Something in the Walls - by Daisy Pearce (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

A Library Reads Pick!

Most Anticipated by Goodreads, E! News, BookRiot, and more!

Unbearably tense, utterly propulsive, and studded with folklore and horror, Something in the Walls is perfect for anyone who loves Midsommar and The Haunting of Hill House.

Newly-minted child psychologist Mina has little experience. In a field where the first people called are experts, she's been unable to get her feet wet. Instead she aimlessly spends her days stuck in the stifling heat wave sweeping across Britain, and anxiously contemplating her upcoming marriage to careful, precise researcher Oscar. The only reprieve from her small, close world is attending the local bereavement group to mourn her brother's death from years ago. That is, until she meets journalist Sam Hunter at the grief group one day. And he has a proposition for her.

Alice Webber is a thirteen year old girl who claims she's being haunted by a witch. Living with her family in their crowded home in the remote village of Banathel, Alice's symptoms are increasingly disturbing, and money is tight. Taking this job will give Mina some experience; Sam will get the scoop of a lifetime; and Alice will get better, Mina is sure of it.

But instead of improving, Alice's behavior becomes increasingly inexplicable and intense. The town of Banathel has a deep history of superstition and witchcraft. They believe there is evil in the world. They believe there are ways of...dealing with it. And they don't expect outsiders to understand.

As Mina races to uncover the truth behind Alice's condition, the dark cracks of Banathel begin to show. Mina is desperate to understand how deep their sinister traditions go-and how her own past may be the biggest threat of all.

"Unexpected, mesmerizing, and totally original...will keep you guessing until its wild end." - #1 International Bestselling author Darby Kane

"A taut tale that chillingly intertwines psychological and supernatural suspense." - Kirkus Reviews

Review Quotes

"The novel is full of superb, and sustained, tension and heavy doses of folklore and eerie history, making this a fun read that is also smart and engaging. This might be Pearce's best book yet." --New York Times Book Review

"A rewarding folk thriller... What begins as a supernatural thriller gradually develops into a thoughtful meditation on grief and groupthink, with enough pathos and drama to keep the pages turning. It's a winner." --Publishers Weekly

"In this tense page-turner, Pearce weaves together folklore and horror to create a haunting suspense novel that readers will not soon forget." --Library Journal

"A taut tale that chillingly intertwines psychological and supernatural suspense." --Kirkus Reviews

"Pearce provides visceral descriptions of people and places and smells and sounds to create a world where no one can trust their senses. Readers will be left questioning which is more disturbing, the rot within or the evil of other people." --Booklist

"Pearce harnesses every sentence into a weapon... the overarching storyline is that of a classic folk horror, composed in a concise, razor-edged narrative. Pearce gives just enough to let your imagination go haywire, resulting in crushing creepiness and paranoia." --Fangoria Magazine

"A deliciously creepy and twisty chiller that fans of The Conjuring and Stephen King will love." --Bestselling author Mark Edwards

"Daisy Pearce takes readers on a haunting ride through small town folklore, unresolved trauma, and fear with shifting alliances and shocking twists that blur the line between truth and lies. Unexpected, mesmerizing, and totally original, Something in the Walls delivers breathless thriller pacing and horror vibes in a story with a deep emotional core that will keep you guessing until its wild end." --#1 International Bestselling author Darby Kane

"A harrowing and moving examination of how our ghosts never truly leave us. I'm a sucker for British folk horror, but Pearce has written something magical with the capacity of leaving me genuinely frightened. There are scenes in this book I'll never forget." --Kristi DeMeester, author of Such a Pretty Smile

"A terrific tale of cults, witch bottles, curses, witchcraft and the 'old ways.'" --Horror DNA

"The perfect dark, creepy, witchy read to keep you warm with fright this winter... creepy, emotional, complex, and incredibly atmospheric." --Horror Bound

About the Author

DAISY PEARCE was born in Cornwall but currently lives in Sussex, UK. In 2015 she won the Chindi Authors Short Story Competition. Her short stories have previously been published in One Eyed Grey and performed at the Small Story Cabaret. She has also written about mental health issues for XOJane. She is the author of The Silence and The Missing. Specialist subjects include: ghosts, poltergeists and the perfect red lipstick.