Oh. My. God. This book was absolutely incredible. I hear people mention a book being so good, they’d give it six stars if they could, and this is the first time I’ve ever felt that way about a book. Five stars simply doesn’t explain how amazing this book was. I read the whole thing in a matter of hours and I am speechless.

Something in the Walls follows our main character, Mina, who has recently graduated as a child psychologist. She is presented with an opportunity to help a teenager named Alice who claims she is being possessed by the spirit of a witch. In a small town with a population of about 1,000 people, rumor spreads easily, and people are calling for harm to come to Alice. What started as a mission to uncover the truth and debunk the superstitious claims, suddenly turns into a fight to save not only Alice’s life, but her own.

This is probably the creepiest book I’ve read recently, if not ever. My heart was racing, it felt hard to breathe at points, and I was so entranced by the story that I couldn’t put it down. This is the ULTIMATE witchy book, and I strongly suggest everyone read this for a good “ghost” story when you’re feeling brave.

It’s not easy to scare me with horror novels, but this was genuinely scary. Like, enough to make me uncomfortable lol. The Midsommar and Haunting of Hill House comparisons were what drew me in, plus a plot line about a young girl in a remote village with disturbing symptoms who claims to be haunted by a witch. And with me starting this at the beginning of (almost) spooky season, this is the first weekend all year that *kinda* feels like it’s about to be the start of fall. I needed something spooky to get me in the mood for fall so this arc could not have come at a more perfect time.

I wasn’t too sure if this was going to be a mystery thriller or a paranormal horror story, though I was hoping it would be the latter. I’m not going to spoil what it ends up being because that’s part of the mystery, but from the get go, it does feel very much like it’s going to go the paranormal direction. Or at least, that’s what the book wants the reader to think. Paranormal or not, this very much feels like a horror novel, not a thriller, which is exactly what I was expecting and wanted. Alice Webber, the child who claims to be haunted by a witch who watches her from beneath the chimney, has things going on with her that can’t be explained. You even find out the event that caused it all, the event that caused her to be supposedly haunted by a witch. The doctors deem her fine physically, so Mina is sent to the village of Banathel as a child psychologist to investigate this possible haunting.

Despite the ambiguity over whether or not this will end up being paranormal, this very much is a horror novel, with the investigating haunted places and even a seance. There’s a lot of mystery where you don’t know where the story is going but you are being directed a certain way the entire time, which is the paranormal route. Is that what’s actually going on or is the book trying to throw you off? You’ll just have to read it and see! Mostly, this book genuinely is just very scary. It takes a certain kind of skill to make a horror novel actually scary, and Daisy Pearce has that skill. I hope she sticks to this genre because she’s great at it. My main complaint is I feel like too many things didn’t get a proper explanation. I was left feeling a bit confused over certain what character’s motivations even were and this lacked explanations for some of the strange occurrences. But this actually was very scary!

Thank you to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.

This book is so creeptasticly scary! I had to read with the lights full on and every sound while I was reading made me jump.
Full witchy, evil spirits, small creepy English town vibes. Unreliable characters, strange town rituals, and dark history. A teen girl afflicted by something sinister or a mental health breakdown? and the MC child psychologist and her reporter colleague are called in to investigate. They don't know what they are getting themselves into. I didn't see any of it coming.
Brilliant, edge of your seat, cant look away story. I loved it and any fan of Horror Thrillers won't be able to put it down.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book. What a fantastic read! Daisy Pearce is quickly becoming my new favorite author. The storyline was fabulous and kept me guessing the entire time. The characters were very well done. The main character relatable and likeable. The creepiness throughout the story gave me chills! What an ending!! Loved this book
Highly recommend!!

Do you know the trend " Yes, no , Maybe". This is a MAYBE. It wasn't bad and it wasn't good. I didn't hate it. I think its worth the read.

This cover lured me in and didn’t disappoint! Oftentimes, I feel duped when I read stories that are marketed as “witchy”, but this was not one of those times. Something in the Walls is the perfect mix of psychological, creepy, emotional, feminist, and yes, “witchy”. Think Shirley Jackson with a more modern, propulsive style of writing. The characters and the setting were well-developed and the descriptions kept me on the edge of my seat. I read far past my bedtime with this one!

Publication: February 25, 2025.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I couldn’t put it down!
The author blends psychological tension with eerie supernatural elements to create a beautifully haunting novel. Mina, a child psychologist, gets drawn into a haunting mystery after meeting journalist Sam at a grief group. Together, they unravel the chilling secrets surrounding Alice, Lisa’s daughter, whom is believed to talk to the dead and is haunted by a witch in their chimney. As they dig deeper, the plot reveals unsettling connections to Mina and Sam’s pasts, as well as the hidden secrets of Alice’s town, Banathel.

**this releases on Feb 25, 2025**

Mark your calendars because this was SO good! You’ll definitely want to add this to your list. This had me at the edge of my seat from the first page until the very last. The ending was perfect. The story line did not have one dull moment. It had the perfect, spooky setting.

It was a 5/5 for me.
I’ll definitely be picking this one up again and recommending it to all my friends!

Thanks so much to NetGalley for the ARC!

I think that this one was too much of a slow burn for me. It picked up in the end, but I was still wanting more.

Edge of your seat, screaming at your kindle kind of fear!

This book was SO GOOD I'm still reeling. The main character, Mina, is relatable and you are immediately sympathetic to her cause. I loved Alice. Sam could've used a little more character development, but honestly, it wasn't his story.

This is a story of women, girls, and the horrors they face.... sometimes what we suspect to be supernatural, might just be the worst of humankind...or is it?

You will be left with unanswered questions, and it's so worth it!

Thank you to @NetGalley , @DaisyPearce @StMartinsPress and @MinotaurBooks for this advance review copy.

#DaisyPearce #NetGalley #SomethingInTheWalls
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#horrornovel #spookyseason #spookyszn

The premise of the book was so interesting, if only it delivered. I found the story was a bit all over the place and pace was slow. The slow pace made it hard for me to connect with the characters.

I REALLY enjoyed this book. I’m giving in 4.5 stars. It was high-paced and a true page turner. I’m up way too late because the second half of the book had such a grip on me I could not put it down. A very exciting thriller that will keep you on your toes.

The only reason this book isn’t getting the full five from me is because there are things I wish would have been answer about sweet Alice. Otherwise, this book was so good!

Big thank you to everyone involved in this book and allowing me to have an ARC. I’m so glad I got to read it and can’t wait to add a final copy to my shelf.

Horror
4/5⭐️

Pub date- 2/25/25
Thank you!!

•Mina is a children’s psychologist who is drowning in grief from losing her brother. In her grief group, she meets Sam, who is a journalist. Sam is covering a story on a teen girl named Alice, who seems to be possessed- who better to tell if this is all an act or the real deal than a children’s psychologist?


This was horrifying and binge worthy. I truly think it had the potential to be five stars for me, had it not been so all over the place. There was a lot that I had a hard time following but it was just dark and gripping enough to not give up. I found myself truly scared several times. I am so sad this doesn’t come out until February because this is perfect for spooky season. Horror can be very cheesy imo and this was very well balanced. Put this on your 2025 tbr immediately.

Outstanding! The folklore and horror elements are woven seamlessly into the story, creating a chilling backdrop that amplifies the psychological tension. The book’s exploration of superstition and its impact on the characters is both haunting and thought-provoking, making it a standout in the genre with its evocative and memorable storytelling.

This 👏🏻 Book 👏🏻

I’ve been wanting to read this one for a while and I finally got access to it on @netgalley so I picked it up immediately. There was a lot happening and it got darker and darker as it went on, to the point that I was gasping. It was witchy, it was creepy, it was possess-y, it was perfect. Do I still have questions about some things? Absolutely - but, I enjoyed this book so much, it gave me heart palpitations. I wish this was coming out prior to February, because this would be perfect for spooky season!

I wanted to like this more than I did. I felt as if the author did a good job on creating a chilling atmosphere and building suspense towards the begging of the book that drew me in, but I felt that towards the middle of the book I lost the desire to continue reading. It became slow and the pace uneven. The narrative of the book was confusing to follow in places as well; and the ending felt jipped. I was expecting something more haunting and exciting.

Something In the Walls by Daisy Pearce presents a chilling premise with plenty of creepy moments that kept me intrigued. The atmosphere and suspense were well-crafted, and I found myself with high hopes as the story unfolded. However, the narrative was a bit difficult to follow at times, which detracted from the overall experience. I wish it had grabbed me more from the beginning, as the pacing felt uneven in parts. Despite these challenges, I’m glad I pushed through to the end, as the story had several redeeming qualities that made it worth finishing. Pearce's ability to create a sense of unease is undeniable, and while it may not have been a perfect read for me, it still offered a solid, spooky experience.

I'd rate it a 3.5 stars...I put 4 here because 3 seemed unfair.

A fine example of modern folk horror with a decidedly feminist bent. The ghost of Shirley Jackson haunts the interaction of the troubled women of a small village with the feckless and dangerous men in their orbits. Highly recommended.

Okay, so there were a few genuinely creepy moments of this book, but the monsters that live in the people we know are the REALLY scary things, as seen in this book. When teenagers and children don't have anywhere to turn to with the horrific events in their lives; or aren't believed; or don't even understand what's happening to them.... strange occurrences seem to develop. I had a feeling I knew what was going on fairly early in the story, but that didn't subtract from the creepy atmosphere of the book in any way. I don't want to say much about this, because it's one of those books that it might be better to go onto somewhat blind- but suffice it to say that I will absolutely be recommending this book and looking out for anything written by Daisy Pearce in the future.

This book caught me from the get-go and held me captive till the end! It was a fun ride.

It is very well written, the characters are believable and their grief is relatable and heart breaking. It has a perfect blend of paranormal, mystery, horror and thriller elements that checks all the boxes for me.