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Annie Gore #2
Brimstone Hollow
Following her powerful debut in The Witch’s Orchard, private investigator Annie Gore returns in Brimstone Hollow, bringing readers back to the mountains that author Archer Sullivan, a ninth generation Appalachian, knows so well.
There isn’t much that happens in the Appalachian Mountains that Private Investigator Annie Gore hasn’t seen. Before she joined the Air Force, she was born and raised in those rolling hills, and lately Annie's cases have called her away from her Louisville office and closer to the small towns of her youth than she ever anticipated. But when her newest client asks if she’s ever been to a snake-handling church, Annie knows she’s about to enter unknown territory.
Katie May has been estranged from her father―one of Appalachia’s last infamous snake handling preachers―for twenty years. But when Katie finds out he’s been fatally bitten, and a funeral was held within twenty-four hours, she questions whether someone deliberately rushed the process. Despite Annie’s doubts, she takes the case. After all, when she looks at Katie, she sees a version of herself: a girl who needs to understand her father in order to understand herself.
As she navigates the hidden hollers and dangerous secrets of this insular Eastern Kentucky town, Annie works fast, hoping to find the truth in record time for her client―and before too many memories from her own childhood surface. But it soon becomes apparent that someone wants Annie’s investigation to stop―by any means necessary.
There isn’t much that happens in the Appalachian Mountains that Private Investigator Annie Gore hasn’t seen. Before she joined the Air Force, she was born and raised in those rolling hills, and lately Annie's cases have called her away from her Louisville office and closer to the small towns of her youth than she ever anticipated. But when her newest client asks if she’s ever been to a snake-handling church, Annie knows she’s about to enter unknown territory.
Katie May has been estranged from her father―one of Appalachia’s last infamous snake handling preachers―for twenty years. But when Katie finds out he’s been fatally bitten, and a funeral was held within twenty-four hours, she questions whether someone deliberately rushed the process. Despite Annie’s doubts, she takes the case. After all, when she looks at Katie, she sees a version of herself: a girl who needs to understand her father in order to understand herself.
As she navigates the hidden hollers and dangerous secrets of this insular Eastern Kentucky town, Annie works fast, hoping to find the truth in record time for her client―and before too many memories from her own childhood surface. But it soon becomes apparent that someone wants Annie’s investigation to stop―by any means necessary.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published August 11, 2026
About the author
Archer Sullivan
5 books361 followersArcher Sullivan is a ninth generation Appalachian. She's moved thirty-seven times and has lived everywhere from Monticello, Kentucky to Manhattan, New York and from Black Mountain, North Carolina to Beverly Hills, California. Her work has appeared in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, Tough, Shotgun Honey, Reckon Review, Rock and a Hard Place, and The Best Mystery Stories of the Year 2024.
source: Amazon
source: Amazon
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Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐️ 4.25 ⭐️ I have never heard of snake handling churches and this was a first for me. While looking up its history, I've learned that this is a religious rite practiced by a small number of Holiness groups and is only legal in West Virginia, mainly in the rural Appalachian region. While the practice is very uncommon, many believe that if one has true faith, God will keep them safe and protected from any harm, even a snake bite. Believers will not only touch the venomous snake but will practice drinking deadly poisons, strychnine, to test their faith. Isn't that something? I always appreciate when I can learn a part of history or anything new from a book that I'm reading.
I was so impressed with the authors debut, The Witch’s Orchard, so you can imagine my excitement when I saw that Sullivan had another book coming this summer. When I read 'snake bite', 'quiet town', 'preacher' in the setting of Appalachian Mountains, I imminently thought this must be some sort of religious cult with strong funny-business vibes. And wow it did not disappoint! Annie Gore knows exactly what she is doing, unraveling the teeny-tiny twisty secrets of small towns one peel at a time.
This is the second novel in the Annie Gore mystery series and it blends small town secrets with Appalachian Gothic atmosphere! The private investigator, Annie, is hired by a woman to investigate the death of her father, Ezra King. The father was pronounced dead by a venomous snake bite and his death was ruled an accident but his daughter is suspicious because his death was never really looked into..As Annie starts digging into this investigation this brings a lot of painful memories, making this case very personal.
And in fact, this book did feel more personal than The Witch’s Orchard. In this story, we learn more about our private investigator, Annie Gore. Through flashbacks and recurrent dreams that Annie experiences, we learn more about her as a child, her parents and what her life was like growing up. We are shown her worries, her fears, how her psyche works. The investigation helps Annie to confront painful memories from her own Appalachian childhood. The mystery of Ezra King mirrors her own emotional wounds. She's a well layered character, much to appreciate and lots to admire. I really enjoyed her background and am looking forward to whatever part of her life we will learn of next.
I found the mystery to be complex and not the simple 'whodunit' that you can see from a mile away. I figured out Ezra King quickly but I couldn't solve the mystery surrounding his death. I found the unraveling of events to be well done. Sullivan knows how to create unease and utilizes the backdrop of isolated mountains, religious communities and small towns so effortlessly that everything starts to feel unsettling at some point. From surfer springs and abandoned charges and buried small town secrets, Brimstone Hollow is a true atmospheric, gothic mystery and I can't wait to read more from this author.
Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martins Press and the author, Archer Sullivan for an early ARC.
Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for an early ALC!
Narrator: Emily Pike Stewart
Duration: 9 hours 43 minutes
Speed: 1.75x
Publication date: August 11, 2026
I was so impressed with the authors debut, The Witch’s Orchard, so you can imagine my excitement when I saw that Sullivan had another book coming this summer. When I read 'snake bite', 'quiet town', 'preacher' in the setting of Appalachian Mountains, I imminently thought this must be some sort of religious cult with strong funny-business vibes. And wow it did not disappoint! Annie Gore knows exactly what she is doing, unraveling the teeny-tiny twisty secrets of small towns one peel at a time.
This is the second novel in the Annie Gore mystery series and it blends small town secrets with Appalachian Gothic atmosphere! The private investigator, Annie, is hired by a woman to investigate the death of her father, Ezra King. The father was pronounced dead by a venomous snake bite and his death was ruled an accident but his daughter is suspicious because his death was never really looked into..As Annie starts digging into this investigation this brings a lot of painful memories, making this case very personal.
And in fact, this book did feel more personal than The Witch’s Orchard. In this story, we learn more about our private investigator, Annie Gore. Through flashbacks and recurrent dreams that Annie experiences, we learn more about her as a child, her parents and what her life was like growing up. We are shown her worries, her fears, how her psyche works. The investigation helps Annie to confront painful memories from her own Appalachian childhood. The mystery of Ezra King mirrors her own emotional wounds. She's a well layered character, much to appreciate and lots to admire. I really enjoyed her background and am looking forward to whatever part of her life we will learn of next.
I found the mystery to be complex and not the simple 'whodunit' that you can see from a mile away. I figured out Ezra King quickly but I couldn't solve the mystery surrounding his death. I found the unraveling of events to be well done. Sullivan knows how to create unease and utilizes the backdrop of isolated mountains, religious communities and small towns so effortlessly that everything starts to feel unsettling at some point. From surfer springs and abandoned charges and buried small town secrets, Brimstone Hollow is a true atmospheric, gothic mystery and I can't wait to read more from this author.
Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martins Press and the author, Archer Sullivan for an early ARC.
Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for an early ALC!
Narrator: Emily Pike Stewart
Duration: 9 hours 43 minutes
Speed: 1.75x
Publication date: August 11, 2026
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This one had a completely different feel from book one…dare I say it came off more polished? Flowed exceedingly well? Amazing pacing?
Archer Sullivan is a master at revealing the heartbeat of the Appalachian region. She finds the real treasures in this community, the ones the mountains and hollers have shaped, and shares how the isolation of this unique place has fostered strong communal relationships where solidarity and belonging are paramount and … snake handling pastors are no big deal! This close-knit community has a darker side, though. It protects the people who live in these mountains, and the lines between black and white become blurred. This is what makes Annie Gore’s work so difficult.
Sullivan’s narrative is built around the idea that there are some questions we’ll never know the answer to, and there are some things that we just have to let go. This isn’t easy for Annie Gore, a detective who revels in following clues to get definitive answers. This time, she’s been hired to investigate the death of Katie May’s father so that this young mother can have closure. Katie’s dad was an absent parent, and she finds it difficult to accept what life has given her and move on. Is she prepared for what Annie unearths? I wasn’t!
If a spectacular sense of place, unforgettable characters, and an intriguing murder mystery interest you, don’t miss out on this 5-star novel. Yes, it’s a sequel in the Annie Gore series, but it can stand alone.
I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Archer Sullivan is a master at revealing the heartbeat of the Appalachian region. She finds the real treasures in this community, the ones the mountains and hollers have shaped, and shares how the isolation of this unique place has fostered strong communal relationships where solidarity and belonging are paramount and … snake handling pastors are no big deal! This close-knit community has a darker side, though. It protects the people who live in these mountains, and the lines between black and white become blurred. This is what makes Annie Gore’s work so difficult.
Sullivan’s narrative is built around the idea that there are some questions we’ll never know the answer to, and there are some things that we just have to let go. This isn’t easy for Annie Gore, a detective who revels in following clues to get definitive answers. This time, she’s been hired to investigate the death of Katie May’s father so that this young mother can have closure. Katie’s dad was an absent parent, and she finds it difficult to accept what life has given her and move on. Is she prepared for what Annie unearths? I wasn’t!
If a spectacular sense of place, unforgettable characters, and an intriguing murder mystery interest you, don’t miss out on this 5-star novel. Yes, it’s a sequel in the Annie Gore series, but it can stand alone.
I was gifted this copy and was under no obligation to provide a review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I’ve been excited about catching up with Annie Gore, a former military (Air Force) investigator turned PI in Louisville, KY. This installment has Annie heading back into the Appalachian hollers to investigate the death of a snake preacher.
The book summary basically just introduces a couple of the storylines, one of the death of Ezra King, a degenerate gambler and deadbeat dad, who’s born again and who claims his sermons and tent revivals with snakes is a testament to the strength and power of his faith. There are also two other deaths, days after Ezra’s death, that are possibly linked to both Ezra King’ death and the recent parole of Joel Shepherd, aka the Weed King. Lastly, there is the storyline of Annie’s investigation triggering memories of her own childhood in KY.
Most of the story has Annie investigating Ezra’s death with some help from the local police chief Dishman. It’s not long before Annie and Dishman are making connections and running down one lead after another. It’s deep in the second half when Annie and Dishman discover a shocking clue, one I never saw coming. After that, it gets pretty scary and intense, especially for Annie. There was another major reveal at the end that is probably a lead-in for the next installment. It will be interesting to see where Sullivan goes with it.
The continuing character development of Annie was well done along with a couple of other characters like Dishman and Will. The pacing was steady to fast, especially in the second half. The writing was also well done, and I really liked the storyline of Annie’s childhood memories and how they became part of her dreams and nightmares. The storyline was very interesting too. That’s one of the things I like about this series; the locale of the KY hollers is a great place for a range of weird and creepy storylines. I flipped back and forth between the ebook and the audiobook, but especially enjoyed the audiobook and the narrator Emily Pike Stewart. It's not often that I come across a narrator who sings, and a pretty good one too. I've said this before, but it bears mentioning again, a really good narrator adds so much entertainment value to a story. I’m looking at an overall rating of 4.4 that I will be rounding down to a 4star review. I want to thank NetGalley, St Martin’s Press, and Macmillan Audio for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #StMartinsPress #MacmillanAudio #BrimstoneHollow
The book summary basically just introduces a couple of the storylines, one of the death of Ezra King, a degenerate gambler and deadbeat dad, who’s born again and who claims his sermons and tent revivals with snakes is a testament to the strength and power of his faith. There are also two other deaths, days after Ezra’s death, that are possibly linked to both Ezra King’ death and the recent parole of Joel Shepherd, aka the Weed King. Lastly, there is the storyline of Annie’s investigation triggering memories of her own childhood in KY.
Most of the story has Annie investigating Ezra’s death with some help from the local police chief Dishman. It’s not long before Annie and Dishman are making connections and running down one lead after another. It’s deep in the second half when Annie and Dishman discover a shocking clue, one I never saw coming. After that, it gets pretty scary and intense, especially for Annie. There was another major reveal at the end that is probably a lead-in for the next installment. It will be interesting to see where Sullivan goes with it.
The continuing character development of Annie was well done along with a couple of other characters like Dishman and Will. The pacing was steady to fast, especially in the second half. The writing was also well done, and I really liked the storyline of Annie’s childhood memories and how they became part of her dreams and nightmares. The storyline was very interesting too. That’s one of the things I like about this series; the locale of the KY hollers is a great place for a range of weird and creepy storylines. I flipped back and forth between the ebook and the audiobook, but especially enjoyed the audiobook and the narrator Emily Pike Stewart. It's not often that I come across a narrator who sings, and a pretty good one too. I've said this before, but it bears mentioning again, a really good narrator adds so much entertainment value to a story. I’m looking at an overall rating of 4.4 that I will be rounding down to a 4star review. I want to thank NetGalley, St Martin’s Press, and Macmillan Audio for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.
#NetGalley #StMartinsPress #MacmillanAudio #BrimstoneHollow
August 5, 2026
3.5 stars. Annie Gore is a private investigator with an office in Louisville, KY. Previously, she was a Special Investigator in the Air Force and this information is all on her website. In this second book in the series, a young mother named Katie May comes to hire Annie after reading about her background and the details of a previous case. Katie has just been informed that her estranged father, Ezra King, a snake-handling preacher, died from a snake bite and was buried the next day without even an autopsy. Katie wants Annie to investigate to see that everything is on the up and up.
When Annie arrives in Mount Zion to check things out, she finds Katie wasn't wrong--there was definitely something squirrelly about her father's death and Annie's questions stir someone to action. It seems she has pulled apart a real nest of vipers.
Annie Gore is a likable character, determined and brave. Through flashbacks, we learn more about her past history, the crazy upbringing she had. Katie has her thinking about heredity and whether one can overcome what we are given through genetics. I also enjoyed several of the secondary characters Annie meets during her investigation. And the setting--whew! The area known as Brimstone Hollow has a sulphur spring and the stench spreads far and wide.
This book could be read as a standalone but do read the first, The Witch's Orchard, to get the full benefit of the Annie's character development. She drives an old but gorgeous and pristine Datsun 260Z that she's named Honey. Man, does she love that car!
Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this novel via NetGalley. I look forward to reading Annie's further adventures.
When Annie arrives in Mount Zion to check things out, she finds Katie wasn't wrong--there was definitely something squirrelly about her father's death and Annie's questions stir someone to action. It seems she has pulled apart a real nest of vipers.
Annie Gore is a likable character, determined and brave. Through flashbacks, we learn more about her past history, the crazy upbringing she had. Katie has her thinking about heredity and whether one can overcome what we are given through genetics. I also enjoyed several of the secondary characters Annie meets during her investigation. And the setting--whew! The area known as Brimstone Hollow has a sulphur spring and the stench spreads far and wide.
This book could be read as a standalone but do read the first, The Witch's Orchard, to get the full benefit of the Annie's character development. She drives an old but gorgeous and pristine Datsun 260Z that she's named Honey. Man, does she love that car!
Many thanks to the author and publisher for providing me with an arc of this novel via NetGalley. I look forward to reading Annie's further adventures.
July 21, 2026
BRIMSTONE HOLLOW
(Annie Gore #2)
By Archer Sullivan
Secrets Hidden in the Hollers
3.5 stars rounded up
I’ve always been fascinated by snake-handling churches, so when I saw Brimstone Hollow centered on a snake-handling preacher in the hidden hollers of eastern Kentucky, I was all in. I enjoyed The Witch’s Orchard, and while I also enjoyed Brimstone Hollow, the story slowed down for me in the middle. However, I soon found myself fully invested again in Annie’s quest for answers.
I appreciated the mystery surrounding just who preacher Ezra King really was, along with the many secrets hidden within the hollers. I also enjoyed the twists Archer Sullivan incorporated throughout the story. While I had a pretty good idea about some of them, that didn’t take away from my enjoyment, and I still appreciated how they unfolded.
Sullivan vividly captures the eerie atmosphere, from the putrid smell of the sulfur springs to the rugged mountains, making the setting one of the novel’s greatest strengths.
Annie is hired by the preacher’s daughter, Katie, after she begins questioning why her father was buried within twenty-four hours of his death. It quickly becomes apparent that someone wants Annie to stop investigating Ezra King’s death before she uncovers the truth.
Annie is a solid protagonist whose determination keeps the story moving, even during the slower stretches of the novel. In this story, she is also forced to confront memories of her childhood that surface during her investigation for Katie, adding another layer to her character. I look forward to reading more of the Annie Gore series.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press | Minotaur Books for the eARC. Publication date: August 11, 2026.
(Annie Gore #2)
By Archer Sullivan
Secrets Hidden in the Hollers
3.5 stars rounded up
I’ve always been fascinated by snake-handling churches, so when I saw Brimstone Hollow centered on a snake-handling preacher in the hidden hollers of eastern Kentucky, I was all in. I enjoyed The Witch’s Orchard, and while I also enjoyed Brimstone Hollow, the story slowed down for me in the middle. However, I soon found myself fully invested again in Annie’s quest for answers.
I appreciated the mystery surrounding just who preacher Ezra King really was, along with the many secrets hidden within the hollers. I also enjoyed the twists Archer Sullivan incorporated throughout the story. While I had a pretty good idea about some of them, that didn’t take away from my enjoyment, and I still appreciated how they unfolded.
Sullivan vividly captures the eerie atmosphere, from the putrid smell of the sulfur springs to the rugged mountains, making the setting one of the novel’s greatest strengths.
Annie is hired by the preacher’s daughter, Katie, after she begins questioning why her father was buried within twenty-four hours of his death. It quickly becomes apparent that someone wants Annie to stop investigating Ezra King’s death before she uncovers the truth.
Annie is a solid protagonist whose determination keeps the story moving, even during the slower stretches of the novel. In this story, she is also forced to confront memories of her childhood that surface during her investigation for Katie, adding another layer to her character. I look forward to reading more of the Annie Gore series.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press | Minotaur Books for the eARC. Publication date: August 11, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I got the arc, I got the arc :D Happy, haaaappppyyy dance :D :D
Edit -> Review:
I absolutely loved The Witch’s Orchard, so I went into this one with high expectations… and thankfully, it did not disappoint. (Do I maybe like book one just a tiny bit more? Perhaps. But we’re keeping that between us...shhhh)
This time, Annie is investigating the death of an (in)famous Appalachian preacher known for snake handling. What initially looks like a tragic but straightforward snake bite quickly turns into something much more complicated. And of course, in a small town where everyone knows everyone, Annie’s questions don’t go unnoticed.
I really enjoyed being back in this setting. The Appalachian atmosphere feels authentic and lived-in and you can tell the author knows these mountains well. The case itself unfolds with plenty of twists and I especially appreciated the final 20–25% of the book. I had theories (obviously), but I still got that little “oh!” surprise moment, which I always love in a thriller.
I also genuinely worried about Annie in this installment. Some events felt personal and dangerous and I was glad to see her push through everything thrown her way.
That said… I did kind of miss the witchy vibes from book one. I know this story needed to be different, but I won’t lie ... I missed that atmosphere just a little.
Overall, a strong sequel and a solid 4★ from me.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.
https://turnthepagewithana.blogspot.c...
Edit -> Review:
I absolutely loved The Witch’s Orchard, so I went into this one with high expectations… and thankfully, it did not disappoint. (Do I maybe like book one just a tiny bit more? Perhaps. But we’re keeping that between us...shhhh)
This time, Annie is investigating the death of an (in)famous Appalachian preacher known for snake handling. What initially looks like a tragic but straightforward snake bite quickly turns into something much more complicated. And of course, in a small town where everyone knows everyone, Annie’s questions don’t go unnoticed.
I really enjoyed being back in this setting. The Appalachian atmosphere feels authentic and lived-in and you can tell the author knows these mountains well. The case itself unfolds with plenty of twists and I especially appreciated the final 20–25% of the book. I had theories (obviously), but I still got that little “oh!” surprise moment, which I always love in a thriller.
I also genuinely worried about Annie in this installment. Some events felt personal and dangerous and I was glad to see her push through everything thrown her way.
That said… I did kind of miss the witchy vibes from book one. I know this story needed to be different, but I won’t lie ... I missed that atmosphere just a little.
Overall, a strong sequel and a solid 4★ from me.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.
https://turnthepagewithana.blogspot.c...
August 10, 2026
Brimstone Hollow brings back Archer Sullivan’s P.I. Annie Gore for another exciting case set in the Appalachian back country. As the novel begins, a young woman, Katie May, with infant in her arms, knocks on Annie’s office door. It seems that she has researched Annie, knows of her work and military background, and believes she is the right person to look into her father’s death. Katie is long estranged from her father, a snake handling preacher living in the small town of Mt Zion, but she became suspicious when called by an official of that town, told her father had died of snake bites and was buried all within a little more than a day. No autopsy. Nothing. This is a new situation for Annie; she’s never dealt with a snake handling preacher before, and she also feels a closeness to Katie’s ambivalent relationship with her father. So she will go to Mt Zion.
There’s a lot happening in the town as soon as Annie arrives. She is a stranger in a small place so word of her purpose spreads faster than she’d like or have expected. It’s a very active plot, with lots to follow though not overly so. Once I began reading, I found I had to read in large swatches…I just had to know what the next chapter would reveal. Annie continues to be a complex and interesting character with her own backstory that is developing in the background of the novels.
I definitely recommend Brimstone Hollow for its setting, well developed characters, complex plotting, and excitement. This book can be read as a standalone but why deny yourself the enjoyment of reading Archer Sullivan’s debut novel and Annie Gore’s introduction in The Witch’s Orchard.
Thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for an advanced e-galley of this book.
There’s a lot happening in the town as soon as Annie arrives. She is a stranger in a small place so word of her purpose spreads faster than she’d like or have expected. It’s a very active plot, with lots to follow though not overly so. Once I began reading, I found I had to read in large swatches…I just had to know what the next chapter would reveal. Annie continues to be a complex and interesting character with her own backstory that is developing in the background of the novels.
I definitely recommend Brimstone Hollow for its setting, well developed characters, complex plotting, and excitement. This book can be read as a standalone but why deny yourself the enjoyment of reading Archer Sullivan’s debut novel and Annie Gore’s introduction in The Witch’s Orchard.
Thanks to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for an advanced e-galley of this book.
August 12, 2026
Thank you to Minotaur Books for the gifted hard copy and ebook!
I loved the first book in this mystery thriller series, The Witch’s Orchard, so I jumped at the chance to read this new one featuring Private Investigator Annie Gore getting to the bottom of small-town secrets in the Appalachian Mountains.
Gore is hired to investigate the death of a snake-handling preacher who has allegedly died after being bitten; his daughter suspects there may have been more to the story. I was not prepared for how much more, and the wild twists this investigation would take. Just when you think it’s all resolved, it is not!
This main character is so likeable, and we learn so much more about her past and childhood traumas in this second installment. We see the parallels between Annie’s father issues and her client’s, and how they drive her to find answers. I like the casual yet constantly supportive relationship she has with her romantic interest Leo, and the way so many people instantly know they can trust and count on her.
The ninth-generation Appalachian author does such a fantastic job immersing us in the mysterious setting, from the sights and smells to the pervasive influence of small-town religion. The eerie gothic atmosphere goes perfectly with our main character’s flashbacks and nightmares. There is so much tension I was on the edge of my seat guessing and then reevaluating who we should suspect!
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Emily Pike Stewart for parts of this story; she does such a fantastic job in the almost ten-hour recording. We even get the sounds of a rattlesnake!
Archer Sullivan is such a great storyteller; I’ll devour anything she writes.
I loved the first book in this mystery thriller series, The Witch’s Orchard, so I jumped at the chance to read this new one featuring Private Investigator Annie Gore getting to the bottom of small-town secrets in the Appalachian Mountains.
Gore is hired to investigate the death of a snake-handling preacher who has allegedly died after being bitten; his daughter suspects there may have been more to the story. I was not prepared for how much more, and the wild twists this investigation would take. Just when you think it’s all resolved, it is not!
This main character is so likeable, and we learn so much more about her past and childhood traumas in this second installment. We see the parallels between Annie’s father issues and her client’s, and how they drive her to find answers. I like the casual yet constantly supportive relationship she has with her romantic interest Leo, and the way so many people instantly know they can trust and count on her.
The ninth-generation Appalachian author does such a fantastic job immersing us in the mysterious setting, from the sights and smells to the pervasive influence of small-town religion. The eerie gothic atmosphere goes perfectly with our main character’s flashbacks and nightmares. There is so much tension I was on the edge of my seat guessing and then reevaluating who we should suspect!
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Emily Pike Stewart for parts of this story; she does such a fantastic job in the almost ten-hour recording. We even get the sounds of a rattlesnake!
Archer Sullivan is such a great storyteller; I’ll devour anything she writes.
May 16, 2026
4.5 ⭐️ I really enjoyed this one and would say I liked it more than book 1. Hoping she continues with this series - big Annie Gore fan!
May 11, 2026
BRIMSTONE HOLLOW JUST CHEWED ME UP AND SPAT ME OUT (AND I KIND OF LOVED IT) 🌫️🔥
BRIMSTONE HOLLOW — ARCHER SULLIVAN 🐍⛪
Thank you SO SO much for this eARC - shoutout Netgalley, St. Martins Press, and Archer Sullivan.
POV: you thought you were walking into a cute little small-town murder mystery and instead got dropped straight into Appalachian religious horror with rattlesnakes, cursed dreams, buried secrets, and a dead preacher whose burial timeline is giving absolutely not normal behavior 🐍⛪
This book did NOT arrive politely. It kicked the door in, tracked mud across the floor, whispered something unsettling in your ear, and then refused to explain itself. And honestly? I respected the chaos.
We are deep in the Appalachian hollers here — the kind of setting that feels like the trees are listening and the air itself is holding its breath. Old churches tucked into the mountains. A town that smiles too slowly. Secrets layered on secrets like it’s a community hobby. 🌲😵💫
And Annie Gore? Oh she’s that investigator. The kind who hears “this case is weird” and immediately says “perfect, let’s go ruin my life.” She’s stubborn, sharp, and has the survival instincts of a raccoon that just found a locked trash can. I kept wanting to yell advice at her like she could hear me. She could not. She would not. She absolutely continued anyway. 😭
Now let’s talk about the creep factor because WOW. The dreams alone were enough to make me side-eye my own subconscious. Add in unsettling supernatural moments that feel like they’re watching YOU back, and suddenly I’m reading this book like it owes me money and I need answers immediately.
And yes. A snake-handling preacher dying by snakebite is EXACTLY the kind of unhinged plot detail that made me sit up and go: “be serious right now.” 🐍👀 (It was not serious. It only got worse. In the best way.)
The whole story feels like something rotting quietly under the floorboards while everyone insists everything is fine. It’s not fine. Nothing is fine. I was thriving.
This is a solid 4⭐ for me, mostly because I finished it feral and immediately wanted more Annie Gore chaos like a gremlin craving season 2.
If you like: 🐍 Southern gothic nightmares 🌲 Appalachian horror vibes 🔦 private investigator messiness 👻 supernatural creepiness that lingers ⛪ religious horror energy 🖤 towns full of secrets and bad decisions
…this is absolutely your next problem.
And honestly? I’m still thinking about it. Which feels rude.
📅 Publication date: August 11
BRIMSTONE HOLLOW — ARCHER SULLIVAN 🐍⛪
Thank you SO SO much for this eARC - shoutout Netgalley, St. Martins Press, and Archer Sullivan.
POV: you thought you were walking into a cute little small-town murder mystery and instead got dropped straight into Appalachian religious horror with rattlesnakes, cursed dreams, buried secrets, and a dead preacher whose burial timeline is giving absolutely not normal behavior 🐍⛪
This book did NOT arrive politely. It kicked the door in, tracked mud across the floor, whispered something unsettling in your ear, and then refused to explain itself. And honestly? I respected the chaos.
We are deep in the Appalachian hollers here — the kind of setting that feels like the trees are listening and the air itself is holding its breath. Old churches tucked into the mountains. A town that smiles too slowly. Secrets layered on secrets like it’s a community hobby. 🌲😵💫
And Annie Gore? Oh she’s that investigator. The kind who hears “this case is weird” and immediately says “perfect, let’s go ruin my life.” She’s stubborn, sharp, and has the survival instincts of a raccoon that just found a locked trash can. I kept wanting to yell advice at her like she could hear me. She could not. She would not. She absolutely continued anyway. 😭
Now let’s talk about the creep factor because WOW. The dreams alone were enough to make me side-eye my own subconscious. Add in unsettling supernatural moments that feel like they’re watching YOU back, and suddenly I’m reading this book like it owes me money and I need answers immediately.
And yes. A snake-handling preacher dying by snakebite is EXACTLY the kind of unhinged plot detail that made me sit up and go: “be serious right now.” 🐍👀 (It was not serious. It only got worse. In the best way.)
The whole story feels like something rotting quietly under the floorboards while everyone insists everything is fine. It’s not fine. Nothing is fine. I was thriving.
This is a solid 4⭐ for me, mostly because I finished it feral and immediately wanted more Annie Gore chaos like a gremlin craving season 2.
If you like: 🐍 Southern gothic nightmares 🌲 Appalachian horror vibes 🔦 private investigator messiness 👻 supernatural creepiness that lingers ⛪ religious horror energy 🖤 towns full of secrets and bad decisions
…this is absolutely your next problem.
And honestly? I’m still thinking about it. Which feels rude.
📅 Publication date: August 11
April 27, 2026
Thank you to Archer Sullivan, Minotaur Books and St. Martins Publishing for the Advanced Reader Copy of Brimstone Hollow!
I was incredibly impressed by Archer Sullivan’s - The Witch’s Orchard and was excited to read this sequel to Annie Gore’s next adventure.
The setting, characters, and plot was something I never expected to read! I also loved how fleshed out each character was and enjoyed their backstories. Each twist was not predictable and I truly had no idea what to expect. I also feel this story is more polished, and thrilling.
I highly recommend this series but also by itself because we learn so much more about Annie Gore’s past.
I was incredibly impressed by Archer Sullivan’s - The Witch’s Orchard and was excited to read this sequel to Annie Gore’s next adventure.
The setting, characters, and plot was something I never expected to read! I also loved how fleshed out each character was and enjoyed their backstories. Each twist was not predictable and I truly had no idea what to expect. I also feel this story is more polished, and thrilling.
I highly recommend this series but also by itself because we learn so much more about Annie Gore’s past.
August 11, 2026
This is book two in the Annie Gore series, but I feel that it can be read as a standalone. It was fun to be back in Annie’s world. She’s a fun character and I must say that she has the palate of a teenage boy. lol😂 The food descriptions were great!
Annie is a private investigator who is asked to take on a case by a woman who has recently learned that her dad has died from a snake bite. Katie has had a very vivid and unsettling dream about her father and even though they were estranged she wants to know what really happened to him.
Set in Appalachia, Kentucky with a backdrop of a revival-style church where Katie’s dad was a snake-handling preacher. Annie comes to town with questions, and soon she is stirring things up. 👀 The ending was surprising and I really liked that!
I enjoyed this installment just as much as the first book and hope to read more from this author in the future. The audio is top-notch and I enjoyed the narration immensely!
[A big thank you to @macmillan.audio for the gifted ALC in exchange for my honest opinion.] #macaudio2026
CA | Contains a small amount of strong language and brief descriptions of the murder.
Annie is a private investigator who is asked to take on a case by a woman who has recently learned that her dad has died from a snake bite. Katie has had a very vivid and unsettling dream about her father and even though they were estranged she wants to know what really happened to him.
Set in Appalachia, Kentucky with a backdrop of a revival-style church where Katie’s dad was a snake-handling preacher. Annie comes to town with questions, and soon she is stirring things up. 👀 The ending was surprising and I really liked that!
I enjoyed this installment just as much as the first book and hope to read more from this author in the future. The audio is top-notch and I enjoyed the narration immensely!
[A big thank you to @macmillan.audio for the gifted ALC in exchange for my honest opinion.] #macaudio2026
CA | Contains a small amount of strong language and brief descriptions of the murder.
August 11, 2026
5 stars! Y’all.. a snake-handling preacher, a suspiciously rushed funeral, and a tiny Appalachian town where everyone seems to know more than they’re saying?! 🐍⛪️👀 I was IN.
Private investigator Annie Gore heads into the Kentucky mountains after Katie May asks her to look into the death of her estranged father, charismatic preacher Ezra King. What should be a straightforward investigation quickly turns into buried secrets, questionable motives, and plenty of people who would really prefer Annie stop asking questions. 🔎🤫😬
I loved the eerie Appalachian atmosphere, the small-town secrets, and getting more of Annie’s complicated past along the way. Twisty, unsettling + completely entertaining—this series is definitely one I want to keep following. 🐍🌲🔪📖 Pub. 8/11/26
I received my copy from the publisher St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Private investigator Annie Gore heads into the Kentucky mountains after Katie May asks her to look into the death of her estranged father, charismatic preacher Ezra King. What should be a straightforward investigation quickly turns into buried secrets, questionable motives, and plenty of people who would really prefer Annie stop asking questions. 🔎🤫😬
I loved the eerie Appalachian atmosphere, the small-town secrets, and getting more of Annie’s complicated past along the way. Twisty, unsettling + completely entertaining—this series is definitely one I want to keep following. 🐍🌲🔪📖 Pub. 8/11/26
I received my copy from the publisher St. Martin’s Press through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 28, 2026
I really enjoyed the first book in this series but this second one fell flat for me. I had several issues with it. Firstly, I remember being intrigued by Annie’s background info that was teased throughout the first book and hoping that would be more fleshed out as the series progressed. Maybe it still will but none of the background info that came out in the second book was creating a deeper picture of her; it was just more information. Her friend Leo is an odd character and really does nothing for the story as a whole beyond a few random phone calls. I feel like series do better when you can build on the investigator’s character and storyline along with solving the mystery. This did not do the character development part well, in my opinion.
Secondly, the whole thing is convoluted. I lost track of who killed who and why. The church members and the backwoods fringe church itself felt like caricatures. Their gullibility seemed unrealistic. The solving of the mystery was based on sudden instinctual realizations on Annie’s part or convenient reveals, not really based on clues provided in other parts of the story.
I may still pick up the third book in the hopes that the series improves.
Secondly, the whole thing is convoluted. I lost track of who killed who and why. The church members and the backwoods fringe church itself felt like caricatures. Their gullibility seemed unrealistic. The solving of the mystery was based on sudden instinctual realizations on Annie’s part or convenient reveals, not really based on clues provided in other parts of the story.
I may still pick up the third book in the hopes that the series improves.
August 12, 2026
When snake-handling preacher Ezra King is found dead from snake bites and then buried less than twenty-four hours later, his estranged daughter Katie becomes suspicious. She hires Annie to investigate. On the surface, it looks like a tragic accident involving dangerous animals, but Annie agrees to take a closer look. Being local and familiar with small-town Appalachian culture, she’s able to ask questions and gain trust in ways an outsider never could.
Ezra left behind a troubled past, found religion, and used his charismatic personality to become the preacher at Mount Zion. His tent revivals featured snakes. Yikes!
As Annie starts digging for answers, word quickly spreads around town. What seemed like a straightforward case soon turns suspicious, especially after Annie narrowly survives an attempt on her life.
Brimstone Hollow is the second book in the Annie Gore series. While this could be read as a standalone, each mystery is wrapped up, I’d still recommend starting with the first book to better understand Annie’s background and how she became a PI.
I enjoyed watching Annie quickly gain acceptance in Mount Zion by treating the locals with genuine respect. Several residents proved helpful, and the descriptions of food at the little hole-in-the-wall diner Annie discovered had my mouth watering. The story had plenty of twists, action, and layers. I appreciated Annie’s determination to get to the truth. I’m already looking forward to her next case!
I alternated between the audiobook and eBook and recommend either format. Emily Pike Stewart, who also narrated the previous installment, did another wonderful job. Her subtle Southern accent suited the story perfectly, and I enjoyed that she sang portions of the hymns featured in the book. Her performance definitely enhanced my enjoyment.
I voluntarily read/listened to a copy courtesy of the publisher. These are my thoughts and opinions.
Ezra left behind a troubled past, found religion, and used his charismatic personality to become the preacher at Mount Zion. His tent revivals featured snakes. Yikes!
As Annie starts digging for answers, word quickly spreads around town. What seemed like a straightforward case soon turns suspicious, especially after Annie narrowly survives an attempt on her life.
Brimstone Hollow is the second book in the Annie Gore series. While this could be read as a standalone, each mystery is wrapped up, I’d still recommend starting with the first book to better understand Annie’s background and how she became a PI.
I enjoyed watching Annie quickly gain acceptance in Mount Zion by treating the locals with genuine respect. Several residents proved helpful, and the descriptions of food at the little hole-in-the-wall diner Annie discovered had my mouth watering. The story had plenty of twists, action, and layers. I appreciated Annie’s determination to get to the truth. I’m already looking forward to her next case!
I alternated between the audiobook and eBook and recommend either format. Emily Pike Stewart, who also narrated the previous installment, did another wonderful job. Her subtle Southern accent suited the story perfectly, and I enjoyed that she sang portions of the hymns featured in the book. Her performance definitely enhanced my enjoyment.
I voluntarily read/listened to a copy courtesy of the publisher. These are my thoughts and opinions.
May 3, 2026
Thank you first and foremost to the author, St. Martins Press, and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.
I enjoyed the beginning of the book’s pacing. It was an interesting book idea, but as the book went on things got a little convoluted. I read someone else’s review saying something like it was too many twists or lead up to who did what and why that they didn’t care anymore. I wouldn’t say I didn’t care, but that easy pacing I enjoyed in the beginning fell off a bit.
With that said, life is convoluted, and often these things aren’t really clean cut as a simple twist at the end, so it felt fathomable, but yeah I stayed between 50-70% done with the book for quite a bit.
I also kind of wonder about Katie and Annie’s dreams. They both dream of Ezra calling out for help. I won’t spoil all things, but there wasn’t any mention after everything went down as to why they had these dreams. I did notice that the verbiage of the dream hand changed up for Katie when all was finished which I thought was interesting.
I enjoyed a bit more Leo and Thelma. I’m hopeful we see even more of them in book three.
I felt like this book wasn’t as orderly as the first, but still an enjoyable read. I’m rating it 3.5 stars.
I enjoyed the beginning of the book’s pacing. It was an interesting book idea, but as the book went on things got a little convoluted. I read someone else’s review saying something like it was too many twists or lead up to who did what and why that they didn’t care anymore. I wouldn’t say I didn’t care, but that easy pacing I enjoyed in the beginning fell off a bit.
With that said, life is convoluted, and often these things aren’t really clean cut as a simple twist at the end, so it felt fathomable, but yeah I stayed between 50-70% done with the book for quite a bit.
I also kind of wonder about Katie and Annie’s dreams. They both dream of Ezra calling out for help. I won’t spoil all things, but there wasn’t any mention after everything went down as to why they had these dreams. I did notice that the verbiage of the dream hand changed up for Katie when all was finished which I thought was interesting.
I enjoyed a bit more Leo and Thelma. I’m hopeful we see even more of them in book three.
I felt like this book wasn’t as orderly as the first, but still an enjoyable read. I’m rating it 3.5 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 11, 2026
I absolutely LOVED The Witch’s Orchard last year, so I was super excited to read this second installment in the Annie Gore series! Annie investigates a case in an Appalachian town and a snake-handling church! 🐍🫣 Annie continues to be one of my favorite FMC PIs! Also listened to this on audio and the narration was well done! 👏
Thank you to partners Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio for the gifted advanced reader and advanced listener copies in exchange for my honest review! ❤️
Thank you to partners Minotaur Books and Macmillan Audio for the gifted advanced reader and advanced listener copies in exchange for my honest review! ❤️
April 14, 2026
Last year I enjoyed the introduction of PI Annie Gore in The Witch's Orchard for her badassery and tenacious investigation style, and for the general slow-burn, atmospheric mystery aspects of the book. The Kentucky/Appalachian setting in particular, along with how it brought in (dark) local lore made it stand out as unique, so I was pleased to get an advanced copy of the next book in the series and picked it up when I was hankering for a procedural.
This installment furthered Annie's interesting/somewhat mysterious backstory with childhood flashbacks brought on by the father/daughter relationship (or lack thereof) in her client and her client's estranged snake-handling minister father whose death seems a bit suspicious - despite the snake handling of it all - and overall the book again was very evocative of the small Appalachian town atmosphere/characters as well as the particular natural world surrounding it, with the sulfur springs and hidden hollers. It was a bit slow moving at times (repetitive in Annie's musings about the case and her theories) and perhaps a bit overly descriptive (blow-by-blow of everything she does in the day, down to what she orders at the diner), but that part also seems to go with the genre at times. Overall though another solid and satisfying (slow-burn) mystery, and again I'd be happy to read more in the series especially if we peel back more of the layers of Annie's past along with it.
3.75 ⭐️
This installment furthered Annie's interesting/somewhat mysterious backstory with childhood flashbacks brought on by the father/daughter relationship (or lack thereof) in her client and her client's estranged snake-handling minister father whose death seems a bit suspicious - despite the snake handling of it all - and overall the book again was very evocative of the small Appalachian town atmosphere/characters as well as the particular natural world surrounding it, with the sulfur springs and hidden hollers. It was a bit slow moving at times (repetitive in Annie's musings about the case and her theories) and perhaps a bit overly descriptive (blow-by-blow of everything she does in the day, down to what she orders at the diner), but that part also seems to go with the genre at times. Overall though another solid and satisfying (slow-burn) mystery, and again I'd be happy to read more in the series especially if we peel back more of the layers of Annie's past along with it.
3.75 ⭐️
May 20, 2026
PI Annie Gore is back and this time she's heading into the hollers of Eastern Kentucky to investigate the death of one of Appalachia's last snake-handling preachers. His estranged daughter Katie May thinks someone rushed the funeral and the whole thing feels wrong. Annie takes the case because she sees herself in Katie, a woman who needs to understand her father to understand herself. But the deeper Annie digs into this insular community, the more apparent it becomes that someone wants her to stop looking.
I LOVED The Witch's Orchard last year. It was one of my top 10 reads of 2025 so my expectations for this were through the roof. And it wasn't bad at all; it just didn't knock it out of the park the way the first one did. That's probably unfair because the debut was SO good that a follow-up was always going to feel a little pale in comparison.
What Sullivan does really well is write small communities. She understands how secrets and rumors brew in these tight-knit towns, always simmering under the surface presenting some kind of danger even when the residents don't realize it. The snake-handling church setting is fascinating and she handles it with the kind of authenticity you'd expect from a ninth generation Appalachian. She's not writing this world from the outside looking in and you can feel that.
I really liked how Annie's relationship with the local sheriff plays out. We see so much "local law enforcement pushes back on the outsider investigator" in these kinds of stories and Sullivan flips that in a way that felt refreshing and earned. There are plenty of red herrings, lots of twists, and you never feel like you have everything figured out until the very end.
The vibes are different from The Witch's Orchard though. If you loved the first book's atmosphere, this one hits a little differently and I can't fully explain why. Still a solid read, still a good mystery, still Annie being Annie. I'll absolutely keep reading this series. You could technically read this as a standalone, but I wouldn't recommend it as there are things about Annie from the first book that add a lot of depth here and you'd miss out on that context.
Brimstone Hollow comes out August 11, 2026. Huge thank you to Minotaur Books for my copy in exchange for my honest opinion. If you liked this review please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my Instagram @speakingof.books.
Tiktok @speakingof.books
I LOVED The Witch's Orchard last year. It was one of my top 10 reads of 2025 so my expectations for this were through the roof. And it wasn't bad at all; it just didn't knock it out of the park the way the first one did. That's probably unfair because the debut was SO good that a follow-up was always going to feel a little pale in comparison.
What Sullivan does really well is write small communities. She understands how secrets and rumors brew in these tight-knit towns, always simmering under the surface presenting some kind of danger even when the residents don't realize it. The snake-handling church setting is fascinating and she handles it with the kind of authenticity you'd expect from a ninth generation Appalachian. She's not writing this world from the outside looking in and you can feel that.
I really liked how Annie's relationship with the local sheriff plays out. We see so much "local law enforcement pushes back on the outsider investigator" in these kinds of stories and Sullivan flips that in a way that felt refreshing and earned. There are plenty of red herrings, lots of twists, and you never feel like you have everything figured out until the very end.
The vibes are different from The Witch's Orchard though. If you loved the first book's atmosphere, this one hits a little differently and I can't fully explain why. Still a solid read, still a good mystery, still Annie being Annie. I'll absolutely keep reading this series. You could technically read this as a standalone, but I wouldn't recommend it as there are things about Annie from the first book that add a lot of depth here and you'd miss out on that context.
Brimstone Hollow comes out August 11, 2026. Huge thank you to Minotaur Books for my copy in exchange for my honest opinion. If you liked this review please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my Instagram @speakingof.books.
Tiktok @speakingof.books
June 25, 2026
Last years The Witch's Orchard by Sullivan was a surprise hit for me so I was excited when she reached out to see if I'd like to advance read book two in the Annie Gore series. And once again she did not disappoint.
Brimstone Hollow brings Annie deep into the Appalachian mountains and the world of tent revivals and snake handling ministers. Which was a new concept to me. There were so many twists and turns in this one and the amount of possible suspects definitely keeps you on your toes and guessing. In a town where there are secrets built on secrets and everyone is connected you never quite know what someone is hiding. Sullivan does such a great job of exploiting how these small back water communities operate.
While we didn't get the witchy vibes I loved in book 1 we do still get a spook factor from the visions Katie and Annie are having. And speaking of Annie, she was once again a shining example of female badassery. Her grit and determination are unmatched. Now all we need is some more Leo.
This was a solid atmospheric, slow burn mystery/thriller that is sure to give you a bit of the creeps.
Huge thank you to the author and Minotaur books for my copy.
Brimstone Hollow brings Annie deep into the Appalachian mountains and the world of tent revivals and snake handling ministers. Which was a new concept to me. There were so many twists and turns in this one and the amount of possible suspects definitely keeps you on your toes and guessing. In a town where there are secrets built on secrets and everyone is connected you never quite know what someone is hiding. Sullivan does such a great job of exploiting how these small back water communities operate.
While we didn't get the witchy vibes I loved in book 1 we do still get a spook factor from the visions Katie and Annie are having. And speaking of Annie, she was once again a shining example of female badassery. Her grit and determination are unmatched. Now all we need is some more Leo.
This was a solid atmospheric, slow burn mystery/thriller that is sure to give you a bit of the creeps.
Huge thank you to the author and Minotaur books for my copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
⛪️🐍
I don't have adequate thoughts.
I just know I'm a happy mess getting, reading, and finishing this amazing book. So, here's my chaotic attempt to describe what I feel.
I'm so happy to see my amazing Annie again! I didn't think there would be more than one book about her and here we are! YAAAY!!! By the way, if you haven't read The Witch's Orchard, it's totally fine for the plot, both books exist perfectly as standalones. But that one is as good, don't skip it completely!
I love how Annie Gore books play with supernatural while never actually crossing the line and involving anything such. How they are atmospheric, cleverly plotted, and filled with people you enjoy reading about on some other level.
The twists were predictable sometimes, but when they weren't all the other time...! I'm stunned, in awe, and give me more. I don't want, I need more stories about Annie. I need more gorgeous crumbs of Leo. Those 5 or what minutes each time made me fall in love when I was reading the first book and I keep loving him still.
Oh, and when you think we got it all and that's the end, nope, no, there is more still, thanks so much for that. And don't worry, it's structured perfectly.
Soo, when it's Archer Sullivan's books, I live through the stories being in love with the characters (and always some side ones too), in love with the plot, in love with the writing style. Both books we have so far are similar in their gorgeousness and the good kind of fake fantasy-element genre, but so different in their twists, character connections, backstories they reveal about the main character, and so much more.
Amazing! Amazing! Amazing! Go read it.
- - -
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this free eARC in exchange for my honest review!
I don't have adequate thoughts.
I just know I'm a happy mess getting, reading, and finishing this amazing book. So, here's my chaotic attempt to describe what I feel.
I'm so happy to see my amazing Annie again! I didn't think there would be more than one book about her and here we are! YAAAY!!! By the way, if you haven't read The Witch's Orchard, it's totally fine for the plot, both books exist perfectly as standalones. But that one is as good, don't skip it completely!
I love how Annie Gore books play with supernatural while never actually crossing the line and involving anything such. How they are atmospheric, cleverly plotted, and filled with people you enjoy reading about on some other level.
The twists were predictable sometimes, but when they weren't all the other time...! I'm stunned, in awe, and give me more. I don't want, I need more stories about Annie. I need more gorgeous crumbs of Leo. Those 5 or what minutes each time made me fall in love when I was reading the first book and I keep loving him still.
Oh, and when you think we got it all and that's the end, nope, no, there is more still, thanks so much for that. And don't worry, it's structured perfectly.
Soo, when it's Archer Sullivan's books, I live through the stories being in love with the characters (and always some side ones too), in love with the plot, in love with the writing style. Both books we have so far are similar in their gorgeousness and the good kind of fake fantasy-element genre, but so different in their twists, character connections, backstories they reveal about the main character, and so much more.
Amazing! Amazing! Amazing! Go read it.
- - -
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this free eARC in exchange for my honest review!
March 14, 2026
Set deep in the Appalachian mountains once again, this follow-up continues to pull readers back into the eerie, secret-filled small towns that Sullivan writes so well. While the first book leaned heavily on the haunting atmosphere of the woods, Brimstone Hollow shifts the focus more toward the town itself, centering around the church, the Cherry Dairy, and the people who make up this tight-knit community.
What really stood out to me were all of the red herrings scattered throughout the story. Just when you think you have a handle on what’s happening, another piece of information or another character connection pulls you in a different direction. The small-town dynamics and the way everyone seems tied to one another make the mystery even more engaging.
I also loved getting to know more of the town’s characters and watching everything slowly unravel. The investigation builds in a way that keeps you questioning every detail and every person involved.
While this one felt a little less atmospheric than The Witch’s Orchard, a lot of what made the first book so strong still stands here. The twists, the pacing, and the satisfying way the mystery comes together all deliver again. Another five-star read for me, and I’m excited to see where Annie Gore’s story goes next.
What really stood out to me were all of the red herrings scattered throughout the story. Just when you think you have a handle on what’s happening, another piece of information or another character connection pulls you in a different direction. The small-town dynamics and the way everyone seems tied to one another make the mystery even more engaging.
I also loved getting to know more of the town’s characters and watching everything slowly unravel. The investigation builds in a way that keeps you questioning every detail and every person involved.
While this one felt a little less atmospheric than The Witch’s Orchard, a lot of what made the first book so strong still stands here. The twists, the pacing, and the satisfying way the mystery comes together all deliver again. Another five-star read for me, and I’m excited to see where Annie Gore’s story goes next.
May 17, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC!
Annie Gore is a PI living in Louisville, KY after completing her military service in special investigations. In her early 30s, Annie uses these techniques and experiences to build her career - forgoing a more lucrative option in corporate interests alongside her “soulmate”, Leo. She gained local and internet renown solving the murders in The Witch’s Orchard, but not quite enough to keep the AC running in midsummer KY.
While balancing her books, sipping her drink, she is interrupted by Katie. A young woman who has recently lost her estranged father in an unwitnessed and mysterious death… by snake bite. Her father was the local Appalachia snake handling pastor, Ezra King, in Brimstone Hollow - named for the sulfurous emitting “hell hole” of a cave in the town. The unresolved guilt surrounding her own detached relationship with her father push Annie to take the case.
Annie travels to Brimstone Hollow and is met with the pleasantly eclectic mix of hometown characters that are familiar in any gothic and/or Southern crime story. Characters with which all small town Southerns can identify. The sheriff whom she immediately forms a paternal friendship. The waitresses and staff at the local diner, or “dairy”, whom provide gossip and camaraderie, and the church staff who are piously creepy. The plot unspools slowly but effectively and I was surprised by some of the twists.
I enjoy detective/investigative stories! Although the genre is inundated, this story still feels fresh and broadly applicable. We (in the south), struggle with drug culture, religious duplicity, and fervent deep seated roots in spirituality and myths. I appreciated the use of the Apple Head Dolls and local lore in the first book. This book looks at elements of faith, revival, and healing from different angles, the good and the bad, and challenges the reader to critique how these subcultures affect us. And how we recover or escape from toxic environments while maintaining connection to our roots. I appreciated the challenge to evaluate these accepted norms - as someone from a small southern town and still surrounded by those influences.
My biggest critique would be that the climax and denouement are somewhat protracted in both this novel and the previous. It was more cohesively written in this novel, and pulled the plot threads tighter together than the previous. But it still left me feeling like the plot ended, so why is the book still going…
The writing and storytelling are getting sharper with each installment in the series. I look forward to it continuing! And recommend the book. Solid 4 stars.
Annie Gore is a PI living in Louisville, KY after completing her military service in special investigations. In her early 30s, Annie uses these techniques and experiences to build her career - forgoing a more lucrative option in corporate interests alongside her “soulmate”, Leo. She gained local and internet renown solving the murders in The Witch’s Orchard, but not quite enough to keep the AC running in midsummer KY.
While balancing her books, sipping her drink, she is interrupted by Katie. A young woman who has recently lost her estranged father in an unwitnessed and mysterious death… by snake bite. Her father was the local Appalachia snake handling pastor, Ezra King, in Brimstone Hollow - named for the sulfurous emitting “hell hole” of a cave in the town. The unresolved guilt surrounding her own detached relationship with her father push Annie to take the case.
Annie travels to Brimstone Hollow and is met with the pleasantly eclectic mix of hometown characters that are familiar in any gothic and/or Southern crime story. Characters with which all small town Southerns can identify. The sheriff whom she immediately forms a paternal friendship. The waitresses and staff at the local diner, or “dairy”, whom provide gossip and camaraderie, and the church staff who are piously creepy. The plot unspools slowly but effectively and I was surprised by some of the twists.
I enjoy detective/investigative stories! Although the genre is inundated, this story still feels fresh and broadly applicable. We (in the south), struggle with drug culture, religious duplicity, and fervent deep seated roots in spirituality and myths. I appreciated the use of the Apple Head Dolls and local lore in the first book. This book looks at elements of faith, revival, and healing from different angles, the good and the bad, and challenges the reader to critique how these subcultures affect us. And how we recover or escape from toxic environments while maintaining connection to our roots. I appreciated the challenge to evaluate these accepted norms - as someone from a small southern town and still surrounded by those influences.
My biggest critique would be that the climax and denouement are somewhat protracted in both this novel and the previous. It was more cohesively written in this novel, and pulled the plot threads tighter together than the previous. But it still left me feeling like the plot ended, so why is the book still going…
The writing and storytelling are getting sharper with each installment in the series. I look forward to it continuing! And recommend the book. Solid 4 stars.
April 13, 2026
First my thanks to St Martins Press, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for an ARC copy of this novel 🫶
Archer Sullivan has done it once again. I was lucky enough to get an ARC of her first book The Witch’s Orchard last year and loved it, so when I saw she had another book coming out with PI Annie Gore I jumped on the opportunity to get to read it early!
You tell me a book is set in Appalachia and I’m gonna grab that sucker right up! And this book centered on a topic that is quintessentially Appalachian— snake churches.
As someone who grew up going to a church that was, in my opinion, only a step or two above snake churches, I was intrigued.
Sullivan does an amazing job at weaving mystery and thrills throughout the story. She describes many Appalachian stereotypes with a solemn but slightly humorous edge that only someone who has lived in the region, can pull off.
You’ll be taken on a rollercoaster of thoughts and emotions from start to finish with this book. Just when you think you’ve pinned the culprit— bam! Something happens and you’ve got to rethink everything. No one is as they seem and PI Annie Gore is going to get to the bottom of it.
Another fantastic read from Archer Sullivan! Get your hands on it asap!
Archer Sullivan has done it once again. I was lucky enough to get an ARC of her first book The Witch’s Orchard last year and loved it, so when I saw she had another book coming out with PI Annie Gore I jumped on the opportunity to get to read it early!
You tell me a book is set in Appalachia and I’m gonna grab that sucker right up! And this book centered on a topic that is quintessentially Appalachian— snake churches.
As someone who grew up going to a church that was, in my opinion, only a step or two above snake churches, I was intrigued.
Sullivan does an amazing job at weaving mystery and thrills throughout the story. She describes many Appalachian stereotypes with a solemn but slightly humorous edge that only someone who has lived in the region, can pull off.
You’ll be taken on a rollercoaster of thoughts and emotions from start to finish with this book. Just when you think you’ve pinned the culprit— bam! Something happens and you’ve got to rethink everything. No one is as they seem and PI Annie Gore is going to get to the bottom of it.
Another fantastic read from Archer Sullivan! Get your hands on it asap!
August 10, 2026
Thanks to Macmillan Audio for gifted access to this audiobook. All opinions below are my own.
Annie is an ex-military PI who has been hired by a woman who's snake-handling preacher father has just died from a bite but was suspiciously buried before she was even told. She asks Annie also of Appalachian descent to go to the small town and investigate. Annie arrives and immediately feels her suspicions are founded. Then the danger focuses on her and more bodies begin piling up.
I liked the mystery of this one, it balanced the culture complexity of Appalachia with potential supernatural / religious vibes and real world gritty crime. Annie was the rare PI who isn't plagued by alcohol or a dark past (other than military service). She has dreams which seem to tie in quite nicely with the supernatural elements. If you are looking for some dark, atmospheric vibes in a mystery going into fall, check this one out!
Also this is book 2 of a series, but I don't think you need to have read book 1, having said that, I'd like to go back and read book 1 having read this one.
Annie is an ex-military PI who has been hired by a woman who's snake-handling preacher father has just died from a bite but was suspiciously buried before she was even told. She asks Annie also of Appalachian descent to go to the small town and investigate. Annie arrives and immediately feels her suspicions are founded. Then the danger focuses on her and more bodies begin piling up.
I liked the mystery of this one, it balanced the culture complexity of Appalachia with potential supernatural / religious vibes and real world gritty crime. Annie was the rare PI who isn't plagued by alcohol or a dark past (other than military service). She has dreams which seem to tie in quite nicely with the supernatural elements. If you are looking for some dark, atmospheric vibes in a mystery going into fall, check this one out!
Also this is book 2 of a series, but I don't think you need to have read book 1, having said that, I'd like to go back and read book 1 having read this one.
July 15, 2026
I read Archer Sullivan’s first book, The Witch’s Orchard, and really enjoyed it. I was interested when I saw her new book would feature the return of private investigator Annie Gore. When I read “snake-handling church” in the book description, I got excited and did not hesitate to read Brimstone Hollow. This book has a small town setting, cult vibes and so many twists and turns. Just when I thought I’d figured it out, I’d realize there was more to the mystery. I hope there will be more Annie Gore books but if not, I’m still excited to read Archer Sullivan’s future books. Brimstone Hollow by Archer Sullivan publishes 08/11/26. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for the digital arc.
August 12, 2026
I enjoyed this second in the Annie Gore private investigator series (though it can be read as a standalone). Set in a small insular town in Kentucky, Appalachia, this story involves murder, corruption, secrets, and a snake-handling preacher. The book had a real authentic small-town feel.
The mystery was interesting as were the characters in the town. The plot unfolded at a steady pace with a riveting last 25% of the book. Lots of layers and twists were revealed, one after the other. I guessed a few of them but some not at all.
I’m looking forward to more in this series. Book 1 (The Witch’s Orchard) had a witchy element, book 2 a snake-handling preacher. Can’t wait to see what book 3 has in store.
Thanks to the publisher for this complimentary digital copy. All opinions are my own.
The mystery was interesting as were the characters in the town. The plot unfolded at a steady pace with a riveting last 25% of the book. Lots of layers and twists were revealed, one after the other. I guessed a few of them but some not at all.
I’m looking forward to more in this series. Book 1 (The Witch’s Orchard) had a witchy element, book 2 a snake-handling preacher. Can’t wait to see what book 3 has in store.
Thanks to the publisher for this complimentary digital copy. All opinions are my own.
August 3, 2026
I love these thrillers in the Annie Gore series.
These are dark atmospheric thrillers set in the Appalachian Mountains that are perfect for the upcoming spooky season.
I love that each one has a spooky aspect to it but set more realistically than an actual mythical character.
These stories grip me until the very end. Annie is such a fun character. She is a bad a**, who isn’t afraid to find out the truth.
Genre: Thriller
APK: Ebook
Pages: 298
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Series or Standalone: Book 2 in the Annie Gore Series
These are dark atmospheric thrillers set in the Appalachian Mountains that are perfect for the upcoming spooky season.
I love that each one has a spooky aspect to it but set more realistically than an actual mythical character.
These stories grip me until the very end. Annie is such a fun character. She is a bad a**, who isn’t afraid to find out the truth.
Genre: Thriller
APK: Ebook
Pages: 298
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Series or Standalone: Book 2 in the Annie Gore Series
August 10, 2026
The atmosphere of the book is what makes this story work. The backwoods, snake handling church, zealot religion, and small town workings and gossip. There was great chemistry between Chief Dishman and Annie. The last quarter of the book was non-stop, revealing secret after secret about the people of this small town. There was so much I didn’t see coming. I highly recommend this book if you want great story telling and surprising answers.
My review is voluntary and all comments and opinions are my own.
My review is voluntary and all comments and opinions are my own.
Want to Read
March 7, 2026book 1 was so so good. Excited to see it's a series - looking forward to this book 2
(book 1: The Witch's Orchard)
(book 1: The Witch's Orchard)
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