I absolutely love reading anything about hauntings and witches, so as soon as I read the premise of this new novel, I was all in. But as I sit here trying to write my review, I am struggling, because I thought it was going to be a solid 4 to 5 star read for well beyond the first half of the book. But as I continued and the storyline took a different path than I originally anticipated, I was left a bit confused. I’ll try to explain without giving spoilers.

The story follows rookie child psychologist Mina and journalist Sam, who meet at a grief support group as both are still suffering from the loss of loved ones. The events transpire in the 1980s, when both of our protagonists are drawn to a case involving the possible possession, perhaps possible witchly haunting, of young Alice, a thirteen year old girl who is in dire need of help. So, Mina and Sam put their own lives on hold, as well as in danger, to enmesh themselves in Alice’s life in order to discover what truly is going on.

There is so much to love about this book, from the wonderful writing style to the atmospheric, creepy setting to the solid character development (especially for Alice and Mina). My heart ached for Alice, whom you wanted so badly to simply hug and tell everything would be okay. The book, once started, was also quite difficult to put down, allowing me to finish reading it in two nights. But as I continued reading past the halfway mark, I began to wonder what kind of book this really was trying to be, morphing into something quite different nearing the ending chapters. I felt it was trying too hard to be too many things, if that makes sense. And the ending left me with so many questions, I almost wish there was a second book to provide me with the answers. Would I recommend this book to others, though? Yes, for all of the positives I’ve included in my review! And will I read from this author again? I’m already looking forward to it!

I want to thank NetGalley, Daisy Pearce, and St. Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books for gifting me the ARC of SOMETHING IN THE WALLS. It was such a privilege to read this before publication in February. And I appreciate you trusting me with an honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read and review Something in the Walls by Daisy Pearce. All opinions are my own.

Mina a child psychologist with no experience and Sam an investigative reporter is invited to a small town in Britain during a heat wave to interview a young girl, Alice, who is demonstrating very odd behavior. This is the kind of small town/village where everyone knows each other and kind of has a darkish past. Alice believes she is being haunted by a witch. Which of course could explain a lot of the odd behavior. But Mina thinks there may be something else causing the problems.

I found this book creepy, tense, and hard to decide what the outcome would be without letting any spoilers out here. Labeling it as a folklore horror to me was right on point. The folklore of this town was creepy with a capital C and their traditions seemed to contribute to the masses just following along. Lots of witchy vibes. While reading I kept feeling like the setting was farther back in history than just the 80s. More like 40s or 50s or maybe it is that this town was stuck in a mindset of farther back in history. I enjoyed it. Kept me guessing on one aspect of the plot until the very end. Any horror reader will like this. Something in the Walls will be available February 25 through all major book retailers. Happy Reading!

BOOK REVIEW: SOMETHING IN THE WALLS

Mina is beginning her career as a child psychologist and travels to a remote village to see if she can help Alice Webber, a thirteen year old girl who has been exhibiting some disturbing behavior and claiming it’s due to a witch haunting her. As Mina tries to determine whether there’s something supernatural going on, she realizes how much the village is wrapped up in superstitious beliefs.

So I went into this book one not knowing it was a horror book 🤣😅 but I thoroughly enjoyed it! SOMETHING IN THE WALLS was super eerie and made me feel uneasy and tense the whole time I was reading it. I really couldn’t figure out exactly which direction things were going in and I was along for the ride! I alternated between physical and audio and binged this one in two days. Loved the writing and the witchy vibes, it reminded me a bit of the Salem Witch Trials a bit which I find fascinating.

I will say this one is not for the faint of heart and was pretty disturbing, so consider yourself warned!

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
"Something In The Walls" by Daisy Pearce was a well written addictive & creepy thriller that had me hooked right away.
There was alot of unexpected twists
that kept interested.
I would love to read another book by this author.

Set in the late 1980s, Something in the Walls follows a recently minted child psychologist Mina Ellis who meets Sam Hunter, a journalist, in a bereavement group which she attends to cope with the sudden and tragic death of her brother, Eddie, a few years ago. As she and Sam get acquainted, he tells her about Banathel and a teenage girl called Alice Webber who has been experiencing some strange symptoms. He has a proposition for her; Sam wants Mina to asses Alice and Mina agrees to it and travels to the remote village. That's when her life unravels.

At first glance, this story is unlike any other with witches, possession and exorcism. When I was reading it, it was like watching one of those classic horror films I remember loving a lot in my childhood. It was creepy, intense, and emotional from time to time. But the twist in its last act? That made this book an instant favourite in my eyes. I was literally sobbing my eyes out in the last seven to five chapters.

At its heart, this book is an intimate exploration of grief and guilt. It exposes us to the darker side of superstition and how sensitised we become, sometimes because of constant conditioning by the society. The writing style was fabulous, something gritty and sometimes downright ethereal. As someone who doesn't like first-person narratives much, this book made me like even that. And Mina. Ah, what can I even say about the protagonist? She's so relatable and you can connect with her deeply. Not just her, but the secondary characters like Alice, Lisa Webber, Fern and others are just as impactful.

This book is perfect for somebody who is into witches, female rage, 'good for her' type of stories and stories which are both meaningful and thrilling. Since the book contains some heavy themes, check out the content and trigger warnings before picking it up.

I absolutely devoured this book. I don’t even think I read the synopsis before starting it, I was just drawn in by the cover and it being for fans of Midsommar. This built so much tension, it had my heart racing from beginning to end. The atmosphere the author was able to portray is what every horror book should strive for. So creepy, so good.

This book was creepy and terrifying and dark in all of the best ways. It’s a little bit on the horror side for my tastes, but I loved every bit of it!

When new child psychologist Mina meets journalist Sam at a grief support group during a summer heatwave, she doesn’t expect to get entangled in a ghost story. But that’s exactly what happens when Sam calls her and asks her to consult on a case of a girl who has been sick since Christmas - claiming to see a witch, hear voices and vomiting hair and nails. Mina is certain that Alice, the young woman at the center of the story, is simply sick and confused, but as she spends more time with the girl, things become more blurred. With temperatures rising, so do tensions in the superstitious town. As one of the town’s residents tells Mina, things are going to get worse before they get better….

This book really captured my attention right from the beginning because it puts you right in the middle of the action, not waiting to build up to the action for very long. And the imagery was so powerful I could feel the relentless heat and see the cramped house as Mina and Sam went yo meet Alice and see what was going on. And there was a lot going on.

Things get creepy pretty fast. It was like the Exorcist, with small, creeping things turning into bigger, haunting things that just make you shiver. And the whole time there’s a part of you that’s wondering whether it’s fake or real. Because the author leaves just enough clues to make you think it could be either way. Which is pretty awesome.

And the ending and twists are awesome. I just loved all the little details and revelations that were scattered throughout the book. They added layers to the book and really rounded out the story. I loved it.

Daisy Pearce is definitely an author I’ll be looking out for in the future. This book was a great break from the coolness of the winter, and I can’t recommend it enough!

Mina graduates. Mina goes to support group meets man working on a weird case about a girl Alice who is possessed by a witch and asks her to help. Mina gets excited but, starts to question, Alice can’t possibly really be possessed by a witch, can she?

I've said it before, and I'll say it again - I love a good haunted house/possession story, so naturally, when I got a "read now" alert from NetGalley that the publisher had made this available, I had to jump at the chance. While it left me scratching my head a bit toward the end, the first 3/4 of the book was a crazy, creepy ride that I thoroughly enjoyed! It begins like a ghost/possession story in the vein of The Conjuring 2 but evolves into something much darker and more unsettling, reminiscent of the cultish unease of Midsommar.

The story introduces us to Mina, a young woman who recently became a child psychologist. The problem is that she struggles to be assigned interesting cases due to her lack of experience. She is also still dealing with the grief of losing her brother when she was a child. Grappling with professional insecurity, unresolved grief for her brother's death, and an impending marriage to Oscar, a meticulous and emotionally distant researcher - Mina has a lot on her mental plate.
Things begin to look up when Sam Hunter, a journalist and man Mina knows from her grief support group, asks her to travel with him to the remote town of Banathel to look into an intriguing and troubling case: Alice Webber, a 13-year-old girl, claims to be haunted by a witch who lives in her bedroom walls. Desperate for professional experience and drawn by the mystery, Mina agrees to work with Alice.
Mina is certain that it's all in Alice's head, and her behavior and the weird things that the family claims are happening are just a result of the heat and mental health struggles. But the town seems to have a strange fascination with witchcraft, and what are the scuffling sounds and shadows that seem to be just outside of Mina's door at night? Is there some truth to Alice's claims, or is this all being staged by the family for financial gain and notoriety?

If there's one thing the author does an amazing job of it's creating an atmosphere thick with unease. The suffocating heatwave in Britain mirrors Mina's internal turmoil and sets the stage for her journey into the remote and creepy village of Banathel. The strange townfolk and weird traditions and beliefs helped make the village feel like a character in its own right. Pearce also does a great job of balancing the supernatural elements with Mina's psychological perspective, keeping the reader guessing about whether Alice's symptoms are paranormal or rooted in trauma.

For the first 80% of the novel, Pearce maintains a taut and compelling narrative. Mina's investigations into Alice's condition and Banathel's secrets are engrossing, and the eerie occurrences in the Webber household are genuinely unsettling. Pearce's ability to evoke dread is exceptional; every creak of the house and shadow in the corner felt real. I teetered on the edge of being totally freaked out and skeptical of what was really happening.

However, the novel takes an abrupt turn when it reveals the truth behind Alice's condition and the nature of Banathel's dark secrets. Without delving into spoilers, this twist was unexpected and seemed to take a sharp right turn away from where I thought it was going. Pearce shifts from a ghost story to something more primal, a move that feels a little disorienting and raises a few questions that I didn't feel were fully addressed. The supernatural ambiguity that Pearce so masterfully built up gave way to an explanation that, while imaginative, felt slightly at odds with the novel's earlier tone.

Despite this, I still enjoyed the book. Pearce's ability to create a creepy, tense atmosphere is unparalleled, and her characters are richly drawn. I think this is one that will resonate differently depending on the reader. If you're someone who appreciates bold storytelling choices and doesn't mind an abrupt shift in tone, the ending will likely satisfy you. For others, like myself, the last act might feel less satisfying than the gripping, suspenseful buildup that preceded it. While the ending may not land perfectly for everyone, the journey through the creepiness to get there is still a fun ride.

I received a free copy of, Something in the Walls, by Daisy Pearce, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Mina is a child psychologist with no clients, she is told about Alice, a thirteen year old with problems. This book is a little disturbing and odd.

4 stars

This was so well written. The tension was worked in so well. It is a rich, intense, spooky, creepy story. One I won’t soon forget.

I appreciated the tension and creepiness of this book. It gave me Midsommar vibes, which is definitely a compliment!

Thank you to Netgalley, Daisy Pearce, and Minotaur Books for this e-ARC.

Mina, a child psychologist, becomes involved in the case of Alice Webber, a 13-year-old girl from the remote village of Banathel claiming to be haunted by a witch. As Mina works with journalist Sam Hunter to try and find out what's really going on with Alice, they find a town full of people with superstitions, who are ready to do whatever it takes to keep their town safe.

The story is eerie and atmospheric, and I blew through it very quickly, wanting to find out what exactly was causing Alice's strange behavior.

Overall, I loved the book with its spooky vibes, and its ability to keep me waiting more.

This one is very atmospheric and creepy. Part ghost story, part witch hunt, part wtf. I absolutely loved this book! But that ending left me wanting more.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy.

I am going through a major horror phase right now and I was so excited to read the advanced reader copy of Something in the Walls by Daisy Pearce. This book is about Mina, a young lady who is still very haunted by her brother's death five years before, and who plans to start her career as a child psychologist when she meets a journalist who received a tip about a teenage girl who may be possessed or haunted, She is unable to stop herself from agreeing to assist him and provide her own assessment of the girl's mental health condition, even at the possible expense of her upcoming marriage to a scientist. As Mina spends more and more time in the town where the girl lives and stays at her house, Mina begins to become concerned that mental health issues do not explain the weird occurrences at the girl's house, and there may be a sinister presence, either in the house, or in the town, or both.

I really enjoyed the author's description of the town where the girl and her family live. The town itself had a very interesting and rich history it was a perfect setting for this novel. Additionally, the characters were well-developed and seemed like real people who live in this town. I liked Mina and wanted to see her help this girl, despite the fact that as events unfolded, it seemed very unlikely everyone would make it out of this story alive. I won't spoil whether the girl is possessed, a witch, or haunted, and let other readers find out for themselves! I recommend this book to anyone who likes horror novels and creepy settings.

Thanks so much to the publisher and Netgalley for my digital ARC in exchange for this honest review!

This book had me gripped from the very first chapter. This is a story about Mina, who has recently graduated as a child psychologist, who is struggling to find work in her field due to her inexperience. Mina meets Sam, a journalist, who invites her to travel with him to a remote village to assess thirteen-year-old Alice, who claims that a witch is haunting her. Is it all in Alice's head, is she being coached by her father, or is Alice really being terrorized by a witch.

The way that this author describes the witch is TERRIFYING!!! I listened to the audiobook and had to pause it multiple times. This book is suspenceful, scary, and an all-around fun time! However, the reason that this book fell short of five stars for me, was that I didn't feel that the author did an excellent job at explaining the haunting. It felt like the story veered off to being about the neighbor and never resolved on the witch haunting. Other than that, I absolutely loved this story!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for the eArc of Something in the Walls in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you so much St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for this gifted e-book, in exchange for an honest review! Something in the Walls is out Feb 25, 2025. The synopsis of this one sounded absolutely bonkers and I was ecstatic to receive a copy! Any book that has to do with witches always gives me the chills, this one was no different. This book reminded me a lot of A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay, because of the fact that you didn't know what to believe and some really creepy stuff was going on. This one would be the most perfect summer read. It was very atmospherically and setting was in the middle of a huge heat wave! Something In the Walls was pretty for slow for me most of the book, but very chilling! And the ending was nuts! I ended up rating it 3.25/5 stars.

Atmospheric and horrifying, “Something in the Walls” is a tale of witches, hysteria, grief, and (as is classic for tales about witches) some good old misogyny. Easily one of most unsettling and scary books I’ve read this year.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I didn't hate this story but I didn't love it either. I felt like the author had a certain intent with the ending but wasn't totally sure how to get us there cohesively. It felt a little all over the place and I found myself wanting more of the vibes and follow through on the story from the first half of the book rather than the second half. There are some unanswered questions, which can be totally fine, but I wish we had focused more on those rather than where we ended up. Everything also felt fairly predictable to me, but I read a lot of horror novels. I think someone less experienced with the genre may enjoy it more. There are certainly some gross, gory, and spooky bits that were well done and added to the overall atmosphere.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the arc!