*"Something in the Walls"* by Daisy Pearce is a gripping and atmospheric thriller that pulls you right in. The story combines suspense and a bit of horror, with a creepy, unsettling vibe that keeps you on edge throughout. Pearce's writing is sharp and engaging, building tension with every twist and turn. The eerie setting and well-developed characters make the story feel alive, drawing you deeper into the mystery. If you're a fan of chilling tales with a touch of the supernatural, this book will definitely keep you hooked from start to finish!

This started out feeling like an atmospheric slow-burn, but became very creepy and twisty. Some parts were predictable, while others left me wondering. Definite Wicker Man vibes

Something in the Walls by Daisy Pearce is a disturbingly scary novel about a witch hunt in the English countryside. Mina Ellis, newly minted child psychologist and fiancée is pulled into her first job by Sam, a grieving father and journalist. After meeting at a support group for the grief stricken, he entices her with promises of a ghost story; a teenage girl in Banathel has been seeing a witch in her chimney, hearing voices, and vomiting up odd bits of hair and black bile. Both Mina and Sam have those on the other side whom they want to reach, but is the best way to do that through this teenager?

This novel is gripping and fast paced. With English countryside superstition and Midsommar vibes, I didn’t want to put it down. It was downright scary at times without being gruesome or heavy handed. I absolutely enjoyed this and want to read more from Daisy Pearce.

Mina is a newly graduated child psychologist, desperate for experience. Sam is a journalist looking for a big scoop. They meet at a bereavement group, and Sam convinces Mina to come with him to assess Alice. Alice is a 13 year old girl, in a remote village who is accused of witchcraft. It is rumoured that she can contact the dead.

This book keeps you reading for the first 2/3 as the tension builds. The villagers are a superstitious lot, some think Alice is evil incarnate while others see her as a miracle who could help them contact their deceased loved ones. Mina is trying to figure out what is real and what isn’t, Alice’s father is scary, and Sam seems to be going off the rails. However, at the 2/3 mark it looses some of the momentum, and I saw the twist coming.

Overall though, it was entertaining and a page turner.

Thank you to Netgalley and St, Martins Press for providing me with an eARC of this book to read and review.

Well, I guess I’m in the minority (what a shock!) because I didn’t think this was anything special.

The beginning of Something in the Walls felt very basic, like a story that’s been told a dozen times before. I was rather bored with the build, but things eventually ventured into creepy territory, which increased my level of intrigue. I don’t think it ever reached its potential, though, and it ultimately proved to be a rather standard thriller, which is not what I want when folk horror is promised. It wasn’t a complete disappointment, but it didn’t satisfy me either.

Daisy Pearce‘s writing is lovely, but her superfluous use of similes really did get on my nerves. There are other potent ways to paint imagery for readers, and I do wish she had been more creative with that.

My other annoyance was with the side story regarding the main character and her fiance. I did not feel it added anything to the story at all. This could have shifted toward its unsettling aspects so much faster without all of that filler.

I am immensely grateful to Minotaur Books, NetGalley, and Macmillan Audio for my copies. All opinions are my own.

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!