"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.

4 stars for the audiobook, 3 stars for the story.

Set in the 1980s, the unlikely duo of Mina, a recently graduated child psychologist, and Sam, a journalist, are brought together in a grief group. When Sam is drawn into the case of a potential possession/haunting of a young girl named Alice, he convinces Mina to join him to see if she can offer any help or insight.

This is a tough one to review because the story is a strange mash-up of horror and domestic thriller, which didn't ultimately work for me. Sam and Mina are drawn to this case because Alice claims she can speak with the dead, and they both hope to connect with lost loved ones. This takes a back seat in the beginning while much of the focus is on the very creepy experiences Alice has, which I truly found quite scary. When the story then shifts into a formulaic thriller, that most will be able to quickly figure out, I wasn't quite sure what the point of the whole haunting element was. The ending then involves some truly gross scenes that feel a little gratuitous and tiresome, while leaving a bunch of story elements unanswered.

It must be said that the audiobook production is fantastic, and the narrator, Ana Clements, is truly the reason why I ended up finishing this in the end. I will gladly seek out other books she has performed in the future.

While this didn't work for me, it will probably be best enjoyed by anyone interested in stories of horror, witches, and mass hysteria.

3.25⭐️

I wanted to like this book so badly! And it started off great! Unfortunately it quickly unravels and the story becomes very disconnected. There is a ton of content that has little point in forwarding the plot. It’s seems like it was written simple to try to make it “scary” , which to me wasn’t successful.

I am thankful to have gotten the audio ALC for free from Netgalley and Macmillan Audio to enjoy which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

So with that I’m going to focus on the audio narration. The narrator Ana Clement’s does a fine job however she speaks awfully slow. I needed to speed it up to 1.5x speed to make it listenable. I don’t feel the narration helped or hindered the story. I enjoyed the British accent.

This title comes out February 25 2025. It may be the right book for you if you enjoy psychological horror and the paranormal.

My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars and I rarely round up.

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again

Something in the Walls was ok. The story line was so far fetched that it wasn’t a realistic story. The characters were good but the story was just ok.