The Children on the Hill by Jennifer McMahon - Book Review

The Children on the Hill by Jennifer McMahon

Publication Date: 26th April 2022

Genre: Mystery/ Thriller, Women’s Fiction 

3.8 Stars 

One Liner: A few hits and misses. 

*****

The story begins in 1978 in Vermont. Dr. Helen Hildreth is a psychiatrist who cares for the mentally ill at the Hillside Inn. She lives with her two grandkids, Vi and Eric. The duo is smart, intelligent, and loves their Gran. When Dr. Hildreth takes home a pale young kid, Iris, Vi takes the responsibility to help the girl come out of her shocked shell. But things go wrong when carefully hidden secrets are dragged into the open light. 

It’s 2019, and Lizzy Shelley has earned her name as a monster hunter. Her podcast, Monsters Among Us, is popular with the public. Lizzy knows monsters are real and decides it’s time to tackle the monsters from her past when a young girl disappears from Vermont. Where does her monster hunt take Lizzy this time? Will she come out alive, and at what cost? 

1. It’s more of a YA book (older teens) than adult horror, and I won’t call this horror despite the monsters. 

2. The climax concept is wonderful, even if the execution didn’t sustain the intensity. 

3. The narration is well-paced (at least for me), and the last third picks up more speed. 

4. The characters didn’t feel as if they gave their full in the present track. The past was much better. 

5. Still, the timelines blend very well and without any jerks or bumps. 

To sum up, The Children on the Hill felt more like a YA novel and was enjoyable for most of it. 

Thank you, NetGalley, Gallery Books, and Gallery/Scout Press, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. 

#NetGalley