{"id":2153,"date":"2025-03-03T05:51:41","date_gmt":"2025-03-03T05:51:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/?p=2153"},"modified":"2025-03-03T05:51:41","modified_gmt":"2025-03-03T05:51:41","slug":"something-in-the-walls-by-daisy-pearce-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/?p=2153","title":{"rendered":"Something in the Walls by Daisy Pearce"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the sweltering heat of a British summer, Daisy Pearce\u2019s \u201cSomething in the Walls\u201d beckons readers into a world where superstition and psychology collide with devastating consequences. This atmospheric horror-thriller<\/a> marks Pearce\u2019s return after her previous novels \u201cThe Silence\u201d and \u201cThe Missing,\u201d bringing her trademark blend of psychological suspense and disturbing imagery to a story steeped in folk horror tradition.<\/p>\n

When newly qualified child psychologist Mina Ellis meets journalist Sam Hunter at a bereavement group, she\u2019s dragged into investigating the case of thirteen-year-old Alice Webber, who claims a witch is watching her through the cracks in her bedroom chimney. The investigation takes them to Banathel, a remote Cornish village with an unsettling history of witchcraft and a tradition called \u201cRiddance\u201d \u2013 a ritual meant to cleanse young girls of demonic possession. As Mina attempts to uncover the truth behind Alice\u2019s claims, she confronts both the town\u2019s deeply rooted superstitions and her own unresolved grief over her brother Eddie\u2019s death years earlier.<\/p>\n

Spellbinding Atmosphere and Setting<\/h2>\n

Pearce excels at creating a claustrophobic atmosphere that practically drips off the page. The oppressive heat wave that serves as the novel\u2019s backdrop becomes a character of its own, heightening tensions and lending an apocalyptic air to the proceedings:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe air is heavy with fragrant heat; melting rubber, hot clay. The tails of smoke.\u201d<\/em><\/h4>\n

The village of Banathel itself is masterfully rendered\u2014a place where hagstones hang in doorways and ancient superstitions dictate modern behavior. Pearce\u2019s description of the village\u2019s pond where the \u201cRiddance\u201d rituals take place is particularly chilling:<\/p>\n

\u201cEven over the smoke I can smell the water; silt and copper and rich black mud.\u201d<\/em><\/h4>\n

This atmospheric quality is undoubtedly the novel\u2019s greatest strength, creating a miasma of dread that permeates every page.<\/p>\n

Complex Characters and Their Demons<\/h2>\n

Mina Ellis: A Protagonist Haunted by More Than Ghosts<\/h3>\n

Mina is a compelling, flawed protagonist whose psychological struggles mirror the external horror she faces. Her relationships\u2014with her distant fianc\u00e9 Oscar, with the enigmatic Sam, and with the memory of her brother\u2014are textured and believable. As the novel progresses, Pearce peels back layers of Mina\u2019s past, revealing the true circumstances of her brother\u2019s death and her role in it. This revelation transforms what might have been a straightforward horror story<\/a> into something more profound\u2014an exploration of guilt, grief, and the stories we tell ourselves to survive.<\/p>\n

Supporting Cast: Shadows and Substance<\/h3>\n

The supporting characters are equally nuanced:<\/p>\n

Alice Webber<\/strong> \u2013 A teenager trapped between childhood and adulthood, whose apparent possession blurs the line between mental illness and supernatural influence
\nSam Hunter<\/strong> \u2013 A journalist haunted by the death of his daughter Maggie, seeking answers through paranormal investigation
\nBert Roscow<\/strong> \u2013 A seemingly kindly neighbor whose true nature represents the novel\u2019s most disturbing revelation
\nFern<\/strong> \u2013 A video store owner with her own connection to Banathel\u2019s dark traditions<\/p>\n

Each character carries their own trauma, making them vulnerable to manipulation by both supernatural and human forces. Pearce is particularly adept at depicting the power dynamics between adults and children, and how trauma can be passed down through generations.<\/p>\n

Narrative Strengths and Weaknesses<\/h2>\n

Strengths: Atmospheric Horror and Psychological Depth<\/h3>\n

Immersive setting<\/strong>: The oppressive heat wave and isolated village create a perfect breeding ground for horror
\nUnsettling imagery<\/strong>: Pearce has a gift for disturbing descriptions, from the \u201chagstones\u201d hanging in doorways to the black substance leaking through the chimney
\nPsychological complexity<\/strong>: The characters\u2019 internal struggles are as compelling as the external threats
\nSlow-burn suspense<\/strong>: The gradual revelation of Banathel\u2019s secrets creates genuine tension
\nFolk horror elements<\/strong>: The novel draws effectively on traditional witchcraft lore and small-town superstition<\/p>\n

Weaknesses: Pacing Issues and Underdeveloped Elements<\/h3>\n

Uneven pacing<\/strong>: The middle section drags somewhat before rushing toward the climax
\nAmbiguous supernatural elements<\/strong>: Some readers may find the ambiguity around whether anything supernatural is actually happening frustrating
\nUnderdeveloped relationships<\/strong>: The connection between Mina and Sam feels somewhat rushed
\nConvenient plot developments<\/strong>: Some revelations come too easily or depend too heavily on coincidence
\nAbrupt ending<\/strong>: The hospital epilogue feels somewhat disconnected from the main narrative<\/p>\n

Thematic Explorations: Witchcraft, Trauma, and Power<\/h2>\n

Pearce deftly explores how superstition can be weaponized against vulnerable populations<\/a>, particularly young women. The \u201cRiddance\u201d ritual serves as a potent metaphor for how society controls female bodies and behavior under the guise of protection. This contemporary relevance gives the novel a depth beyond typical horror fare.<\/p>\n

The exploration of trauma is equally nuanced. Each character carries wounds that shape their perception and behavior, making them susceptible to manipulation. Pearce suggests that trauma, like possession, can be contagious \u2013 passing from person to person, generation to generation.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know, you\u2019ll go to prison for this. All these girls were underage.\u201d<\/em><\/h4>\n

\u201cThe problem with Riddance girls, Mina, is that they\u2019re liars. Thieves. Runaways. The Riddance isn\u2019t a panacea, it can\u2019t fundamentally change who they are. Under the skin they are still rotten.\u201d<\/em><\/h4>\n

This exchange between Mina and Bert crystallizes the novel\u2019s exploration of how power operates \u2013 through gaslighting, through positioning victims as unreliable, through exploiting societal biases.<\/p>\n

Stylistic Elements: Gothic Horror Meets Psychological Thriller<\/h2>\n

Pearce\u2019s prose style is evocative without being overwrought, blending sensory description with psychological insight. Her use of fragmented passages during moments of high tension effectively conveys Mina\u2019s disorientation:<\/p>\n

\u201cThe night is inky dark, humidity pressing close to the skin. Smothering us. Sam, running his hands through his hair, walking beside me, long shadowed, pleading. He is still clutching that shoe to his chest, glassy eyes deeply socketed. Distant thunder over the moors, a pall of hazy smoke across the green. The crackling PA system, which plays over speakers hanging from the branches of the trees; a waltz, the tune slow-moving and drowsy.\u201d<\/em><\/h4>\n

This stylistic approach creates a dreamlike quality that enhances the novel\u2019s ambiguity about what is real and what is imagined.<\/p>\n

Comparable Works and Genre Context<\/h2>\n

Fans of the following will find much to appreciate in \u201cSomething in the Walls\u201d:<\/p>\n

Sarah Waters\u2019 \u201cThe Little Stranger\u201d<\/strong> \u2013 For its ambiguous haunting and psychological depth
\nAndrew Michael Hurley\u2019s \u201cThe Loney\u201d<\/strong> \u2013 For its exploration of religious ritual and rural superstition
\nShirley Jackson\u2019s \u201cWe Have Always Lived in the Castle\u201d<\/strong> \u2013 For its unreliable narration and small-town suspicion
\nSarah Moss\u2019s \u201cGhost Wall\u201d<\/strong> \u2013 For its examination of how ancient practices can be misused in modern contexts<\/p>\n

Pearce positions herself within the tradition of British folk horror while bringing contemporary psychological insight to the genre.<\/p>\n

Final Assessment: A Haunting Experience with Minor Flaws<\/h2>\n

\u201cSomething in the Walls\u201d is a darkly compelling novel that lingers in the mind long after reading. While it occasionally stumbles with pacing issues and some underdeveloped elements, its strengths \u2013 atmospheric setting, psychological depth, and exploration of trauma \u2013 make it a worthwhile read for fans of horror with substance.<\/p>\n

Pearce demonstrates a keen understanding of how true horror stems not from supernatural forces but from human capacity for cruelty and self-deception. The novel\u2019s most chilling moments come not from potential hauntings but from revelations about what people have done to one another.<\/p>\n

Something in the Walls successfully balances ambiguity with satisfaction, leaving readers to decide for themselves how much of the horror was supernatural and how much was born from human darkness. This thoughtful approach, combined with genuinely disturbing imagery and complex characters, makes \u201cSomething in the Walls\u201d a notable addition to contemporary horror literature, despite its occasional shortcomings.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In the sweltering heat of a British summer, Daisy Pearce\u2019s \u201cSomething in the Walls\u201d beckons readers into a world where superstition and psychology collide with devastating consequences. This atmospheric horror-thriller marks Pearce\u2019s return after her previous novels \u201cThe Silence\u201d and \u201cThe Missing,\u201d bringing her trademark blend of psychological suspense and disturbing imagery to a story […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":2116,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2153","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bookreviews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2153"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2153"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2153\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2116"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2153"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2153"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2153"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}