The Stepford Wives Meets Stephen King…Could There BE Anything Cooler?

The Stepford Wives Meets Stephen King…Could There BE Anything Cooler?

The Thirteen by Susie Moloney is a 5-Star!

 

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