I received an ARC of this title via NetGalley, but opinions are my own. This one didn’t do it for me. I was really eager to read it and intrigued by the premise but it missed the mark. Mina came to work with and study a specific child who was facing some bizarre troubles and scenarios (the point of the book) but then spent very little time with her once she got there. I felt like so many random things just kept happening. I just couldn’t really connect with it even though I wanted to. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review

"Something in the Walls" is an incredibly creepy thriller that completely delivers the chills. The claustrophobic small town and the oppressive heat leap from the pages. I was completely engaged with the plot for about 70% percent of the story as our main character, Mina, a child psychologist takes on the task of evaluating a young teen girl named Alice who may or may not be possessed by a "witch". With each new reveal, I kept flip flopping between "yes, it's a possession story" and "no, it's a sham to make money". Unfortunately, the book takes a sharp left turn at the last 30% mark and it completely lost me. The pacing faltered with last minute reveals that were rushed and underdeveloped. Since the first half of the book is so strong, I would recommend picking it up if you are a fan of suspense reads with a mix of horror.

Many thanks to Netgalley, Macmillan/St. Martin's Press for an advanced reader's copy of the book.

A delightfully scary and atmospheric read! While I do feel the ending could have been fleshed out a bit more, overall the pace of the story and the elements were strong.

Ok here's the thing. I HATE books about ghosts, the paranormal, etc. But maybe I'm getting braver because I devoured this and I REALLY liked it up until the end. The beginning and middle were so good, but the ending felt like it was just thrown together in five minutes and made no sense. But now I'm actually really afraid that a witch is going to haunt my shitty NYC apartment with no chimney.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sending me this book!

This book was hard to really get in to at first. I kept wondering when it was going to get good but it did. The whole story keeps you wondering if there was a twist or not.

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Mina is a child psychologist who is seeking solace in a bereavement group for her brother's death. She meets journalist Sam Hunter, who is grieving his daughter, and trying to find ways to contact her.

Sam presents Mina with a case of a haunting. Alice Webber claims she is being haunted by a witch. Mina takes on the case to gain experience, and on the of chance that she can contact her brother...

I read this book in one sitting and it was really scary at times! I loved the way their grief and small town mentality played into the story. I found the book to be very well written in the sense that you can feel the claustrophobic atmosphere while reading.

However, I was sad that the ending did feel a bit rushed. I wanted to learn more about certain things to be able to understand the how and why.

Overall I did enjoy the book - a solid 4 stars.

I wish I had read this during spooky season instead of December because THE VIBES!!!! This is the PERFECT amount of creepy that also feels claustrophobic. A modern day witch hunt that keeps you guessing the entire time you're reading. I will absolutely be adding this to my Spooky Season Book Recommendations come September!

It’s been a long time since I have read a book in two days! I was pulled into the creepiness quickly, and was reminded of the term paper I wrote 50 years ago about the Salem Witch Trials. Pearce does a great job of mixing facts and mystery into the story, keeping me guessing whether there were paranormal events going on or not. Grief, fear and regrets brought all the characters together to make this book a must-read!

Actual Rating 2.5

This one was a bit odd and is certainly more enjoyable if you don’t think about it too much. Don’t think about why an adult woman who is a child psychologist acts so naïve and clueless. Or why the same child psychologist spends most of her time talking to everyone but the child. Don’t think about why the ending is so predictable because every single thing that happens is pushing in that single direction. Don’t think about why the first half of the book feels like a completely different book than the second half.

Part of what lessened my enjoyment was the direction that the author chose for the antagonist/final solution. Personally, it just feels like a trope that’s been used so much in recent years that I was hoping for something more unique or interesting, a break from the standard. I was also hoping it would take a more supernatural turn and that more would come from that aspect at the end. I wanted so much more from the witch aspect, which had started off quite strong in the first portion of the work.

I quite liked the beginning of this one, but the aspects I liked and the tension/atmosphere quickly became lost as the book went on. My thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review

There were moments where this book truly freaked me out. Story of a girl who believes she is haunted by a witch. A new-to-the-profession child psychologist comes in to evaluate. The book takes you through both a supernatural and logical driven explanation.

This was a really gripping and highly creepy book. It’s part thriller, part horror and the author really nails a foreboding sense of dread and suspicion. You’re basically teetering on believing in witches or not the whole novel. Think the crucible updated. Highly recommend for those that can handle darker thrillers. It’s a real atmospheric page turner

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
I also listened to the audiobook version of this book.
Slow start and a bit confusing at the beginning but then it got really good. I liked the setting. I wasn’t a huge fan of the characters. Everyone seemed to have an ulterior motive.
Well written and different.

This is the first book I’ve read by Daisy Pearce and I most certainly will not be my last. The way the author presented this story with such vivid imagery kept me at the edge of my seat, and I was stuck between not wanting the book to end and wanting to know what was going to happen next.
Was this a witch possession or just mass hysteria fueled by town folklore? This book left you questioning everything and the ending was both satisfying and left the reader wanting. This is not going to be one to miss!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s press for the ARC

I just couldn’t handle how unsettled this book made me feel and I have to DNF it! Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc ebook in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Review of Something in the Walls by Daisy Pearce

Daisy Pearce’s Something in the Walls is a masterful blend of psychological tension, folklore, and creeping horror that will grip you from the first page. Following Mina, a fledgling psychologist thrust into the unsettling world of a superstitious village, the novel skillfully balances an eerie atmosphere with Mina’s deeply personal struggles. The haunting setting of Banathel, steeped in sinister traditions, becomes a character in its own right, amplifying the suspense as Mina confronts both the town’s mysteries and her own haunting past.

Alice, the young girl at the center of the mystery, is an enigma whose chilling behavior keeps readers guessing—is she truly haunted, or is something far darker at play?

This is an unnervingly tense read that unravels at just the right pace, delivering twists that linger long after you close the book. Perfect for readers who crave intelligent and atmospheric thrillers.

Thank you Daisy Pearce, St. Martin's Press, Macmillan Audio, and Netgalley for the advanced copy!

DAMMMMMNNNN. This book is one of the best creepy/thrillers I've read in a long time. It hooked me immediately and kept me guessing the whole way. The old school spooky horror was chefs kiss. Loved it.

mina is a child psychologist who gets presented with an interesting case working with a newspaper- a possible young girl who is possessed. she is taken on to give her insight if this "possession" is legit.

overall it has a decent story line but i fear this was not the book for me. i was very excited for this book and it had so much potential but, i lost interest in it after about 75%.

This book had kept me reading. I loved the underlying witchy vibes of the book. The ending was a bit disappointing, yet, was not what I was expecting going into the book or by the cover.

Wow, this book was so good! In a small English town, 13-year-old Alice claims that she's being haunted by a witch. Mina, dealing with the loss of her brother, is a recently graduated child psychologist who meets journalist Sam at a grief support group. One day, they meet for coffee, and he asks her if she will travel with him to meet Alice to see if there is any merit to her story.

There were some really good creepy parts in this book! It reminded me of a Conjuring movie, and l got some Exorcist vibes as well! I loved all of the tense and suspenseful moments and how there was a bit of a mystery surrounding the town. I liked Alice and Mina's characters but found myself wishing that we would have gotten to know Sam a little better. This was almost a five-star read, but the ending left me with questions.

If you like spooky reads, then make sure to add this to your TBR!

Thank you, @netgalley and @minotaur_books, for the #gifted e-arc and physical ARC!

I heard a lot of talk when this book was first written, and although it was good, it wasn't my favorite. I'd still recommend but it's not one of the books I continuously think about.