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Dark Is When the Devil Comes
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Expected 28 Apr 26Win a free print copy of this book!
20 days and 09:48:12
25 copies available
U.S. and Canada only
Unrelentingly scary and thrilling, Dark Is When the Devil Comes is an ambitious and chilling novel from acclaimed horror author Daisy Pearce.
The woods are known as the place to avoid. What goes in, doesn’t come out. Hazel has been gone from her small hometown of Idless in the English countryside for years. Now returned in the wake of a traumatic divorce and crumbling personal life, her simple plans are to lay low at her parents’ vacated house, reconnect with her prickly sister Cathy, and slowly get back on her feet.
Cathy is surprised when Hazel doesn’t show. Their relationship strained from a fallout half a decade ago, she didn’t expect them to get back into a sisterly rhythm…though she hadn’t counted on Hazel bailing, either.
But something isn’t adding up. Other people in town whisper of a threat that can’t be shaken. The woods are known for being restless. And Cathy knows the old saying.
If you go looking for trouble, you just might find it.
The woods are known as the place to avoid. What goes in, doesn’t come out. Hazel has been gone from her small hometown of Idless in the English countryside for years. Now returned in the wake of a traumatic divorce and crumbling personal life, her simple plans are to lay low at her parents’ vacated house, reconnect with her prickly sister Cathy, and slowly get back on her feet.
Cathy is surprised when Hazel doesn’t show. Their relationship strained from a fallout half a decade ago, she didn’t expect them to get back into a sisterly rhythm…though she hadn’t counted on Hazel bailing, either.
But something isn’t adding up. Other people in town whisper of a threat that can’t be shaken. The woods are known for being restless. And Cathy knows the old saying.
If you go looking for trouble, you just might find it.
336 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication April 28, 2026
18447 people want to read
About the author
Daisy Pearce
7 books610 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 90 reviews
December 1, 2025
There are some books that don't just creep you out—they crawl under your skin and settle there, humming with tension long after you've closed the last page. That's exactly what happened to me with Dark Is When the Devil Comes. Daisy Pearce doesn't just write horror; she builds an entire emotional and eerie landscape you feel stuck inside, the way you feel stuck in a bad dream you can't shake.
Hazel returns to Idless hoping for a quiet reset after her divorce—maybe a little solitude, maybe a fragile attempt to reconnect with her sister Cathy. But from the moment she steps back into her childhood town, you can sense something is off. Everyone seems to carry invisible weight. The woods seem too silent, too watchful. There's this subtle, prickling feeling that the whole town is holding its breath.
What I loved most is how Pearce roots all that creeping dread in something so relatable: coming home when you're bruised and uncertain, standing in the ruins of your old life, hoping your family will still know how to hold you. Hazel's emotional unraveling makes the supernatural elements feel even more haunting—it's like every fear she never dealt with starts pressing against her from the outside.
And Cathy's side of the story? I felt for her. Their sisterhood is tender and messy and imperfect, and it adds such a deeply human heartbeat to the book. When Hazel disappears, Cathy's frantic search becomes more than a mystery—it's an attempt to salvage years of distance and regret. You can feel how desperately she wants another chance.
The horror itself is atmospheric and eerie in the best ways. Nothing jumps. Nothing screams. Instead, the fear builds like fog—slow and smothering, until you realize you've been clenching your jaw for the last ten pages. Pearce mixes human danger with something older, stranger, and rooted in the very soil of Idless. The woods feel alive, hungry even, and every time a character walks near them, it's like the trees lean in a little closer.
I also loved how Pearce makes you question what's real and what's rooted in pain, trauma, memory, or something darker. It never feels cheap—it feels like the kind of horror that grows out of the things we've buried for too long.
The pacing keeps you hooked, the tension hits right in the chest, and the emotional stakes make the scares land even harder. By the time I finished, I felt like I'd been holding my breath right alongside Hazel and Cathy.
If you enjoy horror that feels intimate, unsettling, and tinged with folklore… if you love stories where sisters have to fight not just monsters but their own ghosts… this one is absolutely worth reading.
Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for sharing this gripping thriller's digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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Hazel returns to Idless hoping for a quiet reset after her divorce—maybe a little solitude, maybe a fragile attempt to reconnect with her sister Cathy. But from the moment she steps back into her childhood town, you can sense something is off. Everyone seems to carry invisible weight. The woods seem too silent, too watchful. There's this subtle, prickling feeling that the whole town is holding its breath.
What I loved most is how Pearce roots all that creeping dread in something so relatable: coming home when you're bruised and uncertain, standing in the ruins of your old life, hoping your family will still know how to hold you. Hazel's emotional unraveling makes the supernatural elements feel even more haunting—it's like every fear she never dealt with starts pressing against her from the outside.
And Cathy's side of the story? I felt for her. Their sisterhood is tender and messy and imperfect, and it adds such a deeply human heartbeat to the book. When Hazel disappears, Cathy's frantic search becomes more than a mystery—it's an attempt to salvage years of distance and regret. You can feel how desperately she wants another chance.
The horror itself is atmospheric and eerie in the best ways. Nothing jumps. Nothing screams. Instead, the fear builds like fog—slow and smothering, until you realize you've been clenching your jaw for the last ten pages. Pearce mixes human danger with something older, stranger, and rooted in the very soil of Idless. The woods feel alive, hungry even, and every time a character walks near them, it's like the trees lean in a little closer.
I also loved how Pearce makes you question what's real and what's rooted in pain, trauma, memory, or something darker. It never feels cheap—it feels like the kind of horror that grows out of the things we've buried for too long.
The pacing keeps you hooked, the tension hits right in the chest, and the emotional stakes make the scares land even harder. By the time I finished, I felt like I'd been holding my breath right alongside Hazel and Cathy.
If you enjoy horror that feels intimate, unsettling, and tinged with folklore… if you love stories where sisters have to fight not just monsters but their own ghosts… this one is absolutely worth reading.
Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for sharing this gripping thriller's digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
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twitter<
December 29, 2025
Darkly horrific, eerily atmospheric, & utterly gripping!
From the very first pages of Dark Is When The Devil Comes Home by Daisy Pearce, I was hooked. This is a twisty, chilling horror story that drags you in and refuses to let go. I immediately loved the way Pearce sets the tone. Dark, tense, and beautifully unsettling, the characters feel so vivid and real that I was invested in their fates from the start.
Key Thoughts
📖 The pacing is relentless in the best way, every chapter ratchets up tension and kept me turning pages far later than I should have.
👀 Hazel and Cathy’s strained, tentative sisterly dynamic added so much depth and relatability to the story. I cared about both of them in very different ways.
💭 The psychological unease, creeping dread, and sense of being constantly watched made me feel like I was right there in the woods, questioning every shadow.
🏡 The English countryside setting and the restless woods were perfectly atmospheric, dark, and foreboding. Nothing good ever happens in those woods.
🧩 The villain was genuinely creepy, and while some motives felt a little murky, the suspense, secrets, and twists more than made up for it. Pearce’s ability to keep reality slippery and tense had me guessing until the very end.
Thank you to the publisher for my physical ARC copy and to NetGalley for my digital ARC.
Pearce has done it again. This book thrills from start to finish, overflowing with atmosphere, tension, and dark, unnerving energy. I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next.
Expected publication date: April 28, 2026
This was a wonderful witches words buddy read with Debra, Brenda ~ The Sisters~Book Witch and Mary Beth. Please check out their reviews.
Ooooh! Bookmail time! 📚✨BOOKMAIL EXCITEMENT!✨📚
My copy of Dark Is When the Devil Comes by Daisy Pearce has arrived and I am buzzing! Something in the Walls earned a full five stars from me and was one of my favourite reads of 2025, so my expectations are sky high.
Just holding this book has me tingling with anticipation. I cannot wait to dive in and see what twists and chills Daisy Pearce has in store this time.
Thank you so much to Daisy Pearce and Minotaur Books for this copy!
#bookmail #darkiswhenthedevilcomes
From the very first pages of Dark Is When The Devil Comes Home by Daisy Pearce, I was hooked. This is a twisty, chilling horror story that drags you in and refuses to let go. I immediately loved the way Pearce sets the tone. Dark, tense, and beautifully unsettling, the characters feel so vivid and real that I was invested in their fates from the start.
Key Thoughts
📖 The pacing is relentless in the best way, every chapter ratchets up tension and kept me turning pages far later than I should have.
👀 Hazel and Cathy’s strained, tentative sisterly dynamic added so much depth and relatability to the story. I cared about both of them in very different ways.
💭 The psychological unease, creeping dread, and sense of being constantly watched made me feel like I was right there in the woods, questioning every shadow.
🏡 The English countryside setting and the restless woods were perfectly atmospheric, dark, and foreboding. Nothing good ever happens in those woods.
🧩 The villain was genuinely creepy, and while some motives felt a little murky, the suspense, secrets, and twists more than made up for it. Pearce’s ability to keep reality slippery and tense had me guessing until the very end.
Thank you to the publisher for my physical ARC copy and to NetGalley for my digital ARC.
Pearce has done it again. This book thrills from start to finish, overflowing with atmosphere, tension, and dark, unnerving energy. I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next.
Expected publication date: April 28, 2026
This was a wonderful witches words buddy read with Debra, Brenda ~ The Sisters~Book Witch and Mary Beth. Please check out their reviews.
Ooooh! Bookmail time! 📚✨BOOKMAIL EXCITEMENT!✨📚
My copy of Dark Is When the Devil Comes by Daisy Pearce has arrived and I am buzzing! Something in the Walls earned a full five stars from me and was one of my favourite reads of 2025, so my expectations are sky high.
Just holding this book has me tingling with anticipation. I cannot wait to dive in and see what twists and chills Daisy Pearce has in store this time.
Thank you so much to Daisy Pearce and Minotaur Books for this copy!
#bookmail #darkiswhenthedevilcomes
December 23, 2025
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Malignant meets Kiss the Girls, and in all the good ways.
This book romped. It dives right in, pulls you along with its current, and doesn’t relent until its waves have rattled your brain like a sentient tumor. IYKYK
I loved its pace (please authors, give us more short chapters), its characters were vivid, cunning (maybe not you Cathy), and realistic. The villain was creepy, but my only complaint is that his motives were a bit muddled. Otherwise, this book slams from start to finish.
Malignant meets Kiss the Girls, and in all the good ways.
This book romped. It dives right in, pulls you along with its current, and doesn’t relent until its waves have rattled your brain like a sentient tumor. IYKYK
I loved its pace (please authors, give us more short chapters), its characters were vivid, cunning (maybe not you Cathy), and realistic. The villain was creepy, but my only complaint is that his motives were a bit muddled. Otherwise, this book slams from start to finish.
December 1, 2025
Boy, let me tell you that this book hooked me! Pearce’s writing was so damn good too!
Hazel hasn’t returned home in years. While going through a traumatic divorce, she decides it’s time. She plans on staying at her parent’s house and meeting up with her estranged sister, Cathy.
Cathy suspects something is wrong since Hazel doesn’t show up. Where could she be? Why would she just bail?
This one deserves all the hype! I was so glued to this story! The fear and dread lay thick with this one. The supernatural elements were fascinating too! I absolutely loved it!
Add this to your TBR! You won’t regret it!
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pub date 4/2026
Hazel hasn’t returned home in years. While going through a traumatic divorce, she decides it’s time. She plans on staying at her parent’s house and meeting up with her estranged sister, Cathy.
Cathy suspects something is wrong since Hazel doesn’t show up. Where could she be? Why would she just bail?
This one deserves all the hype! I was so glued to this story! The fear and dread lay thick with this one. The supernatural elements were fascinating too! I absolutely loved it!
Add this to your TBR! You won’t regret it!
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pub date 4/2026
December 11, 2025
From the start this book punched me in the face and dragged me kicking and screaming into the woods. It is atmospherically chilling; an eerie vibe shrouds everything in this small English town. The stories and tragedies made me shiver as I snuggled deeper into the couch. Being thankful that my town is nothing like Kawdarn. It is told through multiple points of view. Which I absolutely loved. Made you see all the different sides of the story. The characters have known each other forever, because you know small towns. Knowing all the gossip even if they may not have laid eyes on each other for years. This book made a nest in my brain, and I could not stop thinking about it. It was glued to my hand until the final sentence was devoured.
Hazel is cat sitting for her parents as they leave on their cruise. She is a mess, her husband has just sent her the divorce papers to sign, and she misses her life with him. The one thing Hazel is excited about is going foraging for mushrooms. There is a forest that is perfect for finding all the different fungi she has been searching for. Hazel and her sister Cathy have been estranged for five years. Hazel has finally taken the step to meet up. She is anxious, yet excited to see her and her two nephews. On the way into the woods a man that is giving off all kinds of weird vibes asks her if she wants a ride and of course she climbs in and disappears.
Since the book is told through Hazel, Cathy, and their friend Susie you know what happens to her. That the creepy man has taken her to a farm in the middle of the woods. Who is he and why has he taken her? There is so much to this story, and I do not want to ruin one second for you. If you want a book that keeps you at the edge of your seat, while chills run down your spine, and make you question going into your own basement. This is the book for you. Thank you to Daisy Pearce and Minotaur Books for my gifted copy.
Hazel is cat sitting for her parents as they leave on their cruise. She is a mess, her husband has just sent her the divorce papers to sign, and she misses her life with him. The one thing Hazel is excited about is going foraging for mushrooms. There is a forest that is perfect for finding all the different fungi she has been searching for. Hazel and her sister Cathy have been estranged for five years. Hazel has finally taken the step to meet up. She is anxious, yet excited to see her and her two nephews. On the way into the woods a man that is giving off all kinds of weird vibes asks her if she wants a ride and of course she climbs in and disappears.
Since the book is told through Hazel, Cathy, and their friend Susie you know what happens to her. That the creepy man has taken her to a farm in the middle of the woods. Who is he and why has he taken her? There is so much to this story, and I do not want to ruin one second for you. If you want a book that keeps you at the edge of your seat, while chills run down your spine, and make you question going into your own basement. This is the book for you. Thank you to Daisy Pearce and Minotaur Books for my gifted copy.
December 26, 2025
This was so creepy and unsettling, I loved it! Dont go into the woods and night…and definitely dont accept any offers a strange man gives you 😆 I loved the desperation of the FMC and how it spiralled into a series of bad choices, the setting of the book was definitely eery and attention grabbing. I love this author and will continue to read her books!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Creepy, disorienting, and perfect for gloomy days. Dark Is When the Devil Comes had me questioning what was real at times, and that unease is exactly what makes it work. A must for fans of dark supernatural stories.
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this arc
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for this arc
November 17, 2025
4.5🌟
Snagged this on NetGalley for a ReadNow for 72 hours. It was definitely an intense, chilling, horror like novel. Hazel has gone back home to the parents after getting a divorce. She decides to go out searching for mushrooms one day and meets a man who later saves her while she is walking when a storm begins to hit. Now this is where the madness starts! But there's also a bit of madness that doesn't involve the man at all, but that of the terratoma scar Hazel has. Susie and Cathy, Hazel's friend and sister are a great pairing and her nephew Danny is a smart kid without realizing it. Hazel almost becomes a mother to Bunny and there's chaos that happens and death is quite a central theme. Ending was good, pacing was great, and I was definitely cringing and breathing hard from some scenes. Would recommend for a good thriller with slight horror vibes.
Snagged this on NetGalley for a ReadNow for 72 hours. It was definitely an intense, chilling, horror like novel. Hazel has gone back home to the parents after getting a divorce. She decides to go out searching for mushrooms one day and meets a man who later saves her while she is walking when a storm begins to hit. Now this is where the madness starts! But there's also a bit of madness that doesn't involve the man at all, but that of the terratoma scar Hazel has. Susie and Cathy, Hazel's friend and sister are a great pairing and her nephew Danny is a smart kid without realizing it. Hazel almost becomes a mother to Bunny and there's chaos that happens and death is quite a central theme. Ending was good, pacing was great, and I was definitely cringing and breathing hard from some scenes. Would recommend for a good thriller with slight horror vibes.
December 5, 2025
Dark and atmospheric and haunting, this book is the perfect marriage of a thriller and horror. Scary and creepy and impossible to put down!!!
December 28, 2025
I quite enjoyed this ARC of Daisy Pearce’s new novel Dark Is When the Devil Comes. It is a taut thriller, with lots of plot twists and close calls—which is precisely what you want in a thriller. There is a slight paranormal element that may or may not actually be happening, which adds to the intrigue. Well-plotted and engaging, I send thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for letting me have an advance look at this one!
December 31, 2025
The perfect book to end 2025 - thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the read!
I could not put this one down. All of my favorite horror tropes, wrapped up into one novel with a plot that actually held, which I find is hard to come across lately.
Daisy’s novel, ‘Something in the Walls’, was on the top of my TBR list for 2025 but the story had too many inconsistencies for me to really enjoy, with an ending that felt like a big shrug. So going into this book, I was optimistic if not a little wary on if the story would change pace half way through.
She DEFINITELY took my concerns and burned them down. IYKYK.
•••
Daisy Pearce takes the things that go bump in the night and wraps them all up into one story of family, friendship and nightmares.
Hazel, dealing with the recent separation from her husband, returns to her hometown of Idless to “house-sit” for her parents. Idless, a town haunted by a murderous past, is small and full of gossip. Determined to combat her depression while back home, Hazel, an avid forager, sets out into the woods surrounding the town to do what she loves. But what she finds, and what she reveals, has less to do with the town and so much more to do with Hazel.
•••
Highly recommend this read!
I could not put this one down. All of my favorite horror tropes, wrapped up into one novel with a plot that actually held, which I find is hard to come across lately.
Daisy’s novel, ‘Something in the Walls’, was on the top of my TBR list for 2025 but the story had too many inconsistencies for me to really enjoy, with an ending that felt like a big shrug. So going into this book, I was optimistic if not a little wary on if the story would change pace half way through.
She DEFINITELY took my concerns and burned them down. IYKYK.
•••
Daisy Pearce takes the things that go bump in the night and wraps them all up into one story of family, friendship and nightmares.
Hazel, dealing with the recent separation from her husband, returns to her hometown of Idless to “house-sit” for her parents. Idless, a town haunted by a murderous past, is small and full of gossip. Determined to combat her depression while back home, Hazel, an avid forager, sets out into the woods surrounding the town to do what she loves. But what she finds, and what she reveals, has less to do with the town and so much more to do with Hazel.
•••
Highly recommend this read!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was such a fan of Daisy Pearce's last horror novel, which was so chilling and spooky, and I had such high hopes for this one because of it. Thrilled to announce it did not disappoint. I may have actually enjoyed it a bit more!
Wonderfully paced. Great story-telling that kept me on my toes and made it hard to pause. Parts of this had me so tense and unsettled. There was one scene at the end that literally had me squeamish. I really liked our main character, and all of the side characters as well, even though Cathy, the fmc's sister, really had me stressing sometimes. Bless her but she was not making the smartest choices.
I saw another reviewer compare this to Malignant, and yes. That movie kept coming to mind as I read, and I mean that in the best way. It was great. Sometimes the plot did feel like maybe there was too much going on, too many things trying to come together, but ultimately it all played out pretty well. I can't knock it much at all.
Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC!
Wonderfully paced. Great story-telling that kept me on my toes and made it hard to pause. Parts of this had me so tense and unsettled. There was one scene at the end that literally had me squeamish. I really liked our main character, and all of the side characters as well, even though Cathy, the fmc's sister, really had me stressing sometimes. Bless her but she was not making the smartest choices.
I saw another reviewer compare this to Malignant, and yes. That movie kept coming to mind as I read, and I mean that in the best way. It was great. Sometimes the plot did feel like maybe there was too much going on, too many things trying to come together, but ultimately it all played out pretty well. I can't knock it much at all.
Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC!
November 25, 2025
I have very mixed feelings about this book.
From a craft perspective, it's well done. The pacing is perfect. The characters are three-dimensional and real. The villain is horrible and I hate him. The women fighting against him are at times, awesome, infuriating, and just very real.
But the book wasn't like I expected. I thought it was going to be more supernatural. Instead, there's definitely the massive supernatural element, but there's also a regular, run-of-the-mill
So, if you like horror that's set in small-town England, this probably would be a five star read for you. It felt like more of a four star read for me. But a good horror story, overall!
Thank you to NetGalley for the free review copy!
From a craft perspective, it's well done. The pacing is perfect. The characters are three-dimensional and real. The villain is horrible and I hate him. The women fighting against him are at times, awesome, infuriating, and just very real.
But the book wasn't like I expected. I thought it was going to be more supernatural. Instead, there's definitely the massive supernatural element, but there's also a regular, run-of-the-mill
So, if you like horror that's set in small-town England, this probably would be a five star read for you. It felt like more of a four star read for me. But a good horror story, overall!
Thank you to NetGalley for the free review copy!
December 23, 2025
It's so hard to do jump scares right and even harder to write them, but Daisy has somehow nailed it. The absolute terror and fear she creates is brilliant. Daisy is SO good at crafting such a creepy story wrapped up in pulse pounding and claustrophobic mystery. Her stories are always so creepy and this was no exception.
My biggest complaint was that all of the characters are stupid as hell. How in this day and age are you going to be this blindly stupid?? My levels of anger and anxiety was through the ROOF. The undercurrent of love and strength in this story was so well done. I feel like you can always feel it in all of Daisys stories.
Thank you to St. Martins and netgalley for the arc!
My biggest complaint was that all of the characters are stupid as hell. How in this day and age are you going to be this blindly stupid?? My levels of anger and anxiety was through the ROOF. The undercurrent of love and strength in this story was so well done. I feel like you can always feel it in all of Daisys stories.
Thank you to St. Martins and netgalley for the arc!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The parts that weren't gross were pretty great, but DO NOT read this on a funny tummy or, frankly, anytime you're attempting a meal...or snack. Trust me on this.
January 6, 2026
I loved this book!!!!!!! A dark festering spore that spreads its roots deep and wide and grows in the darkest parts of you.
November 22, 2025
I really enjoyed the author’s last book, so when I saw this on Netgalley as a 72 hour grab - I HAD to have it. I couldn’t put it down. The pacing was great, and kept the pages turning and the vibes were creepy and kept me on the edge of my seat. I kept wondering when the other foot would drop!
The descriptions reminded me of the evil in The Grudge and The Ring, which definitely spooked me growing up. This novel left me keeping my eyes open at night and checking below the bed for any spooky monsters.
Sometimes the monsters are within you, not in other people…
The descriptions reminded me of the evil in The Grudge and The Ring, which definitely spooked me growing up. This novel left me keeping my eyes open at night and checking below the bed for any spooky monsters.
Sometimes the monsters are within you, not in other people…
December 28, 2025
Spine chilling!
The story was a bit confusing at first, but I was glad to connect with the characters and plot after a few chapters.
It has been a long time since I got to read something that scared me with just one sentence.
Perfect for fans of horror.
Note: I received an Arc for review purposes and an honest and unbiased opinion.
The story was a bit confusing at first, but I was glad to connect with the characters and plot after a few chapters.
It has been a long time since I got to read something that scared me with just one sentence.
Perfect for fans of horror.
Note: I received an Arc for review purposes and an honest and unbiased opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This one was good but somewhat uneven for my taste. My only previous experience with Pearce was last year's Something in the Walls, which felt completely different in tone and tenor, yet there was something about the lyrical language (even at its most gruesome) that felt resonant with that reading experience. Pearce is clearly very talented. She writes in an evocative style that is wonderful to read, but this one felt to me like her writing got away from her now and again, and I got lost in where she was trying to go...
Still, it was a quick and engaging read - even if not my favorite of her stories. I felt like there was less humanism in this one. That may have been intentional, but I missed the pathos of the previous read - this one felt more like a straight-up horror-thriller, and those are less appealing to me overall, even when well done.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation-free review copy.
Still, it was a quick and engaging read - even if not my favorite of her stories. I felt like there was less humanism in this one. That may have been intentional, but I missed the pathos of the previous read - this one felt more like a straight-up horror-thriller, and those are less appealing to me overall, even when well done.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation-free review copy.
December 7, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Daisy Pearce’s “Dark Is When the Devil Comes” is the kind of psychological horror story that settles deep under your skin; it’s quiet, patient, and impossible to shake. It begins with a simple premise: Hazel returns to her childhood town of Idless in hopes of reconnecting with family and rebuilding her life after a divorce. But the peace she expects never arrives. Instead, from the moment she steps back into the woods she once explored as a child, there’s a lingering sense of danger. Before going into the rest of this review that provides more detail, I actually recommend going into this story blind. The summary doesn’t fully show what this book is about (besides the estranged sisterly bond between Hazel and her sister), and I had no idea what to expect going into the book (whether it’s a standard thriller or if there is a supernatural aspect), and it was an absolutely wild wide that I thoroughly enjoyed. If you do want to see some (slight) spoilers that go into more detail on the plot, then continue reading.
It doesn’t take long for the story to erupt into darkness. Hazel is kidnapped and trapped in an isolated house surrounded by forest, and the dread builds steadily from there. Through alternating perspectives of Hazel, her estranged sister Cathy, and childhood friend Suzie, the story pieces together both the search for Hazel and the unsettling reality of what’s happening to her. The shifting structure adds tension, though the nonlinear time jumps may feel confusing at first. Still, the technique works emotionally: while Hazel’s world unravels and fractures, so does the story.
The human threat alone would make for a chilling thriller. Hazel’s kidnapper is not a simple villain, but a deeply disturbed man with a savior complex; he is convinced he’s helping the “damaged” women he abducts. His twisted logic and the claustrophobic fear inside his farmhouse keep the pages turning. But what elevates the story is the supernatural thread woven through Hazel’s past and present. Since childhood, she has felt haunted by something she once believed was imaginary. Now, isolated and off her medication, the presence grows louder, darker, and terrifyingly real.
What Pearce achieves so well is the slow realization that the monster haunting Hazel may be more dangerous than the man who kidnapped her; it’s an entity tied to a parasitic twin she absorbed in the womb, now returned as something malevolent. The supernatural horror blends seamlessly with trauma, memory, and mental instability, leaving you questioning what is real until the final revelations.
While Hazel’s unraveling forms the core of the story, the emotional backbone belongs to her relationship with Cathy. Their estrangement, misunderstandings, and unspoken loyalty make the stakes deeply personal. Cathy is often abrasive, impulsive, and messy, but her fierce determination to find her sister and repair what was broken gives the story its heart. Suzie’s role in the search adds needed perspective, though I did wish her character had been developed further.
The atmosphere is superb: fog-drenched woods, uncanny silences, and ghostly folklore turn the small English town into a living antagonist. Fans of quiet psychological horror will appreciate the way Pearce lets fear bloom slowly rather than relying on shock value.
The final act, which is rooted in sacrifice, family, and the fight to reclaim identity, lands with a satisfying emotional punch, allowing space for healing after the tension breaks.
Haunting, intimate, and deeply unsettling, “Dark Is When the Devil Comes” is a thriller that lingers—not because of gore or spectacle, but because it feels achingly real. Fans of atmospheric horror, layered mysteries, and flawed but deeply human characters will find much to love here.
Daisy Pearce’s “Dark Is When the Devil Comes” is the kind of psychological horror story that settles deep under your skin; it’s quiet, patient, and impossible to shake. It begins with a simple premise: Hazel returns to her childhood town of Idless in hopes of reconnecting with family and rebuilding her life after a divorce. But the peace she expects never arrives. Instead, from the moment she steps back into the woods she once explored as a child, there’s a lingering sense of danger. Before going into the rest of this review that provides more detail, I actually recommend going into this story blind. The summary doesn’t fully show what this book is about (besides the estranged sisterly bond between Hazel and her sister), and I had no idea what to expect going into the book (whether it’s a standard thriller or if there is a supernatural aspect), and it was an absolutely wild wide that I thoroughly enjoyed. If you do want to see some (slight) spoilers that go into more detail on the plot, then continue reading.
It doesn’t take long for the story to erupt into darkness. Hazel is kidnapped and trapped in an isolated house surrounded by forest, and the dread builds steadily from there. Through alternating perspectives of Hazel, her estranged sister Cathy, and childhood friend Suzie, the story pieces together both the search for Hazel and the unsettling reality of what’s happening to her. The shifting structure adds tension, though the nonlinear time jumps may feel confusing at first. Still, the technique works emotionally: while Hazel’s world unravels and fractures, so does the story.
The human threat alone would make for a chilling thriller. Hazel’s kidnapper is not a simple villain, but a deeply disturbed man with a savior complex; he is convinced he’s helping the “damaged” women he abducts. His twisted logic and the claustrophobic fear inside his farmhouse keep the pages turning. But what elevates the story is the supernatural thread woven through Hazel’s past and present. Since childhood, she has felt haunted by something she once believed was imaginary. Now, isolated and off her medication, the presence grows louder, darker, and terrifyingly real.
What Pearce achieves so well is the slow realization that the monster haunting Hazel may be more dangerous than the man who kidnapped her; it’s an entity tied to a parasitic twin she absorbed in the womb, now returned as something malevolent. The supernatural horror blends seamlessly with trauma, memory, and mental instability, leaving you questioning what is real until the final revelations.
While Hazel’s unraveling forms the core of the story, the emotional backbone belongs to her relationship with Cathy. Their estrangement, misunderstandings, and unspoken loyalty make the stakes deeply personal. Cathy is often abrasive, impulsive, and messy, but her fierce determination to find her sister and repair what was broken gives the story its heart. Suzie’s role in the search adds needed perspective, though I did wish her character had been developed further.
The atmosphere is superb: fog-drenched woods, uncanny silences, and ghostly folklore turn the small English town into a living antagonist. Fans of quiet psychological horror will appreciate the way Pearce lets fear bloom slowly rather than relying on shock value.
The final act, which is rooted in sacrifice, family, and the fight to reclaim identity, lands with a satisfying emotional punch, allowing space for healing after the tension breaks.
Haunting, intimate, and deeply unsettling, “Dark Is When the Devil Comes” is a thriller that lingers—not because of gore or spectacle, but because it feels achingly real. Fans of atmospheric horror, layered mysteries, and flawed but deeply human characters will find much to love here.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
BOOK REPORT
Received a complimentary copy of Dark is When the Devil Comes, by Daisy Pearce, from St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books/NetGalley, for which I am appreciative, in exchange for a fair and honest review. Scroll past the BOOK REPORT section for a cut-and-paste of the DESCRIPTION of it from them if you want to read my thoughts on the book in the context of that summary.
⭐ 3.4 ⭐
Note to Future Kristi: You like Daisy Pearce’s approach to psychological horror, so don’t hesitate to read more by her.
Note to The Rest of You: This wasn’t a _great_ horror book to me, mainly because I couldn’t suspend my disbelief enough at certain points. But it was certainly a good one, and I loved the occasional flashes of brilliant truth like this one: ”Horror is not the red of spilled blood or the black of midnight, but the filmy, filthy gray of dirty dishwater. Fog, rising. The strained light through thick cloud. The gray of brain matter, seeping sluggish through a gored hole in the cranium.”
I, frankly, will never look at shower caps the same way again.
PS
I used to know a guy who was obsessed—and I do mean OBSESSED—with Elvis Presley’s twin brother. (He was also convinced the Order of the Illuminati was still operative, and were he still alive today would be firmly convinced that it “won.” [The guy, I mean. Not Elvis Presley. Who of course is still alive and eating at a McDonald’s in Tupelo on the reg, duh.])
In case you somehow don’t know about Elvis’ twin, here’s a link to a good piece about poor ol’ Jesse Garon: https://ourmshome.com/the-forgotten-g...
Also, while we’re on the topic of Elvis-related weirdness, that same guy I knew also used to get all worked up about Elvis’ middle name being spelled different ways on his birth certificate and his tombstone. Here’s more on that: https://www.commercialappeal.com/stor...
Whew. Glad I got all that out of my system.
DESCRIPTION
Unrelentingly scary and thrilling, Dark Is When the Devil Comes is an ambitious and chilling novel from acclaimed horror author Daisy Pearce.
The woods are known as the place to avoid. What goes in, doesn’t come out.
Hazel has been gone from her small hometown of Idless in the English countryside for years. Now returned in the wake of a traumatic divorce and crumbling personal life, her simple plans are to lay low at her parents’ vacated house, reconnect with her prickly sister Cathy, and slowly get back on her feet.
Cathy is surprised when Hazel doesn’t show. Their relationship strained from a fallout half a decade ago, she didn’t expect them to get back into a sisterly rhythm…though she hadn’t counted on Hazel bailing, either.
But something isn’t adding up. Other people in town whisper of a threat that can’t be shaken. The woods are known for being restless. And Cathy knows the old saying.
If you go looking for trouble, you just might find it.
Received a complimentary copy of Dark is When the Devil Comes, by Daisy Pearce, from St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books/NetGalley, for which I am appreciative, in exchange for a fair and honest review. Scroll past the BOOK REPORT section for a cut-and-paste of the DESCRIPTION of it from them if you want to read my thoughts on the book in the context of that summary.
⭐ 3.4 ⭐
Note to Future Kristi: You like Daisy Pearce’s approach to psychological horror, so don’t hesitate to read more by her.
Note to The Rest of You: This wasn’t a _great_ horror book to me, mainly because I couldn’t suspend my disbelief enough at certain points. But it was certainly a good one, and I loved the occasional flashes of brilliant truth like this one: ”Horror is not the red of spilled blood or the black of midnight, but the filmy, filthy gray of dirty dishwater. Fog, rising. The strained light through thick cloud. The gray of brain matter, seeping sluggish through a gored hole in the cranium.”
I, frankly, will never look at shower caps the same way again.
PS
I used to know a guy who was obsessed—and I do mean OBSESSED—with Elvis Presley’s twin brother. (He was also convinced the Order of the Illuminati was still operative, and were he still alive today would be firmly convinced that it “won.” [The guy, I mean. Not Elvis Presley. Who of course is still alive and eating at a McDonald’s in Tupelo on the reg, duh.])
In case you somehow don’t know about Elvis’ twin, here’s a link to a good piece about poor ol’ Jesse Garon: https://ourmshome.com/the-forgotten-g...
Also, while we’re on the topic of Elvis-related weirdness, that same guy I knew also used to get all worked up about Elvis’ middle name being spelled different ways on his birth certificate and his tombstone. Here’s more on that: https://www.commercialappeal.com/stor...
Whew. Glad I got all that out of my system.
DESCRIPTION
Unrelentingly scary and thrilling, Dark Is When the Devil Comes is an ambitious and chilling novel from acclaimed horror author Daisy Pearce.
The woods are known as the place to avoid. What goes in, doesn’t come out.
Hazel has been gone from her small hometown of Idless in the English countryside for years. Now returned in the wake of a traumatic divorce and crumbling personal life, her simple plans are to lay low at her parents’ vacated house, reconnect with her prickly sister Cathy, and slowly get back on her feet.
Cathy is surprised when Hazel doesn’t show. Their relationship strained from a fallout half a decade ago, she didn’t expect them to get back into a sisterly rhythm…though she hadn’t counted on Hazel bailing, either.
But something isn’t adding up. Other people in town whisper of a threat that can’t be shaken. The woods are known for being restless. And Cathy knows the old saying.
If you go looking for trouble, you just might find it.
November 29, 2025
At the heart of the story is Hazel, a woman trying to rebuild her life after a divorce. Her return to the quiet town of Idless feels innocent at first, a chance to reset and reconnect with her sister, Cathy. But the peace she expects never comes. Instead, her curiosity as a mycologist leads her straight into the hands of Andrew, a man who appears helpful at first but becomes the center of a nightmare that unravels piece by piece.
Pearce uses Hazel beautifully to show how trauma and vulnerability can blind someone to danger. Hazel’s need to find purpose again pushes her deeper into a situation that feels wrong long before she admits it. Her disappearance becomes the emotional anchor of the novel , everything after that is a descent into fear, isolation, and the kind of psychological captivity that feels disturbingly real.
On the other side of the story is Cathy. She is the character who gives the book its emotional weight. Her frantic worry, her guilt over the distance between her and Hazel, and her determination to uncover the truth make her storyline just as compelling as Hazel’s. Through Cathy, the reader feels the dread of not knowing, the frustration of the town’s secrets, and the fear that some evils might be older and darker than human logic can explain.
What Pearce does extremely well is blend realistic human fear with hints of something supernatural. The woods surrounding Idless, the strange folklore, and the sense that the land itself is watching all these elements create an atmosphere that is eerie without ever feeling exaggerated. It’s the perfect balance: the reader is never sure whether the horror is human, supernatural, or both, and that uncertainty keeps the tension alive.
The pacing is slow and deliberate, but in a way that works. Pearce builds dread layer by layer, using silence, isolation, and emotional vulnerability as tools. By the time the truth about Hazel’s situation becomes clear, the fear feels personal, like the kind of danger anyone could fall into if they trusted the wrong person at the wrong time.
This is the kind of thriller that stays with you.
Not because of shock value, but because it feels believable. The characters feel real. Their decisions make sense. Their flaws matter. And the horror whether human or something darker grows naturally from those flaws.
Pearce uses Hazel beautifully to show how trauma and vulnerability can blind someone to danger. Hazel’s need to find purpose again pushes her deeper into a situation that feels wrong long before she admits it. Her disappearance becomes the emotional anchor of the novel , everything after that is a descent into fear, isolation, and the kind of psychological captivity that feels disturbingly real.
On the other side of the story is Cathy. She is the character who gives the book its emotional weight. Her frantic worry, her guilt over the distance between her and Hazel, and her determination to uncover the truth make her storyline just as compelling as Hazel’s. Through Cathy, the reader feels the dread of not knowing, the frustration of the town’s secrets, and the fear that some evils might be older and darker than human logic can explain.
What Pearce does extremely well is blend realistic human fear with hints of something supernatural. The woods surrounding Idless, the strange folklore, and the sense that the land itself is watching all these elements create an atmosphere that is eerie without ever feeling exaggerated. It’s the perfect balance: the reader is never sure whether the horror is human, supernatural, or both, and that uncertainty keeps the tension alive.
The pacing is slow and deliberate, but in a way that works. Pearce builds dread layer by layer, using silence, isolation, and emotional vulnerability as tools. By the time the truth about Hazel’s situation becomes clear, the fear feels personal, like the kind of danger anyone could fall into if they trusted the wrong person at the wrong time.
This is the kind of thriller that stays with you.
Not because of shock value, but because it feels believable. The characters feel real. Their decisions make sense. Their flaws matter. And the horror whether human or something darker grows naturally from those flaws.
December 5, 2025
An engaging read with complex, interesting characters. Has one foot in horror and one in thrillers, but doesn't fully deliver on either side.
While living back home with her parents in her tiny home town as she goes through a divorce, Hazel decides to reconnect with her estranged sister, Cathy. After Hazel fails to show up at their intended meeting, Cathy begins to suspect that rather than having a last minute change of heart, something seriously wrong happened to Hazel and begins to investigate.
Spoilers contained below.
I really struggled with how to review this book, since it was full of contradictions for me. First off, I enjoyed it. Quite a bit. A lot of what I'm going to say below may sound like I didn't or that I shouldn't have, but I really did like this book.
I felt like the marketing for this book couldn't quite make up its mind if the book was a thriller or a horror novel, and reading the book, I can see why. There is a lot of horror sign posting (creepy atmosphere, fungal horror, evil twin, supernatural occurrences), but I didn't find it very scary. I did find it more satisfying as a domestic thriller (kidnapping, murder, estranged family, sinister secrets), but thriller fans might want more dramatic twists. For the record, I'm a domestic thriller fan rather than a horror fan and I did enjoy the book.
The thing that bothered me most about the book, and this is a personal preference issue, is that it is a evil teratoma (vestigial twin) book, and I find that trope offensive and over played. I did appreciate, however, that it did not go down the well trodden road of "I ate my twin" angst.
My favorite part of this book was the mushrooms. I eventually picked up on the notion that they were supposed to be creepy, but I didn't really think they were. They were, however, very interesting. A lot of different mushrooms are referenced in this book, and if you're not very familiar with mushrooms (I'm not), it is well worth it to look them all up.
Overall, an enjoyable, lightly creepy thriller that is carried by well written prose and strong character development rather than twists or terror.
Thank you to NetGalley for access to an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
While living back home with her parents in her tiny home town as she goes through a divorce, Hazel decides to reconnect with her estranged sister, Cathy. After Hazel fails to show up at their intended meeting, Cathy begins to suspect that rather than having a last minute change of heart, something seriously wrong happened to Hazel and begins to investigate.
Spoilers contained below.
I really struggled with how to review this book, since it was full of contradictions for me. First off, I enjoyed it. Quite a bit. A lot of what I'm going to say below may sound like I didn't or that I shouldn't have, but I really did like this book.
I felt like the marketing for this book couldn't quite make up its mind if the book was a thriller or a horror novel, and reading the book, I can see why. There is a lot of horror sign posting (creepy atmosphere, fungal horror, evil twin, supernatural occurrences), but I didn't find it very scary. I did find it more satisfying as a domestic thriller (kidnapping, murder, estranged family, sinister secrets), but thriller fans might want more dramatic twists. For the record, I'm a domestic thriller fan rather than a horror fan and I did enjoy the book.
The thing that bothered me most about the book, and this is a personal preference issue, is that it is a evil teratoma (vestigial twin) book, and I find that trope offensive and over played. I did appreciate, however, that it did not go down the well trodden road of "I ate my twin" angst.
My favorite part of this book was the mushrooms. I eventually picked up on the notion that they were supposed to be creepy, but I didn't really think they were. They were, however, very interesting. A lot of different mushrooms are referenced in this book, and if you're not very familiar with mushrooms (I'm not), it is well worth it to look them all up.
Overall, an enjoyable, lightly creepy thriller that is carried by well written prose and strong character development rather than twists or terror.
Thank you to NetGalley for access to an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Dark, horrific, eerie, creepy, gripping, and brimming with unease, Dark Is When the Devil Comes was unsettling and hard to put down! Nothing good ever happens when you go walking deep in the woods at night! Nothing good ever happens when a stranger makes an offer to you......
Hazel has returned to her hometown on the heels of her divorce. She has agreed to house, and cat sit for her parents who are on vacation. Hazel then decides to reach out to her estranged sister, Cathy. New beginnings and all that. When Hazel fails to show, Cathy becomes worried and begins looking for Hazel.
Hazel finds herself in a scary situation after accepting an offer made to her by a stranger and quickly learns that she is not alone...
This book was overflowing with atmosphere, unease, danger, secrets, and tension. I never quite knew what was going on or what was real and what wasn't. This added to my enjoyment of the book. I wondered if this was the author's brilliant way of having readers feel what both Hazel and Cathy were feeling. Something isn't quite right; in fact, something is very wrong!
I loved the dark, eerie, and creepy vibe of this book. Daisy Pearce dazzled me with Something in the Walls and blew my socks off with this book, Dark Is When the Devil Comes!!! I can't wait to read what she writes next!
*This was a wonderful witches words buddy read with Norma ~ the sisters and Brenda ~The Sisters~Book Witch. Please read their reviews as well to get their thoughts on Dark Is When the Devil Comes!
Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
Hazel has returned to her hometown on the heels of her divorce. She has agreed to house, and cat sit for her parents who are on vacation. Hazel then decides to reach out to her estranged sister, Cathy. New beginnings and all that. When Hazel fails to show, Cathy becomes worried and begins looking for Hazel.
Hazel finds herself in a scary situation after accepting an offer made to her by a stranger and quickly learns that she is not alone...
This book was overflowing with atmosphere, unease, danger, secrets, and tension. I never quite knew what was going on or what was real and what wasn't. This added to my enjoyment of the book. I wondered if this was the author's brilliant way of having readers feel what both Hazel and Cathy were feeling. Something isn't quite right; in fact, something is very wrong!
I loved the dark, eerie, and creepy vibe of this book. Daisy Pearce dazzled me with Something in the Walls and blew my socks off with this book, Dark Is When the Devil Comes!!! I can't wait to read what she writes next!
*This was a wonderful witches words buddy read with Norma ~ the sisters and Brenda ~The Sisters~Book Witch. Please read their reviews as well to get their thoughts on Dark Is When the Devil Comes!
Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com 📖
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was my first experience reading Daisy Pearce, and it immediately made an impression. It definitely will not be the last time I pick up one of her books. The story opens with Hazel, a woman whose life is quietly unraveling as she navigates the emotional fallout of a painful divorce. Seeking space and a sense of stability, she returns to the small hometown of her childhood to house-sit for her parents while they take an extended overseas holiday. The familiar streets and old family home are supposed to be a refuge, yet they quickly begin to feel heavy with unresolved memories. Hazel has been estranged from her sister Cathy for years, their relationship frayed by past hurts and long silences. In a tentative attempt to rebuild that bond, Hazel reaches out and arranges to meet her. When Hazel fails to appear, Cathy’s concern turns to dread, and she contacts one of Hazel’s oldest friends—someone who never left the town—to help uncover what has happened.
From that point on, the book slips into an atmosphere that is tense, eerie, and deeply unsettling. Reading it felt like being pulled into a vivid nightmare that blurs the line between reality and imagination. Pearce weaves psychological suspense together with subtle supernatural elements, creating a thriller that feels strange but never absurd. Instead of relying on shock value, the author builds unease through layered descriptions of the setting—the creaking house, the isolated town, the damp woods—and through the intimate portrayal of Hazel’s increasingly fragile state of mind. The reader is drawn directly into her thoughts and perceptions, experiencing the confusing things she sees and hears right along with her. That careful attention to detail makes the story feel immersive and hauntingly alive, as though the world of the novel is closing in around you.
The result is a gripping, atmospheric tale that lingers long after the final page, proving Daisy Pearce has a remarkable talent for turning an ordinary situation into something chilling and unforgettable.
From that point on, the book slips into an atmosphere that is tense, eerie, and deeply unsettling. Reading it felt like being pulled into a vivid nightmare that blurs the line between reality and imagination. Pearce weaves psychological suspense together with subtle supernatural elements, creating a thriller that feels strange but never absurd. Instead of relying on shock value, the author builds unease through layered descriptions of the setting—the creaking house, the isolated town, the damp woods—and through the intimate portrayal of Hazel’s increasingly fragile state of mind. The reader is drawn directly into her thoughts and perceptions, experiencing the confusing things she sees and hears right along with her. That careful attention to detail makes the story feel immersive and hauntingly alive, as though the world of the novel is closing in around you.
The result is a gripping, atmospheric tale that lingers long after the final page, proving Daisy Pearce has a remarkable talent for turning an ordinary situation into something chilling and unforgettable.
November 25, 2025
5 stars
This is a fantastic combination of thriller and horror! The characters are well written and relatable and the plot moves relentelessly, starting right from the beginning and continuing until the very last page.
This is the sotry of Hazel, a young woman recently divorced who has returned to her childhood home to cat-sit while her parents go on a 50 day cruise. It's a chance for Hazel to reconnect with her sister Cathy, who returned to their small town to raise her two boys alone, 15 year old Danny and toddler Scout. We find out early on that Cathy and Hazel have not spoke in 5 years after an incident that occurred at Hazel's wedding. We also discover that Hazel had childhood trauma related to a tumor that was removed near her spine that was actually an undeveloped twin.
I did not expect this story to take the direction it took. I loved that there were so many competing storylines, I never felt like I had a firm grip on what would bappen next and that kept me compulsively turning the pages, I really couldn't put this one down. I loved the character of Suzie, one of Hazel's childhood friends, married and running the old town pharmacy. She and her husband Teddy were so grounded and wholesome and provided the perfect foil for Cathy and Hazel, both with so many issues to unravel.
If I had to give some comparisons for this book, I'd say that if you were a fan of Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman, maybe a little bit of We Are All Guilty Here by Karin Slaughter, and the author's prior novel, Something In the Walls, you're going to love this novel.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Publishers for the eArc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is a fantastic combination of thriller and horror! The characters are well written and relatable and the plot moves relentelessly, starting right from the beginning and continuing until the very last page.
This is the sotry of Hazel, a young woman recently divorced who has returned to her childhood home to cat-sit while her parents go on a 50 day cruise. It's a chance for Hazel to reconnect with her sister Cathy, who returned to their small town to raise her two boys alone, 15 year old Danny and toddler Scout. We find out early on that Cathy and Hazel have not spoke in 5 years after an incident that occurred at Hazel's wedding. We also discover that Hazel had childhood trauma related to a tumor that was removed near her spine that was actually an undeveloped twin.
I did not expect this story to take the direction it took. I loved that there were so many competing storylines, I never felt like I had a firm grip on what would bappen next and that kept me compulsively turning the pages, I really couldn't put this one down. I loved the character of Suzie, one of Hazel's childhood friends, married and running the old town pharmacy. She and her husband Teddy were so grounded and wholesome and provided the perfect foil for Cathy and Hazel, both with so many issues to unravel.
If I had to give some comparisons for this book, I'd say that if you were a fan of Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman, maybe a little bit of We Are All Guilty Here by Karin Slaughter, and the author's prior novel, Something In the Walls, you're going to love this novel.
Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Publishers for the eArc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Read
December 20, 2025I really enjoyed the vibe of this book: small town with nosy people, a giant mysterious forest, lots of mist, the feeling of creeping dread. There were a lot of quirky little touches in this book too that I liked, such as Hazel’s interest in mushrooms and the little smiley face code. At first, I was worried this would be pretty formulaic, but I found myself completely engrossed in Hazel’s plight until the end. The point-of-view switches throughout the book are used very well, keeping you interested, and the narrator changes actually felt necessary to understand the whole picture. The reasoning behind Hazel's captivity, as well as the events near the end of the book, are suitably disturbing and will stick with the reader afterwards.
While I enjoyed the book, I feel the synopsis doesn’t really mesh with the actual story. The synopsis makes it sound like this book is mainly about Cathy’s search for her sister, when in reality, Cathy is a relatively minor character in all of this compared to Hazel. She’s pretty much on par with Suzie, who isn’t mentioned in the synopsis at all! Speaking of minor characters, I didn’t really see the need for the Abigail character at all. She was mentioned so often I kept expecting her to be a much bigger deal to the story, which was not the case.
In all, Dark is When the Devil Comes is a creepy, uncomfortable little thriller that might make you think twice about striking up a conversation with someone on the street. It will definitely make you think twice about venturing into the forest alone as well. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this book early!
While I enjoyed the book, I feel the synopsis doesn’t really mesh with the actual story. The synopsis makes it sound like this book is mainly about Cathy’s search for her sister, when in reality, Cathy is a relatively minor character in all of this compared to Hazel. She’s pretty much on par with Suzie, who isn’t mentioned in the synopsis at all! Speaking of minor characters, I didn’t really see the need for the Abigail character at all. She was mentioned so often I kept expecting her to be a much bigger deal to the story, which was not the case.
In all, Dark is When the Devil Comes is a creepy, uncomfortable little thriller that might make you think twice about striking up a conversation with someone on the street. It will definitely make you think twice about venturing into the forest alone as well. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this book early!
September 30, 2025
I received an ARC of this book.
I have to give this book 4.5 stars. I was so pleasantly surprised and I did not want to put the book down. This is the story of Hazel, a woman who has been going through a very hard time in her life and ends up back at home with her parents. She reaches out to her estranged older sister, Cathy, who is a bit unsettled when Hazel doesn't show up for their arranged lunch date later that week. When Hazel's childhood friend Suzie runs into Cathy just after Hazel's strange absence, both women find themselves attempting to figure out what happened to Hazel and where she might be. Is she in danger from lingering darkness in her past, or a new evil in the present?
I usually do not like horror at all, so I was a bit wary when the supernatural creepiness began to seep in, but it was so well-done, and by that point I had already been sucked in by the atmospheric details and engrossing setting. Everything was described so very perfectly that I could see, smell, and feel the story along with the characters. The plot kept me guessing through the entire book--I never knew what would happen next, and I even found myself admonishing some characters out loud, and saying, "Oh no! Don't --- !" Everything about this book was compelling, from the descriptions to the setting to the plot and pacing; there were so many beautifully written sentences. The ending was great. If you enjoy horror, psychological thrillers, and crime/suspense, then I would recommend this book.
I have to give this book 4.5 stars. I was so pleasantly surprised and I did not want to put the book down. This is the story of Hazel, a woman who has been going through a very hard time in her life and ends up back at home with her parents. She reaches out to her estranged older sister, Cathy, who is a bit unsettled when Hazel doesn't show up for their arranged lunch date later that week. When Hazel's childhood friend Suzie runs into Cathy just after Hazel's strange absence, both women find themselves attempting to figure out what happened to Hazel and where she might be. Is she in danger from lingering darkness in her past, or a new evil in the present?
I usually do not like horror at all, so I was a bit wary when the supernatural creepiness began to seep in, but it was so well-done, and by that point I had already been sucked in by the atmospheric details and engrossing setting. Everything was described so very perfectly that I could see, smell, and feel the story along with the characters. The plot kept me guessing through the entire book--I never knew what would happen next, and I even found myself admonishing some characters out loud, and saying, "Oh no! Don't --- !" Everything about this book was compelling, from the descriptions to the setting to the plot and pacing; there were so many beautifully written sentences. The ending was great. If you enjoy horror, psychological thrillers, and crime/suspense, then I would recommend this book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I liked this book and thought it was creepy, but I didn’t love it because I thought it was slow in places. It centers on Hazel, who returns to the small town where she grew up to housesit for her parents and try to rebuild her relationship with her sister Cathy. When Hazel doesn’t show to meet Cathy, it seems like something might be wrong, causing Cathy and Hazel’s childhood friend Susie to do some sleuthing. You get some chapters from Hazel’s vantage point and others from those looking for her.
There is a supernatural aspect to this book and it made some parts of the story really creepy- I always like when you get a mix of real and maybe-not-real threats and have to differentiate between the two. Hazel was spunky and took risks that I likely wouldn’t take, but were admirable. The dynamic between Susie and Cathy was really interesting too (though I never quite figured out the dynamic between Susie and her husband). As mentioned earlier, there were some parts of the story where it dragged and almost seemed repetitive, making it a bit of a slow burn. When the villain’s motive was revealed, I wish there had been a little more detail shared- while I think I understand what they were trying to do, it wasn’t spelled out super clearly. I thought the end of the book worked, though I was still left with a few questions.
Overall, this was definitely a unique book- I enjoyed it even if it wasn’t my favorite. Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
There is a supernatural aspect to this book and it made some parts of the story really creepy- I always like when you get a mix of real and maybe-not-real threats and have to differentiate between the two. Hazel was spunky and took risks that I likely wouldn’t take, but were admirable. The dynamic between Susie and Cathy was really interesting too (though I never quite figured out the dynamic between Susie and her husband). As mentioned earlier, there were some parts of the story where it dragged and almost seemed repetitive, making it a bit of a slow burn. When the villain’s motive was revealed, I wish there had been a little more detail shared- while I think I understand what they were trying to do, it wasn’t spelled out super clearly. I thought the end of the book worked, though I was still left with a few questions.
Overall, this was definitely a unique book- I enjoyed it even if it wasn’t my favorite. Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 21, 2025
Hazel has returned home to Idless after her freshly minted divorce, trying to put her life back together. Her parents will be traveling for weeks, so she’ll be alone and free to figure out the next steps. She also plans to contact her estranged sister, Cathy, and attempt to patch up their relationship. But a chance meeting derails her plans, and she finds herself in a dire situation she couldn’t have ever foreseen. She can only hope that in the day or so since she’s been back, she managed to make an impression on someone. Otherwise, she’ll never be looked for if no one knows she is missing.
This author always mixes elements of the eerie and/or supernatural into her stories. This one is no different. It got a little bizarre, though, like how others could see Hazel’s ‘sister.’ If she were the only one who saw or felt anything, that would have made sense because of her condition and it being literally part of her. Visions and smells are one thing, but physical piles of hair? Bringing the supernatural aspect was a bit of a cop out – the old method of ‘if you can’t explain it, blame it on the spirit world.’ Why worry about logic?
Also, the scene with the cats went a bit too far for me and was just upsetting. Other elements felt like they were reaching a bit – why write ‘Belle Vue’ instead of ‘Find Hazel’ or something similar, for goodness' sake?
But anyway, I always enjoy seeing what this author will come up with next and how creepy it will get.
This author always mixes elements of the eerie and/or supernatural into her stories. This one is no different. It got a little bizarre, though, like how others could see Hazel’s ‘sister.’ If she were the only one who saw or felt anything, that would have made sense because of her condition and it being literally part of her. Visions and smells are one thing, but physical piles of hair? Bringing the supernatural aspect was a bit of a cop out – the old method of ‘if you can’t explain it, blame it on the spirit world.’ Why worry about logic?
Also, the scene with the cats went a bit too far for me and was just upsetting. Other elements felt like they were reaching a bit – why write ‘Belle Vue’ instead of ‘Find Hazel’ or something similar, for goodness' sake?
But anyway, I always enjoy seeing what this author will come up with next and how creepy it will get.
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