Talking Scared

278 – Daisy Pearce & Bog Witches of the World Unite!

Talking Scared

Show Notes

This week is full of muck and murk and mushrooms. We flit amongst the trees, we bed on moss, we howl at the moon.

Daisy Pearce is entering her bog witch era!

The author takes us to her native Cornwall, for a story of haunting and imprisonment, small town baggage and creepy houses in the woods. We talk about the oppressive landscape and the mythical texture of the place. We ask whether anyone in a small town can ever really leave high school behind… and we really look at the fine art of trepanation AKA – having a hole drilled in your head (and what it would feel like!)

Enjoy!

Other books mentioned:

Something in the Walls (2025), by Daisy Pearce

Water Shall Refuse Them (2019), by Lucy McKnight Hardy

A Head Full of Ghosts (2015), by Paul Tremblay

Itch (2025), by Gemma Amor

The Man From the Train : The Solving of a Century-Old Serial Killer Mystery (2017), by Bill James and Rachel McCarthy James

A Simple Plan (1993), by Scott Smith

From Hell (1999), by Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell

Support Talking Scared on Patreon

Check out the Talking Scared Merch line – at VoidMerch

Come talk books on Threads, Bluesky, and Instagram, or email direct to [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

More from Talking Scared

Oct 20, 2026

The 300th author interview is here. And I’m delighted it’s with a debut author, about a truly wonderful book.

Oct 13, 2026

In Solace House, Will Maclean takes us back to the 90s for a drug-fuelled trip through some mindbending architecture. It’s a chance to get nostalgic for a more innocent time, when the clothes were baggy, the music was better, and you could spend a summer spent renovating an old asylum without needing to put in on TikTok.

Oct 6, 2026

This episode needs no attempt at a witty introduction. Stephen King is back to talk about Other Worlds Than These – the concluding volume of The Talisman saga, begun with Peter Straub 45 years ago.

Sep 29, 2026

Leaning into absolute high geekery this week – with Kyle Winkler’s novel of how family game night can go badly wrong!

See all episodes →