I really enjoyed this modern twist on the old Frankenstein plot.. There were occasional subtle nods to Mary Shelley's original story that gave me a tingling hint that something was awry.. The author presented her tale in a very unique way, one I hadn't encountered before. It was never blatantly evident who or what was happening, even though I knew that I already knew, but it kept me reading to the end just to verify my suspicions. I like it when a book does that. Recommended read.

I loved this book and loved that it was told from the kids’ perspective, I’m not sure it would have worked as well any other way. This is told in two timelines, the past in 1978 where we learn about Vi and Eric, and then Iris, whom Gran (a renowned psychiatrist) brings home to live with them and she basically becomes their sister, and the three are thick as thieves. The other timeline is 2019 and is told from the POV of Lizzy, the host of the popular podcast Monsters Among Us, and she is traveling to Vermont where a young girl has been abducted and a monster sighting has the town up in arms. Lizzy wants to hunt it down as she is very close to this topic, for one of these monsters is her very own sister. There are also chapters from The Monster, tidbits from article about The Hillside Inn, and entries from The Book of Monsters by Violet and Eric Hildreth, and Iris who’s last name we don’t know. (I really loved every time that was said.)

All of that came together and was paired with some paranormal elements and it was just brilliantly done. I understood kind of where this was going but definitely did not see that ending, and I just really enjoyed this one so very much. I have not read all of McMahon’s books but have read a few and by far this one is my favorite. It is clever, honest, atmospheric and eerie (which I have come to expect and appreciate from her), and I listened to this one via audio and thought it was very well done that way too. I found myself unable to stop listening to the book as I was endeared to the children and really wanted to know what was going to happen.

I highly recommend this one and was just blown away by the ending, it was so well done and like I said, I did NOT see that coming!

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery / Scout Press for the digital copy to review.

The Children on the Hill was the second time I have read Jennifer McMahon, and I must say I enjoy her style of writing. McMahon blends otherworldly characteristics with mystery that keeps you guessing until the end. Her endings are like no other. If you enjoy books that keep you guessing until the very end, I recommend picking up her book, The Children on the Hill, today.

Another successful page-turner by McMahon who capitalizes on the mystery of rural New England crafting a fictional story that feels like it probably did happen in the neighboring town.

Delightfully chilling.

Dual timeline and dual pov - that is enough on it's own, you know it's my favorite. Absolutely twisty and mind bending, this is one of my favorite reads this year.

A mental health treatment institute in the 70's and a full on monster hunter in the present that we get to journey with as she follows leads for her podcast. I was immediately drawn into this book, the writing was done so well. I couldn't wait for more of the story to be uncovered. The way things were twisted up until the very end...I couldn't read fast enough. I feel like anything I say would be too much.

I recommend this for thriller/horror fans.

I think the biggest question this one posed was; what is a monster to you?

Thank you Jennifer McMahon, Gallery books and Netgalley for the gifted copy!

A creepy and compelling read and an oh so clever twist reveal. Monsters are real, and they are among us, and they are us!!!

Wow was this interesting, I absolutely did not see any of the twists coming and couldn't stop reading this book. The different timelines worked so seamlessly, and I was so invested in each one. Every character had something to offer, and there was no shortage of creepy vibes. This is just the dark, twisty thing everyone should run to get their hands on. Jennifer McMahon has quickly become a favorite of mine and I can't wait to dive into another of her books.

okay what..
this was soo good.
it felt so new and refreshing.
I seriously expected none of this!
what a unique and entertaining story about monster hunting

WOW This book was intense! Dual timeline done perfectly!! And that crazy twist! Yup, I didn't see that coming. Thats it I will give nothing away other than you need to read this!!!!

I always enjoy Jennifer McMahon although this is not one of my favorites. I wasn't as invested in this one and found that I was forcing myself to read it. The ending was clever and saved it - 3. stars. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was not what I was expecting at all!!!!!! For the first few pages I was skeptical but then the next thing I knew I was 40% in & I was hooked on this book!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is in my opinion Jennifer McMahon's best work yet. So spooky and intriguing it sucks you in before you even realize it and when you do you're in too deep and loving it.

While I'd been excited to read Jennifer McMahon's latest book, I found it to be a bit of a disappointment. I've come to expect chills and thrills from her, a shocking twist and a satisfying story. This one, however, took a while to grab my attention. I had no problem putting down the book and stepping away for a day or two. While there were a few twists, the first one was predictable, especially if you're expecting there to be a twist somewhere in the story. For all of the talk and expectation of monsters, this novel lacked a gripping suspense where I really felt like I was on the edge of my seat. The creep-factor was definitely missing. The story itself is well written and intriguing, definitely thought provoking, so maybe my disappointment is just my own high expectations from the author. It was a good book, just not, in my opinion, McMahon's best.

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

4.5/ In 1978, in a renowned treatment center in Vermont, Dr. Helen Hildreth works with the mentally ill. Her two grandkids - Vi & Eric know this prestigious doctor as just Gran. One day, Gran brings home a child, Iris, to stay with their little family. Iris is silent and beyond skittish. Violet is thrilled to have a new friend - and invites her to The Monsters Club that she and Eric have put together where they catalog all kinds of monsters and dream up ways to defeat them. Iris slowly comes out of her shell and the three of them do everything together.

Fast forward to 2019, Lizzy Shelly is the host of a popular podcast called Monsters Among Us. She is traveling to Vermont, because a young girl has been abducted and a monster sighting has the town in an uproar. Lizzy is determined to hunt this monster down - because she knows better than anyone that monsters are real - and one of them is her very own sister.

Okay, so this book was SO good - it was unlike anything I've ever read before! The writing style in this book was *chefs kiss*! I was intrigued by this storyline and was so invested in how this story would play out. I enjoyed Lizzy's character and how she unraveled her past before our eyes to seek out the future. I also loved how the "monsters" are demons that live within us - so that metaphor was executed beautifully. Highly recommend this book!!

Wow. Just wow. The Children on the Hillwas an amazing read. Right off the bat it brought all kinds of The Haunting of Hill House and The Drowning Kind vibes. But it definitely brought more than just a touch of horror. Not only that, but the book was full of surprising twists and turns.

Dr. Helen Hildreth is a world renowned psychiatrist, so dedicated to her work that her home where she raises her grandchildren shares the estate with her mental hospital. Kind of creepy, right? Growing up next to psychos? But the kids don't care. Vi and her little brother Eric are just like any other kids, playing games and having real and imagined adventures.

When their grandmother brings home their new "sister," Iris, she's different. But Vi is determined to make her fit in. She's wanted a sister for so long. And as things go, turns out there are a lot of secrets. And Iris has been through a lot. And she's not the only one...

I highly recommend The Children on the Hill. It's got a little bit of everything and it's an amazing book! Especially for any true crime podcast enthusiasts (I didn't even mention that part!). Special thanks to Netgalley and Gallery Books for an advanced e-galley in exchange for my honest review. This one is out now.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books and, of course, Jennifer McMahon for this ARC. I loved it!
#NetGalley #Gallerybooks #JenniferMcMahon
Oh Ms. McMahon, you never let me down. This book was nothing short of delicious!!
There are two timelines here. We have three monster loving kids in 1978 that are saturated in all things monster and horror. We also have Lizzy Shelley (!!!!!) in 2019 and we are treated to her podcast based on folklore, and urban legends. As we jump back and forth between 1978 and 2019, we learn what the connection is between the two timelines. Lizzy is one of the children on the hill that we first met in 1978. We think we’re reading one story and we slowly learn that we’re reading another.

As is the case with all of Ms. M’s books, I was extremely annoyed that actual life interfered with my need to devour this book. This book was a little bit of departure from her normal supernatural fare. If I had known that before starting this book, I would have been disappointed, but I enjoyed this very much and didn’t end up missing the norm! This plot parallelled Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein in several ways. Not only was it a favorite story of the main characters but it followed the theme. Who is the monster and who is the man?

Brilliant book by Jennifer McMahon! I enjoyed every minute of it, and it had a great creep factor going on. It will mess with your head. It had, to me, vibes from “Never Let Me Go” and “Frankenstein.” The tension built and built, sometimes it seemed a bit slow, or I was just excited to see what would happen next. One of the best books I’ve read this year. Thanks to Netgalley, McMahon and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Children on the Hill is a dual-timeline mysterious past supernatural thriller. Children go monster hunting and find plenty of creep. The ending is surprising but also abrupt.

“Fear was a drug, and these stories were a delivery method.”

Jennifer McMahon does it again with this twisty, supernatural thriller that had me sleeping way past my bedtime! And just when I thought I’d figured it out…she threw me for another loop. Great read!

Another great story from Jennifer McMahon! I absolutely loved this story and was drawn in from the beginning. The twist was fantastic and the characters were interesting. I loved the dual story line and it truly enhanced the plot. The concept of monsters and humans being monsters was very well done. Reality is just as scary as the horror novels that we find ourselves getting lost in (like Frankenstein). I adore Jennifer McMahon's books and this one was no different!

This book is quite a ride. I did not see the ending coming. The author was very skillful at weaving the story so that the reader was kept guessing and begged for more. This is a terrific thriller.
I liked how the author used flashbacks and flash forwards to deepen the mysteries. As a reader, I found my interest piqued by this method.
Not to give away the ending, the story revolves around three teenagers raised in a mysterious institution. They begin to question their pasts and in so doing uncover more questions than answers. Things get stranger from there. Suffice it to say that you will not put this book down.