The Thirteen

by Susie Moloney

The Thirteen

by Susie Moloney

Review by Jeani Rector

I first learned about Susie Moloney when I randomly bought a copy of The Dwelling because the front cover looked interesting. When I read that book, I was so impressed that I actively sought out more of Moloney’s work and found A Dry Spell, which I enjoyed so much that I read it three times.

Now we have her latest, titled The Thirteen.

It’s probably not proper to start a review with the end of the book, but I have to say up front that the ending in The Thirteen is probably the most exciting and suspenseful conclusion I have ever experienced (and I read a lot of fiction). It is so absorbing that I stayed up past my bedtime because there is just no way to stop until the reader discovers the fate of Rowan Wittmore.

Rowan is Paula’s daughter. Paula, a single mom who fled the bedroom community of Haven Woods when she became pregnant by a local boy, returns with Rowan when her own mother becomes ill and winds up in an unusual hospital.

Susie Moloney has the talent to gradually weave a growing awareness of suspicious circumstances into her storyline, and Rowan begins questioning the odd behavior of a circle of women who live in the sleepy little community of Haven Woods. Why are these women trying so hard to recruit Paula into their circle, and what specific plans do they have for Rowan?

One of the explanations for Moloney’s success is her character development. Her characters seem so real and they are delightfully quirky, yet they could be any one of us. The Thirteen has an added attraction: a coven of witches. To what lengths would you go to make life better for yourself and your family? Even more important: what would you do if you could never stop doing those things, no matter what harm it causes to others?

The Thirteen peeks into family closets to discover the hidden skeletons, and reveals mysteries and secrets passed through generations. Even Paula’s childhood friend has succumbed to the siren’s song of the coven. Haven Woods is not your everyday community. On the surface it seems safe and idyllic, but don't look too closely at some of the sudden deaths in its recent past.

If you have not yet read anything by Susie Moloney, I will honestly tell you that you are missing out on a great experience. The Thirteen will satisfy those seeking mystery, suspense, and great character development. Best of all, there are twelve witches! Will those in Haven Woods achieve their goal of changing that number to become thirteen?

You can buy the book HERE

About the author

Susie Moloney

Susie Moloney was born and raised in Winnipeg, Canada. It's fitting then that her very first novel was about a very Canadian phenomenon, a snowstorm that wouldn't quit. Published in 1995 by Key Porter Books, Bastion Falls made Susie's first mark in the world of fiction.

Two years later, her break out novel A Dry Spell was published all over the world, translated into multiple languages, and included a movie option with Cruise-Wagner Pictures, Tom Cruise's production company.

The Dwelling followed with critical acclaim and became a best seller. Her new novel, The Thirteen, was released in 2012.

Susie's photo credit: Richard Wagner Photography

About the reviewer

Jeani Rector

While most people go to Disneyland while in Southern California, Jeani Rector went to the Fangoria Weekend of Horror there instead.  She grew up watching the Bob Wilkins Creature Feature on television and lived in a house that had the walls covered with framed Universal Monsters posters.  It is all in good fun and actually, most people who know Jeani personally are of the opinion that she is a very normal person. She just writes abnormal stories. Doesn’t everybody?

Jeani Rector is the founder and editor of The Horror Zine and has had her stories featured in magazines such as Aphelion, Midnight Street, Strange Weird and Wonderful, Dark River Press, Macabre Cadaver, Ax Wound, Horrormasters, Morbid Outlook, Horror in Words, Black Petals, 63Channels, Death Head Grin, Hackwriters, Bewildering Stories, Ultraverse, and others. Her novel Pestilence: A Medieval Tale of Plague is released by The Horror Zine books.