In 1978, Violet and Eric live with their Gran. She is their caregiver and home schools them. They are lucky because Gran’s job is right across the street and they can see her any time. While she is Gran to Violet and Eric, to the people at work she is Dr. Helen Hildreth, an expert in mental health treatment. The treatment facility doesn’t take children, only adults. Gran brings home a young girl, Iris, to live with them. Iris acts as though she hasn’t been around other people and acclimating her to society will be challenging. Where did Iris come from? Is her stay at Gran’s permanent? Violet and Eric have a club for monster hunting. Should they explain monsters to Iris?

Years later, in 2019, a podcaster named Lizzy Shelley investigates reported sightings of monsters. Her current investigation involves the disappearance of a girl supposedly abducted by a monster.. What truly has happened to this girl? The podcaster is afraid that this case may involve her sister. Is her sister the monster? She fears the outcome of her investigation.

What an intriguing book! As the story begins, the introduction of the feral child Iris appears to signal that she will become another “monster” that Violet and Eric must deal with. Don’t jump to conclusions. Jennifer McMahon has much to reveal to readers, each page clarifies the story. Justice will come when the monster is slain.

Is "Damn, Jennifer's done it yet again!!" a succinct yet accurate review? Phew!! Shades of Shirley Jackson stir in all the shadows on this one.

I loved this book! I think this is my favorite book written by Jennifer McMahon. I read it in one day! The story was well written with just the right amount of creepiness and had many twists and turns that I did not expect, which kept me guessing until the end. I will be recommending this book to everyone! #NetGalley

The Children on the Hill by Jennifer McMahon is a suspenseful and haunting thriller. Vi and Eric live with their grandma at a treatment center. They have a monster club where they are constantly searching for monsters. Then Iris moves in and joins the two monster hunters. What is going on in this treatment center?

A gripping gothic horror in the spirit of Mary Shelley’s masterpiece. “The Children On The Hill” was my first Jennifer McMahon book and certainly won’t be my last.

Before she was Lizzy Shelly, she had another name and lived across from a renowned treatment center located in Vermont called the Hillside Inn. Her Gran was the acclaimed psychiatrist in charge of the center. She had a brother, sister and spent her days biking, playing games and adding to “The Book of Monsters” that she and her monster-obsessed siblings created. Then there was the fire. Now, Lizzy travels across the country hunting down monsters and documenting her adventures on her popular podcast “Monsters Among Us.” When a young girl is abducted in Vermont, rumors swirl it was a monster that took her. Forced to go back to her home state, Lizzy must finally confront the one monster she’s sure is behind this and many other abductions she’s been tracking over the years. Her own sister.

This was a brilliant, suspenseful story inspired by Shelley’s “Frankenstein.” I loved the dual narrators and dual timelines, as well as excerpts included from sources relating to the events. While I would consider it a slow build, I read it quickly as the back and forth timelines kept me guessing and intrigued. I was so engrossed in the story it wasn’t until more than halfway through that I realized the major curveballs McMahon could throw—and throw them she did—multiple times right up until the very end. While shelved as horror, for anyone who isn’t a fan of gore, this one is a mild horror playing more into the mystery/thriller and certainly gothic aspects of the horror genre. Shocking, haunting and tragic, McMahon did Shelley proud on this one. 4.5 stars,

Always the fan of Jennifer McMahon, this book did not disappoint! Her writing is always on point and I really enjoyed how the timelines flowed seamlessly through the novel, you will enjoy both! The characters of the children was something that I enjoyed the most, and figuring out Iris's story kept this a page turner for me. A new favorite of mine by Jennifer McMahon!

Thank you to NetGalley and Scout Press for the ARC!

Yet another winner from McMahon, who is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. This book was so good that I read it in one sitting and didn't even notice how far I had gotten until I was more than halfway through it because I was so engrossed.

The story alternates timelines between 13 year old Vi in the 1970s, who lives with her psychiatrist grandmother and brother, and Lizzy, a monster hunter and podcaster in current time. McMahon brilliantly weaves together these 2 stories in a way that I found myself equally invested in both story lines and anxiously awaiting their convergence.

The story is fast-paced and has a way of making the seemingly unbelievable completely plausible. I found both Vi's and Lizzy's stories to be equally appealing and found that I could empathize with all of the characters in the book. The writing is conversational and also atmospheric, and I could easily visualize the creepy setting. The end of the book is both surprising and satisfying.

I don't want to say much more because I don't want to give anything away, but definitely recommend that those who like mysteries and psychological thrillers read this book- I think you will be glad you did. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first Jennifer McMahon book. I have been interested in her books for a while and getting this ARC from Netgalley seeemed like the perfect chance to start.

I was intrigued with the story from the very beginning and questioning the truth and motives behind the different characters. The ending itself was unexpected and well done.

Cannot wait to pick up another of her books!

Vi and Eric live a pleasant life in bucolic Vermont. They live with their grandmother, the esteemed Dr. Helen Hildreth, who is forging new paths in the treatment of severely mentally ill patients. But when Dr. Hildreth brings home a traumatized child who needs extra care, Vi becomes even more curious about her grandmother's work. The further Vi digs, the more confused she becomes. What is her grandmother's true mission and what does it have to do with her? THE CHILDREN ON THE HILL is impressively creepy and definitely surprising and takes its place as one of my favorites of McMahon's. Highly recommended.

Yep another McMahon Wow read!
I am absolutely a big Jennifer McMahon fan ~ I read six and all were awesome ~ well actually one didn’t work for me! Okay of the ones I liked they were absolutely awesome!
My favorite was "The Drowning Kind"!
This story is different ~ true "The Night Sisters" was described as horror but to me it was more ‘horror for beginners. This one can truly be described as ‘Horror”! It was inspired by Mary Shelley’s “Frankenstein”

Question~ Is the real monster the created creature or the created who created it?

This story is told in POV of two timelines 1978 by Vi a child and in 2019 Vi now as Lizzy who has a podcast entitled the “Monsters Among Us”. There is a third POV referred to us the “Book of Monsters.

Main characters are Doctor Helen Heldreth and her two grandchildren Violet and Eric.
Dr. Heldeth is a brilliant psychiatrist acclaimed for her work in a renowned treatment center for the mentally ill.
She is known by her grandchildren as ‘Gran’. One day she brings home a young girl named Iris who is a about the same age as Violet. Iris lacks social skills but is bright and certainly doesn’t seem mentally ill. Vi and Eric are delighted to have a new playmate so don’t give much thought that gran is a kind person and surely just wants to be helpful. The grandchildren love monsters; they view movies, read monster books and play monster games.
We soon discover that the background of all three children has been kept from them and they have no idea of the truth.

In the POV of the “Book of Monsters” there are words of wisdom that are expressed that are going to make for great book clubs discussions.
For example ~ Monsters are real they are all around us whether we can see then or not.

We all have a bit of monster in us, a voice that tells us it is okay to take that.
Who doesn’t feel super good when they can release somethings stuck in them by throwing or breaking something? Hmmm

Story kept me turning pages. Jennifer McMahon doesn’t disappoint.
This is another WOW read!

I always enjoy reading the Author’s Acknowledgements. In this case Ms. McMahon thanks Mary Shelley because as Vi would say ~ she is the one who started this!
Want to thank NetGalley and Gallery Books for this eGalley. This file has been made available to me before publication in an early form for an honest professional review.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for April 26, 2022

As someone who has read all of Jennifer McMahon’s books, The Children on The Hill is by far my favorite. McMahon always does an excellent job of weaving together multiple perspectives throughout various historical periods. Honestly, I’m always impressed by how her non-linear stories blend into such satisfying endings. This well-paced novel is a mix of early X-Files, Stranger Things, Frankenstein, and Now and Then. McMahon has been called the “literary descendant of Shirley Jackson” (Chris Bohjalian, author of The Flight Attendant) and I would have to agree. Another great one from McMahon!

I love Jennifer McMahon and this is probably my favorite book I've ever read of hers. It has everything a psychological thriller fan would want - creepy mental hospital, experiments, monsters, 1970's! It was fantastic and left me guessing from start to finish. If you are already a fan of Jennifer's writing - run to buy this book. If you've never read her books, now is the time to start!

Love this author! Jennifer McMahon has a skill with writing creepy and atmospheric books, the exact kind of books I love!

“The first thing you need to know is that monsters are real”

This story alternates between two timelines; 1978 Vi and Eric live with their grandmother, Dr. Helen Hildreth, who runs a psychiatric treatment facility and present day Lizzie Shelley who is a monster hunter who normally investigates local legend "monsters" but is now trying to find her long lost sister, she knows monsters are real, her sister is one.

This story was inspired by Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and was the perfect creepy read for this time of year!

I am a big fan of this author and her writing style and cannot wait to see what she comes up with next! I would recommend for those that love creepy, atmospheric books. Please keep them coming Jennifer McMahon!

A big thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book!

Another 5 star book from this author. It has all her expected elements. Atmospheric, eerie backgrounds, perfect storytelling and intriguing characters. I expected maybe this would be a supernatural element like most her books but it was a surprising twist on what was behind the monster. I’m not mad at it.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book!

I don't know how she does it, but Jennifer McMahon just keeps getting better and better. I was a little hesitant on this one because I had read it described as sort of a modern take on Frankenstein. But rather than being any kind of remake or mere homage, The Children on the Hill was soaked in the story and the movies about Frankenstein while being an entirely different tale all its own.
The story bounces back and forth between two timelines; modern day Lizzie Shelley is monster hunter/podcaster who normally investigates the likes of Bigfoot and Mothman, but now finds herself trying to track down her long lost sister who appears to have become a "monster" herself; and 1978 where children Vi and Eric live with their "Gran" who oversees a secluded treatment center in Vermont, and a new girl, Iris, is introduced to the family as a "sister" in an attempt to acclimate her back to civilized life. The children form their own monster club but soon find that monsters can be as human as them and dark secrets are all around them.
This novel was an absolute page-turner, keeping the story on a continuous "I can't wait to find out what happens next" pace throughout. While I did figure out 2/3 of the big plot twists long before they were revealed I still found the narrative to be captivating and thrilling right to the end. Jennifer McMahon has become solidified as one of my favorite modern day authors.

I have always enjoyed Jennifer McMahon's books. Starting with The Winter People and most recently The Drowning Kind, I was very excited to receive an advance copy of The Children on the Hill. And as usual it did not disappoint. The story is told in flashbacks and the present time of 2019. Violet lives with her brother Eric with their Grandmother Dr. Helen Hildreth a psychiatrist who runs a hospital for mentally ill people. When Dr. Hildreth brings home a young girl named Iris to live with them it is assumed that she is mentally ill as well. While trying to find out who Iris really is the kids find out more than they bargained for about their grandmother and the hospital she runs. I really liked the twist towards the end of the book. I felt that there were a few unanswered questions but I still thoroughly enjoyed this book and hope to read much more from Jennifer McMahon.

“The first thing you need to know is that monsters are real”

TW: Sexual abuse, torture

It’s 1978 and Dr. Helen Hildreth is known for her treatment center in Vermont and her dedicated work with those with mental illness. Across from the center, live Vi and Eric, her grandchildren. One day Dr. Hildreth brings home a strange little girl named Iris to come and live with them. Vi and Eric are thrilled to have a new friend to play with as they are home schooled and do not venture out into town much. They invite Iris to join their monster club where they hunt down monsters and write down all of their findings and knowledge in their book of monsters and slowly but surely, Iris begins to come out of her shell. Flash forward to 2019, Lizzy Shelley is the host of a popular podcast knowns as ‘Monsters Among Us’ where she travels the country hunting for monsters and documents her findings for the public. Lizzy is called to Vermont where in a small town a girl has gone missing and a monster is said to be responsible. Lizzy sets out to find this monster and the missing girl, however, the deeper she investigates the further she dives into the haunting connection between this case and her dark secretive past.

This was one twisty wild ride! This story was inspired by and had a unique twist on Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein which is also often referenced throughout the story. I seriously could not put this one down, I was a little nervous at first as there is 3 different POV’s and passages from two different books: Vi in 1978, Lizzy in current time of 2019, the monster in current time 2019, the Book of Monsters created by Violet, Eric and Iris, and ‘The Helping Hand of God’ by Julia Tetreault. However, these timelines all flowed effortlessly and it was very easy to follow and I had no struggle keeping up with everything happening. I think this book is perfect for those who are fans of old school horror, it was dark and disturbingly unique. This was a horror novel that took me by surprise, I did not see the twist coming and it gave me one of those “wait, what?” moments. This was my first read by Jennifer McMahon and it definitely won’t be my last!

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. This title will be released on April 26th, 2022.

In 1978, Vi and Eric live with their grandmother, Dr. Helen Hildreth, who runs a psychiatric treatment facility next door to their home. When their grandmother brings home a girl from the facility to be their new sister. As Vi and Eric teach her all about monsters, Vi begins to question their grandmother's methods. Meanwhile, in the present day, a podcaster investigates a child abduction and monster sighting in a small town, thinking it's connected to her long-lost sister.

In true McMahon fashion, The Children on the Hill blends horror with deep family relationships that makes for a particularly spooky read. I struggled with the monster angle. I know McMahon was connecting with Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, but I much preferred her previous novels that were about ghosts.

I will admit the twist was well done, but I didn't like that McMahon tied up all the loose ends instead of leaving you with an eerie open ending. Nitpicky, I know. Still, I think McMahon's fan will be satisfied with The Children on the Hill. If you haven't read McMahon yet, you are missing out.

My Rating: 3.5 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of The Children on the Hill.

The premise sounded very creepy so I was excited when my request was approved.

The setting and story had such great potential; a twist on Mary Shelley's seminal novel, "Frankenstein," where Frankenstein is a brilliant woman named Dr. Hildreth in charge of The Inn, a progressive facility that hopes to rehabilitate troubled individuals and teach them to function in society once again.

When the good doctor introduces Iris, a young girl to Violet and Eric, her grandchildren and encourages them to treat Iris as their newfound sister, the siblings are quick to do so.

Violet is quick to welcome Iris, curious about her origins, and as their friendship deepens, she will soon realize that Iris is not the only one with secrets.

The Children on the Hill has good writing and plenty of exposition, told through the perspectives of Violet in the past and a blogger named Lizzy in the present.

The pacing of the narrative was quite slow, filled with plenty of descriptions and the past and present day perspectives.

I enjoyed the twist at the end though your ability to suspend disbelief will be tested. Mine was but I was able to go along for the ride due to the premise.

I wanted to like this more than I did but I was glad for the opportunity to read it.

McMahon is such a talented author who has written a monster book with a message about who the monsters really are. This book juxtaposes present day monster hunter Lizzy Shelley and her childhood self as grandchild of psychiatrist Dr. Hildreth as she hunts the monsters of her past. Every character was well developed and their story integral to the sometimes edge of your seat plot as the two stories come together with a twist at the end.