Okay… I’m still catching my breath. The Witches Orchard by Archer Sullivan absolutely swept me away. I listened to this as an audiobook (which I highly recommend), and I finished the entire thing in a single day because I literally could not stop. This book hooked me from page one and never let go.

The story centers on Annie, a sharp and determined private investigator hired by the brother of a girl who vanished a decade ago—along with two other girls from the same small town. When Annie arrives, things quickly spiral: one of the missing girls turns up dead in the woods… but she’s ten years older than she should be. She hasn’t been dead for ten years—she’s only just been killed. Creeped out yet? You should be.

Annie’s search for the truth is chilling, addictive, and surprisingly emotional. As she unravels the dark history of the town—and a spine-tingling local legend—we’re pulled deeper into a mystery that keeps twisting until the final page. Just when you think you know where it’s going, Sullivan hits you with another revelation. There’s also something incredibly haunting about the way trauma, silence, and fear are explored, especially through the girl who was returned because she was nonverbal.

The writing is atmospheric and tense without ever being overdone. I could feel the woods, the weight of the missing years, and the cold fear behind every closed door in that town. Annie is the kind of protagonist you root for—flawed, smart, relentless—and I was with her every step of the way. When another little girl disappears while she’s investigating… let’s just say I was frantically refreshing my audiobook app to make sure I hadn’t accidentally skipped ahead.

Archer Sullivan is now an auto-buy author for me. The pacing, the atmosphere, the plot—everything just works. If you’re a fan of dark mysteries with a supernatural edge and strong female leads, The Witches Orchard belongs on your shelf (or in your earbuds) immediately.

I give it a glowing 5/5 stars. Just don’t start it at night… unless you plan on staying up until dawn.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I’m loving all the books I’ve been seeing lately that have strong, intelligent, independent women as protagonists. And this book, Annie, a former Air Force special investigator is tapped to find out what happened to a group of girls who disappeared in Appalachia. Both the location and the circumstances are too close to Annie’s own cloudy past, but she needs the money to pay her bills, so she reluctantly takes the case. The setting, the characters and the plot of this book are just so so good. This is one I’m recommending to all my friends.

A book that takes place in Appalachia?! Say less!

As an Appalachia native I was eager to dive into this book. This was my first time reading anything by Archer Sullivan and I was not disappointed! Thriller/mystery is my all time favorite genre and I absolutely loved this!

I’m a big audiobook girl and I was so excited to listen to this one! Huge thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for this audio ARC.

The narrator was incredible and did an amazing job creating a true western North Carolina atmosphere. The author is also to thank for this! His writing style really pulled me into the pages and made me feel as if I was there, in the story!

As we followed the main character’s (Annie) investigation into a few missing girls, we truly get to be a part of solving the mystery. So many aspects of this book added to the spooky, thrilling nature of the story. I ended up googling apple head dolls and man those things are creepy! I will never look at them the same - keep that bad juju out of here!

This book kept me intrigued the whole time. I wish I would’ve read it in the fall because this is the perfect book to cozy up with next to a fire. In August, everyone grab their pumpkin spice lattes along with your fuzzy blankets and get ready for an amazing story!

One of my top books of the year. Annie is a powerhouse of character, resourceful, and fiercely sympathetic. She’s equal parts grit and heart, digging through hardened secrets while battling her own demons. Her investigative grit and emotional vulnerability make her both unforgettable and deeply human. This book is a page‑turner that transcends genre. It’s part classic detective procedural, part Southern Gothic fable, and completely unforgettable. Annie Gore is a heroine you’ll root for.
A huge thank you to NetGalley, Archer Sullivan, and Minotaur Books for providing the eARC in exchange for my honest review.