Okay, so aside from thinking, the title doesn't really fit the book(Something in the Chimey doesn't have a good ring, though, so I get it), this book was pretty dang good.

I liked the weird town, I liked our main character(despite her having some majorly bad choices in men), I just liked the entire atmosphere of the book. Grief is such a strange thing, and dare I say, maybe even stronger than love.

I struggled a bit with how to rate this book. It definitely delivered on a creepy, folk-horror vibe and, up to a point, the story was very compelling. The problem I had with it was the ending.

As the story moves along and we follow Mina on her quest to "save" Alice (from herself? from the strange entity in the fireplace? from the residents of her superstitious town? from her own family?) there are many questions and mysteries that arise. While I figured out who the "big bad guy" was from the VERY beginning, that didn't take away from my enjoyment of how the story unfolded. I was intrigued to find out how the "supernatural/horror" element fit in with the evil that humans were committing.

And that's where I was disappointed. The final act and the resolution felt a bit rushed and very much a let down. Perhaps the author was trying to leave some things ambiguous, so readers could draw their own conclusions? But when that is done well, the author weaves in enough concrete "clues" to help push the reader in a certain direction, or even more than one direction. In this case, it just felt like the big questions I had about what was REALLY in the walls was just dropped. Nothing hinted at, no winks, no subtle points in one direction or another. Not even an obvious "draw your own conclusions, reader!" Just a complete abandonment of what had been an integral theme and plot-line of the book.

So despite enjoying several aspects of the story, I would not really recommend it. Things that had been set up as intriguing mysteries just became huge plot-holes. So it's difficult to tell others to read a book when it ends in such an unsatisfying and lackluster manner. I was expecting a big band of a bonfire and I got a lackluster fizzle.

This is horror at it's finest. Something in The Walls combines psychological mystery, childhood terror, and a smoldering, oppressive atmosphere into one of the most unforgettable reading experiences of my life. After finishing this book, I was genuinely hesitant to turn out my lights and go to sleep.

So, lets get into it:

Characters: I felt that the characters and their development were fairly solid. Mina was an interesting enough main character, and I appreciated her psychological view towards the unfoldings of the story. I felt that the combination of her background as a psychologist and her desperation to believe in the paranormal because of her personal history made her a really interesting MC, and I think the author did a great job balancing these two aspects to create the perfect amount of doubt, both for Mina and her readers. The side characters all felt well developed and realistic, and as a whole they really brought together the 'superstitious small town' vibe. I found Bert to be a particular standout, and I really enjoyed him as a twist villain. He was believable as both the sweet, neighborly, old man and as the unhinged zealot, which is essential, because without that believability his character would have completely crumbled. Full credit to Daisy Pearce there; Bert was terrifying! I also appreciated Alice and her interactions with the other teenagers. Giving us a fairly "normal" young girl was a welcome subversion to my expectations, and it made the whole scenario that much more horrific. My only issue in the character department comes with Mina's relationship with her fiance. The disintegration of their relationship was really underplayed, and I think a lot of that had to do with how little we got of the fiance in the story. His total disregard for Mina and her well being felt unrealistically cruel, and overall he, and his entire subplot, felt very half-baked to me. 4/5 for the characters

Story- I truly feel like I got everything I wanted from this story and more, which is impressive considering just how high my expectations were going into this book. I personally find that 'is it/isn't it supernatural' stories tend to hit a sweet spot for me, and Something In The Walls is a prime example of that. Throughout the book I was constantly guessing (and then second guessing) at whether or not there was truly something paranormal at play, and this uncertainty kept me hooked right up until the end. 5/5

Horror- It was unnerving, just how effective the horror in this book was for me. The scene in which Mina visits the old house and senses there is someone in the fireplace watching her? And they find the little shoe?? Pure nightmare fuel. So many of the scenes of this book played out in my head so clearly that I felt like I was watching a horror movie. It's rare that a book scares me, so please note that I don't say this lightly; this book is genuinely one of the most terrifying that I've ever read. The imagery, the atmosphere, even the dialogue lent itself perfectly in crafting this stomach-churning story. The next time someone asks me for a recommendation for a "truly scary story", I will be pointing them in this direction for sure. 5/5

Ending- This is the type of book that will answer some of your questions, and leave others up to you, which is something I appreciate. I know there are readers out there who despise an ambiguous ending, and while I wouldn't necessarily place Something In The Walls into that category, I do acknowledge that for some, this ending might be unsatisfying. But personally, I find that when I am left to make my own conclusions about a story, that story tends to sit with me longer as I turn it over in my mind. I know that I will be turning Something In The Walls over for a long time to come. We are given a true villain to fear, but was that all there was to this story? Or was there truly some dark magic at play? I appreciate that the author is allowing her readers to decide. It shows a level of trust between author and reader that I find to be very important, particularly in horror. 5/5 on the ending.

All in all, I can't praise this book enough. Something In The Walls has secured its spot in my list of favorite horror stories, and I'm sure I will be paying it a reread soon enough. Daisy Pearce, I applaud you, you may have single handedly ruined the allure of owning a fireplace for me. So, thanks for that?

I want to thank Netgalley and the publishers of this story for providing me with a free digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

OK this one was creepy! I loved that I was able to visualize a lot of what was happening in this book. I will say that this book was a bit slow at times, but I think it came together pretty well. I'll definitely be checking out other books by this author. Thank you NetGalley for my ARC. 3.5 or 4 stars (I can't decide yet! LOL!)

Terrifying from the jump! This book is cinematic. I could easily picture everything unraveling on the pages. For fans of folk horror where the unsuspecting couple goes to the creepy village and all heck breaks loose. For fans of traditional witchcraft stories. And for fans of suspenseful horror stories.

I was not a fan of the author's writing style, unfortunately. I found the story slow moving, which made it hard to follow for me.

Thank you, NetGalley, the author, and St Martin's Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC!!
As a fan of thrilling horror blends, I found Daisy Pearce's *Something in the Walls* to be a good read. Set in 1989, a time when life felt simpler, the story follows Mina, who is on the verge of building a brighter future after overcoming a tragic past. When she agrees to assist a man named Sam in investigating a haunting, Mina, aspiring to be a psychologist, believes she’ll gain valuable real-world experience. However, as they dig deeper in a small town, she quickly discovers that her connection to the case runs much deeper than she ever anticipated. This tale offers a suspenseful and engaging mystery that keeps you on the edge of your seat!!

I’m not going to lie, at first I thought I wasn’t going to like this book! Boy was I wrong,

I am new to this author but throughly enjoyed the writing style, One aspect I appreciated was the characters' hidden secrets slowly being revealed. The author masterfully keeps everything open to interpretation until the truth is unveiled. The mystery surrounding each character kept me eagerly turning the pages, craving more information. While I was constantly questioning what was truly happening, the author provided subtle hints along the way. The final reveal was impactful, leaving room for personal interpretation while still providing clarity.

Mina Ellis is still struggling with the death of her younger brother years before. When another member of her grief support group tells her about a girl who claims to be haunted it seems like a good way to get some work experience in her field (child psychology), but part of her also hopes the girl might be able to contact her dead brother. But when they arrive in the remote English village the situation is more complex that Mina is ready for. And when very disturbing events start happening, she's not sure what the truth is.

A must read if you love a paranormal story!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

2.75⭐️
(ARC review) — Thank you to author Daisy Pearce and her publisher Minotaur Books. I received an Advanced Reader Copy for the February 2025 release of 𝑆𝘰𝑚𝘦𝑡𝘩𝑖𝘯𝑔 𝑖𝘯 𝘵ℎ𝘦 𝘞𝑎𝘭𝑙𝘴 in exchange for my honest review. It draws you in, but then it all just felt so random. Set in the 80s it’s Horror, Mysterious and has an Unreliable Narrator. Toss in some witches and ghosts. But kinda just lost me along the way. The story turned pretty brutal and the ending didn’t wrap up anything. It’s definitely creepy but I guess I’m just not into demon possession. Not my thing. This one wasn’t for me.

FAVORITE QUOTES — ‘𝙄𝙩’𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙬𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙗𝙚 𝙖𝙛𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙙 𝙤𝙛, 𝙞𝙩’𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜.’

Something in the Walls by Daisy Pearce is a perfect thriller for anyones TBR, but especially during 'spooky season'. The book is set in a small English town where a girl is accused of being possessed. The main character, Mina, goes to talk to the girl and all the creepy people start to get introduced creating a slew and twist and gasps from the reader. This book had me captured the entire time, with the twist completely catching me off guard. Easily s 4 star read, and I will be recommending it to anyone looking for a thriller. Thank you #netgalley

Do you like questionable choices and communities stuck a century in the past? This is definitely the book for you! Mina is a new child psychologist in a pretty bad relationship who wants to break into the world of psychology and the paranormal. She wants to find proof that will let her believe she may someday communicate with her dead brother. This leads to her making one terrible decision after another. Mina has almost no self-esteem. She lets people drag her around and put her down pretty much constantly. All in the name of trying to get over her guilt over her brother's death. So she stumbles into a possible possession. Then she stays. Mina does seem to grow from her entire experience and makes at least some better decisions as she realizes she is into something much bigger than she imagined.

I am always looking for a REAL ghost story, something that cannot be explained away by a trick of the light or a delusional MC.
This book delivered on the scary, witchy front. I loved the lore and the setting. The ending felt rushed and incomplete - there was really no good explanation given for the main witch plot point.

This book was just ok to me. Not terrible, but certainly not something I'm going to remember reading a month from now. Even though there were elements of horror, nothing really popped or drew me into the story.

Finished Reading

DNF @ 49%

Final Review

Review summary and recommendations

This book is just not for me. I was put off by the style of the first person perspective almost immediately. Struggling with the narrator means struggling with the whole book. It all just sort of washed over me, but I think other readers will enjoy it.


Rating: DNF @ 49%
Recommend? for some readers
Finished: Feb 5 '25

Thank you to the author Daisy Pearce, publishers St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of SOMETHING IN THE WALLS. All views are mine.

Thank you to Netgalley for the arc.

I could not finish reading this novel, though, as the demon, witchiness of the story didn't pique my interest enough to keep reading. The mc felt more like a detective and her sudden interest in the reporter just seemed very off to me.

The year is 1989, and Mina is a newly graduated child psychologist that is offered a job by a reporter that would provide her with experience in a field where many want experts. She finds herself in the town of Banathel, a remote village with a history of superstition and witchcraft. She is there to evaluate Alice Webber, a thirteen-year-old girl that claims to be haunted by a witch. As Mina spends more time in the town and with the Webber family she is witness to many inexplicable occurrences. Due to the towns' superstition, Mina is in a race to figure out what is causing Alice's condition before the residents take the situation into their own hands.

I felt like the story started off a little slow, and I wasn't truly invested in the characters. However, I couldn't put down the book for approximately the last 25% of the book, and I did find the ending satisfying. There were a few instances in the book where I had to remind myself that the story was taking place in 1989 and not present day because I was really judging the some of the characters decisions/actions.

If you enjoy a little paranormal, mystery, and thriller I recommend you pick up the book.

I listened to the audiobook while also reading along. Ana Clements does an excellent job with the narration.

Thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press & Macmillan Audio for the eARC and audiobook. All opinions are my own.

I was really gripped into this book for about the first 80%. Horror can go one of two ways: “monsters are literally real” or “everything you’re seeing has an explanation”. I felt like they were choosing one of the ways for most of the book and I was loving it. The horror was visceral and I slammed through it. However, for me, the ending had way too much going on. It was an interesting conclusion to an interesting book but I felt unsatisfied ultimately about exactly what the reader witnessed

Something in the Walls by Daisy Pearce

Daisy Pearce’s Something in the Walls begins with an eerie and immersive setup. Newly minted child psychologist Mina, still grappling with the loss of her brother, is drawn into the unsettling case of Alice Webber—a young girl in the remote village of Banathel who believes a witch is haunting her. As Mina and journalist Sam Hunter investigate, they find themselves entangled in the town’s deep-rooted superstitions and a mounting dread.

The novel’s atmosphere is one of its strongest elements, blending elements of The Exorcist with the folk horror vibes of The Witch. The historical references, such as dancing mania and witch trials, add an intriguing layer to the mystery. Mina’s skepticism and attempts to rationalize the inexplicable happenings make for a compelling psychological angle. However, while the buildup is engaging, the story falters as it progresses.

Mina’s struggles, particularly regarding her brother, feel underdeveloped. Also, her fiance feels secondary in a way that could have been harder-hitting throughout the story. But the biggest disappointment comes from the book’s failure to follow through on its central premise. The witch, which seemed to be the heart of the mystery, is abruptly abandoned by the end, leaving questions unanswered. This was frustrating, especially after such an engrossing setup.

Despite the narrative missteps, Something in the Walls still offers a creepy, fun atmosphere that could translate well into a horror movie. While the plot ultimately loses focus, it’s enjoyable for those who appreciate unsettling folklore and psychological horror. I’d rate it 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 for its potential.

I'm a fan of thriller/horror combos, and Daisy Pearce's SOMETHING IN THE WALLS did not fail me. It's 1989, which means the world is a simpler place. Mina's on the brink of a good life after a tragic past, but agrees to help a man named Sam investigate the case of a haunting. Mina, as a future psychologist, is sure this will give her some real life experience. But when they travel to the small town she soon learns she is far more involved in the case than she could have imagined. A fun, taut scary-story style mystery.

Small town folklore takes on a whole new meaning when a reporter and child psychologist come to town. I was captivated immediately but left a little underwhelmed at the end. In a few words: grief, witches, community, murder, haunting, hysteria.