Title: Something in the Walla
Series: n/a
Author(s): Daisy Pearce
Genre: Thriller /Psycholigical Thriller/Horror
Publication Date: February 25, 2025
Publishing Co.: Minotaur Books
Length: pages/ chapters 304 pages/42 chapters
Rating: 3.75 ⭐ / 🌶️

Trigger Warnings:

Tropes:

Something in the Walls was my first reading adventure with Ms. Pearce. If you love psychological thrillers, horror, creepy small town reads this book is a must!

****Check back soon for a full review***

I'd like to thank Netgalley, Minotaur Books for an advanced copy of Something in the Walls in exchang for an honest review.

*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. This review is my own opinion*

This novel by Daisy Pearce delivers an eerie, atmospheric read with a sense of dread and menace as thick as the oppressive heat wave suffocating the village of Banathel. The witchy undertones and dark, unsettling tension kept me engaged for most of the book, making it a unique blend of psychological thriller and horror. However, while the atmosphere was the real star, the pacing and style were less than engaging at times, and I found the audiobook narration dragged the story down rather than enhancing it—this one might be better read than listened to. The first three-quarters had me gripped, but after all that suspense, the ending felt abrupt and took an unexpected turn that left the built-up tension fizzling out. Additionally, some plot points felt implausible, and the main character—a child psychologist who often acted more like a detective—created a disconnect that made it harder to fully immerse myself in the story. While I enjoyed the eerie elements and Pearce’s writing, I didn’t fully click with the characters or plot. That said, Pearce’s talent is undeniable, and I’d still be interested in picking up more of her work in the future. A solid 3/5 stars.

Here’s my review:

Something in the Walls by Daisy Pearce is an atmospheric slow-burn thriller that masterfully blends folklore with psychological horror. Fans of Weyward and The Book of Witching will appreciate its rich exploration of historical lore—riddance ceremonies, hag stones, and old-world superstitions—while those who love a creeping sense of dread will be hooked by its what is happening suspense.

The story follows a young psychologist on her first in-person evaluation, stepping into a case that seems like a routine observation—until the layers of folklore, fear, and something far more unsettling begin to unravel. The tension builds beautifully, creating a gripping mix of history and horror that lingers long after the last page. If you love slow-burning, folklore-infused thrillers with an eerie, immersive atmosphere, this is one to add to your list!

Mina is trying to make a name for herself in the psychology field, so when journalist Sam asks her to go with him to investigate a possible haunting or possession, she can't pass up the opportunity. She has an ulterior motive, though; she wants to contact her deceased brother. When they get there, they see how steeped in folklore and superstition the entire town is, and Mina knows this won't be easy.

The concept for this story was interesting, and I could hardly wait to start reading, knowing I would enjoy it. However, the execution of the story was lacking. Actually, there was just nothing happening. A noise here, Alice being weird and creepy there, some people dying that may be connected to Alice...but everyone is connected in this small town. I was just disappointed with the lack of story revolving around Alice, given the story was about her being a witch.

All in all, if you enjoy character driven stories about witches, possessions, folklore, superstition, or hauntings, then you might enjoy this book. It just didn't work for me.

I liked the idea of the story. I did have a hard time reading it with the amount of times the characters said each others name. It was excessive and hard to get past. Overall I think this would be great to read around Halloween. I would suggest publicizing it then.

Daisy Pearce’s prose has a way of creeping in your bones with its haunting imagery and tension filled pacing. At times I was thoroughly unsettled with parts of the book. If you enjoy psychological thrillers sprinkled with goosebump -inducing horror and the supernatural, then read this book.

What I liked:
-highly atmospheric setting of a small English town Banathel complete with haunted, crumbling houses
-folklore, rituals, curses, witches and the supernatural
-Midsommar vibes
-highly emotional and complex protagonists, child psychologist Mina who is haunted by her past
-tense pacing that adds to the sense of dread
-dark side of humans who are not what they appear to be
-twists with a satisfying ending

My rating 3.75 out 5

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press Minotaur Books for this eARC that will be published February 25 2025.

Read If You Like:
- Psychological thrillers with supernatural elements
- Atmospheric, slow-burn suspense
- Folklore and horror intertwined
- Complex female protagonists
- Unpredictable plot twists

Something in the Walls is a gripping psychological thriller that masterfully blends supernatural elements with deep emotional storytelling. The narrative follows Mina, a newly minted child psychologist, who is drawn into a case involving Alice, a 13-year-old girl in the remote village of Banathel. Alice claims to be haunted by a witch, and as Mina delves deeper into the case, she uncovers unsettling truths about the village's dark traditions and her own past.

The novel's pacing is deliberate, allowing tension to build gradually, which keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The atmospheric setting of Banathel, with its rich folklore and eerie ambiance, enhances the story's suspense and mystery. The complex character development, particularly of Mina, adds depth to the narrative, making her journey both compelling and relatable.

Something in the Walls is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers that offer more than just scares. With its intricate plot, well-developed characters, and a perfect blend of horror and psychological depth, this novel is sure to leave a lasting impression.

Thank you so much for my ALC and EARC!

I really did enjoy this book. Started off strong and kept me wondering where it would take me and it was a wild ride. I will say that I think this book had both paranormal and truth creepiness.

The darkness in human nature sometimes is scarier than anything lurking in the dark. I did enjoy the ending and did not feel like it left me in the dark as some others have said.

If you’re looking for creepy and the dark side of human nature this a book for you!

This book started out strong for me in the beginning and then half way through became very odd, bordering on very strange. Mina , a child psychologist meets a journalist while attending a grief support group after losing her brother Eddie six years ago. The journalist , Sam tells her about a story he is working on about a 13 year old girl named Alice Webber , who is accused of being possessed by a witch. With her knowledge he wants her to meet Alice and assess her mental state.

I had very high hopes for this book, but sadly it left me feeling more confused then anything. It was very dark and to be honest scared the hell out of me. If that is something you look for in a book then you will be happy with it. I want to thank St. Martin's Press for the advanced reader copy, I am leaving an honest review voluntarily.

I love books like this! It kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time! The cover is also STUNNING! This horror was completely unsettling but captivating! I could not read this at night!

3.5. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc. First, how gorgeous is this cover? The title itself creeped me out. I love books with an eerie setting and add in someone who is haunted by a witch and can talk to the dead. I’m in. I was so invested in this the whole way through. The reason for the lower star rating is that the ending was a disappointment unfortunately. I feel like I missed something and I have some questions. It was still such a great read!

This horror thriller kept me on the edge of my seat and wanting to know what and the heck could happen next. This book follows Mina a child psychologist that is contacted by her friend and journalist who came across a case of a witch haunting a teenage girl. Mina and Sam travel to this family home to see how they could help Alice but strange things begin. This books plot was compulsive and the horror was unsettling and some of the descriptions left me with goosebumps. This is my first book by this author but look forward to reading more in the future! I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers for a chance to read this book for an honest review.

The vibes of this book are on point. The entire book has an eerie, insidious, creepy feeling. The writing is gorgeous and descriptive and completely hooks you in. I was captivated from the beginning of this book and couldn’t read it fast enough. The premise was intriguing and the building of the story was perfect. However, the ending left me feeling disappointed and unfulfilled. I feel as if we spent 75% of the book invested in one story, only to have it completely change directions at the end. I felt as if there were many questions that went unanswered and much of what the book had been invested in was left unaddressed. Pearce did such an astonishing job with the build up throughout the book, the prose was gorgeous and insidious, the dread was thick and viscous, but with the unexpected turn at the end, all of that simply vanished. Overall, this was a captivating read that kept me hooked, but in the end it left me feeling dissatisfied.

This book has great suspense and a creepiness factor that gave me chills. A child psychologist, Mina, tries to help a 13-year old girl with strange behavior, who is rumored to speak to the dead and is haunted by a witch in her chimney. As Mina gets closer to finding the truth she puts herself in danger and must work to save the girl and her family while uncovering the evil that may lie closer to home. Recommended if you love fast-paced thrillers. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Pub Date is Feb 25th.

#SomethingintheWalls

Daisy Pearce hooked me from the start with an explosive opening that didn’t just set the mood—it invaded my dreams. There’s a fireplace scene early on that truly unsettled me (hence the nightmares), and the tension only built from there. The creeping dread was thick, the atmosphere chilling, and the blend of folk horror and psychological thriller had me fully invested.

But around three-quarters in, things shifted. The plot veered into uncovering a long-buried town secret—dark, sinister, and compelling in its own right—but it felt like it belonged to a different story. The haunting, the possession fears around Alice, and the mystery of the witch’s bottle—all the eerie threads from the first half—were dropped without resolution. It left me feeling like I’d read two halves of separate stories stitched together without smoothing the seams. If Pearce had even hinted at a sequel, I could’ve accepted the open threads. Instead, it felt unfinished.

That said, the moments of terror were real, and Pearce’s ability to create nightmare fuel is undeniable. I still felt the tension days later. Just know going in that some questions are left hanging. Also, a quick note—there’s mention of child abuse, which could be a trigger for some readers. Overall, this was a chilling read with folk horror flair, but be ready for some frustrating loose ends.

Something In The Walls gives all of the eerie, unsettling vibes that we love from a paranormal horror, with a good supporting plot and storyline. The first half of the book was great. We have Mina, a child psychologist, examining a possessed teenage girl, Alice. During her examination period, strange things occur. There are hauntings, possessions, deaths- overall just terrifying. As the story progressed, however, I found myself losing interest. The pacing began to slow, and things became a little patchy and confusing. The ending didn't do the story any justice either. I don't feel it tied together nicely or worked well with the first half. I do like how the atmosphere was steady throughout the story, though. 3 stars.
Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Daisy Pearce for this ARC.

This story was an interesting story from an author I don’t know or haven’t read before! Will look at finding other things by this author. I am grateful for the early access, thank you to those that allowed it!

Going with a 3.5 on this one. There were many elements I enjoyed - there was a creepy, unsettling undertone the entire time. I couldn't figure out how the story was going to play out. It was an interesting storyline, but the ending left me feeling a bit confused & with a lot of unanswered questions. Overall, a unique horror story that I liked but didn't love.

Something in the Walls is a blend of psychological thriller, horror and the intense creepiness of overly quaint towns.

Mina is a brand new child psychologist who is asked to help a girl named Alice who believes she is being haunted by a witch. In Alice's town of Banathel, the townspeople are superstitious and wary of witches, so when Alice's condition only worsens, so does the hive mind of the town toward her. Can Mina help Alice before it's too late?

Fans of creepy, unsettling horror, small towns and hauntings will love this one!

I loved that this book was focused around a witch possession and not just your usual horror book demonic possession. Loved that it took place in the 80s also and had that vibe. Things were going so well and I was hooked! But the end was a total let down. It felt like the author had no idea how to end it and then spun this up. Wish the end focused more on Alice rather than Mina.