After seeing some questionable reviews I decided to give this a try but sometimes reviews are reviews for a reason. The story started out strong, with new child psychologist Mina being hired to try to help a young girl that people think is possessed. The problem comes in that the beginning sets up a novel that is not the end of this book. It’s almost like it’s two separate entities.

Thank you though to Netgalley and to St. Martin’s press for allowing me to read this copy in exchange for my opinions

Daisy Pearce's Something in the Walls is, without a doubt, one of the most claustrophobic books I’ve ever read. It’s eerie, suffocating, and anxiety inducing in the best (or worst) ways possible. I can’t quite explain what possessed me to pick it up... well, ok, I admit it, the cover was irresistible, so I downloaded it without a second thought!

The story follows Mina, an engaged young woman and a new child psychologist. Five years after the death of her brother, Eddie, she’s still deep in her grief. In an effort to help her process, her fiancé encourages her to attend a bereavement group. There, she meets Sam, a journalist mourning the loss of his daughter. He calls her one day with an intriguing offer: there’s a teenager named Alice Webber in the small town of Banathel who claims she’s being haunted by a witch. Sam wants to know if Mina is interested in investigating the case. Despite her fiancé’s objections and the pressure of their upcoming wedding, Mina decides to take on the job.

Banathel is a town full of people consumed by superstition, obsessed with fending off witches. The locals are constantly lingering outside Alice’s house, convinced she can communicate with the dead. As Mina delves deeper into the mystery, strange events unfold both inside and around the house. One by one, people who come into contact with Alice begin dying under bizarre circumstances. Could Alice really be haunted by a witch? Mina, being forced out of the town, races against time to uncover the truth, and what she uncovers is more shocking, and heartbreaking, than I ever expected.

I’d rate this book a 3.5 out of 5. While horror isn’t usually my go to genre, this story kept me interested. My curiosity never waned and it constantly pushed me to keep reading. While some readers might have been disappointed by the plot twist at the end, I found it to be a bold choice that added a layer of realism to the narrative, especially considering the story’s 1989 setting. I did feel a deep sadness for the female characters affected by the events, but I was relieved that the author opted for a more real explanation instead of a supernatural one (spoiler). This book is perfect for fans of horror and edge of your seat thrillers.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ebook.

I'm always drawn to books centered around those in Psychiatry since that's my field and of course, I love a good possession story so the synopsis immediately hooked me.

I liked the horror elements and the beginning immediately pulled me in. The author crafted an atmospheric setting and I enjoyed the folklore elements.

But unfortunately, I did find a few issues with it.
I felt as if the ending was a bit too rushed and underwhelming. There are also lots of plot holes and unanswered questions (yes I'm one of those people who has to have everything perfectly wrapped up at the end).

However, I do believe that a lot of readers will love this one, though. I've said this before, and I'll say it again: Take my reviews with a grain of salt. Just because I didn't love a book doesn't mean you won’t enjoy it. I would hate to know that I dissuaded someone from picking up a book just because I didn't enjoy it!

Something in the Walls by Daisy Pearce will be available on February 25. Many thanks to Minotaur Books, St Martins Press, and NetGalley for the gifted copy!

First I would like to thank Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio for the ARC of this novel.

I switched between reading and listening to this book. And I enjoyed both versions. The narrator was great and the audiobook was well done.

I was really looking forward to this book and the beginning really held my interest. I loved the folklore behind the book and I wish the book has stayed more on that theme. I felt the second half the book just started to feel like I different book.

I loved the relationship between Mina and Alice. It was sweet they way they connected with each other but the rest of the book felt very disjointed and just had so many unanswered questions. I also just felt like the entire second half I was yelling at the main character and wondering why she was making the decisions…it’s like watching a horror movie and wondering why the characters are going back into the house when we all know it’s a terrible ideas.

Overall, I rated the book 3/5 stars.

I really wanted to love Daisy Pearce's Something in the Walls, but it didn't entirely hit the mark for me. The premise is good and the story kept me somewhat intrigued, but I found myself annoyed with the main character Mina. She has just graduated from university and knows very little about child psychology and yet everyone puts her on a pedestal, especially the older journalist Sam Hunter. It seems like Sam should have more sense than to think that Mina would be able to help Alice and it's never clear why he seems to be falling for her. I think I would have enjoyed the story much more if it were told through Alice's or her mother's perspective.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an eARC; all opinions are my own.

Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.
What a strange and original story!
Creepy and eerie. There were times I had to glance up to make sure I was still alone!
I will definitely be recommending to friends!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Overall Rating: 4.5 Stars

Mina is a fairly new child psychologist with little experience in her field. Her free time is spent worrying about her engagement and soon to be marriage to her fiancé Oscar, a careful and precise researcher. She is still mourning the death of her brother from years ago and decides to return to a local bereavement group she had attended in the past and meets Sam, a journalist and father mourning the loss of his daughter, who offers her an opportunity as a child psychologist. He is reporting on Alice Webber, a teenager in a remote village who believes she is haunted by a witch. Mina is sure she can get through to her, but the villagers aren't so sure.

It may be a cliche to have someone in the psychology field as the protagonist of a horror story (a skeptic), but Mina felt so incredibly human and relatable. On the outside she assures the Webber family that her "haunting" surely stems from trauma and normal teenage emotion, but internally she is constantly checking her surroundings and questioning her own thoughts. Was that really just a shadow in the fireplace? Who was banging on my door last night if everyone was asleep? As someone who reads horror novels regularly I have a hard time feeling scared just from reading, but this book had me periodically setting my phone down and looking behind me to make sure I was alone, and I think that stems from just how much Mina was doubting herself too.

This story has a lot of layers, and I do feel some of those layers were unnecessary and can make the story feel a bit like it's jumping all over the place at times. I think if you removed Mina's fiancé Oscar entirely from the story, it wouldn't change much if anything at all. Oscar felt a bit shoehorned in to fill a plot hole or two, and overall didn't contribute much. Meanwhile, I do wish Alice's parents were expanded upon more. In the same way, if Alice's mom was not in the story, I don't think there would be any significant changes, but I think she could have contributed much more, and I think Alice's dad was meant to contribute more to the plot than I feel he did.

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this book and could hardly put it down (except when I admittedly got a little anxious during some scarier sections). I will absolutely be looking out for more books by this author in the future!

Something in the Walls has an interesting premise. It pulled me in at first, but I found myself losing interest. This may have been due to my mood changing. I'm definitely a mood reader. I am interested enough to come back to this one at a later date. I want to give this one a fair shot because I enjoyed what I read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced digital copy.

This story totally grabbed my attention and didn’t let go! It’s one of those books where you start reading and just can’t put it down, especially as things get creepier and creepier. The story takes place in a new house that’s supposed to be a fresh start, but of course, it’s anything but that. They start to realize that there’s something seriously off about the house—something in the walls, to be exact—and the tension really builds from there.

The writing pulls you into the creepy, suspense-filled vibe of the story. I liked how the plot slowly ramps up the scares, making sure you feel uneasy all the way through. The characters are relatable, and you can’t help but care about what happens to them as they dig deeper into the house’s dark secrets. The mix of psychological horror and a little supernatural twist kept me hooked, and I found myself thinking about the book long after I finished it.

This was just, really, a great book. I love a good witch story and this was, indeed, that.

The story covers you like cold ice, yet also a warm blanket.

I loved the vivid descriptions of everything, the 1989 time period, the (un)seemingly two different storylines, the mystery, the supernatural... just all of it.

I thought the pacing was good and a lot happens in the span of a short time, but the way the danger kept rising and rising made me want to rush to finish.

*** spoilers ***

My only issue is I didn't like how the story ended with "the family." I needed to know what happened to them.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an e-copy of SOMETHING IN THE WALLS to review.

I rate SOMETHING IN THE WALLS four out of five stars.

The cover and the title are very enticing that I didn’t even feel the need to read the blurb. Now that I have it sounds like a great read but I am not in the mindset for something so eerie. Hope it’s enjoyed by others!

This novel had been sitting on my NetGalley shelf for over a year, and I’ll admit, I was hesitant to start it. But let me tell you, I was pleasantly surprised. I found myself so absorbed in the story that I neglected my work just to keep reading. It reminded me of Paul Tremblay’s A Head Full of Ghosts and a mix with even sharper commentary and execution than Grady Hendrix’s latest novel. While I did have some issues with the portrayal of the therapist, the book had me hooked with its eerie tone, similar to the unsettling atmosphere of Midsommar. The ending, though a bit underwhelming, didn’t shy away from showing the chilling extent to which people will go to uphold their beliefs. This is both a horror and a thriller, and definitely worth a read.

Daisy Pearce is a new-to-me author. After reading Something in the Walls, I now have two of her previous books on my TBR pile. I started this book this morning. I finished it this evening. I simply could not put it down! I know you've heard that line before, but it's really true. This fascinating blend of horror, superstition, mystery and witchcraft held me in its thrall from beginning to end. The pages flew by!

In the summer of 1989, Britain is suffering through a severe heat wave. Mina Ellis has just become a child psychologist, but she's been unable to flex her wings due to her lack of experience. She spends her days in the sweltering heat contemplating her upcoming marriage to researcher Oscar, and she's rather anxious about it. Her only reprieve from her little world is attending the local bereavement group to mourn her brother’s death from years ago. At one of the groups she meets journalist Sam Hunter, who's morning the death of his young daughter. Sam has a proposition for Mina. In the remote village of Banathel, 13-year-old Alice Webber claims a witch is haunting her, and her behavior is becoming more disturbing. Taking the job would give Mina some much-needed experience, and Sam would get the scoop of a lifetime. Mina agrees, confident Alice will get better. Alice doesn't get better, though; her behavior worsens every day. Banathel has a history of superstition and witchcraft, however, and they believe evil exists...and they know how to deal with it.

This story immediately had me in its steely grip and wouldn't let go! Mina was a sympathetic character. Years ago she lost her beloved brother, and she's been in deep mourning since. Her brother Eddie told her before he died that if he could, he would let her know what existed on the other side. She carried around a photo of herself, and it appeared that her deceased brother was standing behind her. Mina was preparing to wed researcher Oscar, but she was anxious about it. Oscar was, frankly, in my opinion, a total putz. He didn't seem to have any empathy for Mina. While attending a meeting of the bereavement group, she met Sam, who was dealing with the unbearable death of his daughter. She was intrigued by his offer to travel to Banathel; here was her chance to get desperately needed experience. Mina didn't believe that Alice was being haunted or possessed; she was simply a young girl with behavioral problems. Suuuuuuure she was. What about the townspeople who hung outside the Webber household, begging Alice to help them reconnect with their dead or search for a missing dog? And why did some of the citizens come to harass and berate the young girl, especially her former best friend? Mina still believed she could help the girl; she just couldn't explain what the devil was going on. Never mind the pale fingers or voices that seemed to come out from the chimney, or odd snuffling, snarling sounds coming outside her bedroom door. And don't worry about the small shoe that Mina and Sam saw in an abandoned house that was just like the shoes his deceased daughter had worn. The wasps all over the place? Totally normal! There were very nice people in the neighborhood, especially Fern who owned the video store and her adorable daughter Stevie, and the lovely elderly couple next door. But things were beginning to turn, and not in a good way, The good people of Banathel were familiar with evil, and they knew how to stop it. So what happens next? I'm not going to tell you. I will never ruin a story for you! (I will, however, mention something to those of you with weak stomachs. Alice's father works at a slaughterhouse; and he brings dinner home because the family is having money problems. He brings home...parts that no one would want. And he has no problems dressing dead hares. Let's just leave it at that, shall we?) This is a mind-blowing story you'll want to read, and in one sitting.

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

The spooky vibes are impeccable with this one! From the start, I was hooked immediately. The writing is amazing.

However, I do feel like the plot was lacking in the last half of the book. I wish we had more explanation of what was going on, and we had more happening to further the plot!

Perfect for horror vibes.

This book got me. The atmosphere, the creeping dread, the sense that something is always just off—it all builds so perfectly that I was practically holding my breath the whole time.

Mina is such an interesting main character. She’s new to her job, unsure of herself, and honestly just trying to figure out life. When she takes on Alice Webber’s case—a young girl claiming she’s haunted—she thinks it’ll be good experience. But from the moment she steps into that house, nothing feels right. And the town? Banathel is not the kind of place that welcomes outsiders, especially ones asking too many questions.

I loved how this book played with folklore, horror, and psychological tension. Is Alice really being haunted? Is it something else entirely? And why does the town seem just as eerie as whatever is happening in that house? The pacing is so good—little unsettling moments at first, then things spiral into full-blown terror.

Also, huge props for the setting. You can feel the oppressive heat, the claustrophobic village, the unspoken rules that everyone follows except Mina. And the twists? Chilling. Just when you think you understand what’s going on, the story yanks the rug right out from under you.

If you love slow-burn horror with folklore vibes, unsettling small-town secrets, and a mystery that keeps twisting until the very end, Something in the Walls is absolutely worth reading. Just maybe don’t read it alone at night.

Considering that Horror is not one of my favorite genres, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this one. Mina is engaged to a guy named Oscar. She's a child psychologist who one day meets journalist Sam. He broaches the subject with her about helping him find the truth about a young girl named Alice who is potentially possessed. He doesn't know if it's genuine or an act or if she is mentally ill. While she is a bit excited for the opportunity, Oscar really isn't supportive.

There are so many characters who are involved in the town who know Alice and her parents, Lisa and Paul. Other townspeople who all seem to know each other are Stevie, Tamsin, Billy, Fern, Bert, Vicky, Mary and Simon. It is quite a cast of characters but I never was confused by that. I loved little Stevie, was concerned for Alice, and felt bad for Lisa, Sam and Mina. Both Mina and Sam were dealing with the death of loved ones as well as guilt for their deaths. I never figured out why Oscar was included because he just didn't seem to be a necessary inclusion.

Mina wanted desperately to get to the bottom of why Alice was seeing a witch, hearing noises, and other strange happenings. But there were some stumbling blocks. In fact, many.

Parts of the book had quite an affect on me psychologically, I guess. Or maybe it was just emotionally. lol I was freaked out by noises that both Alice and Mina heard. And (since I had the audiobook) I was so scared by the words that were whispered! That's all I'm going to say. The narrator was very convincing that the whispers were coming from a witch or a ghost or something paranormal. It really drew me in for sure.

The only aspect of the book that prevented me from a 5-star read was that some parts at the end seemed over the top to me and were unbelievable. Otherwise, I loved it.

This book started out promisingly, but I profoundly did not care for the twist toward the last quarter. I could see it coming well in advance and as hoping the plotting wasn't so predictable, but alas it was. I do wish books like this came with content warnings, despite the spoiler potential (they could go at the end!), as this kind of shocking pivot does a disservice to some readers who go into it hoping for a supernatural horror and then get something else, or at least something in addition.

This book at certain points sent me chills. The dread, the pure creepiness was impeccable. It felt very much like a scary movie. Set during a heat wave in 1989, a reporter and a newly graduated child psychologist investigate a strange case where a teenage girl is supposedly haunted by a witch and supernatural occurrences the family can't explain. While the two seem to go investigate to debunk anything nefarious, I liked that both secretly had an agenda of their own and pasts that developed their characters. The added horror of the young girl's father working at a slaughterhouse upped the disturbing feeling something was off, especially anytime meals came up. Sadly, by the last quarter as things fall into place, everything happens so quickly, but overall not much is explained and I was left wishing for more regarding the build up and the strange events. The future, and what is next for all involved after this discovery. Due to that missing, it makes it hard to rate how I feel overall.

I absolutely loved this book. The story follows Mina, who is a child psychologist. She is brought to a small town to address issues being experienced by a young teen named Alice there, in conjunction with a journalist named Sam. She is meant to address the psychological issues, as Alice claims she is being haunted by a witch. The story was so well written and creepy - normally books do not really scare me - but this one definitely had me spooked and not wanting to read it while I was home alone! The twists in the book are great, the writing definitely is engrossing, and the character arcs are very well thought out. Many times with books of this nature they will feel somewhat formulaic. This book did not in the least. Highly recommend.

This ebook was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Mina, a newly certified child psychologist, is struggling to find work. She is set to get married and is currently attending a local grief group, where she mourns the loss of her brother. At the grief group, she meets a journalist named Sam, who offers her an unusual job that can give her some experience and help him land a great story. Young Alice Webber, living in a remote village, claims she is being haunted by a witch. Mina and Sam set off to help but as the work on Alice's case begins, her behavior among other events grows weirder and weirder. The town is seeped with superstition and traditions so Mina and Sam have a tough time trying to break in with the locals and solve this case.

Over all this book was pretty interesting and had a strong promise. I was left wanting more though the ending wrapped a lot of things up nicely. I wanted more things explained regarding Alice. Many incidents were seemingly forgotten in the end, which was a bit of a disappointment. Overall it is a solid read.