Finished Reading

DNF @ 49%

Final Review

Review summary and recommendations

This book is just not for me. I was put off by the style of the first person perspective almost immediately. Struggling with the narrator means struggling with the whole book. It all just sort of washed over me, but I think other readers will enjoy it.


Rating: DNF @ 49%
Recommend? for some readers
Finished: Feb 5 '25

Thank you to the author Daisy Pearce, publishers St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of SOMETHING IN THE WALLS. All views are mine.

Thank you to Netgalley for the arc.

I could not finish reading this novel, though, as the demon, witchiness of the story didn't pique my interest enough to keep reading. The mc felt more like a detective and her sudden interest in the reporter just seemed very off to me.

The year is 1989, and Mina is a newly graduated child psychologist that is offered a job by a reporter that would provide her with experience in a field where many want experts. She finds herself in the town of Banathel, a remote village with a history of superstition and witchcraft. She is there to evaluate Alice Webber, a thirteen-year-old girl that claims to be haunted by a witch. As Mina spends more time in the town and with the Webber family she is witness to many inexplicable occurrences. Due to the towns' superstition, Mina is in a race to figure out what is causing Alice's condition before the residents take the situation into their own hands.

I felt like the story started off a little slow, and I wasn't truly invested in the characters. However, I couldn't put down the book for approximately the last 25% of the book, and I did find the ending satisfying. There were a few instances in the book where I had to remind myself that the story was taking place in 1989 and not present day because I was really judging the some of the characters decisions/actions.

If you enjoy a little paranormal, mystery, and thriller I recommend you pick up the book.

I listened to the audiobook while also reading along. Ana Clements does an excellent job with the narration.

Thanks to Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press & Macmillan Audio for the eARC and audiobook. All opinions are my own.

I was really gripped into this book for about the first 80%. Horror can go one of two ways: “monsters are literally real” or “everything you’re seeing has an explanation”. I felt like they were choosing one of the ways for most of the book and I was loving it. The horror was visceral and I slammed through it. However, for me, the ending had way too much going on. It was an interesting conclusion to an interesting book but I felt unsatisfied ultimately about exactly what the reader witnessed

Something in the Walls by Daisy Pearce

Daisy Pearce’s Something in the Walls begins with an eerie and immersive setup. Newly minted child psychologist Mina, still grappling with the loss of her brother, is drawn into the unsettling case of Alice Webber—a young girl in the remote village of Banathel who believes a witch is haunting her. As Mina and journalist Sam Hunter investigate, they find themselves entangled in the town’s deep-rooted superstitions and a mounting dread.

The novel’s atmosphere is one of its strongest elements, blending elements of The Exorcist with the folk horror vibes of The Witch. The historical references, such as dancing mania and witch trials, add an intriguing layer to the mystery. Mina’s skepticism and attempts to rationalize the inexplicable happenings make for a compelling psychological angle. However, while the buildup is engaging, the story falters as it progresses.

Mina’s struggles, particularly regarding her brother, feel underdeveloped. Also, her fiance feels secondary in a way that could have been harder-hitting throughout the story. But the biggest disappointment comes from the book’s failure to follow through on its central premise. The witch, which seemed to be the heart of the mystery, is abruptly abandoned by the end, leaving questions unanswered. This was frustrating, especially after such an engrossing setup.

Despite the narrative missteps, Something in the Walls still offers a creepy, fun atmosphere that could translate well into a horror movie. While the plot ultimately loses focus, it’s enjoyable for those who appreciate unsettling folklore and psychological horror. I’d rate it 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 for its potential.

I'm a fan of thriller/horror combos, and Daisy Pearce's SOMETHING IN THE WALLS did not fail me. It's 1989, which means the world is a simpler place. Mina's on the brink of a good life after a tragic past, but agrees to help a man named Sam investigate the case of a haunting. Mina, as a future psychologist, is sure this will give her some real life experience. But when they travel to the small town she soon learns she is far more involved in the case than she could have imagined. A fun, taut scary-story style mystery.

Small town folklore takes on a whole new meaning when a reporter and child psychologist come to town. I was captivated immediately but left a little underwhelmed at the end. In a few words: grief, witches, community, murder, haunting, hysteria.

Something spooky this way comes ...

First of all I would like to thank Minotaur Books for sending me some #bookmail and a hagstone. It arrived cracked in half so I am not sure if that bodes well for my safety after reading this incredibly creepy horror.

We take a time machine back to the summer of 1989 during an incredible heat wave. Mina has recently graduated as child psychologist but of course lack of experience means lack of job opportunities. At a grief support group Mina meets Sam, a journalist with a unique opportunity for Mina to get her feet wet.

This book was incredibly well written. I felt the heat on my back of my neck as Mina and Sam around the parish of Banathel. I could smell the sweet scent of sweat mixed with cigarette smoke wafting in a hot family home. I was completely drawn into this book to the point where I had to go put it into another room at bedtime to protect myself!

If you want a deliciously creepy book that will have you checking over your shoulder in an empty room then I highly recommend getting Something in the Walls - it is now available at your local bookseller or library

I'm not going to outline the synopsis because if you're reading reviews you've already read the synopsis. This may contain spoilers.

Well, what a book. Firstly, Daisy Pearce's writing is brilliant. The characters and environment were brought to life, it was creepy, confusing and unsettling.

But, I have to say, it felt like the ending was to a different story. The possession (?) Of Alice is never explained. I guess it is tied up in other ways right at the very end, but it isn't explained.
I feel like the protagonist, Mina, could have met her end in this and it would still work, the final scenes felt kinda tropey (in a bad way) and just there because it's what everyone does.

I think Mina's boyfriend is also surplus to requirements but since he's there his storyline could have been much better. Take that b*st*rd down a peg Daisy!

I would like to say though, this is set in Cornwall and if you know what a Cornish accent sounds like it really adds a bit to the whole creepy small town vibe. Sorry Cornwall, don't come for me. This just wouldn't have worked quite as well set to the East.

Something in the Walls left me with questions and I'm still thinking about it days later. I had to take a couple days before reviewing, which almost never happens (and I review books for a living!).

Overall, this is really atmospheric. The vibe is creepy and unsettling in a slight uncanny valley, stifling, hazy 1980s "something here isn't quite right" kind of way. You know when you stay overnight in a strange town on a roadtrip or for work and dusk is just hitting and something, but nothing in particular, feels sinister? This is that.
The small town trope is played off excellently and the history of the area/folklore is mixed in in small drops. Daisy Pearce does a really good job of reinforcing how she wants you to feel, its subtle and beautifully done and I think she has done a wonderful job of using not creepy elements to really add a sense of foreboding throughout.
This would be 5 stars if the ending made more sense to me (it might make more sense to you idk). I definitely recommend it for fans of atmospheric horror, or hints of unsettling supernatural elements.

Trigger warning for SA heavily implied but not mentioned on page.

This book was so suspenseful and spooky. Very fast paced and easy to follow. I did struggle at times to remember the characters but I was able to recall them easier than expected.
I didn't know what to expect and I was addicted! I especially enjoyed the ending. Highly recommend reading this book and I feel like it's a good book to introduce reader's to the horror genre.

This started out slow, and I was really not invested in this possession story. I couldn't decide if this was a paranormal story or a grifter tale. There were hints of folklore horror, and psychological disorders. But where this book went, completely surprised me. In a good way. I wish that the beginning and the main character was a bit stronger, but where she ended and how her ARC changed was appreciated.

Overall, this was more than just scratchings in the walls. It was more gruesome and disturbing. And for the sensitive readers, I'd recommend getting TWs.

Thank you to the publisher for my review copy. 3.5 rounded up.

Amazon reviews submitted, Barnes & Noble review submitted as well
Youtube review will go up in Friday reads 3/7
Blog post goes live March 18th
Imgur graphic goes to Instagram graphic scheduled for March 3rd

**TL;DR**: A strong start to a disappoint twist.
**Source**: NetGalley, thank you so much to the publisher!

**Plot**: An inexperienced child psychologist faces against evil - of what kind is the problem.
**Characters**: These were pretty bland. What you might expect from a thriller/horror.
**Setting**: This started in town but headed into a small village. We didn’t get a lot of details on it.
**Horror:** The horror started out strong but when the twist was revealed it just stopped being scary.

**Thoughts**:

This one had me gripped till it lost me, which was a damn shame. Mina, a new and inexperienced child psychologist is called to investigate what could be a haunting or could be faked. She arrives in a small town and almost immediately finds the situation disturbing and confusing. This was super strong. The horror elements hit fast and hard, and I thought we were going to be in for a wild ending. Instead the story twisted and honestly? I’ve read this before and I’m honestly tired of reading it at all.

Nothing in this stood out to me besides the horror elements. Which is why I’m so incredibly disappointed. Parts of this felt very unnecessary, such as Mina’s relationship we see briefly at the beginning. He played little to no role. The twist here didn’t explain everything either. Instead it opened up more questions. Is the witch real, was it something Mina was manipulated into manifesting? The villagers are left with little to no closure as well, leaving the door open for more of this to occur. The characters, the setting, nothing held the story up except those elements and once we saw the truth? It was something done, tired, and it lost me.

I can definitely see people enjoying this but it simply wasn’t for me. I wanted something true horror, something that isn’t using tired tropes and twists that can be seen a mile away. Sadly this wasn’t it, and I continue to loose hope in this genre. I can’t say I recommend this but give it a shot if you want a strong start. But the ending? A dud.

This had such a good premise and a fantastic start but ended up falling flat for me. I didn't find it very scary and I felt like there were a lot of loose ends.

This book definitely stuck with me , it was one that gripped me right away and kept me on edge until the end.

This was a great page turner; I was hooked from the beginning and couldn't put it down. The author did such a good job with the eerie vibes that I had to flip the lights on while reading. There were some unanswered questions by the end of the book, but I still very much enjoyed reading this one.

Whew. I see this book got mixed reviews, but I for one could not put it down. I read it in practically a single sitting (on an airplane) and really enjoyed most of it.

I found myself surprised a few times, in suspense just as often, and wholly creeped out. However, after finishing it, I'm left with more than a couple questions. There were a handful of areas where I'd have loved more detail, more explanation, more history. It was a wild ride, but I wish there had been a bit more to flesh out the *why* of it all.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC of Something in the Walls in exchange for an honest review.

First of all, I have to say that the cover art really drew me to this book. The wallpaper graphics were overtly appealing and quite honestly made me want to check it out (I didn’t even notice the eye between the slats on first glance, so well done there for the creepy factor when I first noticed it). That being said, I was slightly less impressed by what came after the cover art and the book honestly just took a very weird turn that it never really recovered from 3/4 the way in. The entire first half of the book I was very drawn in and really riding out the supernatural/witch theory for what it was. Alice’s character creeped the shit out of me and I loved all of the descriptions of her physical changes and her trances she bounced into and out of. The writing properly creeped me out, I must say.

My issue arose with the main character and the fact that Mina is just a downright idiot. The moment she had suspicions about what was going on with the overly friendly neighbor next door, any person with a fraction of common sense reports that immediately. In fact, the last thing you should do is turn into a subpar undercover spy and try to catch the bad guy red handed. Terrible idea and it just made me overly annoyed with the lack of judgement shown by Mina. The overall idea of ‘The Riddance’ just seemed sooo far out there, it was beyond believable on any conceivable level. I understand mob mentality is a thing, but that was just too far out there to be conceivable.

The first half of this book had me really excited and showed real promise. I truly wish the author would have just dove in head first into the supernatural theory and ran with it rather than trying make something like The Riddance be almost believable. It just doesn’t work for me. I guess I’m better at suspending disbelief for witches and ghosts rather than trying to make anything logical out of what happened here (not sure what that says about me personally). Most certainly an example of the reverse meaning of “never judge a book by its cover.”

Something in the Walls by Daisy Pearce is a book I didn’t know I was looking for! I enjoy novels that deal with mysterious events, questions of paranormal or supernatural activity and questions of witchcraft would certainly apply.

Mina Ellis is a newly minted psychologist with no work experience, a fiancé deeply engaged in his complex scientific work, and still mourning the loss of her brother who died when they were young. She returns to a group for those experiencing grief after some time away from it and meets a man, Sam Hunter, a journalist. Sam offers her a chance to use her psychological skills in a situation he has been investigating. There is a 13 year old girl named Alice who believes there is a witch near/in her, influencing her and Sam would like Mina to assess what may be happening. Alice lives in a distant town with a very long history of dealing with witchcraft.

I found this a great reading experience, compulsive at times, but I also did avoid reading it too close to bedtime, not knowing what might happen next. Highly recommended

Thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. The review is my own.

I was SO excited to read a book about a fellow child psychologist, but was disappointed by the research (or lack thereof) that went into the story....HIPPA ethics kind of went out the window from chapter 1. This was a solid, propulsive thriller with an interesting premise, but I unfortunately could not connect to Mina as a protagonist. The town of Banathel was deliciously creepy and reminded me of the atmosphere of the house from the Haunting of Bly Manor, complete with an unsettling child resident. There were some scenes in this story that genuinely kept me up at night, so points to Pearce for writing perfectly spine-chilling horror.

Something in the Walls by Daisy Pearce is a creepy, horror based novel. Although I’ve seen it all over social media with people commenting about its great book cover and how much they are looking forward to reading it, it didn’t really hold my attention. I actually considered setting it aside and not finishing it. It’s the story of Mina, a young child psychologist who travels to Banathel to see a young girl named Alice Webber who is thought to be possessed by a witch. There are parts to the story that do have the creep factor, actually the whole town and all its residents are a little strange. But as the story progresses you learn that it’s one individual that you need to be afraid of. Everyone there likes to believe that Mina is causing trouble and they ask her to leave. But it’s Mina who brings everything out into the open by exposing the evil and in the very end she takes matters into her own hands by putting the evil to rest. I’d like to thank Sara Beth Haring, Senior Marketing Manager @ St. Martin’s Press for the invite to read an early copy and NetGalley for the arc. Although I didn’t enjoy this story as much as I had hoped I would, I’m sure others will really like it. I’m giving this a 3.5 star rating.