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Something in the Walls
Unbearably tense, utterly propulsive, and studded with folklore and horror, Something in the Walls is perfect for anyone who loves Midsommar and The Haunting of Hill House.
Newly-minted child psychologist Mina has little experience. In a field where the first people called are experts, she’s been unable to get her feet wet. Instead she aimlessly spends her days stuck in the stifling heat wave sweeping across Britain, and anxiously contemplating her upcoming marriage to careful, precise researcher Oscar. The only reprieve from her small, close world is attending the local bereavement group to mourn her brother’s death from years ago. That is, until she meets journalist Sam Hunter at the grief group one day. And he has a proposition for her.
Alice Webber is a thirteen year old girl who claims she’s being haunted by a witch. Living with her family in their crowded home in the remote village of Banathel, Alice’s symptoms are increasingly disturbing, and money is tight. Taking this job will give Mina some experience; Sam will get the scoop of a lifetime; and Alice will get better, Mina is sure of it.
But instead of improving, Alice’s behavior becomes increasingly inexplicable and intense. The town of Banathel has a deep history of superstition and witchcraft. They believe there is evil in the world. They believe there are ways of…dealing with it. And they don’t expect outsiders to understand.
As Mina races to uncover the truth behind Alice’s condition, the dark cracks of Banathel begin to show. Mina is desperate to understand how deep their sinister traditions go–and how her own past may be the biggest threat of all.
Newly-minted child psychologist Mina has little experience. In a field where the first people called are experts, she’s been unable to get her feet wet. Instead she aimlessly spends her days stuck in the stifling heat wave sweeping across Britain, and anxiously contemplating her upcoming marriage to careful, precise researcher Oscar. The only reprieve from her small, close world is attending the local bereavement group to mourn her brother’s death from years ago. That is, until she meets journalist Sam Hunter at the grief group one day. And he has a proposition for her.
Alice Webber is a thirteen year old girl who claims she’s being haunted by a witch. Living with her family in their crowded home in the remote village of Banathel, Alice’s symptoms are increasingly disturbing, and money is tight. Taking this job will give Mina some experience; Sam will get the scoop of a lifetime; and Alice will get better, Mina is sure of it.
But instead of improving, Alice’s behavior becomes increasingly inexplicable and intense. The town of Banathel has a deep history of superstition and witchcraft. They believe there is evil in the world. They believe there are ways of…dealing with it. And they don’t expect outsiders to understand.
As Mina races to uncover the truth behind Alice’s condition, the dark cracks of Banathel begin to show. Mina is desperate to understand how deep their sinister traditions go–and how her own past may be the biggest threat of all.
304 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication February 25, 2025
About the author
Daisy Pearce
4 books238 followersDaisy Pearce was born in Cornwall and grew up on a smallholding surrounded by hippies. She read Stephen King’s 'Cujo' and The Hamlyn Book of Horror far too young and has been fascinated with the macabre ever since.
She began writing short stories as a teenager and after spells living in London and Brighton Daisy had her first short story ‘The Black Prince’ published in One Eye Grey magazine. Another short story, ‘The Brook Witch’, was performed on stage at the Small Story Cabaret in Lewes in 2016. She has also written articles about mental health online. In 2015, The Silence won a bursary with The Literary Consultancy, and later that year Daisy also won the Chindi Authors Competition with her short story ‘Worm Food’. Her second novel was longlisted for the Mslexia Novel Award.
Daisy currently works in the library at the University of Sussex, where she shelves books and listens to podcasts on true crime and folklore.
She began writing short stories as a teenager and after spells living in London and Brighton Daisy had her first short story ‘The Black Prince’ published in One Eye Grey magazine. Another short story, ‘The Brook Witch’, was performed on stage at the Small Story Cabaret in Lewes in 2016. She has also written articles about mental health online. In 2015, The Silence won a bursary with The Literary Consultancy, and later that year Daisy also won the Chindi Authors Competition with her short story ‘Worm Food’. Her second novel was longlisted for the Mslexia Novel Award.
Daisy currently works in the library at the University of Sussex, where she shelves books and listens to podcasts on true crime and folklore.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 163 reviews
October 16, 2024
Mina is an inexperienced child psychologist who just recently got her degree. She attends a grief group to help her process the loss of her brother. While there she meets a journalist, Sam, who has lost his daughter. They get to talking and he tells her about a case he's working on. In the remote village of Banathel a thirteen year old girl named Alice Webber is accused of being possessed by a witch. He wonders if Mina would be willing to travel with him to speak with Alice and to gauge her mental state.
Mina's excited to get some experience and to get to the bottom of Alice's ailment. Surely she isn't possessed by a witch.....or is she? You'll have to read this to find out!
There is definitely some witchiness brewing in the air of this novel by Daisy Pearce. The atmosphere of dread and menace is as thick and as humid as the heat wave that's suffocating the village of Banathel. The first 3/4 of this book had me held in it's grip but then it takes a bit of an unexpected turn and all that built up dread simply vanishes. Now that's not to say the ending is bad by any means but it wasn't the direction I was expecting the book to go. What I can say with authority is that Pearce is an incredibly talented writer and I wouldn't hesitate to pick up another one of her books in the future. 4 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my complimentary copy.
Mina's excited to get some experience and to get to the bottom of Alice's ailment. Surely she isn't possessed by a witch.....or is she? You'll have to read this to find out!
There is definitely some witchiness brewing in the air of this novel by Daisy Pearce. The atmosphere of dread and menace is as thick and as humid as the heat wave that's suffocating the village of Banathel. The first 3/4 of this book had me held in it's grip but then it takes a bit of an unexpected turn and all that built up dread simply vanishes. Now that's not to say the ending is bad by any means but it wasn't the direction I was expecting the book to go. What I can say with authority is that Pearce is an incredibly talented writer and I wouldn't hesitate to pick up another one of her books in the future. 4 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my complimentary copy.
August 22, 2024
This 👏🏻 Book 👏🏻
I’ve been wanting to read this one for a while and I finally got access to it on @netgalley so I picked it up immediately. There was a lot happening and it got darker and darker as it went on, to the point that I was gasping. It was witchy, it was creepy, it was possess-y, it was perfect. Do I still have questions about some things? Absolutely - but, I enjoyed this book so much, it gave me heart palpitations. I wish this was coming out prior to February, because this would be perfect for spooky season!
🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝/5
Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the arc in exchange for my honest review. PUB DATE: 2/25
I’ve been wanting to read this one for a while and I finally got access to it on @netgalley so I picked it up immediately. There was a lot happening and it got darker and darker as it went on, to the point that I was gasping. It was witchy, it was creepy, it was possess-y, it was perfect. Do I still have questions about some things? Absolutely - but, I enjoyed this book so much, it gave me heart palpitations. I wish this was coming out prior to February, because this would be perfect for spooky season!
🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝/5
Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for the arc in exchange for my honest review. PUB DATE: 2/25
September 17, 2024
**READ IF YOU ARE A FAN OF MIDSOMMAR AND UNNERVING PLOTS FULL OF MASS HYSTERIA**
I absolutely loved this book… it gave me the chills!!
Mina is engaged to be married, she’s recently qualified as a child psychologist and is still mourning the loss of her sickly younger brother.
She meets her new friend Sam at a grief group and when he informs her he is doing investigative journalist work on an unusual case and could use her help, she jumps at the opportunity.
Alice is a seemingly troubled child who recently got kicked out of school and has all the community convinced she is either possessed or touched with the ability to see and speak to the dead.
Sam and Mina are tasked with the job of finding out what is going on behind the scenes, what is causing these symptoms and how much is true or false.
I loved the supernatural vibes, a perfect read for a spooky fall! From the things Alice says, to the creepy atmospheric town full of their superstitious beliefs, unhinged believers and folklore, the entire book was just the perfect haunted story.
Thank you to St Martin’s Press, Daisy Pearce and NetGalley for the EARC.
Publish date; Feb 25th
I absolutely loved this book… it gave me the chills!!
Mina is engaged to be married, she’s recently qualified as a child psychologist and is still mourning the loss of her sickly younger brother.
She meets her new friend Sam at a grief group and when he informs her he is doing investigative journalist work on an unusual case and could use her help, she jumps at the opportunity.
Alice is a seemingly troubled child who recently got kicked out of school and has all the community convinced she is either possessed or touched with the ability to see and speak to the dead.
Sam and Mina are tasked with the job of finding out what is going on behind the scenes, what is causing these symptoms and how much is true or false.
I loved the supernatural vibes, a perfect read for a spooky fall! From the things Alice says, to the creepy atmospheric town full of their superstitious beliefs, unhinged believers and folklore, the entire book was just the perfect haunted story.
Thank you to St Martin’s Press, Daisy Pearce and NetGalley for the EARC.
Publish date; Feb 25th
September 7, 2024
“Everyone loves to look into the darkness” This was an ominous, creepy, spooky tale that the author reveals at just the right moments. The buildup of the story was intense and had me hanging on the edge. I did not see the twist that was revealed and the ending left me with a lot more questions. Without saying too much, I will be contemplating this one for a while. Definitely recommend this book. Pub Date February 25, 2025. Thanks to NetGalley, St. Martins Press and Daisy Pearce for the opportunity to read this arc for an honest review.
July 11, 2024
ARC for review. To be published February 25, 2025.
“Everyone loves a ghost story, don’t they? Everyone loves to look into the darkness.” Well, I can’t speak for everyone (though I try) but _I_ certainly love a good ghost story and I quite enjoyed this little tale.
It’s summer, 1989. No cell phones, Britain is in the middle of a horrible heat wave and Mina Ellis is gearing up for her wedding to scientist, Oscar. She has recently graduated with her master’s in psychology. As a teenager she lost her brother, Eddie, and she has never gotten over it. From time to time she still goes to a grief group and it is there she meets journalist Sam Hunter who has lost his daughter. He also has an interesting proposition for Mina.
The two travel to the small town of Banathel to investigate the case of thirteen year old Alice Webber who claims she is being haunted. The residents of the town are a bit odd. Is something off in Banathel?
This is a type of story you’ve likely read before, but made a bit more interesting in that Mina and Sam both want to prove and disprove the haunting. They are realists, and it’s 1989, but at the same time it would be wonderful to be able to contact Eddie and Maggie in some way. There’s a nice sense of menace throughout this, and Banathel is a town with scars, both literal and figurative. I liked this.
“Everyone loves a ghost story, don’t they? Everyone loves to look into the darkness.” Well, I can’t speak for everyone (though I try) but _I_ certainly love a good ghost story and I quite enjoyed this little tale.
It’s summer, 1989. No cell phones, Britain is in the middle of a horrible heat wave and Mina Ellis is gearing up for her wedding to scientist, Oscar. She has recently graduated with her master’s in psychology. As a teenager she lost her brother, Eddie, and she has never gotten over it. From time to time she still goes to a grief group and it is there she meets journalist Sam Hunter who has lost his daughter. He also has an interesting proposition for Mina.
The two travel to the small town of Banathel to investigate the case of thirteen year old Alice Webber who claims she is being haunted. The residents of the town are a bit odd. Is something off in Banathel?
This is a type of story you’ve likely read before, but made a bit more interesting in that Mina and Sam both want to prove and disprove the haunting. They are realists, and it’s 1989, but at the same time it would be wonderful to be able to contact Eddie and Maggie in some way. There’s a nice sense of menace throughout this, and Banathel is a town with scars, both literal and figurative. I liked this.
September 2, 2024
It's 1989 and Mina Ellis is grieving the loss of her brother Eddie who died six years earlier. She’s attending group grief support but she’s still seeing Eddie in the background of her life. When she meets a young journalist—Sam—at group, the two bond over their grief. Discovering that Mina is a new child psychologist, he extends an offer for her to gain some experience.
In the town of Banathel, teenaged Alice Webber is hearing voices and claiming that there is a witch in her family’s chimney spying on her. The town is steeped with ancient folklore and superstition and they think Alice may be the latest to fall victim to the town's dark past.
This story is appropriately and deliciously witchy and foreboding with meditations on mass hysteria and herd mentality. I enjoyed the small town atmosphere though I couldn’t help but feel like something was missing or that I, myself, was missing something the whole time I was reading this; the characters’ actions didn’t make sense a lot of the time and there were many blips in the narrative that disrupted the overall flow of the story.
A strong start, a muddled middle, and a good ending; a lot of unmet potential; lost interest by the halfway point and couldn't get it back.
Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review. Available 02/25/2025.
In the town of Banathel, teenaged Alice Webber is hearing voices and claiming that there is a witch in her family’s chimney spying on her. The town is steeped with ancient folklore and superstition and they think Alice may be the latest to fall victim to the town's dark past.
This story is appropriately and deliciously witchy and foreboding with meditations on mass hysteria and herd mentality. I enjoyed the small town atmosphere though I couldn’t help but feel like something was missing or that I, myself, was missing something the whole time I was reading this; the characters’ actions didn’t make sense a lot of the time and there were many blips in the narrative that disrupted the overall flow of the story.
A strong start, a muddled middle, and a good ending; a lot of unmet potential; lost interest by the halfway point and couldn't get it back.
Thank you St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review. Available 02/25/2025.
September 16, 2024
When I saw this book on NetGalley I was immediately drawn to it and wanted it before I even read the synopsis. The cover and title evoked all the feelings I have about my favourite story “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman and while the stories are completely different, it made for a unique experience going in.
Part supernatural and part historical fiction, Something in the Walls captures a unique look into a modern day witch hunt. Daisy Pearce uses horror aspects and psychological tools to throw us into a book where you’re not sure if the main character who claims to be haunted by a witch, is truly haunted. I never knew which direction the book was going to go and it kept me on my toes in a way that true horror geniuses are able to do.
It’s clear there was inspiration taken from experts in the field from Shirley Jackson to Mike Flanagan and I’m so glad I got to read this right in the midst of the so called “Spooky Season.” Sure, this book wasn’t The Yellow Wallpaper but it did hit on the same themes from female justice, supernatural questioning and small town proclivities.
Daisy Pearce did so much here and I’m so excited for all of my witch girls, goth girls, and cottage core babes to be able to delve into this. I’m still so pleased I got this as an ARC and will definitely be buying a physical copy when it comes out because this book deserves to be displayed in all its glory.
Part supernatural and part historical fiction, Something in the Walls captures a unique look into a modern day witch hunt. Daisy Pearce uses horror aspects and psychological tools to throw us into a book where you’re not sure if the main character who claims to be haunted by a witch, is truly haunted. I never knew which direction the book was going to go and it kept me on my toes in a way that true horror geniuses are able to do.
It’s clear there was inspiration taken from experts in the field from Shirley Jackson to Mike Flanagan and I’m so glad I got to read this right in the midst of the so called “Spooky Season.” Sure, this book wasn’t The Yellow Wallpaper but it did hit on the same themes from female justice, supernatural questioning and small town proclivities.
Daisy Pearce did so much here and I’m so excited for all of my witch girls, goth girls, and cottage core babes to be able to delve into this. I’m still so pleased I got this as an ARC and will definitely be buying a physical copy when it comes out because this book deserves to be displayed in all its glory.
October 13, 2024
2.5 stars. If you just want a horror novel that is trying VERY HARD to be a creepy horror novel then you will probably like this fine. But if you like novels where every single thing that happens is just to advance the plot even if it makes absolutely no sense at all in the aforementioned plot, you'll be fine with this.
Basically this is two books. There's the setup and there's the ending. And everything in the middle is moving us from Point A to Point B. The problem is that what you would expect from Point A is not what happens. Once the journey has started every thing that happens and every character that is introduced is only about Point B. Maybe this would have worked much better if the setup was more aligned? But I just kept wondering why this Child Psychologist who had come to visit this family solely for the purpose of evaluating their daughter spent day after day not talking to the daughter at all but having all kinds of random chats with strangers who seem to have no relevance to the plot.
The major problem with this approach is that you can guess quite easily what the ending is, because every single thing has been in service of it. I would not call anything here "a twist" because it is all so easy to see coming.
This book also takes a story about witches and immediately takes it to... ghosts. Which makes no sense to me, but which is necessary to trigger the Tragic Back Story segment of our protagonist. It was good enough with just witches!
I really should have had my spidey senses tingling by the comps to Midsommar and The Haunting of Hill House, two stories that have basically nothing in common except a woman going through a mental health crisis. The vibes are not the same, the stories are not the same, I have a hard time imagining a story where these two things are both related to it close enough to be a comp title. I didn't think it had much in common with either. (Personally I would have gone The Conjuring 2 + The Wicker Man for the overall vibes.)
The ending is just fine when you get there. I would have liked it more if it hadn't been so ridiculously obvious. And if it hadn't felt the need to keep throwing in One More Thing. A more Midsommar-y ending would actually have been much better.
Basically this is two books. There's the setup and there's the ending. And everything in the middle is moving us from Point A to Point B. The problem is that what you would expect from Point A is not what happens. Once the journey has started every thing that happens and every character that is introduced is only about Point B. Maybe this would have worked much better if the setup was more aligned? But I just kept wondering why this Child Psychologist who had come to visit this family solely for the purpose of evaluating their daughter spent day after day not talking to the daughter at all but having all kinds of random chats with strangers who seem to have no relevance to the plot.
The major problem with this approach is that you can guess quite easily what the ending is, because every single thing has been in service of it. I would not call anything here "a twist" because it is all so easy to see coming.
This book also takes a story about witches and immediately takes it to... ghosts. Which makes no sense to me, but which is necessary to trigger the Tragic Back Story segment of our protagonist. It was good enough with just witches!
I really should have had my spidey senses tingling by the comps to Midsommar and The Haunting of Hill House, two stories that have basically nothing in common except a woman going through a mental health crisis. The vibes are not the same, the stories are not the same, I have a hard time imagining a story where these two things are both related to it close enough to be a comp title. I didn't think it had much in common with either. (Personally I would have gone The Conjuring 2 + The Wicker Man for the overall vibes.)
The ending is just fine when you get there. I would have liked it more if it hadn't been so ridiculously obvious. And if it hadn't felt the need to keep throwing in One More Thing. A more Midsommar-y ending would actually have been much better.
October 21, 2024
The story starts off with a pregnancy test, so I was hoping the title hinted at “something within these UTERINE walls.” But alas, this was not obstetrical horror.
While this sounded very promising, I found that it was largely predictable with well-trod horror twists and turns. Yes, it’s a somewhat creepy story. However, I don’t feel as if this accomplishes a thing particularly unique or memorable.
While this sounded very promising, I found that it was largely predictable with well-trod horror twists and turns. Yes, it’s a somewhat creepy story. However, I don’t feel as if this accomplishes a thing particularly unique or memorable.
September 2, 2024
It’s not easy to scare me with horror novels, but this was genuinely scary. Like, enough to make me uncomfortable lol. The Midsommar and Haunting of Hill House comparisons were what drew me in, plus a plot line about a young girl in a remote village with disturbing symptoms who claims to be haunted by a witch. And with me starting this at the beginning of (almost) spooky season, this is the first weekend all year that *kinda* feels like it’s about to be the start of fall. I needed something spooky to get me in the mood for fall so this arc could not have come at a more perfect time.
I wasn’t too sure if this was going to be a mystery thriller or a paranormal horror story, though I was hoping it would be the latter. I’m not going to spoil what it ends up being because that’s part of the mystery, but from the get go, it does feel very much like it’s going to go the paranormal direction. Or at least, that’s what the book wants the reader to think. Paranormal or not, this very much feels like a horror novel, not a thriller, which is exactly what I was expecting and wanted. Alice Webber, the child who claims to be haunted by a witch who watches her from beneath the chimney, has things going on with her that can’t be explained. You even find out the event that caused it all, the event that caused her to be supposedly haunted by a witch. The doctors deem her fine physically, so Mina is sent to the village of Banathel as a child psychologist to investigate this possible haunting.
Despite the ambiguity over whether or not this will end up being paranormal, this very much is a horror novel, with the investigating haunted places and even a seance. There’s a lot of mystery where you don’t know where the story is going but you are being directed a certain way the entire time, which is the paranormal route. Is that what’s actually going on or is the book trying to throw you off? You’ll just have to read it and see! Mostly, this book genuinely is just very scary. It takes a certain kind of skill to make a horror novel actually scary, and Daisy Pearce has that skill. I hope she sticks to this genre because she’s great at it. My main complaint is I feel like too many things didn’t get a proper explanation. I was left feeling a bit confused over what certain character’s motivations even were and this lacked explanations for some of the strange occurrences. The conclusion wasn’t conclusive enough for me and lacked a full explanation. But this actually was very scary!
Thank you to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.
I wasn’t too sure if this was going to be a mystery thriller or a paranormal horror story, though I was hoping it would be the latter. I’m not going to spoil what it ends up being because that’s part of the mystery, but from the get go, it does feel very much like it’s going to go the paranormal direction. Or at least, that’s what the book wants the reader to think. Paranormal or not, this very much feels like a horror novel, not a thriller, which is exactly what I was expecting and wanted. Alice Webber, the child who claims to be haunted by a witch who watches her from beneath the chimney, has things going on with her that can’t be explained. You even find out the event that caused it all, the event that caused her to be supposedly haunted by a witch. The doctors deem her fine physically, so Mina is sent to the village of Banathel as a child psychologist to investigate this possible haunting.
Despite the ambiguity over whether or not this will end up being paranormal, this very much is a horror novel, with the investigating haunted places and even a seance. There’s a lot of mystery where you don’t know where the story is going but you are being directed a certain way the entire time, which is the paranormal route. Is that what’s actually going on or is the book trying to throw you off? You’ll just have to read it and see! Mostly, this book genuinely is just very scary. It takes a certain kind of skill to make a horror novel actually scary, and Daisy Pearce has that skill. I hope she sticks to this genre because she’s great at it. My main complaint is I feel like too many things didn’t get a proper explanation. I was left feeling a bit confused over what certain character’s motivations even were and this lacked explanations for some of the strange occurrences. The conclusion wasn’t conclusive enough for me and lacked a full explanation. But this actually was very scary!
Thank you to Netgalley and Minotaur Books for sending me an advanced copy in return for my honest review.
August 19, 2024
I wanted to like this more than I did. I felt as if the author did a good job on creating a chilling atmosphere and building suspense towards the begging of the book that drew me in, but I felt that towards the middle of the book I lost the desire to continue reading. It became slow and the pace uneven. The narrative of the book was confusing to follow in places as well; and the ending felt jipped. I was expecting something more haunting and exciting.
September 8, 2024
Maybe I am missing something? The sole purpose of the book was about the witch but then that was completely dropped towards the end and not ever addressed. I WAS SO INVESTED IN THIS WITCH WITH ALICE and left with NO ANSWERS. What the hell.
Want to read
September 1, 2024ARC received! Thank you, Minotaur Books!!
October 26, 2024
Something in the Walls is the third book by novelist Daisy Pearce, a British author with a passion for mythology and true crime. Mina is a recently graduated child psychologist who is bored with her life and struggling to get over the death of her brother, Eddie. When her bookish fiancé pushes her to go back to grief group, she meets a reporter, Sam, who is hoping to investigate claims of a teenager possessed by a witch. His newspaper has asked him to investigate to see if this is a real deal haunting or something less sinister - a con or mental illness. When he asks Mina to try out her new psychological chops on this teenager, she agrees to go with Sam to live in the teenager's home to try and determine if this is a ~real~ haunting.
This was fun! It had excellent creepy October vibes and I had a great time reading it. A great combination of witches, ghosts, medieval witch hunt vibes, and true crime. My one complaint is that not everything was resolved at the end of the book - it was not ever totally clear what exactly had been going on. Definitely atmospheric and creepy.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - I really liked it!
✅ Horror
✅ Thriller
✅ Ghosts & witches
✅ Witch hunt
✅ True crime
📅 - Something in the Walls will be available February 25, 2025
🙏 Thank you so much to Daisy Pearce & St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for this ARC through NetGalley! All opinions are my own.
This was fun! It had excellent creepy October vibes and I had a great time reading it. A great combination of witches, ghosts, medieval witch hunt vibes, and true crime. My one complaint is that not everything was resolved at the end of the book - it was not ever totally clear what exactly had been going on. Definitely atmospheric and creepy.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - I really liked it!
✅ Horror
✅ Thriller
✅ Ghosts & witches
✅ Witch hunt
✅ True crime
📅 - Something in the Walls will be available February 25, 2025
🙏 Thank you so much to Daisy Pearce & St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for this ARC through NetGalley! All opinions are my own.
October 27, 2024
To me, this was a sexy little mashup of the wicker man and the conjuring. absolutely obsessed with the vibes of this one. folklore, witches, small town hysteria. it's got it all.
i LOVED mina. complex and soft. she was perfect. the side characters felt real and fleshed out. one of the few books to have actually scared me. i legitimately had to turn my light on at some point because it freaked me out. the slow burn of horror in certain scenes was so GOOD. i can't get over it.
i LOVED mina. complex and soft. she was perfect. the side characters felt real and fleshed out. one of the few books to have actually scared me. i legitimately had to turn my light on at some point because it freaked me out. the slow burn of horror in certain scenes was so GOOD. i can't get over it.
October 3, 2024
Okay, weird complaint time: I don’t think the title ‘Something in the Walls’ fits the book. I mean, I get it…but the book is so wonderfully folk horror and very intelligent and the current title makes it seem like it’s a not-very-much-watched horror movie on Netflix.
Mina is terrific, Sam a bit less so, and I was so incredibly curious about Alice and our witch.
The story is nicely creepy and there’s a terrific payoff.
Honestly, it’s one I didn’t want to stop reading.
Loved the book and would read the author again in a heartbeat.
• ARC via Publisher
Mina is terrific, Sam a bit less so, and I was so incredibly curious about Alice and our witch.
The story is nicely creepy and there’s a terrific payoff.
Honestly, it’s one I didn’t want to stop reading.
Loved the book and would read the author again in a heartbeat.
• ARC via Publisher
September 9, 2024
Mina Ellis is still struggling with the death of her younger brother years before. When another member of her grief support group tells her about a girl who claims to be haunted it seems like a good way to get some work experience in her field (child psychology), but part of her also hopes the girl might be able to contact her dead brother. But when they arrive in the remote English village the situation is more complex that Mina is ready for. And when very disturbing events start happening, she's not sure what the truth is.
The first half of the book was very creepy. The kind of creepy that made me very uncomfortable and I had no trouble putting it down when it started to get too late. (Not sure if this makes sense to anyone else but it reminded me a bit of the movie "The Grudge," with it's quickly growing unease and the overwhelmingly creepy sounds...) But eventually (after lots of daylight reading) I got to a point where I wasn't sure anymore what was happening... which was also unsettling. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It's very much the kind of story I like - scary but uncertain and making you wonder what's real. Great ending, too. (Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance electronic review copy.)
The first half of the book was very creepy. The kind of creepy that made me very uncomfortable and I had no trouble putting it down when it started to get too late. (Not sure if this makes sense to anyone else but it reminded me a bit of the movie "The Grudge," with it's quickly growing unease and the overwhelmingly creepy sounds...) But eventually (after lots of daylight reading) I got to a point where I wasn't sure anymore what was happening... which was also unsettling. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It's very much the kind of story I like - scary but uncertain and making you wonder what's real. Great ending, too. (Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance electronic review copy.)
October 21, 2024
Something in the Walls is an extremely creepy and unsettling book about a teenage girl who may have been cursed by a witch. After a reporter in search of proof of life after death catches wind, he brings in a child psychologist to help investigate the situation. Things quickly devolve from there, and this book literally had me up into the night trying to finish because I had to find out how it would resolve! This was the perfect addition to my spooky season tbr!
September 7, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
This title is published on February 25th, 2025.
I wish I could say I enjoyed this book but I really didn't. I found the pacing to be very slow at times where essentially nothing was happening. The main character was transformed from being a vibrant, driven and hungry young woman into a pathetic shell of a person which really annoyed me for a number of reasons partly because the entire plot, which was rooted in the paranormal, resulted in all the supporting characters becoming even more pathetic. At times, I felt that I had to suspend my disbelief at literally every character's behaviour and interactions with the main character just to progress to the conclusion of this book.
If you enjoy a paranormal tale, you might really like this book but don't expect it to stay true to that premise until the end.
2.5 stars rounded up to 3.
This title is published on February 25th, 2025.
I wish I could say I enjoyed this book but I really didn't. I found the pacing to be very slow at times where essentially nothing was happening. The main character was transformed from being a vibrant, driven and hungry young woman into a pathetic shell of a person which really annoyed me for a number of reasons partly because the entire plot, which was rooted in the paranormal, resulted in all the supporting characters becoming even more pathetic. At times, I felt that I had to suspend my disbelief at literally every character's behaviour and interactions with the main character just to progress to the conclusion of this book.
If you enjoy a paranormal tale, you might really like this book but don't expect it to stay true to that premise until the end.
2.5 stars rounded up to 3.
October 7, 2024
I loved the first 3/4 of this book but then it went off the rails for me after. The story centers on Mina, a newly minted child psychologist who is asked by a new friend to weigh in on a case where a teenaged girl seems to be possessed by a witch. Both Mina and her new friend Sam have personal reasons for wanting to get involved as well.
There were some definite creepy parts in the book where the young girl Alice experiences what may or may not be supernatural possession. The way the author described the dread that Mina feels gave me goosebumps more than once. I also really liked trying to decipher the question mark around the family’s motivations. Later in the book the storyline takes a bit of a turn and while there was potential in this new storyline, it left a lot of unanswered questions with the original storyline and also created new confusion in itself. The book lost me a bit at that point, and when it ended I was still left with questions. My other wish in this book was to get a little more info into Mina’s and her fiancé Oscar’s relationship- I didn’t feel like I really understood how they got to the point where they were.
Overall, this book had a ton of potential with a 5 star start, but lost me as it continued and I walked away with unanswered questions. Major kudos to the author on the creepiness factor though- I am hard to scare! Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
There were some definite creepy parts in the book where the young girl Alice experiences what may or may not be supernatural possession. The way the author described the dread that Mina feels gave me goosebumps more than once. I also really liked trying to decipher the question mark around the family’s motivations. Later in the book the storyline takes a bit of a turn and while there was potential in this new storyline, it left a lot of unanswered questions with the original storyline and also created new confusion in itself. The book lost me a bit at that point, and when it ended I was still left with questions. My other wish in this book was to get a little more info into Mina’s and her fiancé Oscar’s relationship- I didn’t feel like I really understood how they got to the point where they were.
Overall, this book had a ton of potential with a 5 star start, but lost me as it continued and I walked away with unanswered questions. Major kudos to the author on the creepiness factor though- I am hard to scare! Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 17, 2024
A propulsively horrific nightmare that combines the eldritch ritual of Rosemary's Baby and the dawning terror of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre, this sweltering fever dream keeps the reader desperately guessing until the final pages.
Easily one of the best horror novels of 2024, Something in the Walls is a masterpiece of relentless tension and interwoven motifs of folk horror wielded by the blunt instruments of gothic fiction. As mysteries are layered one on top of the other, the reader is both fully invested in and bewildered by the mounting hysteria and unexplainable phenomena occurring in the town of Banathel. Some elements of the story are reminiscent of Stephen King's best work, but Shirley Jackson's influence shines the brightest with nods both to Hill House and The Lottery. Unlike bait-and-switch suspense novels like Hidden Pictures and The Silent Patient, Walls delivers on its ominous promises in full with meaningful but mysterious hints.
Characters are familiar and yet unique, creating compelling three-dimensional personalities. The mythology is wholly original, as well, and Pearce's capacity for imagining new realms of terror is unimpeachable. Casually poignant and effortlessly profound, her prose illuminates the story convincingly enough to make the reader wonder how much of it might be based on historical accounts. Blending the cultural anxiety of rural cults and witch hunts with the themes of female empowerment and social contagions, Pearce proves herself a pioneer of horror with this masterpiece.
Is that someone, or something, watching from the shadows, or is it your own guilt stalking you from the dark corners?
Take a closer look, if you dare, at Something in the Walls.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC.
Easily one of the best horror novels of 2024, Something in the Walls is a masterpiece of relentless tension and interwoven motifs of folk horror wielded by the blunt instruments of gothic fiction. As mysteries are layered one on top of the other, the reader is both fully invested in and bewildered by the mounting hysteria and unexplainable phenomena occurring in the town of Banathel. Some elements of the story are reminiscent of Stephen King's best work, but Shirley Jackson's influence shines the brightest with nods both to Hill House and The Lottery. Unlike bait-and-switch suspense novels like Hidden Pictures and The Silent Patient, Walls delivers on its ominous promises in full with meaningful but mysterious hints.
Characters are familiar and yet unique, creating compelling three-dimensional personalities. The mythology is wholly original, as well, and Pearce's capacity for imagining new realms of terror is unimpeachable. Casually poignant and effortlessly profound, her prose illuminates the story convincingly enough to make the reader wonder how much of it might be based on historical accounts. Blending the cultural anxiety of rural cults and witch hunts with the themes of female empowerment and social contagions, Pearce proves herself a pioneer of horror with this masterpiece.
Is that someone, or something, watching from the shadows, or is it your own guilt stalking you from the dark corners?
Take a closer look, if you dare, at Something in the Walls.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC.
September 11, 2024
3.5 stars
While the creep factor was good in spots I wanted a bit more of an overall creepiness. It had a really strong start and a good ending but the middle dragged a bit for me at a slower pace, I wanted a bit more of the haunting aspect. Overall a fun and witchy read. I would have loved a bit more about Eddie and Sam's daughter, if I could have had another 50ish pages added of just their stories/backgrounds this easily could have been another star.
Thank you to St Martin’s Press, Daisy Pearce and NetGalley for the e-arc, I immediately downloaded and wanted to pick this up.
While the creep factor was good in spots I wanted a bit more of an overall creepiness. It had a really strong start and a good ending but the middle dragged a bit for me at a slower pace, I wanted a bit more of the haunting aspect. Overall a fun and witchy read. I would have loved a bit more about Eddie and Sam's daughter, if I could have had another 50ish pages added of just their stories/backgrounds this easily could have been another star.
Thank you to St Martin’s Press, Daisy Pearce and NetGalley for the e-arc, I immediately downloaded and wanted to pick this up.
October 3, 2024
Such a great suspenseful thriller! I loved the combination of creepy kid, paranormal, and true crime. The plot was easy to follow and hooked me from the start!
The author does a great job distinguishing characters and making them easy to follow. At times the main character Mina felt a little flat, but overall the characters were interesting and had good connections with each other!
The author does a great job distinguishing characters and making them easy to follow. At times the main character Mina felt a little flat, but overall the characters were interesting and had good connections with each other!
September 12, 2024
ooooooooh i loved this one. the perfect mix of suspenseful, creepy, witchy, dark, and fast-paced that kept me hooked. i genuinely was surprised at every turn and thought the ending was excellent.
September 5, 2024
Received this ARC as part of a giveaway.
Solid 4 stars. I felt like some parts needed to be fleshed out. The lack of details around Mary's sickness made it less emotional when she died, even as the scene was a little predictable. The town was mentioned to have heavy lore and traditions relating to witches, so it would have been great if we got to see one of those stores unfold from the past before Skeevy Bert. I already hated Oscar from the start so I'm glad that went no where.
Solid 4 stars. I felt like some parts needed to be fleshed out. The lack of details around Mary's sickness made it less emotional when she died, even as the scene was a little predictable. The town was mentioned to have heavy lore and traditions relating to witches, so it would have been great if we got to see one of those stores unfold from the past before Skeevy Bert. I already hated Oscar from the start so I'm glad that went no where.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 31, 2024
ARC - to be released 2/25/25
I felt like I was reading a movie! I thoroughly enjoyed the tense, chilling atmosphere the author created. While the story was somewhat predictable and the ending felt rushed, I was at the edge of my seat.
Some portions felt hard to follow, particularly the climax, but overall a great story. I can see this becoming a movie in the future
I felt like I was reading a movie! I thoroughly enjoyed the tense, chilling atmosphere the author created. While the story was somewhat predictable and the ending felt rushed, I was at the edge of my seat.
Some portions felt hard to follow, particularly the climax, but overall a great story. I can see this becoming a movie in the future
October 27, 2024
Thank you Daisy Pearce, St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, and Netgalley for the eARC.in exchange for an honest review.
📚
From the moment I laid eyes on Something in the Walls, I was captivated—This book is part supernatural, part historical fiction, delving deep into the psyche of a modern-day witch hunt, where folklore and horror blend seamlessly, leaving you questioning what is real and what is mere illusion.
Mina, a newly-minted child psychologist, is drawn into the disturbing world of Alice, a young girl haunted by an otherworldly presence. What starts as a professional inquiry quickly unravels into something far darker. Mina finds herself entangled in a broken home and a village steeped in superstition. The eerie tension escalates as I followed her journey, caught between the rational explanations she desperately clings to and the chilling possibility that something sinister lurks just beyond the veil.
The narrative kept me guessing—each twist and turn had me second-guessing my assumptions, and just when I thought I had the mystery figured out, Pearce pulled the rug out from under me. I was left on edge, my heart racing, as I pondered the true nature of the haunting. Is it a supernatural curse, or are the demons Mina faces rooted in the very fabric of human nature?
Despite the intensity of the characters’ struggles, I found none of them particularly likable. Yet, this only fueled my desire to see them prevail. Mina and Alice grapple with a lack of support from those around them, which amplifies the stakes of their journey. I championed for them, hoping they would find the strength to confront the darkness that surrounded them.
Pearce's writing evokes a visceral reaction, prompting reflections on grief and societal expectations. The haunting line, "Sometimes I wonder how our many-chambered hearts can stand the loss all these years," struck a chord, reminding me of the emotional baggage we carry. The historical echoes of women being sent away for their perceived failings—“You know that used to happen a lot? Women being sent away to institutions…”—make it clear that the ghosts of the past still haunt us today.
Ultimately, Something in the Walls left me with a sense of unease, as if I had been led down a rabbit hole where every shadow could hold a hidden truth. It’s a chilling exploration of female justice, supernatural questioning, and the peculiarities of small-town life. As I turned the final pages, I was left wanting more—more depth, more revelations, and perhaps even more ghosts to chase.
Daisy Pearce has crafted a haunting tale that is sure to resonate with witch girls, goth girls, and anyone drawn to the darker corners of storytelling. I am grateful to have received this as an ARC, and I can’t wait to add a physical copy to my collection. This book deserves to be displayed in all its glory, a reminder of the thin line between reality and the shadows lurking just out of sight.
📚
From the moment I laid eyes on Something in the Walls, I was captivated—This book is part supernatural, part historical fiction, delving deep into the psyche of a modern-day witch hunt, where folklore and horror blend seamlessly, leaving you questioning what is real and what is mere illusion.
Mina, a newly-minted child psychologist, is drawn into the disturbing world of Alice, a young girl haunted by an otherworldly presence. What starts as a professional inquiry quickly unravels into something far darker. Mina finds herself entangled in a broken home and a village steeped in superstition. The eerie tension escalates as I followed her journey, caught between the rational explanations she desperately clings to and the chilling possibility that something sinister lurks just beyond the veil.
The narrative kept me guessing—each twist and turn had me second-guessing my assumptions, and just when I thought I had the mystery figured out, Pearce pulled the rug out from under me. I was left on edge, my heart racing, as I pondered the true nature of the haunting. Is it a supernatural curse, or are the demons Mina faces rooted in the very fabric of human nature?
Despite the intensity of the characters’ struggles, I found none of them particularly likable. Yet, this only fueled my desire to see them prevail. Mina and Alice grapple with a lack of support from those around them, which amplifies the stakes of their journey. I championed for them, hoping they would find the strength to confront the darkness that surrounded them.
Pearce's writing evokes a visceral reaction, prompting reflections on grief and societal expectations. The haunting line, "Sometimes I wonder how our many-chambered hearts can stand the loss all these years," struck a chord, reminding me of the emotional baggage we carry. The historical echoes of women being sent away for their perceived failings—“You know that used to happen a lot? Women being sent away to institutions…”—make it clear that the ghosts of the past still haunt us today.
Ultimately, Something in the Walls left me with a sense of unease, as if I had been led down a rabbit hole where every shadow could hold a hidden truth. It’s a chilling exploration of female justice, supernatural questioning, and the peculiarities of small-town life. As I turned the final pages, I was left wanting more—more depth, more revelations, and perhaps even more ghosts to chase.
Daisy Pearce has crafted a haunting tale that is sure to resonate with witch girls, goth girls, and anyone drawn to the darker corners of storytelling. I am grateful to have received this as an ARC, and I can’t wait to add a physical copy to my collection. This book deserves to be displayed in all its glory, a reminder of the thin line between reality and the shadows lurking just out of sight.
September 26, 2024
Thank you so much to Netgalley, the author, and publisher for the early reading opportunity!
𝐩𝐮𝐛 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐅𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟐𝟓, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓
It's the late 80s and Britain is experiencing a record breaking heat wave. Mina Ellis, a young woman who has just obtained her masters degree in psychology is engaged to be married to a scientist named Oscar. After a pregnancy scare she starts down a dark path of revisiting her brother's death and the days leading up to it. Oscar urges her to return to her support group to work through her emotions. In doing so she meets Sam, a reporter who is grieving the loss of his daughter Maggie. Maggie was just a child and Sam is dealing with so much guilt and facing new obstacles every time he looks back on her final days in the hospital.
Sam has been tasked with interviewing members of the community in a small village where a young woman is believed to be in spiritual warfare. The details of the case are all heresy and it's up to Sam to investigate. After running into Mina and learning that she's aspiring to be a child psychologist, he recruits her to help.
Young Alice, the teenager in question, looks like an average teen on the outside. Kitschy tshirts, a Walkman, and headphones that seem to be attached to her head at all times, and a bit of an attitude. It isn't until she opens up a little about her visitor that only she can see and the things she says, that Mina starts to take things seriously and becomes determined to get some answers for the Webber family.
𝐩𝐮𝐛 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐅𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝟐𝟓, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓
It's the late 80s and Britain is experiencing a record breaking heat wave. Mina Ellis, a young woman who has just obtained her masters degree in psychology is engaged to be married to a scientist named Oscar. After a pregnancy scare she starts down a dark path of revisiting her brother's death and the days leading up to it. Oscar urges her to return to her support group to work through her emotions. In doing so she meets Sam, a reporter who is grieving the loss of his daughter Maggie. Maggie was just a child and Sam is dealing with so much guilt and facing new obstacles every time he looks back on her final days in the hospital.
Sam has been tasked with interviewing members of the community in a small village where a young woman is believed to be in spiritual warfare. The details of the case are all heresy and it's up to Sam to investigate. After running into Mina and learning that she's aspiring to be a child psychologist, he recruits her to help.
Young Alice, the teenager in question, looks like an average teen on the outside. Kitschy tshirts, a Walkman, and headphones that seem to be attached to her head at all times, and a bit of an attitude. It isn't until she opens up a little about her visitor that only she can see and the things she says, that Mina starts to take things seriously and becomes determined to get some answers for the Webber family.
October 3, 2024
Wow this book. If you’re looking for a creepy, bone chilling thriller, THIS. IS. IT. A modern take on the witch hunts of our past, this book is full of folklore and horror and read like a movie.
Mina, a newly minted child psychologist is called to a small English town rife with superstitions & past scars to work with a troubled girl. 13-year-old Alice is hearing and seeing strange apparitions and claims she’s being haunted by a witch.
Spooky and ominous this book is filled with dark & gritty details. There’s also meditations on mass hysteria, herd mentality and small town proclivities.
With its short chapters & twisty plot, this was a page turner and I never knew exactly where we were headed. The ending surprised me but also left me hanging with a few too many unanswered questions. I’m still pondering it all.
I would definitely recommend this though; my witchy & supernatural friends will love it!
I wish this was being published sooner because it’s perfect for the spooky season but mark your calendars for February 25th!
A big thank you to @stmartinspress and @netgalley for the advanced copy!
Mina, a newly minted child psychologist is called to a small English town rife with superstitions & past scars to work with a troubled girl. 13-year-old Alice is hearing and seeing strange apparitions and claims she’s being haunted by a witch.
Spooky and ominous this book is filled with dark & gritty details. There’s also meditations on mass hysteria, herd mentality and small town proclivities.
With its short chapters & twisty plot, this was a page turner and I never knew exactly where we were headed. The ending surprised me but also left me hanging with a few too many unanswered questions. I’m still pondering it all.
I would definitely recommend this though; my witchy & supernatural friends will love it!
I wish this was being published sooner because it’s perfect for the spooky season but mark your calendars for February 25th!
A big thank you to @stmartinspress and @netgalley for the advanced copy!
September 26, 2024
Something in the Walls creates a sense of tension and dread early on. The horror doesn't lie within the supernatural, rather in the treatment of women and the reality of what could happen when antiquated traditions take hold. What if we allow the past to seep back into the present? This is an unsettling cautionary tale that deals with grief, mass hysteria and the unfair maligning of women that led to witch hunts, torture and death of the innocent.
There were some pacing issues in the middle, but I still loved this story. A profound message captured by lyrical writing. And the ending was perfect. Great for fans of The Vvitch and Midsommer.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
There were some pacing issues in the middle, but I still loved this story. A profound message captured by lyrical writing. And the ending was perfect. Great for fans of The Vvitch and Midsommer.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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