Daisy Pearce's 2025 horror novel immediately hooked me in with this gorgeous cover, but I also was super intrigued by the book's synopsis. SOMETHING IN THE WALLS is being called The Shining meets Midsommar, so I just knew that I needed to prioritize this one! I chose to read the book physically, but I also alternated via audiobook, and I think both options were a full five-star experience for me!

Mina, a newly established child psychologist with little experience, spends her days preparing for her marriage to researcher Oscar while attending a local bereavement group to mourn her late brother. Her routine shifts when she meets journalist Sam Hunter, who proposes she help investigate the case of Alice Webber, a thirteen-year-old girl in the remote village of Banathel claiming to be haunted by a witch. What starts as a promising opportunity turns darker as Alice’s behavior grows more disturbing, and the superstitious town reveals its unsettling beliefs about confronting evil.

SOMETHING IN THE WALLS is a witchy good time, with a town full of secrets! If you liked Camilla Sten's The Lost Village, Midsommar, or Silent Hill (video game or movie), then SOMETHING IN THE WALLS will be right up your alley. This book was incredibly spooky and creepy, which will entertain even the most stubborn thriller or horror reader. I really enjoyed my journey with this book and I think if you go into the book not expecting to be tricked, you'll have more fun with it. I noticed that I kept being sidetracked and having to continue reading this book because I just needed to know what happened! This book will be a staple in my favorite 2025 releases for sure!

This book had me hooked from page 1. It's one of those stories where you don't really know what's going on and you're just as confused as the main character, because skepticism and superstition are at odds.

There are some really disturbing scenes, some of which I still can't explain probably because I don't have the psychological/medical training to do so (because I don't want to believe it's a plothole).

I was pleasantly surprised by the level of suspense achieved and the development of the mystery, and although, as always happens to me in these types of "is the girl possessed or not?" stories, there are some things that don't add up, I enjoyed it a lot. Even the ending seemed to me, although short, appropriate for the story.

It touches on topics about bullying, mental health and abuse (physical and emotional). The relationship between Mina and Oscar made me sad and angry, but I would have been even more upset if the cliché of the nail pulling out another nail had been in the story, because it would have taken away emotional development from Mina's character, who already had little time to think and reflect on herself with everything that is happening with Alice.

This is a terrifying story in many ways, because the isolation and paranoia that is unleashed in Alice's town due to the legend of the witch is chilling, especially because when a person loses their sense of individuality and feels "part of the masses" and with impunity, they can do a lot of damage.

Good pace, good character development and story progression. I think the ending is a bit weak but it works.

I would love to see this story adapted to film.

4.5 stars!!!

Inexperienced child psychologist Mina struggles to make a name for herself in her field. Stuck in a heat wave in Britain, she spends her days contemplating her upcoming marriage to researcher Oscar and attending a bereavement group. When she meets journalist Sam Hunter, he proposes a job involving a thirteen-year-old girl named Alice who claims to be haunted by a witch. As Mina, Sam, and Alice delve into the mysterious occurrences in the remote village of Banathel, they uncover a history of superstition and witchcraft that puts them in danger.

I am new to this author, but the writing style is unique and captivating from the very beginning. Despite the mixed reviews, I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to review both the eBook and audiobook versions of this book. I consistently recommend trying the audiobook if the written version didn't resonate with you, as it can truly change your entire reading experience.

I found myself engrossed in both the written and spoken words of this book. It exudes a subtle supernatural vibe with a touch of witchcraft woven throughout. If these elements don't appeal to you, you may not connect with this particular read. The choice of narrator was excellent! I was completely captivated and engaged throughout the entire listen.

One aspect I appreciated was the characters' hidden secrets slowly being revealed. The author masterfully keeps everything open to interpretation until the truth is unveiled. The mystery surrounding each character kept me eagerly turning the pages, craving more information. While I was constantly questioning what was truly happening, the author provided subtle hints along the way. The final reveal was impactful, leaving room for personal interpretation while still providing clarity.

Although not a fast-paced read, the steady pace created a suspenseful atmosphere that lingered long after I finished the book. If you enjoy a chilling, thought-provoking, and slightly disturbing read that stays with you, this book is a perfect fit. I look forward to revisiting it during Halloween, as it would be incredibly fitting for the season. I eagerly anticipate reading more from this author and experiencing that heart-pounding thrill once again. Well, done!

Thank you, St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio, for the digital ARC copies. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

While I enjoyed reading Something in the Walls, it started out really slow for me. Nothing seemed to be happening for a while.. and although I was still interested, I wish it had picked up the intensity sooner that it did. Sam and Mina were great characters, Alice was mysterious and I couldn't quite figure her out, in a good way. I liked the 2nd half of the book much better when more things were being revealed. Overall a good read, especially if you like slow burns.

This was an odd one for me, there were parts I really liked and others that just didn’t work for me at all. Initially I was intrigued, it was a unique premise with fantastic creepy and unsettling vibes and I wasn’t sure what would happen next. I couldn’t figure out if it was supposed to be horror or not, and I’m still not quite sure honestly. Where it lost me is there were so so many unanswered questions in the end leaving giant plot holes that were never explained. There were just too many things that either didn’t make sense or were entirely implausible for me to overlook so unfortunately this was a total miss for me.

Spooky and atmospheric. A riveting read! Mina is a child psychologist who is asked to visit a troubled girl who turns out to be more than troubled. This book has Exorcist/The VVitch vibes. If you are a fan of horror, and moviemakers like Robert Eggers, you will like this. My favorite part was the ending, which had me squirming! I listened to this alternately on audio as well as reading this ARC, and the audiobook is great too. The narrator did a great job conveying both the atmosphere and the crazy stuff that eventually happened in a properly fearsome tone, especially the ending. I will definitely read more by Daisy Pearce! She's not afraid to "go there" with her stories, and I was legitimately scared by this one.

I'm going to be completely honest in saying that I did not finish this book. However, I want to explain the reasons I didn't, because although this wasn't the book for me, I'm not going to yuck someone else's yum.

I'm not a slow burn lover. I want action and suspense and to be kept on the edge of my seat. I want horror that's very clearly horror and thriller that's very clearly thriller. This book is not that. I read 29% of Something in the Walls, which is ten entire chapters. In those ten chapters, all I really learned was how hot and humid the town was, that the house smells, and that the main character may or may not hate her fiancé. I was not horrified or thrilled for ten whole chapters. I didn't find myself invested in any of the characters or the plot. I didn't care to find out whether Alice was possessed or haunted or just a weird teenage girl. I didn't care at all about what was going to happen and found myself stopping multiple times mid-chapter to scroll on my phone or do something else because I was just so BORED.

All this to say, if you like a slow burn and not being able to guess what's going to happen and you prefer character development over plot development, you may very well love this book. Just because it didn't do it for me doesn't mean it won't do it for you!

Creepy. Suspenseful. And all around addicting. I couldn’t stop reading. Every time I thought I knew what would happened things got all switched around. I highly enjoyed the folky and witchy aspect of the book. And how you became invested in the characters. With Mina, the child physiologist, trying to find the logical explanation of things. Sam, the reporter, looking for the angle to his story and a personal connection of his own to it. Then the family and all their weird tendencies. Making it to where you didn’t know who or what to believe. Absolutely great read for those of you that like a good creepy, thriller, mystery book.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this great book by Daisy Pearce!
Will definitely be checking out more books by her!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early release audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars

Mina is a child psychologist with no experience. She meets a reporter at a grief support group who gets her to come stay with a family whose teenage daughter claims to be haunted by a witch.

Honestly, this book disturbed me and it was difficult for me to read. Part of this is my fault: I always want to read horror and then part way through, I realize I don’t have the stomach for it. Nevertheless, I pushed through with SOMETHING IN THE WALLS because I pledged to read every ARC I’m approved for, but unfortunately, the end went in a direction I wasn’t expecting and didn’t love.

Mina, a 20-something child psychologist, meets a mysterious man at a grief support group she attends after losing her beloved brother. This man, Sam, asks her to meet with Alice, a young girl who might be possessed by demons. Unfortunately, Mina soon learns that the small town where Alice lives is known for its history of witchcraft and things get weirder from there.

There are some memorable, dark, disturbing scenes in SOMETHING IN THE WALLS and the book is written smoothly, but the end didn’t do it for me. I wanted more answers to go with the immersive quality of the first half of the book. I think horror readers will enjoy this book more than I did.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher Minotaur Books for the early digital copy of SOMETHING IN THE WALLS in exchange for my honest feedback.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Horror + Mystery Thriller

Mina is a newly licensed child psychologist on the hunt for some work experience. When she meets journalist Sam Hunter, she hears about Alice Webber, a 13-year-old from the small town of Banathel who claims she's being haunted by a witch.

While looking into things, Mina finds out about the village's old superstitions and their creepy history with witchcraft. The story mixes psychological tension with folklore and horror, diving into themes like grief, superstition, and the messy side of human emotions.

I'm torn about this story. While the atmosphere at the beginning was captivating, it seemed to fade as I continued reading. I'm not entirely sure why that happened. The author excels in her vivid descriptions of the village, which adds to the appeal. The blend of psychological thriller and witchcraft is the main theme, and it can keep you engaged if you overlook the book's other shortcomings.

"Something in the Walls" is entertaining as long as you don’t dwell too much on the story's logic. However, if you start to question why certain things were handled the way they were, it can become frustrating. If Mina were a real person, she might lose her job because I don’t believe she fulfilled her role as a psychologist properly. She didn’t spend enough time with the girl and instead acted more like a detective investigating the town, which is not her profession.

The ending felt ambiguous and underwhelming. I expected a more satisfying conclusion given the struggles the characters endured. Overall, I found the story to be decent, but my experience may differ from others. This is a book that relies heavily on the reader's perspective, so each person's experience will vary.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the ARC of this book.

Scary, dark, ominous, psychologically disturbing, rattling, and heart-pounding—these are the first words that come to mind after finishing this thrilling wild ride. It’s a journey that feels like Midsommar meets The Exorcist with a touch of The Witch.

Enter Mina, a newly minted child psychologist still grieving the loss of her brother, who died six years ago from pneumonia. Her personal life is equally strained as she struggles with her stoic, career-driven fiancé, Oscar, an aspiring scientist. While attending her grief counseling group, Mina crosses paths with Sam, a journalist and divorcé mourning the recent death of his young daughter. Desperate for closure, Sam even entertains frauds posing as clairvoyants to try to connect with his daughter beyond the veil.

Sam approaches Mina with a strange case involving 13-year-old Alice Webber from the small, eerie town of Banathel. Alice claims to be a witch, and Sam plays a cassette recording of an interview with her. The tape includes a mysterious sound—was someone whispering, "Good riddance"?

Despite Oscar’s objections, Mina agrees to join Sam on a train journey to Banathel. They stay with the Webber family: Lisa, the protective mother; Paul, the father whose work at the slaughterhouse seems to drain his sanity; Billy and Tamsin, Alice’s younger siblings who appear blissfully unaware of the dark undertones in their household; and Alice herself, who is battling something sinister that feeds on her energy. Isolated from her peers, Alice is glued to her Walkman, using music as a shield against the trauma she faces.

Determined to uncover the truth, Mina begins to question: Is Alice truly a messiah, as some townsfolk believe? Can Mina communicate with her? Mina’s own motivations are deeply personal—she sees this as an opportunity to connect with her late brother, just as Sam hopes to reconnect with his daughter.

The Webbers’ financial struggles raise suspicions. Could this be a scheme to exploit Alice’s supposed supernatural powers for monetary gain? Or is there something darker at play—something rooted in the town’s peculiar traditions, superstitions, and eerie history? What if the events defy scientific explanation, hinting at a sinister force targeting young girls in Banathel? Mina’s search for answers forces her to confront her own demons and face the darkness head-on.

Overall:
This book had moments that genuinely terrified me—like the scene with the unknown entity crawling out of the chimney, which made me scream and slam the book shut (only to scream again!). The dark and chilling elements chilled me to the bone. While the pacing slowed a bit in the middle, the final quarter ramped up the suspense, delivering a satisfying and thrilling conclusion.

I’m giving this one four witchy stars! This is definitely a must-read thriller to keep on your radar this year.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Minotaur Books for providing me with an ARC of this gripping horror-thriller in exchange for my honest review.

With paranormal thrillers/mysteries/whatever you want to call them, I really struggle with the whole "is this paranormal or not" thing. I have no idea why. It is just a thing for me.

I wasn't particularly impressed with this book. And I do think that's because of the paranormal aspect of it. I wasn't really expecting that at all, I thought it was just going to turn out to be human intervention that appeared so spooky and creepy that everyone was calling it paranormal just to make it easier for themselves to deal with. But no. It is witches, this book is about witches. And that's cool, just not as intense as I wanted and not quite what I was expecting.

I didn't find this super interesting or captivating the way I really like a spooky book to be. I find that is what makes it so spooky, when it holds your attention so completely.

I do feel like there's an unreliable narrator thing going on here and I know how much people love that.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

Daisy Pearce makes her mark on the common story of a young girl possessed by a demonic witch. Mina, a new child physiologist, and Sam, a journalist head to Banathel in hope to help Alice and write a story for publication. Mina and Sam connect over past loss and trauma of their own. The atmosphere Daisy sets is perfect. It’s a record breaking heat wave in a small economically depressed town on the English coast with a deep rooted history of witchcraft. You feel the heat burning down upon you while reading. Buildings are old, closed signs are everywhere, and hagstones hang from doorways all through the town. The characters are all great, the writing is smooth, and the story is genuinely scary. There are intense scenes of demonic possession and menace that will definitely stick with me. You may want to have your chimney cleaned after reading this one. There are some big reveals at the end making this a 5 star read for me. The book is available February 25, 2025.

Mina is in her early twenties and newly engaged to sensible but stolid Oscar (the type of mate who would descale a kettle instead indulging in risky, romantic adventures). She is also a newly graduated child psychologist, specializing in adolescent mental health, who needs more experience to get a decent work placement. She meets Sam, a journalist, at a bereavement support network meeting. Mina is still grieving over the death of her 14 year old brother, Eddie, 6 years ago, and Sam has lost a 7 year old daughter, Maggie. Both are still dealing with personal ghosts.

After just briefly meeting, Sam contacts Mina about a story he’s working on: a teenaged girl named Alice in a small village in Cornwall is definitely sick, perhaps psychosomatically, but there are rumors of “witchcraft.” The village is decorated with hagstones and rife with rumors. Definitely “Midsommar” and “The Exorcist” vibes. Alice has been speaking in gibberish and fainting at school. Mina tries to evaluate Alice, bedeviled by the suspicion that the parents want to make money (ala the Enfield Haunting, 10 years earlier) and the congregating neighbors (the 1980s version of a social media conspiracy theory comment section) want supernatural miracles from “the witch.”

Set in 1989 — before Google, the internet, DNA testing, infrared photography, wireless hidden cameras, and cell phones — you know that this will obviously be a tech-free thriller, one that local folklore, superstition, buried emotions and weird phenomena will create suspense that can’t be dismissed as easily as it might be in the 21st century. What little tech they have (a Dictaphone tape recording with a whispered “Good Riddance” at the end) fails them, so it's up to Mina and Sam to use their own wits and plain ol’ detective work to figure out what’s happening with Alice. Mina and Sam also eventually recognize that their unresolved grief is coloring their perceptions of the supernatural. As a result, they’re both suggestible even though they claim to be looking for the truth.

The book is “medium scary” for the most part — but the tale of possible possession that gets ratcheted up after a few deaths occur, leading up to a graphic ending. The meme “it’s odd that we were taught to fear the witches and not the men who burned them” definitely needs discussion. “Something in the Walls” is one of those books that you won’t want to put down! 4 stars!

Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): NO Scary black eyes looking out of the cracks of the fireplace, but no green ones. But look closely at the cover art.👀
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO There’s a heat wave and a hosepipe ban (new British term for me) means lawns and flowers are dying without irrigation.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy!

Alice is a teenage girl who is “haunted.” Or so the popular belief is….Mina meets Sam at a survivor support group. Sam is a journalist who has been meeting with a family whose daughter, Alice, appears to be haunted. Since Mina is a recent psychology graduate, he asks her to come and evaluate. Against her fiancé’s wishes, Mina goes with Sam to meet Alice and her family.

Mina begins to meet with Alice and she keeps trying to talk herself into thinking Alice is just delusional, not really seeing a witch in the walls. The entire town is superstitious and believe that witches not only haunt them, but have possessed Alice.

Much more than meets the eye is happening in their tiny town and Mina and Sam are determined to get to the bottom of it, even if they lose their lives.

Really liked this one!! Was surprised at the turn that it took, but did like it. Felt like some of the characters didn’t feel more than one dimensional to me, but the bones of the story were intriguing.

Something in the Walls by Daisy Pearce is an atmospheric and chilling psychological thriller that keeps readers on edge with its slow-building tension and eerie sense of unease. The story follows a woman, Holly, who moves into a seemingly perfect home, only to discover unsettling occurrences and dark secrets lurking within the walls. As Holly uncovers more about the house’s history and its previous inhabitants, the mystery deepens, and the line between reality and paranoia begins to blur.

Pearce’s writing is compelling and immersive, pulling readers into the world of Holly’s unsettling new home. The pacing is deliberate, with the tension building steadily as small, creepy details start to unravel a much larger mystery. The atmosphere of dread and foreboding is palpable, and the sense of isolation is effectively conveyed, adding to the claustrophobic feel of the story.

The character development is solid, with Holly being a well-rounded, relatable protagonist whose emotional struggles and personal history make her reactions to the strange events feel authentic. Her gradual descent into uncertainty and fear is portrayed in a way that keeps readers invested in her journey.

However, while Something in the Walls is a well-crafted thriller, the plot occasionally feels predictable, and some of the twists could have been executed with more impact. The resolution, while satisfying, left a few lingering questions that felt unresolved, which may be frustrating for readers who prefer a more definitive conclusion.

Overall, Something in the Walls is a compelling 4/5 star read. It’s a chilling, atmospheric novel that builds suspense effectively, with strong writing and a relatable protagonist. While some of the twists may be a bit predictable, the overall experience is immersive and engaging—perfect for fans of psychological thrillers and haunted house stories. Pearce has crafted a memorable, eerie read that will keep readers turning the pages. I was given an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my review.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: Feb. 25, 2025
Alice Webber’s recent behaviour has caused her to be kicked out of school, lose her friends and stalked by the community. Most believe she is possessed by the spirit of a witch. Journalist Sam Hunter meets newly-minted child psychologist Mina at grief group and an idea for a great story comes to mind. If Sam, together with Mina, can prove that Alice is actually haunted by a paranormal presence, it could be the story of Sam’s career. But Mina doesn’t believe in the paranormal and is worried something more disturbing and sinister is at play. But the town of Banathel, Alice’s community, have strong roots in witchcraft and they don’t want Mina interfering in their rituals. After all they believe the only way to rid a body of a witch is to drive the witch out- through archaic rituals that will put Alice’s life at risk.
“Something in the Walls” is not the first novel by author, Daisy Pearce and somehow, I have not heard of her before. She crafts a novel that combines mental illness, witchcraft and the paranormal and you can bet- that will get my attention. “Walls” is obsessive, dark and utterly addicting.
Mina is a recent psychology graduate with the education to be a child psychologist but no formal experience. She is engaged to a scientist, Oscar, and, although they are expected to marry in the winter, she is having doubts. A seemingly normal young woman, still reeling from the death of her brother and the secrets she keeps, Mina makes an intelligent, capable and brave protagonist. As the sole narrator, readers learn about the quiet town of Banathel and its dark past right alongside Mina. The instant sympathy for Alice is there as well, although it is impossible to determine (until the final pages, anyway) if Alice is suffering from mental illness or possession.
“Walls” is part folklore, part horror and one hundred percent immersive. I loved the small, quirky town and all of its secretive yet accepting members, shrouding a history of witch hunting that goes back decades. Alice’s participation in the ritual with her then-friends adds realism to the idea that she very well could be possessed, but Pearce doesn’t give away the ending that easily, providing an endless number of twists and turns that kept me guessing.
I loved the final pages and the gripping conclusion, both Mina and Alice getting the endings they truly deserved. “Walls” opened my eyes to Peace, and I will definitely be keeping an eye out for her novels from now on.

Something in the Walls was a combo of scary, witchy, and folklore thriller. Went into this book blindly and at one point, I was scared of reading it in the dark. The horror aspect dwindled after the first half but that’s when the thriller suspense kicked in.

I really enjoyed this read, so many unnerving parts that kept me hooked. Recommend this book to anyone who likes creepy, witchy reads.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC. Something in the Walls by Daisy Pearce will be published on February 25, 2025

Something in the Walls
Mina meets journalist Sam Hunter by chance, brought together by their individual grief, sharing their stories. When he asks for her help, she can't resist the opportunity to put her child psychology degree to use.
They travel to meet Alice who claims she's being haunted by a witch, a witch that watches her from inside the walls. Alice's claims are terrifying and sets everyone on edge.
As Mina and Sam dig deeper into Alice's claims, and try to their best to help, it only seems to amplify the happenings, making everything worse.
With their services proving to be useless, Alice and Sam find themselves running out of time to help Alice. With Alice's family against her, Mina sneaks around finding truth about the town and how they handle these kinds of situations. Alice needs to get to the bottom of this before Alice because another piece of this towns haunted history.
This book was very unlike others I have read. It gave me the heebie jeebies from the very beginning and kept me entranced. It really kept to guessing the whole time, was there actually paranormal things happening within their home, or was this poor girl mentally ill? The ending threw me for a loop and kept me thinking about it long after I set the book down. This one comes out February 25th, and if you're looking for something out of the ordinary, this is it! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5!!!
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!