This was such a fun time. I hand such a hard time putting it down. The atmosphere is creepy small town with secrets to hide following the mysterious disappearances of three young girls 10 years ago.

I love the weaving in of the Witch's folktale and how everyone had a different iteration.

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

If you enjoy creepy mysteries steeped in folklore, 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵'𝘀 𝗢𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱 should be on your fall reading list!! Admittedly I went into this one expecting more of a magical, witchy read (it is not that!), but was pleasantly surprised by the gripping, small town murder mystery that unfolds against the haunting hills and hollers of the Appalachian mountains of North Carolina. Even if it still feels like summer outside, this one is sure to put a chill in your bones!!

🍎 Ten years ago, three young girls mysteriously vanished from a small town, and three eerie apple head dolls were left in their place. Now the case has gone cold, so Max Andrews hires private investigator Annie Gore, who happens to have Appalachian roots herself, to find his long lost sister.

As Annie interviews the town’s residents, she discovers a local legend about an old witch and her cursed apple orchard, the daughters she stole, and a crow. While everyone recalls the legend slightly differently, Annie is convinced that it’s at the center of this mystery. The deeper she dives into this town’s dark past, the more her own complicated past begins to surface, clouding her judgment and making her question everything she thinks she knows about herself and the culture she grew up in.

🐦‍⬛ I loved pulling back all the different layers of these characters, the town, and their secrets. Annie is an intriguing, complex MC and all the different versions of the local legend kept me guessing. The creepy factor and tension slowly build throughout the story, right up to an ending I did not see coming! I think this may be the start of a new series featuring our PI Annie Gore, and if it is, I’ll be very excited for her next case!

Thank you Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the eARC!

I both read this and listened to the book.
Phenomenal book. I loved the setting, the characters. So much depth. So many complicated relationships. So many secrets. The ending was not what I expected at all but it fit in with the rest of the story. The narration was great. Phenomenal writing. This is just an amazing book that I absolutely loved and couldn’t put down.

This thriller debut by @archer_sullivan was exactly my kind of book. An atmospheric thriller set in Appalachia that combines folklore, a sense of place and wonderfully drawn characters with a really good mystery.

Private Investigator, Annie Gore is approached by a young man whose little sister was one of three little girls kidnapped years ago, an old apple head doll left at the scene of each abduction. One little girl was soon returned but the other two have not been seen since. Annie is the perfect person to investigate this crime. She grew up in an Appalachian holler much like the community where the crimes occurred. She understands the nuances and idiosyncrasies of mountain people and the way they live and think. And much like the local folktale about a witch that seems to change with every telling, so do the threads of these crimes- where both everyone and no one is a suspect. All Annie knows for sure is her presence has stirred up a hornets nest and the answer to these decade old crimes are beginning to surface and it’s clear someone is afraid.

I loved this book. First the setting was perfection. I spent the majority of my life living in Kentucky and N. C. and the small mountain town she has created rings very true and lends a wonderful atmosphere of insular paranoia and dread. I was hooked. The mystery itself was dark and twisted and I loved that the local folklore weaved its way into the story and each reiteration of it revealed something new. And this book surprised me in a way not many thriller’s do any more and there was one twist I never saw coming and I loved that. The character of Annie was so strong- she is damaged and resilient and complex and I hope this is the start of a series set around her. It was hard to believe that this was a debut. I highly recommend. Thank you to @netgalley and @minotaur_books for this arc.

“The Witch’s Orchard” by Archer Sullivan, Narrated by Emily Pike Stewart

This one’s got all the moody mountain vibes and enough folklore to keep things interesting. I’m a sucker for a good legend, and Archer Sullivan delivers with a story set in a tiny Appalachian town that’s been sitting on secrets for a decade.

Annie Gore is our lead, and she’s a firecracker. She used to chase down answers for the Air Force, and now she’s doing it as a private investigator. Her latest case is a missing girl from long ago, in a town that’s about as welcoming as a locked door. Annie’s stubborn streak doesn’t win her many friends, but it makes for a main character you can’t help but root for. A decade back, three little girls vanished. Only one made it home, and she hasn’t said a word since.

“Both times,” Max says, “an applehead doll was left in their place.”

Creepy enough?

Emily Pike Stewart crushes the narration. Each character has their own edge, and her mountain drawl pulls you right into the holler. I swear I could almost feel the mud on my boots. It’s the kind of performance that makes you keep listening when you should probably be doing something else.

If you like your mysteries with a side of secrets and a dash of folklore, this one’s for you. The story is just spooky enough to keep things fun without crossing into nightmare territory. Perfect for Spooktober if you want chills, not full-on horror.

Thanks to the author and Macmillan Audio/St. Martin's Press for providing this ARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

#TheWitchsOrchard #ArcherSullivan #NetGalley #MacmillanAudio #StMartinsPress

Emily Pike Stewart -Audiobook Review - Cap Cut - Appalachian Gothic - Superstition - Cold Case - Audiobook ARC

This was so enjoyable! I was invested from the first chapter. I really liked Annie's character and she kept me reading. She was gritty and complex enough to keep me wanting to know more about her, and I would absolutely read another novel surrounding her.

I also really enjoyed the folklore aspect and the different retellings we got throughout the book. This was a wonderful debut and I can't wait for what comes next for Sullivan!

If you are in the mood for an atmospheric mystery novel with kidnapped girls at the center set in the Appalachians, this book is for you. That is exactly the book I was in the mood for when I went into this debut novel and Sullivan delivered. The sense of place was so strong in her writing, and that makes sense since she is a ninth-generation Appalachian herself.

The story follows Former Air Force Special Investigator Annie Gore, now a PI, as she investigates the decade old dissappearance of two girls. She knows she is going to kick a hornets nest with her questions, but she does it anyway. I enjoyed how Annie would have everyone in town tell their version of a local legend about a witch, showing that so much can change based on who is doing the retelling.

The mystery of what happened to those girls, combined with the sense of place made this novel a win for me. It sounds like this is the start of a series, and I will absolutely pick up the next one to follow Annie on her next case.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for an early copy of this book in exchange for a honest review. I really enjoyed this book much more than I thought I would. I loved the storyline and the characters. I read this book in one sitting, I had to know what was going to happen. I would definitely recommend this book.

The Witch’s Orchard by Archer Sullivan is set in the Appalachian mountains of North Carolina. Former Air Force Special Investigator Annie Gore has taken all the skills she learned from her military experience and uses them as a private investigator. She grew up in a small town, not so good home life, and her new assignment is reminiscent of her own childhood.
Ten years ago, three young girls went missing from a tiny mountain town. One girl is returned, but she doesn’t speak, so police have nothing to help with their investigation. Now, a brother of one of the missing girls has hired Annie to help find out what happened to his sister Molly. With little to go on, Annie isn’t so sure she will find anything, but as the small town becomes abuzz with the PI outsider, everyone becomes a suspect and seems to be hiding something. The town folk all seem to tell Annie their own version of the “Witch of Quartz Creek” and how she killed her own daughters, but something keeps niggling at Annie, could the Witch be real and be responsible for the missing girls as well?
The setting of this book is outstanding. It adds to the mystery and lure of witches and crows, and secrets of the guarded townies while you experience the evil undertones in every chapter. Annie herself is a multi layered character, her investigative skills are on point and she picks up on things no one else does. She is such a likeable character, you can’t help but cheer her on and hope she finds out what really happened all those years ago. Such a well written, compelling, gripping mystery that wil keep you guessing until the end. I truly hope this is the beginning of a series of Annie Gore mysteries!
I would like to thank Netgalley, Minotaur Books and Archer Sullivan for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. 5 solid stars and a wishlist for more of Annie Gore!

This book is perfect for September to November! It gives the creepy vibe that fits with the season. And the twists along the way just add more to the overall feeling.
I believe this is a debut book for the author! It was a very good first! I’ve already added her to my list to watch for future books!

I chose to listen to this arc after it was published. Narration was great!

Annie Gore, an Air Force Veteran turned private investigator, takes on a cold case in a remote Appalachian town where two girls vanished a decade ago. As she digs into the mystery, she’s forced to confront old secrets, eerie mountain folklore, and her own troubled past.

This is probably my favorite thriller that I've read in awhile. I had such a great time following Annie’s investigation—she’s sharp, relatable, and her interactions with the locals were spot-on. She’s not your typical flashy detective, and that made her feel real and relatable. I always try to solve the mystery myself, but this one kept me guessing right up to the end, which I absolutely love!

The setting is just incredible. You can tell Archer knows these mountains inside and out. Her deep Appalachian roots shine through in the way the town and its people are written—it’s not just a backdrop, it’s part of the story’s soul. The folklore, the eerie gifts, the finger-pointing—it all felt like it could only happen in a place like this. I LOVED the addition of the crows and the witch. Archer Sullivan totally nailed it with this debut. The writing was vivid, the pacing just right, and the mystery had me hooked. I’m officially a fan and really hoping this isn’t the last we see of Annie Gore - I would love a whole series of her! Highly recommend this one, just in time for spooky season.

Rating: 4.5/5
Spice: 1/5

Tropes:
Unassuming Suspect
Incompetent Police
Loner Detective
Spooky Folklore
Ticking Clock
Tarot Readers

Thank you so much NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, and Archer Sullivan for this eARC. All thoughts are my own.

The Witch's Orchard
By: Archer Sullivan

4 Stars

Annie is a PI hired by a young boy to find his missing sister. She knows the case will be hard to solve. The thing about the case is that it is years old with more than one girl missing, and the town is a tight-lipped mountain town where people watch out for their neighbors. Soon, Annie finds herself in the mountains chasing clues and stirring up a town that holds its secrets close, never really knowing who their neighbors truly are.

This story was mysterious and creepy and tragic. This was about a town filled with myths and secrets. A town that may very well be hiding the witch they all learned about as a child, just in a more familiar form. One they never expected. This book told such a real and dark story using mysticism and the darkness of an all too real tragedy to make a story of hope and loss. One of love and betrayal. By the end, I was swept away by this story as a whole. It was not what I first expected, but it was well worth the read. It will keep you enthralled until the last page.

*I want to thank Netgalley and the author for this book in return for my honest review*

Stormi Ellis
Boundless Book Review

I love a good stories telling and the ever changing witches story. I would have never imagined that ending and I'm not here to spoil it but I do hope it leaves you speechless

I really enjoyed this debut novel! The Witch’s Orchard by author Archer Sullivan is the perfect book to start off fall/spooky season. A small town murder mystery that had me guessing whodunnit until the end with a surprising twist.

I am impressed this novel was a debut and I look forward to reading more by author Archer Sullivan.

Annie is ex military who is now a PI. When a young man from a small town in Appalachia hires her to find his sister who's been missing for 10 years, she takes the case for a week and stays in the small mountain town which is similar to the one she grew up in. As she investigates the case, she learns that actually 3 girls were missing, although one was returned (she didn't speak).
The setting was typically Appalachian with each character uniquely portrayed, and with a little bit of added folklore in the story of the Witch of Quartz Creek (which changed with each person's telling of the story).
As she meets the different towns people, and investigates her hypotheses, she ruffles some feathers-after all- she's an outsider. She does track down possible suspects to the mystery and I thought that the investigation was thorough and her reasoning was believable.
The ending was intense, and surprising,

An ex-military investigator is hired to solve the mysterious disappearance of three young girls. The location of the story is a small town in Appalachia
where folk remedies and beliefs are still strong influences in townspeople's lives. In the spot where each child has disappeared, a shriveled dried apple head doll remains. The local law has not thoroughly investigated for mysterious reasons. It's a fascinating melding of folk stories and suspiciously with real-world problems. My thanks to the author and NetGalley for a complimentary review copy.

In The Witch’s Orchard, Archer Sullivan introduces Annie Gore, a private investigator drawn into the haunting mystery of three missing girls in the North Carolina mountains. Folklore, trauma, and small-town silence intertwine as Annie uncovers secrets long buried in the holler. Fans of Tracker will especially enjoy Annie’s mix of toughness and vulnerability.

Read my full review on my blog ➡️ https://writeontheworld.wordpress.com/2025/09/05/the-witchs-orchard-by-archer-sullivan-is-a-chilling-appalachian-mystery/

I was drawn to this novel when I learned that it was set in Appalachia. I have previously read the novels by Julia Keller that were set here and found them to be gripping. I was also intrigued to read that the author of this title is a ninth generation Appalachian.

I was less sure about the plot which involved three young girls who were sequentially taken from their homes about ten years before the start of this story. Child abduction is not my favored mystery sub-genre.

That said, I loved spending time with the PI who is hired by the brother of one of the missing girls. Annie Gore is tough and resourceful with an interesting backstory. Many of the other characters are equally well portrayed and they are many. There are the families of the girls, the local law enforcement, a friend and mentor of Annie’s, and others.

The settings in the book are as well delineated as are the characters. I could see the cabin where Annie was staying in my mind, for example.

What will happen as misdeeds from the past are aroused again? Read this one to find out.

I hope that Sullivan will continue to write now that her debut has been published. I highly recommend this first book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press-Minotaur for this title. All opinions are my own.

Author Archer Sullivan’s debut novel, The Witch’s Orchard, is a highly atmospheric, bewitching novel rich in the cultural traditions and folklore passed down through generations in the small, off-the-beaten-path towns deep in the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina. Within a few pages, I was mesmerized by the picturesque narrative, with visions of early misty mornings, the sun peeking over majestic mountaintops, foggy holler bottoms, and old apple orchards with the cry of crows echoing throughout the mountains. Sullivan awakens readers’ five senses in this gripping, melodic, heartfelt mystery, with authentic scenes and characters that make The Witch’s Orchard not only impossible to put down but also unforgettable.

Former Air Force investigator Annie Gore accepts a plea to investigate the decade-old disappearance of three young girls in a small Appalachian town much like the one she escaped by joining the Air Force after graduating from high school. Annie, now working as a private investigator, is hired by Max, the brother of one of the missing girls, to find out what happened to his sister. In each kidnapping case, a young girl vanished into thin air, with an old apple-head doll left at the scene. When Annie arrives in the small, tight-knit town, the feeling of déjà vu is overwhelming—the town’s resemblance to the one she fled is undeniable. She knows how guarded mountain people can be—wary of strangers and fiercely protective of their privacy. Her job won’t be easy, and as she feared, Annie’s attempts to question locals stir up a hornet’s nest. Soon, accusations and gossip—fed by mountain superstitions and folktales—intertwine with personal recollections and conflicting versions of what may have happened to the girls, including the chilling rumor that they were taken by the “Witch of Quartz Creek.”

When another young girl suddenly disappears, the town shatters under the weight of fear, accusations, and finger-pointing. Annie must find the girls and uncover the truth behind these strange occurrences before another child is taken. Of one thing she is certain: this small Appalachian town is hiding ugly secrets, and someone is desperate to keep them buried. Driven by her own need to know—and haunted by the deafening cries of the crows—Annie’s search unearths decades-old secrets as the past threatens to repeat itself. Time is running out.

Debut author Archer Sullivan has crafted a chilling, culturally rich, immersive mystery that will have readers burning the midnight oil. The tone she maintains throughout is electric, alive with malice and a creeping sense of unease that builds page by page until the frenzied climax. The characters are authentic and well-developed, with deep, believable connections to the land, and Annie Gore is a protagonist I hope readers will see more of in the future. Sullivan brilliantly weaves the folklore and superstitions of the region into the plot in a way that engages the senses without overwhelming the central mystery—no doubt drawing on her own ninth-generation Appalachian heritage.

The Witch’s Orchard is an intense, emotionally charged, beautifully written mystery with heart. It’s a story of mountain lore, dark secrets, resilience, hope, and letting go. I highly recommend the audiobook, narrated by Emily Pike Stewart, whose performance brings the heart of these people and this region to life. Fans of thrillers and atmospheric mysteries will devour this one!

Folklore books are always something I forget I love as much as I do until I pick one up. This was a fantastic example of using folklore in a mystery investigation that even veered a little into folk-horror at times. We get a great cast of characters and Sullivan does a great job of really capturing thie insider vs outsider element of small, rural towns. I found the investigation aspect to be really well plotted and I loved the sort of 'shake the tree and see what falls out' method of our MC. There were a couple times where I found myself wondering where else the investigation could possibly go from here and there would be a character or investigation thread that would come back at just the right moment so the plot could progress, but it never felt overly contrived or convenient.