OMG, this book is like spooky vibes central! 💀 So Mina, this super green child psychologist, is stuck in a major life rut—bad fiancé, hot AF weather, and unresolved grief vibes. Then she meets Sam, this low-key mysterious journalist, at a grief group. He’s like, “Wanna help me with this totally creepy case of a girl in a haunted town?” And she’s all, “Why not? My life is chaos anyway!”

Cue tiny, eerie village, and Alice—a girl who's either cursed, haunted, or just misunderstood. The locals? Full-on culty superstition mode. The tension is off the charts, and you can literally feel the suffocating heat and dread. It’s so atmospheric, you’re like sweating along with Mina. 🔥

The plot starts all suspenseful, and you’re totally hooked, but TBH, the ending? Not what I expected, but like, whatever, it was still a ride. Definitely gives you chills, and I legit could NOT put it down. Highly recommend if you’re into creepy small-town vibes and witchy folklore. 🌒✨

Huge thanks to NetGalley for the audiobook in exchange for my honest opinion. 4/5 stars—so good! 👏

I was SO excited to receive an ARC of this book, considering I've entered at least two Goodreads giveaways for it.

I really enjoyed Daisy Pearce's writing. The vibes were perfectly spooky. Her worldbuilding and imagery is very immersive, making me feel very creeped out through the book. I will say, my mistake for not realizing sooner that this was a thriller, not a horror. It really set me up for a disappointment of my own making. That said, I really enjoyed the ending, even if it did, at times, feel a little disjointed.

The characters in this book were well developed, in my opinion. I did listen to the audio, so the narrator may have helped with this, but Pearce writes children well. That's a really difficult thing to do, and I remember listening and thinking that the kid actually sounded like a kid. (so sorry I forgot her name) The narrator was fantastic--I enjoyed all of her voices and thought they were well executed.

I received an ARC of this title via NetGalley, but opinions are my own. This one didn’t do it for me. I was really eager to read it and intrigued by the premise but it missed the mark. Mina came to work with and study a specific child who was facing some bizarre troubles and scenarios (the point of the book) but then spent very little time with her once she got there. I felt like so many random things just kept happening. I just couldn’t really connect with it even though I wanted to. Thanks for the opportunity to listen and review.

"Something in the Walls" is an incredibly creepy thriller that completely delivers the chills. The claustrophobic small town and the oppressive heat leap from the pages. I was completely engaged with the plot for about 70% percent of the story as our main character, Mina, a child psychologist takes on the task of evaluating a young teen girl named Alice who may or may not be possessed by a "witch". With each new reveal, I kept flip flopping between "yes, it's a possession story" and "no, it's a sham to make money". Unfortunately, the book takes a sharp left turn at the last 30% mark and it completely lost me. The pacing faltered with last minute reveals that were rushed and underdeveloped. Since the first half of the book is so strong, I would recommend picking it up if you are a fan of suspense reads with a mix of horror.

Many thanks to Netgalley, Macmillan/St. Martin's Press for an advanced reader's copy of the book.

Something in the Walls by Daisy Pearce is a chilling blend of psychological tension and supernatural horror. The story follows Mina, a child psychologist investigating the eerie case of Alice, a girl haunted by a mysterious "witch in the walls." Set in a small, superstitious village, the novel builds a haunting atmosphere filled with unsettling scenes and a sense of dread. While the plot offers intriguing twists and a strong audio narration, some readers may find the pacing uneven or the characters difficult to connect with. Still, Pearce delivers an eerie tale that fans of witchy, atmospheric thrillers will enjoy.

The novel centers around Mina, a child psychologist, who delves into young Alice's claims of being haunted by a witch. Although the book progressed quickly, I found it challenging to stay fully engaged. The narrative attempted to build mystery, but overall, it felt somewhat flat and didn't live up to the intriguing premise outlined in the description.

Despite these issues, I did appreciate how the story concluded. The ending was satisfying and well-executed, tying together the narrative threads in a way that made sense and provided some redemption for the earlier parts of the book.

I dont know...I was enjoying it at first. like the is she possessed or whatnot that was going on, but then too many characters started appearing and that last 1/4 of the book I was like what the hell is going on. Pearce's writing was good though and I will read more from them.

“Desperation makes you inventive.”

When I first started this audiobook, I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to get into it. It was one of those books where as I was listening 𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 I found my mind drifting to other thoughts…like I just couldn’t focus on the story.

However, that changed and the story turned atmospheric in the best way. I was like oh geez what is going on in this house and this poor girl. I quickly refocused my attention.

It was creepy and atmospheric. The hysteria vibes were real AND I learned more about witch hunt types of activities such as “riddance” and the “witch pricker.” I’ve heard of the “tool” that they used to identify (I use the term loosely of course) witches back in the day but the “witch pricker” tool used to find the devil’s mark was extra ick. I mean they all were.

Anyway this started as something I wasn’t sure I’d like and turned into a book that held my attention.

The audio narrator was excellent.

I’ve now been enlightened to the saying “Good riddance” it took on a whole new meaning (much darker than when I use it lol) after reading this book.

𝙍𝙄𝘿𝘿𝘼𝙉𝘾𝙀: the action of getting rid of a troublesome or unwanted person or thing.

I love books where I learn new things and this gave me more insight into the crazy witch hunters.

What a fun and creepy read!

I loved the concept of a new psychologist cutting her proverbial teeth with a troubled teen, and loved that it was for a newspaper trying to uncover the truth—whatever that truth might be.

I thought the setting of rural England was wonderful, and the author’s description of the ongoing heat wave was excellent.

I couldn’t tell with certainty what time period this was set in (I’m guessing mid-80’s?), which was disconcerting at times.

I did love seeing how the MC built rapport with her patient, and enjoyed reading through the family dynamics, the neighborhood dynamics, and the treachery of living in a small town where nobody has left.

The middle bit where things went paranormal lost me, honestly—but the beginning 1/3 and the final 1/3 were redemption for a five-star overall rating.

This book does need some trigger warnings.

I think the narration was very well done. Well written to be 'read' in the form of an audio book. Sometimes I did have a little confusion with the switching in characters, but it was easily sorted out.

Parts of this book had me scared. Other parts had me questioning and confused (but in a good way, because I thought surely I had it figured out. But no, of course I didn't). Interesting twists leading to an ending I wasn't expecting.

Actual Rating 2.5

This one was a bit odd and is certainly more enjoyable if you don’t think about it too much. Don’t think about why an adult woman who is a child psychologist acts so naïve and clueless. Or why the same child psychologist spends most of her time talking to everyone but the child. Don’t think about why the ending is so predictable because every single thing that happens is pushing in that single direction. Don’t think about why the first half of the book feels like a completely different book than the second half.

Part of what lessened my enjoyment was the direction that the author chose for the antagonist/final solution. Personally, it just feels like a trope that’s been used so much in recent years that I was hoping for something more unique or interesting, a break from the standard. I was also hoping it would take a more supernatural turn and that more would come from that aspect at the end. I wanted so much more from the witch aspect, which had started off quite strong in the first portion of the work.

I quite liked the beginning of this one, but the aspects I liked and the tension/atmosphere quickly became lost as the book went on. My thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review

This book had a really interesting premise. I thought the author did a great job creating a creepy, chilling atmosphere. I liked the supernatural vibes throughout. I thought the pacing of the story was good, I didn't feel like there were any points where I was bored, but I was also not really on the edge of my seat. I think with this one I wanted just a little more. I thought the ending was good, with some really interesting plot twists that I enjoyed. Overall a good read, with a really great narrator on the audiobook.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy!

It wasn't a bad book, but it didn't capture me. I just didn't connect with the characters that much and never felt invested in the plot.

Insane! At no point did I even begin to guess what was going to happen in this book. The way everything ties together in the end is seamless. Such a good and atmospheric novel.

This is probably one of the creepiest books I’ve ever read. The story is scary and the audiobook narration by Ana Clements makes it almost unbearable. When the spooky, allegedly possessed girl speaks of the witch in the walls, Clements whispers in a way that my skin wasn’t just crawling, but taking off running! And the plot? What starts off as a solid scary story keeps turning the screws until the tension turns it into a horrific nightmare. I had no idea what was going on. Was Alice really possessed by a supernatural entity? Was there human agency behind it? The dynamics between child psychologist Mina and journalist Sam worked well, and I was invested in their story. But it was the town of Banathel that stole the show, in my opinion. The feeling of dread pervades the village and all its buildings, and the inhabitants are so well drawn and completely fleshed out that they seem real. Again, Ana Clements aces the audiobook performances, giving each of these characters their own voice. Highly recommended.
I chose to listen to this audiobook and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Macmillan Audio.

Review of Something in the Walls by Daisy Pearce

Daisy Pearce’s Something in the Walls is a masterful blend of psychological tension, folklore, and creeping horror that will grip you from the first page. Following Mina, a fledgling psychologist thrust into the unsettling world of a superstitious village, the novel skillfully balances an eerie atmosphere with Mina’s deeply personal struggles. The haunting setting of Banathel, steeped in sinister traditions, becomes a character in its own right, amplifying the suspense as Mina confronts both the town’s mysteries and her own haunting past.

Alice, the young girl at the center of the mystery, is an enigma whose chilling behavior keeps readers guessing—is she truly haunted, or is something far darker at play?

This is an unnervingly tense read that unravels at just the right pace, delivering twists that linger long after you close the book. Perfect for readers who crave intelligent and atmospheric thrillers.

Thank you Daisy Pearce, St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and Netgalley for the advanced copy!

DAMMMMMNNNN. This book is one of the best creepy/thrillers I've read in a long time. It hooked me immediately and kept me guessing the whole way. The old school spooky horror was chefs kiss. Loved it.

Looking for her first real paid experience after graduating school, child psychologist Mina teams up with Sam Webber, a reporter looking for an expert to help with a story. Traveling to a remote village, Sam introduces Mina to Alice Webber, a thirteen-year-old girl allegedly being haunted by a witch. Staying with the girl's family, the stakes are high for everyone-- Sam wants a breakout story, Mina wants a case to jump start her career, and Alice wants to be free of her supernatural tormentor.

This one had tons of potential, and I really enjoyed listening to it. There were some characters (like Mina's husband and Alice's dad) that I really disliked, but most of the story focuses on Sam, Mina and Alice and they were a very interesting crew, I liked the way their very different lives intersected in this case. I never really felt like this story got creepy to the level of 'The Haunting of Hill House' as suggested in the blurb, but I do think it got close, provided some creepy situation and made a good story. I would definitely try more from this author!

Ughhhhh... This one had SO much potential! Ok, so it's a psychological thriller with paranormal elements, which could have been scary. It started out strong, it's definitely atmospheric and had its creepy moments, but it just didn't really work for me. Yes, it's far fetched and requires that you suspend disbelief, but that wasn't even what bothered me. What got me was how fast the story slowed WAY down. Overall, it wasn't my favorite. Huge thanks to NetGalley, Daisy Pearce, and MacMillan Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

3.5⭐️
Thank you MacMillan Audio for the ALC!
The narrator did a great job with voicing all of the characters.
🖤Witchy/Paranormal
🖤Set in 1989
🖤Small Town
This was a creepy, atmospheric and witchy read. It was a bit slow at times and I’m not sure how I feel about the ending. I still have questions! But it still was a wild ride and I absolutely love witchy style books.