A haunting case in the heart of Appalachia.

In "The Witch’s Orchard", debut author Archer Sullivan delivers a haunting, atmospheric mystery set deep in the Appalachian mountains of North Carolina.

Former Air Force Special Investigator Annie Gore has left the military behind to work as a private investigator, but her latest case hits close to home - both geographically and emotionally. Ten years ago, three young girls vanished in quick succession from a tight-knit mountain town. One returned after a few days, but never spoke about the ordeal. The others were never found. When the brother of one missing girl hires Annie to investigate and Annie digs deeper into the town’s fractured memories and folkloric superstitions, she unearths far more than she bargained for. And Annie’s arrival may have stirred up more than just painful memories.

"The Witch’s Orchard" is a masterclass in atmosphere, suspense, and character. From the very first page, Archer Sullivan - a ninth generation Appalachian herself - transports readers to a fog-draped Appalachian town where folklore feels like fact, and secrets lie just beneath the soil. Annie Gore is a phenomenal lead: sharp, resilient, and emotionally layered. Her background as a military investigator makes her a formidable PI, but it's her quiet vulnerabilities, not least her personal connection to the mountains, that give her real heart. She is grounded, easy to root for, and absolutely capable of anchoring an entire series (and yes - this better be the start of one!).

The mystery at the novel’s core is both compelling and chilling. Sullivan skillfully plays with unreliable memories, layered folklore, and a slowly unraveling truth. The recurring tale of “The Witch of Quartz Creek”, which lies at the heart of the story, is told in shifting voices and versions, each more twisted than the last, which proves to be a clever and unsettling device that reinforces the town’s resistance to truth.

I often try to outsmart mysteries, but this one had me guessing until the end, and delighting in the fact that I couldn't. The pacing is steady but never dull; it builds a slow-burning tension, and there’s no need for jump scares when the dread seeps in so quietly.

Atmospheric and skillfully plotted, "The Witch’s Orchard" is a standout debut. Archer Sullivan brings the Appalachian setting to life with vivid detail and deep empathy for its inhabitants, blending folklore and modern mystery into something unforgettable. I'd happily read the another one of her books in the future, and am sincerely hoping this is just the beginning of Annie's story.

The audiobook is a delight. Narrator Emily Pike Stewart's performance captures Annie’s steely strength and emotional depth perfectly while also bringing nuance and voice to the many characters who share their own version of the town’s haunting tale, beautifully complementing Sullivan’s lyrical prose.

Many thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

"The Witch's Orchard" is slated to be released on August 12, 2025.

A captivating listen- the narrator’s voice acting adds depth to the already engaging story.
The twists and turns will keep you guessing who knows what in the small town.
If you’ve got roots in Appalachia, you’ll recognize many of the characters- shoot, you might see bits of your own family tree. And if they’re not resonating, maybe Honey will.
The Witch’s Orchard illustrates so many ways that grief leaves its mark on people.

Wow! This book was even better than I hoped it would be. Stupendous debut mystery/thriller that kept me reading late into the night. Annie Gore is an interesting, complicated protagonist and I look forward to (hopefully)be reading many more books featuring her in the future. Please, Archer Sullivan, continue on with the journey of Annie. 🙏🏼

The author conveys all the nuance of the Appalachian setting. From the folklore, people, botany and the weather the author does an excellent job of building an atmosphere that lends itself well to the expertly crafted story. I couldn’t put this book down.

I am very fortunate that I received both an eARC and an AlC
from the publishers. I love this book in both mediums! The narration is outstanding. The stellar performance by the narrator captures the characters and the vibe of the book perfectly.

I will be recommending this fantastic book to absolutely everyone.

The MOST FABULOUS book I've read in a while. I can't wait to see more from Annie in the future. I love the setting, the mythology, the area. It is a beautiful read in so many ways. I've already recommended it to my book club and can't wait to add it to our library!

5🌟
This book is exactly what I’m looking for in a crime thriller!
A scrappy investigator drawn to a case because of her own troubled past goes to a small town not unlike her own to try and solve a decade old missing child case only to find more questions than answers. With folklore woven throughout you can’t help but be transported to the mountains of western North Carolina. Sullivan does an amazing job of describing what Annie is experiencing and seeing which really adds to the suspense and ambiance of this novel. I hope to see more from Archer Sullivan and P.I. Annie Gore in the future!

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur books for the Audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

*the audio book was fabulously acted

4.5 🌟 for this beautifully written debut from Archer Sullivan. The setting and storytelling are amazing. You can almost feel it, the hair standing on the back of your neck, the goosebumps on your skin. You're in the story with the folklore and mystery surrounding the kidnapping at these little girls. Annie is a superb character. She is complex, intelligent, tough, and resilient. I loved this book. The audiobook narrator was really good and only added to the story. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC audiobook.
Dare I say that this is the best book I've read all year?
Yes!
I started listening this morning and just finished.
Highly recommended.
The narration was excellent!

2.5 stars rounded up. I loved the premise, the setting, and the town tales… but didn’t connect with the execution of the story at all. I seem to be in the minority and there’s something about it that reminded me of a few other popular books from the last year that I also didn’t care for. I can’t put my finger on it but between the pacing and the lack of happenings, it wasn’t for me. Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ARC.

I especially appreciated how the book handled folklore, not as fantasy, but as a reflection of fear, grief, and community silence. The pacing is slow-burn with real emotional weight, and though the ending felt a bit rushed, the character work and setting more than made up for it. I would definitely read more books by this author. The narrator was also great. Thank you NetGalley for this arc

Okay, Annie Gore really knows how to get to the bottom of mysteries and solve cold cases! And I would definitely love to read more books with her expertise, especially if they are as well written as the Witch's Orchard. This was a fascinating case with the missing girls and how it could have been a simple kidnapping but it had the eerie touch of the apple head dolls left in their place and how it happened in a small town up in the Appalachian mountains full of people mistrustful of outsiders and holding many secrets themselves. I also loved the many variations of the Witch of Quartz Creek tale that Annie collected and how it changed depending on how people saw it, as witch that was helpful, or heartbroken, or vengeful. And the addition of the crows nicely upped the creepiness. It may have taken 10 years for Max to raise the money and find a good PI but when he does, Annie sure does get results! Lots of twistiness, lies, secrets, and a right bang of a climax and race to save the innocent which made for a wonderfully written debut!

The narrator, Emily Pike Stewart, did a wonderful job in bringing Annie and that town to life. It was super easy to imagine the screaming crows and the race to find Max's sister and the other missing girl. I really hope that Annie will be up to solving more cases in the future because she is absolutely amazing! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to listen to this wonderful audiobook!

I think I found a new favorite author. This book sucked me in and wouldn’t let me go until I finished it. Stayed up way too late reading it.

We have my favorite kind of female main character- smart ,strong, brave with a good heart, and just a touch of trauma. At Annie 18 joined the air-force to escape her dirt poor and abusive Appalachian background. After getting wounded on deployment she retired and now in her early 30s she runs a private detective agency so that she can choose her pwn path.
One day a desperate 18 year old young man drove 6 hours to her and asks her to take on his case. His sister disappeared, along with 2 other little girls 10 years ago from the hills of North Carolina, and he has been saving his money since then. Annie initially declines. Its been too long to have much hope, and she doesn’t want to take the kids money.
However as they continue to talk - his desperation becomes evident. He can’t move on with his life, hopes that with her being a country girl she can talk to the people and maybe make progress where the police and FBI never could. Annie reluctantly agrees, she doesn’t think she will find anything.

I loved this book and it kept me guessing. There is a constant sense of urgency as there are lives at stake. The people she encounters ring true, and complex. Annie is brave, but not stupidly so. There are handsome me in the story, but they are supporting characters, not her rescuers. I would love to read more by this author and about Annie.
I listed to the audio version and the narrator was excellent.
Big thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for a chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

"A haunting mystery that will linger long after the final page."

Private Investigator Annie Gore is thrust into the shadowy heart of the North Carolina Appalachias, tasked with unraveling a cold case that has haunted a small town for a decade. Three young girls vanished, one returned, but the other two, including Molly, have been missing for ten agonizing years. Molly's brother hires Annie, desperate for any answers.

As Annie digs for the truth, navigating the close-knit community, she unearths disturbing local folklore about a "Witch's Orchard," desperate to see if it holds clues to the girls' disappearance. Her investigation is fraught with challenges: a hostile sheriff, the grim reality of a meth lab, an unsettling abandoned doll factory, and her own past traumas from military service and a complicated family history.

The setting of this book is simply phenomenal; the writing masterfully transports you to the atmospheric depths of the Appalachian small town. I particularly admired Annie's formidable strength and self-reliance, her sharp instinct for asking the right questions to uncover the truth. This is a profoundly sad and incredibly mysterious read. I went into Witch's Orchard completely blind, drawn in by the intriguing title, and I can confidently say I got far more than I bargained for. This powerful story will undoubtedly stay with me for a very long time.

Annie Gore, a retired Air Force Special Investigator, is making her way as a private investigator when she is hired by the brother of a missing girl. The story of multiple missing girls, a town’s history and folklore unfolds.

This story took a few unexpected turns and kept me guessing. The MC was complex, bold, smart and interesting. The influence of folklore was a unique addition. I also enjoyed learning more about Appalachia and appreciated the author’s familiarity and background with the area. The narration matched the character and kept me engaged.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an early audiobook edition of “The Witch’s Orchard” by Archer Sullivan, narrated by Emily Pike Stewart, for an honest review. Emily did a good job with the narration, adding emotions to the story as she told it, getting the hiccups, crying, hysteria all into her voice as she read.

This is the story of a down-on-her-luck private investigator who takes a job that will bring her back to her Appalachian Holler roots. 10 years ago, three little girls went missing. The brother of one of those girls has been blaming himself ever since. He hires Annie Gore to find out what happened to his sister. The search brings up old memories of her childhood, memories she would rather forget, but these memories make her the right PI for the job, as she understands mountain folk. As Annie digs into the mysteries of the past, people start dying in her wake. What is going on in this sleepy little town? You’ll have to read it to find out.

The story moves quickly, and there is not a lot of extraneous “feelings” written into the narrative; you can easily feel what the characters are feeling through Emily’s narration. The characters are well-developed. There is a love interest, but it is subtle and adds to the story. Overall, a pretty good book.

I really enjoyed The Witch’s Orchard! The premise immediately hooked me, and the eerie, atmospheric setting made for a perfectly moody backdrop to the unfolding mystery. Archer Sullivan does a great job of balancing suspense with character development, creating a story that feels immersive and intriguing from beginning to end. The mystery itself was well-paced and satisfying, with just enough twists to keep me guessing without feeling overdone. If you enjoy a good blend of folklore, small-town secrets, and slow-burning tension, this is definitely one to pick up.

A darkly atmospheric tale of three missing girls in Appalachia. Former Air Force Investigator is on the case, delving into the darkness that surrounds this holler, reminding her of the town she comes from. Her arrival causes trouble, but Annie will stop at nothing to uncover the truth.

Author Archer Sullivan does a superb job of making the Appalachian holler come to life. The mountain town carries secrets and deep scars from the kidnapping of its own and those that live there are constantly affected by the tragedies.

Narrator Emily Pike Stewart does a good job of making Annie Gore come to life as a steadying influence on her surroundings as she searches for the missing girls and unravels the mysteries on the mountainside. She also imbues the other characters with distinct voices and personalities.

I enjoyed main character Annie Gore and would be interested to read more books with her involved. A solid, atmospheric thriller. 3.5 stars.

I received this advance audio copy from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Loved this unique and mysterious thriller based in the North Carolina mountains.
This is one of the most atmospheric books I have read this year. The Appalachian makes a perfect background for the dark and suspenseful story of 3 girl’s disappearances.
The story almost reads like a twisted fairy tale. The folktale of a witch and her apple tree haunt the town, almost as much as the true story of the missing girls, and the eerie dolls their captor leaves behind.
Chilling, captivating, creative. Loved this one.
The only thing that felt odd about this book was the main character’s obsession with her car, and like all her friends obsession with it also. It was strange. That’s it though. The rest was great.
Thank you netgalley for the arc!

This book had me hooked from the very beginning. The idea of a legend involving a witch sign me up!

There's so many potential suspects throughout the book that when it was finally revealed I was a little surprised. I feel like this book had great pacing. It wasn't slow and there was always something new coming into focus. The FMC is tough and I felt really thorough. You can tell she wants to find these missing girls. Also, the setting really creates a vivid picture for this story.

Also, the narration was spectacular!

Def recommend! Thank you Macmillan audio for the gifted audio copy.

The Witche’s Orchard is a mesmerizing tapestry of mystery, folklore, and emotion, and Archer Sullivan’s storytelling is nothing short of enchanting. The audiobook format elevates this already captivating tale — the narration is rich, immersive, and perfectly paced, making each chapter feel like a spell being cast.

Sullivan masterfully blends gothic atmosphere with heart-pounding suspense, conjuring a world where secrets grow as wild as the orchard’s twisted roots. The voice performance brings depth to each character, enhancing their personalities and drawing you deeper into the village’s haunting legacy. I often found myself relistening to favorite passages just to savor the language and delivery.

If you crave a story steeped in mystery, magic, and unforgettable imagery, The Witche’s Orchard is a must-listen. It’s the kind of audiobook that lingers in your mind long after the final chapter ends.

Publication August 11, 2025

Thank you Macmillan Audio, Archer Sullivan, Emily Pike Stewart and Netgally for my ALC.

Welcome to Quartz Creek, North Carolina.
A town of rumors and suspicion. A town of poverty and struggle. A town of folklore and belief. A town filled with deeply flawed yet deeply relatable people just trying to survive.

Ten years ago, three little girls are taken from Quartz Creek, apple head dolls left in their place, only one little girl is returned. But she won’t speak - she can’t. Now, finally old enough to take action, Max Andrews, brother to one of the girls hires investigator Annie Gore to work the case. Who took the girls all those years back? Was it the local witch? The no-good dad looking for ransom cash? The preacher with a past?

What unfolds is a perfectly paced mystery laced with southern gothic undertones and seeped in Appalachian folklore.

This debut novel from Archer Sullivan is out August 12th and is perfect for your spooky season TBR! In fact, if this is not made into an on-going Annie Gore Mystery series, I will be deeply bereft.

Thank you to @netgalley for this advanced copy of The Witch’s Orchard.