The book tells the story of two girls — one disappeared, and the other came back but didn’t speak for years. I found myself interested in their story because it felt real and different from other mysteries. Even though I didn’t always see how the different parts connected, I liked the way the story unfolded.
The witches’ storyline caught my attention. It was mysterious and gave the book a unique feel, even if I wasn’t sure how it fit with the girls’ story. That didn’t take away from my experience; instead, it made the story stand out.

Some parts were stronger than others. I connected with the emotions and the quiet moments between the characters. The story didn’t rush, which gave me time to think about what was happening beneath the surface.

I enjoyed the overall vibe. It wasn’t about big shocks or fast action, but it had its own quiet power that kept me listening.

Ex-military and current PI Annie is hired by the teenage brother of a girl missing for 10 years to find out what happened to her. She went missing after 2 other girls, one of whom was returned after a few days. All had apple head dolls left in their place. Annie is drawn into the little Appalachian town and its secrets.

This was a solid mystery with an interesting narrator and memorable characters. The audio was beautifully done by Emily Pike Stewart.Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc.

Thanks to the publisher, Ms. Sullivan, and Netgalley for the ALC!

I am so glad this is a series because I am going to be enjoying my time following Annie Gore. A wonderful debut with great atmosphere, a fantastic plot, and main character who is intelligent, resilient, and unique enough to stand out for me. The narrator, Emily Pike Stewart, did a fantastic job bringing Annie to life.

Annie Gore, formerly military and currently private investigator, takes a job going to an Appalachian holler for two reasons: to help a man realize that he did all he could to find his missing sister and for a bit of nostalgia. What she finds is an ongoing mystery she is compelled to solve, memories of her own youth, and a folktale that is different every time you hear it (depending on who tells it).

I'll be keeping this series on my TBR!

Thank you Macmillan Audio for my gifted copy!

What a surprise The Witch’s Orchard was. I originally requested this book just because of the cover. I went in completely blind, but intrigued.

You know that feeling when you first start a book and you just *know* that it’s going to be everything you want? When you’re already step for step with the characters you just met. It’s as if you already know them. The backstory has already been laid on your soul. That’s what The Witch’s Orchard was for me. I fell in love the first second I heard the crow’s caw in the intro. And truly, it just got better from there.

I am a sucker for Appalachian Lore. The creepier, skin crawling-er, the better. I cannot get enough of it, and this book feeds that craving. It was beautiful. I thought this would be more fantasy adjacent than it was, and I’m thankful I was wrong. Because the direction this book went in was like biting into the crispiest apple. Pun intended? It immediately made me want to meet our private detective, Annie, again. I need another story with her. I need to follow her like the ghost over her shoulder. I need to see her brain whirring. This book was THAT good, and it wasn’t even on my radar.

Obviously, I cannot recommend this one enough!

This book has such an atmospheric setting that pulled me in right in the first few chapters.
I enjoyed the setting, the ambience, the characters (even the unlikable ones), the mystery... Well, honestly speaking, I don't believe the main plot of this book is exactly original - it is a mystery envolving the disappearences of little girls in a small community that we've seen done multiple times in other books -, but the writing is immersive and the characters are easily relatable so you'll start rooting for these girls very quickly. What's more, there is a 'witch' element to this. Some lore about a witch woman living in the forest. It made things more interesting and appealing to me.
As for the conclusion...I personally didn't love it, it was not what I was expecting but it was satisfactory in some ways. It made sense in the end.
The audiobook narrator is very good, in my opinion. I would highly recommend the audio format.

Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio, for the ALC.

3.75 stars

This is a sinister little mystery with an insidious sense of place.

Annie is a private investigator in Appalachia, and she comes with a lot of challenging history. This makes her just the right person to figure out the fates of several girls who went missing and were replaced by dolls. CREEPY.

Along with a number of intriguing characters, this narrative very much centers on the lore of the local witch and many apple-less trees. I really enjoyed how this content pervaded various aspects of the novel and tied into the characters and their actions literally and symbolically. This made the read feel both more layered and more connected to its geography.

Overall, this is an engaging read (listen, in my case, with the audiobook).

This book was amazing. The audio was so captivating, I listened to it in a day ~ and stayed up until 1 am to finish it.

I went in blind - definitely not witchy like I was expected - and it was worth it.

* I would love this to become a series about Annie Gore. I love her background.

Thank you Netgalley and MacMillan audio for an advanced copy.

I thought this was a great story in a genre where it feels like almost everything’s been done before. The mystery hooked me right away, and the fast pace kept me engaged.

Annie is a strong lead, and I liked how her past mirrored the eerie, secretive town she’s investigating. The mix of missing girls, small town secrets, and Appalachian folklore gave the story a haunting vibe. The ending was solid and satisfying.

Thank you NetGalley, Minotaur Books & Macmillan Audio for the e-ARC and ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Ten years ago, three children went missing in an isolated town in the Appalachian Mountains. One child was returned but the other two were never found. With the case cold for several years by local police and the FBI, the brother of one of the girls is determined to find answers. He enlists the help of Annie Gore, a former Air Force Special Investigator and current Private Eye. Annie knows that finding the girls is an impossible task but is determined to help this family find answers. As Annie starts to ask questions around town, secrets are revealed, and someone is determined to keep the past buried.

This was a fantastic debut. This mystery completely sucked me in, and I loved the premise of the missing girls being connected to the story of The Witch of Quartz Creek. I enjoyed how each time the story was told, it was a different interpretation. The mystery of the missing girls was filled with so many surprises that I could have never figured out the ending.

One of my favorite parts of this book is the main character, Annie. I loved how strong she is as a Private Investigator, and I loved learning about her background in the Air Force. I am not sure if this book is a stand-alone or will be part of a series, but I would love to read more about Annie in another mystery.

The Witch's Orchard is out August 12th.

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the opportunity to review The Witch's Orchard. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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.