This was great! New to me author so I had no idea what to expect and I was happily surprised. I liked the writing right from the start and was totally engrossed and found myself just wanting to stay on the couch all day and read. There was a great mystery with several possible culprits and a great twist, an atmospheric setting with a bit of creepy folklore/myth incorporated, and some great characters that I really enjoyed. Good pacing, a hint of romance...all in all a good time that kept me turning the pages. I would definitely read more from this author in the future and would love a series following Annie on some more cases!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for putting this one on my radar and for the early arc for review!
4.5 rounded up to 5

The Witches Orchard by new to me author Archer Sullivan is a twisty, turney mystery about a PI hired by a brother anxious to find out what happened to his sister who was kidnapped some ten years ago. Three young girls had actually disappeared that summer, but one was returned. Why? The plot becomes more and more complicated as Annie Gore begins her questioning. The police files are a mess and more than one person has threatened to have Annie arrested if she continues her investigation. This is a story that begs to be completed in one reading. I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book from NetGalley. Highly recommend.

This is a very good story, the setting in a holler in Appalachia gives it a claustrophobic feel which is appropriate for the story. Annie Gore is a former military investigator, she is now a private investigator, and has been asked to investigate the disappearance of a girl from 10 years ago, she has not done a cold case previously, but she desperately needs the money so agrees. She has to travel to Appalachia, someplace she had left many years ago and never returned, she meets Max, the person who asked her to investigate. His sister had disappeared from a church function 10 years ago, in the intervening years he has saved all his money to hire a private investigator to find out what happened to her. Annie is not sure she would be able to but agrees to give it a week to see what she can find. She's a very good investigator and not long after gets a visit from the local police to back off, telling her that it was investigated and there would be nothing to find. Of course that doesn't stop her, she continues to investigate and seemingly talks to everyone, which causes someone to act out hoping to throw her off. Overall a very good story, some of the folk lore, the applehead dolls for example, were interesting, the pace of the story was also very good, not too quick or slow, Annie is very fond of her car, giving it a nickname and talking to it, very cute behavior. I would recommend. Thanks to #Netgalley and #St Martins Press for the ARC.

I love books with Appalachian folklore. This book was so atmospheric and I felt like I was walking around with Annie trying to solve the mystery. The whole deal with the witch and the applehead dolls was kinda spooky too, loved it. I basically read it in one setting because of how invested I was. Annie is a very compelling narrator, she's relatable even if I haven't been though her experiences and she for sure made some choices that maybe weren't the best, but it made her feel real because not a cop, and she's doing her best. Some bits of her backstory were left out which makes me think this might be a start to a series.

To be honest, the ending wasn't tooooo surprising, you can sort of see part of it coming, but I thought it was very well done anyways and I was definitely second guessing myself throughout. At times I caught myself being suspicious of characters who couldn't have possible done it, but they were just sooo suspicious lol.

Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC!

"The Witch's Orchard" kept me wanting to read. I did not want to put the book down. When I thought I figured out who took the children, you put a twist in there and had me wanting to get to the end to see what happened and who did it. What a great Mystery. I loved how when each character was asked about the Witch of Quartz Creek the folklore changed a bit. The PI Annie character was a very determined PI and kept investigating till she found all the children.

What drew me to the book: The cover. I like the clear print, and color pallets. I like having a book that people ask 'what is that book?' and pick up my kindle. This cover did exactly that.

What I liked the most about this book: I read it in one night, I really wanted to understand the mystery. It left me feeling that I would miss something if I put it down. I loved how it was eerie, moderately paced, set in the hollers of Appalachia, it was really atmospheric.

What I did not like: I felt like the setting of the book carried the bulk of the desire to finish the book rather then the characters and story line.

Rating: 4 Stars

This book pulled me in from the beginning. What a great creepy read. I am so happy I was chosen to read this book and I will definitely be looking to read more from this author. Cold cases are some of my favorite crime stories and this second chance case in such an eerie setting nailed the experience. I would also love to see more from the FMC, what a series that would make.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for allowing me to read The Witch's Orchard. This book is a Must read! It grabs you from the beginning and does not let go! The characters are so well written and are super relatable. I couldn't put The Witch's Orchard down! Read it. You won't be disappointed.

This book was phenomenal. The first book I’ve read by Archer Sullivan but won’t be the last. Realizing that this book had my hometown mentioned in it once I started reading it was a crazy realization!
This book has an eerie vibe, and from the moment you realize the details of the plot it will have you hooked.
Private investigator Annie Gore will take you on an adventure to uncover the truth behind what’s going on in an Appalachian town, and the disappearances of 3 young girls. The author paints the setting so vividly you can nearly see it with your own eyes.

Loved the eerie Appalachian setting and the slow unraveling of secrets. As someone from the Appalachian Mountains, I really appreciated how well the atmosphere and small-town dynamics were captured—the isolation, the way rumors turn into folklore, and how the past is never really buried. Annie Gore is a fantastic protagonist—tough, sharp, and haunted in just the right way. The mix of mystery, folklore, and deeply rooted family histories made for a gripping read.

The writing is immersive, pulling you straight into the misty hollers and shadowy forests, where every whisper and superstition feels like it could be a clue. The pacing kept me hooked, though some moments felt intentionally slow, letting the tension build. I did wish for a little more clarity in certain reveals, but overall, it delivered a solid, atmospheric mystery. If you love stories steeped in Appalachian lore with a strong, complex lead, this one’s worth picking up!

This was fantastic. I really enjoyed reading it and didn’t want to put it down. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC of The Witch's Orchard.

The plot of this book was fantastic. I enjoyed all the characters in the book and the twists and turns were really thought out and executed well. Add in the eerie tales and folk lore about that witch... And it was a great pairing!

I do wish there had been a little more backstory/character building of the main character and hope there will be more books in this series to learn. She's from a small town similar to where the book is set but it's only touched on a little bit.

Overall I would definitely recommend it!

3.5 - The story was slow going until about 60% in, then it picked up. I did enjoy it. Thanks to Netgalley for a chance to read it.

As a southerner, I liked the southern feel and felt it was pretty authentic. It was a creepy ride and enjoyed it very much. This should definitely be added to your TBR for sure!! I wasn't able to guess the ending easily....so it was a win for me!!

A tough military veteran turned PI returns to Appalachia to work on a case she doesn't expect to solve. Years ago, three girls were kidnapped from a small town high in the mountains. One was returned, but the other two have never been found. The brother of one of them has saved up for years to hire someone to dig deeper than the local cops did. Against her better judgement, the PI takes the case.

This is an engrossing series debut with a promising heroine and setting. The title refers to a story handed down over the years but which changes with each teller - the throughline being a witch with an enchanted orchard and two imprisoned girls. I wasn't entirely clear about the meaning of this constantly changing piece of folklore, but I enjoyed the investigation and the investigator.

It's good to have another author who knows Appalachia writing about this place. I really miss Julia Keller! But I look forward to reading more in this series.

First and foremost, thank you St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review this arc!

Second, I hadn’t realized this was a debut novel and I am SO impressed! The setting, characters, and plot were all so well written.

The book follows Annie, a former Air Force investigator who works as a private investigator, as she returns to a small town to dig into a cold case surrounding missing young girls. Now, Annie is hired to uncover the truth, but the town would rather leave the past buried.

The touches of folk stories, witchy things, and the Appalachian setting was absolutely perfection. Loved this book!

This book was rather interesting and combined the perfect amount of intrigue and Appalachian folklore to keep a reader enticed and motivated.

Annie’s story as a prior military Air Force turned private investigator is one that I felt compelled to read as there were themes that alluded to her need to be a solitary woman finding her own path and way but still not fully released from her Appalachian roots.

The story begins with her being hired as a PI who takes on the uncovering of a mystery disappearance of three girls ten years ago in a small town of Quartz Creek. When she arrives she is bombarded with stories and retellings of the Quartz Creek witch and of Apple head dolls left in the girls places.

Her appearance in town brings about lots of excitement and deadly horror and bitter memories for those of this town, but ultimately she also brings about resolutions and stories of her own that will be told and remembered.

I highly recommend this book and thank NetGalley and St.Martins press/ Minotaur books for allowing me to read this book and give an honest review. And thank you to Archer Sullivan for a wonderful read!

Mystery and folklore in spooky Appalachia is a must read for everyone! This kept me on my toes the entire time

Okay, I thought this might be a bit witchy because of the title so it wasn't but .... it was great. A private investigator is hired to find a girl missing for 10 years. She travels to a mountain town in North Carolina where outsiders are looked upon with suspicion especially one that is stirring up old mysteries. The story whips along as PI Annie Gore digs into old wounds. Full of gothy vibes, mountain folklore and an intriguing mystery, I found myself unable to stop reading.

The mystery tied with folklore made for a captivating story. I truly enjoyed this book and the mystery. It honestly had me guessing the whole time.