This is the first book by Jennifer McMahon that I’ve read, but it won’t be the last! Not a roller coaster of a thriller, but rather a slow burn. Alternating timelines, 1978 and the present, tell the tale of a loving grandmother, 2 sisters and their brother, a monster and a monster hunter. Sometimes the scariest monsters are the ones right in front of you, hiding in plain sight. Twists and turns, and an ending you won’t see coming. I’d love to see this as a Netflix HBO max series.

In The Children on the Hill, a novel that pays homage to the great Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Violet and Eric are being raised by their grandmother, a doctor who specializes in psychoanalysis. One day she brings home Iris, who is to be their sister. Iris has no memory, doesn’t speak and has multiple scars. These three form a friendship and try to find out who Iris really is. A path that will uncover more than they can ever imagine.

This story takes place in alternating timelines, In the 1970s when our characters are children (if you are a child of the late 70s/early 80s you will be overjoyed with the many references to this era!) and in 2019 when the main characters are now adults.

I read this in two days. I could have easily finished it in a night if my pesky job didn’t get in the way! The pacing is *chef’s kiss* and I couldn’t stop reading. The alternating timelines were equally interesting, which is unusual. Often when I read books with multiple timelines I will inevitably prefer one over the other but in this case, both were written so well and the stories were so compelling that I was drawn into both. The prose is lyrical without being overblown and brings up good questions for discussion: what is a monster? Who decides that? How do we defeat these monsters? The story has some great twists and turns! At one point I set the Kindle down and had to walk away from it because I was so shocked by the revelation!
I thoroughly enjoyed it, especially the ending. Very unexpected!

I had pre-ordered this on Amazon, so I was over the moon when I was granted the ARC by Net Galley. I am going to buy copies for my friends, that’s how excellent this book is. I am now going to go read everything this author has written!

If The Children on the Hill by Jennifer McMahon isn’t on your tbr (to be read) yet…please add it! Publication is set for April 26. This book is perfect for fans of Mary Shelley, gothic horror and books like The Institute by Stephen King. Do not read this at bedtime as you will not sleep until you are finished. Also, with this story? Nothing is what it seems!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this title in exchange for an honest review. 5/5 stars! I’d give it more if I could!

𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐲. 𝐒𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞.

Grandchildren to Dr. Helen Hildreth, an extraordinary, brilliant psychiatrist and champion for the mentally ill, Violet and Eric bloom under their Gran’s care in the 1970’s. Living on the same land as her patients, privy to her work at the Hillside Inn, located in Vermont, it’s only fitting Violet longs to follow in her Gran’s footsteps and become a doctor. The hospital (a place for lost causes) is privately run ‘more estate than institution’. Dr. Hildreth believes in the most hopeless cases, and knows that mental health treatment involves more than just medications. She and her staff have taken on a more holistic approach, believing in the curative powers of nature, art, music, gardening, meditation and even pottery. Violet’s belief in monsters makes this environment, one full of people who behave abnormally, the perfect backdrop for study, eavesdropping on the doctor’s conversations, wildly curious and hungry for more about the dangerous patient S. Violet has been taught that people do terrible things, not because they are evil, but that they are suffering from illnesses of the mind but could it be possible Gran is harboring a murderer? Who is patient S? Where Violet’s mind bends to investigation and science, a fan of the movie Frankenstein, her little brother Eric is a sensitive savior of animals, particularly those their grandmother keeps in her basement (lab). Dr. Hildreth and her colleagues are pioneers, changing the face of mental health treatment, focusing on individual needs and their future potential. She expects nothing less from her own grandchildren too, giving them lessons in chemistry experiments, evolution, studying under the microscope in her laboratory but only upon invitation into her basement (off limits normally); their Gran provides them with a top education and encourages to hold themselves with pride and self-respect. They consider themselves lucky to be under her protection, full of love and support.

May 1978: Violet and Eric know the Inn doesn’t treat children and are rattled when their grandmother introduces them to a girl, around Violets age (13), named Iris. Like a frightened animal, with evidence of abuse, wound on her head and her lack of communication skills, she is a strange patient. Discovering they are to welcome her as a sister, making Iris the exception to the rule of who Gran treats, she becomes their new project. Helping Iris, her Gran prods her, can only aid Violet in her future dream of becoming a doctor herself. She is clever and kind enough to help the child, together with her little brother Eric, maybe they will learn what has happened to Iris, break her out of the state she is in and help her recall her journey. They know all about trauma and memory loss. Violet wants nothing more than to remember their own parents and past, having survived the car accident that took them. The accident is one Eric doesn’t want to spend a moments thought on, too horrible. Now, with Iris, she can have a sister and a new member for their little clubhouse. There, they will discuss mysteries, study their recordings, and hunt for monsters under the full moon. Evidence is required to be sure of anything, monster and human alike, theories are not enough. Better still their plan to search through private records to discover Iris’s origins, it’s a top secret mission. What they discover will challenge everything Violet knows about monsters and love.

2019: Lizzy Shelley, 53, ran a blog based on her childhood project that has led to her popular podcast: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘰𝘧 𝘔𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴. Last season she was a member of the team 𝘔𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘈𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘜𝘴, has been featured in a documentary, been in ads and invited to lectures at colleges on monsters in contemporary society. All of her work and notoriety has afforded her the means to spread her message, ‘monsters are real and living among us’. Soon she will be searching the dark shadows for more than legendary creatures. Young girls are going missing in Vermont, the troubled kind no one cares about, and it makes Lizzy wonder if the monster she has been chasing her entire life has returned to invite her in a game of Hide-and-seek. It all goes back to the Hillside Inn. Who is the monster she is chasing?

This is a creepy, dark story. There are Frankenstein themes running through it, but even more, a twist that is a nightmare, at least for those who are considered inferior. This is a subject that was all too real in history, and immoral. I have been reading Jennifer McMahon’s novels for some time now and enjoy all of her stories, always original and intelligent tales. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘋𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘒𝘪𝘯𝘥 was a wonderful ghost story (add it to your list if you haven’t read it) and now we have a monster tale with 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘯 𝘖𝘯 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘪𝘭𝘭. There truly are monsters among us, the trick is in how they hide in plain sight. Now I have to wait for her next novel, sigh…

Publication Date: April 26, 2022

Gallery Books

Scout Press

The Children on the Hill by Jennifer McMahon

In 1978 Vermont, Vi and Eric have a hybrid sort of carefree yet also highly structured life. Carefree because they are able, behind their Gran's back, to have a clubhouse in the woods where their Monster Club is housed. They get to ride their bikes to the drive in movies late at night, they get to have pets, and assist their Gran with some of her simple science endeavors. They can play in the great outdoors and their homeschooling puts them way ahead of other children their age. But they aren't allowed to mingle with the townspeople or kids their age. Gran doesn't think those people are good enough for them so Vi and Eric live a lonely life when it comes to human interaction. Sure there is the groundskeeper and the receptionist at Gran's clinic but they are usually chasing them away or being mean to them. And there are the mentally ill patients of Gran's but do they ever get better?

Gran is a psychiatrist and she and her work associate are very secretive about their work, what with patient confidentiality and all. But Vi is extremely smart and curious and when Gran brings home a sad, broken girl, thirteen years old like Vi, and says Iris is going to be their new sister, Vi can't just let things rest. Iris has a scar across her head, she seems to be empty inside, a shell of a girl. But Vi and Eric let her join the Monster Club and teach her all about monsters and what to look for when you hunt them.

There is also the 2019 timeline with Lizzy Shelley, who hosts the popular podcast, Monsters Among Us. Lizzy has a lot of fans now since she gained fame on TV for her monster hunts. But her strongest ambition is to find her long lost sister, a human monster, who might be responsible for girls who have gone missing. Both timelines work well, interspersed with each other, as we get to know Vi and Iris and the horrors they encounter, and Lizzy, who can't let the past go.

Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for this ARC.

The Children on the Hill keeps the reader guessing on whether it is a supernatural tale or merely humans acting monstrously. This was a very engaging book that I read in one sitting. The author did a great job of building suspense and giving *just* enough information about the past while moving forward in the present. I could have done without the very last chapter, as I preferred it how it ended a bit nicer before, but I understand the intent and think many readers will enjoy it. Perfect for a book club read!

This book brings up some interesting things to ponder: are the scariest monsters internal or external? Which is more difficult to concur? Which should we be more afraid of? A fun and interesting thriller full of strange twists and monstrous turns.

This is only the second book I’ve read of this author and I am hooked. The book takes place in two timelines and multiple points of view. Vi and her brother Eric live with their grandmother who is a brilliant psychiatrist who works with the mentally ill. One day the grandmother brings home a girl named Iris who is one of her patients. The girl acts strange and Vi takes on the task of helping her to behave normal. Vi and Eric are fascinated by monsters and bring Iris into their monster group. Soon Vi starts getting suspicious about what her grandmother is doing at the institution.

Lizzy is a monster hunter and is always traveling, on the hunt for monsters. The monster she really wants to catch is her sister. Girls have been going missing for years and she believes her sister is responsible. Her hunt is dangerous but she is determined.

I figured out one of the twists but the ending got me. There is a lot of tension and it made me anxious to see what was next. This is a good one!

This story gives an inside view of a practically secret, side of history. Eugenics. Dr. Hildreth is a psychiatrist, with surgical training as well. She runs a treatment center for psychiatric patient who are considered difficult cases. She is very successful with the work she does.
In her private life, Dr Hildreth is Gran. She is raising her grandchildren, Violet and Eric, home schooled and in almost complete isolation. Violet and Eric spend their free time researching monsters for the monster hunting field guide they are creating in their secret monster hunter club house. One day Gran brings them a new sister, Iris. As the girls grow closer Violet wants to help Iris to remember who she really is, and begins to investigate on Gran's notes and patient treatment files. What the children learn will change them forever.
As an adult, Lizzy Shelley, is a monster hunter Podcaster. She travels the country searching out local monster stories, while hunting her own Monster, the sister who doesn't exists and is leaving a trail of missing teenaged girls for Lizzy to follow.
This story alternates timelines 1978 and 2019. It kept me hooked beginning to end.
Thank you to Netgalley, Gallery/Scout Press and Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to experience this e-ARC.

I couldn't put my finger on what it was about this novel that left me feeling unsatisfied. There are many components I typically enjoy reading about--warped family dynamics, discovery of patient maltreatment, and eugenics (I think I may have read some of the same research books as the author). I just wasn't convinced of the fast "sister-sister" bond between Iris and Vi, and the transformation into the monster. I also guessed the monster's identity pretty early on, which is fine; I did enjoy the twist at the end.

I found THE CHILDREN ON THE HILL to be a fun read! It was mysterious with some ghost story-like and supernatural elements. I loved the past timeline the best, following the main character as a child. McMahon created a unique story that kept me wanting to know more.

The Children on the Hill
“The Children on the Hill,” is the first book I read from Jennifer McMahon. I was thrilled when I requested a copy from NetGalley that they accepted my request. The story has two dual timelines one in 1978 and the other one in 2019. In 1978 at a famous treatment center in Vermont, psychiatrist Dr. Helen Hildreth is famous for her compassionate work with mentally ill patients. Helen is also known by her grandchildren Violet and Eric as Gran. Gran brings home a girl named Iris who doesn’t remember who she is or acts like a normal girl. Violet and Eric invite her to be a part of their monster club though not everything is as it seems. In 2019 famous blogger, podcaster and t.v. lady Lizzy Shelley comes to Vermont to investigate a monster sighting who many suspect has been kidnapping young girls. Lizzy has a sinking feeling though that her sister is behind this. While it’s entertaining, it was slow at first and it felt like the story didn’t know who they wanted as their target audience. It read like a bad Scooby Doo fanfiction mixed with stories about mental hospitals.

Pros
I like the setting of Vermont. I also like how you wouldn’t think the dual timelines work it manages to. I also enjoyed the newspaper clippings about the mental hospital that slowly places what dark secrets were brewing at the place. I liked the side characters better than the main characters like Julia that journalist from 1978 and the nurse Patty who was the niece of one of the doctors. I will give credit where credit is due I did not see how it was going to end like I thought I would.

Cons
Unfortunately I was able to see the obvious twist about Dr. Helen and what was going on at the hospital and the twist about not just Iris, but with Violet and Eric and how two of these characters are now Lizzy and Charles. Also in 1978 Violet was 13 years old but yet she has this monster obsession and the way she acts way younger than 13. Also Lizzy was stupid for allowing the constables son Shink in getting involved with dangerous situations. While the main characters were not unlikeable they weren’t that interesting either. I have to agree with other reviewers who reviewed it that it was just too predictable. Like I mentioned above the story seemed confused about whom the target audience is. Is this book for kids? Is this book for adults?

Overall
Overall it was worth the read. Is it the worst book in the world? No. After all I did stay up till 1 in the morning finishing it. Did the book have its flaws? Yes. Thank you again NetGalley for allowing me to read this book early. “The Children on the Hill,” will be published on April 26th just three days before my 30th birthday on the 29th. I definitely want to read more from Jennifer McMahon in the future.

I really tried to read this book. It is so confusing. It jumps from the past to the present. Until you start the chapter you don’t know where in history you are. It’s confusing. I would not recommend this book.

This was my first Jennifer McMahon read and I loved it!! She does a great job intertwining two timelines that seem completely unrelated but come together to illustrate the whole picture and I really loved that about this book.

Vi and Eric live with their Gran, a doctor at Hillside Inn, which is described as a psychiatric facility. When Gran brings Iris home, Vi is tasked with trying to get Iris to open up and talk about her past. Once Iris arrives and begins talking, Vi is interested in finding out more about Iris - who she is and where she came from. Once Vi gets to investigating, she ends up uncovering way more than she bargained for.

I didn’t see many, if any, of the twists in this book!! If you are one to enjoy slow build, creepy, monster stories, you will love this one!!!

Overall, this was such a great read! The writing flowed so well and kept me turning the pages! I couldn’t put it down!

Thank you NetGallley & Gallery/Scout Press for my ARC digital copy! Publishing April 26,2022!

I really love Jennifer McMahon and her books. I couldn't put this one down, and totally devoured it in three days. If you're a fan of monster films, you'll love this one!!

McMahon's novels (which are all standalones) of late all have to do with the supernatural and paranormal. While this one definitely touches on monsters, cryptids, and the like, the "creep" factor didn't seem to deliver too much for me and I was left wanting just a little bit "more". You may like this book more than I did. Even though it wasn't my favorite Jennifer McMahon book, it's still worth reading and she's still one of my favorites.

Thank you, Netgalley, for my arc.

This book would best be enjoyed by someone who enjoys a slow build up with interest to mythical monsters. I was the wrong audience, however the writing style flowed very nicely.

The Children on the Hill by @jennifermcmahonwrites

🔥 release date April 26 🔥

Violet Hildreth has always been obsessed with monsters. She and her brother Eric even have a Monster Hunting group. When her grandmother, the brilliant Dr. Hildreth, director of the institution The Inn, brings home Iris, Violet has both a sister and mystery. Told from both the past and present, with intermixed texts of two books (a biography of The Inn and the Monster Book written by the children), this book will keep you guessing with each turn of the page.

I’ll be honest, I was GASPING with each twist and when I thought it had it figured out, I was wrong. A Jennifer McMahon book is an automatic must read for me and this book was amazing.

*thank you to @netgalley and @gallerybooks for the ARC

Jennifer McMahon is the queen of creepy mysteries!! This book was different than the others that I have read from her but still really enjoyable. One thing I always look forward to in Jennifer’s books is the was she writes creepy paranormal / supernatural in the most superb way. I love and look forward to her books e ER year.
This is the story of Vi, Iris and Eric. They live at this creepy dark psychiatric facility where you just know things are not as they appear. We are also following Liszt who is a monster hunter and appears to be chasing a monster on this abandoned facility years later in the future. There are rumors of sinister things happening at the facility and the monster that now lurks there. That’s all I will say so I don’t spoil anything.
Jennifer is a fantastic author who can build an entire world with her words and make the hair on the back of your neck stand up, make you feel like you are being watched and just generally creeped out. This book will give you all of that and more. Highly recommend!!

Wow! I loved this book and I want to shout it from the rooftops. “Monsters are real and living among us.” That is the belief of Vi and Eric. They are obsessed with any and everything that has to do with monsters. They get the chance to share their monster obsession with Iris, a young girl their grandmother, psychiatrist Dr. Helen Hildreth, brings home. Vi is told to treat her like a sister. The three children are soon inseparable. Eventually Iris becomes a member of their monster club where they discuss ways to hunt monsters. ‘They can pass as human. They hide in plain sight.” Needless to say, this book gripped me from the beginning. Switching from 1978 to 2019, the past and present collide with twists and turns I never saw coming. This book is described as genre- defying and I couldn’t agree more. It’s not horror, yet there were times that the book sent chills down my spine. I wouldn’t classify it as a thriller, but it had twists that were jaw-dropping and totally unexpected. It’s atmospheric, chilling, emotional and captivating. I highly recommend this book!! Jennifer McMahon’s writing is transcendent. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Thank you NetGalley and Gallery/Scout Press for my ARC.

The Children on the Hill, by Jennifer McMahon, is a wildly chilling reading experience. Patterned after the legendary Frankenstein, this modern day tale explores childhood, secrets, and living with the unknown.

This eerie story follows two children raised by their grandma, who is a psychiatrist at a local mental hospital, after their parents are killed in a car accident. As children often are, they are obsessed with monsters and learn all they can about them. When grandma brings home a young girl one day from the hospital, the two siblings invite her into their monster club and into their world. Their obsession now is not only with monsters, but also this mysterious girl who is now living amongst them.

This story follows two timelines, and both weave together seamlessly to create a united, captivating story. Jennifer McMahon’s writing is exceptional and her unique storytelling and creative insights are one-of-a-kind. She incorporates fiction and folklore, with touches of the supernatural, and elements of horror. This gothic thriller is absolutely gripping and one you won’t want to miss.

I loved this book! It was atmospheric and creepy. I loved the way Jennifer McMahon told this story. This is the first book I have read from this author but it won't be my last. Highly recommend this book.