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Annie Gore #2
Brimstone Hollow
Not yet published
Expected 11 Aug 26Following 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 was an Air Force Special Investigator, 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 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 was an Air Force Special Investigator, 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 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, Kindle Edition
Expected publication August 11, 2026
About the author
Archer Sullivan
3 books311 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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews
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.
Want to Read
January 16, 2026I was so impressed with the authors debut, The Witch’s Orchard, so you can imagine my excitement when I saw that Sullivan has another book coming this summer.
Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martins Press and the author, Archer Sullivan for an early ARC.
Publication date: August 11, 2026
Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martins Press and the author, Archer Sullivan for an early ARC.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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
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.
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
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!
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)
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
After reading this second book with Annie Gore in it, I am hoping there are more books coming! Can I just say this book was excellent! Annie is hired to find out how Katie's father really died. Was it a snake bite? or is something else sinister going on in this small town? Annie uncovers so much more, and because of this, you just have to turn the pages so fast to find out! Loved this book. I am looking forward to reading more books by Archer Sullivan. Excellent!
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
Many Thanks to Archer Sullivan and Minotaur Books for my ARC of Brimstone Hollow. I highly recommend that if you enjoy mysteries, give this one a try when it is published in August 2026.
Short synopsis:
Annie travels to a small town in Appalachian Kentucky to investigate the sudden death of a snake handling preacher. Hired by his estranged daughter who is both shocked and confused by his sudden passing, Annie's job is simply to find out what happened and get an idea of who Ezra (the preacher who had been bitten by one of his fanged charges...allegedly) was. Many plot twists later, you learn what is really going on in this place.
Review:
Characters are well developed, multi-faceted and have flaws. They also are not stereotypes, in general. They are all unique and have their own voice, concerns and personal investments in the town and story. Character arcs are appropriate for the most part. This is part of a series, so the arc for the MC is less developed, but appropriate.
Atmosphere and setting are on point. The dynamics of the small town and everyone knowing everyone else's business is stellar and is almost a character in its own right. You are transported from a stifling inner city office apartment to a rural Kentucky town with a "Hell Hole" that makes the entire area smell like Sulphur to a little country church with some talking in tongues.
Writing style is effective and serves the story well. Written in first person POV, you are "let in" on the interior thoughts of the MC. That works very well in the mystery solving aspects. It also allowed short flashbacks to the past through the MC POV. It is medium paced, you don't get bogged down in extraneous information, but you also are not jumping from one issue to the next without explanation.
Pacing also played especially well in the plotting, which was very well woven throughout the story. There are a lot of twists and turns before you get where you are going, but it was well bread crumbed. I didn't know all the secrets in the first 5 minutes, so that is a plus.
I was extremely interested and intrigued as to how the story would end; kept me turning the page to the very end.
I did enjoy this novel. I was invested in the story and the mystery from the beginning. I am going to read the first book. And I can highly recommend for mystery lovers.
Trigger Warnings: (I did not find any of these elements out of the ordinary nor extreme)
It is not dark, well no more than a normal murder would be. No spice, no romance, minimum foul language. Descriptions of murder/death/body is not explicit. There are some references to drug use, smoking, alcohol use, abuse, SA, minor mental health mentions, discussions of non-mainstream religious elements, murder, physical harm...I think that's all I saw that could possibly be a trigger. That being said, I'm not the trigger police, I'm simply trying to offer an idea of what themes are used/references.
So, all of that to say I would recommend this book.
#BrimstoneHollow
Short synopsis:
Annie travels to a small town in Appalachian Kentucky to investigate the sudden death of a snake handling preacher. Hired by his estranged daughter who is both shocked and confused by his sudden passing, Annie's job is simply to find out what happened and get an idea of who Ezra (the preacher who had been bitten by one of his fanged charges...allegedly) was. Many plot twists later, you learn what is really going on in this place.
Review:
Characters are well developed, multi-faceted and have flaws. They also are not stereotypes, in general. They are all unique and have their own voice, concerns and personal investments in the town and story. Character arcs are appropriate for the most part. This is part of a series, so the arc for the MC is less developed, but appropriate.
Atmosphere and setting are on point. The dynamics of the small town and everyone knowing everyone else's business is stellar and is almost a character in its own right. You are transported from a stifling inner city office apartment to a rural Kentucky town with a "Hell Hole" that makes the entire area smell like Sulphur to a little country church with some talking in tongues.
Writing style is effective and serves the story well. Written in first person POV, you are "let in" on the interior thoughts of the MC. That works very well in the mystery solving aspects. It also allowed short flashbacks to the past through the MC POV. It is medium paced, you don't get bogged down in extraneous information, but you also are not jumping from one issue to the next without explanation.
Pacing also played especially well in the plotting, which was very well woven throughout the story. There are a lot of twists and turns before you get where you are going, but it was well bread crumbed. I didn't know all the secrets in the first 5 minutes, so that is a plus.
I was extremely interested and intrigued as to how the story would end; kept me turning the page to the very end.
I did enjoy this novel. I was invested in the story and the mystery from the beginning. I am going to read the first book. And I can highly recommend for mystery lovers.
Trigger Warnings: (I did not find any of these elements out of the ordinary nor extreme)
It is not dark, well no more than a normal murder would be. No spice, no romance, minimum foul language. Descriptions of murder/death/body is not explicit. There are some references to drug use, smoking, alcohol use, abuse, SA, minor mental health mentions, discussions of non-mainstream religious elements, murder, physical harm...I think that's all I saw that could possibly be a trigger. That being said, I'm not the trigger police, I'm simply trying to offer an idea of what themes are used/references.
So, all of that to say I would recommend this book.
#BrimstoneHollow
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
BOOK REPORT
Received a complimentary copy of Brimstone Hollow, by Archer Sullivan, from St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books/NetGalley, for which I am appreciative, in exchange for a fair and honest review. Scroll past the BOOK REPORT section for a cut-and-paste of the DESCRIPTION of it from them if you want to read my thoughts on the book in the context of that summary.
⭐ 3 ⭐
As much as I’m a fan of Archer Sullivan, I gotta say this second Annie Gore book didn’t exactly do it for me.
Very convoluted-y, too much on the magical realism front for me to stomach (and I do love me some woo-woo stuff, so it pains me to say that), and, again too much with the car.
So why’d I give it 3 stars? Because I’m willing to put ^all that^ down to sophomore slump, and because I’m still interested in continuing on with the series.
DESCRIPTION
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 was an Air Force Special Investigator, 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.
Received a complimentary copy of Brimstone Hollow, by Archer Sullivan, from St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books/NetGalley, for which I am appreciative, in exchange for a fair and honest review. Scroll past the BOOK REPORT section for a cut-and-paste of the DESCRIPTION of it from them if you want to read my thoughts on the book in the context of that summary.
⭐ 3 ⭐
As much as I’m a fan of Archer Sullivan, I gotta say this second Annie Gore book didn’t exactly do it for me.
Very convoluted-y, too much on the magical realism front for me to stomach (and I do love me some woo-woo stuff, so it pains me to say that), and, again too much with the car.
So why’d I give it 3 stars? Because I’m willing to put ^all that^ down to sophomore slump, and because I’m still interested in continuing on with the series.
DESCRIPTION
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 was an Air Force Special Investigator, 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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Gripping, dark, chilling, atmospheric, and riveting, Archer Sullivan delivered another thrilling read with Brimstone Hollow. Annie Gore, a private investigator, is back and investigating another case in the Appalachian Mountains. This time her case takes her to Brimstone Hollow to investigate the death of Ezra King, a snake handling preacher.
Annie agrees to take the case when the dead snake handler's daughter asks her to investigate. Annie soon rattles the nerves of many in town while having her childhood memories bubble to the surface. This book was a great hard to put down book in the Annie Gore series! I enjoyed the first book in the series, The Witch's Orchard, and was excited to get my hands and eyes on Brimstone Hollow! Archer Sullivan did not let me down! She delivered and I enjoyed every single page of this book.
This book was full of secrets, tension, dread, danger, suspense, and suspicion. I was on the edge of my seat by the end of this book and can’t wait to read what comes next for Annie Gore! If you have not read the first book in this series, Brimstone Hollow will work nicely as a stand-alone novel for you. But if you find yourself looking for a good book to read, check out the first book in this series.
*A witches words buddy read with Dorie - Cats&Books :) and Mary Beth. Please read their reviews as well to get their thoughts on Brimstone Hollow
Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Annie agrees to take the case when the dead snake handler's daughter asks her to investigate. Annie soon rattles the nerves of many in town while having her childhood memories bubble to the surface. This book was a great hard to put down book in the Annie Gore series! I enjoyed the first book in the series, The Witch's Orchard, and was excited to get my hands and eyes on Brimstone Hollow! Archer Sullivan did not let me down! She delivered and I enjoyed every single page of this book.
This book was full of secrets, tension, dread, danger, suspense, and suspicion. I was on the edge of my seat by the end of this book and can’t wait to read what comes next for Annie Gore! If you have not read the first book in this series, Brimstone Hollow will work nicely as a stand-alone novel for you. But if you find yourself looking for a good book to read, check out the first book in this series.
*A witches words buddy read with Dorie - Cats&Books :) and Mary Beth. Please read their reviews as well to get their thoughts on Brimstone Hollow
Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and to St. Martin's Press for the ARC of Brimstone Hollow by Archer Sullivan.
I just read The Witch's Orchard last week, and was excited for another adventure with Annie Gore, PI.
In this book, Annie takes on the case of checking whether the recent death of a snake-handling preacher is as cut-and-dry as the coroner claims, only to find more bodies pile up with each question she asks.
In the overarching view of the series thus far, The Witch's Orchard was about Annie and her mother and her perception of mothers, and Brimstone Hollow is about her father, and father figures. The view of Appalachia is a bit different in that The Witch's Orchard was a bit more gothic in how it dealt with the legend and the missing girls, while Brimstone Hollow feels a bit more of a police procedural with religious fanaticism and the possibility of a supernatural aspect with Annie and other characters having visions of the deceased preacher. I think both have been really strong books, but while The Witch's Orchard gave me really strong Gillian Flynn vibes, Brimstone Hollow felt more like a season of FX's Justified (so maybe a bit more Elmore Leonard).
It took me a bit to put all the pieces together on this one as it developed, whereas The Witch's Orchard was a bit more of a gut punch at the end -- Brimstone Hollow slowly deals out the drama and the danger, solving bits and leaving more open to close in later chapters as the mystery deepens and more deaths occur.
Annie continues to go all out on her cases while also reflecting on her own past and relationships, and her questions continue to set people off who otherwise would have remained quiet. Her commitment to solving crimes and risking her own personal safety leads to some exciting scenes, and the Appalachian setting once again feels true to this region and its culture and is a huge part of what makes this series so interesting.
What I really want next in the third book is to have Leo appear in-person with Annie on a case, as I think it will dive us into a deeper view of who she is as a person in her comfort zone, but, regardless of what Sullivan actually decides for the third book's plot, I'll be reading it.
I just read The Witch's Orchard last week, and was excited for another adventure with Annie Gore, PI.
In this book, Annie takes on the case of checking whether the recent death of a snake-handling preacher is as cut-and-dry as the coroner claims, only to find more bodies pile up with each question she asks.
In the overarching view of the series thus far, The Witch's Orchard was about Annie and her mother and her perception of mothers, and Brimstone Hollow is about her father, and father figures. The view of Appalachia is a bit different in that The Witch's Orchard was a bit more gothic in how it dealt with the legend and the missing girls, while Brimstone Hollow feels a bit more of a police procedural with religious fanaticism and the possibility of a supernatural aspect with Annie and other characters having visions of the deceased preacher. I think both have been really strong books, but while The Witch's Orchard gave me really strong Gillian Flynn vibes, Brimstone Hollow felt more like a season of FX's Justified (so maybe a bit more Elmore Leonard).
It took me a bit to put all the pieces together on this one as it developed, whereas The Witch's Orchard was a bit more of a gut punch at the end -- Brimstone Hollow slowly deals out the drama and the danger, solving bits and leaving more open to close in later chapters as the mystery deepens and more deaths occur.
Annie continues to go all out on her cases while also reflecting on her own past and relationships, and her questions continue to set people off who otherwise would have remained quiet. Her commitment to solving crimes and risking her own personal safety leads to some exciting scenes, and the Appalachian setting once again feels true to this region and its culture and is a huge part of what makes this series so interesting.
What I really want next in the third book is to have Leo appear in-person with Annie on a case, as I think it will dive us into a deeper view of who she is as a person in her comfort zone, but, regardless of what Sullivan actually decides for the third book's plot, I'll be reading it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Annie Gore #2
Brimstone Hollow by Archer Sullivan
Just as she did with her first book in this series, The Witch’s Orchard, Archer Sullivan shows that she knows and understands how secrets and rumors can brew in small communities, always presenting some kind of danger even if not all the residents of the community know they are there. Once again, private investigator Annie Gore takes on the job of finding out what has happened in a small town and not all the people of Brimstone Hollow are willing to let Annie do her job.
A woman's estranged father, a snake handling preacher, has died and it seems he died by snake bite. His body wasn't found right away so not only was it swollen from poison but from the rot of time and his body was buried immediately, before there could be an autopsy. The daughter suspects something is up, something shady and nefarious, so she hires Annie to investigate her father's death.
I love Annie's relationship with the local sheriff. She's a thorn in his day at first but she wins him over. Annie seems to be like a daughter to him once they know each other and Annie seems to see him as the father she never had. We get to know the memories of Annie's past with her father and I can see why this sheriff would appeal to her. He seems like a man I'd like to know. They make a good buddy team in this story and the sheriff is quick to decide his life will run smoother just teaming up with Annie than trying to keep her from doing what she is going to do anyway.
Brimstone Hollow is not a safe place for anyone and it's not all the snakes' fault. There are secrets that someone will kill to keep hidden and the longer Annie stays in this town the more danger she encounters. It's hard to know who to trust and so many of the characters are likable so I was hoping I could keep on liking them. Annie is tough, she was an Air Force Special Investigator, she knows what she is doing, she knows how to get in and out of trouble, she's a force to reckon with, just as the sheriff soon learned. So many false leads, so many bodies, and I feared what we would finally find out by the end of the story. I look forward to seeing Annie again, she is fun to follow and a great way to court danger from the safety of my home.
Expected publication August 11, 2026
Thank you to St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books, SMP Early Readers, and NetGalley for this ARC
Brimstone Hollow by Archer Sullivan
Just as she did with her first book in this series, The Witch’s Orchard, Archer Sullivan shows that she knows and understands how secrets and rumors can brew in small communities, always presenting some kind of danger even if not all the residents of the community know they are there. Once again, private investigator Annie Gore takes on the job of finding out what has happened in a small town and not all the people of Brimstone Hollow are willing to let Annie do her job.
A woman's estranged father, a snake handling preacher, has died and it seems he died by snake bite. His body wasn't found right away so not only was it swollen from poison but from the rot of time and his body was buried immediately, before there could be an autopsy. The daughter suspects something is up, something shady and nefarious, so she hires Annie to investigate her father's death.
I love Annie's relationship with the local sheriff. She's a thorn in his day at first but she wins him over. Annie seems to be like a daughter to him once they know each other and Annie seems to see him as the father she never had. We get to know the memories of Annie's past with her father and I can see why this sheriff would appeal to her. He seems like a man I'd like to know. They make a good buddy team in this story and the sheriff is quick to decide his life will run smoother just teaming up with Annie than trying to keep her from doing what she is going to do anyway.
Brimstone Hollow is not a safe place for anyone and it's not all the snakes' fault. There are secrets that someone will kill to keep hidden and the longer Annie stays in this town the more danger she encounters. It's hard to know who to trust and so many of the characters are likable so I was hoping I could keep on liking them. Annie is tough, she was an Air Force Special Investigator, she knows what she is doing, she knows how to get in and out of trouble, she's a force to reckon with, just as the sheriff soon learned. So many false leads, so many bodies, and I feared what we would finally find out by the end of the story. I look forward to seeing Annie again, she is fun to follow and a great way to court danger from the safety of my home.
Expected publication August 11, 2026
Thank you to St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books, SMP Early Readers, and NetGalley for this ARC
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
An exciting thriller about a snake handling preacher who died of an apparent snake bite. A small town appalachia setting with many layers; homophobia in the church and the domino effect of that culture, the generational drug problem, the way that everyone in town has a silver F150. Except for the people who have a black F150.
Annie Gore is back as a private investigator- she works alongside the police but is a detective for hire and has a classic Datsun that she really babies named "honey." She is hired by a woman whose biological father died and was buried really quickly of a snake bite with no autopsy. She had a dream or vision about him and she doesn't think it is a coincidence, so she sends Annie to Brimstone Hollow to see if there is anything fishy. There is.
What I really enjoyed about this story was that there were aspects of the small town that intersected as you would expect, but the characters always had more than they seemed. It was not all pure stereotypes about people in Kentucky, they were complex characters in the area, some by choice and others by circumstance. I loved the fast pacing and how the setting was complicated and nuanced. The characters were engaging and the ending... WOW! I was hooked. I was a fan of the first and now glad I read this as well!
Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur books for the ARC. Book to be published August 11, 2026
Annie Gore is back as a private investigator- she works alongside the police but is a detective for hire and has a classic Datsun that she really babies named "honey." She is hired by a woman whose biological father died and was buried really quickly of a snake bite with no autopsy. She had a dream or vision about him and she doesn't think it is a coincidence, so she sends Annie to Brimstone Hollow to see if there is anything fishy. There is.
What I really enjoyed about this story was that there were aspects of the small town that intersected as you would expect, but the characters always had more than they seemed. It was not all pure stereotypes about people in Kentucky, they were complex characters in the area, some by choice and others by circumstance. I loved the fast pacing and how the setting was complicated and nuanced. The characters were engaging and the ending... WOW! I was hooked. I was a fan of the first and now glad I read this as well!
Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur books for the ARC. Book to be published August 11, 2026
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC of Brimstone Hollow by Archer Sullivan.
Archer Sullivan has quickly become one of my favorite voices for Appalachian gothic mysteries. Brimstone Hollow pulled me in immediately with its eerie mountain setting, snake-handling churches, sulfur springs, and the kind of small-town secrets that feel dangerous long before the bodies start piling up.
Private investigator Annie Gore is such a compelling lead—tough, sharp, stubborn, and carrying plenty of her own scars. When she’s hired to investigate the suspicious death of a snake-handling preacher in the hollers of Eastern Kentucky, what starts as a seemingly straightforward case spirals into something much darker and far more twisted than expected. The preacher may have died from a snakebite, but the rushed burial, hostile locals, and layers of hidden secrets make Annie realize almost immediately that something isn’t right.
The atmosphere in this book is incredible. Sullivan captures Appalachia in a way that feels vivid, authentic, and haunting. The setting almost becomes its own character, with isolated hollers, gossip-filled diners, crumbling churches, and a constant sense that danger is lurking just out of sight. I could practically smell the sulfur in the air while reading.
The mystery itself kept me guessing the entire time. There are so many twists, red herrings, and unsettling moments that I never fully trusted anyone. The pacing starts as a slow burn but steadily builds into a tense, addictive ride that became impossible to put down. I also loved learning more about Annie’s past and seeing how her own complicated family history connected emotionally to the case.
If you enjoy southern gothic thrillers, dark Appalachian settings, messy family secrets, strong female investigators, and mysteries with horror undertones, Brimstone Hollow absolutely deserves a spot on your TBR. I’m already looking forward to the next Annie Gore book.
Archer Sullivan has quickly become one of my favorite voices for Appalachian gothic mysteries. Brimstone Hollow pulled me in immediately with its eerie mountain setting, snake-handling churches, sulfur springs, and the kind of small-town secrets that feel dangerous long before the bodies start piling up.
Private investigator Annie Gore is such a compelling lead—tough, sharp, stubborn, and carrying plenty of her own scars. When she’s hired to investigate the suspicious death of a snake-handling preacher in the hollers of Eastern Kentucky, what starts as a seemingly straightforward case spirals into something much darker and far more twisted than expected. The preacher may have died from a snakebite, but the rushed burial, hostile locals, and layers of hidden secrets make Annie realize almost immediately that something isn’t right.
The atmosphere in this book is incredible. Sullivan captures Appalachia in a way that feels vivid, authentic, and haunting. The setting almost becomes its own character, with isolated hollers, gossip-filled diners, crumbling churches, and a constant sense that danger is lurking just out of sight. I could practically smell the sulfur in the air while reading.
The mystery itself kept me guessing the entire time. There are so many twists, red herrings, and unsettling moments that I never fully trusted anyone. The pacing starts as a slow burn but steadily builds into a tense, addictive ride that became impossible to put down. I also loved learning more about Annie’s past and seeing how her own complicated family history connected emotionally to the case.
If you enjoy southern gothic thrillers, dark Appalachian settings, messy family secrets, strong female investigators, and mysteries with horror undertones, Brimstone Hollow absolutely deserves a spot on your TBR. I’m already looking forward to the next Annie Gore book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of one of my most anticipated sequels.
The Witch's Orchard was one of my favorite Mystery/Thrillers from last year. I was shocked it was a debut. The characters were so fleshed out. There were twists and turns in the story with a breathtaking setting.
Brimstone Hollow followed our main character, Annie Gore, on yet another Appalachian mystery. This time around, she is contracted to investigate the mysterious death of a snake charming preacher.
Although it tried to emulate the same structure as the first, rooted in Annie's personal life, set in a small town, and toed the line into the paranormal--ultimately, this lacked some of the same magic as the first book.
The Good:
The setting was the strongest part of this novel. I could literally smell the sulfur from the Hell Hole. I tasted the cheese tots at the diner. Annie Gore is a great main character. I love her and her quirks. Her love for her car is so sincere. The very very last twist was pretty good, I liked how it exposed a weakness in Annie. If she didn't have such a rough childhood, she probably would have been able to separate herself from a certain relationship with a character, and notice their true intentions.
The Bad:
Unfortunately, the first two thirds of the book felt very slow and repetitive. There wasn't really that much of a mystery until the very end. Leo's involvement felt very strange and didn't really bring much to the story. There were so many characters spoken about that we never heard from. It was hard to keep them straight in my head when their only page time is in conversation between other characters. I had a hard time understanding the stakes because I didn't get the chance to really know the initial suspects.
I will continue to read in this series, as I think Archer just needs some time to recapture the magic from the first book. They have a great foundation for a series.
The Witch's Orchard was one of my favorite Mystery/Thrillers from last year. I was shocked it was a debut. The characters were so fleshed out. There were twists and turns in the story with a breathtaking setting.
Brimstone Hollow followed our main character, Annie Gore, on yet another Appalachian mystery. This time around, she is contracted to investigate the mysterious death of a snake charming preacher.
Although it tried to emulate the same structure as the first, rooted in Annie's personal life, set in a small town, and toed the line into the paranormal--ultimately, this lacked some of the same magic as the first book.
The Good:
The setting was the strongest part of this novel. I could literally smell the sulfur from the Hell Hole. I tasted the cheese tots at the diner. Annie Gore is a great main character. I love her and her quirks. Her love for her car is so sincere. The very very last twist was pretty good, I liked how it exposed a weakness in Annie. If she didn't have such a rough childhood, she probably would have been able to separate herself from a certain relationship with a character, and notice their true intentions.
The Bad:
Unfortunately, the first two thirds of the book felt very slow and repetitive. There wasn't really that much of a mystery until the very end. Leo's involvement felt very strange and didn't really bring much to the story. There were so many characters spoken about that we never heard from. It was hard to keep them straight in my head when their only page time is in conversation between other characters. I had a hard time understanding the stakes because I didn't get the chance to really know the initial suspects.
I will continue to read in this series, as I think Archer just needs some time to recapture the magic from the first book. They have a great foundation for a series.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you Minotaur Books and Archer Sullivan for my gifted copy!
As if I didn’t love Annie Gore enough in The Witch’s Orchard, Archer Sullivan gifted us a second installment, Brimstone Hollow, and another chance to hang out with Annie, helping me to fall in love with her character even more. There is something about her. So flawed and cynical; stingy with her trust, determined. She is the opposite of an unreliable narrator, and I adore her for it.
Reading Brimstone Hollow was like digging through moss, dirt caked under my fingernails. It felt like breaking through each new layer of earth, only to find another, and it was addictive. Cloyingly atmospheric, I found myself wanting to return again and again to the sulfur stench of Mount Zion, a small town in Appalachia. And boy am I a sucker for Appalachia. A place I’ve never been, it still haunts my dreams and nightmares, and holds a special place in my heart. It’s easy to see that Sullivan feels the same way, being a ninth generation Appalachian, because each of these two Annie Gore novels feature Appalachia as a character in and of itself - as it deserves to be. There is so much richness in that part of the country, things we still don’t know. The mystery is the most alluring part, that its history is older than most of the world, and that there are parts left untouched and untainted. It gives me goosebumps.
All that gushing is to say: I loved this installment. I loved the mystery, the snake wielding preacher all dressed in black, the cast of characters from a small town that welcomed an outsider with stories and good food. Each time I thought I had it figured out, I was wrong, and it was fun. I was surprised until the very end, and I cannot wait for another book (please please please) to see what Annie Gore gets up to next.
As if I didn’t love Annie Gore enough in The Witch’s Orchard, Archer Sullivan gifted us a second installment, Brimstone Hollow, and another chance to hang out with Annie, helping me to fall in love with her character even more. There is something about her. So flawed and cynical; stingy with her trust, determined. She is the opposite of an unreliable narrator, and I adore her for it.
Reading Brimstone Hollow was like digging through moss, dirt caked under my fingernails. It felt like breaking through each new layer of earth, only to find another, and it was addictive. Cloyingly atmospheric, I found myself wanting to return again and again to the sulfur stench of Mount Zion, a small town in Appalachia. And boy am I a sucker for Appalachia. A place I’ve never been, it still haunts my dreams and nightmares, and holds a special place in my heart. It’s easy to see that Sullivan feels the same way, being a ninth generation Appalachian, because each of these two Annie Gore novels feature Appalachia as a character in and of itself - as it deserves to be. There is so much richness in that part of the country, things we still don’t know. The mystery is the most alluring part, that its history is older than most of the world, and that there are parts left untouched and untainted. It gives me goosebumps.
All that gushing is to say: I loved this installment. I loved the mystery, the snake wielding preacher all dressed in black, the cast of characters from a small town that welcomed an outsider with stories and good food. Each time I thought I had it figured out, I was wrong, and it was fun. I was surprised until the very end, and I cannot wait for another book (please please please) to see what Annie Gore gets up to next.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Review of Uncorrected Digital Galley
Private investigator Annie Gore is between cases, working to catch up on the paperwork she’s neglected for the past couple of months. Short on funds, she’s intrigued when Katie May comes in with her baby; she wants Annie to look into death of her father, Ezra King, a man who was a snake-handling preacher in Mount Zion, Kentucky.
Although they’d been estranged for many years, Katie finds it strange that there was no autopsy, the funeral was already in progress when the police called to tell her he’d died from a snakebite. The rush puzzles Katie; she feels there’s something more to learn.
Can Annie find some answers for her? And did Ezra King really die from a snake bite?
=========
Although this book is second in the author’s Annie Gore series, there is sufficient backstory for the book to work as a standalone. Well-defined characters and a strong, atmospheric sense of place pull readers into the telling of the tale from the outset; unpredictable revelations keep those pages turning.
In this absorbing tale, the Appalachian Mountains become a character deeply involved with the people who live there. The dynamics of a small town and its people . . . a place where everyone knows everyone and everyone knows everything about everyone else . . . offers the reader some unexpected surprises and keeps the mystery “fresh. The plot, both intriguing and compelling, twists and turns and keeps readers guessing.
Readers who enjoy small town tales, captivating mysteries, and amazing characters will find much to appreciate in this difficult-to-set-aside book.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this eBook from St. Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books and NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving this review.
#BrimstoneHollow #NetGalley
Private investigator Annie Gore is between cases, working to catch up on the paperwork she’s neglected for the past couple of months. Short on funds, she’s intrigued when Katie May comes in with her baby; she wants Annie to look into death of her father, Ezra King, a man who was a snake-handling preacher in Mount Zion, Kentucky.
Although they’d been estranged for many years, Katie finds it strange that there was no autopsy, the funeral was already in progress when the police called to tell her he’d died from a snakebite. The rush puzzles Katie; she feels there’s something more to learn.
Can Annie find some answers for her? And did Ezra King really die from a snake bite?
=========
Although this book is second in the author’s Annie Gore series, there is sufficient backstory for the book to work as a standalone. Well-defined characters and a strong, atmospheric sense of place pull readers into the telling of the tale from the outset; unpredictable revelations keep those pages turning.
In this absorbing tale, the Appalachian Mountains become a character deeply involved with the people who live there. The dynamics of a small town and its people . . . a place where everyone knows everyone and everyone knows everything about everyone else . . . offers the reader some unexpected surprises and keeps the mystery “fresh. The plot, both intriguing and compelling, twists and turns and keeps readers guessing.
Readers who enjoy small town tales, captivating mysteries, and amazing characters will find much to appreciate in this difficult-to-set-aside book.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this eBook from St. Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books and NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving this review.
#BrimstoneHollow #NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is Book #2 in what I am hoping so hard will become a long-running series! The Witch's Orchard was #1 and introduced PI Annie Gore. I went into that one not realizing it would be a series, as I don't usually get into those and I luckily discovered this series gem! Annie Gore is an Appalachian from many generations back. She understands the culture and quirks. As such, she is often hired out of her Louisville based office by people with those same ties. In this case, she is hired to investigate the death of a snake handling preacher who died, by you guessed it, snakebite. This would seem pretty cut and dried, but in Annie's world the obvious is never the case. She is hired by his estranged daughter, Katie who just has a "feeling". The words "snake-handling preacher" alone were enough to hook me, but there is so much more! I love Annie's world. She meets so many cool characters and her thought process is so much fun. Annie is a food lover, like me and the food descriptions always have my interest! She does not miss many meals. Sleep, yes, but meals, no. Definitely not! Annie is also ex-military Special Forces and her mysterious "friend" Leo is from that time. They still keep in "touch" and that relationship alone is fascinating. In each book, we learn a bit more about Annie. I think the closest description for this series so far to me would be the Karin Slaughter Grant County series. If you like that or just enjoy a truly suspenseful thriller with characters that you will become totally absorbed into, then this is for you!! Please, Archer Sullivan, give us a Book #3. And #4. And #5. Well, you get the drift.
Thank you to Archer Sullivan, #NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for this much appreciated ARC. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to Archer Sullivan, #NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for this much appreciated ARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
My fingers have been itching to get my hands on this book. I absolutely loved The Witch's Orchard. As soon as I wrapped that one up, I needed Brimestone Hollow in my hand. Annie Gore as a character, brings me so much joy. She is messy, direct, smart, and knows her way in and around any town in Appalachia. Annie stands out. As soon as she drives Honey into town there is no hiding that she is there. Or blending in. She is unapologetic, and if you are one of her clients she will go to the ends of the earth for you. Because your question and what you need her to uncover becomes her problem. I love that about her!
Katie May's father has passed away from a snake bite. Not surprising since he was a snake handling preacher. That is a hard no for me. I see a snake and I run. Let alone a rattler, which is what he loved to play with. Katie has gone to Annie for her PI skills. Something just feels off about his death. Katie feels like there is more to it than a snake bite. As Annie roars into the small Appalachian town searching for answers. She walks into a nest of vipers. Everyone is a suspect and everyone has their secrets. Who is hiding something and who is not? As Annie tries to untangle this incredible knot the story goes deeper and becomes even more twisted. Right until the very end.
I roared through this book, riding shotgun in the bronco. The wind flying through my hair. The endless pile of bodies stacking up and more secrets this town holds are finally being shown the light. The entire cast of characters are fantastic. The setting in small town Appalachia always makes me happy. It is atmospheric, thrilling, and at times can be a bit stinky. If you have not read this series do yourself a favor and do so. Thank you to Archer Sullivan and Minotaur Books for my gifted copy. I cannot wait to see what is in store for Annie next!
Katie May's father has passed away from a snake bite. Not surprising since he was a snake handling preacher. That is a hard no for me. I see a snake and I run. Let alone a rattler, which is what he loved to play with. Katie has gone to Annie for her PI skills. Something just feels off about his death. Katie feels like there is more to it than a snake bite. As Annie roars into the small Appalachian town searching for answers. She walks into a nest of vipers. Everyone is a suspect and everyone has their secrets. Who is hiding something and who is not? As Annie tries to untangle this incredible knot the story goes deeper and becomes even more twisted. Right until the very end.
I roared through this book, riding shotgun in the bronco. The wind flying through my hair. The endless pile of bodies stacking up and more secrets this town holds are finally being shown the light. The entire cast of characters are fantastic. The setting in small town Appalachia always makes me happy. It is atmospheric, thrilling, and at times can be a bit stinky. If you have not read this series do yourself a favor and do so. Thank you to Archer Sullivan and Minotaur Books for my gifted copy. I cannot wait to see what is in store for Annie next!
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
This is the second in the Annie Gore series by Archer Sullivan. I loved The Witch Orchard and this one is just as good!!
Just as Annie is settling into her Louisville office, a young woman, Katie May, knocks on her door. She has read a lot about Annie and feels she is the only one who could navigate the small towns in Appalachia as she is so familiar with the area.
Her father is a snake handling preacher and she has just been notified that he has died from a snake bite. In fact he is already buried when Katie is notified. Because of the rush to bury Ezra, she suspects that all is not right and Annie decides to take the case.
We are quickly brought into the Appalachian mountains again, this time in Brimstone Hollow, a town known for its sulfur springs.
Soon after Annie starts questioning people about the case, it becomes quickly apparent that someone wants her to stop her investigation.
I loved this book - the pacing was good and there are so many threads to unravel. The characters are well described and I learned a lot about snake handling (ugh) and how Ezra convinced the townspeople that he was a preacher who could save their souls!
This book is very atmospheric - the mountains, the stinking sulfur springs, and the people who call this small town home.
It’s not necessary to read the first book - this could work as a standalone, but I highly recommend reading them in order to understand the main character, Annie, better.
This was a buddy read with Debra and Mary Beth. Please read their reviews for another look at this novel.
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through Edelweiss. It was my pleasure to read and review this terrific novel.
Just as Annie is settling into her Louisville office, a young woman, Katie May, knocks on her door. She has read a lot about Annie and feels she is the only one who could navigate the small towns in Appalachia as she is so familiar with the area.
Her father is a snake handling preacher and she has just been notified that he has died from a snake bite. In fact he is already buried when Katie is notified. Because of the rush to bury Ezra, she suspects that all is not right and Annie decides to take the case.
We are quickly brought into the Appalachian mountains again, this time in Brimstone Hollow, a town known for its sulfur springs.
Soon after Annie starts questioning people about the case, it becomes quickly apparent that someone wants her to stop her investigation.
I loved this book - the pacing was good and there are so many threads to unravel. The characters are well described and I learned a lot about snake handling (ugh) and how Ezra convinced the townspeople that he was a preacher who could save their souls!
This book is very atmospheric - the mountains, the stinking sulfur springs, and the people who call this small town home.
It’s not necessary to read the first book - this could work as a standalone, but I highly recommend reading them in order to understand the main character, Annie, better.
This was a buddy read with Debra and Mary Beth. Please read their reviews for another look at this novel.
I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through Edelweiss. It was my pleasure to read and review this terrific novel.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
The second in the PI Annie Gore series (the first to be read by this reader), this moody and atmospheric story is set deep in the Appalachians. Summoned by a daughter to investigate the death of her father, a preacher, whose affinity for rattlesnakes and copperheads has earned him a devout following, Annie must travel to the rural town of Mount Zion, Kentucky, where lore and faith intersect, and belief-systems veer towards the supernatural. Pastor Ezra King, who apparently died of a snake bite, had many secrets, and it will be up to Annie, a thirtyish former Air Force special investigator, to unpack his story and the twisty trail bled into his passing.
Annie, (who possesses the worst fast-food diet this reader has encountered between the pages) will have her work cut out for her, in the form of more than one body, at least a couple of near death experiences, and a townsfolk population who will both befriend and endanger her.
Annie, with her ripped jeans, leather jacket and murky green eyes, is a strong and interesting first person POV narrator. Her story here is an engrossing read (with perhaps just a trifle too complex a final solution). This reader’s favorite elements of this book center on the backstory of Annie herself, and the slowly revealing emotional complications of her relationship with her father. A theme which picks up again in several places throughout her investigation and the relationships between several of the protagonists.
Recommended for readers of character-based, complex mysteries, and in particular those that are slowburning and dense, seething with undercurrents and conflict.
A great big thank you to Goodreads, the author, and the publisher for this Goodreads giveaway ARC. All thoughts presented are my own.
Annie, (who possesses the worst fast-food diet this reader has encountered between the pages) will have her work cut out for her, in the form of more than one body, at least a couple of near death experiences, and a townsfolk population who will both befriend and endanger her.
Annie, with her ripped jeans, leather jacket and murky green eyes, is a strong and interesting first person POV narrator. Her story here is an engrossing read (with perhaps just a trifle too complex a final solution). This reader’s favorite elements of this book center on the backstory of Annie herself, and the slowly revealing emotional complications of her relationship with her father. A theme which picks up again in several places throughout her investigation and the relationships between several of the protagonists.
Recommended for readers of character-based, complex mysteries, and in particular those that are slowburning and dense, seething with undercurrents and conflict.
A great big thank you to Goodreads, the author, and the publisher for this Goodreads giveaway ARC. All thoughts presented are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Annie Gore, private investigator, is hired by the daughter of Preacher Ezra King. Katie May has been notified that her father has died as a result of a snake bite. Since Mr. King was a snake handling preacher the cause of his death was not unexpected. Katie has not seen her father in 20 years so the fact that his funeral had already taken place before she even knew about his death was not unusual. But the fact that there was no autopsy, his body was cremated, and a very quick burial was done is strange. Katie has alot of questions and she wants Annie to find the answers for her.
Annie is not unfamiliar with the ways of the people in the Appalachian mountains. She knows from her childhood that things are just done differently in this small Kentucky mountain town. They are a religious, close knit group that does not welcome strangers. And they do not welcome people coming into their town, asking questions and probing into their business. And even though she grew up there her questions would not be received well. But she could not turn down Katie's request for help.
When Annie arrives in Brimstone Hollow, she finds that Ezra King was a well loved man in the community. The people there were very loyal to him and to the church. They are deeply mourning his death and are not receptive to any of Annie's questions. Anger and resentment begins to build against Annie. Annie's determination to solve this mystery intensifies with the opposition and she digs deeper into the secrets hidden in Brimstone Hollow.
Interesting and unforgettable characters, small town vibes, quirky twists and elements of surprise make this multiple part mystery a great read.
Thank you to the publisher, author and Negalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.
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