I enjoyed The Witch's Orchard, it was an interesting mix of mystery and Appalachian lore. I was unsurprised by who the culprit was but I was kept guessing just enough that I never fully committed to that character. I would definitely recommend this book to others

A wonderfully told story by Archer Sullivan! What made it so wonderful was the quality of the writing and the story as it unfolded. Annie, A PI, is hired by Max to find his sister who was kidnapped when she was about 6. And she wasn’t the only little girl to disappear at that time. When Annie arrives in the small hick town and begins her investigation people become upset. How do we know this? Things begin to happen to try and sabotage Annie’s work, another little girl disappears and another applehead doll is left in her place. What is with the story of the witch in the orchard and the crows? It’s beautifully tied throughout the novel and the resolution at the end was very satisfying. Well done, please write another Archer!

This was really an exciting and gripping novel. The ending, your jaw will drop! I don't think this will be a series but if the author is reading this, please..... we need more Annie Gore!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you to Archer Sullivan and to Minotaur Books for the eARC.
Having lived in North Carolina for over five years and being fascinated by the mountains I was very excited to read this one. Right away we're introduced to Annie who is a strong female lead. She is hired to find a young man's missing sister in their small town that's full of secrets, blackmail longing and heartache. It's haunting and eerie. With every page you read it feels like there's something lurking around the corner. It's well written and I thoroughly enjoyed how the imagery was built along with elements of small town folklore that were weaved into the story. Each chapter provides more anticipation and longing to find the answers than the last and kept me hanging on a cliff edge. The ending was very unexpected I really had no idea what to expect or how this could possibly end. One of the best mysteries I've read in a while, that kept me guessing and guessing again.

A huge thank you to NetGalley, Archer Sullivan, and Minotaur Books for providing the eARC in exchange for my honest review. I truly enjoyed this read and can't wait for more! 📖💕

I had the opportunity to dive into The Witch's Orchard, the debut mystery thriller by Archer Sullivan. Let me just say, it did not disappoint! 😍
From the moment I opened the pages, I was drawn into the life of Annie Gore, a former Air Force Special Investigator turned private investigator. Her journey back to her Appalachian roots, where echoes of a tragic past linger, is as compelling as it is haunting. 🌄💔

Ten years have passed since three little girls went missing from a close-knit mountain town, with only one ever returning. The weight of the unsolved mystery looms over the town like a dense fog, and Annie is hired by the brother of one of the missing girls to discover the truth. As she navigates the secrets, folklore, and the eerie vibes of the Appalachian holler, we see Annie confront her own demons too. Can she piece together the puzzle without becoming engulfed by the darkness of her past? 🌌🦉

While there are moments that felt a bit predictable, the storytelling kept me thoroughly engaged. Sullivan’s ability to weave suspense with rich descriptions of the Appalachian landscape compelled me to soak in every line. It’s clear this author has a remarkable talent for crafting captivating narratives.

🌟 Why I Loved It:
+Engaging Protagonist: Annie is incredibly relatable and complex. Her history adds depth to the story, and I found myself rooting for her every step of the way.
+Atmospheric Setting: The Appalachian holler painted a vivid backdrop that enhanced the eerie and suspenseful elements of the plot. You can practically feel the chill in the air! ❄️🌲
+Mystery and Intrigue: The intertwining of local folklore with the mystery kept me guessing, and I appreciated the layers that kept unfolding as Annie dug deeper.

With such a strong debut, I am excited to see where Archer Sullivan takes us next! I hope to see more of PI Annie Gore in future thrillers, as her character hints at so much more to explore. The abrupt ending left me craving resolution and more insight into her past with Leo. I have a feeling this is just the beginning of a thrilling series that readers will absolutely adore! 🕵️‍♂️❤️

If you’re a lover of mysteries, thrillers, or even just a good story with a hint of the supernatural, I highly recommend The Witch's Orchard—eagerly anticipating its release on August 12, 2025, just in time for Halloween! 🎃🍂

Loved this book. With a feisty female protagonist at its center it was engaging hand hard to pout down. Missing children always tug at the heartstrings and when coupled with them being cold cases the story was riveting. The book was well written with an intricately woven, mystery plot that had a zinger at the end. Can’t recommend this highly enough and hope to see more from this author in the future.

I received an arc of this book and voluntarily provided a review.

The Witch's Orchard gives us a refreshing heroine in the form of Annie. We learn about her as she weaves thru the mystery of 3 girls disappearances a decade before.
The author doesn't take us on lengthy flashbacks, just little peeks into her past that form a relevant theme to the story.
I very much hope this is the first in a series. Annie is someone that I would like to learn more about.

This was super atmospheric, fresh, and twisty - I never knew what was going to happen next. I really liked Annie's voice and the way we jump into her own story and slowly get bits of her backstory revealed. This was mostly a 4 star story for me until the 80% mark, when we rapidly started to move to the culmination of the story, and I was completely hooked.

I received this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

Goodness. Gracious.

This book was almost too much for me.
First of all, I read a lot of witchy books as well as a lot of thriller/suspense…. So to anyone who reads this review. This is NOT a witchy book. This is 100% a full on suspense/crime/thriller.

And TW: kidnapping

The way Sullivan writes is truly captivating and holds your attention all the way through. Retrospectively speaking, I don’t really know how the story is so long, I could sum it up and spoil it in less than a paragraph. However Sullivan truly makes each moment feel important. Like you need to take stock in what you’ve just read.

And overall, I would say that’s a theme in this book. It game me “criminal mind” vibes, but instead of an FBI team you’re seeing through the lens of a PI. The PI is the main character, Annie, and she is the absolute best. She’s tiny, not overly strong, but resilient. Nothing stops her.

The alignment of this entire novel is just hauntingly beautiful. I would recommend this book for sure, however, I would recommend it with caution. This is not for everyone. I almost stopped reading several times. I’m glad I didn’t. For some reason the end made the middle not so…. Traumatic? Sullivan truly wrapped a brutal story in bright pretty packaging.

The Witch’s Orchard, first in the new Annie Gore PI series by debut author Archer Sullivan, is an exciting 5-star mystery featuring missing children, a mountain town with secrets, and plenty of folklore surrounding witches and crows.

The arrival of Former Air Force Special Investigator Annie Gore in an Appalachian holler stirs the town and dredges up her own painful past. She’s been hired by a young boy whose sister was abducted and soon finds that she’s investigating all three missing children cases from a decade earlier. The thing is, the closer she gets to uncovering what happened, the harder someone goes to make sure the past stays buried.

What a fantastic setting. It’s obvious that Archer has written about what she knows best. She’s ninth generation Appalachian and she’s brought that unique connection into the story in a way that integrates it into her characters’ experience. The soul of the mountain town is in her characters’ hearts and all of them grapple with it as they try to understand the evil that’s pervaded their existence. Not only that, the town highlights what’s happened. For example, the gifts the abductor leaves and the character the townspeople point fingers at could only happen here, not in a big city.

Annie Gore is more than just a solver of mysteries; she’s a multi-layered, compelling character whose uniqueness engages readers, and yet she’s familiar enough that we instantly form a connection. The story was as much a piece of detective work for me as it was for Annie. I enjoyed collecting clues about her personality and how she approached a task by watching her dialogue and interaction with the mountain people. She isn’t an annoying ‘in your face’ detective like some famous sleuths and she doesn’t seem to enjoy drama. I like that! This series has so much to offer, I’m going to stick with it. I’m looking forward to getting to know Annie better.

I can’t believe this stellar story, an extremely compelling mystery, is written by a debut author! Congratulations. You have a gift. I love how you bring a fresh setting and unique characters to crime fiction.

I was gifted this copy by St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

This was a mystery/thrillers that sneaks up on you. Quiet, solid storytelling, with believable characters. An intriguing premise and just the right amount of action. This was a nice introduction to a lead character I look forward to reading much more about.

Thank you Netgalley and St Martins Press for the advance copy of this book.

Former Air Force Special Investigator Annie Gore joined the military right after high school to escape the fraught homelife of her childhood. Now, she’s getting by as a private investigator and her latest case takes her to an Appalachian holler not unlike the one where she grew up.

Ten years ago, three little girls went missing from their tiny mountain town. While one was returned, the others were never seen again. After all this time without answers, the brother of one of the girls wants to hire an outsider, and he wants Annie. While she may not be from his town, she gets mountain towns. Mountain people. Driving back into the hills for a case this old—it might be a fool’s errand. But Annie needs to put money in the bank and she can’t turn down a case. Not even one that dredges up her own painful past.

In the shadow of the Blue Ridge, Annie begins to track the truth, navigating a decade’s worth of secrets, folklore of witches and crows, and a whole town that prefers to forget. But while the case may have been buried, echoes of the past linger. And Annie’s arrival stirs someone into action.
This book was captivating from page one! Really good character development. Good storyline as well. I would definitely recommend this book to others! 4 out of 5 ⭐️

This book had me at the first page, and I could not put it down.

First off crows ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

Second off ..honey IYKYK

3rd..I didn't see the ending coming which is great

What twist 😳

This book will be released in August 2025. And I highly recommend checking it out

I'd like to thank net galley and saint Martin's press for letting me read this story it did not disappoint

Such a great book. Couldn't stop reading it. Thank you for my advance reader copy. Can't wait to look up other books from this author.

Initially the description piqued my interest, I always love a good suspense book, and this one did not disappoint! When I read a suspense book, I have my guesses on the suspect, but I usually know it is going to come from left field. The Witch's Orchard definitely had me second guessing my choices and I did not see the outcome at the end. It also highlights a really good point that people aren't always what they seem, especially in a small town.

I would definitely recommend this book to others!

I want to thank Archer Sullivan, the publisher, and NetGalley for the eARC and the ability to review before the release date!

This was a good, solid suspense book. The characters were well developed, and you truly didn't know until the end what had happened with the missing girls. Definitely recommend!

Thank you to Net Galley and St Martin's Press for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

When I requested the arc for The Witches Orchard by Archer Sullivan, I was really excited about what this story would have in store. Set against the eerie Appalachian Mountains backdrop, this story weaves together elements of folklore, suspense, and personal struggle, creating a truly captivating read.

I think the way Annie Gore was written allows the reader to relate to her compelling and deeply flawed character. A private investigator haunted by her own troubled past, Annie is drawn back to her childhood home to investigate a decade-old missing persons case. As she dives deeper into the mystery, she uncovers long-buried secrets and confronts the dark legends that shroud the town.

Overall, The Witches Orchard is well-written and I loved reading it! Big thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this Advanced Reader’s Copy of The Witch’s Orchard by Archer Sullivan due to be published August 12, 2025.

Ten years ago, three little girls went missing from their tiny mountain town. While one was returned, the others were never seen again. Max Andrews hires Air Force Special Investigator, Annie Gore, to find his sister, one of the still missing girls. Annie knows all about the folklore from the area, so she is the perfect one to help find the two missing girls. Will she survive her own investigation?
I loved the “folksy” characters in this book – they were truly brought to life. There were enough twists and turns to keep me interested until the end. I enjoyed the folklore and how different people in the town remembered the disappearances. Annie was an interesting person to get to know – she had a great backstory, and I hope this will be the first in a series featuring her as the main character!

#NetGalley #ArcherSullivan #StMartinsPress #TheWitchsOrchard

A medium-paced, dark mystery of missing girls in a small Appalachian town. Plot-driven with strong character building. An unforseen twist ending.

On my seat the entire time I read this book. I felt like I was with Annie as she tried to solve the disappearance of the towns young girls. The addition of the witch and applehead dolls only added to the suspense. At times I found myself questioning characters and their motives, even though I knew they hadn’t done it. Great job!