.... I'm never getting to sleep tonight after that. 😳 Great book. Couldn't put it down. Loved that it captured me And made me need to finish the story.

This was wild!! If you want a good creepy feel when reading then this right here is for you. There were so many parts where I felt like I was being watched or had something over my shoulder, giving me the chills.

Mina is new to the field of child psychology where she's struggling to get a start until she meets Sam. Sam is a grieving father and journalist who attends the same relief group as Mina and offers her a proposition she can't turn down. They head to Banathel to help Alice, a young girl who claims to be haunted by a witch. As time goes on the haunting grows and dark secrets are revealed, leaving Mina and Sam scrounging for the truth before it's to late.

My initial thought reading this was that it was jumpy and I was confused at some points but in the end it all makes sense and I was left dumbfounded piecing it all together.

I would 100% read this again

I expected to like this book more than I did unfortunately. I am so thankful to have received this ARC and may give it a reread in the future to hopefully increase the rating. It just felt a little under developed for me.

Something in the Walls by Daisy Pearce is a chilling horror novel that follows Mina, a child psychologist, as she investigates the haunting of a young girl in the eerie village of Banathel. Pearce skillfully blends folklore and psychological tension, creating an atmosphere of relentless dread while exploring themes of grief and the supernatural. Fans of psychological horror will appreciate the emotional depth and spine-chilling moments in this gripping tale.

First of all, thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this arc! This story starts off with a newly graduate Child Psychologist, Mina, who‘s eagerly looking for experience while simultaneously dealing with the death of her late brother. When she finally gets the opportunity to get experience, she takes it all while hoping it gives her answers to her brothers death. A quarter of the way into this book it is extremely compelling with the promise of witches, paranormal, and all around just the creepy-jaw dropping plot. However, about half way through, the focus seems to completely shift and the flow of the book feels almost ruined. It quickly becomes confusing and honestly seems like you are reading a completely different book. There were a lot of factors that seemed randomly added from out of nowhere, which ended up leaving the book with many potholes. To make it even worse, the ending did not explain anything nor was satisfactory. The book could’ve been incredibly good, but unfortunately I would pass on this book as it is not the book you think you are getting into. This review is already posted on my Goodreads account, happy reading!

I really enjoyed this book! It is different from what I usually read. The plot and characters kept me engaged from beginning to end. I would suggest this to anyone and am excited to read more from this author!

I loved the first half of the book. The atmosphere, the witchy vibes, and the MCs were amazing. I could not put the book down during that half. I also read this during spooky season and felt like it was perfect for that. Not sure why its being released in February because I think it would do so much better in the fall season.
The second half of the book is where things went a little down hill for me. The book stopped feeling witchy and atmospheric, and it felt like the tone of the book changed. I dont want to give too much away but the ending didnt quite work for me, and fell a bit flat.
Overall though I did still have a good time with this book. Its true rating is more of a 3.5 stars but I rounded up for the review.

10/10! I loved this ARC! It kept me engaged from the first sentence and even throughout the entire book! The author really managed to give everyone a voice and made me care about each character. I loved the paranormal elements as well I really did get scared at times! I would definitely recommend when this book comes out, to read it.

*** I received an e-ARC of this book from St Martin’s Press through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review***

⭐️⭐️⭐️

I was really excited for this book, but I had mixed feelings as I read it. There were definitely times I was frustrated with the people in the village of Banathel. Why would no one listen?!? The story line ebbed and flowed for me. At times it appeared to drag and others I couldn’t put it down. I did not anticipate the ending at all. Although the story did not take the direction I thought it would I would still recommend it to fans if thrillers and folklore.

✨ Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley.

Child psychologist Mina has been having a hard time getting her career off the ground. When a journalist tells her about a little girl living in a remote village who claims to be haunted by a witch, Mina offers her services to help the little girl. Is the haunting real or is something more sinister happening in this small village?

This book started off with a definite strong creepy vibe and had the promise to have some good witchy/paranormal things happen. But then the story veered away from the witch plot and became confusing. It had good potential but kind of fell flat in the end.

*** I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. ***

Something in the Walls: 3.5 Stars 🧙‍♀️🧊🏚️

This book was a special read for me because it’s my first ARC (advanced reader copy)! It was so refreshing to dive in without any preconceived opinions.

Something in the Walls follows Mina, a newly graduated child psychologist, and Sam, a reporter, as they attempt to help a family with a troubled teen, Alice. Alice claims she’s haunted by a witch, and Mina is determined to get to the truth behind her behavior.

Overall, I really appreciated the story’s originality and its dark, memorable ending. The final third of the book picked up the pace and wrapped up nicely, which left me satisfied.

But here’s the thing: this story is complex—there are so many subplots!
* Sam is motivated by the loss of his own daughter, hoping Alice might somehow help him reconnect with her.
* Mina’s backstory includes her brother’s tragic death when they were children, and she’s also navigating her relationship with her fiancé, Oscar.
* Then there’s Alice and the entire town of Banathel, steeped in a dark history of witches and paranormal events.

It’s a lot to keep up with, and honestly, some of it could have been streamlined. I found myself wishing this was a movie because the different dimensions might be easier to follow on screen.

I also ran into some issues with the details. A few grammar errors pulled me out of the story at times, which was a bit distracting. All-in-all, if your looking for a thriller that includes paranormal elements, I would recommend you give this a try!

An often time bizarre and disturbing tale of possession, witches and grief. A child psychologist is called to investigate a young girl plagued with a haunting by a witch she says lives in the walls. The book dives into the history of the town she lives in which is more disturbing than the haunting itself.

This one wasn’t bad, it was pretty decent. Easy read and pretty good writing. It was my first read by this author.