Challenge Corner discussion

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 a witch is haunting her. 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.

Through Ch. 10

I'm not typically one to read a lot of horror, but this one...wow! It's so eerie and having both the audio and ebook is exacerbating the eeriness for me. The narrator is really good and when she whispers things, it literally freaks me out. I couldn't/wouldn't read this at night alone in my house! But I am loving it so far anyway! lol

(view spoiler)[At first I thought this would be more focused on Eddie and I still think it will be to a degree. Sam's journalistic skills will come to play if he's one who tends to be dramatic and sensationalizes Alice's story.

Alice - poor girl! It's so awful to feel like you're "weird" like a freak weird. Being able to speak with dead people would be a bit scary, I would think. I can't belive what the kids did to her and that she dropped that witch's bottle and broke it. I assume that's going to mean bad news!

I wonder what those sounds were that Mina heard when she couldn't sleep that night. I hope she doesn't get too freaked out and leave Alice because I think she needs help and someone who knows how to help her with her gift, if it's a gift. lol

I can't imagine being surrounded all the time by people trying to get to your Alice for help. People who truly have gifts can't always just use their gift at will but rather it just happens. It's so intrusive.

I wonder why she's so afraid to be pregnant with Oscar's child. Why her fear of his being a dad...hmm...I have to keep my eyes open for his actions.

Who the heck is the witch with an upside-down face?

Creepiest statement so far: "I see her eyes in the holes" and the narrator whispers it...so freaky! (hide spoiler)]

Through Ch. 22

(view spoiler)[Why did Alice tell Sam that he is to blame for Maggie's death by abandoning her? Then he tells her to tell Maggie he's sorry, so is he accepting culpability?

Sam thought he was going to get to see Maggie but did he release the witch woman? And that scene with Vicky and her turning black/blue...at first I thought she was a witch. Is she? The séance was so freaky! The witch wants to eat Tamsin? Really? How much of the things Alice is seeing and telling are really happening and how much might she be imagining? (hide spoiler)]

Through Ch. 35

(view spoiler)[Wow, so much happened! Three deaths: Simon, Vicky, and Mary...someone or more that one person is doing something to kill people. The Riddance Girls...ugh. It sounds like they're going to make Alice a Riddance Girl. They were tortured and left to bleed out, but it says that Lisa was one and she's alive. Hmm...All the bills put a lot of financial pressure on Lisa and Paul so maybe they are looking to make money. Not quite sure how but if anyone is, it seems like maybe Paul is likely to let things be glorified to get some money.

All those pictures that Mina found were just disgusting! So is Bert the one who's behind it all? It sounds like he has Mina locked in a room with him and probably drugged.

Poor Sam feels responsible since he couldn't handle Maggie's impending death and "abandoned" her. Honestly, I get it for some people. And Eddie saved Mina, so she has survivor's guilt but the last sentence about the pillow...did she suffocate him to "help" him die? (hide spoiler)]

Finished

(view spoiler)[This one was so good. It was a bit unbelievable for sure, but I thought it was darn good. I'm not sure why Oscar was included as a character. He didn't seem to serve any real purpose. I'm glad that nobody was a witch but there was a mastermind making everyone believe there was. Pretty disgusting what Bert did! (hide spoiler)]

I'm starting this one in the morning! I'm looking forward to it, because I just finished a horrible book and need something better! LOL

To Ch 6: I am loving this set-up so far. The audio narration is great. (view spoiler)[I don't like Mina's fiancé, Oscar, much. He doesn't seem very supportive. I much prefer Sam at this point. This is reminding me of as well quite a bit, which I also enjoyed. Interested to get further. (hide spoiler)]

To Ch 20: Loving this! (view spoiler)[When they were investigating the house on Tannery Row and Mina went in the fireplace...those descriptions were SOOOO good. I got chills when she thought, don't look up! Then what happened to Mina's ex-BFF. That was so disturbing and now we're gonna get a seance!!! (hide spoiler)]

To Ch 22: (view spoiler)[Is it bad that I am suspecting Burt of something. What's in a Burtini exactly? Why can't she remember what they were doing afterwards? Was he drugging them? (hide spoiler)]

Megs, I'm glad you're enjoying it too. I got chills at times reading it!

Vicki wrote: "Megs, I'm glad you're enjoying it too. I got chills at times...

Oh, absolutely! I've already recommended it to a couple people I know will love it!

To Ch 33: (view spoiler)[First Simon now Mary. Is Alice really responsible? I'm scared 😱 (hide spoiler)]

Done! I thought this was fantastic 👏 The audiobook narrator was perfect for Mina's character. I loved the (view spoiler)['good for her' moment at the end!!! (hide spoiler)]