Now THIS was an atmospheric and thrilling read! SOMETHING IN THE WALLS kept me on the edge of my seat, glued to every page.

Mina is a just-certified child psychologist who is called to investigate a potential haunting. As she gets to know the Webber family, things get stranger and stranger. Mina can’t help but wonder: is this a scam or is Alice really being haunted? She has to decide what’s real all while navigating her grief over losing her younger brother. I enjoyed all the twists and turns—especially that ending!

Something in the Walls starts off strong. There's a creepy kid, a mysterious town, and just the right amount of unease. I was hooked in the beginning and really thought this one was going somewhere dark and twisty, but somewhere along the way, the tension kind of fizzled out. The ending didn’t live up to the buildup, which was a letdown. Still, it’s got a solid atmosphere and a spooky premise that kept me turning pages for a while.

started off sooo good. the vibes were dark and witchy and a little creepy in the best way. i was flipping pages fast and honestly kinda paranoid while reading

but then it started falling apart

the story just didn’t make sense after a while. like why was the journalist even staying with the family? and why didn’t mina talk to the girl she was supposed to be evaluating? weird choices that didn’t add up. the witchy vibe that pulled me in just disappeared and it turned into something else completely. it wasn’t satisfying and felt all over the place

i really liked the idea of it and was excited to read it but i didn’t connect with the characters and the ending left me with way too many questions. it felt incomplete

great start but it lost its magic halfway through

Late to read this book. Overall it was a fine story but it did fall a little flat for me. I don’t think I’d recommend it.

I am grateful to NetGalley, the Author, and the Publisher for the ARC. Thank you!

Such a fun, suspenseful read, but felt slightly let down in the final act. I think it was great to stay in lead character Mina's POV during her investigation – certainly made the mystery seem creepier – but maybe to the detriment of secondary character development in Sam or Alice. The author does a great job blending paranormal, mystery, and horror elements however, so I'd love to read other novels from her.

I got this book in advance from NetGalley (yes, I’m late in reading it). It held a lot of promise. It sounded really creepy with an amazing cover. It wasn’t bad but honestly not as great as I was expecting. We follow Mina on a journey to prove that a young teenager is not possessed by a witch but rather has a scientific explanation. What she ends up discovering is far more disturbing.

**spoiler**

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Something in the Walls explores the reality of witch trials and how it was often just an excuse to abuse women and young girls. While I appreciate this connection, I’m really frustrated that we don’t find out what Alice’s affliction is. Was she mentally disturbed? Was it psychosomatic? Was she an actual witch?

To be upfront this book took me almost a month to finish. I felt like it had a lot of potential but it never really got there for me. I mean it would create these moments with a horror element, but then we would get just chapters of nothing. They end up in a small town that fully believes in witchcraft to investigate Alice. We watch how the mob mentality of the town shifts as events unfold, but everything is just so slow to take place. I have to say by the time it got to the twists at the end I honestly didn't even care anymore. They were okay but just felt a bit expected I guess. I don't know I just wanted a lot more from this one I guess. I also wasn't a huge fan of the writing style, or really any of the characters.

I wish I loved this more. The cover is fantastic and the pitch was intriguing but it just didn't work for me. The pacing was inconsistent and I found where we stated making no sense with where we ended up. Unfortunately I found certain aspects predictable to a certain extent and the twists were strange. I would be interested in reading from the author in the future and how they grow.

This is a book I tell everyone about that loves thriller/horror books. I literally gasped and had to drop the book down for a minute in a couple places while I processed what I just read. The characters were so fun to read about, especially a teenager named Alice that is haunted by a witch. Bert was a great character too, and not exactly the normal neighbor next door. .The whole town is creepy and you can feel it while reading this book! Anyone that likes to read about witches, witch hunts, and superstition will love this book. This kind of horror book will keep me coming back for more - a little out of my comfort zone, but so much fun. Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to review this book.

This book had so much potential. The summary was perfect for me and the beginning of the book got me hooked, but then it changed. I thought it was going to be haunting and intense like the description stated, but it wasn’t that at all. So I felt underwhelmed. The book was much too slow for me.

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

Mina dreams of becoming the best child psychologist, but she's still building her experience. That is, until a reporter offers her an opportunity she simply can't pass up. "Something in the Walls" tries to evoke feelings of dread and the supernatural within the ordinary world, but it doesn't quite hit the mark. The story features a large cast of characters, which can sometimes take attention away from Mina, making her feel a bit shallow and less relatable. The plot moves at a slow pace, and at times, it's hard to tell where it's headed. Overall, the story could use a bit more intrigue and deeper character development.

This was an interesting story. A new child psychologist gets invited by a reporter to see if a girl is being haunted or had mental health issues. Thought out the story is hard to tell what is happening. It is interesting and kept me engaged.

Something in the Walls came out of the gate with eerie potential—a creepy kid, an isolated village steeped in folklore, and a psychologist in way over her head. I was ready for unsettling tension and emotional complexity. And it was dark. Definitely darker than I expected. But somewhere along the way, the mood took over the momentum.

The slow build worked at first—dripping dread, glimpses of Alice’s increasingly bizarre behavior—but I kept waiting for it to click. For Mina to feel like more than a reactive observer. For the village to become more than vaguely menacing vibes and whispered superstition. The story wants to say something deep about grief, belief, and fear—but it never quite lands the plane. By the end, I still didn’t have all the answers I was hoping for… and not in a fun, mysterious way. More like, wait, did I miss a chapter? kind of way.

There’s some gorgeous writing in here, and a really intriguing concept. But it left me wanting—more clarity, more payoff, more Mina.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for this honest review. Even if I’m still lowkey haunted and confused.

The details! Some of the depictions described were a bit stomach turning, in the best way. Loved the creepy witchy cursed vibes. The finance backstory line was a bit of a let down. It didn’t feel like everything got tied up at the end, tho I did love how it ended. Overall would definitely recommend.

I'd seen the description of Something In the Walls and quickly put it on my wishlist. I was so excited for the chance to read and review it for NetGalley.
I've been on a horror book binge, even if it's not on purpose, but it seems to be what the bookish part of my brain is into reading right now. This book does NOT disappoint! I was enthralled with the story from just about the first chapter, and it just got better from there.
While some parts of the plot were a bit predictable, I like how that makes me feel as a reader, and it shows that the author really knows how to lay down their story from the very beginning. You're not blindsided (well, you are, but in a good, scary way) with wondering where certain plot elements come from.
I love the idea of a horror story with local British folklore and stories looped into it. I feel like I'm seeing more horror books being written in non-American settings, and I'm here for it.
I think my only gripe about this book is the title. I don't want to give away anything but the action doesn't seem to happen just in the walls. That's all I'll say besides make sure your schedule is open, because you'll want to keep reading this book with no breaks as soon as you start it.
I know I'll be looking out for future books from Daisy Pearce and will be sure to add her back catalog to my TBR. I'd also love to see this title made into a movie.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.

Thank you so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this one in exchange for an honest review!

Unfortunately, this book was so boring to me. I just could not get into this one.

I hope others love this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

My rating: 3.5

@stmartinspress
@netgalley

Mia is a child psychologist that takes on her first case Alice, a young girl that is haunted by claims of witchcraft and possession.

The author did a great job of blending psychological and creepy supernatural elements throughout. I felt that Mina’s character was really relatable. The book pulled me in from the start, but some parts dragged on too long. Overall, it was enjoyable spooky read and recommend you add this your tbrs!!!

#read #reading #books #stmartinspress #netgalley #theressomethinginthewalls #spooky #psycho #eerie #bookworm #bookish #booksbooksbooks #booklover #tbr #summer #possessed #witchy

I struggled with this one and that is on me not the author. The writing style just wasnt for me and took me multiple tries to read.

This book had a great start and I was super intrigued with how this story was going to play out. However, it started to drag and it took me a while to finish up.

Something in the Walls by Daisy Pearce took me by surprise. It is a slow burning psychological thriller with an element of horror. I enjoyed the "is it real or is it not?" aspect of supernatural element, and that was definitely the part that kept me going. The end was a little disappointing due to the lack of closure for me, but overall an interesting read. This is definitely a book I would love to discuss with somebody!