"Everyone loves to look into the darkness." This eerie, unsettling tale unfolds with perfect timing, building intense suspense that kept me on edge. The twist was completely unexpected, and the ending left me with more questions than answers, making it a story I'll be thinking about for a while. Without giving too much away, I highly recommend this book. Pub Date: February 25, 2025. Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Daisy Pearce for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Okay? I will also leave it, I will also put a picture of it up here in the in the thing. And, so the description of the book goes, unbearably tense, utterly propulsive, and studded with folklore and horror. Summer in the Walls is perfect for anyone who loves Midsummer and The Haunting of Hill House. Okay.

I have watched both of those. They're not watched. I'm sorry. I have read those, and I did enjoy them. And so I'm like, okay.

Seems interesting. And I was in a horror mood or a scary mood. So I figured I'll give it a chance. So the whole entire book thing says 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 waves 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 the journalist Sam Hunter at the group grief group one day. And he has a proposition for her. Alice Webber is a 13 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, 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's sure of it. But instead of improving, Alice's behavior becomes increasingly explicable and intense.

The town of Banethal has a deep history of superstition and witchcraft, and they don't expect outsiders to understand. As Mina raises to uncover the truth behind Alice's condition, the dark cracks of Bethel 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. Okay. So I imagine you can figure out why this book appealed to me.

You know? I I like superstitious books. I gave this book 3 stars out of 5. I did not particularly enjoy reading it. It was it all went smoothly.

Everything went good on it, but it just it seemed like miss Pierce did not answer the questions that she started out looking for. You find out why Mina is grieving. You find out that a and fair warning. This may have some spoilers in it. I will try not to.

You find out why she's grieving and all that, and you understand and you and you understand why. So that is handled. But then the way she describes the haunting is just not I didn't particularly like it. It wasn't to me, it wasn't that interesting or that shocking of a haunting. It seemed a little lackluster in my opinion.

There I think if she fleshed out, in my opinion, I think if she had fleshed out the haunting a little more or the witch a little more, basically gave the witch a little bit of a back story. And she took this just as it was just a something like not something would normally happen. Nothing big. And while that may be what she was trying to achieve and she did it, but to me, she made it more to where the which just wasn't believable, which Mina doesn't believe that it's happening, that she's actually a witch. And mind you, Alice lives in a house with 2 other children and her parents.

Okay? So that's 4 people in a 3 bedroom house that is from what I understand of the description of it is probably like a mobile home, you know, like a 3 bedroom mobile home. There's it's small. It's crowded. It is not necessarily a comfortable thing.

And I'm also realizing also in the process of reading that her family is on hard times. Okay? They don't always you know, they have bills that are out dated, that are past due. They are about to, you know, lose things, lose part of their house. The house is gonna get foreclosed on the, you know, they don't know exactly where the next meal is coming from and all that.

So if Mina is act if Mina I'm sorry. If Alice is actually being haunted by a witch, then that would be a scoop, and that would open up magazine deals, videos, TV shows, TV interviews, things that people would be willing to pay them for. At the same time, Alice's father works in a slaughterhouse, and they and if I remember correctly from the story, he works 1 week on the killing floor and 1 week on the slaughtering floor on the butchering floor. And the weeks that he works on the killing floor, he doesn't act normal. He comes home, and that is completely understandable.

I don't think I could handle a job like that. In fact, I I know I couldn't. I have a hard time killing an insect even if it's annoying me. That's me. So it basically comes down to the point of you get to where Mina, as a child psychologist, is trying to prove whether or not Mina is actually being haunted by this thing in her chip in her chimney of her bedroom, or is this just something that Alice is doing to either get attention, to help with the family, or she's just so distraught over everything that her mind is playing tricks on her, which in Mina's opinion, that's what's going on, is her mind is playing tricks on her or Mina is making this all up?

Because Mina will act like she is possessed. I'm sorry. I just did that again. Mina will not act like she is possessed. Alice will act like she is possessed every now and then.

Well, then and part of all this while Mina is trying to determine whether or not Alice is actually possessed or, you know, semi faking it, you get this history. You get this itty bitty little history thing of their village of the town. Well, in my opinion, that backstory to the town needs to be fleshed out quite a bit because you don't really you don't really understand why. It's kinda just, like, dropped on you that this town has some really bad secrets, in my opinion. And so I'm I'm really trying not to trash this book because it is it's a good story, but in my opinion, it just it lacks some things that needed to be done.

And I'm trying hard not to bash it. But and, yeah, you might guess I'm having a little bit of a difficulty not bashing it because I'm sorry. It just it wasn't a for me book. If you want a tame horror story, one where you don't really if you're fine accepting things and having some unanswered questions or curiosities, then this book will be fine. But if you're like me who likes to dig into these things and likes to know every little thing, this is not the book for you.

This book will, for the lack of a better word, annoy you. You will be sitting here going, okay. So why did this happen? Who is this person again, and how does this relate to this? You'll be going and doing that.

I did, especially at the end because it just in my opinion, it just was not fleshed out. There was too many too many whole area holy areas that I think she could have filled. And it may be that the publisher is the one who said, no. We're not putting it in, and her original edits may have had the entire fleshed out story or something. But even even if she's gonna make this book into a series, I think it did not start off well because, honestly, I would not read it again.

There was in my opinion, there really was nothing remarkable about the storyline. You don't even get some questions answered. You find out why Mia is grieving and why she feels that she needs to grieve, but I think there was a whole lot more that could have been put into it. It could have gotten fleshed out a lot better, in my opinion. This is one of those books where I have read it and then I'm like, okay.

I'll just rewrite the parts that I think I need to in my head so that way, you know, I can call the book as good. And some people may like a book like that. I don't particularly. I want the book to finish. If it's a series, then fine.

End to me on a cliffhanger. That's fine. But this book, in my opinion, goes off that it is a standalone book with no other parts. And sorry. I was getting a nose on my phone.

And it just I only gave it 3 stars because it was a good story. I just think that it could have been better, and maybe I'm just being too hard on it or something. I don't know. But it doesn't really make me want to read it again or look at her other books to see what other books she has. And I probably should because I can see she is a good writer.

I can tell that, but I just don't know that she was comfortable with this story. I almost kinda wonder if this story wasn't something that was not necessarily fostered lost given to her or she just didn't flesh it out in her head before she did it. The characters, in my opinion, just never really seemed to come to life. And so that was another issue I had. I I like my characters to come to life in my head.

When I read a book, I watch a movie. I don't see the words. I basically watch a movie in my head of the book. And if I am just sitting here seeing words, then the characters are not coming to life in my head. The story never came to life for me, and that just I just did not enjoy it that much.

I finished the book, but I just really did not enjoy the book that well. So, basically, the book is expected to be published in February of 2025. It is if you like a mild horror story, then it'll be a good story. If you like something that is not very scary or anything, I think you would be just fine with it. But if you like a decent horror that is going to scare you, leave you sitting on the edge of your chair, nail biting, trying to figure out, I was like, oh my gosh.

This is not that book. I don't know if the author will republish or anything, but I know this is a new book that is not due out until February of 2025. So in no way am I sitting here telling you not to read it. I just would rent it from a library. I don't I would not buy it, but that's me.

If you think this sounds interesting and you think that my review is all completely wrong, that's fine. That's your choice. So that ends that concludes my review of this book in order to satisfy the Netgalley requirements. And so at that point at this point, I'm going to leave you and I will see you next time.

This book is the perfect merging of psychological thrills with supernatural chills. Brilliantly written and extremely tense, you don't want to miss this!!

Just finished this and left feeling like “wow, that escalated quickly!” Mina, a child psychologist, and Sam, a reporter, meet at a grief support group. They both have lost someone and feel that there is unfinished business between them and their dearly departed. This leads to a spiritual business trip of sorts where they set out to help a seemingly possessed teenage girl in a small Cornish town. The atmosphere of the town is spooky in itself. The residents are very superstitious. Legend, tradition, and dark reality clash. Pearce writes in such a way that when the characters are afraid, the reader is also afraid. I could perfectly imagine the twisted, evil smiles that she described. The book gave me some serious Midsommar vibes towards the end. My only wish is that I had a little more closure about one of the main characters who I won’t name to prevent spoilers. Maybe the author left it up for interpretation on purpose. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review creepy delight right around Halloween. 👻🧙‍♀️

Mina, eager to prove herself in a career, is pulled into a gripping mystery involving a young girl, Alice, in a remote village who claims to be possessed by a witch. Mina's character is complex and has an emotional history than expected. Alice's increasingly strange and disturbing behavior and Mina's clinical approach begin to crumble as she is confronted with a village's entrenched superstitions. The village has a long history of witchcraft, which casts a shadow over Mina's attempts to solve the mystery.

The book is rich in atmosphere, and the oppressive village is remote and insular, with its own rules and customs that seem hostile to outsiders. The most captivating element of the book is the escalating horror surrounding Alice. Her claims of being haunted by a witch blur the lines between psychological and supernatural terror. Mina becomes more deeply entangled in uncovering the secrets. Mina's struggles from losing her brother make her character resonate and create an emotional bond.

I did not see the extent of the reveal. It asks what haunts us externally and how much is rooted in our unresolved fears and guilt. This psychological depth adds layers to the horror narrative, making the novel not just a story about fear but about confronting buried pain. It also addresses the mistreatment of young women throughout history to rid the villages of witches by horrifying and torturous means. There were a few pacing issues in the middle, but the ending led to a shocking finale. It's a slow-burn thriller that mixes psychological tension with eerie supernatural elements. I could not put it down and finished it a day.

I received an ARC ebook for my honest review. Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books.

Do not read with the lights off!!!!

This book was one crazy ride,

I had to only read in the daytime and with lights on. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time.

I had a funny feeling who would be involved in what was going on with Allice, But I was still in shock..

This is a must read for sure!!!!!

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!

This was neat! The twists were well done, the setting was well established, I just wish the main character had been fleshed out a little bit more. She was a bit of a blank slate for the books story.

I was really excited to be approved for this ARC. I really didn’t know what to expect going into it. It’s a very sobering read and deals with potential hauntings, folklore, and possession. The towns long kept traditions are reminiscent of ‘Midsommar’. Overall, I liked it. Rating based on my vibe through out, I’d give it a 3.5. Solid read.

*Something in the Walls* by Daisy Pearce follows Mina, a newly graduated child psychologist, as she tackles her first case involving Alice Webber, a 13-year-old who claims to be haunted by a witch.

The book started strong, with a spooky atmosphere that drew me in. However, the middle and ending were disappointing. The story veered off course, sidelining the main plot about the witch and leaving many questions unanswered. Characters like Mina and Sam, who were initially likable, became weak and unsatisfying by the end. If the plot had stayed focused, this could have been a 4 or even 5-star read.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

**Rating**: 2.5/5

Something in the Walls creates a sense of tension and dread early on. The horror doesn't lie within the supernatural, rather in the treatment of women and the reality of what could happen when antiquated traditions take hold. What if we allow the past to seep back into the present? This is an unsettling cautionary tale that deals with grief, mass hysteria and the unfair maligning of women that led to witch hunts, torture and death of the innocent.

There were some pacing issues in the middle, but I still loved this story. A profound message captured by lyrical writing. And the ending was perfect. Great for fans of The Vvitch and Midsommer.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Something in the Walls had me on the edge of my seat throughout the whole reading process. This book had me guessing what was going to happen and frequently had me staying up at night.

Thank you, NetGalley, for this ARC. The author did a great job creating a spooky atmosphere; this book is perfect for Halloween. The story started strong but slowed down in the middle, and I wasn't entirely satisfied with the ending. I was left with many questions, and the central focus on the witch and Alice remained unresolved. However, I do notice that many paranormal tales share similar unresolved elements. The book was confusing in several parts and lacked some necessary information. However , it was an enjoyable read. I was fully invested in the story, didn’t see the twist coming, and I would recommend this book if you're looking for a scary, spooky read.

The perfect book for fans who like chill bumps and hiding under the covers while reading. A story of possession, a witch, or is it more? Something in the Walls quickly became the book that was "something always in my head" as the creep factor was high and the eating away at what was real and not real consumed me. When I read my mind is huge on visualizing and placing me into the story and it has been a while since I was this immersed in the imagery and storyline. This is definitely the perfect book for spooky season and I know several book influencers who will jump all over this read! Horror fans order your next nightmare now and be prepared to sleep with the lights on!

I really enjoyed the storyline. The characters were written so well I could picture them in my mind; especially Alice and Mina. The ending took me by complete surprise. There is a story within the story for Mina. Alice is not all as she seems.

This was slow and tough to get through for the first 15% but once Alice is introduced to the story things puck up. I loved the mystery of Alice. It kept me guessing for quite a while as I read. Though, I did end up figuring things out before the conclusion. This was also pretty spooky. A pretty good read.

Unfortunately this one was not for me, I had a lot of trouble getting into it. DNFed at around 25% but I may go back to it during spooky season when it feels more appropriate.

I enjoyed the mystery and writing. If you like spooky stories, you will enjoy this read. The only reason I gave it 3 stars instead of 4 was that I found it a bit predictable.

I love this Author and this was easily in my top pick of hers. It was fast and kept me guessing until the end. Amazing ability to weave together a plot full of twists and unexpected outcomes.

The cover says it all, it suggests that this is going to be a creepy story & it was pretty unsettling throughout, I really enjoyed the story overall. I think a few areas could have been more cohesive and there were a few spacing errors but overall a great and creepy novel.

I didn't know what to expect when I started reading this book, but I am so glad I was given the opportunity to read it! Mina has a boring fiance, but is ready to settle into married life until she meets a man at grief counseling that changes her life. Mina is mourning the loss of her brother who died years ago, and is waiting for a sign from him that he is alright. Sam, her new friend, is a journalist that asks her to come along with him to a town where they are superstitious and still believe in witches. A teenage girl Alice, is believed to be possessed, but Mina and Sam are out to disclaim her, and attempt to help her find mental health help. They go to the girl's creepy little town where things get out of hand. Are the witches real or imagined by superstitious people? Read it and find out!