This was a good horror novel. I thought there were some very creepy and horror elements that were well done enough that could keep you looking around when you were reading the book, to make sure you were indeed alone. I love stories about witches and there was alot of good details and story having to do with the lore of witches. There was also the ghost element of this book that I really liked so there were multiple paranormal elements that take place and that add to the creepiness of the story.
My only issue is that the story seemed slow and dragged out in places. I didn't feel the urgency and fear in Alice that I would have liked to see. Overall, the book was solid and creepy and I think horror fans would enjoy this read.

Creepy Vibes but Kinda Meh

Okay, so Something in the Walls definitely brings the creepy vibes. The old house? Super eerie. The weird noises and unsettling moments? Solid. Daisy Pearce knows how to build suspense, and there were a few scenes that genuinely gave me chills.

But… the pacing was all over the place. Some parts dragged on forever, and then suddenly, big moments were rushed through like they didn’t matter. The main character also made some frustrating choices, which made it hard to stay fully invested. And the big reveal? Kinda predictable. I was hoping for something that would really catch me off guard, but it didn’t quite get there.

If you’re in the mood for an easy, spooky read with good atmosphere, this might work for you. Just don’t expect anything too mind-blowing.

A really well done mix of suspense and psychology. It kept me guessing and at the edge of my seat. I give this book 4/5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to review Something in the walls by Daisy Pearce.

This book doesn’t know what it is. Is it a spooky story about witches? It’s not spooky enough. Is it about the affects of being the victim of child sexual abuse? It wasn’t explored well enough. This book is slow. We didn’t receive enough information. Mina is supposed to be helping Alice but she barely tries to talk to her. I child psychologist would never say she hopes there’s a “normal girl” still in Alice. Mina isn’t using any counseling techniques on Alice to try to help. Also, who would let a stranger share a room with their child? I didn’t like the ending at all. We didn’t get enough closure or explanations.

This book is a unique and atmospheric read, filled with tension and unease. While I loved the eerie, witchy elements, the plot felt implausible, and the characters didn’t fully work for me, especially the child psychologist, who acted more like a detective. The writing and atmosphere were engrossing, but the storyline never fully gripped me.

If you enjoy psychological thrillers with a witchy horror vibe, this is worth checking out. I seem to be in the minority with my thoughts, so give it a try and see for yourself!

Thank you to the publisher for the digital ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Overall, this is between a 3.5-4 Stars.

I enjoyed the supernatural element of the story and throughout the story I just kept hoping that there wasn't going to be a surprise Scooby Doo ending. I got half of a supernatural story by the end.

I enjoyed the discussion of holding onto grief and hope after a loved one dies. I always had to remind myself that the main character, Mina, is only 22/23 years old and that her youth is part of the reason she has some immature beliefs...however...she is also a strong woman who is grieving and in a shitty relationship.

I genuinely felt spooked and had the chills in a few scenes where the witch and the atmosphere collided. I thought the use of the hottest summer and the chilling ice of the witch were good contrast to create an unsettling vibe. Reading from Mina's perspective the internal thoughts and chills helped to amplify the unsettling atmosphere.

Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an ARC of the story! I enjoyed it and would recommend to my friends who are getting into thriller/horror.

Thank you, Minotaur for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I couldn’t put this book down unless it was before bed, I legitimately got spooked and had to pause until daytime. Daisy Pearce had me constantly wondering whether Alice was possessed by the spirit of a witch or if she was suffering from trauma that was manifesting in dark energy. Her writing transported me to the eerie little town of Banathel and right into the story of Mina, a young psychologist, who has been called on to help a young girl named Alice with some strange behaviour. I highly recommend this book, it is now available for purchase!

Add to your TBR if you like...
-Folklore horror
-Midsommar/The Haunting of Hill House
-Witchy/possession vibes
-Cult mentality

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur books for the gifted copy!

When I first saw this cover months ago, I KNEW it was a must-read for March. When I got the acceptance email from Netgalley, I couldn't download the book fast enough... This story is unnerving and unsettling in all the best ways, making the hair stand up on the back of your neck.

The story has you constantly questioning what is causing Alice's behavior. Is it possession, psychological issues, the heat wave, or small town herd mentality?The only reason I can’t give it five stars because the story never truly reveals what is happening with Alice. I was left with more questions than answers at the end.

Something in the Walls by Daisy Pearce
Mina, a recent graduate, child psychologist, is green and in need of experience. She spends a lot of time contemplating her upcoming nuptials to Oscar. She also attends a grief support group to help with working through old scars from her brother’s death. She meets Sam at one of the grief sessions and Sam offers her a job to gain experience. There’s a thirteen-year-old, Alice, that claims she is haunted by a witch. Living with her family, Alice’s symptoms get worse. Mina thinks she can help Alice.
Things go awry in a town full of superstition and witchcraft. They believe the world is filled with evil and have their own ways of dealing with it. They don’s welcome outsiders.
This was full of suspense and I enjoyed it. I did get lost a few times. The paranormal elements were great. I felt it was a little incomplete, wanting something more. Overall, it was good. 3.5/5 ⭐
I would like to Thank NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book.

Thanks SMP and Macmillan Audio for the ARC!

Oooh this was creepy. I loved the incorporation of psychology in this story, and the unspoken struggles all women go through. It was dark, scary, and horrifying. There were points I had to stop because it was actually so messed up, which is why it's a perfect horror book. Yes, I know it's marked as thriller, and it is a thriller, but I also think it belongs in the psychological horror category.

If you enjoyed Roanoke Girls, Rosemary's Baby, or female rage stories, I'd recommend this one.

I was given an advanced readers copy by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have such mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, it was a fast read and the insidious nature of what's going on in Banathel kept me reading and guessing. The ending left me so disappointed, though. We get no answers about what is going on with Alice and the "twist" was predictable and unsatisfactory. A 5 star start, and a 1 star ending.

Such a good read. It’s a little disturbing what keeps happening to Alice as her symptoms arise but that’s half the fun of the story! The book really was able to capture my attention from start to finish, and the characters were well thought out and I felt like the story flowed very smoothly

"A chilling page-turner following a child psychologist's treatment on a troubled young girl and the shocking thread of inexplicable events that begin to unfold. This one will make you sleep with all the lights on."

Daisy Pearce’s Something in the Walls is a psychological thriller that builds tension with an eerie atmosphere, following a woman who moves into an old house and discovers dark secrets lurking within its walls. The novel is compelling and unsettling, with Pearce's writing effectively creating a haunting environment. However, the pacing feels uneven, with the first half engaging the reader but the latter half slowing down. The protagonist’s descent into paranoia is well-done, but the lack of depth in character relationships leaves the emotional stakes feeling weaker. This book was an atmospheric and intriguing read.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!

The first half was solid. It was a Warren investigation. It was suspenseful, dark, scary. The 2nd half fell flat for me.

Mina, a child psychologist, and Sam, a journalist, investigate the claims of 13-year-old Alice Webber, who insists she is being haunted. As they dig deeper, they uncover a dark past and the town’s deep-rooted superstitions.

There were definitely moments that captured my attention, but the pacing felt slow, and some plot points were not super believable. While it had its highlights, it didn’t fully deliver on its potential. Fans of supernatural thrillers may find it an enjoyable read.

This 👏🏻 Book 👏🏻

I’ve been wanting to read this one for a while and I finally got access to it on @netgalley so I picked it up immediately. There was a lot happening and it got darker and darker as it went on, to the point that I was gasping. It was witchy, it was creepy, it was possess-y, it was perfect. Do I still have questions about some things? Absolutely - but, I enjoyed this book so much, it gave me heart palpitations. I wish this was coming out prior to February, because this would be perfect for spooky season!

🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝/5

Now available!!!!!!

Love the cover.

Supernatural/witchy/creepy vibe for a good percentage of the story.

Did not have me keeping the lights on at night or anything.

Mina is a newly graduated. Child psychologist asked by a journalist to come and investigate Alice a 14-year-old girl who they cannot seem to figure out exactly what is going on with her. Is it a hoax? Is she possessed? Is she just deeply disturbed?

Mina does a great job investigating the child, the scenario and of course the surroundings.

I did not find this work to be confusing or hard to follow. I enjoyed the story. Did it have me thinking about it when I wasn’t reading? No, not really. What I recommend this to everyone? No but definitely if you are interested in The witch or supernatural scene. It had an underlying mystery that was well written as well.

Thanks to NetGalley and St Martins Press for my electronic advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

My favorite quotes from this book:
"I came to Banathel because I felt hopeful, Mina, but maybe hope is just desperation dressed up in fancy clothes.."

"Yes, I think, everyone loves to look into the darkness."

This started out really good, was certainly creepy but moved a little too slowly and the ending left a lot of questions unanswered. Overall it's 3.5 ⭐️ for me.

The cover, the title, the blurb all sucked me in immediately for this one and I knew I had to read it! This was another fast read that I couldn't put down. The hot, arid climate in the (fictional) small town of Banathel was as oppressive as any malignant force in this story and really set a tone of desperation. Many scenes in this book were genuinely scary to read, which I think is a fun experience as a reader- though of course it may not be for everyone. The topic of the book took a sharp turn at about 75-80%, and unfortunately many questions were left completely unanswered. The ending is also quite abrupt.

All that said, I did enjoy reading this book and would definitely read more from Pearce in the future. I give Something in the Walls 3.5 stars and recommend it to horror readers (this is comparatively light for the horror genre). Thank you MacMillan Audio and St Martin's Press for the ALC and ARC of Something in the Walls, which is out now.

Daisy Pearce pens a captivating portrayal of an up and coming Child Psychologist who is working hard to build a trustworthy base for ongoing work. Sufffering with demons of her own past and in the midst of a not-so-happy engagement to a man who really doesn't deserve her she is invited into the inner workings of a strange case with a possibly possessed young girl. Finding herself totally immersed into their own family drama (fact or fiction) she befriends a handful of characters along the way. Something in the Walls reminds us of the secrets we hold within and how in the strangest of circumstances they can be released for better or for worse.

This book was an enjoyable read for me and was not what I was really expecting. I enjoyed learning a little more about witches and how they are perceived and how certain places try to protect themselves from their presence by hanging hag stones and the like!