THE CHILDREN ON THE HILL Review – A Not-So-Scary Novel About the Monsters of Our Past

Maddy Flowers Sheehy calls this novel a fun young adult read but not scary enough for gore-loving horror fans.

THE CHILDREN ON THE HILL is the new novel by Jennifer McMahon, the New York Times bestselling author of The Drowning Kind (2021). The suspenseful thriller published by Simon & Schuster, Gallery Books, and Scout Press spans four decades, following monster-loving Violet, a 13-year-old girl in 1978 Vermont. The novel propels forward to 2019, where we meet Lizzy Shelley, host of the podcast Monsters Among Us returns to her childhood home in search of real monsters following the abduction of a young girl.

In 1978, we meet Violet living with her little brother Eric and grandmother Dr. Helen Hildreth, “Gran” to the children. Gran is a loving caretaker, home-schooling the two children. She teaches them how to be kind, compassionate, and curious. Gran is a well-known psychiatrist at a treatment center in Vermont, home to many mentally ill and troubled patients at her day job.

Gran brings home a young girl to stay with them named Iris. Iris doesn’t talk. She’s anxious and acts skittish. Eric and Violet welcome her into the family immediately, and she joins their Monster Club. In this secret activity, they track and write about monsters in the “Book of Monsters” guide they’ve created. The more we learn about Gran’s professional life and the mysterious goings-on at the treatment center, we discover that monsters may be more real than the kids ever imagined. After snooping around in forbidden areas, eavesdropping on phone calls, and making connections with a nurse at the treatment center, Violent suspects her Gran might not be who she’s grown up to believe.

Fast-forward to 2019, Violet has renamed herself Lizzy Shelley and hosts a paranormal podcast chronicling her travels across the country, investigating monster sightings. She’s on the trail of a long-hunted monster, who she suspects is her estranged sister Iris. The reader is in the dark about what traumatic incident occurred in 1978 and what fractured the family.

THE CHILDREN ON THE HILL is an engaging read, with chapters switching the narratives between Violet, Lizzy, news articles about the treatment center, and the kid’s “Book of Monsters.” This unique form of storytelling is a great way to slowly feed the reader bits and pieces of the mystery, with other background details and information falling into place as the story unfolds. The shifting narratives between past and present and news article excerpts help drive the mounting tension and feelings of suspense and dread, but the final payoff sadly doesn’t satisfy after the build-up. The scares are consistently eerie but didn’t create any fear for me that suited my definition of horror. The reveals are more subdued than shocking, especially when Lizzy is investigating her sister’s whereabouts and the truth of Gran’s activities at the treatment center.

While said to be inspired by Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1818), influences from recent science-fiction and horror films and television like Stranger Things (2016), American Horror Story: Asylum (2012), and even Malignant (2021) are evident. McMahon’s novel is an excellent choice for young adult readers looking to dive into the genre. However, for fans of grittier horror fiction, it might disappoint. While the novel’s pacing and shifting narrative kept me turning the page, it fails to contain anything that will terrify horror fans. The plot may not offer enough depth for those looking for more mature literature. In every chapter I read, I expected a shocking scene with gruesome details, but I came to find that this wasn’t that type of story. As the mystery reveals, there are tinges of more sinister content waiting for the reader’s pleasure, but the twists and shocks never fully satisfied.

The young adult aspect made me incredibly nostalgic throughout the 1978 storyline. The children’s Monster Club and their ever-evolving “Book of Monsters” were fun to read, and it reminded me of projects I created for myself as a pre-teen. Bike rides on summer nights, catching and caring for wildlife in the woods, and playing outside until I was tan, muddy, and exhausted were some of my favorite parts of being a kid, and THE CHILDREN ON THE HILL captured that spirit perfectly.

While the 1978 narrative is realistic, readers may cringe at the dialogue for the 2019 teenagers. The authenticity of McMahon’s characters is lost as she writes unrealistic quips for modern teens. That side of the plot was a miss for me.

Ultimately, THE CHILDREN ON THE HILL was not for me, despite having no trouble finishing it in just a few sittings. The young adult aspects were a bit simple, and plot points are spelled out, but it’s engaging enough to finish. I have nothing against popcorn fun or a light read, but I was expecting something scarier after reading the plot summary, with allusions to Frankenstein, Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1886), and primal fears. I’d recommend this novel to those who want a breezy read that includes creepy, atmospheric settings and a trauma-filled coming of age story but won’t be disappointed by the lack of thrilling scares and gore.

THE CHILDREN ON THE HILL is available today. Buy the book on Amazon and Barnes & Noble in Hardcover and Paperback, ebook, and Audiobook.

I read about 20% of this one, but I didn’t really like the long chapters and didn’t understand the direction it was going in. Unfortunately, I didn’t like this one, but might return to it at a later time when the mood strikes. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me a free copy.

Once again, Jennifer McMahon's creativity drew me in and amazed me. I love that real world meets (a hint of) make believe and challenges what you know to be true.

I first came across Jennifer McMahon’s writing with The Winter People which still remains my favorite. This was less creepy and supernatural to me but I love the idea of monsters, urban lore, Frankenstein and science all meshed together. I think this may be a broader and more accessible read to many but still long for her earlier style. Definitely enjoyed though.

While this book is described as “genre-defying,” I felt it was a fairly straightforward thriller, employing commonly seen tropes in this genre including isolated locale, missing child(ren), and a few more that may be spoilers. I liked that the sinister nature of the book was both visible and subtle depending on the time period / POV, and enjoyed the exposé book about the Hillside Inn being cut into the narrative, getting you to ask questions and look for clues. What didn’t work for me was getting zero insight into the villain’s convictions or medical epiphany - an unsatisfying hole for me, and a big miss for character development. The children were more successful in their stories, personalities, and voices. I’ll admit that I thought had it all figured out ahead of time, that I was successfully misdirected until the very last twist, which was a good one. The ending wasn’t what I’d predict for this type of book, and overall I really wanted a lot more tension.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book!

Story started off very slow for me and I was ready to DNF, but I’m glad I didn’t. I really ended up enjoying this story. The twist did catch me by surprise which was good. I also would have liked more backstory on the grandmother in this book as well. Overall, it was a good read and I enjoyed this story way better than The Drowning Kind, by this author.

Perfect book at the perfect time and I tore through it! I've always loved the black and white creature features. This book is an inventive riff on a classic. The story unfolds through alternating timelines in a way that made it hard for me to put down!

If you were a kid that loved Scooby Doo and classic creature feature movies, I think you will love it!

#NetGalley
#ChildrenOnTheHill

Holy moly! What a wonderful book from page one to the very last sentence. Although I do still think the drowning kind is still hands down my favorite from Jennifer I still really loved this one. Monsters are real :)) I give this book 4 stars!

Set in two time periods, this novel covers the 70's childhood of Vi, who lives with her brother and grandmother on the grounds of a well-regarded psychiatric hospital, which Gran helps to direct. Fast forward to 2019 and a woman named Lizzie who is famous for her book and podcasts about monsters. Lizzie travels to Vermont to investigate the disappearance of a young woman, whom rumors indicate was abducted by a monster. There are many unknowns to be uncovered regarding all of the characters, and some of the secrets are grounded in true Vermont history. The creepyness factor had just the right intensity to propel the plot, and the characters were complex enough to be both likeable and believable.

This was my first McMahon novel and I am so glad I have two others waiting on my shelf. I loved this book so much. The dual POV with the non linear timeline gave such a perfect setting for this plot. Reading snippets from an article as well as the Book of Monsters....just added into the mystery. I was questioning everything. I thought I had it figured out and then my jaw dropped. I was blown away. I loved the build up, the suspense, the incorporation of science and psychiatry as well as the complete and utter need to belong in a family. UGH. And the ending wrapped up perfectly with a little bit of open interpretation of just what happens next for the "children".

I really enjoyed this book! Just when you think you have everything figured out a major twist occurs, right down to the very last pages. The characters were really well developed and believable. Thanks for the opportunity to read, I'll be looking for more books from Jennifer McMahon.

“There are as many ways to make one as there are monsters.

But you must ask yourself: Who is the real monster? The creature being made, or the one creating it?”

THE CHILDREN ON THE HILL
Thank you, Jennifer McMahon, Gallery Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book! It was just released on April 26th, 2022.

Jennifer McMahon is a master when it comes to horror and that continues in The Children on the Hill. in 1978, Vi lives with her Gran and brother, Eric. Gran is an important psychiatrist at Hillside Inn. Vi and Eric have their own monster club and when Gran brings home Iris, they are so excited to add another member to their club. But Iris is a mystery. She doesn’t remember her past and she bears some horrible scars. Vi is determined to find answers for her and those answers can only be found at the Hillside Inn. In 2019, Lizzy has a famous monster blog and podcast. After the events at Hillside Inn, she is determined to put her past behind her but there is one monster she must find in order to do that…

“But I thought fear was a good thing–the day I stopped being afraid and on guard was the day I let my defenses down. Fear kept me on my toes.”

THE CHILDREN ON THE HILL
This book needs to be added to your October TBR stat! Jennifer McMahon is the Queen of Horror. The eerie aesthetic is perfect throughout this book. It has monsters, unethical experimentation, and a historical asylum. It draws inspiration from Frankenstein and asks the question who are the real monsters?

These characters are magnificent and have so much depth. This book dives into how our minds react to trauma. What is really disturbing is the secret experiments that are conducted in the book. The goal is to erase memories to get rid of any “undesirable” behaviors in order to make sure only beneficial people remain in our society. It goes to show the true monsters are the ones who are trying to create monsters.

The twist in the book is fantastic and I am not going to lie when I say I wanted to watch a Monster Hunter episode after this book. It felt like Scooby-Doo…but for adults. I loved the dual timelines. Everything flowed perfectly! Overall, another win from Jennifer McMahon. 5 out of 5 stars!

A haunting mixture of mystery and horror - the character development in this book was amazing and even with jumping between time periods it really moved the story along. The chapters didn’t feel too long and I found myself needing to know what all of the secrets were. Also loved the multiple twists at the end!

This one kind of fell flat for me. I feel like the premise was good, but the execution didn't pan out. I liked the twist in the middle, but honestly, it got a lot less interesting to me after that. It was a bit formulaic and predictable. I also really didn't feel like the title fit the book well. The title really should have had the word "monster" in it because that word was way overused in the book.

How many times can you say "wait, what?" while reading a book? Well I know I exceeded that limit as I read this book. The basic story is about a woman who is a monster hunter by profession. She travels around the country following stories of monster sightings and tries to find out if they are real and if she can find the monster. The back story is about a medical facility (institution) that treats people with mental issues and the woman who runs the clinic. The doctor lives on the property with her 2 grandchildren (or are they?) and brings home another child to become part of the family. The monster hunter is one of the grandchildren. Or is she? Maybe? Maybe not? Anyway after a whole lot of "wait, what?' I finished the book and here I am writing the review. I so want to tell you more but that's against the rules of book reviewing. So I guess you will just have to read the book yourself. And get your "wait, what's" ready to go. I highly recommend this book.

The Children on the Hill by Jennifer McMahon looks at the evil that comes from all the monsters we see daily. Dr. Helen Hildreth, a well known and revered psychiatrist, runs a sanitorium for the mentally ill in Vermont. She also is Gran to her two grandkids, Violet, and Eric, and they live next door to the treatment center, are homeschooled, and can interact with the patients there. The two of them have a deep fascination with monsters and even created their own Monster Club and authored the Book of Monsters. When Gran brings home a small, scared little girl to live with them, they are told to treat her as their sister. Years later, we meet Lizzy Shelly, a famous host of the podcast Monsters among us. She is on her way to Vermont after hearing about yet another missing girl who was abducted by a legendary monsther, Rattling Jane. Lizzy thinks this monster is from her past, and that it will never stop abducting girls until it catches HER! There is a reference to Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, but it’s more about three children and their fascination with monsters. I loved this book and give thanks to NetGalley and the Author and Publisher for my edition of this downright creepy novel!

This. Book. Is. Good.

You want a suspenseful, multiple POV, twisty, turny, creepy book? Well I found it for you.

This book follows two girls and a monster - that’s right - A MONSTER. We don’t hear a ton from the monster, but we hear enough to keep it interesting. Besides the monster, we hear from Vi, a 13 year old girl in the 1970’s and Lizzy, a 50 year old woman in 2019. Vi is living with her grandmother and her brother in the directors house at a mental institution in Vermont. They’re homeschooled and kept away from the other children in town. They’re smart kids and find ways to learn anything they can - about everything. One day, Gran brings home Iris, a girl Vi’s age, and asks Vi to get to know her; treat her like a sister. Since Vi always wanted a sister, this is a dream for her. Lizzy is a monster hunter. She has a podcast, a blog and has made a few TV appearances. She spends her time hunting down monsters, but she’s really looking for one specific monster - her sister.

This book is everywhere all at once. We have chapters from the ‘70’s setting the backstory along with chapters from 2019 telling current events. The little blurbs that allow us into the head of the monster are perfect. There’s a twist at the end that will shock you if you aren’t paying attention as well!

Do I recommend it? You bet your booty I do! If you’re into suspense with a creep factor, you should absolutely pick this up.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 - rounded up as always!

In 1978, the acclaimed psychiatrist, Dr. Helen Hildrith, runs a treatment center in Vermont for those suffering from mental illness. She lives on the same property with her grandchildren, Vi and Eric, where she provides them with an idyllic home life. Vi and Eric have plenty of hobbies, but they are particularly interested in monsters. They enjoy sneaking into the drive-in movies to watch classic monster films, like Frankenstein. They have even formed their own Monster Club, where they research and catalogue all kinds of monsters. When Gran arrives home one day with Iris, a girl close to Vi's age, the Club receives its newest member. Iris, however, doesn't behave like a normal kid. She has no memory of her life before she came to live with the Hildriths and she doesn't speak. Vi begins to suspect that Iris may be more monster than monster hunter.

Fast forward to the present where Lizzy Shelley, the host of a popular podcast and TV show about searching for cryptids, is investigating the disappearances of several teenaged girls. They are presumed to be runaways, but the local kids have strange stories to tell about monsters the girls supposedly came in contact with before they disappeared for good. Despite what the skeptics say, Lizzy knows all too well that monsters are real because her own sister is one. She sets out on a dangerous hunt to uncover the truth behind the disappearances.

I never thought Jennifer McMahon would be able to write a book I loved more than The Drowning Kind, but she's done it! Lesser known fact about me-I have a secret interest in cryptozoology. I love to watch corny shows and read books about legendary monsters. While I am fascinated by people's reports of encounters with Bigfoot, the Mothman, etc., I believe that there's a reasonable scientific explanation behind them all. I connected with Vi's character immediately and I loved the smooth transitions between past and present. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, McMahon brought out the big twists! I loved the ending and cannot recommend this book enough. If you haven't read McMahon's work before, start with this one!

A big thanks to Netgalley, the author, and Gallery Books for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is my sixth book by Jennifer McMahon and it will not be my last. What I love about all her books is that they are all unique and very entertaining.

I love that the book bounces back and forth between the present, the past, the MC Lizzy, the Monster and the journal. It kept me guessing how things were going to transpire. I will say, I wish it didn't jump so quickly at times because it felt like the book took a little longer to read since you needed to get back into that new timeframe or person. Otherwise, it was great.

Thanks Netgalley and publisher for the digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

I've tried for YEARS to get one of Jennifer McMahon's books on NetGalley, and I was so lucky to finally get approved for this one! What an absolutely wonderful, spooky, fun, wild ride this book is. I've been a fan of Jennifer McMahon since I read The Winter People several years ago, but her books just keep getting better and better. I definitely didn't see the big twist at the end coming, or the even BIGGER twist. Wow. Rich characterization, skilled writing, and supreme storytelling make this a compelling novel and one of McMahon's best books yet!