In Something In the Walls, Daisy Pearce masterfully blends the chilling tones of horror with a supernatural story that feels deeply rooted in the 90s. The plot follows an English teenager who finds herself haunted by a witch, conjuring up comparisons to beloved movies like The Conjuring, The Witch, and even Midsommar. The creep-fest vibe lingers, especially when you start to notice how the prose feels almost like a dab of holy water, leaving an unsettling aftertaste that echoes in your brain long after you’ve finished reading. It’s like a real-life haunting, in the way the narrative stays with you, turning into one of your favorite unsettling stories.
The way Pearce writes makes it clear that the novel is almost engineered to capture the reader’s attention, with every sentence carrying weight that demands your full focus. The characters draw you in, each one more complex and intriguing than the last. The narrative itself feels like a haunting, echoing the Enfield case of the 70s, making the supernatural elements feel more grounded in reality.
As you read, you can’t help but feel a pull, almost as if being drawn into a prayer-like trance, diving deep into a world where you can’t escape the ever-present shadows and shades of fear. If you ask me, you’ll want to say yes to this eerie experience, because this book will stay with you long after you shall we dive deeper.
The Struggles Between Love, Grief, and Unsettling Choices
In Something In the Walls, the story follows Mina, a child psychologist, who agrees to go on a trip with Sam, a handsome but ethical journalist, to investigate a haunting in a tiny, sheltered village on the English coast. The village of Banathel sets the scene for a cautionary tale, where Mina struggles with the grief of her younger brother’s death and hopes that working on Alice’s case will help her come to terms with it. She’s unsure whether it’s the case or something deeper, but the emotional weight of the situation is undeniable, even if she isn’t fully conscious of her own rationale.
As the investigation unfolds, the story touches on personal struggles and difficult choices, like whether to settle for a boring fiancé or risk everything for the pursuit of answers. While Mina may joke about marrying her fiancé, her true emotions are tested when she faces a demonically possessed teenager. The mix of mystery and introspection keeps you engaged, with characters trying to navigate their own haunting situations and the dark forces they face in Banathel. The narrative shows that even in a fictional village, the search for peace and resolution can be far more complicated than expected.
However, before we get started, here is the official plot synopsis, courtesy of the publisher:
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 contemplates 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.
Then she meets journalist Sam Hunter at the grief group one day, and he has a proposition for her: Thirteen-year-old Alice Webber claims a witch is haunting her. Living with her family in the remote village of Banathel, Alice finds her symptoms are getting increasingly disturbing. Taking this job will give Mina some experience and much-needed money; 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 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.
Different Kind of Haunting
Unlike typical witchy stories filled with cloudy weather, pouring rain, and cold rooms, Something in the Walls takes a different approach. The setting is a brutal, sweltering summer, where the unrelenting sun and endless heat create an oppressive atmosphere. The way Pearce’s descriptions capture the discomfort makes you feel hot, sweaty, and irritated, waiting for the tension to boil over. Every detail is visceral and specific, from the way sweat bites at the skin to the stinging of the eyes and the greasy, clotting smell in the air. It’s a suffocating environment that adds to the book’s growing suspense.
Story That Lingers in the Mind
The real terror doesn’t come from ghosts or demons, but from witches, making this novel one of the scariest I’ve read in a long time. Two key moments stand out—one inside a gross, rundown house where Sam and Mina are investigating the folk origins of the curse, and another in Alice’s boiling bedroom, where a fraught conversation about witchcraft leaves you holding your breath. Both scenes are so intense that they feel like nightmare fuel, making me rethink how I look at chimneys forever. The horror in this book isn’t just supernatural—it lingers, creeping into your mind the same way a truly terrifying story should.
Haunting Turn of Events
The ending of Something In the Walls takes a surprising twist, and while I was very much into its Midsommar-like turn, the last scene left me a bit confused. The abrupt pivot away from Alice’s possession felt like a missed opportunity to explore more details of what was truly haunting her. The great horror built up through the preceding chapters made the final handful of moments feel just a smiiiiidge anticlimactic, especially in terms of the witch. That said, it’s still a five-star read, and you’d regret it if you skip this book—do so at your own peril. Also, a fun fact: the word Banathel, the village name, appears to mean brooms in the Cornish dialect—a fitting touch!
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