Hive Mind

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, Thriller, Fiction, Adult, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Halloween

384 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication April 27, 2027

Reviews

[Sara G · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 ⭐

I really struggled with this one. I liked the overall premise, but stories tied to influencer personas just don’t always work for me. The Appalachian folklore and occult elements were genuinely compelling, but they take a while to surface, and I kept wishing the story leaned into them more.

When Jacob Peyton, a wealthy Hollywood manager, is accused of brutally murdering his horror‑influencer wife, Bee Torrance, his sister brings in Greg and Skylar, two journalists, to help shape a more sympathetic public image. But once they start digging, it becomes clear Jacob was anything but the loving, devoted husband they’re expected to portray. And the deeper they go, the more it feels like they’ve stepped into something stranger — where it gets harder to tell what’s real.

It just felt like the story was trying to do too much. We have the journalists with their own personal histories and motives, Jacob’s unraveling mental state and the question of whether there's something supernatural at play, and Bee’s layered past involving her circle and the cult rumors tied to her mother. On top of that, the cabin where she was found murdered sits in a region connected to other events the story keeps circling back to, adding even more threads to keep track of.

Some sections came off a bit repetitive, especially with the mixed‑media format. I tend to like stories told this way, but here the format just felt all over the place. The non‑linear timelines, text messages, interviews, and case‑file‑style documents added even more fragmentation. There were moments where I was genuinely confused — especially when I realized an entire chapter I had just read was actually a hallucination. And by the time the ending rolled around, I was still struggling to understand how certain events connected and why things unfolded the way they did.

That being said, I did love the author’s note at the end. It’s clear she poured a lot of her own trauma into this book in a way that mattered deeply to her. I appreciate what she did. I truly wish I could have connected more with the story, but overall, it just wasn’t for me — though I’m still interested in reading more from this author in the future.

Available on April 27, 2027. Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Keila (speedreadstagram) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m a horror lover but this book was a little bit disappointing. I really thought it was going the right way in the beginning, then the middle dragged quite a bit, and by the end I was just annoyed. I really had hoped for this to be a winner but it sadly just wasn’t.

[megan ◡̈]

this book gave me a headache. i was pretty excited for another book from gunn because even though nowhere pissed me off to no end it was still a page turner and the appalachian aspect really gave it the creepy vibes i had hoped for. this one started off intriguing but eventually started to feel more like word salad.

i finally decided to throw the towel in at 74%. i really wanted to push through but its just gotten too ridiculous for me to want to finish. there are no characters in this really worth rooting for or caring about where they end up in the end, personally i think everyone belongs in prison for life lol.

oddly even though i did not like this as a book i do think it would make a compelling and entertaining show or movie.

[Yvette Jarrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC Review
Hive Mind by Allison Gunn

Hive Mind is a dark psychological horror thriller that takes you into the wild, rugged landscapes of Wild Appalachia. It’s about the chilling murder of Bee Torrance by her husband and manager, Jacob Peyton. Jacob’s sister teams up with journalist Greg Tomlin and documentarian Skylar Ryan to dig into the truth about Bee. But as they get deeper, they discover that there’s a lot more to the story than they imagined.

The book is told from different angles, using multiple timelines, interviews, text messages, and a look at murder, revenge, domestic violence, ambition, and the lengths people might go for money or to get noticed online.

The eerie setting and unsettling psychological elements make for a really creepy reading experience. The characters are complex, so it’s hard to know who you can trust as the story unfolds.

If you’re into horror, this book is definitely for you.

Available on April 27, 2027. A huge thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing this advanced readers copy in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[OutlawPoet]

I did not finish this book.

I tried. I really tried. And I failed...spectacularly.

The plot moved at such a slow pace and the things that should have been intriguing simply weren't. After trying so long to care about our dead woman and the various people who either hated her or loved her (or who were paid to care), I admitted defeat.

I did enjoy a previous book by this author, so I think this one was just not for me.

[Katy Foley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was hard to start. It’s all over the place and I’m not sure what I actually read when I finished the book but it was a wild ride. I think this would make a great audiobook. This was my first Appalachian horror and definitely not my last.

[S.E. Bristow · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm more than a little irritated I wasted so much time on this book, if I'm being entirely honest. Had the book been marketed properly, I most likely would never have picked it up in the first place.

Before I get too ranty, I would like to say that the domestic abuse representation in this novel is incredibly important, and it was so brave of this author to include pieces of herself in it. For that reason, my review will not touch on those aspects of the book, as they are not mine to criticize or comment on beyond urging people to read the trigger warnings and realize that many of the scenarios in this book happen to real women every single day—those women deserve help, justice, and safety.

When I found this book on NetGalley, I expected a domestic thriller with perhaps a slight supernatural aspect, told from the perspective of one of the two people involved in the crime. Instead, I received 500 pages of satanic panic found-footage media that makes absolutely no sense, combined with a whole cast of absolutely insufferable characters and plot points that are entirely unnecessary.

There are FAR too many characters to even possibly keep track of all the moving parts, the supernatural elements of the book were never once explained (although I'm not sure the book would have been saved if they had been). Greg was the only character I actually enjoyed (i know, sue me) and guys. I'm sorry. But HE DIDNT DO ANYTHING WRONG. the fucking plot they constructed to make him seem awful and irredeemable is just such a non-issue that I was getting genuinely irritated at the way his arc was unfolding.

I almost DNF'd this book, but I stuck it out because I hoped the ending might provide clarity. I was wrong.

Thank you to NetGalley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

🐝ARC REVIEW🐝

PUB DATE: 4/27/2027

“Punky Brewster is gonna get me killed.”

“I’m not entertaining any Satanic Panic bullshit today.”

“Not a hive. Not a swarm. Not a horde seeking to creep down your throat and chew you from the inside out.”

💬 I really enjoyed this horrific little jaunt into the lore riddled Appalachians. The domestic abuse was hard to read at times but was necessary to the severity of the story. Would definitely recommend for fans of cult everything, a little bit of gore, and influencers gone wrong.

Thank you @netgalley @atriabooks @author_allison_gunn

[Elle G. Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hive Mind was a decent read but unfortunately not a favorite. I struggled with staying engaged in the plot even though it did sound like something I would like. I think the characters and how they handled things just wasn’t my cup of tea. The story isn’t bad though and the writing is fantastic!

[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.

[valerie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was genuinely rough to get through because it was just so slow. The pacing isn’t great, and I kind of hated the ending. I don’t entirely know how I feel, but they really lost me there. I thought I would love this, especially once I realized that at its heart, it is a book about abuse, and yet I couldn’t. Everyone has different reactions to abuse and separate paths, and because mine was very different from this, I think it is a part of why the ending and the certain parts of the story didn’t work for me. However, I appreciate the author’s goal. 

Horror can truly create an impact and aid in spreading an author’s point, and it can show the gory and horrific details of how abuse impacts all aspects of someone’s life. In this case, I feel like it didn’t help it achieve that, and the satanic aspects may have even hindered that message. 

The mixed format was a fun idea, and I did enjoy it for the most part, but it felt a little all over the place at times. There are so many switches between dates, years, and people that every transition felt rough. Several writing mistakes took me out of the story, and the character development wasn’t good. I really didn’t like any of the characters, including Bee, which is fine because I believe a book can be very good with unlikable characters, but it didn’t work here. We are given so many details about certain people, but nothing that makes me emotionally connect to them. I don’t think Bee was written well, despite being the most important person in this book, and the execution fell flat. This book is a lot about her rage, and yet instead of focusing on her, so much of it focuses back on Theo, who I wanted gone after five seconds. I also hate the idea that it was all predetermined and fated, so she HAD to suffer, be abused, and die this horrific death, so she can become the person she was born to be. I have never viewed my abuse that way, and I hate that idea. What she experienced made her become who she is, and of course it changed her, but this idea that it couldn’t have happened differently is awful. 

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Ben Pommer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of ARC received through NetGalley. The opinion below is mine and mine alone.

Before I get started, I want to give a HUGE thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. Also, a thank you to Atria Books and Allison Gunn.
In “Hive Mind,” Awe are taken back to the mountains of Appalachia. Told through a variety of different methods — interview transcripts, documentary commentary, text messages, for example — we follow Skylar and Greg. Two people who could not be any more opposites if they tried — one is a born and raised Appalachian, the other is a YouTuber. They are brought together by the sister of Jacob Peyton, a Hollywood nepo-baby, after he is arrested for the brutal murder of his wife, famous social media influencer, Beatrice “Bee” Torrance.
“Hive Mind” is a brutal look at substance abuse and domestic violence. It shines a light on the lengths abusers can, and will, go to to keep their partner underfoot; force them to maintain appearances for those on the outside looking in so people don’t start asking questions.
Allison brings the same incredible atmospheric creep factor that I loved in “Nowhere” and mixes in religious/occult horror, the supernatural, Appalachian folklore, trauma, and mental health struggle. The paths she lays out for each character throughout the book are nothing short of hazardous and expertly done. I am especially fond of the path laid out for Jacob who is, arguably, one of the most detestable characters I’ve read. I cannot recommend this book enough to anyone who loves a good horror story.

[Tiffany Haineault · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for an early copy

I don’t know what to say about this book. The first chapter starts with a curl engaging in a bloody ritual. It truly hooked me from the start. This story then follows the aftermath or Bee dying. It’s told from numerous perspectives and different formates from articles and interviews.

This story would fall into the new category of pink horror. It’s about a revenges for a woman who was mistreated and abused by the people around her. How no one helped her and she kept falling deeper and deeper into depression. All her anger had to go somewhere and man, where this book goes is nuts.

I loved this book. I wanted people to get what was coming to them and they truly did. It’s dark. It’s fast-paced. It’s atmospheric. It made me uncomfortable and paranoid. I was so very angry for Bee and the man in her life. It’s got the occult and witchy things. I just, this was a fantastic read. But it won’t be forever.

But if you like the synopsis or anything I said, please give it a try.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️⭐️ Thank you to Netgalley and Atria books for the pre-release release read! This book just wasn't really for me. It's a gothic cult thriller told from multiple POVs, following the life and death of Bee Torrance. I found it a little hard to follow honestly. The chapters were long and felt drug out. The book jumped all around and it was actually kind of hard to tell who was talking at certain points. I liked the concept and idea overall but just felt it could have been executed a little better. I actually loved the author's note at the end with really heartfelt inspiration for her writing the book. Unfortunately though, that was the best part of it for me. I have seen quite a few 5⭐️ reviews on this one so if the cult thriller genre is something you like, i would still give it a shot!

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

🎬💉𝔹𝕆𝕆𝕂 ℝ𝔼𝕍𝕀𝔼𝕎💉🎬

HIVE MIND by ALLISON GUNN
Publisher: Atria
Pub Date: 04/27/2027
Rating: ⭐️⭐️✨✨✨ (2.75/5)

First thoughts - Immediately upon starting this book I was like, ok this author clearly created a whole demented universe for us to dive into. You can tell she put a lot of thought into crafting this novel.

As excited as I was to start this one unfortunately it just didn’t work for me. To be fair this was an incredibly slow burn, so my attention span couldn’t stay focused on what I was reading.

There was just too much going on with this one, almost like too many good ideas but not cohesive enough to connect me to anything about the story or the characters. That being said, as a movie…I’d prob feel differently because the way this was written had an epistolary feel which I think would convey better on screen.

The premise was awesome but TBH I really had to push myself to finish it.

I’m glad I read the author’s note because it helped me to appreciate what the author’s goal was with this novel in regards to DV.

QOTD: What book do you think would be better consumed as a movie or tv show rather than a book?

[Christian Lieberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for proving me with this ARC. I thought I’d kick off my spooky season a bit early with this read. This is the first novel I’ve read from Allison Gunn.

The synopsis of this book sounded so intriguing. This book was very dark and dealt with a lot of different issues. Not typically a story that I’d read but there was that element of ghosts, after life and cults that made this interesting to me.

There were a lot of characters in this story and at times I had difficulty keeping them all straight. This was not a gripping page turner by any stretch and there were parts of the story that had me very enthralled but for the most part this was just a story that I had to struggle through.

[Lex ★ (I’m back!!) 🇲🇽 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book primarily because it sounds interesting and very scary. I was hoping to be scared while reading it and once I did… I was not. Like at all. It felt like too much was happening at once and it became overwhelming. It was hard for me to want to read it, and to keep track of everything that was being presented, so much so that it took me two days and I still was not into the plot at all by the time I reached half and the end of the book. Which is a shame because it’s not a horrible book, I think it just was not the thriller for me.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

[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.

[Olivia Solbrig · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

This was not entirely what I was expecting, but not in the worst way! I think this was a solid true-crime leaning horror novel for lovers of a more complex "good for her" story. I found myself very uncomfortable rooting for anyone, even through the end, so I don't know that I'd be a part of that good for her group.
A compelling plot, but ultimately leaned on the overused trope of "she was crazy".

[Natalie K · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't care for this. I tried to get through it for months, but it just didn't resonate with me. For the right person who's interested in the occult and horror and possession, this would work, but it wasn't my thing.

[Christina Konrad · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

This was a Goodreads Giveaway. A creepy mysterious death set in West Virginia Appalachia. It has documentary elements in it that help provide background and not just tell the story in a standard narrative. Very imaginative technique to unfold the story.

[Julie]

i got to 50% but i couldnt do it. It wasnt working for me. I was confused and bored. Nothing on the author but had to do it. I hate doing it since it was an ARC.

Sorry

[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.

[Jennifer-Lynn Christie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Dark, Cinematic Thriller Built for the Screen

Gosh, where to begin?

 The prologue instantly sets an eerie, ominous tone for the occult aspects to come. It feels like the dark intro to a movie right before the film actually starts, signalling that something deeply unsettling is bound to happen.

As an actress, my mind immediately went to the screen; the book is written in a way that feels like episodes of an HBO show. Eight episodes could work, though I’d say 10 would be better then maybe 12, - but if you wanted to push it with today's standard Netflix format, probably 8. Now,  If you took the moody, gritty aesthetics of True Detective Season 1 and applied it here, Hive Mind would make for a phenomenal, deeply twisted HBO-type series or a gripping two-and-a-half-hour film. I could see it all perfectly as I was reading. I also think it is a good base for a show/film.  I also think I might find it even cooler or more interesting to watch ( not that I didn't like the book! ) ( I am  intending to say this as a compliment )

The story structure is  somewhat dynamic, fragmented into
PRESENT-DAY STORYLINE
NOIR BLANC PRODUCTION (which I envisioned as a documentary or a courtroom setting, a courtroom would look so cool on TV)
VIDEOS from the victims
TEXT MESSAGE exchanges between the main characters
PAST EVENTS
FBI (Bureau of Investigation)

These elements cycle through the narrative seamlessly, keeping you on your toes.

I really loved the dynamic between "B-Roll Barbie" Skylar and Greg. I appreciated that their relationship remained purely platonic and business-focused -   Skylar being a lesbian and all.

The plot itself is a wild ride.

My simplified way of describing it: the boyfriend of a famous  woman  / occult lover gets accused of cannibalism and murder, and then things go dark and south real fast (if that wasn't bad enough already!).

I was expecting  standard crime related novel based off the cover -  but was surprised by how intense the supernatural and witchcraft elements actually became important to the story. Also fuck Theo. I mean fuck a lot of the people in this book, but Theo claiming to be worst than Satan had my eyes roll so far in the back of my head.  " The Devil " is so cringe.   Some unexpected twists for sure.

The Hollywood backdrop adds an extra layer of intrigue, especially lines like "you sold your soul," which will definitely have readers drawing parallels to real-world Hollywood conspiracy theories. It also heavily explores themes of power dynamics, hypocrisy, double standards, backstabbing, manipulation, fear, substance abuse, and domestic abuse.

I also wondered if the name "Beatrice Eloise Maycomb" was a nod to To Kill a Mockingbird, given that both novels touch on overlapping thematic elements and the name...  Beatrice / Eloise / Maycomb

 Toward the end, a specific timestamp with Jacob notes 7:13:25, which serves as a warning about false prophets. I’m not particularly Christian, but when I researched the biblical context, I found the concepts of "The Deception" (wolves in sheep's clothing) and "The Test" (judging teachers by their fruits) fascinating. Given that the author dedicated this novel to domestic violence victims, it serves as a powerful reminder to watch out for manipulative cult leaders, while highlighting the extreme vulnerability people face when they are financially and emotionally dependent in a toxic power dynamic.

The Deception (Sheep’s Clothing): False teachers rarely present themselves as dangerous; they look, speak, and act like genuine believers on the outside. Inwardly, however, they are "ferocious wolves" driven by self-interest and greed.

The Test (By Their Fruits): Jesus provides a diagnostic test: an analysis of their production. "Fruit" in this context refers to both the character and morals of the teacher, as well as the doctrinal outcomes of their teaching. Just as a healthy tree cannot produce bad fruit, a genuine leader aligned with God will naturally produce righteousness. A corrupt tree, regardless of its clever camouflage, will ultimately reveal its true nature through bad fruit and faces a destination of being cut down and thrown into the fire.

Where the book lost a few points for me was the inclusion of the "COVID" pandemic.  It felt like completely non-essential information that didn't add any value to the story, and it took me out of the immersion every single time it was mentioned. It easily could have been left out or replaced with a fictionalized pandemic.

Additionally, a few lingering questions were left unanswered by the end, leaving me without total closure, and I personally find the cinematic trope of Satanism to be a bit cringe and lame. On the plus side, while cannibalism is briefly mentioned early on, I am incredibly glad it didn’t elaborate on the gruesome details! I absolutely would have DNF'd the book if it had gone there!

Overall, although  I definitely wouldn’t recommend Hive Mind to someone looking for a light, cozy read.  If you love the occult, supernatural thrillers, and dark mysteries, you should absolutely pick this up when it drops in 2027  and enjoy it !

I am pretty sure this book could easily become a tv show. I am not even kidding. It would have to be non-famous actors though to make it really iconic. The Devil or Greg could be well-known, or some of the less important people to catch the viewer's intrigue, Greg being a famous actor would probably help with finding good producers. But yeah, if you make a good pitch deck, it's getting picked up for sure. There's so much potential for this.

It could either be a really interesting and niche cult show that becomes super popular with time or veryyyyy cringe money grab that didn't develop things in a way that was truly interesting. Adapting this could be really exciting.

Anyway !

thankyou! 

[Nicole Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

“Hive Mind” by Allison Gunn is one of those books where you start out thinking you're reading a true-crime-style murder mystery, and then suddenly you're knee-deep in Appalachian woods, occult rituals, cults, demons, and enough questionable people to make you wonder if anyone in this book is normal.

The story kicks off with a seriously creepy cult ritual in the woods, which immediately sets the tone. Then we jump into the aftermath of Bee Torrance, a provocative horror artist who has been brutally murdered in an isolated West Virginia cabin. Her husband, Jacob, is arrested and accused of killing her, and his family hires documentary filmmaker Skylar and investigative journalist Greg to dig up dirt on Bee and basically convince the public that she deserved what happened to her while making Jacob look like an innocent little angel. That plan goes exactly as well as you'd expect.

I really enjoyed the mixed-media format of this one. We get different perspectives, documentary footage, text messages, past events, investigative material, and other little pieces of information that slowly build the bigger picture. It gave the book a true-crime documentary vibe.

The Appalachian setting was also fantastic. There is something about ancient things lurking in the woods and cult activity that just works. The further Skylar and Greg dig into Bee's history, the more the story shifts from psychological thriller into full-on supernatural horror. Suddenly you're questioning whether Bee was involved with something occult, whether she's communicating with the dead, whether a demon has been summoned, or whether everyone is simply losing their minds. And I loved that uncertainty.

For a good portion of the book, I kept asking myself, "Is this actually supernatural?" There are hallucinations, strange encounters, ghosts, cult rituals, and some genuinely creepy imagery, but the story keeps you guessing about what's real and what's manipulation.

Skylar was easily my favorite character. Greg, on the other hand, is a lot. He's abrasive, misogynistic, and generally not someone I'd want anywhere near me in real life, although his own trauma does provide some explanation for his behavior. His dynamic with Skylar was one of the more entertaining parts of the book, especially because their relationship stays platonic and professional.

And then there is Bee. Bee is fascinating because you never really get to know her directly. So much of what we learn about her comes through other people's perceptions of her and the things that happened to her. Was she a victim? Was she manipulating people? Was she involved in the cult? Was she somehow connected to the supernatural forces in the woods? The book deliberately keeps her somewhat mysterious, and I found that both intriguing and frustrating. I definitely wanted more of her perspective.

The book also tackles some very heavy themes, particularly domestic abuse, coercive control, misogyny, substance abuse, parasocial relationships, power, privilege, and the ways people can manipulate vulnerable individuals. Beneath all the occult craziness, there is a pretty serious exploration of what happens when people use power and fear to control others.
And honestly, the feminist horror angle worked really well for me. There is a lot here about feminine rage and what happens when women who have been abused or controlled finally fight back. The idea of connecting that rage to nature, community, and something ancient lurking in the woods was really interesting.

That said, I did feel like the book sometimes had way too many ideas competing for attention.
Some of those ideas were fantastic, but I wish a few had been explored more deeply instead of being introduced and then pushed aside. I especially wanted more of the hive mind/bee imagery because that felt like one of the coolest concepts in the book.

The pacing was also a little slow at first. It takes a while before everyone actually gets to the cabin and the horror really starts taking over. Once things got going, though, I was much more invested. And the final stretch? Wild. Some of the reveals were genuinely difficult to predict, and the truth about Bee, the cult, and what was actually happening gets increasingly bizarre.
The ending is definitely dark and unsettling, and I appreciated that it didn't try to turn everything into a neat little happy conclusion. Not every question gets a perfect answer, but honestly, this is the kind of horror where leaving you slightly uncomfortable is probably the point.

Overall, “Hive Mind” was a dark, weird, twisty Appalachian horror story with cults, feminine rage, and some seriously messed-up people. I really enjoyed the atmosphere and the constant uncertainty over whether the horror was supernatural or human. It's definitely not a cozy little mystery. But if you like folk horror, cults, and stories where the line between human evil and supernatural evil gets very blurry, this is one to check out.

[Karolina Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s something deeply rude about a book making me question literally everyone and then expecting me to calmly continue reading like I have a functioning nervous system. This book had me suspicious of everybody, including people who had approximately three sentences of page time. This was my first Allison Gunn novel, but it definitely won’t be my last. She’s officially an author I’ll be keeping a very close eye on.

At the center of all the chaos is Bee, a horror artist whose online following, the Hive, is… a LOT. Then there’s Jacob, her husband and manager, who finds himself at the center of Bee’s murder and claims he can’t remember what happened. And because apparently one layer of mystery wasn’t enough, Greg and Skylar start digging into Bee’s past and uncovering things that make the whole situation increasingly unsettling. I really liked how the story unfolded through different perspectives and pieces of media. News reports, social media, messages, investigation threads, it gave everything this messy, modern true crime feeling that made me feel like I was accidentally falling down a 3am internet rabbit hole. You know the kind. You start with one harmless search and suddenly you’re convinced you could solve an international crime.

The Appalachian setting worked so well for the atmosphere, too. There’s this constant feeling that something is lurking just outside the frame and I loved not knowing whether I should be more concerned about the supernatural stuff or the very real people behaving horribly and honestly, that was one of my favorite parts. The horror isn’t only about creepy paranormal elements. There’s a much more grounded darkness underneath everything, obsession, manipulation, exploitation, toxic relationships and what happens when fame and the internet turn people into content. The characters are messy in the best possible way. Bee fascinated me because there’s always another layer to her and I never felt completely sure I understood her. Jacob’s storyline had me constantly reassessing what I thought I knew about him. Greg and Skylar gave the investigation a really fun mystery solving angle and I enjoyed following their attempts to piece everything together.

Was everything perfect? Nope. I wanted a little more depth in a few places, especially with some of the character development and certain elements of the bigger mystery. I also occasionally wanted to grab everyone by the shoulders and yell, PLEASE STOP MAKING SUCH QUESTIONABLE DECISIONS. But honestly, that may have been part of the entertainment. The paranormal moments gave me some genuine goosebumps and I loved the way the book kept me questioning where reality ended and something much stranger began. I had theories. Some were terrible. Some were less terrible. I will be accepting no questions at this time.

This book was creepy, strange, fast moving and wonderfully chaotic. It blends psychological horror, supernatural mystery, internet culture, obsession and true crime energy without feeling like I was reading the same horror story I’ve seen a hundred times before.

If you like horror with a mystery to unravel, questionable people, unsettling supernatural elements, and the kind of plot that makes you whisper “oh, absolutely not” at your book pages, definitely put this one on your radar.

Thank you so much to Atria Books and Allison Gunn for allowing me to read this eARC before its release through NetGalley. Hive Mind releases April 27, 2027 and I’ll absolutely be watching for what Allison Gunn does next. 🖤🐝

[Dr. Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

🎭 Occult horror built around a celebrity murder trial
📱 Mixed media: interviews, texts, blog posts, documentary clips
💔 Extended domestic abuse content through the middle
🐌 Pacing stalls after the opening
🏔️ Appalachian setting carrying most of the atmosphere

📚 Shelf Placement
Didn't Live Up to the Premise

📖 Reading Experience
The premise is good, a scream queen found dead in an abandoned cabin, her manager husband the only witness, a trial the whole internet is watching.

Unfortunately, the plot is all over the place. Gunn tells it through interviews, text messages, blog posts and documentary footage, and that format can work, but here it spreads the story thin and slows the momentum rather than ramping it up. The book ends up reading like a domestic thriller rather than horror, and even then is not a page turner.

💭 Personal Reflections

This read less like a horror novel than a mystery/DV thriller, and that is not what I was hoping for. The author's note makes clear the abuse is what the book is actually about, and I have no complaint about that being a part of the story. I just was not expecting that it is most of the story.

The horror bits are few and far between. Most of the book alternates between scenes with our investigators trying to unravel what happened and flashbacks/texts/video of Bee's life (specifically her abuse).

🔍 Tropes & Power Lens

Skylar, one of our two investigators and a main character, is the clearest problem. Four separate times I could not follow why she was doing what she was doing, and three of those times the narrative was actively framing her as overreacting. I found myself confused and frustrated most of the time she and the other investigator, Greg, were together. She hyperventilates, she gets told to breathe, she gets called sweetheart. Greg does a Valley Girl impression at her. A hysterical, queer woman without a backstory for us to relate to who was frequently mocked felt rough to read.

Greg gets the opposite treatment and it does not help him either. He gets a childhood, a father who called him names, a whole engine of motivation. What he does not get is depth or anything to make me care what happens to him.

For a book about how trauma destroys women, I wish there were more women we could root for and care about.

🌈 Representation

Bee is bipolar, epileptic, and has PTSD. Skylar is queer. Race goes largely unmarked. The descriptions I got were blonde hair and blue eyes, brown hair and hazel eyes, one character with sun-kissed skin and no more than that. Whiteness is the assumed default here and the book does not examine why.

⚠️ Content Warnings
Content warnings are non-exhaustive and reflect what stood out to me as a reader.

Domestic abuse, physical and emotional. Forced drug administration. Non-consensual sex. Substance use and overdose. Disordered eating. Miscarriage. Mutilation. Murder. Self harm and cutting.

⭐ Rating: ⭐⭐

⭐ 1 star: Did not work for me
⭐⭐ 2 stars: Had real problems
⭐⭐⭐ 3 stars: Decent but didn't quite land
⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4 stars: Solid and enjoyable, some reservations
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 stars: Loved it, highly recommend

BookShrink ratings reflect my personal reading experience and apply to books read from 2025 onward.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Merricat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hive Mind by Alison Gunn was a happy accident for me. Somehow I requested this ARC from Atria Books without realizing it. Just clicked a serendipitous button I guess.

Hive Mind was a good solid three star read for me with an added star for the absolutely wonderful Author’s Note. So when you read this book (and you should) don’t pass by the Author’s Note at the end of the book. Because if you didn’t get more out of the actual tale than the horror and twisty mystery plot Ms. Gunn’s note is gonna drive her point home.

It is a creepy read. I am always in it for the people in black with the bird masks. There are a couple of plot lines here starting with Bee Torrence who is the Queen Bee of the plot and the Hive of fans who worship her and the husband Jacob who is not a very likable human being. Jacob has murdered (or has he?) Bee in a small cabin in the wilds of Appalachia.

There is an investigative journalist Greg Tomlin and a documentarian Skylar Ryan who are poking around to find the facts. I particularly liked Skylar not so much Greg. She seemed more fleshed out than Greg (douchey guy) was. Tomlin is in it for the cash and Ryan is looking for The Truth. In any case they probably should have passed on this job.

There were a couple of places in the book that I was unsure as to whether I was reading something that was actually happening or if I was sharing someone’s hallucinations. But it was never confusing enough for me to give up. I wanted to see what happened I wanted to know if my theories were correct.

This book would translate so well to a television series. I would love to see this happen! The psychological elements the absolute madness of some chapters ooh yeah! I would watch this!

I am so glad to have accidentally grabbed this ARC.
I had not heard of Gunn previously and I will definitely read whatever she writes next. I have added her debut novel (Nowhere) to my list of books to read next. Appalachian horror is the best kind and Gunn knows how to write it.

I definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys horror with a twisty plot. I would absolutely love to see this as a series (hello Netflix and HBO!)

Thank you so much NetGalley and Atria books for the opportunity to add a new writer to my list and a very good read this week.

[Katie Kenig · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book… I’m not sure how to even start talking about this book. My feelings about it are very complicated.

Business first: Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a digital ARC of Hive Mind in exchange for an honest review. Trigger Warnings: This book deals with domestic iolence and strong manipulation and emotional abuse. If you have trouble with these themes you might want to consider other reading material.

This book is centred around the death of a much loved public persona. A young woman - artist, influencer, actress, filmmaker - whose creepy personality built her a huge following. Though her husband/manager seems the obvious suspect, there is so much more to the story than what appears on the surface. Two journalists, a newspaper man and a young documentarian, are hired by the husband’s wealthy family to spin the story so that the family doesn’t look so bad, and this is essentially their tale.

The writing here is very good, though certain expository passages reminded me a lot of Stephen King in the early to mid 90’s. I think fellow fans of his work will enjoy this book. It hs a very distinct female voice though, one which isn’t unfamiliar with the kind of pain that Bee Torrance - the murdered woman - went through.

This book takes place primarily in West Virginia, somewhere very close to my own heart. I moved there after a scary relationship ended, and I healed in those mountains. I respect them and the people of the area. I worked as a writer at a small press there, and had a monthly column in The Appalachian Journal. The adventures the two journalists HD there rang eerily true to me. I think it can be hard to tell stories about places like that without some knowledge of life there, and I did find that careful,nonfetishizing note here, so thank you for that.

I’m not sure I really “liked” this book in some ways. It’s painful and powerful and made me uncomfortable. It’s not a light book for summer afternoons and so it took me a while to get through. I found this best as a late night read, alone with a cat and a hard drink. It’s rough in places; you need the cat for warmth and reassurance, and the drink to chase your own demons away. But that said, it’s worthwhile reading. It leaves you with a certain vengeful satisfaction that you might, if you’re a softie like me, feel a twinge of guilt over.

[Pages in the wild · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book opens with blood and mess and just doesn't stop. Feral is the only word for it, and I mean that as the highest compliment.

Jacob Peyton, Hollywood nepo baby producer, just got arrested for murdering his wife Bee Torrance (influencer, horror actress) at a cabin in the Appalachian woods. His sister Becca hires reporter Greg Tomlin, who's got roots in those same woods, to spin the story and help Jacob in the court of public opinion. Except there's a catch: Greg has to work alongside Skylar, a documentary filmmaker who grew up on the Peyton family's lot and remembers Jacob as someone who was actually kind to her.

The book jumps between a bunch of different perspectives, and for the most part it mostly works really well. There were a couple times I got a little lost, usually when we'd suddenly be in some very minor character's head during a random moment from the past, but that's a small gripe. The characters are all flawed but human, and inching their way toward slight madness. Nobody stays who you think they are for very long.

I'm obsessed with the Appalachian woods setting. There's something so naturally creepy about that much vastness, and it fits the psychological thriller/horror vibe perfectly. Is this witchcraft? The occult? Just some standard creepy cult hiding out in the woods? Idk but things are making me side eye every creak in my house. Bee having a "cult-like" social media following only adds to the confusion, is it actually occult, or just fans taking things way too far? Gunn keeps you guessing whether you're watching something supernatural, or just watching someone lose their mind.

The thing that really got me was how Gunn writes abusive relationships and how women end up stuck in them. She uses our own bias against us, that instinct to write Bee off as "on drugs" or "erratic," and then flips it on you. There's a way more heartbreaking truth underneath, and it made me sit with my own judgment for a second.

I'm someone who likes things spelled out a little more, so I wish the ending had explained more. That's just a me thing though. I did love that this book had me questioning myself the deeper we got into what Bee actually went through.

Picking up Gunn's other novel ASAP.