Rating: 5 ⭐️
Pub Date: August 12, 2025
How I Read It:🎧

Synopsis
Former Air Force special investigator Annie Gore is a private investigator whose latest case takes her to the Appalachian Mountains where ten years ago, three little girls went missing. Oddly, one girl was returned, but the others were never seen again. Now, the brother of one of the girls wants answers, and he hires Annie to get them for him.

My Thoughts
Wow! Archer Sullivan is a GREAT writer. From the very beginning, I knew I was going to love this book, based on her writing style alone. It’s so different and really captivating. And the narrator? Phenomenal! If you like thrillers and PI books, you need to get your hands on this book! You won’t be disappointed! The author has you thinking you figured it out, only to throw another twist in the mix. The characters were all great, quirky, and interesting, but untrustworthy. This is just a fantastic debut that you don’t want to miss. With an old witch’s tale and spooky apple head dolls, this would be a great read for the fall season!

Themes
- Small Town
- Small Town Secrets
- Witches

Ratings
Characters: 5 ⭐️
Pace: 5 ⭐️
Enjoyability: 5 ⭐️
Narrator: 5 ⭐️

Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book!

I wasn’t over the top crazy about this one. I will admit that I am very particular when it comes to dialogue and I found that the dialogue in this made my skin crawl, ESPECIALLY in regards to the car named Honey. The FMC talks to and about her car like it’s a child, her friend is overly concerned about HER car and her bringing the car back unharmed which really creeped me out… I don’t know why but all the Honey-talk made me want to stop reading it. That said, I was invested in the folklore of the witch, the kidnappings and the creepy apple-head dolls that replaced the stolen children. I do wish that there was more about the witch other than everyone’s version of the story because it really didn’t pertain to the kidnappings at all. I do love that it’s set in a small town in Appalachia, because unfortunately I live in one.😅 The ending was abrupt and a little unlikely but hey, that’s why it’s fiction. I do want to mention that the audiobook version was well done.

I think if you enjoy PI novels and you’re not an overly picky reader like I know I am, you will still enjoy it. Thanks to Minotaur for my finished copy and to MacMillan Audio for my advanced audiobook.

I’m aware that not everyone likes audiobooks. Once many moons ago, I was part of that legion. But then I began to listen to them while commuting, doing chores, and then found excuses to listen to them. Let’s just say that I quickly became a convert. If you’re a true storyphile (I’d say bibliophile but that gets us into a truly gray area that I neither have the space nor mental capacity to deal with when trying to write a book review. 😉), you devour stories any way you can get them. Seriously. Which leads me to this: Every once in a while, the planets align, the moon is full, the sun sends out flares that create auroras in the dark sky, and you get the perfect combination of book and narrator. The Witch’s Orchard is that perfect combination. Archer Sullivan has created an atmospheric story and quirky heroine in Annie Gore (I will follow this series happily for as long as it’s provided) that is brought to life by Emily Pike Stewart’s versatile and robust narration.

Annie Gore, a former Air Force investigator now a private investigator, has been asked by a young man from the North Carolina mountains to find his younger sister who went missing ten years earlier. Knowing that the young woman is probably dead by now, Annie informs him of this fact, but he wants her to do what she can, which is all that she can promise. Because she needs the money, she can’t be too particular about the jobs she takes.

What Annie finds is a small mountain town whose residents are suspicious of outsiders, especially ones who come asking questions about missing kids from ten years earlier, a time they’d much rather forget. She also finds an ally in a sheriff’s deputy and a mysterious old woman who reads cards and offers unsolicited advice, and a single mother who turns flour and sugar into ambrosia. There are crows crying at all hours and a handed down story called The Witch of Quartz Creek that no two people tell in the same way but which also affects the teller in different ways as well.

It’s hard to believe that this is a debut novel. The Witch’s Orchard is chock full of layered characters, rich atmosphere, and a complex plot. Annie Gore is a fantastic character. She comes from Appalachia so she understands what life is like there, which informs her interactions with the townspeople. She also knows what it’s like to be poor and want desperately to get out of the place you were born.

Annie also has an intriguing backstory of her time in the air force that I think will lend itself easily to future novels. At least I hope so.

All in all a compelling novel, perfect for those who like a lot of atmosphere with their mystery.

And, I cannot say enough about Emily Pike Stewart’s narration. It would probably be easy to give all the characters the same accent but she doesn’t. There’s a noticeable difference between the accents of Georgia, Kentucky, and North Carolina and she moves easily between the voices, not to mention the subtle variations within the North Carolina voices. I loved it! If you’re still on the fence regarding audiobooks, I suggest you give this one a try. The combination of Sullivan’s writing and Stewart’s narration should change your mind!

Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for sending me this fantastic book! I hope you all get a chance to read or listen to it!

OMG. I whipped through this book in a single day and wish it wasn’t over yet! The Witch’s Orchard is such a unique blend of themes and certainly not a story I’ll be able to forget any time soon. The characters are fascinating, the plot itself is stellar, and the twists are pretty damn phenomenal. There were a couple times I thought I’d figured it out and I most definitely had not. I especially loved how the story largely focuses on happenings of the past without carrying on dual timelines. Really hard to believe this is a debut novel – what a killer entrance into the world of writing!

Atmospheric and gripping. The mystery might pull you in initially but the scrappy cast of characters will make you stay.

The folklore of the town and the "witch" was a fascinating aspect to the story and the mystery. I loved Annie's character with her sense of "F it" to anything that doesn't serve her. When she decided to take on the case of the young man looking to find out what happened to his sister the reader is unsure if she will see it through based on her character traits revealed in the beginning. As the story progresses we see that she's resilient and determined to find answers.

The setting is a character of the story in its own right. It adds wonderful complexity and a layer to the story that any other setting wouldn't provide. The way this is described by the author is fantastic.

Twisted, mysterious, wonderful character development and an eerie setting all make this a compelling and utterly bingable debut!

Annie is hired by the brother of a missing girl to find out what happened to his sister. She wasn’t the only missing girl from that area. The case took her to an Appalachian holler similar to where she grew up. She’s an outsider, but she knows these people. I was pulled in to this story from the beginning. The superstitions, the secretiveness and unwillingness to talk to outsiders felt very realistic. The ending had me on the edge of my seat. I thought it was well written, and it the narration was well done.

Thank you to the author, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the Advanced Listener Copy (ALC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review

Being a fan of mystery thrillers, I was attracted to the idea of storytelling in the Appalachian mountains. I was pleased to find my expectations met. The narrative was engaging, keeping me invested. Although, certain parts were confusing, as the many names made it challenging to recall who was who.

The Witch’s Orchard is a unique “cold case” considering it’s a very recent case with a magical realism aspect in a small Appalachian town. Our main character is an orphaned private investigator with a sorted history that slowly reveals itself through the novel. It almost felt like this book was a sequel with the way things unraveled like I should have already known the backstory, which, in my opinion, just meant that the writing was pretty excellent- especially for a debut.
The overall tragedy of a struggling small town who’s local factory had closed was a rough and vivid picture and the missing girls’ families were truly heartbreaking. The creepiness of the local church and the local tale of the “witch” were unique aspects to the mystery and the found family surrounding Max was really sweet. The mystery was truly riveting and I finished this audiobook/ebook in one day trip of travel and a long run.
I’d definitely recommend this to cold case/small town mystery fans and I’d certainly read another novel by Archer Sullivan.

The Witch's Orchard was a great story of a cold case in small town. The private investigator also had a "connection" to the area and the feel of the town/area. The story is written very well and I enjoyed the character development. The main FMC was relatable and enjoyable and I would like to read another novel with the same FMC character in her role as a private eye. The local lore of the ghost story being tied into the plot was also an enjoyable piece. I like how the author played on the fact that everyone in the area knows of the legend and everyone tells their story slightly different.
The narration was great and I liked the Appalachian accents. Pacing and voicing seemed enjoyable and appropriate. I did think that the pauses between chapters was a little long, several times I thought I had accidentally paused the audio.
I enjoyed the book and would rate it 3.75/5

THE WITCH’S ORCHARD by Archer Sullivan was a fantastic debut! I wasn’t expecting to absolutely love this but I did. Exceeded my expectations. Atmospheric, suspenseful, gripping. A twisty, fast-paced whodunnit that kept me guessing and surprised me in the end. The only thing I could’ve gone without was the romance between two of the characters but that takes a backseat most of the story.

The audio was well done and the narrator had a nice cadence. Thanks @macmillan.audio for this early listener’s review copy! I love finding new authors to love with this program! Already looking forward to whatever she writes next.

The Witch's Orchard by Archer Sullivan had the extra fun element of folklore which I was not expecting!

Ten years ago, three little girls went missing in an Appalachian town. Now, the brother of one of the girls needs answers. He turns to ex-military, private investigator Annie Gore. She is hesitant to take a 10 year-old case that will likely not provide any answers, but she needs the money. However, not everyone in the town is happy that she's snooping around.

As she meets the quirky people in town, she works to piece together past secrets and separate truth from folklore. Are these girls still alive?

I was over the heat and went for something more spooky with this book! It was very atmospheric with crows and folklore. I was hooked from the first page. I thought it had a super cool twist in the end that I was not expecting. I really liked Annie.

Thank you to @netgalley and @macmillan.audio for an ALC of this book! The narrator was good, and I definitely recommend the audio.

Private investigator, Annie Gore, is hired to investigate the disappearance of three little girls from their small North Carolina mountain town. One of the girls was returned and the other two were never seen again. It happened 10 years ago. In a town where the people prefer to forget, will Annie be able to uncover any answers?

This one had all the fall vibes. When I think of the NC mountains, I think fall for sure. There was witch folklore, which was woven throughout the storyline. The apple dolls were definitely a creepy component. Sullivan did a great job making the reader feel like they were in the Appalachian Mountains, poking through a decades worth of secrets with Annie. Annie is such a strong female MC, with ties to the setting and an emotional complexity. Overall, this was a very atmospheric mystery and I enjoyed it!!

Very good!! I loved this book and it made me very ready for a dreary, spooky fall day. Great original plot and setting. Very unique!

Despite her military background , Annie seems an unlikely detective. She is hired by a young man asking her to solve a decades old cold case involving the disappearance of his sister. Annie is new to the small Appalachian community where the crime took place but discovers that it is very similar to where she grew up so she has an understanding of the people and culture. The residents of the community are all familiar with different versions of a local legend surrounding a witch who has stolen young girls so Annie incorporates the fable into her investigation.
The cultural and mystical aspects of this thriller/murder mystery offered a lot more depth and interest to this story. There were a few (what I would consider to be somewhat) strange twists and circumstances making the book unrealistic but entertaining nonetheless. I wished that Annie’s character was a little more developed - I would have liked more information about her background. It seemed like this book could be the introduction of a new series as Annie and the local deputy would make a great crime-solving team so maybe there’s more to come.
I listened to the audio version of this book and the narrator was really good. Her accents and voice inflections seemed natural and it was easy to distinguish the characters.
Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own.

*Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ALC! All opinions are my own.*

3.5/5

Everyone who knows me knows I'm gonna eat up anything set in Appalachia. It's something very close to my heart and I take any book set in the region very seriously, so I'm proud to say that Sullivan absolutely put their whole soul into this one. Regardless of the subject matter of the book, you can absolutely tell that the author loves the region and the atmosphere speaks to that so well.

The narrator of this audiobook did a fantastic job telling this story, as well. She set the atmosphere so wonderfully, and made the book as fun as it was to read.

As for the plot, etc., I appreciated the fresh elements this author brought to the thriller genre, while also keeping to the usual formula in a way that felt familiar to me. It was such written so well and is such a wonderful mix of that classic red herring trope and Appalachian folktales, witchy elements, etc. My rating is at the spot it's in simply because it wasn't *MY* favorite but it is absolutely a marvel and a great debut for sure.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and St. Martin’s Press for the review copies of The Witch’s Orchard. This was a wonderfully absorbing, atmospheric read—perfect for fans of witchy Appalachian stories and anyone who craves a moody mystery with procedural undertones. I especially recommend the audiobook, where the narration and tone pulled me straight into the woods and into the very specific, carefully rendered world Archer Sullivan created. Annie Gore is a detective I’d love to follow again: layered, intriguing, and deserving of both more backstory and, hopefully, some future happiness. The novel balances its mystery with cultural depth and respect for the Appalachian and Blue Ridge communities, which gave the story a richness I truly appreciated. While certain elements of the resolution didn’t entirely work for me—more a matter of personal taste than execution—the novel as a whole was a win, and I’ll be eager to see what comes next.

A fantastic debut! Sullivan really excels in writing a sense of place. I absolutely loved how the legend of the witch changes with each telling by different characters. The way folklore and the mystery of the book are entwined was my favorite thing about this story. I liked the main character a lot and I hope there are more books forthcoming.

Thank you to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an advance copy of this audiobook for review

I'm not the biggest fan of thrillers, because I feel like it is really hard for an author to pull off a surprise when you know it is coming. Regardless, the setting and atmosphere of this book made me want to check it out, and I'm so glad I did. Annie is a PI hired by a young man to look for his sister who went missing ten years prior. Annie doesn't think she'll find much, but she needs the money and agrees to the job. Set in a small Appalachian town where everyone knows everyone, bringing the case back to the community's forefront creates drama and finger pointing.

The 'who done it' aspect of this one is well done. I had myself convinced it could have been like three or four characters, and the reveal was extremely satisfying. I read 90% of this book in one day because once it got going, I could not stop.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Witch's Orchard brings the North Carolina mountains to life with a gritty private investigator tale featuring Annie Gore, a former Air Force investigator turned Pl. Gore is a strong temale lead, though I found it hard to connect with her personally. Fans of hard-boiled mysteries will likely appreciate her more than I did.
I had hoped for a deeper dive into Appalachian folklore and tarot, so my favorite character ended up being Susan McKinney, the town's eccentric "witch." Unfortunately, her role was too small for my liking. The folklore elements, while present, felt underused and a bit trope-ish, and the resolution of the mystery struck me as far-fetched.
That said, the Appalachian backdrop is vivid and memorable, and the story was enjoyable overall. While the novel didn't fully deliver what I was hoping for, it's still a solid read for mystery fans looking for a fresh setting.
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ARC to review. All opinions expressed on my own

This was my first book by Archer Sullivan, and I already know it won’t be my last. I’m a sucker for a thriller set in Appalachia, and this one delivered in spades. The story is full of layers, each one more compelling than the last, as we follow Annie—a former Air Force Special Investigator—digging into a haunting cold case. Just when you think you know where things are headed, an apple falls from the tree and knocks your theories completely off course. The atmosphere is tense, moody, and gripping—this read will keep you on the edge of your seat.

🎧 Emily Pike Stewart’s narration was phenomenal. She captured the emotion and the tension so vividly that there were moments that gave me chills.

What You'll Find:
🌲 Appalachian Gothic
🍎 Cold Case with Folklore Twist
🐦 Small Town Secrets
🕵️ Tough Female Investigator