I was really excited to start reading this book. The premise sounded so interesting. I did enjoy this, but it was different than what I was expecting. It ended up being more of a mystery than a horror story. There were some chilling parts, but it was mainly a mystery.

This was a super fast read, and I really enjoyed the writing style. I loved the chilling atmosphere. The story is set in this small creepy town, where the residents are superstitious about witches and curses. I wish there were more answers about the whole witch thing. Why wasn’t that explored more?

There were some predictable parts and I was not a fan of the ending. It felt incomplete. I was confused by a few things that were never explained.

Overall, this was a fast and immersive read that left me with many questions.

Thank you to the publisher for providing an eARC via NetGalley for review.

3.5⭐️

Mina is a new child psychologist recruited to help Alice, a teenager in a small town being haunted by a witch. Mina needs the experience and Alice’s family needs her help. Small towns have their secrets and traditions and this one is no different. Mina will be confronted by her own past in trying to help Alice. The conclusion will have you wide eyed and gasping.

This book was different than what I normally read but I still enjoyed it. If you like a witchy story this is for you. The first half of this book was really good but then it seemed to fall a bit flat in the second half. Even with that I still enjoyed it and would recommend to others. Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.

Something in the Walls by Daisy Pearce is a shocking story about a modern day village caught up in the beliefs and superstitions of the past.

Mina is a newly minted child psychologist and she jumps at the chance to investigate a case involving a young girl accused of being a witch, especially when she finds out the girl is rumoured to be able to speak with the dead.

It soon becomes clear to the reader that Mina's motives aren't altogether altruistic, and soon she is caught up in the strange occurrences surrounding the young girl, Alice, and the village she lives in.

There is so much going on in this book. The strange behaviours of the family soon make Mina, and the reader, believe that maybe ?Alice's affliction is being faked, but it's soon clear that something is going on, whether or not it has anything to do with the paranormal remains to be seen.

Creepy and terrifying, Something in the Walls shows what can happen when superstition, and a mob mentality take over and the awful things otherwise sensible people can participate in when they do.

I guess the mark of a good horror novel is not being able to read it after dark, and when you wake up in the middle of the night, you need to make yourself think of something different. That was what I experienced. This book was super creepy, and I had to clear my brain of the images it left way before I went to bed, and I’d still think of it in the middle of the night. Ugh.

The events during the first half of the book creeped me out big time, but then the second half took a turn and I was left wondering just what was going on. I didn’t expect that ending, but I didn’t feel unsatisfied with it, it was just different.

Overall, this witchy book was terrifying and scary and made me sleep with one eye open, it was so good. Even though I’m not much for horror books, I find I’m enjoying them more and more thanks to books like this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy of this book.

This book had me at the edge of my seat! It was mysterious and witchy. There were a couple of elements that I was able to predict, but for the most part, it was new and exciting. I couldn't put it down!

This book was something totally different from what I usually read. I have to say it was odd and a bit disturbing but very well written. I was able to picture everything the author described in this story, which is why I give it 4 stars.

It has a dark ending, but I am okay with it. There were a few twists that I did not see coming! I am usually scared to read books with spells and curses, but this one was okay.

Overall, it's a 4 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 for me!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Mina is new to the field of child psychology and decides to take a case helping a family with a troubled young girl. Does thirteen-year-old Alice need medical attention or an exorcism?

The book really held my attention with the constant indecision of whether I thought there was a natural or supernatural reason for everything going on.

The ending went just a tad too wild for me, but overall, it was an enjoyable read.

Something in the Walls is eerie and vivid. The atmosphere of dread is thick, and many of the scenes imprinted on my mind.

This one is great for fans of folk horror.

The ending left me with lots of questions. And I did not expect the turn it took.

Pearce is a sure talent.

I loved the pace of this book and the fact that the supernatural plot starts right away. It was a great hook. the twist at the end with Bert was a great choice, and it played out nicely. it didn’t come out too soon in the book and it was not too easy to figure out as a reader which was nice!

There’s just something about this book that I don’t click with, I just can’t put my finger on it. I’ve tried several times to pick this up and read it but I just cannot get invested in the story, which is odd because the plot sounds absolutely amazing. I plan to pick it up in audio format upon release and give it a try that way.

Newly-minted child psychologist Mina has little experience. In a field where the first people called are experts, she’s been unable to get her feet wet. Instead she aimlessly spends her days stuck in the stifling heat wave sweeping across Britain, and anxiously contemplating her upcoming marriage to careful, precise researcher Oscar. The only reprieve from her small, close world is attending the local bereavement group to mourn her brother’s death from years ago. That is, until she meets journalist Sam Hunter at the grief group one day. And he has a proposition for her.

Alice Webber is a thirteen year old girl who claims she’s being haunted by a witch. Living with her family in their crowded home in the remote village of Banathel, Alice’s symptoms are increasingly disturbing, and money is tight. Taking this job will give Mina some experience; Sam will get the scoop of a lifetime; and Alice will get better, Mina is sure of it.

But instead of improving, Alice’s behavior becomes increasingly inexplicable and intense. The town of Banathel has a deep history of superstition and witchcraft. They believe there is evil in the world. They believe there are ways of...dealing with it. And they don’t expect outsiders to understand.

As Mina races to uncover the truth behind Alice’s condition, the dark cracks of Banathel begin to show. Mina is desperate to understand how deep their sinister traditions go–and how her own past may be the biggest threat of all.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
I enjoyed the book. It had a creepy feel to it which I really liked. A little bit of witch craft and possession which was cool. The ending I found a bit disappointing. It leaves behind the possession part that I really enjoyed hanging. It does end but I feel it kinda left things open. If you enjoy story about witches you might enjoy this one.

Nail-biter
I was #gifted Something in the Walls by Daisy Pearce from @netgalley and @stmartinspress in exchange for my honest review.
First off, let’s judge a book by it’s cover – and this one definitely sets the tone, with the eye looking out of the slats behind the wallpaper. I was ready for a creepy read. Okay, maybe not as prepared as I thought!
The story follows Mina, who is just starting out as a child psychologist who is trying to make a name for herself, while preparing for her upcoming wedding to researcher Oscar. One day she meets Sam Hunter, a journalist who also attends a local bereavement group that she attends to try to deal with the death of her brother.
Sam presents her with an opportunity to bring her experience to help Alice Webber, a young teenager who claims a witch is haunting her. After she agrees, Mina travels with Sam to see if she can help the girl, however she quickly realizes that the town they visit is steeped in superstition about witchcraft and their steadfast beliefs on how to handle that evil.
This book hooked me from the get-go. Full of spooky occurrences, and unhinged townsfolk, it left me questioning everything. The folklore that held strongly onto all the people of the small town, added to the all their actions and left me feeling like something was truly watching me at all times. It was creepy and I hadn’t read such a spooky book in a long time.
To be honest, I wasn’t a huge fan of the main character, it always felt like she was missing something which left me, as the reader, feeling the same. And yet, I was still hooked all the way to the end. I will admit that I really think the end could have had a bit more…something. But I still enjoyed the book.
I gave this book four stars. It left me feeling uneasy about what was next, and yet I couldn’t wait to find out what was happening.
The book hits shelves February 25, 2025.
#bookreview #daisypearce #somethinginthewalls #mystery #thriller #fiction #2024reads #readmorebooks #gifted #womenauthors #bookthoughts #bookaddict #bookrecommendations #netgalley #stmartinpress #digitalarc

Something is the Walls is a blend of witchiness, intrigue and folklore. Its atmospheric setting in Alice's bedroom, the creepiness of the chimney, its peeling wallpaper and the noises created a mysterious lurking in the pages. In the end, I guess I expected more horror than thriller with the books story.

Thank you, St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books

This book has incredible pacing and I absolutely loved the ending. Something In The Walls follows a newly certified child psychologist into a creepy little town to live alongside a haunted girl.

Filled with the generational trauma of an entire town, this book is rooted in secrets and dives deep into what it means to turn your back on the truth. At once thrilling and scary, this story ended up being a perfect listen for the dark days of the beginning of winter.

Check this one out if you love horror, witches & witch hunts, thrillers, and mysteries!

**Thank you to Minotaur Books for the advanced copy of this title and to Macmillan Audio for the accompanying audiobook!**

“Something In the Walls” is by Daisy Pearce. This book follows a newly minted child psychologist, Mina, who is recruited by a reporter, Sam, to help determine if a young teenager, Alice, is possessed/haunted by a witch or spirit. Mina has questions about her own brother’s death … and Sam has questions about his daughter’s death - so that gets added to the mystery surrounding Alice. For me, this book was a bit all over the place. Alice’s father seems to have an agenda - but it’s mentioned, the dropped. Mina’s relationship with her is mentioned, brought up a few times, then dropped. Strange things happens while Mina is with Alice - but so much time seems to be dancing around the issue (“what is going on with Alice?”). Mina spends a lot of time talking to others more than she does Alice. Sam does some investigating on his own, so his disappears from the story for a while. When Mina stumbles across something (which I predicted from clues the author dropped) then the story does an abrupt change - and it felt rather disappointing. For me, this book was a bit all over the place - almost as if it changed about 3/4 of the way in to be something else. I can see why some readers would find this book good, but for me, it missed the mark.

A solid 4 star creepy book for me. I had an idea of what the "twist " in this horror story would be fairly quickly after all the characters were introduced, but it was still a good read. Finished it in one go and I enjoyed my time.

This book was a mixture of terror and mystery. The creep factor was definitely there. Half the time reading I thought one of the characters were just dreaming but I was wrong! Good characters, great mystery. Witchy vibes. 4 star read for me!

HOLY SHIT. This book is SO GOOD.

“Something in the Walls” by Daisy Pearce is an unforgettable horror novel that expertly weaves psychological suspense with eerie supernatural elements. The story centers on Child Psychologist Mina, who moves into a home to help identify what is going on with the teenage daughter Alice… but quickly
uncovers there’s a chilling presence lurking within the home’s walls. As the tension builds, Mina’s journey into the house’s disturbing history keeps you hooked. Pearce’s vivid, atmospheric writing draws you in, and the fresh take on horror feels both creative and deeply unsettling. This book completely exceeded my expectations and proved to be a standout read—definitely deserving of 5 stars! (And I don’t tend to read Horror, ever!)

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC.