"Something in the Walls" masterfully weaves together elements of horror, folklore, and suspense, crafting a thriller that will leave you sleeping with the lights on. I dove into this book blindly, and its eerie atmosphere had me hesitant to read it after dark. While the horror elements dissipate somewhat in the second half, the thriller aspect takes over, ratcheting up the tension. With its abundance of unnerving moments, this book had me utterly hooked. If you're a fan of creepy, witchy reads, I highly recommend adding "Something in the Walls" to your reading list.

this book was just ok. I honestly almost dnf'd it at one point. It was really slow paced and there wasn't a ton of tension. The ending did feel more intense and brought me back to the story. I wish the possession plot had been focused on a little more than it was in the end.

I read this psychological horror thriller in one sitting, it was so good! It took so many turns and had me thoroughly invested from start to finish. 4.5⭐️

Thank you, Daisy Pearce NetGalley, for the ARC. I leave this review voluntarily and happily. Also, thank you publishers for your hard work!

My god, this book was definitely a wild ride. I had no idea what i was getting myself into, and I absolutely loved it. Though the ending does leave you wondering about one thing. One thing I'm not going to talk about. This definitely was up my alley as it dealt with witches, witchcraft, and lore of sorts. It definitely deals with lots of superstition and those that don't like change. There is mystery, atmosphere, suspense, and so much more put into this story. You really get attached to both Alice and Mina. At least, I did. You want only the best and want Alice to get better with Minas' help. There are a lot of suspicious things that happen through the book as well, but I'm not going to spoil it.

Mina has been asked to help a journalist in seeing if a child really is being haunted by a witch. Once arriving, things slowly go from bad to worse. Is there really a witch, or is there something more going on? Is it being influenced by the people there, or is it something else? Is it all lies, or are there truths? What's going to happen to Alice if Mina can't help her? Or if things get too much worse? Read and find out.

This actually was a really great read. All the reviews i read kept saying negative things, but I'm glad I ignored them. The ending did leave a question unanswered, but other than that, I truly enjoyed this from start to finish. It is a build-up that is worth your time.

This is a solid new horror release. It's the kind of novel that keeps me excited about the genre. This was suspenseful and unsettling. The writing was simple and yet effective. I felt the start was stronger than the end at creating tension but overall it was still enjoyable read.

I would recommend this one to anyone looking for a new horror novel. In my opinion, this is one of the front-runners in the 2025 horror releases.

Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

This looming, creepy story started strong. I was curious, intrigued, nervous as the characters and their traits developed. But, suddenly, the book took a turn I was not expecting! Characters were no longer who I thought they were and things went awry! While still entertaining, I was more on board with the first storyline.

The audiobook is narrated by Ana Clements. She provides a voice to the main character that provides a fitting innocence. She is understood at slightly faster speeds, but not as fast as I normally listen.

Thank you NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, St Martin’s Press, and author Daisy Pearce for the eARC and ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Daisy Pearce’s "The People in the Walls" is a psychological thriller that blends tension, folklore, and grief. The story follows Mina, a novice psychologist, as she navigates her first case with 13-year-old Alice Webber, who believes she is haunted by a witch.

Set in the eerie village of Banathel, known for its witchcraft history, the oppressive heat parallels Mina’s internal struggles. Her character is relatable yet flawed, caught between her insecurities and her desire to help. The skeptical journalist Sam Hunter adds tension to the narrative.

As Alice's behavior becomes increasingly erratic, readers are left questioning whether her affliction is supernatural or psychological. While the pacing may feel slow to some, the rich atmosphere and character dynamics compensate for it. The chilling revelations at the end provoke thought about reality and belief.

Overall, "The People in the Walls" is a compelling tale of grief and superstition, characterized by Pearce’s vivid storytelling. Perfect for those who enjoy dark, atmospheric narratives.

Two grieving people meet in a support group and bond over their loss. One is a newly graduated child psychologist (Mina) and the other is a journalist (Sam). Sam gets Mina to go to a remote Britain town, Banathel, to debunk the story of a possessed girl, Alice. The story starts off a little slow but had some promise to be super creepy and mysterious. There are tales of witches and the supernatural and huntings. Then the odd stuff starts to really happen, Alice seems possessed and seeing things that are not there; she also appears to be talking FOR the dead. You think the story is really going to take off and it kind of fell flat for me at this point. Then when you get to the final post twist (which I did predict) and it was a good ending to the story BUT by using this ending, it in turn made things in the book not seamlessly come together. The things that Alice was doing while "possessed" didn't make sense when you find out what really happened. This is why the book left me feeling a little annoyed. It had the great potential to be so much more if the story line matched up from the middle to the end. I also felt that the story line of Mina and her finance was lack luster and kind of pointless to the whole story.

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an ARC in return for an honest review.

I was very excited receive this arc after reading the synopsis, as the storyline seemed creepy. Mina, a new child psychologist with little experience, is struggling to get her feet wet while counting down to her marriage to a researcher named Oscar. When she attends a bereavement group to mourn her brother's death from years ago, she meets journalist Sam Hunter, who has a proposition for her. A girl named Alice Webber claims that a witch is haunting her and things are becoming increasingly more disturbing. Mina knows that taking this job will give her experience and much needed income, as well as giving Sam the scoop of a lifetime. Wanting to help Alice, they go only to find that instead of helping, her behavior becomes a lot more intense. The town has a deep history of superstition and witchcraft. They believe there is evil in the world. They believe there are ways dealing with it, and they don't expect outsiders to understand.

This book has a great plot that grabbed me from start. I thought it did a great job drawing me in and piquing my interest with the dread Mina felt in the possible demon possession. This story had so much potential! I was really anticipating more about the witch. But ultimately, it fell off for me and the story kind of took a turn and ended up with more questions than it answered. I love a spine-chilling book, and Daisy Pearce does a great job of setting the stage and introducing a sinister plot that will draw you in. Unfortunately, for me it felt as though it moved away from what drew me to the story to begin with.
Thank you netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Something in the Walls was a creepy, atmospheric read following Mina, a child psychologist who joins a journalist to assist with the case of a thirteen-year-old girl named Alice who claims to be haunted by a witch. It takes place in a remote town called Banathel that has a deep history of superstition and witchcraft. Upon their arrival, Alice’s symptoms begin to worsen so Mina needs to determine if there's really something paranormal going on or if it's all in Alice's head.

I’m a huge fan of horror set in small-towns so I really enjoyed that aspect, especially when you add the town’s history but I was a bit disappointed with the child psychologist aspect. Mina doesn’t actually spend much time working with Alice which was odd considering she needs the experience. I loved the witchy vibes surrounding Alice and would’ve liked to see more focus on what Alice was experiencing instead of Mina spending what felt like most of her time in town.

I loved the premise and the beginning had me hooked but by the end, it felt like two books in one which left me with more questions than answers. I don’t always mind endings that don’t resolve every plot point but in this case, I just felt unsatisfied.

I really liked the writing style, the building tension, and the atmosphere.

But the characters all irritated me. And the second half just didn’t work for me at all.

This is the kind of story that requires readers to not think too much. Once you start questioning the plot, it all falls apart. Certain things made no sense, like why the child psychologist brought in to assess the situation spent very little time actually speaking to the child in question. And why no one ever thought to, you know, call the cops. 🙄

So, bonus points in writing style, and a negative in plot execution.

*I received a free eARC from the publisher, via NetGalley.*

Thank you to St.Martins Press and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this title.
This was a very captivating, fast-paced read that had me enthralled from the very start, unfortunately I was a little let down by the ending but the thrills throughout made up for it.

This was such an interesting one that tied together an eerie small community, folk horror, and copious amounts of dread. Folk horror is a genre that I love but haven’t read a lot of, and this book definitely reminded me of why I need to prioritize reading it more in 2025. This book started out as one thing and went in a direction that I really wasn’t anticipating but really enjoyed, and I just applaud the author for so seamlessly making that transition. This book reads as part folk-horror, part possession story in parts.

The main character in this book, Mina, is definitely relatable to anyone who has found themselves kind of looking for purpose in life with a new degree that she isn’t sure how to use and an engagement that she isn’t exactly thrilled about. So her expedition to the countryside to meet a young girl who is basically being accused of witchcraft in a town with a rich history of witches and witch persecution is just what she needs. Add on that her own personal trauma and regret about her own personal tragedy, and this leads to some really interesting dynamics.

The small community is definitely the star of this story as they exhibit many cult-like symptoms and have very non-traditional beliefs. The author does a tremendous job showing the rampant superstition amongst all members of this community by casually bringing up things like hag stones. With an added heatwave which requires a curfew and has everyone even more on edge, this is a claustrophobic and overtly tense read. This book was very Shirley Jackson-like which I obviously adored.

My only real issue with this one was the ending which felt a little lacklustre after the buildup to get there. I think it could have used a little more explanation as well. But overall, I highly recommend checking this one out when it releases!

As someone who watched Hill House before reading the book and then was disappointed by the book, Something in the Walls filled that void for me. Atmospheric, dark, heart-pounding, mystery, with some *alleged* hauntings (no spoilers here).

The only reason this isn't getting 5-stars from me is that the some of side plots felt forced and a little unnecessary for the overall story. But overall, I couldn't put this book down and stayed up way too late reading it and definitely recommend it (pub date 2/25/25).

I was a little worried going into this after seeing some of the more negative reviews but I have to tell you, it's absolutely worth the read. I think many of the lower rated and send reviews mentioned the audiobook, so maybe avoid that medium and get a physical copy instead!

*also check tw before reading*

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A girl possessed, or is she a witch? Is there something tapping in the walls and looking at us through the cracks in the chimney? What is really happening in this town?
A dark and creepy novel, peppered with superstitions, old traditions, and witchcraft. This is a recipe for greatness! I had never heard of Daisy Pearce before this novel, and I can’t wait to read her other books. The title and cover of this snagged my eye, and I knew, it was right up my alley. The writing style borders on a YA feel, but that just made it a fast read, not that I was going to let much slow me down as this exciting tail unfolded. This book finished up. I had questions, big questions! Not that I wanna throw out there for fear of spoilers, but I would’ve liked to have seen the storyline wrap up a little more completely. Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this early release copy in exchange for an honest review!

This book had me hooked right from the start. I was able to binge this book so quickly finished it within 2 days. However, I was a bit let down by the ending. After such a riveting story and a buildup that I felt kept me going to get the conclusion we did I was bummed. I had high hopes from the start and that conclusion i feel ruined it for me. I really liked Mina as a character, I felt she fit very well into the plot and her character development was decent, but man that conclusion. I do feel like Pearce as an author is great, the ideas, development and storyline was definitely there and I will pick up another book by her in the future.

Ooo, what a creepy book! Something in the Walls is a fast-paced story that follows Mina, a child psychologist who, eager to gain real-world experience, agrees to help a young girl who claims to be haunted by a witch. Set in a small town steeped in superstition and witch lore, the eerie atmosphere adds layers of tension and intrigue. While the plot's twists and turns left me uncertain about all the details, it was still enjoyable and easy to read.

I loved reading this one! What a good, creepy book! This one was really hard to put down and stop reading as well.

I love a psychological thriller that completely pulls you in from the first page. If you are like me in that sense, then you will love this book. However, if you are also like me and need an ending to offer some sort of resolution then just know this book leaves something to be desired. I loved about 85% of the book but the ending felt rushed, underwhelming, and left me with more questions than answers.

Thanks NetGalley, Daisy Pearce and the publisher for this eARC.

I've posted my review on Goodreads and will post to Amazon and Instagram on the publish date!

After connecting with a journalist at her grief therapy group, a child psychologist travels to a small town to investigate claims of a 'witch' and 'possession'. Truth battles herd psychology as well as myth in this tricky tale.