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questsandcrimes's review against another edition
4.0
3.5/5
The premise of this book had me hooked from the start. A friend group calls themselves the Dead Girls Club. They hang out, talk about murderers and murdered girls, and have seances. As per usual 90’s shenanigans. However, when Becca brings the tale of the Red Lady to the group things quickly get out of hand.
Nearly 30 years later Heather (former Dead Girl and Becca’s best friend), received a necklace in the mail that sends her spiraling out of control. She never told anyone what happened to Becca the summer of the Red Lady. Heather killed Becca that summer.
I love a story told in two time lines. The problem was I was much more excited for the 1991 timeline/coming of age tale. The “present day” timeline was so repetitive. I get it, there’s traffic in Maryland. However, the 1991 portion adequately describes girl group dynamics and addresses a lot of hard topics. It also felt very the crucible at times, it was wild.
Here’s the biggest let down. The big twist came out of absolutely no where. I love to be surprised. I WANT to be surprised, but this came entirely out of left field.
Final thoughts: I liked this book. I would recommend this book. Part Bloody Mary, part Slenderman, it was a lot of fun. Minus that anvil drop at the end.
The premise of this book had me hooked from the start. A friend group calls themselves the Dead Girls Club. They hang out, talk about murderers and murdered girls, and have seances. As per usual 90’s shenanigans. However, when Becca brings the tale of the Red Lady to the group things quickly get out of hand.
Nearly 30 years later Heather (former Dead Girl and Becca’s best friend), received a necklace in the mail that sends her spiraling out of control. She never told anyone what happened to Becca the summer of the Red Lady. Heather killed Becca that summer.
I love a story told in two time lines. The problem was I was much more excited for the 1991 timeline/coming of age tale. The “present day” timeline was so repetitive. I get it, there’s traffic in Maryland. However, the 1991 portion adequately describes girl group dynamics and addresses a lot of hard topics. It also felt very the crucible at times, it was wild.
Here’s the biggest let down. The big twist came out of absolutely no where. I love to be surprised. I WANT to be surprised, but this came entirely out of left field.
Final thoughts: I liked this book. I would recommend this book. Part Bloody Mary, part Slenderman, it was a lot of fun. Minus that anvil drop at the end.
angelod24's review against another edition
3.0
The Dead Girls Club is the latest novel by Walters. It’s a story about two best friends who along with a couple other girls created a club in which they’d discuss spooky tales. The story continuously shifts between present and past. Something happened all those years ago which has greatly affected Heather’s life. That being the death of her best friend Becca.
While being a tad slow to start, it definitely picks up about halfway through. I initially found the past storyline more interesting but then later I needed to find out what was happening to the adult Heather.
Overall, I thought the story was good. Would have given a higher rating had I enjoyed the beginning more. I also wish we’d have a bit more character development on a few characters. I liked how it kept me guessing until the very end. Not many novels do that.
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book.
While being a tad slow to start, it definitely picks up about halfway through. I initially found the past storyline more interesting but then later I needed to find out what was happening to the adult Heather.
Overall, I thought the story was good. Would have given a higher rating had I enjoyed the beginning more. I also wish we’d have a bit more character development on a few characters. I liked how it kept me guessing until the very end. Not many novels do that.
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book.
angelod24's review
3.0
The Dead Girls Club is the latest novel by Walters. It’s a story about two best friends who along with a couple other girls created a club in which they’d discuss spooky tales. The story continuously shifts between present and past. Something happened all those years ago which has greatly affected Heather’s life. That being the death of her best friend Becca.
While being a tad slow to start, it definitely picks up about halfway through. I initially found the past storyline more interesting but then later I needed to find out what was happening to the adult Heather.
Overall, I thought the story was good. Would have given a higher rating had I enjoyed the beginning more. I also wish we’d have a bit more character development on a few characters. I liked how it kept me guessing until the very end. Not many novels do that.
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book.
While being a tad slow to start, it definitely picks up about halfway through. I initially found the past storyline more interesting but then later I needed to find out what was happening to the adult Heather.
Overall, I thought the story was good. Would have given a higher rating had I enjoyed the beginning more. I also wish we’d have a bit more character development on a few characters. I liked how it kept me guessing until the very end. Not many novels do that.
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book.
sararomenen's review against another edition
4.0
An enthralling work that asks us to look at the darkest parts of ourselves to better know who we are. Heather finds herself reliving her childhood trauma after she gets a mysterious envelope with half a friendship necklace in it, the one she knows was buried with her best friend. How does she know? Because Heather's the one who killed her. The narrative's switch from childhood to adulthood heightens the tension, constantly making the reader question what is and isn't real. It also touches on themes of abandonment and the tricky balancing acts of female friendships, especially as teens. The action is fast-paced and you feel your blood pressure go up with every dark decision Heather makes. A fantastic read for a dark and stormy night!
bookishwithwine's review against another edition
3.0
This book was crazy!
Heather has a secret, which you already know she killed Becca. That’s not what this is about. Let’s start from the beginning. The chapters alternate between Then and Now which I love.
THEN
Heather, Becca and two other friends started the Dead Girls Club. An exclusive club where they obsess over serial killers and murder. It’s at a meeting that Becca tells the story about the Red Lady. Now that’s all she talks about. I thought Becca’s character was hard to like. She is a mean girl who would only be your friend if you did what she wanted. She was obsessed with the Red Lady, and wanted everyone else to be too. When Heather refused to be a Red Lady groupie, she was ousted. Of course Heather was crushed. She and Becca had just bought a Best Friends Forever Necklace. Also Becca’s home life wasn’t good, so she spent a lot of time at Heather’s house. That ended after Heather refused to believe. Now Becca is dead.
NOW
Years later as a child psychologist, Heather received an envelope with Becca’s half of the BFF necklace. Is Becca really dead? I went back and forth on this one. Someone is messing with Heather, but who is it? Whoever it is, they want her to pay and they won’t stop until they find out the truth of what happened that night. Heather’s mom and husband begin to worry about her as she becomes more and more paranoid. Why can’t the past just stay buried?
I thought the author did a good job of building suspense around who is messing with Heather. I had a million thoughts running through my head while reading this, but none of them were right. You’ll have to read it for yourself to find out if Becca is really dead. That’s what kept me going. I wanted answers!
Grab you copy on December 10, 2019! Thank you @NetGalley and @Crooked Lane Books for the ARC of this book for an honest review.
Heather has a secret, which you already know she killed Becca. That’s not what this is about. Let’s start from the beginning. The chapters alternate between Then and Now which I love.
THEN
Heather, Becca and two other friends started the Dead Girls Club. An exclusive club where they obsess over serial killers and murder. It’s at a meeting that Becca tells the story about the Red Lady. Now that’s all she talks about. I thought Becca’s character was hard to like. She is a mean girl who would only be your friend if you did what she wanted. She was obsessed with the Red Lady, and wanted everyone else to be too. When Heather refused to be a Red Lady groupie, she was ousted. Of course Heather was crushed. She and Becca had just bought a Best Friends Forever Necklace. Also Becca’s home life wasn’t good, so she spent a lot of time at Heather’s house. That ended after Heather refused to believe. Now Becca is dead.
NOW
Years later as a child psychologist, Heather received an envelope with Becca’s half of the BFF necklace. Is Becca really dead? I went back and forth on this one. Someone is messing with Heather, but who is it? Whoever it is, they want her to pay and they won’t stop until they find out the truth of what happened that night. Heather’s mom and husband begin to worry about her as she becomes more and more paranoid. Why can’t the past just stay buried?
I thought the author did a good job of building suspense around who is messing with Heather. I had a million thoughts running through my head while reading this, but none of them were right. You’ll have to read it for yourself to find out if Becca is really dead. That’s what kept me going. I wanted answers!
Grab you copy on December 10, 2019! Thank you @NetGalley and @Crooked Lane Books for the ARC of this book for an honest review.
readsalattethrillers73's review against another edition
5.0
This book was everything I love about a good thriller; relationships, murder, and a dash of 80's nostalgia to remind me of my childhood. This story delves into a missing person (I won’t ruin it and say who) and is divided between the main character, Heather’s childhood past and adult life. Someone is sending Heather haunting messages and, as the book progresses, you’re taken along the journey to figure out who it is and why they’re stalking Heather.
The past takes a look at Heather’s life with best friend Becca and two other girlfriends, Gia and Regina, who make up the Dead Girls Club. They talk about all-the-things teen girls do, being liked, friendship, and growing apart. It felt completely relatable to me, as a woman and the mom of a pre-teen girl. While the relationship between Becca and her mom is tough because it hints at child abuse and alcoholism, you’re so entwined in the story you just want to reach out and help her. I also found myself much more connected to Heather's relationships in the past versus her current relationships with her husband, best friend, and co-worker (two names which I kept confusing). The characters from Heather's childhood feel more developed and I was much more drawn to the past, versus Heather’s current life.
The present time follows Heather into what can only be described as madness and she wonders if she’s losing her mind as a series events lead her to ponder her past. Who is sending these relics from her childhood and why are they doing it? The story is fast-paced and definitely kept me guessing. I had my ideas about who might be involved, but as I got to the end, I found a huge relief to finally know the truth-there were so many possibilities. I was truly committed to this book from start to finish and found myself looking forward to picking up where I left off – in the car, in the kitchen, I had to know how it ended.
I highly recommend this book and give it 5 out of 5 stars. Check it out!
The past takes a look at Heather’s life with best friend Becca and two other girlfriends, Gia and Regina, who make up the Dead Girls Club. They talk about all-the-things teen girls do, being liked, friendship, and growing apart. It felt completely relatable to me, as a woman and the mom of a pre-teen girl. While the relationship between Becca and her mom is tough because it hints at child abuse and alcoholism, you’re so entwined in the story you just want to reach out and help her. I also found myself much more connected to Heather's relationships in the past versus her current relationships with her husband, best friend, and co-worker (two names which I kept confusing). The characters from Heather's childhood feel more developed and I was much more drawn to the past, versus Heather’s current life.
The present time follows Heather into what can only be described as madness and she wonders if she’s losing her mind as a series events lead her to ponder her past. Who is sending these relics from her childhood and why are they doing it? The story is fast-paced and definitely kept me guessing. I had my ideas about who might be involved, but as I got to the end, I found a huge relief to finally know the truth-there were so many possibilities. I was truly committed to this book from start to finish and found myself looking forward to picking up where I left off – in the car, in the kitchen, I had to know how it ended.
I highly recommend this book and give it 5 out of 5 stars. Check it out!
ny_sunflower's review against another edition
3.0
This book kind of reminds me of a young adult book.
Heather and her friends had a club called the Dead Girls Club. They’d talk about serial killers and other scary stuff. They talked about the red lady a lot. Becca got killed cuz she believed in the red lady.
Now years later the past is back haunting Heather but who is sending her the packages and calling her phone?
Heather and her friends had a club called the Dead Girls Club. They’d talk about serial killers and other scary stuff. They talked about the red lady a lot. Becca got killed cuz she believed in the red lady.
Now years later the past is back haunting Heather but who is sending her the packages and calling her phone?
wallowarlus's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
deathly's review against another edition
3.75
I really enjoyed the ‘then’ sections, it felt very true to preteen friendships and the voice felt spot on for a group of 12 yr old girls. The ‘now’ sections kinda sucked tho, the mc somehow had less rational thought in her 40s than she did at 12 lmao.
craiggors's review against another edition
2.0
A quick enough read, but Walters didn't do enough to cultivate the seeds of a really great horror/mystery/supernatural thriller that she planted in the beginning of the novel.