I’m a sucker for a good horror story, especially when dolls are involved. So The Doll’s House by Lisa Unger immediately captured my attention. This short story follows Jules, recently widowed, and her teenage daughter, Scout. Both are still grieving, but Jules is already with a new man, Kirin, and they’re moving into his house. But there’s an unsettling mystery surrounding this puppet-maker and his long-missing sister. Are Jules and Scout really safe with him?

Tropes & Narrative Devices:
- Dual first-person POVs (Jules and Scout)

What I Liked:
- Puppets and dolls. I think most of us can agree that dolls and puppets are creepy… at least when they appear in horror stories. Here, widowed mother Jules is now dating a man named Kirin; he’s famous for the puppets he makes. Kirin crafts each puppet based on real people, aiming to capture their very essence. It’s pretty cool, but also a little spooky.
- High-tech house. Kirin’s house is super advanced, with a security system that works like an old-fashioned butler. Jules and Scout each have “all property access” at first, but their right to get through certain doors may not last.
- Mother-daughter relationship. I appreciate that Jules and Scout still have a close relationship, even after the loss of Scout’s dad and with Jules now dating a new man. Scout is a normal teen girl who does well in school, and while she’s not happy about Kirin, she’s still close with her mom. This short story explores their relationship, how they’ve each been impacted by the loss of Scout’s dad, and how they can move on together.
- Mystery around Kirin’s missing sister. Years ago, Kirin’s sister went missing, and though a body was never found, she’s been presumed dead. What really happened to her? How does Jules keep seeing her, and what does her appearance mean? This was one of the spookiest elements that made the story intriguing from the beginning.

What Didn’t Work for Me:
- As with so many short stories, this would work really well as a full-length novel. I wanted more time to absorb the story, get to know the characters, and puzzle over what was going on.

Final Thoughts
The Doll’s House is a the kind of classic horror story that I love (new home, weird dolls, dark past) made new with its elements of technology. It’s a quick read that’s perfect for this time of year. This is my first time reading Lisa Unger, and I fully plan to read more!

A quick and creepy read, this story will haunt you for a bit! I loved Scout's headstrong character the most.

Early this year I had my first experience with this author when I read 2 of their books, and I loved both. So, naturally, I was eager to read from Lisa Unger.
Sadly, this short story did not work with me.
Since chapter 1 I felt disconnected to the characters and, consequently, uninterested in the mystery surrouding the new house these mother and daughter moved in to. I thought the plot as a whole and both main characters (also, many of the dialogues) were very clichéd. Nothing original or creepy whatosever, in my opinion.
Seriously, I still struggle to believe this short story was written by the same author who wrote the books I read early this year and loved it.
Such a bummer. :(

A fun, quick, spooky read about a woman's affair with a creepy doll maker that turns dark pretty quickly, as her daughter predicted. I enjoyed the haunted house/haunted doll angle, as well as the creepy doll maker, the mother-daughter relationship, and the quickly escalating suspense. Lisa Unger always brings the thrills, and I can't wait to read her next one! Recommend this for a quick and spooky fall read.

This short story is the perfect way to get into the spooky season. It's creepy, suspenseful, and full of twists. I finished reading it in one sitting, and it was filled with suspense and unexpected turns. While the plot was somewhat predictable, the story was still enjoyable, and it had enough depth and closure to make it a great creepy read.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Amazon Orginal Stories for giving me a copy

In this short story, Unger explores the lives of Jules and Scout as they navigate the aftermath of a family member's death. Given the numerous books I've read this year, I really appreciated the brevity and directness of a short story—it was a refreshing and manageable pace.

The narrative is succinct and mysterious, diving straight into the heart of the plot without unnecessary detours or an overload of characters. This approach was particularly appealing as it focused purely on the essential elements of the story. I wish more authors would embrace this style, as it often makes for a more compelling and impactful read.

This book wasn't bad, just very predictable. You kinda know right off the bat the plot and who is to blame for the series of events. The book had promise and I really like the technology tie ins (house alarm system) but I found it could have been used in the plot more (they ask it often if anyone else was there/came into their room and the response is no, but if someone was I think it would have been a nice tie in) I am a fan of ghosts/paranormal stuff so I found it an interesting tie in BUT it does play a big role in the book so I can see this not being for everyone.

Thank you Netgalley and Amazon Original Stories for this ARC:)

What a fast paced short story. I am a big fan of Lisa Unger and was very excited to get this ARC. While it was a short story, it was very well developed and you didn't feel that you were missing much. It is truly creepy, especially the dolls. You need to read this to find out what I mean!

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for giving me this ARC in exchange for my honest review. My opinions are my own.

4 supernatural stars

A delightfully creepy short story by Lisa Unger. A widow finds a second chance at love with Kirin, and she and her daughter eventually move to his secluded house in upstate NY. It’s a gorgeous house with rooms outfitted with them in mind. It is run by an interesting AI housemother, Vivi.

Jules is still mourning her husband but is eager to move on with Kirin. She hopes it will be a fresh start for herself and her daughter Scout.

Scout has to start her senior year at a new school, but she lucks out and finds a group of friends early in the year.

Secrets swirl around Kirin and his sister, who grew up in the area. His sister has been missing for years and is presumed dead.

This short story includes many things, including creepy dolls, puppets, and a mysterious girl in the garden. It was a short but enjoyable read for me!

Short stories are not usually my jam, but this one packed a punch! I could have easily settled in with a novel of the same storyline and writing style, but the short story was efficient in holding my attention. It's a thriller with a touch of the supernatural, a creepy doll (or few) and a mystery to solve.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This was a great short story. I loved the concept and plot. It gave off spooky vibes and the whole story wrapped together without so many extra details and getting it dragged out. The perfect start to spooky season

The Doll's House - 3.5 Stars

A good little thriller. I enjoyed the characters and being able to understand both sides of the mother-daughter dynamic of Jules and Scout through the duel POVs. I really enjoyed the beginning of the book and how it set up this new life for the main characters. I think for me, it went from setting up the story to just jumping to the ending. It kind of felt like the middle of the story was missing. The ending just came and went too fast.

Regardless, I still had fun reading it! If you're after a short and sweet thriller then you might enjoy this one!

Thank you NetGalley! This novella had many twists and turns that kept you wondering what would happen next

Rating: 4/5 Stars
Pub Date: 9/12
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The Doll’s House is an Amazon Short Story about a widowed mother giving love a second chance, when things start to get creepy.
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This is a fast paced story that will hook you right from the start. I enjoyed both Jules and Scout’s POV as the story alternates. I felt like it gave the story a deeper perspective, having both characters POV.
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This wasn’t overly scary but I love the creepy atmosphere that was created in such a short story and I loved the ending, it gave the perfect amount of shock to keep the reader wanting more. I flew through this one very very quickly.
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I listened to this one via audiobook while simultaneously reading along with my eARC. Mia Barron and Kimberly Woods were great. I loved this audio, their voices are easily distinguished between the two main characters. I highly recommend the audiobook.
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This is going to be a huge hit during spooky season! Making sure my horror / thriller friends pic this one up! You dont want to miss this short story! Huge thank you to NetGalley, Brilliance Publishing, and Amazon Original Stories for the eARC and ALC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a fantastic read! It was my first Lisa Unger book and it won't be my last for sure!!

The way she gave so much detail to her characters, especially her main characters Jules and Scout. You got an insight to their relationship but it wasn't too in depth that it felt like it dragged or was too much.
Even though I had guessed how the story was going I was still invested in reading it through and found it very captivating.
I wished it was a full sized novel because I was so invested in the story!


Thank you Amazon Short Stories and NetGalley for the ARC

In The Doll’s House, Jules is still grieving her husband's death when she meets Kirin, a charming artist who sweeps her into a whirlwind romance. Moving out of the city with her daughter Scout, Jules starts a new life in Kirin’s grand mansion, which he has carefully tailored to suit them. However, Scout struggles to accept her mother's new life, clinging to her father’s memory. Her resistance begins to wane when she discovers a handmade doll that once belonged to Kirin’s late sister. As Scout learns more about the doll and Kirin’s past, she senses a sinister presence in the house, one that seems to be focused on her mother. I enjoyed this short story! It’s a creepy, atmospheric read, perfect for October or Halloween. It is filled with eerie suspense, a growing sense of dread and dolls…. Lisa Unger writes a chilling short story that leaves readers questioning what’s real and what’s imagined, making for an exciting and thrilling novella.

This is a quick reading horror story. At 98 pages, there is plenty of content to enjoy. Scout and her mother, Jules, move into Kirin's family home. It's a luxurious home and at first blush, everything looks great. But then some odd things start to happen.

I enjoyed reading the book and the interesting twists.

The short story had a lot of good things about it, but I think it would have been better if it had been fleshed out a little more. I thought some things moved crazily fast and would have been more effective and creepy if they had been a little slower. Overall this story wasn’t bad, it was a fun ride even if it was very predictable. I liked the two narrators and I thought their experiences with grief were both good. Scout and her mom have moved in with her mom’s new boyfriend who is a famous artist and puppeteer. Scout didn’t want to move and leave behind everything she’d shared with her father but as a teenager she didn’t have much choice. But it’s clear this new house is holding secrets, but will Scout and her mother find them in time?

3.5★s
The Doll’s House is a short story by best-selling American author, Lisa Unger. Scout Cranor is too filled with resentment to be impressed by the fancy smart house her mother’s new boyfriend moves them into. Her mother, Jules has sold the apartment that holds all their memories of her recently (to Scout) deceased father, Doug; it’s just too soon.

Kirin Winslow is a world-renowned puppet and doll maker, and he tries hard to make her welcome, to make her comfortable. It’s when she stumbles on the doll he made in memory of his missing younger sister that Scout begins to warm to him a little: he knows what it is to grieve.

Meanwhile, exploring the woods around her writing studio, Jules has a disturbing encounter with a distressed young woman who shouts warnings at her, and somehow ends up with concussion. Kirin and his staff are all care and concern, but something is off.

Meanwhile, Scout has teamed up with new friends at school to find out what really happened to Kirin’s sister. Even in this short fiction, Unger expertly builds the tension and has the reader guessing the why, if not the who.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories.

This was a quick short story, I finished in an hour or so. It was interesting and felt like a mix of thriller and spooky horror, which I enjoyed. I do wonder why the author elected to make it a short story rather than a full novel- I would have been interested in getting to know the characters more if it had been longer. Worth the read!