Reading Between the Wines book review #97/115 for 2023:
Rating: 4 🍷 🍷 🍷 🍷
Book: The List
Author: Kiersten Modglin
Available now!!!

Sipping thoughts: OMG! What did I just read. From here on out I do not want to make any lists for the rest of my life. Say goodbye to grocery list, to do lists, any lists. Just imagine you are minding your own business and next thing you know the person or people that you love more than your own life, your children, are on a list being threatened to be killed. All you have to do is follow the rules and directions. Easy, right? I literally was holding my breath as a read this- maybe a breath I didn’t know I was holding 😉. This was definitely an edge of seat like book. KMod released this back in 2016 as a physical copy so if you haven’t read it, or if you have but want to listen to it, get your copy today!

Cheers and thank you to @NetGalley and @DreamscapeMedia for an advanced copy of @TheList.

#TheList #KierstenModglin #DreamscapeMedia #NetGalley #advancedreadercopy #ARC #Kindle #Booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #bookstagram #nicoles_bookcellar #bookworm #bookdragon #booknerd #booklover #bookstagrammer #bookaholic #bookreview #bookreviewer #IHaveNoShelfControl #ReadingBetweenTheWines #fiction #thriller #suspense #mystery #MysteryAndThrillers #GeneralFictionAdult

Well I finally figured one of the whodunit’s out! To be honest it was one of those “wouldn’t it be crazy if it was” so I lucked into this one.

There were a lot of moving parts (and characters) in this one. Plus some of it was far fetched. And wasn’t a fan of the list being kids.

I did like the narrators. They did a good job with the 150 different parts (slight exaggeration for emphasis)

The general idea of this book was great and I did like Jordyn as a main character but... I couldn't wrap my head around how this was even slightly plausible even in a fictional town. The ending was trying too hard for a "big twjdt ". I love Kirsten Modglin but this book was ridiculous.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook.

6 names on a paper and these 6 people were set to die after 6 months. Another new list released every 6 months.

Connor and Jordyn had moved to this small town Bates, but everything was weird. One day Jordyn went to the local supermarket and overheard a group of women talking and crying about the list. Their kids were on the list…the people who were on the list died shortly by various accidents, and all the victims were children.

Jordyn couldn’t sit here and do nothing. She decided to gather the people in this town to do find the murderer out. But will she put herself in danger?

A dual timeline story is always amazing as usual. The story is creepy, thanks to the narrator too. The hopeless lifestyle in Bates and the level of trepidation create the tension.

I love Kiersten Modglin books - physical/kindle and audio. This one was a slight miss for me. The premise of the book was originally interesting for me, but the amount of children that were on the list was a little disturbing - and not in a thriller sort of way. I just didn't enjoy it. It was also super unbelievable.. so many years of this going on without intervention or people just leaving the town? Yeah, I don't know about all that.

The narrators were okay but I just was not a fan of the plot.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this audiobook.

TW-People die in this book but they are children so I want to share that upfront as it was hard to wrap my head around that.

Connor and Jordyn Atwood move to Bates a small town in South Carolina. They have found their dream home and look forward to being out of the city.

Ten years ago this town changed by the appearance of a slip of paper which listed 6 names. This list is a list of those next to die and all will experience an accident and die in order listed on the paper. None of these accidents will ever be investigated and each 6 months a new list goes up and it keeps happening again and again. The town just seems to accept this as part of their life which is so strange.

Then Jordyn comes to town and starts asking questions and researching what has happened in this town. Who is behind these murders and why?

The narrators did and excellent job in this but it was just too far fetched for me.

2.5 / 5

This book was unfortunately mostly a miss for me. The premise was interesting and very disturbing - major trigger warnings for child murder. The synopsis mentions 'six people' to die, but it really is a list of children to be killed.

The main character Jordyn is new mom who moves into this town not knowing what is in store. She comes across in a way where no one believes her and they all think she's overwhelmed with motherhood. She sets out to dismantle the horrifying thing this town keeps going through and her motives seem good, but I didn't really buy into why she cared so much about the town. This is one of those books where you are constantly telling the main character to run and get out and she doesn't listen.

There was a bit too much need for a suspension of disbelief here and it left me frustrated with the plot holes and conveniences. In the end. I didn't think the ultimate solution to who was behind this was fleshed out enough.

This is an author I've heard good things about, so absolutely would try more books, but this one did not work for me.

I had no idea what to expect from this one. It starts out with the mention of the list and my mind wandered to the Lottery by Shirley Jackson but once the story starts to gather steam, it’s clear that was the only similarity. The story kept me guessing the whole time. I found some of the things Jordyn didn’t make sense and the confusion on a lot of issues could have been cleared up if she completed thoughts when speaking but other than that, I enjoyed this book and look forward to other books by this author.

When Jordyn and Conner move to the small town of Atwood in South Carolina, they think they have hit the jackpot. Their house is practically a mansion, the main street is old timey and sweet. Jordyn is ready to have their child in a matter of months and the family gets busy preparing.

But one day Jordyn sees a strange list at the grocey store. People are talking, some are weeping, The list has 6 names on it. Not long after, Jordyn hears on the news of the demise of the people on the list one by one. No one is listening to her, no one will talk about it and her husband thinks she is suffering from hormones after their child's birth. But someone is killing the townspeople of Atwood and Jordyn is going to get to the bottom of it!
Very engaging until the end! A bit hard to believe at that point. Well Narrated by Jennifer Jill Araya; David Bendena; Michael Crouch #dreamscapemedia #kierstenmodglin #thelist

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
I previously read the book version of this one and liked it.
The audio version was good as well.
It’s a bit bizarre and also unbelievable but a good read and listen.
Narrators are good. Book itself is interesting just unrealistic.

I listened to the audio for this one (not listed on GR).

First, was this book somewhat implausible? Yep. But it's fiction. And I enjoyed it.

Jordyn and Connor, a young couple with a baby on the way, move to a small town in South Carolina for his job. They are excited for a quiet small town life. But ...

Every six months a list of children's names is posted. Jordyn sees at posted at the grocery store. She's confused. And soon learns it is a hit list. Everyone named on the list will die before six months are up and no one can stop it.

This has gone on for years and no one knows who is doing it. Also, if you leave town you will die.

The police no longer investigate. People keep to themselves.

Jordyn, along with some other moves, decides to investigate. I figured out who it was before the ending, but that didn't stop me from devouring the book.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

2.5/5 ⭐
0/5 🌶️
5/5 🎧

I usually love everything KMod writes, but this one just didn't do it for me... From the mass child unalivings, to the how did I figure it out so early disappointment, it was just an okay read. The premise was interesting (while horrifying), but the unaliver's motive just didn't make sense to me and then the heart thing at the end felt so unreal and inappropriate to me that it just fully lost me...

Thankfully the audio was spectacular and kept me hooked. One of the male narrators (not sure which of David Bendana or Michael Crouch it was) that played "Him" was pretty chilling and I loved it. He gave me goosebumps from the first time we met him until his last hurrah. Jennifer Jill Araya was also fantastic in her roles.

2⭐️ 0🌶️ 5🎧

First of all this book desperately needs a TW for child death and child murder. I assumed from the blurb that the victims would be adults and I couldn’t have been more wrong

I just finished The List and I am speechless. But not in a good way. This book had a pretty interesting premise but the execution was absurd. I am usually a fan of KMod but this book was a miss for me.

Jordyn the FMC was one of the dumbest characters I have read about in a long time. I was constantly shocked by her actions. Her heart may have been in the right place but her actions left me slack jawed at times.

This book had more plot holes than Swiss cheese. Not to mention events that truly defied logic. That ending, I seriously jabs no words for that ending.

The narrators however were fantastic. Dreamscape always produces high quality audiobooks and I have never had a complaint about their narrators or production quality.

⚠️ Child murder

⭐4.5: I loved this story. I loved the creepy factor. I loved the sharing of culpability. I loved the end, because - somehow - I didn't see it coming. It was deliciously hair-raising and horrifying at the same time. ❤️❤️❤️

There were a few things that were unrealistic (her parents behavior) and the gaslighting, but the ending and the way it all came together felt . . . disturbingly plausible to me. I guess that says something about how I see people.

⭐4.0: (audio) The three narrators for this book did a fine job. Nothing distracting (as so many mediocre narrators can be). The narrator for the bad guy gave me the creeps from the beginning. Well done!

(I listen to TONS of audiobooks, so for three narrators to pass the "nothing distracting" test for me is pretty high praise! 😂)

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Ten years ago a small town was changed forever with a slip of the paper. The slip has six names and those six are set to die. New lists come out every 6 months and in order to stay alive and not land on that list, you must go to extreme measures to keep secrets. Connor and Jordyn had no idea their new town has such a dark secret and they’ll soon find out that their neighbors will go to great lengths to protect themselves.

I listened to the list as an audiobook and it was interesting and kept my attention. I feel like the narrator did a good job at telling the story. The plot and writing was unique. But what I didn’t enjoy was that this was about children dying or being the only ones on the list but if it’s not a trigger for you, you’d probably enjoy it!

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the ARC and the chance to listen and review it honestly.

Well this was a wild ride. I’ve read many of this authors works and they’re always pretty wild but this one took the cake.

We follow a young mother who discovers that in the town she just moved to there is a list - and if your child is on that list, it means they’re going to die. The kids always die, and they always die in the order they appear on the list. This list comes every six months. Naturally, parents in the town freak when the list comes out. This young mother refuses to take this list lying down (even though her son is not on it) and although no one believes her, she’s determined to get to the bottom of it.

This ride was wild. Totally unrealistic, but freaking wild. I wasn’t looking for a realistic thriller - I was looking for gripping and I definitely got that. While I knew where this was going, I definitely enjoyed the ride. Totally worth the read.

<i> Ten years ago, the small town of Bates, South Carolina was changed forever with the appearance of a slip of paper.
Six names.
Six people set to die.

Six months later, they were gone. But the list maker was far from done with their town.
Like clockwork, new lists come out every six months. To keep their names off of them, the citizens go to extraordinary lengths and keep terrifying secrets.
Someone is controlling their town. But who? And, most importantly, why?

When Connor and Jordyn Atwood move to Bates, they see firsthand how far their new neighbors are willing to go to protect themselves. Will the Atwoods succumb to their newfound surroundings? Or will they fight to protect the town they now call their home?
With everything at stake and no one to trust, the Atwoods quickly learn the list maker has one important rule: do what you're told...or find your name on The List. </i>

This was a fast-paced, suspense-filled, twisted and twisty read. Even though I correctly guessed who was behind The List, the story still kept me on the edge of my seat right up to the action-packed conclusion.

Jennifer Jill Araya, David Bendena, and Michael Crouch did an excellent job narrating the audiobook.

Thank you Kiersten Modglin, Dreamscape Media, and NetGalley for providing this ALC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

I PROMISE no more!
This book was insufferable. Let me justify this. Today I had a 2 hour dental procedure, 3 shots in my gum, my lips cracked and bleeding and stretched to look like Bozo the clown and I would do that all over again than have to re read this book. It was so bad.

I get it. K-Mod writes "Popcorn" Thrillers meant to grab your attention with an outlandish plot (okay fine! Being honest here, I love books where there is a list and people start dying, I mean that is good stuff) But the characters in this book are just so dumb. I can't handle it. This is the equivalent of a C Rated Slasher movie, where the damsel in distress is told to not go in the basement, and what does "Brittany" do....she goes into the basement.
Instead of dumb Brittany we have Jordan. The (Okay y'all I am going to make this a spoiler review, because seriously I can't make this stuff up) woman moves into a home with her husband and new baby after being told, "Do not move here" (See above for the lack of intelligence) Come to find out in this new town 200+ children have died over the past 20 or so years....(That's not weird at all. No one talks about it) Then we have the whole "New Mom is Crazy and Hormonal Troupe" where Jordan gets accused of being that because she actually recognizes something is not right....but guess who accuses her. Her husband--**RED FLAG**
No back to Jordan, in case you were wondering, dear ol Husband was responsible for these murders because...get this...his high school sweetheart went off to college, got preggo and married the baby daddy. So he blames that baby and. kills it and decides to kill random kids under the age of 18 for revenge....this teen boy manages to kill kids and use other people in the town to make them look like accidents (Sending someone to buy peanut butter cupcakes and serving them to a girl with a peanut allergy)....Okay are you still with me? Yeah go slap your self and refocus. Now here is where it gets good.
Jordan had no idea.
Yeah K mod throws that one at you, even though I saw it coming from the first page he appears.
The ending made me want to find a way that I could some how perform a brain removal and forget I read this.

Was I too honest?

Will I read another K-Mod? I always say no more.....I really hope I stick to it. Is there some kind of K-Mod Addict Recovery Program?
I'll start, "Hi, I'm Neils and I am addicted to self torture, I mean reading K Mod Books"


Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this advanced reader listen of The List by Kiersten Mogdlin. I was Not influenced or paid for my (very) honest review.

Thank you Dreamscape media for the copy of this audio recording in exchange for my honest review. First off the cover is really intriguing just like the premise. Unfortunately this book was frustrating and left way too many loose ends for me. The only thing that was answered was who, no why, when or how. As I was listening I was writing down notes. The husband Conner is gaslighting, poor excuse for a partner. Stuff just happens in this book with no follow up. Overall I loved the premise and it reminded me of a movie we watched in English class which traumatized me called The Lottery but this book just didn’t live up to the expectations I had for it.

Okay this was my first Modglin, so I had no idea what to expect. But the blurb was intriguing and sounded like it had interesting potential, particularly in an audiobook format. Unfortunately there is nothing about this story that worked for me. I found the repeated murder of children not only disquieting but unnecessarily so. The characters were mostly ridiculous. Their speeches to each other barely felt plausible, the husband was condescending as all get out, the wife was a doormat, and the interactions between them and the townsfolk felt forced and unnatural. As for the townsfolk themselves, even with the suspended disbelief necessary in a creepy scary story, these people were unbelievable. That decades and decades would go by and no one would ever figure anything out or take any action to stop this horrifying process felt utterly implausible, particularly given that this was not billed as a supernatural story. I might have granted it if there was some otherworldly evil, but it was a banal evil in a way that made no sense at all. I couldn't finish, I got to the point where I was afraid my eyes would roll out of my head....