Susie Moloney

The Thirteen by Canadian author Susie Moloney is a paranormal thriller about a group of witches who live in a suburb called Haven Woods, a place that is described as the perfect place to raise a family. Paula was raised there and looks back at that time as a happy time but she seems to have forgotten some of the weird things that happened then. There was a price for these witches to pay when they made a pact with a demon, and offering him human sacrifices, even of their own sons and husbands was expected.

Paula and her daughter return to Haven Woods as Paula’s mother is ill and has been placed in the local hospital. This visit is also an opportunity for Paula to decide what the next step in her life will be, as she just lost her job and her twelve year old daughter Rowan, has just been expelled from school. Little does she know that coming home is possibly the worst thing she could have done. The local witches have plans for her and her daughter.

The Thirteen isn’t a really scary book but it is very creepy. Witches, spells, magic and horror combine in this dark story and show how far some women are willing to go to make life better for themselves and their families. I probably would have enjoyed this book more if I had been able to simply accept what was going on but I found I had a lot of questions that for the most part went unanswered.… (more)

I loved this book. I found it to be very similar to Anne Rivers Siddons "The House Next Door". Subtle, atmospheric and quietly spooky.

Sorry, torture porn fans, this one is not for you. The vomitophiles aren't going to get any love from this book either.......you all are just going to have to swig some ipecac syrup if you aspire to puke during the reading of this novel. Don't worry, there are plenty of gut busting, entrail dangling bloodbath stories for you out there, I'm sure you will find them.

Fortunately for me, and other readers like myself, this book and hundreds of others cater to our tastes and I am thrilled to have found this one.… (more)