Right, number one) don't read this book if you don't like horror and gore (I'm permanently amazed by the amount of people that moan about the content of horror novels having chosen to read a horror novel in the first place. Number two) this book is like Baby Doll but in my opinion, better. It alternates between modern day Olivia and Olivia as a captive, focusing quite strongly on survival and moving on from extreme trauma. Number three) this book isn't the best horror story I've ever read nor is it the worst. It was fine. It was easy to get into, easy to read, and easy to follow. It didn't seem to take itself too seriously, which I always like in books of this genre.
What I will say is that the ending was awful. For me, this knocked down my rating a whole star because it just felt lazy on the authors part.

Overall, Doll House was an okay read. Whilst there wasn't much wrong with it (minus the ending), there wasn't an awful lot that made it good either. For me, fine is the only way that I can really sum it up. However, if you are a fan of this genre, then it is probably worth a read.

2.5 Stars **+

Olivia is on a walk exploring the college campus when she is abducted by two men. She is a hostage in a locked completely pink room with no windows for five years. She is raped, tortured and mutilated. She has lost a finger or two plus more. Why? When Olivia escapes, she is truly scare still as one of the men is still alive. She is afraid he will come back for her and be put in another pink doll house. Does he? What will he do?

The novel is full of unexpected action. It surprised me with its detailed reality. There is also violence in this book. This a novel that you won't forget -- at least I won't. It seems too possible and real.

This is a very interesting novel with some extremely well-orchestrated surprises that helps keep the reader involved whilst keeping them off balanced. The story heads in one direction and then changes direction to become something not initially expected. This helped prevent the story become above par from the usual horror torture porn that I was expecting to read upon the first forty pages. This was a nice unexpected surprise.

The first forty pages run the course of an extremely horror novel but then Hunt turns a corner and starts to delve deeper. This may cause a problem for some readers as it does not rest firmly into any type of genre. It is not extreme horror or a tense thriller but more settled into a dark fiction hybrid. Personally, I am not a huge fan of extreme horror as the torture porn of people whilst pushing the envelope tends to become stale after reading one. It’s like a Sade or Enya album, buy one and you pretty much have the whole back catalogue and any future releases. Hunt has been able to push past this to a more realised result.

The characters are well developed and although the villains of the piece tend to side on the one dimensional variety, the rest of them are fully realised. On a personal level, it would have been nice to have the Jackal and Gorilla more fully developed and gives them a bit more depth beyond the need to kill, maim and feed. This of course, could take away from the mystery element that develops over time.

Olivia and her father chapters are the meat of the story and they are well realised with their fears and coming to terms of the situation are well handled. There are times where the passages between the two characters slow down the action but the emotional core is done very well.

The secondary characters are well written and Hunt’s red herring characters have enough mystery to keep them interesting without turning them stale. I have to admit, that the killer’s chapters were very interesting but felt a bit more depth beyond his fascination would have lifted this novel to the next level.

The reveal of the killer was not a huge surprise as the clues were slightly too plain for the avid reader but it was a nice touch nonetheless. The relationship between the Gorilla and the Jackal could have been better developed to provide more depth in the grooming aspect and could have been explored within the killer chapters.

The ending is well handled though there were quite a few threads left untied to leave the reader a bit cold at the ending. I am not saying that there would need to be a happy Hollywood ending but closure with some of the other threads would have provided a more rewarding finale.

Overall, this is a well handled and constructed novel which kept the reader interested. The different approach to the source material helps lift this above the norm though it does have some very slight flaws. At times, the novel does get bogged down with some melodrama but this does not take away from the overall enjoyment.

This is a sparkling debut from a first time novelist and despite some teething problems, this author is on his way of become an interesting writer to look out for. For thought provoking, a break away from the norm and interesting plot lines this is a definite winner. I have placed John Hunt on my list to read for any future instalments and can’t wait to see what he comes up with next. An interesting read for readers who are looking for something slightly different from the Richard Laymon wannabes out there.

I'm really wondering if people who rated this anything beyond two stars have ever read any horror books, because this was The WORST™.

Within the first three chapters, Olivia is dropped off at school, is kidnapped and all of a sudden it's five years later. Yes, there's gruesome descriptions about what happened to her, but honestly....that's it?

I felt that was "Room" lite. It had a ton of potential, there were SO MANY other ways for this story to have been written but this, this wasn't is.

Don't promise me a five year captivity in a 'doll house' and then give me scene after scene of iPads and Candy Crush. Come on.

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for this review.

Olivia is ready for the next chapter in her life. She is starting college. Before she even gets to spend one night in her new dorm she is kidnapped. For the next 5 years she is help in a tiny room that is all pink, everything is bolted to the floor and there are 2 kidnappers who never visit her alone. one wears a Gorilla mask, her beats, rapes and tortures Olivia in the most unimaginable ways. The Jackal stands by and watches and never speaks, but when the Gorilla has had his fun the Jackal cleans her up and tends to her wounds. At first she thinks maybe he could be an adversary but soon realizes he is actually the leader.

Five years later the Gorilla visits her alone and takes his mask off while raping her. She figures out a way to get rid of him and escapes. While escaping she realizes she is not the victim. She finds and releases 2 other girls as well. Now home disfigured and terrified because the Jackal is still free, Olivia tries to put a life together.

To me this book basically has 3 parts. The first part is the kidnapping, torture and finally breaking free. The 2nd part is Olivia's returning home to her father. Her Father has become an alcoholic during her imprisonment. Olivia and her Uncle do and intervention on her Father and get him the help he needs. Olivia also talks him into moving. Then the 3rd part of the book is Olivia starting to heal. But we also have the full on return of the Jackal and his plan for Olivia and the other 2 girls he was holding.

The book is a very dark story, but it is also a story of hope and healing. Depends on how you read it. Like it or not this book is not that far from reality. We hear about these type of things to often lately in the news. This book is not for the young or the faint of heart. Parts of the book are very hard to read or even think about. That being said it was next to impossible to put it down though.

'....and I would of gotten away with it too, had it not been for that dog and you pesky kids!'

Ha! This came to mind on finishing Doll House. It felt very 'Scooby-Doo' as it headed to the conclusion. An 18+ version may I add, because it was sick and very gory in places. Scabby blood clot anyone? And a side order of ear maybe.

So, 2 stars? It didn't deserve 1 star, as there were a fair few bits I really enjoyed and I think 1 star is too harsh for this.

The first quarter of the book wasn't written very well. It seemed that the author struggled to get the momentum going, using very basic language and descriptions.

As the story became established, and the action got going, John Hunt found his feet. He's rather good at creating a dark, tense scenario. I had feelings of foreboding and high tension at regular intervals, which is my reason for finishing this.

I thought I knew who the serial killer was, and prepared myself for the ultimate anticlimactic end ever, when, I was proved wrong! And for some reason I can't quite put my finger on, it still felt a tad disappointing, but it pleased me that I was wrong. Had I of been right, it would have received just the 1 star.

I found this book difficult to review, as I always feel bad about not really liking an ARC. I am always thankful for the opportunity, however, reviews are personal and honest, and this is all I can find to say about this one. This book was initially heading for my DNF shelf, but I'm glad I persevered as there were snippets of good horror writing amongst all that naff!!

I'd like to thank Black Rose Writing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.

Doll House was one heck of a psychological thrill ride! I read it in "one sitting". I just couldn't put it down! This story draws you into its suspenseful web right from the beginning and keeps you on the edge of your seat all the way to the very end. There are surprises and twists all along the way. And, if you think you have figured out who and why before you reach the end, you might just be very surprised.

Hunt did an superb job of creating a plot that is fast-paced and full of tension and drama. He created characters that have depth and are deeply complex and multi-dimensional. He skillfully stirred my emotions and easily caused me to run a gamut of feelings from heart-pounding fear, gut-wrenching sorrow, extreme anger and bloodthirsty vengefulness to the blossoming of hope, soul-deep compassion and a righteous and satisfactory sense of justice served.

My heart broke for Olivia and everything she went through, but I cheered for and admired her determination, spirit and will to survive. She was brave, bold and completely selfless, despite the fact that it could have meant her own life to be such.

The villains are sick, deranged, maniacal, perverted psychos whose utter depravity will cause a cold chill to run up your spine. Just the thought that there are actual people like them in the world who actually do these kinds of things was enough to make me double check the locks on my doors. And, I also found myself becoming hyper aware when outside at a place as seemingly safe as my front porch.

This book was quite moving and definitely has had an impact on me well beyond the pages. I look forward to reading more from Hunt.

*I received a complimentary ARC of this book from NetGalley & Black Rose Writing in order to read and provide a voluntary, unbiased and honest review, should I choose to do so.

Superb book in a gruesome way. A girl found herself captured by some evil and sadist men. Imprisoned in a dolls house for their service. Degraded and used. Can she escape ? Can she ever recover? Brilliant thrille, lots of twists and turns to find one of the men behind it all.

This book is not horror. It is not a thriller. It is boring and nothing happens. Seriously. Check out my goodreads review for my full opinions.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1914807397

A book of the year ! This book was so twisted and gruesome yet showed an amazing will to love and how we as humans refuse to give up even when all hope is lost! This book had me literally jumping out of my chair and having crazy dreams that either the gorilla or jackel were in my room ! I love the twist at the end, I never expectedly who the jackel turned out to be, and heartbroken too ! Overall I loved every scary second of this book !

Dark, brutal, and intense, this is not a book to go into lightly. Set aside some time to get lost in this harrowing tale.

I have to admit, my interest in this book came from Pretty Little Liars. Not in the sense that they're related to each other, but there is a dollhouse aspect in PLL, just like there is in this book though boy, are they different! This book is not for the feint-of heart. Fantastic concept for a thriller.

This book was horrifying to me. Since I am a mother with daughter, it was easy to really connect with the characters. It is very gory and violent but all worked to make the story that much more intense. It hits you in the gut.

This is a debut novel about Olivia who is about to start university and is moving onto campus, much to her dad, Harry's dismay. Olivia has grown up without a mother, she didn't want kids, so left harry to bring her up single-handedly. Olivia never got to sleep in her new digs, she hadn't even unpacked before deciding to go for a walk. Then, she was snatched from the street and shoved into the back of a van by two guys. One in a "Gorilla" mask, the other in a "Jackal" mask.
Olivia is a feisty character who is determined not to go down without a fight.
Harry has devoted his whole life to Olivia, so when she goes missing his whole world is turned upside down, and the only way he can deal with it is to numb the pain with alcohol.

This book isn't for the faint-hearted. It doesn't hold back on the punches or the details. The title of the book has little resemblance to the novel, it was more of a torture chamber than a dolls house. There are a few grammatical errors and some repetition, but apart from that it was a very gripping, if not a disturbing thriller. This novel had me gripped from the first start and i found myself reading until the early hours. Only problem with that was, it had me jumping at the slightest sound. I am disappointed with the ending though, it felt like there are a few pages missing???
Would definitely recommend if you're not easily scared and don't mind gory details. Looking forward to the next one!

I like thrillers and read this genre almost exclusively, and this one had the potential to be quite a suspenseful read. Unfortunately, it was so grisly and gory that it just felt OVERDONE more than scary or chilling.

Basic premise -- two men, the Gorilla and the Jackal, nab young women off the street and keep them in little cells decorated in pink. While kept in these rooms in the basement, the men maim, rape and torture them. Can you say cannibals? As I said, just think of a horror and it's probably in this book. Well, not EVERYTHING, but a lot.

Olivia is the main character, snatched off her college campus on the night she moves to University. She's subjected to brutality but manages to effect an escape with other girls held there. Not a spoiler because this is where the story really starts -- after she gets out and goes back home. She is meant to be a feisty heroine, but I just never really felt that much for the believability of her character. Her responses to being home, her conversations with people, her thoughts -- I don't know, maybe it's just me. Lots of repetition of the horrors she experienced (yeah we got it) and her fear and tangents about security being an illusion etc. It seemed to drag and what was supposed to be tantalizing little hints about the identity of the Jackal probably won't fool anyone. Yeah we knew who it was.

I don't mind gory and grisly but the writing just didn't seem as sophisticated as I'm used to reading in the books I've really liked in this genre. There's no backstory of how the Gorilla and Jackal got together and how they became these beasts -- no psychology, no explanation for the obsessions -- it all seemed unfinished even after the big showdown we knew was coming and even could guess how that was going to go. The story is told in alternating points of view between Olivia and the Jackal mainly, but also a few times Olivia's dad speaks up.

The setting is Canada. The winters are long and dark. Nothing much else about the locale to incorporate it into the story. Despite the efforts to horrify, this didn't really scare me, create tension, or develop suspense. Over-the-top violence -- which I know does exist in the world -- but I think it was just the constant reminder of it all every chapter that made it overdone.

If you're like me, you probably have a long TBR, so don't put this at the top of your list. Thank you to NetGalley and Black Rose Writing for the opportunity to read and review an ARC. The cover was amazing, it just didn't have anything to do with the story and the title is misleading.

This was a very dark, gruesome and disturbing tale..like something out of a horror flick. Initially, I wanted to rate this book a 3. It could have used some more proofreading and it didn't quite flow as nicely in the first 3 chapters. However, I was so intoxicated by the story and characters, those things were easy to overlook.
There were times I felt my heart racing and needed to take a break from reading, due to the graphic nature of this book. This is definitely not for the light-hearted. I love horror, so this was right up my alley and one that I would recommend to others who want a good thrill.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this novel.

This book has torn me in two: one part of me LOVES it and the other part is so infuriated by it!

Positives
The book focused on the victims more than the killer and that was really refreshing.
I liked the gradual building of tension.
It did not hold back from the horror and violence that occurs.

Negatives
There is so much repetition in the narrative from several different characters. Often Harry, Olivia and the Jackal talk about exactly the same event.
The book is called the Doll House but there is nothing about Dolls or collecting girls really. The story does not match the title.
There was no enough action. The first chapter introduced Olivia and her going to university. Second chapter sees Harry and him getting a call from Olivia and only chapter 3 sees things in the house where they are kept. The chapters are quite short, so you can see the issue.
The identity of the Jackal was quite obvious.
The ending! There isn't one! Did Hunt forget to write it?!

Thank you to NetGalley for my copy of this novel.

This was dark, but I liked it! What an interesting & exciting story. I liked the character of Olivia & although what happened to her is horrible, I read on to find out what came next. I do wish there was a bit more back story on the baddie & how he came to be though.
I'm excited to see what's next from this author.

Terrifying. Horrific. Skin crawling. Heart in your mouth, reading quickly to get past the scary bits (like the need to look away) yet unable to skim read because it's just so damn good.... It's been a really, really long time since I've read anything that has scared me. This book did that; it also made me sad, angry, happy, hopeful and intrigued. Not many books can claim to take you so far - this one did for me!
The story plays out very naturally and the mystery kept me guessing - I did guess the who about 3/4 through, but it didn't stop me from enjoying every word - especially as I was unsure if I was right until the end!
A very, very good read that kept me up late reading - even though I wanted to hide under the covers! If you like a bit of fright in your night, this book is for you.

Doll House by John Hunt, Olivia is starting university, she doesn't make it through the first night before being snatched. Awakened in a small cell decorated in pink, like a doll house, her horror begins.... Olivia isn't alone there are other girls all subjected to hardened acts of violence, rape and abuse by two masked men. Olivias father struggles to cope in the ensuing years and turns to alcohol to blot out the pain of his loss, one call changes it all.
Wow what a twisted psychological thriller, graffic in detail, dark and disturbing, if you can't handle graffic and gritty detail, this book isn't for you. I dont scare easy but was disturbed and shaken at some points but I couldn't put the book down. It's a real page turner, that I couldn't let go, even at the end.