This was a disturbing tale of a small town where they are suspicious of witches and witchcraft. A grieving child psychologist is called to help a young girl who believes she is being haunted by a witch in the walls. This was a frightening tale of horror.
Many thanks to NetGalley and McMillan Edelweiss publishing for the ARC.

3.5 stars- so close to being a 4 if it weren't for so many questions unanswered! I am all for "fill in the blanks" or "the reader interprets the conclusion", but I just couldn't get there. I felt frustrated at the end despite being so enthralled with the mysterious story the entire time I was reading it.

Thank you Netgalley for this fun read. My review is unbiased and my own.

"Something in the Walls" is an intriguing and atmospheric thriller with some horror and supernatural elements. The book hooked me in from the first chapter and had me totally creeped out. Just look at that cover! But as the story unfolded, the exciting premise seemed to lose steam. The plot took a turn and left me feeling a bit unsatisfied. I'm not usually a horror or supernatural fan, and I think I just needed more definite answers. Overall, though, this was a captivating read with a unique plot.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Eh idk about this one. On the one hand, the spooky vibes were immaculate. The more “supernatural angle” of the story was really interesting and well crafted, and gave the whole story an atmospheric feel. Super creepy premise.

On the other hand, I felt like something was missing? I’m not sure I could put my finger on what, but I had a hard time getting into this, and once invested enough to keep going, I still found myself feeling a bit neutral about it.

However, it was definitely an intriguing read, even if it missed the mark for me. I’d recommend checking it out for yourself. Thank you to Minotaur and Netgalley for this ARC. Something in the Walls is out 2/25

If Netflix is looking for new material for a spooker movie, look no more. This novel is full of what makes audiences jump and white knuckle the seats.
    Mina, a new grad in child psychology, is plying her trade for the first time in a small town with some shady happenings. She's trying to justify the paranormal activities experienced by a teenager with common sense and alternative causes: not devils harboring in the walls which the rest of the town favors. Her confidence in her ability to help this teen wanes as the story unravels. There are too many unexplainable events that defy sensibleness.
    Numerous characters with their own weird backstories has the reader connecting them all into what is happening to this teenager. It seems it all has happened before.
    A creepy, witchy, and very disturbing thriller.

"I know you had good intentions in coming here. Maybe you thought it would almost be fun -- a little trip away, some spooky goings-on -- 'cos everyone loves a ghost story, don't they? Everyone loves to look into the darkness."

Thirteen-year-old Alice Webber insists she’s been possessed by a witch. Strangers gather outside her family’s crumbling home in the remote village of Banathel, desperate to hear her speak to their dead. Her story draws journalist Sam Hunter, who is searching for more than just headlines—he wants proof that the living can reach beyond the veil. To help him, he enlists child psychologist Mina Ellis, a woman haunted by her own ghosts, both literal and metaphorical.

Mina and Sam arrive to find a town suffocating under the weight of old superstitions and a girl whose eerie behavior defies explanation. As tensions in Banathel rise and the villagers turn against Alice, Mina races to understand what’s happening—to Alice, to the town, and to herself. But some horrors can’t be rationalized away, and in Banathel, belief is as powerful as reality.

I needed this book the moment I saw the cover and read the synopsis, and I’m thrilled to say it exceeded my expectations. Something in the Walls is an absolute masterclass in creeping dread—every page is steeped in decay, rot, and an oppressive heat that makes you feel like you’re suffocating alongside the characters. The atmosphere is rich and immersive, and Pearce knows exactly when to let the horror simmer and when to strike with something genuinely chilling.

While I had an inkling about one of the twists, the central mystery around Alice kept me completely hooked. The book’s pacing is relentless—I was flying through the pages, desperate for answers, and if life hadn’t rudely interrupted, I could have easily devoured it in one sitting.

This is exactly the kind of folk horror / ghost story I crave. Mina is a phenomenal lead—her push and pull between scientific skepticism and the longing to believe reminded me so much of Dana Scully. The scares are sharp and unsettling without tipping into excessive gore, and the tension builds to a perfectly unnerving crescendo.

I loved this book. If you’re a fan of slow-burning horror that lingers in your bones long after you’ve turned the last page, Something in the Walls is a must-read.

This is the second horror mystery thriller and I have to say that I could not put this book down. I would’ve finished this in a day but work kept getting in the way 🙃. Size years after her brother’s death Mina is struggling with it. She feels like her brother will come back to see her but also trying to remind herself that he is gone. However, this opportunity to help a girl who is being haunted is the what she needs to either believe in the supernatural or the truth, her brother is gone. Through out the story I could feel her struggle with trying to be logical while a whole town kept feeding into the supernatural. I enjoyed trying to deduce whether it was truly a haunting or people being cruel. I had guessed at who could be causing this but the other twist I did not expect.

📖/🎧 Read Type: ARC (thank you to @netgalley, Daisy Pearce, and St. Martin's Press!)
📆: February 25

In the remote village of Banathel, a young girl named Alice claims she's being haunted by a witch. Newly certified child psychologist Mina investigates the case, joining Sam, a journalist she recently met in a grief support group. Both Sam and Mina have other motives for researching Alice, namely their shared desire to confront deceased loved ones. What they find is that the town's dark, paranormal traditions are a threat to Alice and themselves.

In short, I think this is for someone but it was not exactly for me. The writing was fun and Pearce certainly created a gripping atmosphere. While the readability factor was high, the narrative relied a little too heavily on tropes that weren’t cohesive. For example, Mina and Sam are invested in this case because they each hold secrets about loved ones who have passed away but may not have “crossed over.” I like the premise, but it is never quite tied together how helping a haunted girl relates to their own closure, so it felt a bit attenuated. Outside of that, the ending left loose ends and I think there were unnecessary plot devices that didn’t move the story forward— looking at you, Mina’s relationship troubles. (I can deal with a haunting or I can deal with a shitty fiancé, I cannot deal with them in the same book.) While I enjoyed the ride, a tighter plot would have elevated this from a decent read to a truly memorable one. If you absolutely love witchy books or are always looking for a Halloween read, this would be great for you!

Review of Something in the Walls by Daisy Pearce

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.75/5)

Daisy Pearce’s Something in the Walls is a slow-burning psychological thriller with a creeping sense of dread that lingers long after the final page. I had the opportunity to read an ARC of this novel, and while it didn’t fully hit the mark for me, it was an undeniably atmospheric and compelling read.

The story follows a woman who moves into an old house, hoping for a fresh start, only to realize that something sinister lurks within its walls. As she unravels the house’s dark history, she begins to question what’s real and what’s a figment of her unraveling mind. Pearce’s writing shines in her ability to craft an unsettling atmosphere—every creak, shadow, and whisper is palpable, making the house itself feel like a living, malevolent force.

That said, the pacing felt uneven at times. The first half builds tension effectively, but the latter sections slow down, making some of the revelations feel drawn out. Additionally, while the protagonist’s descent into paranoia and fear is well-executed, I found myself wanting a bit more depth in the character relationships to heighten the emotional stakes.

Despite these minor drawbacks, Something in the Walls is an engaging read for fans of eerie, slow-burning thrillers with a psychological edge. If you enjoy stories that leave you questioning reality and looking over your shoulder, this one is worth picking up when it releases on February 25, 2025.

This was an eery read with an interesting spin on a haunting story, especially as it relates to the occult.

The premise was very interesting and the books started off well - fast paced and I was pulled in, wanting to see what would happen. For me, the pace started to slow and I just wasn't compelled to keep reading as much as at the start. I could see this being popular, and would still recommend, it just isn't destined to be one of my favourites.

Thank you for the copy to read and review!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC read and for my honest review on this read.
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This book had a lot of potential it started off interesting and got me hooked I was constantly wanting more as the story unfolded but after Mina got to the house things really started to fall all over the place, imo some things were just thrown in there to add fluff.
As you get deeper into the read it takes a turn and not a good one and the ending I was left with so many for questions, up it was predictable once you hit a certain page.I truly had high hopes for this as so many loved it but I’m not sure this was that great for me. Not to knock on anyone else’s review but if you’re looking for a fast paced read this will start off that way but slowly you’ll realize it’s not what you expect.
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Trigger warning this book has some very disturbing detailed sections so proceed with caution.

i LOVED mina. complex and soft. she was perfect. the side characters felt real and fleshed out. one of the few books to have actually scared me. i legitimately had to turn my light on at some point because it freaked me out. the slow burn of horror in certain scenes was so GOOD. i can't get over it.

f you are a fan of dark folklore or possession stories, The Conjuring, Midsommar…this is for you. I loved it!
Very creepy and atmospheric.

The MC, Mina, comes to town as a newly graduated child psychologist to investigate some whispers of witchcraft against a teenage girl. It’s set in a small village that still utilizes the old customs and superstition to keep the village “safe”. I thought the author did a good job of pushing the creep factor without going overboard and inviting the kind of stuff you see in the movies- no head spinning or otherwise otherworldly unrealistic business. It makes the story a little scarier when it can all be explained away, but SHOULD it be explained away? I’m willing to admit I had some suspicions about certain characters involved from early on, I was correct on one and waaaay off on another.

My only critique is the book cover, I feel like it really could appeal to the right fan base with some tweaks or something darker. I went into this book thinking the cover suggested mental illness, when it ended up being something much more sinister.

Thanks so much to Daisy Pearce, Minotaur and St Martins Press for the advance copy- can we get a movie of this one 😉

This very original book by Daisy Pearce is atmospheric and creepy. The MFC, a child psychologist, is asked to travel to a small village to assess a 15-year-old girl showing signs of possession. The teenager has shown symptoms after breaking a "witch bottle" found hidden in a chimney. There were some honestly creepy vibes going on and I often tensed up while reading. The author is capable of creating atmosphere that moves this from a four-star to a three-star read. I wasn't crazy about the end, most of which I was able to figure out. It's a great book to read on a cold night while snuggled in bed.

Something in the Walls by Daisy Pearce is a chilling psychological thriller that slowly creeps under your skin. The novel expertly builds tension, blending supernatural horror with deep emotional struggles as the protagonist unravels the eerie mysteries hidden within her home. While some moments feel familiar to the haunted house genre, Pearce’s atmospheric writing and unsettling twists keep the story engaging. A solid four-star read for fans of slow-burning, psychological horror with a lingering sense of dread.

An inexperienced child psychologist travels to an isolated village to assess a girl whose family and community believe is possessed by a witch. The first thing she notices upon her arrival are odd stones hanging from every building. Hagstones, she's told. That's her first sign that she's stepped into a place that's far different from the world she's accustomed to. This folk horror is a slow, slow burn and at first it felt similar to other books I've read with similar premises. But this one finally gets going and when it does, it's something else entirely. I don't want to risk spoilers, but if you enjoyed Midsommar or The Lottery, this is in that vein.

This was totally one of the most terrifying, immersive, creepy unnerving and unique stories. I absolutely loved it! Thank you NetGalley and publisher for early arc of this book! I hope everyone else enjoys it just as much when it’s released 🤩

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the copy. Something in the walls follows Mina, a new child psychiatrist with little experience. One day at a grief meeting, she meets Sam, a journalist who offers her a proposition. Unfortunately I did not find myself engaged in the story. I lost interest and did not want to pick it back up.

This one had me hooked from the start! Definitely creepy, witchy vibes with this one!! 🙌

I could not stand the Oscar character - someone needed to talk some sense into Mina for even considering marrying him! 😅 I also felt we’re left with some loose ends when all was said and done. But I still enjoyed the read and definitely recommend it! 👏

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Daisy Pearce for the opportunity to read the eARC in exchange for my honest review! ❤️