Hive Mind: A Novel

by Allison Gunn

“A dark, propulsive horror-thriller with all the drama and psychological terror of a lost season of American Horror Story.” —Luke Dumas, USA TODAY bestselling author

Gillian Flynn meets Marcus Kliewer in this chilling, eerie thriller chronicling the brutal murder of a troubled scream queen in remote Appalachia.

Infamous Hollywood manager Jacob Peyton is on trial for what’s been dubbed the crime of the century. The victim in question? Bee Torrance: his client-turned-wife and a horror artist whose controversial art and escapades were live streamed to keep viewers, known as her Hive, entertained.

Just one week prior to his arrest, Jacob and Bee disappeared deep in the Appalachian Mountains. Bee was found brutally murdered in an abandoned cabin. The evidence undeniably points to Jacob as the culprit, yet he claims to have no memory of the killing or their ill-fated trip. The last thing he remembers before inexplicably losing consciousness is hooded figures descending on his wife. Now, haunted by flashbacks and twisted visions, Jacob argues Bee died at the hands of demonic spirits. But is there any truth to it?

Scrambling for damage control, his Hollywood executive sister hires two journalists to dig into Bee Torrance’s sordid past and build public sympathy for Jacob. Savvy investigative journalist, Greg Tomlin, is paired with spunky documentarian Skylar Ryan, who has her own hidden motivation for defending the Peyton family. Together, they embark on a winding journey through mayhem, memories, and monsters, both human and otherworldly.

The further the duo descend into Bee’s world, the more their own realities become as warped as the nightmares devouring Jacob’s sanity. A rollercoaster ride with nonstop twists and turns, Hive Mind extinguishes the bright lights of Hollywood to expose untold horrors and the reckoning that awaits in the wilds of Appalachia.

Genres: Horror, Adult, Fiction

384 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication April 27, 2027

Reviews

[BookishKB]

🐝Hive Mind 🐝

📖 Bookish Thoughts

My full review will be shared closer to the publication date.

What to Expect
• Psychological Horror
• Appalachian Gothic
• Murder Mystery
• Unreliable Narrator
• Small Town Secrets
• Supernatural Suspense
_ _ _

📅 Pub Date: April 27, 2027
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy.

[fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Character-wise, this book is stacked. Greg is kind of a douche but his banter with Skyler is genuinely great — they play off each other in a way that makes their scenes fly by. Whiteside has one of the best backstories in the book and is clever as hell. Bee is immediately appealing (I see a lot of myself in her, which probably contributes to that). And then Becca and Theo show up and just— yeah. You’ll know the moments when you get there. 😅

The real standout though is how Gunn handles Jacob. His descent is handled so well, and the imagery — especially his dreams — is vivid and unsettling in the best way. What makes it really work is that we also see what Jacob was like before, and he was such an asshole that even in his more vulnerable moments I was still firmly in the “fuck you, Jacob” camp. That’s a difficult balance to pull off and she nails it.

There’s a strong “eat the rich” undercurrent throughout that I am always, always here for, and a genuine sense of unraveling alongside the characters that gets under your skin.

Minor note: “screech” and “screeched” get used a bit heavily — small thing but it stood out.

The author’s note at the end is beautiful. I stand in solidarity too.

ARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[♡ A ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hive Mind follows two journalists as they investigate the murder of a horror artist, Bee, who was brutally murdered supposedly by her husband deep in the Appalachian mountains. The death is anything but normal and Greg and Skylar descent into a mystery full of mayhem and monsters where the horrific truth waits.

This was such a wild, whirlwind kind of book. Honestly, I had no idea what to think about what was truly going on. I loved that it toed the line of supernatural and the direction it went in the end. It was a very fascinating read although I did find it a bit slow and a tad confusing near in the middle. I did want a bit more horror, but it was still enjoyable. Especially the last little bit.

The setting really shone for me. I loved when the characters were actually in the Appalachian mountains. It made for such a spooky read. I enjoyed Greg and Skylar as main characters. I preferred their chapters over Jacobs since they were unravelling the mystery. The Hollywood element was also very fun and creepy.

Overall, if you love Appalachian folk horror or Hollywood thriller vibes, I’d definitely recommend checking this one out!

Thank you to Atria Books and Netgalley for the arc

[Anna Lupa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was definitely a fun read! The beginning was a little bit slow for my taste, but then twists started coming and didn't stop. Soon, it turned out that nothing was as it seemed, and every character had secrets that were so much fun to unveil. Personally, the ending seemed a little bit rushed, and I would have loved to see who is still alive many years in the future (and whether they've preserved their sanity at all). Bee was definitely the best character, despite the first scene in the book literally describing her death (it's not a spoiler, it's literally in the book's blurb). Over flashbacks, interviews, and interpretations of online videos, you learn so much about her struggles, life, and community. I wish I could say the same of all of the other characters, because I ended the book really wanting to know so much more about them. 3.4 stars, because while I loved most of the book, I felt sort of let down when I finished the last chapter.

Thank you to NetGalley, Atria publishing, and the author for a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Jacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Filled with atmospheric terror and visuals that overwhelm and consume: Hive Mind is a bloody, disorienting tale that questions morality, punishment, and revenge. Bee’s characterization makes her feel so vivid, makes her pain feel so visceral. I loved the incorporation of the interviews, text message conversations etc. These elements do a fantastic job of building tension and are used very intentionally. I found myself going back to try and pick out little details, similarly to how I felt reading We Used to Live Here. This is a story I would only read with the lights ON! In the middle of the day! With someone else in the room!

While the horror is fun and spooky at times, this book also gets very serious and dark. It is not one to pick up for a light read, but if you are looking for something that packs a punch…this certainly does it!!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the early copy.

[Megan Magee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bee reminds me of the super cool "Hella Good" blaring in the background fashion show of Sweet Home Alabama intro fame mixed with the performance art anguish of Marina Abramović. Timely and astute, Hive Mind relishes in the darkness of the It Girl, but one that spans the decades. There is a lot of 90's grunge, early 2000's club/ Myspace and indie Tumblr feel simultaneously, yet I think this book will age well. There is tension, unreliable narrator on steroids, and spacey allegory to boot. I think you'll be riveted and appalled right alongside Jacob, Bee, and co. Having never read Gunn before, I noticed I have her debut on my shelf, and I'll be reaching for that expeditiously now. I especially enjoyed the format of this, and the splices of articles, although this also didn't work for me at several points. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Atria Books for the eARC. All opinions are entirely my own.

[Knyquol Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Allison Gunn has officially cemented herself as an auto-buy author for me.

Hive Mind is equal parts Hollywood nightmare, Appalachian folk horror, and psychological thriller, wrapped in an atmosphere so unsettling I could practically feel the mountains watching. Every twist pulled me deeper into Bee's dark, chaotic world, and just when I thought I had a handle on what was happening, the story took another sharp turn.

Creepy, compulsively readable, and impossible to put down, this is a wild ride that blurs the line between monsters, madness, and reality. If you love horror that lingers long after the final page, Hive Mind deserves a spot on your TBR.

[Teressa Oliverio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading a book set in Appalachia hit differently because it’s home. Seeing towns and places I’ve grown up around and visited made every page feel even more real. The atmosphere was so creepy that I kept looking over my shoulder while reading. The blend of Appalachian folklore, horror, and nonstop twists had me completely invested. I never wanted to put it down because I had to know what was waiting around the next corner. If you love unsettling stories that get under your skin, this one absolutely delivers.

[Amber Lenhoff]

I haaate having to DNF a book because it feels like such a failure, especially for this one because it was an ARC, but it was just not jiving with me. I was never excited to pick it up and read and after 30% decided I needed to move on.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance ecopy of the book.