Something in the Walls

by Daisy Pearce

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 contemplates 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.

Then she meets journalist Sam Hunter at the grief group one day, and he has a proposition for her: Thirteen-year-old Alice Webber claims a witch is haunting her. Living with her family in the remote village of Banathel, Alice finds her symptoms are getting increasingly disturbing. Taking this job will give Mina some experience and much-needed money; 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 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.

Genres: Horror, Thriller, Fiction, Mystery, Audiobook, Witches, Mystery Thriller

320 pages, Paperback

First published February 25, 2025

About the author

Daisy 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.

Reviews

[shanayaa · Rating 2 out of 5]

➳ 2/5 stars

"Its not the dead we should be the afraid of, its the living"

This book started with such a promising premise and had me hooked right from the beginning. I found myself completely engrossed and finished it within a day, it was that captivating. The pacing, the intrigue, and the way the story unfolded kept me turning the pages without pause. But then came the ending, and I have to admit, it was a letdown. Everything was moving along so perfectly, and I was eagerly anticipating a strong conclusion. Instead, the ending left me feeling disappointed.

This book follows the story of Alice Weber, a girl the town believes is possessed. When a journalist visits the town to uncover its strange happenings, he teams up with Mina Alice , a child psychologist, to figure out what’s really going on with Alice and the people around her. As they dig deeper, they discover something far more unsettling than they ever expected, and they make it their mission to save Alice and free her from the supposed possession.

The premise sounds compelling, doesn’t it? And honestly, it delivered on so many fronts. The horror elements, the disturbing details, the eerie mystery, and the writing were all exceptionally well done. I was hooked throughout, and the narration added so much to the experience. But unfortunately, the ending didn’t live up to the buildup. It felt underwhelming, and that disappointment overshadowed an otherwise gripping story.

I was hoping for some sort of explanation or even a theory about what was actually happening with Alice, but it felt like we were left with nothing. No clarity, no resolution, just a lot of unanswered questions. While I appreciate the journey and how gripping the story was initially, the lack of a satisfying conclusion made it feel incomplete. It’s unfortunate because this book had so much potential to be incredible.

°˖➴ "Overall, if you're looking for a book that will captivate you from the very beginning, this might be the perfect choice. However, proceed with caution, as it contains some unsettling and disturbing revelations that might not be for everyone." 💌

— Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[♥︎ Heather ⚔ (New House-Hiatus) · Rating 2 out of 5]

I Kinda understand the rating being pretty low before release now. I just refuse to do it to myself this year. DNF @80%

╰┈➤ˎˊ˗ 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.

🡹🡹 But where? Where was this unbearably tense and utterly propulsive story?? Is it in the room?🡹🤡



We follow our FMC, Mina, a newly certified child psychologist as she takes on a peculiar case of a thirteen-year-old girl who claims to be haunted by a witch.

In an effort to be totally fair - I had the audio arc. You ever have a narrator ruin a book for you? This one was narrated by Ana Clements and she did this very proper, very soft, very annoying shit the whole time.

Sigh.

It threw me off for the entire 80% I read. But lemme not just pile this all on the narrator. Make no mistake I really couldn't get into the story either. Maybe I just can't take 'demon possession' and whatever seriously. For context, the last 'demon possession' book I read, I thought it was dark humor.

I think if this is your typical genre you might enjoy it much more than I so I do recommend. If it's not normally your cup of tea, but you're curious? Maybe borrow from the library or see if it goes on KU first.

Expected Release Date - 02/25/25
Narrated by - Ana Clements

🕷️Atmospheric
🕸️Slow Burn Mystery/Horror
🕷️1980's Setting
🕸️Unreliable Narrator
🕷️Psychological Horror
🕸️Supernatural
🕷️Modern Day Witch Hunt
🕸️Folklore Horror

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio (Love you besties!) for the complementary advanced audio copy - all thoughts and opinions are my own.

⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ Connect with me on Instagram ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scary, dark, ominous, psychologically disturbing, rattling, and heart-pounding—these are the first words that come to mind after finishing this thrilling wild ride. It’s a journey that feels like Midsommar meets The Exorcist with a touch of The Witch.

Enter Mina, a newly minted child psychologist still grieving the loss of her brother, who died six years ago from pneumonia. Her personal life is equally strained as she struggles with her stoic, career-driven fiancé, Oscar, an aspiring scientist. While attending her grief counseling group, Mina crosses paths with Sam, a journalist and divorcé mourning the recent death of his young daughter. Desperate for closure, Sam even entertains frauds posing as clairvoyants to try to connect with his daughter beyond the veil.

Sam approaches Mina with a strange case involving 13-year-old Alice Webber from the small, eerie town of Banathel. Alice claims to be a witch, and Sam plays a cassette recording of an interview with her. The tape includes a mysterious sound—was someone whispering, "Good riddance"?

Despite Oscar’s objections, Mina agrees to join Sam on a train journey to Banathel. They stay with the Webber family: Lisa, the protective mother; Paul, the father whose work at the slaughterhouse seems to drain his sanity; Billy and Tamsin, Alice’s younger siblings who appear blissfully unaware of the dark undertones in their household; and Alice herself, who is battling something sinister that feeds on her energy. Isolated from her peers, Alice is glued to her Walkman, using music as a shield against the trauma she faces.

Determined to uncover the truth, Mina begins to question: Is Alice truly a messiah, as some townsfolk believe? Can Mina communicate with her? Mina’s own motivations are deeply personal—she sees this as an opportunity to connect with her late brother, just as Sam hopes to reconnect with his daughter.

The Webbers’ financial struggles raise suspicions. Could this be a scheme to exploit Alice’s supposed supernatural powers for monetary gain? Or is there something darker at play—something rooted in the town’s peculiar traditions, superstitions, and eerie history? What if the events defy scientific explanation, hinting at a sinister force targeting young girls in Banathel? Mina’s search for answers forces her to confront her own demons and face the darkness head-on.

Overall:
This book had moments that genuinely terrified me—like the scene with the unknown entity crawling out of the chimney, which made me scream and slam the book shut (only to scream again!). The dark and chilling elements chilled me to the bone. While the pacing slowed a bit in the middle, the final quarter ramped up the suspense, delivering a satisfying and thrilling conclusion.

I’m giving this one four witchy stars! This is definitely a must-read thriller to keep on your radar this year.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Minotaur Books for providing me with an ARC of this gripping horror-thriller in exchange for my honest review.

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[Joey R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars—I had been wavering back and forth as to whether to read “Something in the Walls” based on the fact I like supernatural thrillers, but the reviews on Goodreads have been mediocre at best. In the end I went for it, and I am very glad I did. I never read anything by Daisy Pearce prior to this book, but she does an excellent job in building and blending tension, horror and suspense for the first 80 percent of the book. The book tells the story of a young child psychologist, Mina, who is enlisted to help a young reporter Sam, research and treat a teenage girl, Alice, who is allegedly possessed by a witch. Sam and Mina only recently met at a survivors support group prior to agreeing to work together as both are grieving lost loved ones who died at very young ages. When the pair arrive at the small isolated town, they are allowed to move into the home of Alice and her family in order to better assess and treat her for whatever is causing her ‘condition.’ At this point the book goes into full scare me silly mode. Except for “The Exorcist” I have never been this unsettled while reading a book. I don’t know if it was the wasps or the black bile- like liquid or some other very creepy aspect of the plot that had me scared to turn out the lights, but it definitely got me. I mean I’m a 55 year old man. I shouldn’t be this scared of a fictional witch, but I was. Kudos to Ms Pearce for writing a much more terrifying version of “The Blair Witch Project.” My only critique is the bailout of the ending which didn’t solve the Alice possession by a witch mystery, but instead focused on a perverted weird neighbor with a witch fetish. Alice moved away with her family never to be heard from again — you can’t do that. I was invested. But 5++ stars for the first 80 percent of the book—1 star for the ending which didn’t answer 1 question about the creepiest witch of all time.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[JaymeO · Rating 4 out of 5]

“bE Not afrAId”

Atmospheric, claustrophobic, and incredibly creepy, this modern day witch hunt oozes with palpable tension.

Still grieving from her brother’s death five years ago, Mina attends a support group meeting. There, she makes a connection with Sam, who has recently lost his young daughter to illness. He calls a few days later with a proposition to help with an investigative story he is working on for the newspaper. A thirteen year old girl is suspected of witchcraft in a small town and the family wants to prove her innocence. As a recent psychology graduate, Mina is eager to gain some experience and get some time away from her cheating fiancé. Sam will get his story and she will prescribe treatment for the girl.

However, Mina soon learns that this small town has a history of superstition, witchcraft, and doesn’t like outsiders. Will Mina uncover the truth before her own secret is used against her?

“It’s tradition, Mina. You can’t outlast it. Best you can do is outrun it.”

Something in the Walls is a frightening, yet compulsively readable folk horror novel. Pearce expertly creates a suffocating heat wave, allowing the setting to enhance the mounting hysteria. Answers are not always supplied, but rather left to the reader to question. The cult-like mythology is reminiscent of Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible” and Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery.” I was gripped from the beginning to the end, and see a promising future for this writer in the horror genre.

4/5 stars

Expected Publication Date: 2/25/25

Thank you to Edelweiss and MacMillan publishing for the ARC of Something in the Walls in exchange for an honest review.

[Gianna Ricciardi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Still don’t know what’s in the fucking walls

[Brandon Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

So creepy!!!

The first like 50% of this book was SO insanely creepy!!! I was hooked- the pacing was slow+steady but gave an almost constant sense of creeping dread. The pace does change about halfway through and the story goes in a way I was kinda hoping it wouldn’t BUT this was still incredibly tense and sososo bingeable. I read this in a single day and had such a great time!!!

[Debra - can't post any comments on site today grrr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eerie, creepy, chilling and full of dread, Something in the Walls had me wondering what was real, what wasn't and what would I do? This book has a witchy supernatural vibe and had the hair standing up on the back of my neck a few times. This book has a 'Midsommar' eerie vibe to it which both thrilled and chilled this reader.

Mina is a new child psychologist who meets journalist, Sam Hunter at a bereavement group. Sam tells her about thirteen-year-old, Alice Webber who claims that a witch has been haunting her. Sam proposes that he and Mina should go meet with Alice and her family where he can get a career making scoop and Mina can get experience. Mina believes that she can help Alice, but the town people of Banathel, with a history of witchcraft and dislike of outsiders, believe that they have another way to help Alice.

I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed the narration. I enjoyed how the plot built and became more creepy and eerie by the page. This book is also full of dread and I enjoyed trying to decide if Alice was mentally ill, if what she was experiencing was real, or was there something supernatural at play?

This book had a slow build and normally I struggle with slow builds, but I didn't mind this one. I enjoyed the tension, the atmosphere, the creepiness, and the eerie vibe of the book. I also enjoyed how unsettling the story became toward the end. This was a gripping work of folk horror which delivered and has me wanting to read more of Daisy Pearce's work in the future.

Thank you to a Macmillan Audio 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 📖

[Lindsay L · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars.

Creepy, unnerving and unique!

This witchy story follows Mina, a newly certified child psychologist. She takes on a peculiar case of a thirteen-year-old girl who claims to be haunted by a witch.

This book is a truly unique and unputdownable reading experience. The plot has thick, foreboding tension dripping from the pages from start to finish. The highly atmospheric story gives the reader an uncomfortable sense of unease and paranoia. I was on edge and curious throughout.

While the story is unnerving and uncomfortable, there were many plot points that were implausible. I loved the horror/witchiness of the storyline, but the actual plot and characterizations didn’t work for me. For one, the child psychologist acted more as a police detective than a doctor. This caused a disconnect for me from truly immersing myself within the plot. The writing and atmosphere of the book engrossed me, but the storyline itself never quite gripped me as too many things didn’t make sense.

I enjoyed this for being a unique, atmospheric, entertaining psychological thriller/horror, but I failed to truly click with the characters and/or storyline as most other early reviewers have.

Overall, it’s a great book choice if you want to try something completely different and you enjoy witchy stories with hints of horror. I am definitely the outlier with my thoughts so I encourage you to try it out and see for yourself!

Thank you to the publisher for my digital copy! My ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Expected date of publication is Feb 25, 2025

[Sadie Hartmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!!! I could NOT stop listening to this audiobook. I had no expectations going into this book and pretty much went into it blind—I only read the hook, skipped the synopsis.
The folk horror was so good. I cannot stress that enough. And the Mare of Easttown comp is solid with the whole small town mystery but with the paranormal witchy/medium/séance element
I loved everything leading up to the conflict too with Mina’s backstory and marriage, her connection to fellow grief survivors…anyway, this book was great. More soon.

[ripley ✨ · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5
Talk about unfinished business! If you tell me “lady investigates haunted child” and then make the ending have nothing to do with said haunted child AND wrap up the haunted child plot line with “damn the family just left town” I will perform a citizens arrest idc if you’re in England.

[megs_bookrack · Rating 4 out of 5]

**4.5-stars**

Mina has been educated to be a child psychologist, but she lacks real world experience. Unfortunately, this makes it challenging for her to secure a position in the field.

It's one of those odd circumstances, where people only want to hire individuals with experience, but how are you to get experience if no one will hire you?



Thus, Mina is stuck, just spinning her wheels. That is until Mina is suddenly presented with an unusual opportunity while attending her local bereavement group, where she goes to help process her grief from her brother's death.

She meets another member, Sam Hunter, who happens to be a journalist and he asks for her assistance with a story he's currently working on.



In the remote village of Banathel, 13-year old, Alice Webber, lives with her family. After unsettling behavioral changes, Alice reveals that a witch is haunting her, causing various disturbing occurrences.

Sam and Mina travel to Banathel to stay with the Webber family, to see if they can get to the bottom of what is going on with Alice. Sam is hoping for the scoop of a lifetime, while Mina is hoping to help Alice, whilst also gaining the experience she so desperately needs.



I loved the way this story was set-up. I had listened to 47% of the audiobook before I even came up for air. I was absolutely engrossed.

The narrator was a perfect match to our MC, Mina, and I felt like she succeeded in bringing the story to life. From the start, this loosely reminded me of The Wonder, but much creepier and more atmospheric.



I just felt like Something in the Walls was so good. It's chilling and gripping. I raced through it, needing answers. The various scenes and things going on in Banathel, it got under my skin; genuinely creepy AF at times.

While it wrapped up too quickly for my tastes, after the reveal, I still think it was so hella good. It was intriguing and horrifying in a very human way. I also loved Mina and Sam working together, digging into the history of Banathel.



Overall, this story had me absolutely hooked throughout. It had all the things I need to love a story and I appreciated the author's ability to write some truly chilling horror imagery.

Thank you to the publisher, Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio, for providing me with copies to read and review. I am so stoked to read more from the author in the future!

[Will Byrnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

… just after Christmas, Alice Webber started to get sick. She complained of pains in her sides like needles being pressed there. When they lifted her shirt, there was a pinprick rash and blood welling up as if the skin had been broken. A few days later she started vomiting. By this point Alice was too weak to get out of bed so her mother put a bowl beside it. When she came to empty it, she found watery bile and clots of black hair, like you’d pull out of a plughole. Another time Alice coughed up a handful of sewing pins bent into strange shapes. She developed a fever which made her start seeing things. She got delusional.”
“In what way?”
“Alice told her parents that a witch was spying on her through the chimney breast. She said the witch had a black tongue and her face was ‘all on upside down.’

--------------------------------------

“She was saying such odd things. At school, then here at home. Sometimes it was like she was listening to music you couldn’t hear, you know? I’d catch her just staring at the fireplace and her lips were moving but no sound was coming out. When I asked her what she was doing, she said”—here Lisa sighs, fretful and ill at ease. It’s clear she isn’t comfortable talking about this—“she said that the dead wanted her to open her throat.”

When Sam Hunter and Mina Ellis pull up at 13 Beacon Terrace in Banathel, an English backwater, there is a crowd gathered. Mostly people wanting something from the girl inside. They seem to think she can communicate with the dead, and there are people with whom they would love to reconnect.


Daisy Pearce - image from her site

Sam is a reporter who specializes in debunking superstitious claptrap and fraud. Mina is a recent graduate in child psychology. Sam had asked her along to offer an evaluation. Well, there is certainly something off happening at the Webber household

Alice Webber has tales to tell. (She’s the girl you see giggling with her friends at the back of the bus or fooling around in the arcades. Normal. Unexceptional.) She believes there is a witch living in the walls of her bedroom. She can tell because she sees the witch’s eyes looking at her through gaps in the brick chimney. It began when a group of (not really) friends play a mean trick on her at a supposedly haunted house. Now she hears and speaks in voices.

For a moment I think she is speaking—I can see her shoulders twitch, her mouth slowly moving—but the voice I hear is slurring and thick, heavy. Like a throat full of molasses. It is a language I don’t recognise, Germanic maybe. The words spread like a ripple, like oil on water, dark and tainted. It fills me with something icy and unknowing and I taste the bitterness of bile in the back of my throat.

Both Sam and Mina (“It’s my dad. He took my mother to Whitby Abbey while she was pregnant with me. My poor brother narrowly escaped being called Van Helsing.”) have arrived with significant emotional baggage. Sam lost his seven-year-old daughter, Maggie. Mina lost her brother, Eddie, when they were kids. Both Mina and Sam hold out hope that they can somehow reconnect with their lost ones, maybe reduce the guilt they both feel. Is there any chance Alice can actually help them? Alice may look like an average teen with professional aspirations that end at the beauty salon, but what if there is something operating through her?

The novel has a feel of both contemporary spook story and a folk horror tale, rich with back-country superstition, practices, and beliefs. Banathel has a long history of belief in witches, and a rich supply of hagstones everywhere you look. It is reminiscent of works like Tom Tryon’s novel Harvest Home and the 1973 horror classic, The Wicker Man, reliant on deep rural isolation.

The tension ramps up with every strange new event, encouraged by the persistence of contemporary doubt, ancient superstition, the growing crowd and its increasingly threatening regard for the girl. Do they want to help her or use her, or do they want something else? In addition, while there is a mystery in every horror tale, there is also a tension between where magical manifestations leave off and human agency steps in. Ditto here.

While it certainly seemed fun for Mina to have such a nominal root in classic horror, (a pearl among women) it did not seem to me that enough was done with her nifty name. And for a psychologist to be entangled with someone so clearly wrong for her was disappointing. (Although I suppose many of us have had that experience.) As for seeing someone looking through gaps in bricks, did no one consider maybe a bit of plaster, spackle, or poster of a favorite musician to cover the spaces? Or maybe hiring a handyman named Bert to have a go at clearing it out?

On the other hand, the lovely details of dark manifestation that Pearce weaves into her tale, the sights, sounds, and textures, add that frisson that every good horror novel needs. The overarching heat that bears down on all provides another layer of dread. It might even enhance the feel of this book for readers to take it on in July.

I have a particularly high bar for fright. It is a rare horror novel that keeps me up at night. There are real-world stresses and manifestations of evil that offer that service quite happily. Something in the Walls came close, but caused no lost zzzzzzzs here. Not to say it will not for you, who have a more usual receptivity to such things. It did, however, offer an appealing lead, a tantalizing mystery, a colorful portrait of a tucked-away place, and kept up a brisk tempo.

Most witch hunts are a bad idea, but it might be a better one to track down Something in the Walls. There may be a thrill or two just lying in wait for you.

If you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you. - Friedrich Nietzsche

Review posted - 4/4/25

Publication date – 2/25/25

I received an ARE of Something in the Walls from Minotaur in return for a fair review, and my agreeing to get the hell out of their chimney. Thanks, folks, and thanks to NetGalley for facilitating.



This review will soon be cross-posted on my site, Coot’s Reviews. Stop by and say Hi!

=============================EXTRA STUFF

Links to Pearce’s personal, Instagram, and Twitter pages

Profile – from her site

Daisy Pearce was born in Cornwall and grew up on a smallholding surrounded by hippies. She read Cujo and The Hamlyn Book of Horror far too young and has been fascinated with the macabre ever since.
Daisy began writing short stories as a teenager and after spells living in London and Brighton she 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. In 2015 The Silence’ won a bursary with The Literary Consultancy. Later that year Daisy also won the Chindi Authors Competition with her short story ‘Worm Food’. A further novel was longlisted for the Mslexia Novel Award…Daisy currently works in a library where she stacks books and listens to podcasts on true crime and folklore.

Interview
-----Bloody Good Reads - Chapter 109 - Daisy Pearce - audio – 38:38 – on writing what she loves

Items of Interest from the author
-----Crime Reads - DAISY PEARCE ON POLTERGEISTS, MISOGYNY, AND COMING OF AGE IN A FRACTURED WORLD
-----Short story - The Brook Witch - linked from her website
-----Short story - The Spirit of Christmas - linked from her website

[Marcie Cagle · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.

[Adrienne L · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

When Mina meets reporter Sam at a grief support group and he invites her to accompany him to investigate an alleged haunting and other disturbances surrounding a teenage girl, Mina sees it as an excellent opportunity to get some experience under her belt and pad her resume, while Sam follows up on a lead.  Neither of them are willing to admit to their ulterior motives, and neither are prepared for what they find in the home of Alice Webber or the village of Banathel itself, for Banathel is a village steeped in superstition where the doorways are decorated with hagstones and the children taunt each other with stories of witch curses.

I really enjoyed the first half of Something in the Walls.  There were parts that reminded me of the creepiest  bits of Thomas Olde Heuvelt's Hex, and the interesting family dynamics of Paul Tremblay's A Head Full of Ghosts.  The sinister descriptions of menacing figures glimpsed, heard and felt, but never seen directly, is always the most effective way of providing chills to this reader, and there were a number of well-executed scenes like this.  The Webber family read as genuine in a dysfunctional and financially strapped way, and Pearce does a good job evoking the stifling oppression of a heatwave and drought without the relief of air conditioning (talk about horror!).  

Unfortunately, the story meanders a bit during the middle section and then takes a turn toward a certain kind of plot device/explanation that I get rather tired of in my horror.  I can't say any more for fear of spoilers, but I found the ending unsatisfying in that it never entirely circled back to the themes and storylines that made the first half of the story so compelling.  I also found some behaviors of characters in the book, both in the present timeline and in their own individual pasts, rather baffling and not entirely believable.  I would still recommend this one to readers who enjoy folk horror and witches and I will look for more of Pearce's work in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a digital advanced readers copy.  Something in the Walls will be available on February 25, 2025.

[Jessica Woodbury · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.

[Norma ~ The Sisters · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Sisters’ Spellbinding Take on Something in the Walls
Hey there, witches, horror fiends, and supernatural seekers—gather ‘round, because we’ve got a book that’ll cast a spell on your shelves. Today, The Sisters are rambling about Something in the Walls by Daisy Pearce, a chilling story that’s equally witchy, scary convincing, and utterly gripping!

SOMETHING IN THE WALLS by DAISY PEARCE.
My Take: Terrifying, Immersive, and Electrifying!

There’s something genuinely unnerving about Something in the Walls—a sense of dread that builds steadily, layer by layer, until it has you gripping the edges of the book, unwilling to put it down even as your heart races. Daisy Pearce has crafted a story steeped in witchy, ghostly unease, one that doesn’t just hint at danger but plunges you straight into it.

I was completely hooked! Pearce masterfully sets the stage: the oppressive heat of a summer wave, the sense of isolation in the remote village of Banathel, and the sharp pangs of grief that linger in the background of Mina’s life. These elements weave together seamlessly to create an atmosphere of menace. And then—just when you think you have a grip on where the story is going—it takes an unexpected turn. It wasn’t what I anticipated, but it was undeniably clever, like a whispered secret you didn’t realize you were desperate to hear.

The heart of this story lies with Alice, the girl who believes she’s being haunted by a witch. Her fear is so visceral it seeps off the page, leaving you wondering what’s real and what’s not. Mina, a novice psychologist with her own demons to confront, is a compelling, if flawed, guide through this maze of superstition and hysteria.

This book truly terrified me. And I know I’ve said that before, but this time I mean it. Reading it felt like watching a horror movie, where you’re tempted to peek through your fingers just to get through the scariest parts. The tension builds relentlessly, and as the story grows darker and darker, I found myself gasping out loud more than once.

By the end, this book left shadows and unanswered questions that will stay with me for a long time, but it gave me enough to feel fully satisfied. Sometimes, the most unforgettable stories are the ones that don’t tie everything up neatly but instead leave a lasting impression with their mysteries, making you think about them long after you’ve turned the final page.

Daisy Pearce is an incredibly talented author, and Something in the Walls is a brilliant testament to her skill. It’s unsettling, intelligent, and filled with the kind of creeping horror that will leave you glancing over your shoulder. If you’re looking for a book to give you genuine chills, this is it.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read this spine-tingling story before its release date of February 25, 2025. I’ll definitely be recommending it far and wide!

Brenda’s Take: A Brew of Superstition and Suspense
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The Sister’s Final Thoughts
Something in the Walls is one of those books that doesn’t just get under your skin—it burrows deep and stays there. If you love your horror tinged with folklore and dripping with witchy vibes, this one’s for you!

Trust us—you’ll be enchanted.

Just remember to listen for something in the walls!!

[chantalsbookstuff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mina is a newly minted child psychologist with no clients, no street cred, and no clue what to do with her life—unless you count fidgeting in a heatwave while spiraling over her upcoming wedding to her overly meticulous fiancé Oscar. Her one escape? A local grief group where she mourns her long-lost brother and silently counts the ways her life has gone sideways.

Enter Sam, a journalist who smells both trauma and opportunity. He convinces Mina to visit a remote village where 13-year-old Alice Webber is reportedly being haunted by a witch. Mina, desperate for experience and cash, agrees. (Clearly she skipped the horror movie rulebook.)

Cue creepy child behavior, an isolated town dripping with superstition, and a community that thinks therapy is no match for good old-fashioned witch hunting. As Alice’s condition worsens, Mina finds herself in way over her head—with a town full of suspicious stares, a partner who might be hiding things, and a haunting that feels all too real.

Sounds like it should be edge-of-your-seat spooky, right? Well… sort of. The setup has all the ingredients for a chilling psychological thriller, but somewhere between the creepy woods and the therapy sessions, the pacing takes a nap. Mina, once full of promise, slowly disintegrates into a character you want to shake awake. Meanwhile, the other characters act like they’re under a collective fog—unrealistic reactions, questionable choices, and a general air of what is even happening here?

The twisty path toward the ending does take some unexpected detours, and while the final destination wasn’t what I predicted, I couldn’t help but feel like some storylines were left hanging in the haunted breeze. Not bad, not great—just…mildly spooky purgatory.

If you like your horror atmospheric and don’t mind a slower burn (with a few “wait, what?” moments), this might work for you. But if you need tight plotting and a main character who keeps her spark under pressure, this one might leave you feeling like Mina—confused, overheated, and in serious need of a new life plan.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!

[Dennis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Daisy Pearce's 2025 horror novel immediately hooked me in with this gorgeous cover, but I also was super intrigued by the book's synopsis. SOMETHING IN THE WALLS is being called The Shining meets Midsommar, so I just knew that I needed to prioritize this one! I chose to read the book physically, but I also alternated via audiobook, and I think both options were a full five-star experience for me!

Mina, a newly established child psychologist with little experience, spends her days preparing for her marriage to researcher Oscar while attending a local bereavement group to mourn her late brother. Her routine shifts when she meets journalist Sam Hunter, who proposes she help investigate the case of Alice Webber, a thirteen-year-old girl in the remote village of Banathel claiming to be haunted by a witch. What starts as a promising opportunity turns darker as Alice’s behavior grows more disturbing, and the superstitious town reveals its unsettling beliefs about confronting evil.

SOMETHING IN THE WALLS is a witchy good time, with a town full of secrets! If you liked Camilla Sten's The Lost Village, Midsommar, or Silent Hill (video game or movie), then SOMETHING IN THE WALLS will be right up your alley. This book was incredibly spooky and creepy, which will entertain even the most stubborn thriller or horror reader. I really enjoyed my journey with this book and I think if you go into the book not expecting to be tricked, you'll have more fun with it. I noticed that I kept being sidetracked and having to continue reading this book because I just needed to know what happened! This book will be a staple in my favorite 2025 releases for sure!

[Rachel (TheShadesofOrange) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0 Stars
This is a solid new horror release. It's the kind of novel that keeps me excited about the genre. This was suspenseful and unsettling. The writing was simple and yet effective. I felt the start was stronger than the end at creating tension but overall it was still enjoyable read.

I would recommend this one to anyone looking for a new horror novel. In my opinion, this is one of the front-runners in the 2025 horror releases.

Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

[Summer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm always drawn to books centered around those in Psychiatry and of course, I love a good possession story so the synopsis immediately hooked me.

I liked the horror elements and the beginning immediately pulled me in. The author crafted an atmospheric setting and I enjoyed the folklore elements.

But unfortunately, I did find a few issues with it.
I felt as if the ending was a bit too rushed and underwhelming. There are also lots of plot holes and unanswered questions (yes I'm one of those people who has to have everything perfectly wrapped up at the end).

However, I do believe that a lot of readers will love this one, though. I've said this before, and I'll say it again: Take my reviews with a grain of salt. Just because I didn't love a book doesn't mean you won’t enjoy it. I would hate to know that I dissuaded someone from picking up a book just because I didn't enjoy it!

Something in the Walls by Daisy Pearce will be available on February 25. Many thanks to Minotaur Books, St Martins Press, and NetGalley for the gifted copy!

[NILTON TEIXEIRA · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Something in the Walls”, by Daisy Pearce

4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Just a short note.

This is a psychological, suspenseful folk horror novel about witches (or so we are left to believe).
And a terrific read it is.
The writing was great, but the storytelling was superb!
So atmospheric, eerie, spooky (or creepy?)!
It’s also packed with sadness and grieving.
There is a heartbreaking twist and a satisfying (kind of “good riddance”) ending, although we are left with some unanswered questions.

This novel contains themes of sexual assault and child sexual abuse, which are often flagged with trigger warnings.

This was my first book by this author.

E-book (Kobo): 272 pages, 84k words

Audiobook narrated by Ana Clements: 8.3 hours (normal speed), unabridged

[Brenda ~The Sisters~Book Witch · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Sisters’ Spellbinding Take on Something in the Walls

Hey there, witches, horror fiends, and supernatural seekers—gather ‘round, because we’ve got a book that’ll cast a spell on your shelves. Today, The Sisters are rambling about Something in the Walls by Daisy Pearce, a chilling story that’s equally witchy, scary convincing, and utterly gripping.

My Take: A Brew of Superstition and Suspense

Strange things are bubbling in the remote, shadow-drenched village of Banathel, and at the heart of it all is thirteen-year-old Alice. This town is steeped in witchcraft and superstition, a cauldron simmering with fear, secrets, and the ever-present threat of something sinister lurking just out of sight. Some villagers swear by the existence of evil forces, while others harbor agendas even more blistering than the heat wave surrounding them.

Enter Mina, a novice psychologist with her own haunted past, stepping into this web of tension and whispers. Tasked with untangling the mystery of behavior, her family, the watchful villagers, and those drawn to Alice for help, Mina quickly finds herself out of her depth.

Oh, and just when you think the situation can’t get any stranger? Mina starts to suspect something—or someone—in the walls is trying to get her attention.

And let’s not forget: Mina isn’t as innocent as she seems. Secrets trail her like shadows, and you can’t help but wonder if her hidden motives might just fuel the fire in Banathel’s cursed cauldron.

The tension in Something in the Walls builds like a spell gone awry—thick, bubbling, and on the verge of spilling over. It’s steeped in witchy vibes and layered mysteries, the kind that hooked me so completely I found myself peeking over my shoulder while reading.

Daisy Pearce’s writing? Pure potion perfection. Steeped in witchy vibes and eerie folklore, The themes are richly layered, unsettling, and brimming with a witchy depth that invites you to linger in their thought-provoking shadows. The tension crackles like static in the air, the atmosphere feels almost tangible, and the folklore is seamlessly woven into every chilling moment, casting a spell that keeps you entranced from start to finish.

The Sister’s Final Thoughts

Something in the Walls is one of those books that doesn’t just get under your skin—it burrows deep and stays there. If you love your horror tinged with folklore and dripping with witchy vibes, this one’s for you!

Trust us—you’ll be enchanted.

Just remember to listen for something in the walls!!

I received a digital and audiobook copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. While I thoroughly enjoyed the audiobook and thought the narrator did an excellent job bringing the story to life, I found the experience even more intense when reading it. There was something about diving into the words on the page that brought out more of that creepy feeling I wanted while increasing the tension.

For Norma’s Take: Terrifying, Immersive, and Electrifying you can find it here
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Kim ~ It’s All About the Thrill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well hello you creepy little book!! 😍 This book had a pub day this week! 🥳 Thank you so much @minotaur_books #smpinfluencers for my gorgeous gifted copy!! 🥰 I mean.. look at this cover! 😳

This was a horror book that slowly built an atmosphere that kept me pretty much freaked out the entire time. 😬 It was oozing with dread and an underlying sinister feeling. 😵‍💫

Mina who is a child psychologist may have gotten in over her head. In fact… this is her first case.. and it is… a challenge…😬… She found herself in a small town surrounded by a community that believes that witches .. 🧙‍♀️…spirits.. curses are all around… the are convinced that a young girl is possessed.😳 Are they right?? Get the hell out of town Mina!! 🏃‍♀️ She didn’t… I tried to warn her🤦‍♀️🤷‍♀️

That ending!! 😳😳😳 I never saw it coming!!

🖤🖤🖤 Is this on your TBR?

[Constantine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Horror + Mystery Thriller

Mina is a newly licensed child psychologist on the hunt for some work experience. When she meets journalist Sam Hunter, she hears about Alice Webber, a 13-year-old from the small town of Banathel who claims she's being haunted by a witch.

While looking into things, Mina finds out about the village's old superstitions and their creepy history with witchcraft. The story mixes psychological tension with folklore and horror, diving into themes like grief, superstition, and the messy side of human emotions.

I'm torn about this story. While the atmosphere at the beginning was captivating, it seemed to fade as I continued reading. I'm not entirely sure why that happened. The author excels in her vivid descriptions of the village, which adds to the appeal. The blend of psychological thriller and witchcraft is the main theme, and it can keep you engaged if you overlook the book's other shortcomings.

"Something in the Walls" is entertaining as long as you don’t dwell too much on the story's logic. However, if you start to question why certain things were handled the way they were, it can become frustrating. If Mina were a real person, she might lose her job because I don’t believe she fulfilled her role as a psychologist properly. She didn’t spend enough time with the girl and instead acted more like a detective investigating the town, which is not her profession.

The ending felt ambiguous and underwhelming. I expected a more satisfying conclusion given the struggles the characters endured. Overall, I found the story to be decent, but my experience may differ from others. This is a book that relies heavily on the reader's perspective, so each person's experience will vary.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the ARC of this book.

[Jan Agaton · Rating 2 out of 5]

I guess I just wanted this to be something completely different and less predictable and like nothing I've read before, but alas. the tongue scene at the end and a couple alice scenes creeped me out but otherwise it was very bland and could've been a novella tbh

[Brandy Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay wow this had some incredibly eerie moments.

It’s funny because this book wasn’t even on my radar and I purchased it solely based on the cover. Now I’m glad I did!

I will say the ending was alittle disappointing. I really wanted the author to push the envelope and surprise me, but that didn’t happen. You can see the twists coming from a mile away, however it didn’t take away my overall enjoyment level.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not really sure why this book was rated so low. I enjoyed it for the most part. Well, I usually enjoy a story vengeance is pursued on behalf of womankind. It took a little while to get there, but once the truth is revealed, the pace picked up very quickly.

Oscar is a dud. No idea why Mina is engaged to him. He's actually more than a dud. He is loathsome - almost as loathsome as Bert who is sick and deserves everything he got and more.

Back to Oscar - Mina can do so much better than him. Actually, she doesn't need him or any other man. Her family is equally as useless as Oscar. Once she finds some better-quality people in her life to be friends with, she's going to be ok.

Poor Alice. She suffered a lot before she could find relief and unravel the mysteries of the house.

Lots of torment and plenty of torture accompany this spooky book. Have fun with it!

Rounding up to 4.

[Jaime Fok · Rating 3 out of 5]

I haven’t been so genuinely scared from a book… EVER. The horror vibes were definitely there.
I just wish the story went somewhere. Seemed like all vibes, no plot.