Scan barcode
beastreader's review against another edition
2.0
I was drawn to this book by the title and the summary. I could not wait to get a copy of this book to read. Therefore, when I did score a early copy; I was so excited. Sadly, this book did not do it for me. I recognized this early on but kept reading hoping that the story would get better.
The legend of Red Lady was intriguing. It did have the "witchy" vibes. I could see where this story was going and it could have been really good. However, what was lacking was the emotional and character range of Heather and the other ladies.
I mean, Heather is being staked with her past secrets and she hardly reacts in fear. The past storyline where the girls were learning about the Red Lady was the only redeeming part of this book. Finally, there is the ending. It was "just ok".
The legend of Red Lady was intriguing. It did have the "witchy" vibes. I could see where this story was going and it could have been really good. However, what was lacking was the emotional and character range of Heather and the other ladies.
I mean, Heather is being staked with her past secrets and she hardly reacts in fear. The past storyline where the girls were learning about the Red Lady was the only redeeming part of this book. Finally, there is the ending. It was "just ok".
ainsliesabean's review against another edition
4.0
Slow beginning but good turn and plot twist event at the end
smittenforfiction's review against another edition
4.0
After loving Little Darlings by Melanie Golding, I was pumped to receive an email from Crooked Lane Books inviting me to take part in the Blog Tour for The Dead Girls Club. The Dead Girls Club was the perfectly creepy and compelling book for Spookathon.
About The Book
paperbacksandpines's review against another edition
4.0
You don't need flickering lights or doors slamming shut, the parlor tricks of a poltergeist, to be haunted. The true ghosts are made of deed and work and live deep inside the marrow and bone.
I didn't have the highest expectations for this ARC, given that the last few I've read have been absolutely terrible but I was pleasantly surprised and pleased by this book.
I enjoyed the dual timeline narrative from Heather, the main character. The twelve year old Heather and all of her friends seemed to be believable pre-teen girls, going through their angsty trials and tribulations with the push and pull of friendships being tested, especially being tested quite firmly. I couldn't figure out whether the 40-something Heather's paranoia was more from the unreliable female narrative trope or whether the supernatural element to the book was grounded in truth.
And when I finally got to the end of the book, I was left wondering if the supernatural elements Heather experienced as a girl were indeed founded in reality or if they were just a figment of her imagination. Normally, I don't like being left with unanswered questions, but for some reason, I'm not mad about it. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more by Walters.
Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books for an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.
I didn't have the highest expectations for this ARC, given that the last few I've read have been absolutely terrible but I was pleasantly surprised and pleased by this book.
I enjoyed the dual timeline narrative from Heather, the main character. The twelve year old Heather and all of her friends seemed to be believable pre-teen girls, going through their angsty trials and tribulations with the push and pull of friendships being tested, especially being tested quite firmly. I couldn't figure out whether the 40-something Heather's paranoia was more from the unreliable female narrative trope or whether the supernatural element to the book was grounded in truth.
And when I finally got to the end of the book, I was left wondering if the supernatural elements Heather experienced as a girl were indeed founded in reality or if they were just a figment of her imagination. Normally, I don't like being left with unanswered questions, but for some reason, I'm not mad about it. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more by Walters.
Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books for an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.
notinjersey's review against another edition
5.0
Once again, I was one of the few people in my discussion group that loved this book! It was a bit long, but it kept me reading and I enjoyed the suspense of the story. Heather is haunted by the past and it effects her current life in big ways. The past story line occurred when Heather and her friends were 12 years old and I thought it was well written from their view point. Heather’s friend Becca had a difficult home life and her belief in a ghost story led to her death. Heather never told anyone what had truly happened when Becca died, but someone knows, and Heather goes on a quest to find out who it is. I had my suspicions but I wasn’t quite right! This is definitely a good thriller!
hmbb99's review against another edition
4.0
Heather is a child psychologist, who from the outside appears to have her life together, but on the inside, is haunted by her own childhood. When Heather receives a package from an anonymous sender, her past and her present collide and her life becomes unhinged. She starts to become suspicious of those around her, she starts to make foolish decisions, and she ultimately puts herself in danger, all while trying to overcome the trauma of her past.
This story is intriguing and suspenseful. It leaves you guessing with its twists and turns . Damien Angelica Walters writes in a way that pulls you into the story, so you are feeling the horror that is The Red Lady, while comparing it to the abuse inflicted on Becca. I enjoyed the whodunnit aspect of the story, as I had many theories and was ultimately surprised.
Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the advanced copy of the book. The opinions are my own.
This story is intriguing and suspenseful. It leaves you guessing with its twists and turns . Damien Angelica Walters writes in a way that pulls you into the story, so you are feeling the horror that is The Red Lady, while comparing it to the abuse inflicted on Becca. I enjoyed the whodunnit aspect of the story, as I had many theories and was ultimately surprised.
Thanks to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the advanced copy of the book. The opinions are my own.
marilynw's review against another edition
3.0
The story is told from the viewpoint of Heather, a child psychologist, who is the last person I would ever want to be treating my child or any child. Heather has a secret that she has repressed for thirty years and when she receives half of a friendship necklace in the mail, she knows her past has caught up to her. When she was twelve, she performed a ritual with her best friend, Becca, which left Becca dead and Heather not remembering how she got rid of the body.
Becca's mom went to prison for the murder and until now, Heather thought no one knew her role in Becca's death. With the appearance of Becca's half of the necklace she knows someone is telling her they know what she did. Heather's fragile world and psyche come crashing down as Heather tries to figure out who is targeting her and her past.
This isn't really a horror story unless you are an impressionable twelve year old with an very active imagination. In the THEN portions of the book, Becca, Heather, and two other girls like to tell each other very scary stories and Becca claims the stories she tells about the Red Lady are true. The other two girls believe Becca's claims but Heather is sure that Becca is making up the stories about the Red Lady. Eventually Becca goads Heather into proving that she believes the Red Lady is real, with disastrous consequences.
The NOW portions of the book consist of a hysterically paranoid Heather neglecting her patients. She doesn't even take notes during sessions because she totally zones out the children she is treating, IF she even shows up for appointments. Heather also proceeds to destroy friendships and her marriage as she won't tell anyone why she is going totally off the rails. Everybody is a potential enemy to her and it feels to me that Heather must have been stuck at her twelve year old emotional level even now as a forty year old woman.
The author does a great job of portraying a desperate woman who is out of her mind frantic but Heather is such an unlikeable character that it's hard to have any sympathy for her plight. Instead I was feeling sorry for all the people in her current life. I did want to get to the end of the book to find out who did what and when and why but if I'd had my way, Heather would be on some really strong chill pills while I read the story.
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for this ARC.
Becca's mom went to prison for the murder and until now, Heather thought no one knew her role in Becca's death. With the appearance of Becca's half of the necklace she knows someone is telling her they know what she did. Heather's fragile world and psyche come crashing down as Heather tries to figure out who is targeting her and her past.
This isn't really a horror story unless you are an impressionable twelve year old with an very active imagination. In the THEN portions of the book, Becca, Heather, and two other girls like to tell each other very scary stories and Becca claims the stories she tells about the Red Lady are true. The other two girls believe Becca's claims but Heather is sure that Becca is making up the stories about the Red Lady. Eventually Becca goads Heather into proving that she believes the Red Lady is real, with disastrous consequences.
The NOW portions of the book consist of a hysterically paranoid Heather neglecting her patients. She doesn't even take notes during sessions because she totally zones out the children she is treating, IF she even shows up for appointments. Heather also proceeds to destroy friendships and her marriage as she won't tell anyone why she is going totally off the rails. Everybody is a potential enemy to her and it feels to me that Heather must have been stuck at her twelve year old emotional level even now as a forty year old woman.
The author does a great job of portraying a desperate woman who is out of her mind frantic but Heather is such an unlikeable character that it's hard to have any sympathy for her plight. Instead I was feeling sorry for all the people in her current life. I did want to get to the end of the book to find out who did what and when and why but if I'd had my way, Heather would be on some really strong chill pills while I read the story.
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for this ARC.
machadofam8's review against another edition
3.0
I thought this was good, dark and twisty enough to keep me reading.
lesliewatwar's review against another edition
4.0
I was very excited to read this after reading the description . It seemed to be just what I was looking for. About 45% through though it seemed to lull a bit. So much so, I almost put it down for good. But I kept on reading and was not disappointed.
Thank you Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
velmawiththadrip's review against another edition
4.0
Y’all. I was skeptical about this because the reviews were iffy but I really loved it. I’m only doing 4 stars because there were things about it that weren’t perfect. A lot of people said the Now sections weren’t great but I didn’t mind them! I think they were very symbiotic to the Then sections. I also found Heather’s behavior very realistic and close to what would happen in real life. There were surprise twists that I didn’t see coming and honestly blew me away. One more than the other; but I don’t want to say what happened because that’s half the fun!