Genre Fiction
![Jennifer McMahon - [object Object] author](https://res.cloudinary.com/readsomnia/image/upload/authors/a_B001IGFL6S.jpg)
The Children on the Hill
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Drowning Kind comes a genre-defying new novel, inspired by Mary Shelley's masterpiece Frankenstein, that brilliantly explores the eerie mysteries of childhood and the evils perpetrated by the monsters among us.
1978: At her renowned treatment center in picturesque Vermont, the brilliant psychiatrist, Dr. Helen Hildreth, is acclaimed for her compassionate work with the mentally ill. But when she's home with her cherished grandchildren, Vi and Eric, she's just Gran-teaching them how to take care of their pets, preparing them home-cooked meals, providing them with care and attention and love.
Then one day Gran brings home a child to stay with the family. Iris-silent, hollow-eyed, skittish, and feral-does not behave like a normal girl.
Still, Violet is thrilled to have a new playmate. She and Eric invite Iris to join their Monster Club, where they catalogue all kinds of monsters and dream up ways to defeat them. Before long, Iris begins to come out of her shell. She and Vi and Eric do everything together: ride their bicycles, go to the drive-in, meet at their clubhouse in secret to hunt monsters. Because, as Vi explains, monsters are everywhere.
2019: Lizzy Shelley, the host of the popular podcast Monsters Among Us, is traveling to Vermont, where a young girl has been abducted, and a monster sighting has the town in an uproar. She's determined to hunt it down, because Lizzy knows better than anyone that monsters are real-and one of them is her very own sister.
A haunting, vividly suspenseful page-turner from the "literary descendant of Shirley Jackson" (Chris Bohjalian, author of The Flight Attendant), The Children on the Hill takes us on a breathless journey to face the primal fears that lurk within us all.
1978: At her renowned treatment center in picturesque Vermont, the brilliant psychiatrist, Dr. Helen Hildreth, is acclaimed for her compassionate work with the mentally ill. But when she's home with her cherished grandchildren, Vi and Eric, she's just Gran-teaching them how to take care of their pets, preparing them home-cooked meals, providing them with care and attention and love.
Then one day Gran brings home a child to stay with the family. Iris-silent, hollow-eyed, skittish, and feral-does not behave like a normal girl.
Still, Violet is thrilled to have a new playmate. She and Eric invite Iris to join their Monster Club, where they catalogue all kinds of monsters and dream up ways to defeat them. Before long, Iris begins to come out of her shell. She and Vi and Eric do everything together: ride their bicycles, go to the drive-in, meet at their clubhouse in secret to hunt monsters. Because, as Vi explains, monsters are everywhere.
2019: Lizzy Shelley, the host of the popular podcast Monsters Among Us, is traveling to Vermont, where a young girl has been abducted, and a monster sighting has the town in an uproar. She's determined to hunt it down, because Lizzy knows better than anyone that monsters are real-and one of them is her very own sister.
A haunting, vividly suspenseful page-turner from the "literary descendant of Shirley Jackson" (Chris Bohjalian, author of The Flight Attendant), The Children on the Hill takes us on a breathless journey to face the primal fears that lurk within us all.
Editorial Reviews
[A] stellar take on Mary Shelley's Frankenstein . . . McMahon keeps the reader wondering how much is real and how much is imagined. This is a must for psychological thriller fans." -Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"McMahon succeeds admirably in building real chills and a surprising twist, offering a satisfying addition to the Frankenstein-inspired oeuvre. Mary Shelley would give it two thumbs up." -Kirkus (starred review)
"This modern take on Frankenstein has a delicious twist at the end. This novel is an all-nighter!" -LibraryReads, "April 2022 Hall of Fame"
"In a tightrope's walk of suspense, The Children on the Hill asks the reader to consider the precarious nature of memory and the definition of the word ‘monster.'" -WBUR ARTery, "Spring Books Guide"
"I always show up for Jennifer McMahon. Her storytelling is tried and true. I don't want to miss her unique brand of suspense." -LitReactor, "2022 Horror Your Do Not Want to Miss"
"McMahon succeeds admirably in building real chills and a surprising twist, offering a satisfying addition to the Frankenstein-inspired oeuvre. Mary Shelley would give it two thumbs up." -Kirkus (starred review)
"This modern take on Frankenstein has a delicious twist at the end. This novel is an all-nighter!" -LibraryReads, "April 2022 Hall of Fame"
"In a tightrope's walk of suspense, The Children on the Hill asks the reader to consider the precarious nature of memory and the definition of the word ‘monster.'" -WBUR ARTery, "Spring Books Guide"
"I always show up for Jennifer McMahon. Her storytelling is tried and true. I don't want to miss her unique brand of suspense." -LitReactor, "2022 Horror Your Do Not Want to Miss"
Readers Top Reviews
Kelley Moss
…. I will definitely be reading more!!! I loved the writing style, the characters, the suspense and unknown. I was disappointed when the story came to an end, and I don’t know how I wanted it to end but I do know that I wanted more.
Joan H.A. BoosKel
I enjoyed some of the book, but it became tedious moving back and forth between timelines, and then sticking the podcast (?) updates in between the timelines, just didn't work for me. And I never like when characters have odd names that I have to stumble over as I read... SKINK was an annoying addition to the story. All in all I've liked her other books, this one was just so-so.
FraniJoan H.A
I really loved this book, I did figure out part of it about halfway through, but the story is remarkable. It is in part based on some fact from experiments and papers written in the late 20's and early 30's. Yes, there are monsters, but they wear human skin. The children in this book were so much like all kids in the 70's as well as the culture. I will be reading more from this author..
Ruby Schmidt F
Jennifer McMahon, is my favorite Author. I have read every one of her books & was thrilled when this one came out. Again, I absolutely loved it! The story was brilliant & the ending blew me away. Vi & Iris were remarkable characters. As in all her books you are thinking about who each character is & then. WHAT!!! I never seen that coming. Keep writing Jennifer & I will keep reading!
Pandme01Jody ARub
The problem with enjoying Jennifer McMahon books (which I do, I’ve read them all) is that you can pick out the twist from a mile away. Which I did. I figured out the twist almost immediately and I was 100 percent correct. Extremely disappointing, almost formulaic except for a truly bizarre let-down ending which felt like McMahon was rushing to a deadline and just needed to wrap things up fast. It was all over the place and was way too abrupt. Extremely disappointing. I would have to say the whole big twist thing is a liability at this point. It might be time for McMahon to mix it up a bit.
