Max Andrews wants to hire private investigator Annie Gore. His sister Molly, along with two other young girls vanished 10 years ago. Annie is pulled and pushed away by his location. She grew up in a similar small town and still holds on to unpleasant memories.
Annie takes the case, uncertain if she can actually find new evidence. Her presence and her questions seem to stir something up though. Soon, her life is in danger as the kidnapper(s) feel she is getting too close for comfort.
I really liked Annie. She has an interesting backstory that this book only scratches the surface. Could this become a series? IDK, but I’m all in for discovering more about Annie and tagging along with her on her next case.

The title, cover, and description drew me in for this ARC. I enjoyed the book a lot. The main character is lovable enough that I'd even enjoy a series of books focused around her varying PI jobs, and also exploring more of her history with Leo.

I enjoyed the lore that came with the Appalachian town, the diverse characters really helped the story and mystery, and the side stories kept me engaged rather than distracted.

Good story, good plot, good ending.

“Every Apple has a little poison in it” 🍏

I was pleasantly surprised by this mystery thriller.

Annie Gore, a private investigator, takes on the case of Max's younger sister, who disappeared a decade ago in a small Appalachian town where three young girls went missing. Annie's connection to the town is deepened by her childhood memories of Appalachian folklore stories told by her grandmother.

The narrative skillfully incorporates mystical Appalachian folklore, creating a haunting and eerie atmosphere.

The story's twists and turns kept me guessing, and the ending was both unexpected and fulfilling, providing answers to most of the questions raised throughout the narrative.

I appreciate NetGalley for providing an advance review copy. I highly recommend this book to friends and family, as it proved to be a quick and engaging read!

*I received an advance reader copy (ARC) of this book through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
The Witches Orchard is an absolute page-turner that had me hooked from the very first chapter. Archer Sullivan’s writing is immersive and captivating, making it nearly impossible to put this book down. When I wasn’t reading, I found myself constantly thinking about the story—trying to unravel the mystery and figure out who (or what) was behind the disappearance of these girls.
One of the things I loved most about this book was its unpredictability. I was convinced I had the culprit pegged for most of the novel, only to realize later that I had been completely misled. However, there was one key conversation that suddenly put everything into perspective for me, and I managed to piece it together just before the big reveal. Even then, the execution of the twist was so well done that it still left me in awe.
If you love a gripping mystery with eerie undertones and masterful storytelling, The Witches Orchard is a must-read. Don’t think twice about picking up a copy—you won’t regret it!

Great story. A contemporary thriller backdropped against the ancient Appalachian mountains of North Carolina, Sullivan weaves a tale of folklore mixing with the mysterious cases of missing girls. Highly recommend! #thewitchesorchard #archersullivan #netgalley #goodreads

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: The Witch's Orchard by Archer Sullivan
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: Mystery/Thriller
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: August 12, 2025

"𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘪𝘵."

🍏 Struggling Private Investigator
✨️ Decades Old Cold Cases
🍎 Missing Young Girls
✨️ Atmospheric Mystery
🍏 Appalachian Folklore
✨️ "The Witch of Quartz Creek"

I really love the inclusion of the Appalachian folklore with the atmospheric feel of the mountain setting. I found the ever-evolving tale of the Witch of Quartz Creek fascinating, with each retelling subtly reflecting the teller's personal struggles. The Witch's Orchard is a must-read for anyone looking for an atmospheric and suspenseful thriller.

Thank you so much Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the digital review copy

I really enjoyed this story full of twisted local lore turned real life nightmare. Descriptions made it easy to visualize characters and sympathize with them. Just enough flashbacks to make the main character feel known while still mysterious enough to hope for a sequel. I love mysteries of all sorts, but sometimes feel they're a little predictable. This one kept me guessing up till the end. I do wish that the ending hadn't felt so abrupt, I could've used another couple chapters to get a little more expansion and closure on what happened after the big reveal. But otherwise really enjoyable thriller!

This was a fun to read mystery. With some interesting twists and turns the storyline kept the reader interested and guessing what would happen next. This is a book which I would recommend to those who enjoy a good mystery with a surprising ending.

The Witch’s Orchard had me guessing until the very end. I was drawn in from the beginning, invested in each character and couldn’t put it down! I have never read a book by Archer Sullivan before but I am a new fan and willl be looking for more from her. This is a definite must read for my friends and followers!!!

This was great! New to me author so I had no idea what to expect and I was happily surprised. I liked the writing right from the start and was totally engrossed and found myself just wanting to stay on the couch all day and read. There was a great mystery with several possible culprits and a great twist, an atmospheric setting with a bit of creepy folklore/myth incorporated, and some great characters that I really enjoyed. Good pacing, a hint of romance...all in all a good time that kept me turning the pages. I would definitely read more from this author in the future and would love a series following Annie on some more cases!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for putting this one on my radar and for the early arc for review!
4.5 rounded up to 5

The Witches Orchard by new to me author Archer Sullivan is a twisty, turney mystery about a PI hired by a brother anxious to find out what happened to his sister who was kidnapped some ten years ago. Three young girls had actually disappeared that summer, but one was returned. Why? The plot becomes more and more complicated as Annie Gore begins her questioning. The police files are a mess and more than one person has threatened to have Annie arrested if she continues her investigation. This is a story that begs to be completed in one reading. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book from NetGalley. Highly recommend.

This is a very good story, the setting in a holler in Appalachia gives it a claustrophobic feel which is appropriate for the story. Annie Gore is a former military investigator, she is now a private investigator, and has been asked to investigate the disappearance of a girl from 10 years ago, she has not done a cold case previously, but she desperately needs the money so agrees. She has to travel to Appalachia, someplace she had left many years ago and never returned, she meets Max, the person who asked her to investigate. His sister had disappeared from a church function 10 years ago, in the intervening years he has saved all his money to hire a private investigator to find out what happened to her. Annie is not sure she would be able to but agrees to give it a week to see what she can find. She's a very good investigator and not long after gets a visit from the local police to back off, telling her that it was investigated and there would be nothing to find. Of course that doesn't stop her, she continues to investigate and seemingly talks to everyone, which causes someone to act out hoping to throw her off. Overall a very good story, some of the folk lore, the applehead dolls for example, were interesting, the pace of the story was also very good, not too quick or slow, Annie is very fond of her car, giving it a nickname and talking to it, very cute behavior. I would recommend. Thanks to #Netgalley and #St Martins Press for the ARC.

I love books with Appalachian folklore. This book was so atmospheric and I felt like I was walking around with Annie trying to solve the mystery. The whole deal with the witch and the applehead dolls was kinda spooky too, loved it. I basically read it in one setting because of how invested I was. Annie is a very compelling narrator, she's relatable even if I haven't been though her experiences and she for sure made some choices that maybe weren't the best, but it made her feel real because not a cop, and she's doing her best. Some bits of her backstory were left out which makes me think this might be a start to a series.

To be honest, the ending wasn't tooooo surprising, you can sort of see part of it coming, but I thought it was very well done anyways and I was definitely second guessing myself throughout. At times I caught myself being suspicious of characters who couldn't have possible done it, but they were just sooo suspicious lol.

Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC!

"The Witch's Orchard" kept me wanting to read. I did not want to put the book down. When I thought I figured out who took the children, you put a twist in there and had me wanting to get to the end to see what happened and who did it. What a great Mystery. I loved how when each character was asked about the Witch of Quartz Creek the folklore changed a bit. The PI Annie character was a very determined PI and kept investigating till she found all the children.

What drew me to the book: The cover. I like the clear print, and color pallets. I like having a book that people ask 'what is that book?' and pick up my kindle. This cover did exactly that.

What I liked the most about this book: I read it in one night, I really wanted to understand the mystery. It left me feeling that I would miss something if I put it down. I loved how it was eerie, moderately paced, set in the hollers of Appalachia, it was really atmospheric.

What I did not like: I felt like the setting of the book carried the bulk of the desire to finish the book rather then the characters and story line.

Rating: 4 Stars

This book pulled me in from the beginning. What a great creepy read. I am so happy I was chosen to read this book and I will definitely be looking to read more from this author. Cold cases are some of my favorite crime stories and this second chance case in such an eerie setting nailed the experience. I would also love to see more from the FMC, what a series that would make.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for allowing me to read The Witch's Orchard. This book is a Must read! It grabs you from the beginning and does not let go! The characters are so well written and are super relatable. I couldn't put The Witch's Orchard down! Read it. You won't be disappointed.

This book was phenomenal. The first book I’ve read by Archer Sullivan but won’t be the last. Realizing that this book had my hometown mentioned in it once I started reading it was a crazy realization!
This book has an eerie vibe, and from the moment you realize the details of the plot it will have you hooked.
Private investigator Annie Gore will take you on an adventure to uncover the truth behind what’s going on in an Appalachian town, and the disappearances of 3 young girls. The author paints the setting so vividly you can nearly see it with your own eyes.

Loved the eerie Appalachian setting and the slow unraveling of secrets. As someone from the Appalachian Mountains, I really appreciated how well the atmosphere and small-town dynamics were captured—the isolation, the way rumors turn into folklore, and how the past is never really buried. Annie Gore is a fantastic protagonist—tough, sharp, and haunted in just the right way. The mix of mystery, folklore, and deeply rooted family histories made for a gripping read.

The writing is immersive, pulling you straight into the misty hollers and shadowy forests, where every whisper and superstition feels like it could be a clue. The pacing kept me hooked, though some moments felt intentionally slow, letting the tension build. I did wish for a little more clarity in certain reveals, but overall, it delivered a solid, atmospheric mystery. If you love stories steeped in Appalachian lore with a strong, complex lead, this one’s worth picking up!

This was fantastic. I really enjoyed reading it and didn’t want to put it down. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!