The Doll's House

M. J. Arlidge

Feb 2016 · A Helen Grace Thriller Book 3 · Sold by Penguin

About this ebook

Detective Helen Grace is on the trail of a twisted serial killer in this riveting thriller in the “gripping” (USA Today) international bestselling series.

Ruby wakes up in a strange room. Her captor calmly explains that no one is looking for her. No one wants her. Except him.

When the body of a woman is found buried on a secluded beach, Detective Helen Grace is called to the scene. She knows right away that the killer is no amateur. The woman has been dead for years, and no one has even reported her missing. But why would they? She’s still sending text messages to her family. 

Helen is convinced that a criminal mastermind is at work: someone very smart, very careful, and worst of all, very patient. But as she struggles to piece together the killer’s motive, time is running out for a victim who is still alive...

Ratings and reviews

The Doll’s House by M. J. Arlidge is the third book in the D.I. Helen Grace Thrillers series (and you do not want to miss it). A woman wakes up in a dank, cold cellar. The last thing Ruby Sprackling remembers (and it is tough to remember because of the drugs and alcohol) is going to sleep in her own bed. How did she get in this creepy, cold room with a locked door? Her captor was clever, and he does not think anyone will come looking for Ruby. Especially since he keeps their phones and sends out texts/tweets (keeps them alive but away). D.I. Helen Grace is called out to an isolated stretch of beach where a family found a body buried in the sand. Whomever disposed of her body did a very good job (the poor girl has been there for quite a while). The killer made sure not to leave any forensic clues (and the cold, wet sand did not help). Luckily for the police, the victim did have a pacemaker (which means there is a serial number). Helen is on the trail for the killer. Will she be able to find him (or her) in time to save Ruby’s life? Helen is also adjusting to two new staff members. Helen misses her old team and is not sure who she can trust. Are the new people loyal to Helen or to Detective Superintendent Ceri Harwood (her boss)? Harwood wants to get rid of Helen and she is very determined (but she underestimates Helen). Helen will have to work to stay ahead of Harwood while catching a killer. The Doll’s House is a good suspense/thriller book. I enjoyed it, but I did not find it as god as the previous books in the series. It lags it a little in places and there are abrupt transitions (it switches quickly from scene to scene which can be confusing at first). The novel is well-written (as usual) but it just lacking a little something. I think part of it is the change in characters (I liked the original team). The pace of the novel significantly increases in the last 40% of the book (which meant I kept reading until I finished it). There is quite a bit going on in The Doll’s House (more than what I wrote above), and it can be difficult to keep it all straight (it is worth it though). I give The Doll’s House 4 out of 5 stars. I would recommend reading the first two books in the D.I. Helen Grace series before diving into The Doll’s House (otherwise you would be very confused). I look forward to reading the next book in the series. I received a complimentary copy of The Doll’s House from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

In this third entry in his Detective Helen Grace series, M.J. Arlidge continues his tradition of excellence, in both the fast-paced plot and the thoughtful character development (particularly that of Detective Sergeant Lloyd Fortune). In this case, he has also given us a second villain to despise: Detective Superintendent Ceri Harwood, who goes to absurd lengths in her vendetta against Grace. What makes The Doll's House the weakest book in the series thus far is the direction in which Arlidge has taken Grace's relationship with Jake. It almost feels as though someone told Arlidge that Grace needs a love interest, and Jake was the nearest available male. This reader, for one, thinks Grace - prickly, damaged, loyal, aggressive, intimidating, independent Grace - is perfect just the way she is. I received a free copy of The Doll's House through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is my second M.J. Arlidge book. I enoyed it just as much as the first. She catches your attention from the beginning and I didn't put it down until I was finished. Thank you Netgalley and Berkley Publishing for the chance to read it early for my honest review.

About the author

M. J. Arlidge is the international bestselling author of the Detective Helen Grace Thrillers, including Hide and Seek, Little Boy Blue, Liar Liar, The Doll’s House, Pop Goes the Weasel, and his debut, Eeny Meeny, which has been sold in twenty-nine countries. He has worked in television for the past fifteen years.