I’m not surprised that Lisa Unger’s short fiction has been nominated for the Edgar and ITW Thriller Awards or that it has been anthologized in “The Best American Mystery and Suspense”. Only a few authors can write short stories which feel as complex and complete as hers do.

Jules is still mourning her husband when she meets a Kirin, and falling in love again was the last thing she expected to do. But, she and her teenage daughter, Scout are now moving into his old family home, “The Winslow House”. He has thoughtfully updated it to be a SMART HOME, with “Vivi” taking care of your every need.

Despite her beautiful new room, Scout still feels like an outsider until she finds a beautiful, handmade doll which belonged to Kirin’s late sister, Emma. Perhaps Kirin can understand her grief after all?

Yet, there is a sense of foreboding which lingers…

And, why does Jules continue to see a blue eyed girl in the torn jeans, with mascara running down her face, in the beautiful “grief garden” out back?

This is a perfect AMAZON ORIGINAL short story (96 pages) for Spooky Season. With a SUPERNATURAL vibe, and a CONTEMPORARY feel (the author incorporates some interesting new APPS that I had only recently heard about into the story) which will be released on September 12, 2024.

I can’t decide what was most creepy-the Smart House, the dolls that Kirin created, or the girl in the garden!

And, if you haven’t already read it, don’t miss reading another of her short stories-“The Sleep Tight Motel” too!

I received a gifted copy through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts!

A creepy short story from Unger was a perfect book to read in between others. It flows well from one scene to the next and it spooked me! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I don’t really have anything to say about the book. It was a short read, predictable, and a bit boring. There was nothing special about the plot, and the characters were implausible at times. I have trust issues most of the time, so I couldn’t really fathom how anyone could so easily trust others.

The mystery is totally obvious from the get-go.

Anyways. Thanks Netgalley & Amazon Original Stories for the ARC.

This is a clever short story. Alternative POVs between mother, Jules, and daughter, Scout, as they start a new life with Jules new husband, Kirin. Kirin is a wealthy puppet maker and has a big house in upstate New York.

The signs that all is not well start almost immediately. Ralph, the driver, has a menacing manner that raises one's hackles and as they enter Kirin's house with Vivi, the automated assistant, seeming to be all seeing, one figures strange things are soon to happen.

Will the house of their dreams turn into a nightmare?

The story moves quickly. Short chapters, the sense of menace grows, and knowing the story is short, one figures all will be revealed soon.

I appreciated this is a complete story which can be challenging for one that is less than 100 pages.

I received the Amazon short story special via NetGalley, however, this had no bearing on my review.

This was an enjoyable mildly spooky short story. I liked the characters and story. The mansion instantly felt overwhelming and eerie and I couldn’t wait to find out what was in story for the main characters.

Thank you NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for this ARC. This review will be shared on NetGalley, Goodreads, and Amazon.

Pub Date Sep 12 2024

Although this is a short story there is a lot packed in there. It is very creepy and intriguing. I honestly felt like there was much character development for such a short book. I loved the plot and the ending!

2.5 stars,

Well written and it kept me turning the pages but there was nothing new or unique here - a lot of cliches, a lot of tropes.

This was my first time reading the author; I’d heard of her before but never took the plunge. I will read more.



Thank you to Amazon Original Stories and NetGalley for the DRC

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for an ARC of The Doll's House.

I was hoping for a quick spooky read to get in the mood for spooky season but this wasn't it 😔 It felt too long to be a short story but too short to be a proper book. The ending was so rushed it was unsatisfying and the creepy factor was just not there. Sadly, this was a big miss for me.

2.5 stars

Lisa Unger is a master of suspense and creepiness, and her new short story The Doll's House does not disappoint.

Scout misses her father terribly and is apprehensive about moving in with her mom's new boyfriend, an artist who creates life-like dolls and other interesting (creepy) things. When a series of disturbing events unfolds, Scout and her mother Jules begin to doubt Kirin's intentions. How did Kirin's sister Emma really disappear? And is the person behind these unsettling occurrences out to get Jules and Scout next?

Lisa Unger is without a doubt one of the best thriller writers of the 21st century. In her latest a daughter reluctantly moves to the rather creepy home of her new stepfather. Her mother is head over heels with the man and is happy for the first time since her first husband died. Enter a creepy doll, a mysteriously dead sibling and you have all the makings of another huge hit

The Doll’s House
Lisa Unger
Publication date: September 12, 2024
4/5 stars

This was a very fast paced spooky short story. I read it in one sitting and enjoyed it. I would recommend this book if you are looking for a short creepy thriller to keep you guessing.

Thank you Lisa Unger, Netgalley and Amazon original stories for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This Novella introduces Jules & Scout. They’ve just moved in with Kirin, Jules’ very rich artist boyfriend. Moving into Kirin‘s mansion, Scout discovers that Kirin‘s sister went missing back in high school. She was never found. As Kirin grows more and more possessive, Scout uncovers some truths about Kirin’s sister and Jules discovers the dark side of her boyfriend boyfriend.

This was a very predictable Novela. I would’ve liked better twist. Or really any twist.

Thank you to Lisa Unger, Amazon original stories and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this story.

A captivating short spooky read. I loved the setting of this story, a beautiful mansion and gardens. I wish the story had been longer, but I liked the two POV between Jules and Scout. I would recommend The Doll's House to all who enjoy a short creepy read.

Thank you NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for the ARC.

The book was very intruiging. I loved the characters. It's short book for if you want something different between other books. But it was a little bit too predictive. But over all I enjoyed this book!

Between 2.5 and 3 stars. I honestly just love a short thriller, short chapters and fast phased, what more can you ask for? I think its probably hard to write a thriller that is not predictable, however, I did enjoy it and I would recommend it for anyone who asked! I would also love to read more of the authors work as I fell in love with her writing style and communication.

Lisa Unger's The Doll's House is a creepy short story combining elements of both suspense and the supernatural. It's due to be released in the fall, just when we're all in the mood for a good scary story. This definitely fits the bill.

Thank you to Amazon Original Stories and NetGalley for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really like how fast-paced a novella can be, and this one did not disappoint. The story moved quickly but still had lots of back stories for the characters. I enjoyed switching back and forth between the mother's and daughter's perspective. It did take a chapter or two to get used to the switching while using first-person narrative.

It was definitely a little suspenseful and spooky at parts, but I think there could have been more suspense added. I really love how spooky the cover looks, so it had me thinking there would be lots of creepy scenes. It would be interesting to see this story fleshed out further as a full novel. I'd definitely read it!

The Doll House
Lisa Unger
Pub: 9/12/24
4☆

Synopsis:
When Jules first meets the handsome artist Kirin, she’s still mourning her husband’s death, but a fairytale romance soon sweeps her off her feet. Now she and her daughter Scout are moving out of the city and into Kirin’s once-lonely mansion. He’s thoughtfully updated and adapted the home to match their personalities. But Scout is determined to keep her father’s memory alive by rejecting the new life her mother and Kirin have spun for her.

Scout’s sullenness begins to fade, though, when she finds a beautiful handmade doll in one of the many empty rooms in the house. Kirin says that the doll belonged to his late sister and he’d like Scout to have it. Scout’s hopeful for a connection over their shared grief, but as she grows more curious about Kirin’s sister, she can’t escape the feeling that a danger lurks in the house…and its gaze is fixed on her mother.

My Thoughts:
The Doll House was a quick and atmospheric read. Even though it’s a short story (<100 pages), it didn’t really read like one. Unger managed to keep me entertained, creeped out, and guessing to the end.

What I enjoyed;
👻 Creepy Tale
👻 Multiple POV
👻 Atmospheric Setting
👻 Haunting Short Story

This is the perfect teaser to get you in the mood for spooky season.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of The Doll's House.

This was a formulaic, very predictable story about a widow and her teenage daughter moving into the home of the widow's future new husband.

Naturally, the new hubby, Kirin, is hot, and has a lot of money, and seems nice on the outside but on the inside he's a psycho.

I enjoyed the supernatural elements of the story but there was nothing new I hadn't read before in better novels.

I’m always excited to read something new by Lisa Unger! I thought this story might be too creepy/scary but it was just the right amount of creepy!

When Jules and Scout move into her new husband’s beautiful mansion, things are not what they seem. This was such a quick easy atmospheric read! I could picture the mansion, beautiful garden and even those creepy dolls!