I loved this book! I remember reading it in bed unable to put it down. I really enjoyed the anticipation I felt with what was coming next and not being able to guess what was going on until the end (which was great!). I loved the connection to Frankenstein and the author’s twist to the classic. I am a huge fan of this author and have enjoyed all of her books thus far.

This book is inspired by the story of Frankenstein. It is part horror and part thriller. It takes place in two timelines. One is Vi in 1978 (3rd person POV). The other is Lizzie in 2019.

In 1978 3 children grow up in Vermont loving monsters. Their gran is a psychiatrist who runs the Inn. In 2019 Lizzie is the host of a popular monsters podcast. She goes across the country chasing monsters.

Horror is definitely not my typical genre. And chasing monsters is not really my typical topic to read about. However my book club just discussed this book. And it was such an interesting discussion.

3.5 rounded up to 4

I don't think I expected the supernatural element from this book, which kind of threw me off to be honest. I'm not sure if I found that it worked with this story. I liked the past tense more than the present tense. Learning about the MC's when they were kids was very interesting and what kept me turning the pages. Reading about the psychiatric treatment center, and how the grandmother even brought a kid in to their family, was really interesting. Kids are so smart and so fearless and the past tense carried this book. The present tense kind of bored me.

I’m beginning to think this author is just not for me. I’m an impatient reader and this is the second of hers I’ve read. I read the drowning kind, and just like that one, this one was also slow burn. I like fast-paced reads. Especially, if it’s a thriller/suspense.

I did enjoy the setting. Something this author does well. I also liked the dual timeline. If it weren’t for my curiosity as to how the story was going to play out, I probably would have ditched this one. But the twist was good enough to save this one from a lower rating.

2 stars

This book was a real struggle for me from start to finish.
I lost interest multiple times and once I finally forced myself to read it, it started to be interesting until the whole premise of kids investigating hideous crimes committed by people like Dr Jekill / Mr Hyde. It was so absurd and naive to make someone believe that a bunch of kids (on both timelines, past and present) have successfully uncovered things that grown-ups didn't even bother question.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for allowing me to read this book!

Enjoyment: 5
Total rating: 5

A genre-defying new novel, inspired by Mary Shelley's masterpiece Frankenstein, brilliantly explores childhood's eerie mysteries and the evils perpetrated by the monsters among us.

1978: Dr. Helen Hildreth has a reputation as a compassionate psychiatrist. At home, she is a loving grandmother to Vi and Eric. One day, she brings home Iris, a feral child she feels compelled to help. Soon, the siblings invite Iris to be part of their monster club, cataloguing monsters and the way to defeat them. Soon, they become inseparable, doing everything together - including hunting monsters Vi believes to be very real.


2019: Lizzy Shelley, who hosts the podcast Monsters Among Us, travels to Vermont to investigate the abduction of a young girl rumoured to be connected to a monster sighting.

Can you read a McMahon and not cry? I can't. I have said this ad nauseam, but her prose evokes the same feelings in me as Shirley Jackson's. The atmosphere is dreary, heavy and raw; her prose is beautiful, and the way she writes relationships is unequalled. The Children on the Hill is no exception. I even dare say it is one of my favourite books of the year already and my favourite of hers to date.

McMahon captures the essence of Frankenstein perfectly while making the story original, beautiful and touching on its own.

I will not say much about the book because I honestly believe each person should experience it on their own. The Children on the Hill is very much a book that reflects the reader's inner thoughts and feelings. Each person will get something different, ranging from pure entertainment to raw emotion and connectedness to the characters - especially Vi and Iris.

I had an ARC, bought the book and read it the week it came out. Writing this review has taken me this long because I couldn't think about this book without feeling emotional. Jennifer's prose is mesmerizing, and her stories evoke real emotions.

I have just reread The Children on the Hill, hoping to have a less emotional reaction to it, but nope. I felt just as emotional and entranced the second time around. It really makes you think about what makes monsters and realize that they truly walk among us. Sometimes they even look back when you stare in the mirror - but what is the fine line some people cross and others don't??

I will leave it here and hope you can go and read it soon.


Disclaimer: In exchange for an honest review, I am thankful to the publishers and NetGalley for providing a copy of The Children on the Hill.

The story was slow and unfortunately, it fell flat for me.

I struggled with this one and I just couldn't finish it

This was such an atmospheric read, so very erie. It’s a perfect read for around Halloween time. It’s inspired by Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. A book taking place at an old psychiatric hospital, is a book I was so down to read. And it didn’t disappoint. You never know what is going to happen. Highly recommend

The Children On The Hill • Jennifer McMahon ⭐️ - 4 Stars
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I went into this book with no idea what it was about. At first I thought what the hell am I reading. It also jumps between past, present, some articles and books which threw me through a bit of a loop but once I started to understand the flow it was much easier.
I was pleasantly surprised I enjoyed this book as much as I did! I was easily sucked in after a few chapters! I really enjoyed the suspense and build up from each chapter also with some horror thrown in there!
I was definitely surprised by the big reveal! Immediately after finishing I actually wanted to read it again to see if I could pick up on clues along the way!
Definitely recommend!

Thank you to @NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review

If you want to read a spine tingling, bone chilling, disturbingly dark and entertaining book, then look no further! The Children On The Hill by Jennifer McMahon, absolutely terrified me but at the same time, I could not put it down. It was that good.

The story unfolds in two separate time lines, in 1978 and 2019. In 1978, Dr. Helen Hildreth, a respected psychiatrist, works with individuals at her Hillside Psychiatric Institute, whom suffer from mental illness. At the same time Helen is also raising her two orphaned grandchildren, Violet and Eric. Helen’s grandchildren are obsessed with all things monsters; hunting for them, writing about them and even creating a monster catching club.

One day, out of the blue, Helen brings home Iris to live with her family. Violet and Eric don’t know much about Iris other then she is extremely odd and quiet, and not exactly normal. Iris is no help explaining who she is as she has no recollection of her past. Free of suspicion, the two kids take Iris under their wing and the strange almost “ferral” child starts to come out of her shell once she bonds with Violet and Eric over their monster club. But all is not as it seems, as what the children don’t realize is that there is a very real monster that lives within the walls of their home.

In 2019, Lizzy, a podcaster, has made a name for herself as a monster hunter. And when a young girl goes missing in her community Lizzy decides it’s time for her to solve the mystery of the little girl and her past and hunt down the monster once and for all.

I won’t say anymore as I don’t want to spoil it for you, but go grab a copy! The Children On The Hill is brilliantly written with a shocking plot twist I didn’t see coming. I think I will be sleeping with the lights on and checking under my bed for the next few weeks 😅 😳.

Thank you Simon and Schuster Canada, NetGalley and Jennifer McMahon for my digital advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review.

Loved this book! Jennifer McMahon never disappoints!

Thank you Netgally for providing me with this advance readers copy in exchange for an honest review!

I can’t believe this was my first read by Jennifer McMahon! It definitely won’t be my last. I really enjoyed the alternating timelines between past and present and the creepy atmosphere of the psychiatric facility which really builds up as the book progresses. It took me a few chapters to get into the monster thing, but it ended up working itself out well! I was pleasantly surprised by the ending, there are two really good twists! This book would actually make a really good movie!

4.5/5

In this eerie mystery, a woman known in the monster hunting world as Lizzie Shelley, tracks down a dangerous mythical creature who has snatched yet another young girl. As we follow Lizzie along, we peer into her childhood as secrets and horrors are unveiled.

Hot diggity dang, that was BRILLIANT !!! The Children of the Hill is one not to be missed!!

The hook, pace, setting and themes: Was the story a page-turner?

Yes!! Jennifer McMahon uses elements of a supernatural thriller and psychological suspense with rip-roaring pacing that had me awake reading past my usual bedtime!! That’s not easy because I will fall asleep holding my book or kindle.

Located on a top of a forested hill, Hillside Inn is known as one of the best psychiatric institutions in New England. There is something different about the Hillside Inn. It’s not your typical gothic setting using psychiatric institutions for its chilling atmosphere. It is more like a picturesque country estate rather than a hospital.

Monsters are explored here. The ones who know they are monsters and the ones who don’t. Not a new thing to explore with the question, “Who are the real monsters.” However, in the hands of McMahon, finding out the answer is fresh and exciting!!

Structure: The story is told in two lines. One in 1978, where we meet Violet, Eric, and Iris, and in 2019, in the POV of Lizzy as she hunts for a monster. There are chapters from The Monster, journal entries from The Book of Monsters by Violet, Eric, and Iris and snippets from an article written about Hillside Inn.

The Characters: Are the characters interesting with flaws that drive the story forward and had me rooting for them?

Yes!! They have secrets that add to the suspense to the story. I was rooting for Lizzy to find the monster she is hunting.

Violet and Eric have a fascination with monsters. They have a club where they hunt them and write about them. When their Gran brings home a silent, fearful Iris who has no memory, Vi invites her to join their club and she promises to find out what secrets Gran is hiding.

Central Conflict: What elements drive the story forward?

McMahon uses cat and mouse elements with a game of hide and seek as Lizzy chases her monster. The tension that increases with every turn builds the thrills and chills needed to drive the story forward. The suspense created the questions I needed to know the answers to, and I couldn’t stop reading until I had them.

Payoff: Was the story layered with clues to see some of the twists and turns coming with a rewarding payoff in the end?

Yes!!! This is what I found brilliant about the story. The clues are there right from the beginning, and I can’t believe, after all the thrillers I read, I didn’t pick up on them. I love it when the final twists come as a shock, but it’s believable because the clues were there. That is what makes for a well-written, clever rewarding thriller.

Would I recommend it? Absolutely!!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Really enjoyed this one. I love the vibe and feel of it. Would definitely recommend to others.

If you love old horror movies and monster tales, you will love this book!

I grew up watching old monster movies every Sunday afternoon. Think those 1930s black and white movies with Bela Lugosi and Frankenstein as a raging monster. The Creature from the Lagoon. Dracula. I couldn't get enough of them.

So I fell in love almost instantly with Vi and her Book of Monsters. To her carefully crafted notes and observations about monsters and how they hide amongst us.

The story evolves over two timelines, Vi, set in 1978 (when those monster movies were on TV constantly), and Lizzy, set in 2019 chasing down her monsters.

At one point, I wondered if Lizzy was... spoilers sweety, spoilers.

Such a great book (of monsters).

Holy f*cking hell, @jennifermcmahonwrites has friggen done it again. Every single book I read by this author sticks with me. They're all so unlike one another but are pure masterpieces. This is a book about Monsters, it's a book that proves to us that monsters are real and living amongst us.

The Children on the Hill is told through two timelines, the past (1978) and the present (2019). In 1978 Vivian and her brother Eric live with Dr. Helen Hildreth aka "Gran". While Gran works at a treatment center for the mentally ill, the children are at home hunting monsters. The children don't fully understand what Gran does but they do know she only helps adults. So it's strange one day when she brings home a child to stay with them. Iris is skittish and afraid, but thankfully she believes in monsters too, so the children have something to bond over.

2019: Monsters amongst Us, is a popular podcast hosted by Lizzy Shelley. Lizzy travels all over haunted monsters, her latest travel spot is Vermont. Where she believes she'll finally catch an actual monster, because she is positive the monster she is hunting this time is her sister.

1978: Having Iris around is amazing for the siblings. The closer they get, the more Vivian needs to learn more about Iris's past. The only way to do so, is to break into Grans work and see exactly what is going on there. Once the truth is revealed, the children's lives are forever changed and the monster is unleashed.

This book is seriously filled with soo many twists and turns and one I think is going to be a top 2022 read for so many, including myself. 10/10 highly recommend, PICK THIS BOOK UP!!!

✨Book Review✨
The Children on the Hill
By Jennifer McMahon

This was my first read from Jennifer McMahon, and what I story this was!

It began a little slow for me I will admit, but once it got going, it was full of delightful twists and turns, and I was unable to set it down!

McMahon’s attention to detail in this story is truly wonderful, the characters are well developed, and eerily portrayed. A page-turner that just goes to show there is a little bit of Monster in all of us.

This was my first book by Jennifer McMahon and I thought she was excellent at creating an atmospheric setting and dynamic characters. Even as someone who only has a general understanding of Frankenstein, I could appreciate the book’s exploration of what makes a monster. While I’d say this book is spooky, it wasn’t as scary as I expected.

I enjoyed the dual timeline perspective and I understood why the author was doing this to slowly reveal the twist at the end. However, I did find myself wishing it would move along a bit faster and I did guess the outcome early on. There were a few points that had me wondering why, like the involvement of Skink in Lizzy’s investigation.

Overall, I would recommend anyone who likes monster stories and what makes a monster.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster Canada and the author Jennifer McMahon. This one was not the Jennifer McMahon book for me. I thought I would read and like all that she wrote but I really did not enjoy the monster aspect of this book. Old monster movies were not really my thing and this made this book not as great as it would be for me. I gave it a 3 star rating.