Member Reviews

Wow! This one had a choke hold on me from the beginning! Read it in less than 24 hours! If you’re looking for a wild ride, mystery thriller, with a hint of paranormal, this one is for you! The last line sealed the deal on 4 stars for me! Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

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This book was a thrilling ride from start to finish. Mina, a child psychologist, is recruited by Sam, a journalist, to assess a young girl, Alice, who claims to be haunted by a witch. Alice accepts, and travels to Alice’s town to meet her and try to find out what is going on. This book is truly spine-tingling at times, and leaves you wondering what exactly is going on in the eerie small town that has historical ties to witch trials. I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys a spooky read with twists and turns.

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Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an early release copy of Something In The Walls by Daisy Pearce.

It took me a while to get into Something In The Walls, the writing style and plot setting just came off as strange to read to me at first but around the midway point I had gotten use to it and I started to enjoy it more. The characters in here were enjoyable to read about, I liked our main protagonist Mina and I even liked the idea of the hinted romance that could have bloomed between Sam and Mina.

Something in the walls does have some good dark twist, and I was intrigued enough to finish it but something’s in here just didn’t do it for me. The witchy atmosphere was nice but I don’t think witchy thrillers are going to be for me, I expected some more supernatural like elements to be included but they were left out. I was hoping for the plot to go in a different direction, the ending felt decent however I still feel like I have some unanswered questions. Overall I give this 3.5 stars, it was a decent thriller but it just didn’t hit the mark for me. I’d definitely would give this author another try though!

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I am so glad I decided to read this disturbing and creepy story during the daytime. Could not put it down, and while I still have a few unanswered questions, I loved the unsettling atmosphere of this novel.

After meeting journalist Sam in a grief counseling group, Mina agrees to travel with him to a small town to examine a girl, Alice Webber, who believes she's being haunted or possessed by a witch. Mina has recently completed her degree in child psychology, and because she doesn't believe in supernatural forces per se, she agrees to meet with Alice to find the empirical origins of the strange things that have been happening to her. Mina and Sam stay with the Webber family and immediately are confronted with inexplicable happenings: from odd smells and sounds, to strange deaths, to Alice's seeming ability to contact the dead. Sam is more credulous, especially since he's hopeful that Alice could help him connect with the ghost of his deceased daughter. Mina, however, continues to look for rational answers. Her spidey senses are tingling, yet for all the potentially witchy indicators, there are clues leading her to all-too-human origins of Alice's affliction. Mina must sort out what's supernatural from what's merely evil, all while contending with the superstitions and old-fashioned beliefs of a town determined to rid itself of its witches.

There's plenty of horror to be had here, especially in the ambiguous moments when neither you nor Mina (the first-person narrator) are quite certain whether there is a witch on the loose in the Webbers' home. (Let's just say I'm happy to not have a chimney in my home right about now.) While the plot sharpens in the last 20% of the novel, there were still outstanding elements I wish had been explained. The more I think about it, though, the more I appreciate not having full resolution. After all, part of what makes this so terrifying is the not knowing.

Recommend this for anyone who relishes reading an eerie and unnerving novel...and then sleeping with the lights on, just to be safe.

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Good riddance.

A child psychologist somehow gets roped into visiting a small town, where a girl is believed to have supernatural powers, she can speak to the dead. The story had some spooky moments, the feeling of someone or something watching you, making the hairs on the back of your neck stand to attention, a shiver down your spine. I enjoyed the spooks, the seance, the haunted themes weaved within the story with a big surprise reveal that I did not see coming.

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4.25 stars

This was an unputdownable thriller with horror elements, which would appeal to fans of stories that walk the border between the paranormal and psychological. Ominous and scary, I would describe this as a thriller with horror elements.

A lot about this book appealed to me; Pearce's beautiful prose and descriptive language, the compelling essential mystery, heart-banging scenes of anticipation. Mina is a sympathetic MC, and we experience her frustration and rage as she begins to lose the sympathy of the other characters. This was altogether a great read.

One minor foible I take issue with is when writers make allusions to their favorite works without making a satisfying connection between the two. Are two sort of revivals Lucy and Mina intentionally to draw attention to the fact that they ought not to be rivals, and are instead pawns of men who have power they were born to but do not deserve? Still, if you're going to reference Dracula so blatantly, do more with that reference. This is a personal foible, and not necessarily one that undermines the integrity of the book.

I feel conflicted about the ambiguity of the ending. While I wanted for the mirrored lines between paranormal/psychological and evil man/witch to remain blurred, I still yearn for a bit more clarity. Is there in fact any witch? Or are the manifestations of witchcraft only a result of abuse? The way that childhood abuse can manifest in hallucinations allows us to explain away almost every character's witness of the supernatural. But what about Sam? Traumatized, yes. But he sees the video evidence of the chimney. I will continue mulling over this one. There is not much I love more than a story that lingers.

Thank you to NetGalley, Daisy Pearce, and Minotaur Books for the advanced copy!

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Glancing through other reviews of this novel, it seems that my feeling is a common one: a very promising premise loses steam and finally concludes in a way that is pretty unsatisfying. I wish I could say it worked better for me-- the beginning is exciting though!!

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I had to think about this one for a couple of days before writing a review.

I LOVED this book. The characters had depth, the story was engaging and interesting, and I was submerged in the plot- fully.

The details and descriptions were terrifying and I loved how this was written, the pacing, and the witch.

From the beginning I knew there was something going on past what was right in front of my eyes, and I got this sickly sweet feeling from a character early on that gave way to to twist when it happened- mostly because I’ve dealt with SA and trauma myself so this wasn’t a “surprise” twist as much as it was a “I knew they were horrible” twist.

At the end, there were so many things I wanted answers to, I wanted to know if Sam and Mina saw each other again, I wanted to know if his daughter forgave him- much in the way I was satisfied with Eddie’s forgiveness. I wanted to know what happened to Alice and if the witch was still there or if she had moved on. I wanted to know what happened to the riddance and if there were descendants of Bert to carry on the tradition. I wanted to know what happened to the riddance girls after the realization of what occurred. And finally, I wanted the witch to crawl into Bert, fill him with wasps and make him suffer from the inside out while she crept back out of him and found her rest. After all, she did stop the riddance.

Can we get a second book? Can we see this witch start killing the bad men in the next town over?

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC and the privilege of reading this fantastic book.

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This was a fantastic folk horror that had me in it's grips from the very beginning. The author masterfully guides us through the small down of Banathel and the folklore surrounding it. I wasn't entirely sure where this story was going until I got there. The pacing was fantastic, and was just fast enough to keep me hopelessly engaged without skipping details. I look forward to reading more from this author!

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Something In The Walls by Daisy Pierce, I read the Kindle version and listen to the audio as well, and I must admit the audio version makes it so much creepier. The narrator, Ana Clement, gave the book such an eerie vibe not to mention her great performance. In the book we meet Amina it is the late 1990s. She’s about to get married to the very taciturn and clinical fiancé Oscar. Due to still mourning the loss of her brother Roger she attends a group for mourners and this is where she meets Sam. he is thereafter losing his young daughter and they get along immediately. So a few days later when he calls, and says he may have a job for her. She agrees to meet him, but he explains that it’s investigating a teenage girl who they believe is possessed at first, Amina doesn’t know how her psychology training or lack there of could benefit this girl, but she knows sometimes what you see isn’t what it actually is so she agrees to help Sam and the girl.. It isn’t until after she arrives and spends time in the home and with the family that she knows she may be in over her head and may not live to get out of it. The only thing I want to say about this book is, the whole book was awesome and although it didn’t end in the way, I thought it would I still got it, and I may have been a little letdown with the ending, but the whole book is so awesome. I really could let that go. This book had so many creepy moments in it IDK anyone who loves haunted house stories should definitely absolutely give this book a listen. for optimal creepiness get the audiobook the narrator as I said, does such a great job. #NetGalley, #McMillanAudio, #TheBlindReviewer, #DaisyPierce, #SomethingInTheWalls,

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Daisy Pearce’s Something in the Walls starts off strong, drawing readers into an eerie, oppressive atmosphere that perfectly complements its supernatural horror elements. The heat wave suffocating Britain mirrors protagonist Mina’s own internal anxieties, and the small village of Banathel is steeped in unsettling superstition, making for an atmospheric and immersive read.

The story moves at a great pace, keeping tension high as Mina and journalist Sam try to uncover what’s happening to young Alice. The horror elements—especially the creeping unease surrounding the supposed witch—are well-executed, delivering genuinely chilling moments. The novel’s eerie ambiance and psychological tension had me hooked in the first half.

However, as the story progressed, I found myself questioning certain plot points that felt implausible, pulling me out of the experience. The ending, in particular, left me feeling somewhat dissatisfied—it didn’t quite live up to the compelling buildup. While the atmosphere and horror were strong throughout, the resolution felt rushed and less impactful than I’d hoped.

Overall, Something in the Walls is an engaging, unsettling read with strong horror elements, but it stumbles in its execution toward the end. If you enjoy slow-burning psychological horror with a heavy dose of folklore and an ominous setting, this one is worth picking up—just temper your expectations for the conclusion.

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MY REVIEW:

“Absolutely chilling to the bone and fascinating.

Something in the Walls has me trembling. If this was turned into a movie - I honestly would need to watch it in the daylight.

As soon as Mina, a new child-psychologist determined to have her career take off, stepped foot onto the Webber property I could feel the eerie vibes pouring out of the book.

Something in the Walls emphasizes hugely on how fear can lead people to make unpredictable decisions that can lead to something twisted and potentially deadly.

What’s it about:
Set in the Town of Banathel, Mina, a new child-psychologist determined to have her career take off, arrives to assist the Webbers with their eldest daughter. The daughter, Alice Webber, believes she is being haunted by a witch.

This town is known for its history of witchcraft and things alike.

The roots in this town are deep. The superstitions still thrive in Banathel in the current day and there are still traditions to uphold to get rid of the evil in their town. Just things start to unravel, we learn how dark these traditions have been kept alive for decades and how far some are willing to go to get rid of the evil. ”

Thank you SO much for this opportunity - reviews will be posted closer to release date on February 25.

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This was a very slow moving book. I struggled staying engaged. I felt like the plot got lost pretty quickly into it and never found its way back. It took a weird turn and the ending left me feeling unsatisfied.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

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This one gets weirder and weirder as it goes on and it almost never lets up. Though, it’s most impactful about 40% of the way in, and then all the tension and suspense the author carefully builds up tapers off.

Something in the Walls follows newly graduated, child psychologist, Mina, to the isolated town of Banathel, where she is tasked with determining whether a young girl (Alice), claiming to be haunted by the spirit of a witch, is experiencing manifestations of the supernatural or merely sick and requiring a mental health intervention.

Meanwhile, she is dealing with her own problems—Making peace with the loss of her brother to a tragic accident, and the dismantling of her engagement to her scientist fiancé.

If you’re a close reader, you’ll put the clues together, or at least suspect what’s really happening. And then, it’s simply a matter of watching it unfold. Whether you choose to read on once you know, however, depends on your attachment to Mina. I enjoyed being in her perspective. But I did wonder quite a bit about her journalist companion, Sam, who is also caught up in the events plaguing Alice and the town. But neither of them were as smart as they seemed. In fact, they both make some questionable decisions at times. Several, which were especially infuriating. Still, I haven’t read something this twisted and fun in a while. It reads like a modern day witch hunt with some unexplainable moments that mess with the reader’s confidence in the narrator.

Pros:
Solid plotting
Creepy setting
Atmospheric
Folk horror elements
Gripping opening
Intriguing mystery
(Some) Heart-pounding moments
Steady pacing
Purposeful character work
Visceral prose

Would I recommend this?

For fans of the folk horror genre, yes! You might just get a kick out of something that blends the natural and supernatural to make a point. And, if you’ve never read something by this author before. It’s always good to be aware of new talent.

To the general public, maybe not. There are better books out there to sink your teeth in. Supernatural mysteries that are not only compelling, but end challenging the reader’s sense of what is and what could be.

Final rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 3.3

Thanks to St. Martins Press and Netgalley for an eARC.

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Mina heads to a small town in hopes of helping a 13-year-old girl who believes that she is being haunted by a witch. As a child psychologist, Mina is hoping to get to the bottom of the girl's bizarre behavior, but the superstitious small town begins making her second guess herself. I was really excited to read this book, but I felt that it moved really slow. It was hard to stay engaged toward the end. Then after getting through it and getting interested, the book goes a completely different direction with little to no explanation. I would've liked to have more explanation instead of the abrupt ending or seen it stay on track with the first 3/4 of the book. Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

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13 year old Alice Webber is believed to be possessed by a witch. Inexperienced, child psychologist, Mina, is brought to town to figure out what's really going on. As she digs deeper, she discovers something far more unsettling.

Story starts as a tale about witches in a town that has a deep history of superstition and witchcraft. It has a very creepy/horror vibe, but then 75% in it takes a left turn and steers toward a much more disturbing history. This felt like 2 separate books. The ending was not only disappointing but it also offered no explanation on what was actually happening. Was Alice a witch or not??

Thank You St Martins Press and NetGalley for the free e-galley.
Pub Date: Feb 25, 2025

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"Unbearably tense, utterly propulsive, and studded with folklore and horror, Something in the Walls is perfect for anyone who loves Midsommar and The Haunting of Hill House.

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."

I love small little towns that time has forgotten but that haven't forgotten their dark rituals...

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Well....sometimes you want something to be better than it is.

Something in the Walls had all the potential to be good. A 13 year old is believed to be possessed. A very green child psychologist teams up with a journalist to find out what's really going on.

See....sounds like a good story, right?? TOO BAD!

It's almost like if...The Wonder was more modern....and everyone was the worst.

Yikes.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

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This book is barely a mystery/thriller. Such a slow moving storyline it was really hard to get through. I wanted to DNF at so many points but forced myself to finish hoping it would get better. There were too many characters and not enough plot points.

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The vibes of this book are on point. The entire book has an eerie, insidious, creepy feeling. The writing is gorgeous and descriptive and completely hooks you in. I was captivated from the beginning of this book and couldn’t read it fast enough. The premise was intriguing and the building of the story was perfect. However, the ending left me feeling disappointed and unfulfilled. I feel as if we spent 75% of the book invested in one story, only to have it completely change directions at the end. I felt as if there were many questions that went unanswered and much of what the book had been invested in was left unaddressed. Pearce did such an astonishing job with the build up throughout the book, the prose was gorgeous and insidious, the dread was thick and viscous, but with the unexpected turn at the end, all of that simply vanished. Overall, this was a captivating read that kept me hook, but in the end it left me feeling dissatisfied.

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