I lost the plot at about 60%. The book started very strongly and I don’t know if I got lost or what was going on but it seemed to wander off in a weird direction that didn’t really click for me.

This was such a good thriller! Paranormal books creep me out and this one was no different. The storyline was great and creepy. You knew something sinister was afoot and want to continue reading to figure out exactly what it is. I would definitely recommend this book.

Quick synopsis: Mina is newly engaged and a recent graduate with a degree in psychology. She tragically lost her brother when she was younger and this still has a large impact on her mentally. To help cope, she attends a support group and meets Sam, a journalist with one of the local newspapers. He’s asked Mina to go and assess Alice, a teenager in a small village, where a rumor has it she is possessed by a witch. Sam has his doubts and that is why he has asked Mina to come and give her evaluation on Alice. Mina accepts his offer and takes the first train to the village. Banathel is one rich in superstition, and so quaint everybody knows everybody.

This certainly delivers in the creep factor and the added effect of the curfew due to the heat helps play into that feeling. You can almost feel the oppression in the air from the heat, as well as the dread of whether or not Alice is haunted by the witch. I enjoyed Mina and Sam researching and digging into the town history regarding the witch I actually wanted more of this.! This is a town that hangs special stones on their door to ward out evil spirits and big into certain rituals. I wanted to know more of the past history of that, but that’s just a me thing. As for the ending it was good but not what I think I wanted, again that’s a me thing.

Overall, this was a really good read, and I will certainly be looking into reading more of this author.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

This was definitely different than anything I've ever read. I did enjoy it, but some of it felt sort of rushed and far fetched.

I had run into some health issues and wasn't able to read it before it was archived but what I had read so far was really enticing. I can only imagine where it could've went.

Good horror setting and vibes, and the premise had me hooked — but ended up feeling like a strange in between of horror and standard thriller/mystery to me and left a lot of questions unanswered. Ultimately it just felt a bit clunky and overwrought.

Possession or psychosis? The story is about a girl supposedly possessed by a witch, and Mina, a rookie psychologist dealing with her own grief, takes on the case. While initially engaging, the plot became predictable midway, and lost my interest. Nevertheless, it remained an enjoyable, effortless read, and I'd recommend it to fans of psychological thrillers. Looking forward to the author's future works!

Thank you Netgalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It had a wonderfully spooky atmosphere that truly captured the witchy supernatural vibe I love. The ending was completely unexpected and felt just right, leaving me with my mouth agape in shock during the last few chapters. While I would have given it a full five stars, I found myself with a few unanswered questions about Alice and her ex-friend. I really wish there had been an additional chapter to clarify a few details. Nonetheless, it was a phenomenal read! I highly recommend picking it up when it becomes available.

New and inexperienced child psychologist, Mina, hears of a teen girl in a remote town claiming to be haunted by a witch. Together with a journalist named Sam, they try to uncover the strange happenings and noises with logic and reasoning before the superstitious townsfolk turn on the girl to rid her of the witch’s chokehold possession.

Pearce’s writing gives fantastic visuals. The descriptions made me feel like I could be watching a horror movie. With a few flaws in character dialogue that felt like someone wouldn’t actually talk like a typed paragraph, along with how the story wrapped up, some loose strings were never revisited to help explain the supernatural, but overall, it was done well. It kept me engaged wanting to see what happened next.

This book is gory but not too much, so readers be advised. It also deals with death, murder, and child/animal abuse, and assault. This book centers on witches, witchcraft, and the extermination of witches.

Pub Day is February 25th, 2025!

Thank you @StMartinsPress and @NetGalley for sending an Advance Reader’s Copy for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

I loved this SO MUCH in the beginning. The story was so dark and atmospheric, and the characters felt so dark because they were having trouble dealing with personal losses. It got creepier and creepier ... and then it just seemed to drag on and on and on while the main character, Mina, talked on and on and on about her feelings. This was an interesting story, but it could have used some tightening up in the middle with less emphasis on Mina's weaknesses. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this.

This book gave me chills in the best way! I’m a sucker for anything with witchy, paranormal vibes, and this story didn’t disappoint. From the first chapter, I was pulled into the eerie little village of Banathel, where old superstitions and creepy traditions hang in the air like a storm waiting to break. It felt so real—I could almost hear the whispers and feel the tension as I turned the pages.

Mina’s journey really resonated with me. She’s inexperienced, uncertain, and dealing with so much personal baggage, which made her feel so relatable. And then there’s Alice, a young girl whose symptoms and haunting claims got under my skin. The way their lives connected, all against the backdrop of this deeply unsettling town, was just chef’s kiss.

The story got darker and twistier as it went along, and I couldn’t stop reading. At times, I caught myself holding my breath, wondering what was real and what was superstition. By the end, I was completely hooked, even if I wished for just a bit more closure on the witch element.

If you love spooky, atmospheric reads that keep you guessing, this one’s for you. It’s the perfect book to curl up with on a stormy night!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Mina is a in experienced physiologist dealing with a family whose daughter may or may not be able to communicate with spirits. But is it real or are the faking

Creepy and unsettling, this was a terrific read for a cold, dark night. Mina is a new graduate of child psychology and is engaged to Oliver, a cold, logical scientist. While she attending a grief support group (she is having trouble with her brother's death) she meets Sam who lost a child. Sam is a journalist and invites Mina to consult on the case of a young woman named Alice who sees and hears strange things. Alice lives in a small, isolated town called Banathel which is steeped in folk lore and ritual. Mina and Sam arrive and are asked to stay in Alice's home along with her younger sister, brother and parents. From the beginning Mina is confused as to what is happening. Alice is a nice teenager whose life has been changed when she is tricked into breaking a "witches ball" in a deserted fireplace. Alice hears noises and voices, strange things happen around her and the people in the village are taunting her family.

For Mina and Sam, being near Alice has also brought up long buried memories of their lost love ones and Sam in particular is convinced Alice can get a message to his late daughter. Mina investigates not only Alice and her family but the people in this small town including an older couple named Bert and Mary who seem to be close to Alice and her sister. I found the novel to be riveting and creepy as Alice became more and more under the spell of something and people began to die. The novel had an interesting twist to it which I thought was perfect and kept me reading and hoping for a good ending. Mina was a great character and I liked her devotion to helping Alice even as she was dealing with personal problems of her own. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this ARC for review.

It’s a shame this doesn’t come out until February, because it’s a perfect spooky season read.

Mina is a child psychologist sent out to help a troubled girl who the town believes is being haunted by a witch. This book is creepy and kept me on my toes. Definitely one for fans of horror, however unfortunately some questions were left unanswered at the end and that bothered me.

3.5⭐️

Thanks to NetGalley , Minotaur Books, and Macmillan Audio for my ARC/ALC!

#MacAudio2024

Something in the Walls follows a child psychologist to a small town to speak with a girl who claims to be haunted by a witch. I loved the creepiness of the horror parts and my heart was pounding through thrilling moments. My main issue is that I found part of the ending to be open ended and that was the portion I cared about.

I highly enjoyed the narration performed by Ana Clements.

I received and ARC and ALC from St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This story took a wild turn! Think exorcism meets witch trials! This book follows a woman who travels to another town to do a psychological assessment on a teenager that is said to be possessed. As her first case as a professional adolescent psychologist, Mina has set off to dispel and rumors of an actual possession, but may have anterior motives as well. This story has multiple subplots that branch off in a tangled mess that all comes full circle in the end. Overall, a dark and tense atmosphere with a storyline akin to a Law & Order SVU episode!

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this ARC

When Mina is approached about the unsettling story of a teenage girl acting erratically by a journalist named Sam, she jumps at the chance to get real experience as a child psychologist. The teenage girl in question, Alice, is acting strangely, overcome by illness or madness depending on who you ask. Outside her house, those who believe she’s a witch gather to beg for a miracle or condemn her. It’s a tense, buzzing novel like a wasp growing ever nearer, but only ever visible out of the corner of your eye.

Based on the title, description, and cover, I certainly anticipated eerie vibes, and I was all in for it! However, that wasn't quite the experience I had with Something in the Walls. While there was suspense and mystery, it didn't fully captivate me, and at times, I felt a bit bored. Some sections seemed unnecessary to the plot, which affected the overall flow. I did appreciate a few surprising twists, and there were moments that were genuinely creepy, with solid detailing.

A little gruesome, a lot boring, with a heroine who seemed TSTL at times. And what happened to Alice? I appreciate the ARC, but I regret reading this. I did not think it was good.

I read quite a lot of thrillers, but I can only recall one that creeped me out as much as this one did. 4 stars and will read more from Pearce in the future!

Eerie. Haunting. Gripping.

Thank you to Daisy Pearce and St. Martin's Press for the ARC. My review is honest and authentic.