She's looking for the truth, but something else is staring back.

 

Newly-trained child psychologist Mina has little experience. In a field full of experts, she's been unable to find work, instead aimlessly spending her days stuck in the stifling heat wave sweeping across Britain. So it feels like a welcome reprieve when journalist Sam Hunter approaches her with a proposition.

 

Alice Webber is a thirteen-year-old girl who claims she's being haunted by a witch. Living with her family in the remote Cornish village of Banathel, Alice's symptoms are increasingly disturbing. 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 as Alice's behaviour becomes increasingly inexplicable and intense, the dark cracks in Banathel begin to show. The village has a deep history of superstition and witchcraft. They believe there is evil in the world, and they have ways of... dealing with it. Mina is desperate to understand how deep their sinister traditions go - and how her own past may be the biggest threat of all.

 

A haunting suspense novel that readers will not soon forget. - Library Journal

 

A taut tale that chillingly intertwines psychological and supernatural suspense. - Kirkus

A deliciously creepy and twisty chiller that fans of The Conjuring and Stephen King will love. - Bestselling author Mark Edwards

 

Pearce provides visceral descriptions of people and places and smells and sounds to create a world where no one can trust their senses. Readers will be left questioning which is more disturbing, the rot within or the evil of other people. - Booklist

 

Pearce has written something magical with the capacity of leaving me genuinely frightened. There are scenes in this book I'll never forget. - Kristi DeMeester, author of Such a Pretty Smile