A darkly addictive read. from beginning to end, this book shows how McMahon is an expert at crafting thrilling stories with that hint of something otherworldly.




Reviewer Note: For a while, I originally posted on my website because that was where most of my followers were, and it was the easiest for me at the time. Then my website crashed. The reviews I wrote were lost. I am doing my best to post my comments here from what I can remember. Starting 2023, I have been posting across platforms (site/Instagram, Goodreads, & Amazon) so that the reviews are in more places.

Goodness I love Jennifer McMahon's books! They are so filled with atmosphere and intrigue, and her writing style really works for me! I think this book would be a good one to read if you want something a little creepy, but aren't necessarily a horror reader. It draws that thin line between thriller and horror and I love that. I think I could say this about most of her books! This was a total smash hit for me and I'd highly recommend it.

Did not see that coming!

This story is written by a “monster” hunter and partially in podcast style.

It’s a great story about three “siblings” and how they try to make life enjoyable while trying to find out the secrets behind the locked door.

Told in present time and the past, you’ll need to pay attention to everything.

This was a book I was really excited about and it did not disappoint. I loved the unique way it was written!

I have had this book to read for over a year. My half year from hell didn't even start until July last year, so I have no real excuse for not getting around to this well before now.

And I am absolutely kicking myself for taking this long to read such an insanely unique, ridiculously twisted, brilliantly engrossing book. It is going to take up space in my brain for so long to come.

We start with a flashback to 1978, with a 13-year old girl named Violent, or Vi. She and her brother live with their grandmother, in a house that shares land with a mental hospital. A very prestigious, elite mental hospital. This isn't a screaming insane asylum. They're classy.

Their grandmother is world renowned for her work with mental illness. She takes in the hard cases, the ones other doctors may have given up on, and she gets results.

One day, Gran brings home a little girl named Iris. Iris is Violet's new sister. She's a secret, we mustn't tell anyone else about her. She's going to live here, and we're going to take care of her. And Violet is to report back how Iris is adjusting.

Iris is silent. Scared. She wears her clothing inside out and backwards, and is scared of everything. Iris has no memory of her past, of her life. But she adjusts quickly, and joins the kids in their Monster Hunting Club.

Cut to 2019. Lizzie is a monster hunter. She has a podcast, and has made appearances in TV shows tracking down Big Foot, Loch Ness, all worlds of Urban Legend Monsters. She travels the country searching for monsters.

One monster in particular that she's hunting isn't supernatural. This monster steals teenaged girls, never to be seen again.

Lizzie is sure this monster is her sister. And she's using the guise of local monsters to cover up her crimes.

Bouncing back and forth in time, this is such an engrossing suspenseful mystery. I was absolutely certain I had some details already carved out, knowing where this was going.

So when the reveals start trickling in, I was comfortable. I felt good. There was still much I didn't know, and was waiting to see how we got to where we are in 2019.

Good grief, did Jennifer McMahon yank the rug out from under me. And the fact is, it's something I ABSOLUTELY should have seen coming. Am I losing my touch?

Is it me? It's got to be me. No way this author just kicked my ass down the hill pointing and laughing as I plummet to my death. WOW did she get me.

On top of that, 2019 starts with Lizzie in Honey Island Swamp, a locale in Louisiana. Not just in Louisiana, in MY Louisiana. Literally 15 minutes from my house. My father got lost and had to be search and rescued from there twice when I was a child.

I had absolutely NO idea there was a Honey Island Monster. I thought she made it up! I ask my other local friends, and they think I'm insane because this something they've heard about their entire lives.

What the hell.

Seriously. So good. So, so good.

Wow! This book had me hooked from the very beginning! With the twists and turns in the plot I was sure I things figured out until the plot exploded! The past and present timelines along with the excerpts from the journalism students book helped fill in holes while keeping you anticipating a he next twist. Such a good, creepy read. Going to have to keep this in mind for a reread in October!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you NetGalley, Jennifer McMahon and Simon & Schuster for hearing my honest review. Looking forward to reading more with you
#partner

Jennifer McMahon is one of my favorite authors. Quite a few of her previous works have been 5 stars reads for me. But Ultimately, This book just missed the mark. I felt compared to Jennifer's past books, this one was not "unique" in regards to the storyline as some of her previous works. Over all this was a good book, but do not go into "The Children on the Hill" Expecting the fantastic story telling as in her previous books.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for allowing me an ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Jennifer McMahon is a relatively new find for me. I have read maybe 3-4 of her books, But I like her!!
I don't want to spoil any of the story but the surprising conclusions - more than one - were smart, unexpected, and well-executed!

I requested The Children on the Hill because it sounded good and I wanted something different from what I usually read. I ended up having a hard time getting into it. Maybe it was just because it's not my normal reading...I'm not sure. I read a lot of reviews where people really liked it. So it's probably just me.

I did like the two timelines of 1978 and 2019. I was a kid in the 70's so it was neat to relate to it in that way.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Publication date: 21 April 2022.

“I don’t believe places can be haunted. Only people, and not in a supernatural way. People are only haunted by their pasts.”

There is nothing worse when writing. a review and knowing that every significant thought you have revolves around a mid story event. There is no way I would spoil this one for anyone, but I won't be able to articulate all of my thoughts thoroughly.

Our main character is a middle aged Monster Podcaster who describes various monster stories that she adjunctly investigates around the country. We received a dual POV with the MC current and past self. It was easy to get lost in both narratives and feel almost shocked when you have to go to the other one.

Overall, I feel truly neutral about this book. There were a few really grand moments that kept me roped back in but I didn't feel any passion for wanting to read this book. HOWEVER, the atmosphere was spectacular and very true to itself throughout the book.

"1978: At her renowned treatment center in picturesque Vermont, the brilliant psychiatrist, Dr. Helen Hildreth, is acclaimed for her compassionate work with the mentally ill. But when she’s home with her cherished grandchildren, Vi and Eric, she’s just Gran—teaching them how to take care of their pets, preparing them home-cooked meals, providing them with care and attention and love.

Then one day Gran brings home a child to stay with the family. Iris—silent, hollow-eyed, skittish, and feral—does not behave like a normal girl.

Still, Violet is thrilled to have a new playmate. She and Eric invite Iris to join their Monster Club, where they dream up ways to defeat all manner of monsters. Before long, Iris begins to come out of her shell. She and Vi and Eric do everything together: ride their bicycles, go to the drive-in, meet at their clubhouse in secret to hunt monsters. Because, as Vi explains, monsters are everywhere.

2019: Lizzy Shelley, the host of the popular podcast Monsters Among Us, is traveling to Vermont, where a young girl has been abducted, and a monster sighting has the town in an uproar. She’s determined to hunt it down, because Lizzy knows better than anyone that monsters are real—and one of them is her very own sister."

What is it with McMahon and sisters? This book was suspenseful and kept me intrigued the entire time. Frankenstein-esque. Mostly predictable twists.

The Children on the Hill by Jennifer McMahon takes place in two different time periods. In 1978, Vi and Eric live their grandmother who runs a treatment center in Vermont. In 2019, Lizzy Shelly runs a podcast called Monsters among us. The two stories collide as we learn the history of what really happened in 1978 and what is really happening in 2019.
This is a classic, creepy horror novel with serious Frankenstein vibes. Definitely recommended for any avid horror reader (but maybe not at night).

Jennifer McMahon delivers another solid, suspenseful novel! Her latest thriller is inspired by Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, with a dual timeline that incorporates a 1970s psychiatric hospital and a 2019 monster-hunting podcast. Her books are consistently well-written pageturners, and this one is no exception! 🧌

I enjoyed this author’s last book, THE DROWNING KIND, very much and was very excited to read this one.

Full of twists and turns to keep you guessing until the very dramatic ending.
It’s well written and definitely keeps you on the edge. A few sad moments that will tear you up also.
All the things that make a good thriller.
Job well done.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

A fun, chilling, roller coaster ride of a book! Terrific twists that are absolutely earned. Fun, fun, fun!!

I fell in love with Jennifer McMahon after reading The Drowning Kind. I was excited to read another book by her! Children on the Hill is a slow burn mystery that you can't help but be totally invested in. There are plenty of twists and turns throughout that leave you guessing until the very end. While the writing isn't for everyone, I enjoyed it and found it easy to read. That ending though, was absolutely perfect. If you're a fan of mystery thrillers and want a fun and easy read, this one is for you!

Most people know something about Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. They might not have read the book, but still they know at least one thing about the story: it’s about a monster made by a human, a mad scientist. But who is the real monster?

𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐶ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑛 𝑜𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐻𝑖𝑙𝑙 raises the same question. Two storylines take place in different years. One is in 1978. Dr. Helen Hildreth is a famous psychiatrist known for her work with the mentally ill at her treatment center in Vermont. But when she’s home with her grandchildren, Vi and Eric, who live with her, she’s just Gran.

One day Gran brings a girl home with her, Iris. This girl doesn’t act like a normal girl. Her actions are almost feral. Still, Vi is thrilled to have a new playmate. After some time, Iris begins to come out of her shell. Then Vi and Eric invite her to join their Monster Club. Before long, they are doing everything together: riding their bicycles, going to the drive-in, and hunting monsters. Because monsters are everywhere.

The other storyline is In 2019. Lizzy Shelley, the host of a popular podcast, ,𝑀𝑜𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝐴𝑚𝑜𝑛𝑔 𝑈𝑠, travels to Vermont, where a young girl has been abducted. The abduction and a supposed monster sighting have the people uneasy. Lizzy is determined to track the monster down; she knows better than anyone that monsters are real. Not only that, but she is sure she knows who the monster is and is determined to stop the monster from abducting anyone else.

𝐃𝐢𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐦𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐭? 𝐇𝐨𝐰?
This book was hard to put down. I always had the feeling that something dramatic was going to happen on the next page. Violet did so much snooping I knew it was only a matter of time before she found out something about Iris. But what she ultimately found out wasn’t what she (or I) expected.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐈 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲?
The ending. Okay, I know that isn’t the answer that was expected, but I truly thought the book was going to have a horrifying ending. But the ending was extremely satisfying, and once I thought about what happened, it made so much sense.

🔥 There were two unexpected twists at the end of the story that I appreciated. I didn’t see them coming, didn’t anticipate them in any way, and was well-impressed.

🔥 That said, the rest of the book didn’t hold my attention. I simply wasn’t engaged. The past/present narratives weren’t working for me in this book, mostly because neither narrative was particularly compelling IMO. The first 60% (or more) of the book was just setup.

🔥 This story was supposedly inspired by Frankenstein. I can see the comparison only in the analysis of determining who the real monsters in life are — is it Dr. Frankenstein (the creator) or his creation? Or maybe both?

🔥 I wish I had enjoyed this more, but I’m glad I finished it just for the twists at the end.

Thank you @netgalley and @gallerybooks for an eARC of this book, which I have read and reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

I feel like everything Jennifer McMahon writes is gold, and this book proves that. She has such a gift with storytelling that it truly feels like her tales emerged fully formed from some ancient book of fairy tales. Her stories are modern but have an air of magic about them that I don’t often find these days. This story was heartbreaking, tense, and gorgeously written. 5 stars.

It took me three attempts to get through this book. Three! The opening chapter was so boring and for me, all of the 1970s chapters just dragged on and on. I much preferred the 2019 chapters and the monster hunting theories. The twist at the end was disappointing but was an actual twist. The last page was a nice twist. The kissing your "sister" and "twin" stuff made the connection between Iris and Vi icky and confusing. I did love the Frankenstein interpretation--big draw for me. Thank you to NetGalley for a digital copy.