The Thirteen by Susie Moloney

Mar 08, 2012 Amy Lignor rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Dear Readers:

Perhaps it is because I am a Stephen King fan, but I have to disagree with the three-star reviews on this one. There are a great many paranormals out there in the world of fiction right now (especially of the ‘fanged’ variety, as we all know). But I almost fell off my chair when I began reading this new offering from Susie Moloney - an author who has already proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that she has an incredible gift when it comes to telling a story. This review, however, is g Dear Readers:

Perhaps it is because I am a Stephen King fan, but I have to disagree with the three-star reviews on this one. There are a great many paranormals out there in the world of fiction right now (especially of the ‘fanged’ variety, as we all know). But I almost fell off my chair when I began reading this new offering from Susie Moloney - an author who has already proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that she has an incredible gift when it comes to telling a story. This review, however, is going to feel like you’re back in English class having your first experience with iambic pentameter…because I can only go so far.

From the very first moment when I met Chick, I was intrigued. Chick is a woman in her 60’s who has had enough. She has just buried her husband - a man she truly loved - and she feels incredibly guilty about something that the reader simply doesn’t know until further on in the book. But as I watched Chick and listened to her thoughts, I was amazed and chilled to the bone at the same time as she pulled out the Valium and a Zippo lighter. (No, I can’t tell you more than that).

Then I met up with a woman named, Audra. Audra is also a mature woman who has also buried her husband. She is basically in a huge mess, wondering when the proverbial crap will hit the fan. As her heart begins to race, one of her ‘frenemies’ - a woman by the name of Izzy Riley - arrives, and stands above her with a smile. Izzy is the one who knows exactly what’s happening to the women of Haven Woods, and how only THEY can find a way to solve the problems before it’s too late and they end up losing the rest of what they have.

Paula is Audra’s daughter. She is a single mom of a girl named, Rowan, who is a bit hard to handle. When Paula gets a call from Mrs. Riley telling her that he mother has had a heart attack and she must come home immediately, Paula and Rowan get into a car that will, quite possibly, take them into hell.

Marla is Izzy’s daughter, and she not only knows why the creepy things are happening to the women she knows, but she also seems to despise her mother. The oldest and dearest friend of Paula, Marla is excited when she learns that Paula is coming home. You see, Paula left Haven Woods when she was only sixteen and pregnant with Rowan. This was when her mother basically threw her out of the town and told her never to return. Why is that, you wonder? I can’t tell you, but BOY do you WANT to know!

As the intricate world of Haven Woods unfolds, readers will learn all about the secrets and lies that are held there. They will learn about murder, deception, the dark arts, evil personified, and all kinds of ‘tasty’ morsels that will have them up all night reading to the very end to see how everyone ends up when this author calls it a day.

Susie Moloney has, once again, done the impossible. Not only is her tale flawless and her characters beyond memorable, but she has the ability to take The Stepford Wives, mix them with a little Witches of Eastwick, and throw in some horror that only ‘King’ - the master of the genre - has had the ability to produce. This is a straight ‘A,’ readers! You will look at your neighbors in a whole new light after you finish this one. Enjoy!

Until Next Time, Everybody,
Amy ...more

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Mar 07, 2012 Jennifer rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: para-witches

Why read: Won from LibraryThing Early Reviewers

What impressed me: While the book's synopsis of "Desperate Housewives" meets "The Witches of Eastwick" proved to be pretty far off from the actual story in The Thirteen, I found I really enjoyed the book. The witches were presented in an interesting way - evil, but that wasn't really their original purpose. It was a great way to show how far woman are willing to go to make life better for themselves and their families. Paula and her daughter, Rowan, ...more

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Jul 23, 2011 Ann Douglas rated it it was ok

Shelves: novel, fiction, read-in-2011, canadian-fiction, mystery-thriller

A fairly predictable horror novel without the underlying social critique the cover copy had led me to anticipate.

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Sep 07, 2012 Monique rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: wanksters-one-star-books

I really dont know what to say about this book except I am glad it is over..From the story blurb and the reviews I thought it would be suspenseful, intriguing and clever with the story of a group of witches who live in a surburban neighborhood and work on making everything they ever want become a reality--by any means neccessary. I was all set to fall into this book, I love witches and I thought it would be reminiscent of Anne Rice's Mayfair witches trilogies or some other great supernatural rea I really dont know what to say about this book except I am glad it is over..From the story blurb and the reviews I thought it would be suspenseful, intriguing and clever with the story of a group of witches who live in a surburban neighborhood and work on making everything they ever want become a reality--by any means neccessary. I was all set to fall into this book, I love witches and I thought it would be reminiscent of Anne Rice's Mayfair witches trilogies or some other great supernatural read and then when it was compared to a Stephen King read I was hooked, but alas somewhere within it fell flat..The witches are intent on maintaining their way of life and their powers and made ultimate deals with a mysterious evil being with their only requirement to make sacrifices and keep a coven of thirteen women at all times..The neighborhood thrives under the witches's control and everyone is perfect and happy.... churches close, hospitals close and life is eerily calm until one of the witches takes her destiny in her own hands and after losing her husband in a sacrifice takes her own life and alters the witches' sense of reality-- everything that was right in their lives goes wrong with the only way to fix it being to bring one of the witches's daughters back to the fold. It is here that the book starts with the daughter Paula and her daughter Rowan returning back to the neighborhood after finding out her mother is "sick" which was basically an excuse to get Paula and Rowan to town to join the coven..Even as I am writing this review I am drawn into the plot which is why it is so disappointing how the book was written, it was silly with insipid characters you don't like, confusing thought patterns you cant follow, annoying parenthetical phrases in between sentences, repetitive statements that arent needed (God's special thinkers?) I just had problems with the delivery overall, it wasnt like Desperate Housewives to me because the characters were hollow, if this book was maybe longer with backstory one each witch and more detail on the "creator", the elusive evil He..I hate the way I had to rip into this book because the Stepford wives premise was very interesting and I wanted so so much more.. ...more

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Sep 29, 2011 Madeline Ashby rated it liked it

I was convinced on this book after hearing Ms. Maloney read from the opening at a party in Toronto. It was a fabulous read, infused with character but still carefully controlled. For the most part, the book maintains a similar sense of control. It's obvious what's going on from the beginning, because Maloney's book is dancing with tropes we've all seen trotted out before: a woman with a past returns to where it all started, deals with the traumas that have been holding her back in life, and emer I was convinced on this book after hearing Ms. Maloney read from the opening at a party in Toronto. It was a fabulous read, infused with character but still carefully controlled. For the most part, the book maintains a similar sense of control. It's obvious what's going on from the beginning, because Maloney's book is dancing with tropes we've all seen trotted out before: a woman with a past returns to where it all started, deals with the traumas that have been holding her back in life, and emerges triumphant. Also, there are witches.

The witches are easily the most enjoyable part of The Thirteen. They're the most completely realized of the characters. Their evil is mundane and real and totally believable, and the consequences of their actions rebound on them in horrible ways that instantly elicit sympathy from the reader. By contrast, protagonist Paula just doesn't quite measure up. She's been dealt a bad hand, for sure, but she spends a bit too much time wondering what's going on while her barely-pubescent daughter Rowan twigs immediately. From her introduction, we learn that Paula is supposed to be tough. She's a fighter who sticks up for herself and others. But once she returns to Haven Woods, she regresses to a younger self who lets far too many things slide by. Not without comment, of course, but often without action. It's a bit disappointing when you compare the strength and agency and confidence of the other women around her, including her daughter.

On the other hand, this story is borrowing heavily from Salem's Lot, and much of the same dynamic exists between Ben Mears and Mark Petrie. In fact, Mark is about the same age as Rowan. Both characters instantly understand that the threat facing them is a supernatural one that must be terminated with extreme prejudice, and they act accordingly. Meanwhile, the adults wonder what could possibly be causing all these bizarre coincidences. This is another well-worn trope, and it has its place, but as I read I found myself wishing that Paula had included herself a bit more in the plot so that she could have a more direct impact on it. The whole thing really hinges on everyone *but* Paula, and I'm not so sure that's a great place for a main character to be.

With that said, the book is lovely when it's not focused on Paula. Her enemies are glorious in their malevolence, and their selfishness and un-earned privilege leaps off the page. They pack the banality of evil in their Suburbans with the soccer cleats and Capri Sun. If you want a primer on what the consequences of a Faustian bargain might look like to "real America," this is it. ...more

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Mar 06, 2012 J.N. rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: first-reads

This is a book I won from the giveaways (thank you!). The Thirteen is a very unique book. I haven't ever read anything like it. It's about a group of witches who live in this small town. There's only one problem--they've just lost one of their members and must have thirteen in their group to keep their powers. Without a thirteenth, they also start to have awful things happen to them (severe aging, fingers falling off, etc). When one of the witches becomes ill, her daughter and granddaughter come This is a book I won from the giveaways (thank you!). The Thirteen is a very unique book. I haven't ever read anything like it. It's about a group of witches who live in this small town. There's only one problem--they've just lost one of their members and must have thirteen in their group to keep their powers. Without a thirteenth, they also start to have awful things happen to them (severe aging, fingers falling off, etc). When one of the witches becomes ill, her daughter and granddaughter come to stay until she recuperates. The mother is a perfect candidate for the thirteenth, and the daughter is also important. The group of witches use everything in their power to keep the mother and daughter in town, ready to have things return back to normal.

Pros:

The beginning scene really grabbed my attention, as did meeting Paula and Rowan (the mother and daughter), but after that, I admit the book began to drag. It got better once you began to see more of what these witches were going through, and the last section of the book was especially gripping. Overall, the characters are good. I enjoyed Chick, Paula, Sanderson, Rowan, and Audra. I even ended up liking Marla. I also adored Old Tex and Gusto. They were nice additions to the story. Most of the witch characters aren't very nice though, especially Izzy. They make great villains, though they are so complex that they aren't truly evil.

Cons:

I enjoyed this book, but it took me a while to read because it was hard to get into at times (I tend to be a fast reader so this is a problem). I didn't really enjoy the writing style. I'm mostly talking about parts like this:

They were still gabbing, dark heads bent together like crows
(pecking at something interesting and dead)
She went from the window to the closet, found her school blazer with the St. Mary's crest
(Semper Vigilans)
and put it on.

I was also annoyed at how many unanswered questions I had at the end. You never hear what happens to most of the characters, and I had hoped it would be wrapped up in the epilogue.

Overall:

However, the characters and overall story was pretty entertaining. This book definitely shows the lengths some people will go to keep themselves happy. 3 stars. ...more

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Apr 02, 2012 Paula from Reading Lark rated it really liked it · review of another edition

review from readinglark.blogspot.com

Paula Wittmore, the central character in this novel, puts a whole new spin on the phrase, "you can't go home." In Paula's case, she did- but she really, really shouldn't have.

Paula's home town, Haven Woods, is home to some unusual citizens: a coven of witches. At first glance, they seem to be like all the other women of the community: hauling kids to soccer games, getting together for gossip and advice, using magic to stay young and beautiful. The problem is t ...more

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Mar 20, 2012 Nancy rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Dress it up in a paranormal cover, add chick lit elements, include mysterious deaths and in the end it's still a book about an all female suburban satanic cult and I'm feeling yucky all over. That's my honest opinion and feeling. Just didn't like it. It earns one star for my finishing it. The second star is earned for the author's originality. Even though I didn't like it.

The basis is that the cult requires thirteen members. If there are thirteen and appropriate sacrifices (and those sacrifices ...more

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Aug 18, 2014 Jessica Armstrong rated it did not like it · review of another edition

This book was so confusing to read that I only made it through the prologue and a couple chapters before blinking my eyes rapidly and tossing it to the side to start a different one.

The premise is a good one – witches in a small community doing witchy things. The follow-through leaves a lot to be desired, however – especially in the department of editing.

Excerpt:
A confusing sentence from the prologue:

Not even when the flames swept up from the floor and began their climb over her
surrender your
fl ...more

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Aug 25, 2013 Kellybrianna rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I had never heard of Susie Moloney before I saw this book (oddly enough we're from the same town) but I really loved the sound of it & thought I'd give it a try. And I'm very glad I did. It's a fantastic read, a really perfect summer book. It is a book about witches but it's not in an overally silly or forced kind of way. Paula returns to her hometown when her mother falls ill. Along with her is her 12 year old daughter rowan. Little do they know of the legacy they are a part of.

The characters a ...more

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May 04, 2017 Katherine rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: hopeless

I could not finish the book. I was not drawn in. The summary on the back looked great. The writing style was not for me. The story kept switching between characters so often and it was hard to keep track. Also the thoughts that just keep popping up for me messed up the flow. I am an animal lover and did not like some of the scenes in the books.

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May 01, 2018 Savannah rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: dissappointed

The bio made this book interesting and different but the book fell completely short. I couldn't connect to any of the character, wasn't really a fan of the writing style- hated the little brackets/ inner thought blurbs- and didn't enjoy the story.
The ending was very unsatisfactory! The prologue was just as disappointing.

Waste of my time. Should have just stopped reading. ...more

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Oct 27, 2018 K.S. Thompson rated it liked it

Shelves: borrowed-books-2018

This one kept me up until the wee hours. As with all of Susie Moloney's books, I didn't want to put it down. I wasn't entirely sure how the Witches would be handled but wasn't disappointed with that aspect of the story. Unfortunately, I found the ending to be a bit too neat and that's why my rating dropped from a solid 4 - 4.5 to a 3.5 when I arrived at the last couple of chapters. ...more

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Sep 14, 2017 Abbe Macbeth rated it liked it · review of another edition

Definitely a little bit Stepford Wives, a little bit Stephen King, with a dash of Rosemary's Baby flavor thrown in. An enjoyable quick read. ...more

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Jul 14, 2018 Angie Williams rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

As always Susie hits it out of the ball park with this one.

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Aug 03, 2018 Nina rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Very nicely done. Not scary, but definitely creepy, and I couldn't put it down.! ...more

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Nov 20, 2018 Samantha Blackburn rated it liked it · review of another edition

Good but somewhat predictable

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Aug 22, 2019 ☕Brenda☕ rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Probably would be perfect for someone who is 13.
I finished it, but barely.

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Oct 11, 2019 Susan rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Great October read!

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Apr 07, 2021 Sonja rated it liked it · review of another edition

I loved the first half and couldn't wait to see how it unfolded. The second half was so predictable in a way that has been done many times before, so it ended up a bit of a disappointment. ...more

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Jun 09, 2012 Dark Faerie Tales rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed-by-sheila

Review Courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: A confusing mesh of witchery and deceit.

Opening Sentence: The drunk at table eight was shouting something at the dancer.

The Review:

When it comes to horror movies or books, I usually decline. I no longer like being scared to death by creepy serial killers that eat the bodies of their victims or demonic children taking over. I have seen too many bad things in real life to appreciate them for the entertainment they are meant to be. That being said, ...more

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May 17, 2012 Michelle added it · review of another edition

Just how far are you willing to go to secure your family’s happiness, health, and prosperity? Would you go as far as selling your soul to achieve your heart’s desire? This is just one aspect of Susie Moloney’s latest, The Thirteen. Not only does she explore the lengths to which a woman will go to achieve her dreams, she explores its aftermath as well. Just how low will a person crawl in order to maintain the status quo and avoid losing everything? Therein lies the mystery and the drama.

The bigge Just how far are you willing to go to secure your family’s happiness, health, and prosperity? Would you go as far as selling your soul to achieve your heart’s desire? This is just one aspect of Susie Moloney’s latest, The Thirteen. Not only does she explore the lengths to which a woman will go to achieve her dreams, she explores its aftermath as well. Just how low will a person crawl in order to maintain the status quo and avoid losing everything? Therein lies the mystery and the drama.

The biggest issue with the The Thirteen is that no one character is particularly fresh. Each of the characters appears more as an archetype rather than a uniquely new character. There are the guilt-ridden friends who are torn between doing their duty versus doing what is right. There are the clueless ones, the shallow blind followers, the ruthless do-anything-necessary types, the charming and attractive love interest/savior, the strong rebellious daughter, and everything else readers would expect in such a novel.

At the same time, the plot follows a similar story arc as The Craft or even Witches of Eastwick. However, the differences from these stories are where The Thirteen shines. The Thirteen is not about beginnings but about endings. Rather than showcasing a new group of witches and how they let their power go to their heads, the group in Haven Woods have been comfortably using their power for two decades. It is their need/desire to maintain their power source that is the cause of all the mystery. The resulting drama is fresh and interesting. Unfortunately, even the look towards the future is not enough to prevent the story from being overly predictable.

That being said, Ms. Moloney’s writing is what saves The Thirteen from becoming just another copycat novel about witches. She is able to take these very familiar elements and combine them in such a way that makes them just as exciting and nerve-wracking as they were the first time. She captures the reader’s interest with the first hint of something insidious within the confines of Haven Woods. In addition, Paula’s plight keeps readers turning the pages, as they anxiously await to uncover whether she is going to figure out the mystery in time even as they can already surmise the answer. The tension built throughout the novel is formidable and extremely enjoyable.

The Thirteen presents the idea of a mother’s willingness to do anything for her family’s happiness taken to the extreme. Izzy is deliciously complicated, garnering a reader’s combined wrath and empathy, while Paula is the heroine to which every (female) reader will relate with her desire to seek a better future for her daughter while trying to help her ailing mother. The ending is a touch bit too predictable but satisfying all the same. The Thirteen is a fun, thrilling, and quick read – perfect for those stormy summer nights. ...more

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Jun 25, 2011 Sensitivemuse rated it it was ok

Ohhhhh. I wanted to like this one. I really did. When I read what this book was about, I immediately went to take it out of the library and giggled with glee as I didn’t have to put it on hold or anything. It did have it’s great moments! I was all ready for a really nice dark gothy read! I loved the idea of a cat filled town (furbabies!!!) where things aren’t what they seem. The town had a nice dark theme to it, almost akin to Witches of Eastwick mixed with Stepford Wives theme. So that in itsel Ohhhhh. I wanted to like this one. I really did. When I read what this book was about, I immediately went to take it out of the library and giggled with glee as I didn’t have to put it on hold or anything. It did have it’s great moments! I was all ready for a really nice dark gothy read! I loved the idea of a cat filled town (furbabies!!!) where things aren’t what they seem. The town had a nice dark theme to it, almost akin to Witches of Eastwick mixed with Stepford Wives theme. So that in itself was great. Audra’s curse was great! I thought that was really interesting and fun to read. It’s most certainly a well descriptive curse.

Each of the ‘witches’ and what they wished for was also interesting, but of course everything comes at a price. When things do get messy, the consequences are severe. This was also fun to read - especially when they all go into a panic. The panic gets contagious and they’re suddenly resembling frantic chickens.

Then...the story itself just falls apart.

What is it with this dogs vs cats theme? that really bugged me. It really played on that a little too much and the old adage of cats being the ‘witches familiar’ is really really old. That bugged me because I knew in the long run in this book, that there was going to be a mass killing of cats somewhere along the line. Oh for crying out loud. Seriously? we’re still writing about how evil they are and that dogs are every body’s best friend and the champions against the dark witchcraft magic. Have we suddenly gone Middle Ages all over again? the animal cruelty (both for dogs and cats) was not necessary and this dogs vs cats thing was silly.

Let’s now talk about Rowan. She was all right. For a while. Until the story starts in her point of view. Then we get writing like this:

“No one answered it of course, until
(another weirdo)
the nurse Tula came down the hall”

WHY were her thoughts written this way??!!! WHY??? not only did this interrupt the flow of the story but it was very distracting and haphazard to read. It was so disruptive, it was almost as if these thoughts were interrupting the book itself. It made for very annoying reading.

Finally, we go to a chase scene, where it was going at least in a circle three times and it made the reading redundant and the last scene of the book felt so long to play out because of this. Although it was rather exciting to read, as the chase started getting longer, it started getting absurd.

This was certainly a book you can pass on. I expected so much more and it ended up falling short. It’s definitely not what I was hoping for. ...more

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Mar 22, 2012 She-Wolf Reads rated it it was ok · review of another edition

This book was described as “The Witches of Eastwick” meets “Desperate Housewives.” The minute I read that description I was interested in discovering what kind of world I would find in The Thirteen. Unfortunately, while I think Moloney was able to hit some good notes in this book, overall, it was a bit disappointing.

What I really liked about The Thirteen, and what worked for me in the novel as a whole, was its utter creepiness. There were some really unsettling scenes and sinister imagery – fing This book was described as “The Witches of Eastwick” meets “Desperate Housewives.” The minute I read that description I was interested in discovering what kind of world I would find in The Thirteen. Unfortunately, while I think Moloney was able to hit some good notes in this book, overall, it was a bit disappointing.

What I really liked about The Thirteen, and what worked for me in the novel as a whole, was its utter creepiness. There were some really unsettling scenes and sinister imagery – fingers falling off, a woman slowly turning into goat, a house full of blood, whispers, ghosts and demons. Actually, now that I write that it sounds a bit ridiculous but believe me when I say that these scenes are well done and hit the perfect note of horror, leaving you a little unsettled yet curious to see what happens next to these characters.

Unfortunately, you have to read more than half the book to get to that point. Moloney takes her time developing this story. We spend most of it with Paula and her tortured thoughts of the past, her fears for the future, and her ruminations on the summer that changed her life forever. I felt like I had to push through more than 50% of the book (read it on a Kindle) before I felt like the pace started to pick up and we started to learn more about the sinister plans in store for Paula and her daughter Rowan. I think this book could have been much more effective had it been edited down so that the pace felt a little faster.

Paula’s obliviousness to the weirdness around her also bothered me. There are several scenes with weird exchanges with her mother’s friends that scream, “Something is not right here!” But Paula seems totally unaware of it. And Rowan, who is more tuned into the psycho flags being waved around, does not really push her mom to recognize the utter strangeness of Haven Woods and its inhabitants. Wouldn’t you notice an empty hospital while visiting a patient? And wouldn’t that make you question what’s going on around you? I simply could not suspend my disbelief on this point.

Finally, the ending. There is a bit of a twist there that I won’t reveal but I would love to speak to someone who has read this and get his/her take on it. I might be a bit dense but I did not fully understand the implications of it. It felt like it came out of nowhere yet it was a twist that I think could only be believable had there been some clues laid out through the story.

All in all, The Thirteen had a creepiness that was effectively unsettling but was too slow paced to really sustain an overall interest.

Please stop by www.shewolfreads.com for more reviews! ...more

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Nov 12, 2012 Kater Cheek rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I got this book as a free promo at World Fantasy, and it survived the brutal "I don't want to check my bag" purging at the end of the convention. Alas, I misplaced it and thought I'd left it on the plane, and by that time I was so involved in the story that I actually went to the library and got it for my kindle so I could find out how it ended even though I pretty much already knew.

Which is why I'm giving it 3.5 stars (rounded up to 4) even though I always give practically everything only three I got this book as a free promo at World Fantasy, and it survived the brutal "I don't want to check my bag" purging at the end of the convention. Alas, I misplaced it and thought I'd left it on the plane, and by that time I was so involved in the story that I actually went to the library and got it for my kindle so I could find out how it ended even though I pretty much already knew.

Which is why I'm giving it 3.5 stars (rounded up to 4) even though I always give practically everything only three stars because that's my default so that the rare 5 star books look amazing. It only gets four instead of three because I found myself willing to jump through hoops, so there's the whole psychological investment, and it's irrational, so you should never judge a book by its stars, but read the whole review.

Girl and her mom move to her mom's hometown because their grandma is sick. They don't know what she has or why, because there's only ever one other person in the hospital. The other women in town are creepy, and there are a lot of cats, but the warnings they get from grandma are cryptic, and besides, there's a nice guy who mom likes and his nice dog, who girl likes, so they stay until IT'S TOO LATE.

Here's what I liked: witches were evil, but plausibly evil. Yes, it's ironic that I find "evil witches" refreshing and novel. Despite that, I kind of sympathized with how the witches had gotten into their situation. I mean, sure, they get into the coven knowing that people are going to die as sacrifices, but considering their other options, it kind of makes sense. I liked the empty hospital too, and the bit with the cats. The fingers falling off were creepy-fantastic. I liked that they didn't get all religious about the anti-witch thing. It wasn't a good vs. evil thing so much as "I'd like to be rich and successful" vs. "but I don't want my family members to die in horrible accidents."

There were flaws. The epilogue had a meeting with a mysterious woman whose identity baffled me. It was obvious we were supposed to know who she was and why she was there, but I didn't get it. There's a flaw near the climax when everyone in the town is asleep except for one guy, who, by all rights, should have been hit with the spell as well. Also, I kinda wanted to know what was going to happen to all the witches. Were they going to die, or what? What about their families? Still, I shrugged off the flaws because the plotting was tight enough.

I think this book will appeal most to fans of action novels. ...more

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Aug 16, 2011 Luanne Ollivier rated it really liked it

3.5/5
I first discovered Canadian author Susie Moloney when I read her novel A Dry Spell way back in 1997. She followed that up with The Dwelling in 2003. Both seemed to fall under the horror genre - a la Stephen King - with everyday occurrences and things becoming sinister, such as a lack of rain and a house that just won't sell. But Moloney also does a fine job of exploring reactions and behaviour as a result of those occurrences.

Moloney's latest novel - The Thirteen - centres on the perfect li 3.5/5
I first discovered Canadian author Susie Moloney when I read her novel A Dry Spell way back in 1997. She followed that up with The Dwelling in 2003. Both seemed to fall under the horror genre - a la Stephen King - with everyday occurrences and things becoming sinister, such as a lack of rain and a house that just won't sell. But Moloney also does a fine job of exploring reactions and behaviour as a result of those occurrences.

Moloney's latest novel - The Thirteen - centres on the perfect little town of Haven Woods. Things are, well, just as they should be, according to the thirteen women who seem to have a grip on the town. Until one of their own breaks rank and upsets everything. What to do? The leader Izzy calls Paula -daughter of one of their group (coven) and convinces her to come home - with her daughter Rowan. After all thirteen is the magic number and a sacrifice is needed...

Moloney has crafted another entertaining tale, drawing upon today's fascination with all things paranormal. But it just didn't grab me as much as her past books. Paula is unable to contact the doctor tending to her mother in the Haven Woods Hospital. Or even a nurse (other than one of the thirteen posing as one). No cleaners, no other patients, nothing. Really, after the fourth or fifth visit and she is still acquiescing, it stretched credibility. It reminded me of a slasher film where you want to yell at the lead character to "open your eyes and look around!"

Desperate Housewives sprang to mind and indeed this is one comparison that the publisher uses as well - "The Witches of Eastwick meets Desperate Housewives in Susie Moloney's The Thirteen, her new and long-awaited novel."

Once I got past being annoyed at the hospital situation, I did enjoy the book. Moloney has a wry sense of humour that is fun to catch. She again explores the human dynamic with lots of back stories of many of the characters and emotion drives some of the plot line. I was never really 'horrified', but did appreciate Moloney's take on urban witches and the desire of many to 'have it all.' The action in the last few chapters had me quickly turning pages and the ending employed a great hook.

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Mar 11, 2012 WTF Are You Reading? rated it it was ok · review of another edition

This book has a serious case of "it would have been so much better if."

The List
1. It would have been so much better if the villains in this story had been younger. If the synopsis is to be believed, readers will be expecting "Desperate Housewives and what we get is "The Life and Times of Bewitched Gone Wrong." n th

2. It would have been so much better if so much of the story did not center around the death of one person.
True this person is of great import to the central characters of the story, This book has a serious case of "it would have been so much better if."

The List
1. It would have been so much better if the villains in this story had been younger. If the synopsis is to be believed, readers will be expecting "Desperate Housewives and what we get is "The Life and Times of Bewitched Gone Wrong." n th

2. It would have been so much better if so much of the story did not center around the death of one person.
True this person is of great import to the central characters of the story, but let's face it...he's dead! It's a done deal! Stop talking about it already!

3. Again with the flashbacks. We spend 74% of the book wandering down memory lane in confused circles before we ever get to the "good part" of the story. That is far too long to spend with a book and not be getting anywhere.

4. It would have been so much better if this book were a movie. It seems as though that is the medium that this story was meant for. This story leaves a great deal of room for the creative license that the large or small screen would allow.

My Thoughts
This is not a bad read. This is the book that you take with you to the beach when you have the kids and need something that will pass time but not distract you. There is far to much time spent in the past with this read and the present is treated almost as an after thought; though it is quite clear that the present is where all the action is.
The book is called "The Thirteen" but the story centers around 6 characters at most. It is not until well into the book that the "Thirteen" are introduced. The focus of the story would be better placed on them.
There were a large number of cats and dogs in the story. That is one of its saving graces if the truth be known. You want to keep reading just to see what is going to happen with them. In most cases they are smarter than the humans in the story.
There is an ever present "creep" factor that is maintained throughout this story. It progresses over time from "the thing in the back of your brother's sock drawer" creep; to "can't sleep without the nightlight."
The best thing about this book is the end. That is where all the goodies lie. The trick is just hanging on til you get there. ...more

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Jul 06, 2015 ✿ gee ✿ rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: horror

Surprisingly Enjoyable

I was not expecting to like this book. I was anticipating much heavy sighing and eye-rolling on my part. I thought I knew what was coming: a Practical Magic with the serial numbers filed off – another story about witches by way of white women in New England. Another parade of chemistry-less romances and familial issues, perhaps adding a touch of classist melodrama to really give the characters something to whine about. And for the most part, that isn’t an inaccurate s Surprisingly Enjoyable

I was not expecting to like this book. I was anticipating much heavy sighing and eye-rolling on my part. I thought I knew what was coming: a Practical Magic with the serial numbers filed off – another story about witches by way of white women in New England. Another parade of chemistry-less romances and familial issues, perhaps adding a touch of classist melodrama to really give the characters something to whine about. And for the most part, that isn’t an inaccurate summary. The magic, then, is that Moloney somehow makes it work.

The story itself is unremarkable. You won’t find any shocking variations on the tale here. Alienated and down-on-her-luck daughter returns to small New England town to confront her tragic past, uncovering the town’s dark secrets in the process of reconciling with her mother. The townswomen are witches; they worship a demon and use dark magic to get what they want (consisting of the usual variety of stereotypical female concerns: thinness, wealth, fame, attractiveness, familial success).

The charm, then, is in the telling of it. Moloney uses a snarky and personable tone that keeps the story from becoming bloated or routine. The narration or stream-of-consciousness undercuts the story just when it’s threatens to become hackneyed. The descriptions are vivid but don’t detract from the pace. The gore and sex are “off-screen” enough that they don’t distract either, adding just enough punch to keep the book from feeling prudish or Puritan. The characters are fine, neither transparent nor complex. The only exceptions are the spunky little girl who immediately cues to the suspiciousness of the town and the diabolically entertaining antagonist. The story is best and freshest when being told through their perspectives. The romance is barely there and only so much as it serves a narrative function (which felt like a personal favor to me). The climax is a bit of a Benny Hill comedy but entertaining and engaging nonetheless.

I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone as a serious pursuit, but it seems like the perfect way to while away a few afternoons in October if you’d like to get your witchy fix.
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Mar 19, 2012 Michelle Greathouse rated it really liked it · review of another edition

The Thirteen is a Novel by Susie Moloney from William Morrow.

Blurb:

Haven Woods is a suburban heaven, a great place to raise a family. It’s close to the city, quiet, with terrific schools and its own hospital right up the road. Property values are climbing, and the crime rate is practically nonexistent.

Paula Wittmore hasn’t been back to Haven Woods since she left as a disgraced teenager. Now she’s returning to care for her suddenly ailing mother, and she’s bringing her daughter and a pile of emot ...more

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Apr 17, 2012 Jennifer Rayment rated it liked it · review of another edition

The Good Stuff

Absolutely loved the dogs in this one, they had so much personality
Very dark and suspenseful
Fabulous character development for Marla, a character that could easily have been a caricature
Quite a few on the edge of your seat moments
Some nice humour added in just the right spots, made me want to pick up other books by the author for this alone
Fabulous cover - that chick really gives you the creeps!
Satisfying ending
Rowan and Paula were likeable characters, would have rather had ...more

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