Something in the Walls

The story is good but kind of hits a weird bump of meh right before the end. If you get past that it ends well enough. I’m sure people won’t like that everything isn’t wrapped up with a pretty bow but it leaves just enough detail out to allow the reader agency in thought.

Something is wrong with teenage Alice, something that has drawn the attention not only of the locals in her small village but also of journalist Sam Hunter. When Sam meets our main character, Mina, at a grief support group, he finds out that she recently graduated with a degree in child psychology, and thinks this could be a good opportunity for the both of them: practical experience for Mina to add to her resume, and an intriguing story for his newspaper. But when they meet Alice, the two aren't prepared for what's haunting her.

I was hooked from the beginning of this story and found Mina a sympathetic if somewhat passive protagonist. There is also some genuinely creepy imagery in the book and a great sense of dread throughout, but the last 10% of the book lost me. The big twists (if they were in fact meant to be twists?) were pretty obviously telegraphed earlier in the story and that made all the reveals seem to drag a bit. Still, I liked it well enough and wouldn't dissuade anyone from reading it or anything. 3 hagstones out of 5.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC.

This book was a really unique and atmospheric book. I would definitely rate it more a horror than the thriller it's billed. It's one of the spookier books I've read the past year. 

I really adored the MC Mina and the other focus Alice, they were the highlights of the book. The town was a fantastic nosy small town too. 

I unfortunately guessed the twist very early but enjoyed the journey and pieces that led us to the end. I enjoyed the ending too. 

I can't say much about this without spoiling because it really is a journey. A journey of small towns, superstitions, and fighting your demons (inner and whatever is in the wall 😂)