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! ❤️

I have mixed feelings about Something in the Walls. On one hand, Daisy Pearce clearly can write. She has an impeccable sense of place, and she can create an atmosphere of fear and tension like nobody's business. Her descriptions are visceral, and she sets up the premise of a gripping horror novel.

That being said, I think the plot and the characters' motivations could both use some clarification and tightening up. I was excited for the concept of a child psychologist working to treat a girl who is seemingly possessed, but fairly early on, the fact that Mina is a psychologist and visited Alice with that express purpose becomes completely irrelevant. Nearly every main character - Mina, Sam, Alice, and Bert - struggle with consistency, and their beliefs, personalities, and motivations seem to shift drastically with little provocation or explanation. I found the book dragging a bit, despite the plot being plenty interesting, and I think eliminating redundancies would help breathe some more life into things.

I'd still recommend this book, particularly to fans of grim folklore and ritual, a la Midsommar. I feel it could be a real triumph with a few tweaks, so it's sad that it didn't quite get there, but it has enough going for it for horror fans to enjoy. 3.5 stars for me! Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the digital advanced reader copy!

This book was not for me. I felt like it dragged for too long, and I was getting so mad at Mina, she knew what she was seeing and still denied everything, LITERALLY dragging this book along when EVERYTHING is being revealed to her RIGHT IN HER FACE. Even Sam is sitting there showing her proof and he knows that she believes there is something supernatural going on here, there is literally nothing else going on in this book, I kept going in circles. I had to keep pushing forward, but this book was not it.

But regardless of not being a fan of this book I am grateful for Netgalley giving me the opportunity to read this book.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press and Netgallry for this ARC! Mina’ life is just starting, as new child psychologist and getting married soon. Her life takes a sudden turn when asked by local reporter Sam to come with him and visit a troubled girl Alice and get her take on her odd symptoms. When they arrive they find locals at Alice’s house looking for answers to loved ones passed. What has Mina signed up for? When things strangely turn to witchcraft and old beliefs can an outsider to more harm than good? 3.5⭐️’s

Something in the Walls by Daisy Pearce was creepy and addicting!

I made the (questionable) choice to read most of it in a dark, quiet room right before bed, which only made the eerie vibes hit harder. It's got that slow-building dread that sneaks up on you, and I was hooked.

The story follows Mina, a new child psychologist who takes on the case of Alice, a girl claiming to be haunted by a witch. But the village of Banathel has a long history of superstition, and as Mina digs deeper, things start to get real unsettling. The book gave me The Haunting of Hill House meets The Salem Witch Trials vibes, especially with the way it explores herd mentality and how fear can spiral into something truly dangerous.

If you are into psychological thrillers with folk horror elements that really get under your skin, I definitely recommend this one! Something in the Walls releases on February 25, 2025. Big thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for the eARC!

Mina Ellis, a recent child psychology graduate and grieving sister, meets Sam, a journalist and grieving father, at a bereavement group. Sam offers her a chance to evaluate Alice Webber, a teen in a superstitious town who claims to be possessed by a witch. Eager for experience and a break from her upcoming wedding to her researcher fiancé, Mina accepts. As Mina works with Alice, the town's superstitions grow, and Alice's behavior becomes more disturbing. Can Mina help this troubled girl, or is there truly something sinister at play?

This book was an unexpected thrill! It was wild and disturbing in the best way, keeping me on edge the entire time. Although I'm not usually a horror fan, I thoroughly enjoyed this read. The slow build-up added to the creepiness, making the story even more effective. I'm left with many questions, but I think that's the point—blurring the lines between reality and mass hysteria. The characters were fantastic and fit perfectly into the eerie plot. I would love to see this adapted into a movie and I can't wait to see what Daisy Pearce writes next!

Thank you NetGalley, St Martin's Press and Daisy Pearce for this ARC. All thoughts are my own.

If you love horror movies, this book is for you. It has all the elements of a psychological thriller and a creepy setting that will send shivers down your spine.

Set in a small town where superstition, curses, and witches linger in the minds of the residents, anything that can't be explained needs to be sacrificed to maintain order. This haunting story follows a child psychologist trying to understand the strange happenings involving a girl who seems to be possessed.

Things take a dark and twisted turn when everything is revealed. This is a well-written story. The storytelling is exceptional, with vivid descriptions. I highly recommend this fantastic read!

Thank You NetGalley and Publisher for the eARC.

Do you like books to get your heart rate up? Pick up Something in the Walls by Daisy Pearce will give you chills.

Thank you for the advanced copy of this book! Mina had a troubled past and was battling her own grief but then found Sam who swept her into a world of nightmares and questions. About halfway through the book, I was catching on and by the end I flew through it. I really enjoyed this fast paced mystery!

Wow, quite a story!! I was up late for 2 nights reading this novel. And, when I finished it on the third night, I was sorry to have read it all. It was that engrossing. So, I must read more by this author. Trying to help a troubled child, the main character becomes mired in a swamp of characters, puzzling events and acts. i would recommend this novel to anyone interested in history, mystery, and psychology, I would give it more than 5 stars if I could.

I really, really wanted to love this book. I adore horror-esque thrillers that keep you guessing. The prose was absolutely riveting, and made my stomach drop and feel the dread that the MC was feeling.

The book follows a recent psychology college graduate who is asked to stay with a teenager who is accused of being possessed by a witch. She and a friend travel to the girl's creepy town and stay in her family's home. They watch the terror unfold and very quickly realize something is wrong. This might not be a psychological issue- but a real haunting.

Sounds good, right? Unfortunately, I just could not stay compelled to read the book and constantly found my attention drifting. I did finish, and somewhat enjoyed the ending, but I can't give it more than three stars.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

Such a unique story! I loved the witchy elements of this one. I had an idea of where the story was going about half way through but it didn’t take away from the ending!

Disjointed.

If I had to choose just one word to describe this novel, I would use disjointed.

I was interested in the premise—child psychologist is tasked with determining if a young girl is possessed or suffering from mental illness—and it started off good, creepy even. I felt like there was a nice balance of ambiguity over whether or not the girl was possessed.

About halfway through or so there was a shift in the plot and ultimately I was not a fan of it. It felt like characters were doing/saying things strictly to move the plot along and they just felt like caricatures.

I've seen this book marketed as Midsommar meets The Haunting of Hill House and yeah, it's like the author enjoyed those two things and decided to mash them together. Unfortunately, they did not blend well. The first storyline was basically dropped in favor of introducing the second storyline. I think there was an answer to whether or not the girl was possessed but the author had seemingly given up on that plot point and basically wrote it in a blink and you'll miss it kind of way.

If I had to choose a second word to describe this novel, I would choose disappointing.

Wow! This one had a choke hold on me from the beginning! Read it in less than 24 hours! If you’re looking for a wild ride, mystery thriller, with a hint of paranormal, this one is for you! The last line sealed the deal on 4 stars for me! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.