Something in the Walls is a dark and atmospheric thriller with witchy vibes and small town horrors. We follow Mina an inexperienced child psychologist who stumbles into the chance to join a journalist to investigate the story of Alice, a teen who is said to be haunted by a witch. They travel to the small town of Banathel steeped in superstition and local legends of witchcraft. They encounter hagstones hung from doorways and insular townsfolk with secrets and a shared history. There is a growing frenzy among the towns people as they look to Alice to heal and solve their problems. As things escalate and the situation with Alice worsens, Mina must unearth the dark secrets of the town.

I love stories of local legends and the isolation that small towns harboring secrets have. The late 80’s setting and heatwave happening at the time really contribute to this feeling of oppressive atmosphere. And while I felt the transition to the ultimate conclusion works and is effective, there are a few loose ends plot holes left along the way. In particular there is a shift that happens in the story after a reveal which is chilling in it’s own right but I was left with so many questions especially to one particularly inexplicable event that happens shortly before that shift that just gets dropped. This is a gripping read that’s well paced and easy to fall into, just don’t look too deeply or you’ll notice the cracks in the story.

I think this would appeal to fans of Midsommar and The Wicker Man. Perfect for people looking for a creepy atmospheric read with mystery and secrets to uncover.

Thank you very much to NetGalley and the publisher. I received an advance review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.