Originally published: 28 June 2018

Author: Ashley Lister

Published by: Caffeine Nights

Genre: Horror

Page count: 226

Reading dates: 9-13 September 2018

Star Rating: 3.5/5

I’m the last stop on the blog tour today for Doll House by Ashley Lister!

Author Ben Haversham has sunk into depression while blaming himself for the death of his best friend Etta. Suffering from writer’s block, his agent John insists on a period of isolation in his remote cottage. Sandalwood is an isolated village and they both hope it’s remoteness will help rekindle Ben’s creativity, but he soon begins to realise that something is not quite right.

Situated next door to his cottage is the “Doll House” a museum dedicated to dolls, run by the predatory Marion Papusa and almost immediately it appears she has some sort of control over the people of the village.  There are sinister goings on and a shadowy cast of characters determined to keep the dark secrets the village holds.

As well as Ben, we follow Tom, a religious psychopath who also wants to avenge the death of Etta and provides plenty of violence and grisly deaths to keep the “yuck” factor strong!

The Doll House is a horror that is certainly creepy and for the strong stomached! As well as multiple references to dolls (which a lot of people find creepy in themselves) there are also clowns thrown into the mix. Poor Ben has to sleep in a room with lots of lifelike dolls looking down on him from a shelf!

I think this would make a great movie – the strange goings on and gore from the violence would make it the sort of film you have to watch from between fingers. I thought the horror aspects were effective and the strange cast of characters were all well written. Doll House gave me bad dreams which is surely what every horror writer hopes for!

Thank you to Anne Cater and Caffeine Nights Publishing for sending a copy my way and inviting me to be part of the tour.

About the author:

Ashley Lister is a prolific author, having written more than fifty full length titles and over a hundred short stories. Aside from regularly blogging about writing erotica, Ashley also lectures in creative writing and hosts open mic poetry events in Blackpool, Lancashire. Doll House is Ashley Lister’s second horror novel from Caffeine Nights, following on the success of the much acclaimed Raven and Skull.

Website : http://www.ashleylister.co.uk/

Twitter: @ashleylister