The Doll House

Phoebe Morgan

Sep 2017 · Sold by HarperCollins UK

About this ebook

You never know who’s watching...

‘Spine-chilling ... makes you realise how little you ever know anyone!’ The Sun

‘A brilliantly creepy and insightfully written debut. I tore through it’ Gillian McAllister

‘Unnerving and spine-chilling’ Mel Sherratt

Corinne’s life might look perfect on the outside, but after three failed IVF attempts it’s her last chance to have a baby. And when she finds a tiny part of a doll house outside her flat, it feels as if it’s a sign.

But as more pieces begin to turn up, Corinne realises that they are far too familiar. Someone knows about the miniature rocking horse and the little doll with its red velvet dress. Someone has been inside her house...

How does the stranger know so much about her life? How long have they been watching? And what are they waiting for...?

A gripping debut psychological thriller with a twist you won’t see coming. Perfect for fans of I See You and The Widow.

Praise for The Doll House:

‘A spine-chilling tale that makes you realise how little you ever know anyone!’ The Sun

‘A real page turner, I loved this story’ B A Paris, Sunday Times bestselling author of Behind Closed Doors and The Dilemma

‘Unnerving and spine-chilling in its sentiment’ Mel Sherratt, million-copy bestseller

‘Tense, suspenseful and unsettling... Phoebe Morgan is one to watch!’ Lisa Hall, bestselling author

‘A brilliantly creepy and insightfully written debut. I tore through it’ Gillian McAllister, bestselling author

‘Atmospheric, dark and haunting, I could not put this book down’ Caroline Mitchell, USA Today bestselling author

‘Deliciously creepy, genuinely unnerving and incredibly confident, The Doll House is the stellar first outing of a major new voice’ Catherine Ryan Howard, author of Distress Signals

‘Unsettling, insightful, evocative and poignant, Morgan's writing is both delicate and devastating. [The Doll House] will haunt the reader long after the pages are closed’ Helen Fields, author of Perfect Remains

'Totally engrossing from start to finish. A clever, clever book' Amanda Robson, author of Obsession

Ratings and reviews

I was actually quite disappointed in this book, having discovered the author through her second novel (The Girl Next Door) I was expecting great things from this book. Unfortunately, it just didn't deliver. Ultimately the story is about two families - one seemingly normal with mum, dad and 2 daughters and one with a deranged mother and her daughter who appear to be stalking the former. Initially it is all a bit disorientating as you are trying to figure out if the reminiscences from "Then" are of this girl watching Corinne and Ashley's family and then, to be honest I gave up really caring. The problem for me was that I couldn't warm to either Corinne or Ashley so when it becomes apparent that yes, they are the daughters so longingly watched through the windows I couldn't really find myself summoning up much sympathy for them. The identity of the mysterious girl is well hidden through the book and you are given a couple of red herrings along the way. Unfortunately, the tension of what was happening with Ashley's husband Jack and here fears he was having an affair is dissipated somewhat by the fact it is clear to the reader that this is not what is happening (honestly, it is almost spelt out what his reasons for always being at work are early in the proceedings). Then you have their daughter Lucy who has an "unsuitable friend", again you know from the first incident who this friend is going to turn out to be so it takes some of the sting out of it all. Corinne and her boyfriend just plain irritated me. Which somehow makes me feel bad because of their struggles to procreate but Corinne just comes across as vacile and needy so I couldn't get too worked up about what she was going through. There was a lot that didn't make sense in the plotting but the final showdown with "the girl" at the mother's house and then in the Underground just stretched believability too far and made me tut and roll my eyes. the book does end on a nicely twisted note though, that I did appreciate.

It would’ve been a lot better book if there weren’t so many mistakes in there!! My mind was distracted from the plot due to them. Twist at the end was ok but that’s the only thing about the book that wasn’t predictable. Very, very slow starting too, as it didn’t get going until two thirds through.

A thrilling story that will have you on the edge of your seat. Keeping you guessing till the very end

About the author

PHOEBE MORGAN is an author and editor. She studied English at Leeds University after growing up in the Suffolk countryside. She has previously worked as a journalist and now edits crime and women’s fiction for a publishing house during the day, and writes her own books in the evenings. She lives in London and you can follow her on Twitter @Phoebe_A_Morgan. The Doll House is her debut novel.