A surprising amount of folklore in this book made this book outstanding in its presentation. Set in the Appalachian Mountains it is seeped in the story of the Witch of Quartz Creek, asked several times and each time repeated with a bit of a different story. I loved how Annie the PI asked this question to so many people and received a bit of a different response each time.

Three girls go missing, one is returned. Is she deemed "damaged?" Why was she returned and where are the other two? I loved the grit and determination of Annie in trying to solve this mystery for her 18-year old client, the brother of one of the missing girls. Hard to believe this is a debut author. The only drawback for me on this was the ending - which was told so quickly and almost unbelievably that it took away from a bit of the dark, foggy, mystery a bit.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press / Minotaur Books and Archer Sullivan for this e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

Interesting story of PI Annie Gore being hired to find Max's 5 year old sister who disappeared 10 years ago and an apple head doll was left in her place. Annie grew up in an Appalachian mountain town like where Max is from. She understands the culture, and accepts the job for one week, no guarantees of results. Great characters and lots of questionable people too. 3 girls gone missing one murder and a story about the Witch's Orchard, which keeps changing by who tells it leads to more questions and solutions start forming. Good read, good tie-up and hope for this small town and it's inhabitants. Thanks to NetGalley for an ear.y read.

A fast-paced mystery infused with Appalachian lore, featuring well-developed characters that enhance the story. It's suspenseful, engaging, and eerie, with enough small-town realism to keep you hooked. The surprising ending makes this my new favorite!

Max Andrews stayed in one place and saved all his money to hire a P.I. to find his missing sister Molly. and solve the mystery of what happened ten years ago when three little girls were taken. One was returned but two remain missing. Annie Gore -famous for solving cold cases--travels to North Carolina to see what she can do. The woods of Appalachia are full of stories about a witch and it is up to Annie to separate fact from fiction. Eventually., the witch's true character is revealed, but not without cost. Good story and good read

Max Andrews has saved for years to hire a P.I. to find his missing sister Molly. and solve the mystery of what happened ten years ago when three little girls were taken. Annie Gore accepts the assignment, traveling to North Carolina. She finds the original investigation had lacked thoroughness and family members and neighbors are reluctant to speak to her. She makes inroads yet her investigation seems to result in a homicide and another missing child. Archer Sullivan’s novel revolves around a local legend which is retold with variations by several characters throughout the work. Its repetition becomes tiresome. The protagonist is independent and selfish; personal facts are revealed which leads to more cases to be solved in the future

I really enjoyed this one. Good mystery, interesting folklore, a surprising twist and set in NC, my home state. This book felt like it was not the first in a series - I think if it continues as a series, we will hopefully learn more about Annie’s past which was glimpsed upon throughout. Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and the author for a chance to review this book.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a wonderful book by a debut author and highly recommend the read. It was interesting from the first page and I am hoping this is the first book in a series. Annie was a great character and fingers crossed we can solve more mysteries together. I'm not familiar with the Appalachian area but I found the folklore fascinating and was the perfect setting.

Annie Gore joining the Air Force right after high school to escape a bad home life and now having left the military is a private investigator. Her current case takes back to a place similar to where she grew up in another holler in the Appalachian mountains. Ten years before 3 girls went missing but one was returned. Max, the brother of the last girl to go missing has hired her to find her and Annie needs the money so she accepts.

Annie begins searching for the truth, finding secrets, folklore, and a lot of people that don't want to remember it.

I really loved this book! The setting in Appalachia was so engrossing and written so well. I have read a lot of books lately with cold cases, and I was afraid this one was just going to be another penny in the bucket, but it wasn't. It really kept me on the edge of my seat. It is a perfect book for fall. I recommend this to anyone that loves to read anything about mountain culture and cold cases. 4 stars.

If you’re a fan of Blake Pierce’s Jessie Hunt series, The Dublin Murder Squad series by Tana French or the Will Trent series by Karen Slaughter I think this will be one for you.

First of all, you have to love having a strong FMC. And Annie Gore is such a great character. She’s strong and tenacious but clearly has her own struggles. The plot moves along quickly and keeps you engaged. The supporting characters are also great. I can wait to get more into the history between Annie and Leo.

I think this is the start of a series, and I tall hope it is because it’s just good, bingable mystery.

Is this a debut? Wow… what a great way to start!

This mystery thriller is intriguing and unique talking about folklore and legends, and will keep you very entertained.

The setting and vibes were perfect and a perfect cozy mystery read. Highly recommend.

Thank you so much Minotaur Books, Archer Sullivan for the eARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author/publisher for providing me with an ARC. Here’s my honest opinion.

The Witch’s Orchard is so good you don’t want it to end. It ’s a 5star+ 2025 favorite list for me. Look forward to readying more from this author.

The story is about missing children in a tiny remote town with deep beliefs and stories abound. Each character’s recounting of the witch’s tale is interesting and intriguing as you sense there’s meaning to it. The main character, Annie Gore, is smart and persistent in seeking answers. I like how Sullivan chose to wrap up Annie’s work leaving an opening to perhaps (hopefully) more. I’d certainly like to read more in a series with Annie’s character.

Sullivan’s personal heritage is evident as she writes with authenticity about Appalachia. So often how she constructed a thought stopped me in my tracks…

"My dad could never hold down a job and he drank too much,” I say. “My mom worked third shift cleaning a nursing home. Neither of them were doing what they wanted to do in life and their favorite hobby was fighting over whose fault it was."

"No woman stays with a man who is bad every moment of every day. They always stay for the good moments that happen in between."

"They bask in the shimmer of dappled sunshine that appears between the storms. They weather everything else."

I enjoyed reading "The Witch's Orchard" by Archer Sullivan. The pacing was great and I enjoyed the suspense and the little bit of appalachian lore in the novel. I didn't guess the ending but it also was slightly anti-climatic. Definitely worth the read

This book took me by surprise and exceeded my expectations. Annie is a former Air Force Special Investigator turned PI who gets hired to investigate a 10 year old cold case of two missing girls in an Appalachian mountain town. The setting was everything I could have asked for and I loved the folklore aspect of this book. Hearing all the different versions and perspectives of the story of the witch and her two daughters was so unique and captivating!

The Witch’s Orchard kept me guessing the whole time. I never had a moment where I was 100% convinced I knew what had happened to the children. I was questioning my own biases as Annie was questioning hers.

I really enjoyed Annie. The ending eludes to this being a series and I am pumped to see more of her and especially (hopefully) Leo.. While reading I kept thinking, I really love this character; this could be the next Bill Hodges / Holly Gibney. I would read so many more books following Annie and her investigations.

My only critic is there were too many characters for me personally. At times I had trouble remembering who was who, but that’s more of a me problem than the book itself.

If you’re a fan of mystery thrillers containing a splash of folklore set in a secluded small town with an enthralling heroine, I highly recommend this book!

Thank you, St. Martin's Press, for providing the copy of The Witch's Orchard by Archer Sullivan. The first time I started this book, I couldn’t get into it. It was obviously my mood or something, because this time I loved it from the first page, and I kicked myself for waiting so long to try it again. I loved Annie, and I loved the premise of a young man looking for answers about his sister’s kidnapping ten years ago. When Annie starts asking questions, she pokes a wasp’s nest and things start to happen. The characters weren’t really likable, but they were interesting and I liked the different personalities.I can’t say too much without giving spoilers, but trust me, you don’t want to miss this book. It will keep you glued to the pages until the jaw-dropping conclusion. 4.5 stars rounded up to 5.

I like not being able to guess the ending. I kept changing my mind and just when I thought I knew who was responsible, the plot would twist again!

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books/St. Martin’s Press for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

The Witch’s Orchard by Archer Sullivan is a beautifully eerie small-town mystery steeped in quiet tension. Sullivan deftly distorts reality, drawing the reader into a psychological fog where nothing (or anyone) can be trusted.

I really enjoyed Annie, the lead PI, whose unwavering commitment to the missing feels deeply personal. Her journey is rooted in grief, memory, and the pursuit of truth. This book is emotionally resonant and well-paced. The slow unraveling of the town’s secrets never feels rushed, and the blend of Appalachian folklore and witchcraft adds to the mystery.

This is a mildly fast-paced mystery that I flew through. I loved the moody setting, the layered characters, and how the story kept me constantly second-guessing who was responsible for the kidnapping. The web of small-town secrets was genuinely hard to untangle.

It definitely feels like the beginning of a series for Annie, and I hope that’s the case. I’d gladly follow her into another case. A strong, satisfying mystery with a haunting edge.

Thank you St. Martin's Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley.

Annie Gore escaped her bad home life situation immediately after high school graduation to join the military. As a Former Air Force Special Investigator Annie is now getting by as a private investigator, taking her back to the familiar scene of an Appalachian holler similar to where she grew up.

Here’s the case… Ten years ago, three little girls went missing from this tiny mountain town. Weirdly, one child was returned, while the others were never seen again. Ten years later and and still no answere, the brother of one of the girls has saved money to hire an outside investigator. He chose Annie because of her upbringing. She gets mountain towns and mountain people. To everyone, it seems folly or maybe a threat to reopen a cold ten year old case. Annie needs money and takes on the case even though it may dredge up memories of her own painful past.

Set in the slow and quietness of the Blue Ridge, Annie begins to track the truth, delving into a decade of secrets, folklore of witches and crows, and a those who do not want the facts uncovered. Annie’s arrival stirs up danger.


I enjoy reading a mystery featuring a female Investigator and Annie Gore is an interesting one, being ex military, and the product of an abusive household. I like that she drives this 50 year old Datsun she lovingly calls Honey. Honey is nearly her own character.

Annie is now on the trail to find the whereabouts of the missing sister. Ten years ago the little girl’s family was considered trailer trash so the search for her was minimal at best. Olivia, is the child who was returned possibly because she's a nonverbal autistic girl seen as damaged goods. She is the niece of the current sheriff. The thing tying the abductions together is the appearance of an apple-head doll left at the site of each disappearance. Now that’s creepy!

The characters in this saga are fascinating subjects: the preacher and his wife, the abusive dad and his criminal cousins, the wealthy piano teacher, and the witch in the woods who reads tarot cards and makes herbal remedies. All seem a little suspect.

While the story is not thrilling, it’s for readers who who enjoy a slow burn tale peppered with mountain folklore. As the story waned three fourths of the way through, I kept reading and was rewarded with a satisfying ending.

Much recommended

I devoured this one! Such a good book, with a bad-ass female lead and a solid plot. The pacing was perfect, the setting immersive, and the character development satisfyingly complex. I did not know for sure who the villain was until close to the end, and even then I wasn't 100% sure until they were revealed on the page.

I hope this is the beginning of a series, as I would totally read more books featuring Annie Gore solving cases in the hollers of Appalachia (or elsewhere). Plus, I need to know more about her situationship with Leo...

Thank you to the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Appalachian folklore collides with a story of two missing girls in a rural community.

Loved
- The atmosphere and setting created by the author. It was perfect for this kind of mystery!
- The way the folktale of the witch evolved depending on who told the story giving hints to each character
- The plot twist of who killed Molly
- The culture of the rural community felt so real!

Meh
- The relationship between Annie and AJ felt very one dimensional and like it was shoehorned into the plot
- I wanted to know more about Annie than the tidbits of her past that we were given

This is not my usual type of book, but I was completely hooked and felt like I was transported to Appalachia

Whew, I really enjoyed this mystery set deep in the mountains complete with family loyalty, family disloyalty, dolls, a witch's tale and mystery.

I'm guessing this is the first in an upcoming series and if it's not, it should be.

I thought Annie was a tough cookie, but also a character determined to figure out the mystery of the disappearing girls - no matter what.

I thought the details were perhaps a bit too repetitive at times, but overall the pacing of the book was good.

This was a fun, yet deep summer mystery read.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press / Minotaur Books for an e-copy of THE WITCH'S ORCHARD to review.

I rate THE WITCH'S ORCHARD four out of five stars.