My thoughts:
I always look forward to the start of a new series. I can already say the Zoe Storm series is going to be a favorite series for me.
Zoe is a special agent with the FBI. Her troubled childhood has her vowing to help the innocent. Can she do this without jeopardizing her career?
Zoe is an interesting character for sure!
I could not figure out where the author was taking us…always a good thing to keep me fully engaged.
I have high hopes for this new crime thriller by Ruhi Choudhary.

Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Name :- The Hanging Dolls
Author :- Ruhi Choudhary
Genre :- Psychological thriller.
Ruhi Choudhary introduces us to Special Agent Zoe Storm—resilient, razor-sharp, and relentless in her pursuit of justice. When the body of a young girl is discovered in a haunting woodland scene, Zoe is plunged into a race against time to stop a serial predator who’s just getting started. The eerie imagery—nooses swaying from trees, notes left behind, girls lured with promises of safety—creates an atmosphere thick with dread.
Likes and Dislikes :-
Likes :-
1 Zoe Storm’s Character: Strong yet vulnerable, Zoe is a deeply compelling lead whose emotional investment in the case elevates the stakes.
2 Fast-paced Plot: The countdown element, symbolic clues, and escalating danger keep the pages flying.
3 Atmospheric Setting: The misty, wooded backdrop of Harborwood enhances the suspense and isolation.
Dislikes :-:
None.
Conclusion :- The Hanging Dolls blends emotional depth with a gripping mystery, making it hard to put down. It’s perfect for fans of Lisa Regan, Kendra Elliot, or those who enjoy thrillers with strong female leads and high-stakes investigations.
My rating :- 4.5/5

This had all the elements that make up a great thriller but I was a bit disappointed. I thought it was a bit slow to start and tended to drag a bit. It wasn't a bad read just not terribly exciting. I don't know that I would rush to buy this author's work again.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book

Zoe Storm works with the FBI. She gets called to a town that never sees violence or murder. Now they have a missing little girl who disappeared buying ice cream. The girl is discovered dead by a tree with three nooses hanging and suddenly a second girl is missing. Will they find her before it´s too late? In Zoes quest to find this girl she finds out a lot of secrets and discovers that maybe the killer is closer than she thought...

I really liked this. I am a BIG big BIIIG fan of Criminal Minds and this gave me the same vibes! I really recommend you read this and I will most likely be continuing with the Zoe Storm series in the future.

I rated the book 3.5 stars.

Highly recommend and look forward to reading the next book in the Zoe Storm series!!

Starts off a little confusing with trying to keep up with all the multiple characters’ storylines but by the middle of the book you won’t be able to put it down. The plot of the story isn’t the typical one you’d expect like many other mystery/thrillers Ive read (and Ive read a lot) and I enjoyed it. This book does pull at your heart strings at times so be prepared to feel some sad emotions while you read.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for sharing an ARC with me!

The Hanging Dolls is the first book in a series around Zoe Storm, an upbeat, sunny FBI agent. Zoe lost her mother as a young teen, and despite her cheery demeanour, in reality she is trying to find out and escape from her past.

When a child goes missing from a small town, Zoe is called to help find out what has happened but is faced with an unravelling of deceit, emotions and realisations that the people in this town know more than they are letting on.

We were able to see snippets of Zoe’s character under the sunny facade based on the impact of her mother’s murder. The book was ‘busy’ - multiple POVs, however I like this. I would have liked to have had more of an answer on the murder of Zoe’s mother, but the cliffhanger will bring this nicely into the next book and I should lay off being impatient! It was a steady read that was slow in parts but had enough little twists and cliffhangers to keep it interesting and I’ll certainly be looking out for more in this series.

A good 3.5 ⭐️

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for offering this ARC

When I started this book, I thought it will be the normal run-on-of-the- mill thriller. But, as the chapters progressed I knew this wasnt. The twist at the end was so damn unexpected that I had to re-read the chapter twice to actually believe it. My only complain is that Zoe's story was incomplete and thus I was left pondering as to what might have happened. This is one of the best thrillers of 2025. If you love the books of Lisa Jewell, James Patterson then you're gonna love this.

When a small town with minimal crime is rocked by the murder of one girl and the disappearance of another, FBI agent Zoe Storm is called in to help crack the case. But Zoe has her demons. She must rangle with her past whilst also confronting the horrors that face her in this twisted case.

I enjoyed the first installment of the Zoe Storm series. The start of the novel was a bit slow, and it took me a while to get into it. However, I am glad that I stuck with it. I thought Zoe was an intriguing character with a lot of potential for more growth over the series, and, whilst there was the main mystery of disappearing girls, the little snippets I got into Zoe's past only worked to engross me further into the narrative. Additionally, the novel contained a fantastic cast of morally grey and complex characters that kept the story ticking along.

The plot had enough twists and turns to keep me guessing, and whilst I had my hunch as to who the killer was, I was surprised at the end!

I am looking forward to the next installment.

Scary from the very start. A fast paced read that keeps you guessing until the very end. This was heart wrenching and terrifying. You need to keep reading as fast as you can while they unravel this mystery so you know that kids will be safe again.
A rollercoaster start to finish.
Fantastic characters and a solid plot.
A must read!

Gripping and atmospheric this book kept me guessing until the very end with a good amount of twists. I would definitely recommend checking it out

The Hanging Dolls — what a gripping title! It instantly caught my attention. The story follows FBI agent Zoe Storm and her partner, Dr. Aiden, as they’re called to a small town to investigate a child abduction. When the child is found in the woods alongside three nooses, the race against time begins.

I really enjoyed the multiple points of view throughout the story. Since this is the start of a new series, it was a great way to get to know the characters better. I also appreciated the subtle flashbacks to Zoe’s childhood and her relationship with her mother. I’m hoping future books delve deeper into Rachel’s past and explain why she was on the run.

The ending completely surprised me! I was convinced a different character was the culprit, so the real reveal was unexpected and refreshing.

This review is entirely my own. A big thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this fantastic book!

A young girl named Lily is discovered resting next to a tree with nooses swaying beside her. Special Agent Zoe Storm, teams up with forensic expert Dr. Aiden Wesley to unravel the disturbing pattern targeting children in a small

What secrets does this small town have? In this book every lead brings another twist. So much suspense! Twists and turns, every time you think you have it figured out you are wrong. A great thriller that you won’t be able to put down!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy for an honest review.

“The Hanging Dolls”, the name of the book, grabs your attention immediately. I found myself drawn into the book right away. The urgency to find 3 missing children is palpable. I like the new character of Zoe Storm. The author’s use of weather and dark stormy days and nights was a character in itself. To introduce Zoe Storm with a background and backstory there are a lot of characters in the book. However, it was not very difficult to keep the various players in mind. The ending will blow you away. I could not guess who the villain turned out to be. Highly recommended.

I love Ruhi Choudhary's Makenzie Price Series, so I was anxious to read about the adventures of Zoe Storm. As an FBI agent, Zoe has a very sunny (maybe even sparkly) personality, but she uses that to hide that she had a traumatic past. When she was young, her mysterious mother moved them around a lot, and eventually was murdered. Still unsolved. Presently, Special Agent Zoe Storm is trying to identify a serial killer targeting vulnerable children. She's assisted by an FBI profiler, who was also her counselor as she was working through some trauma. Zoe is not exactly comfortable with his presence and what he iknows about her. In addition to the case, Zoe is also sorting through some aspects of her past based on a photo she found of her mother. The story is written from multiple POVs, including flashbacks to Zoe’s childhood and then the present day. Lots of twists and turns, and a great first book. I'm very interested to see where Zoe ends up in Book 2 - especially considering where The Hanging Dolls ended. Thanks much to Bookouture for an advanced reader of this book. The opinions expressed are my own.

3.5 Stars

The Hanging Dolls is book 1 in a new Zoe Storm series by Ruhi Choudhary and is the first book I have Choudhary.

When a little girl goes missing in the small town of Harborwood, Washington and the local law enforcement have not had to deal with a case like this, they reach out to the FBI for assistance. Special Agent Zoe Storm is sent to help, along with Dr Aiden Wesley and what unfolds is a town with more evil lurking than they expected.

Woven into the current case Zoe is assigned are flashbacks to build an understanding of her backstory, including the death of her mother and hear search to uncover her secrets, the relationship with Aiden built during mandatory therapy sessions to ascertain her fitness to return to work after a particular case. There is also an interesting dynamic between Zoe and her boss, who she had a relationship with. Zoe also has her own way of managing the stress and pressure of her work, as well as how she will go about achieving results to save lives.

There is a lot going on in this book and I found myself on the fence when it comes to the Zoe as a character, the dynamics between, Zoe, Aiden, and her boss Simon. Saying that, I’d like to see where book 2 takes us, the continuation of her search for answers about her mother.

A serial killer book that stands out from the crowd. The characters and the setting are written exceptionally well. Fabulous!

Gritty thriller introducing Zoe Storm,a damaged agent of the FBI . Interesting dynamics between characters and a twisty story.

A chilling, fast-paced thriller that introduces Special Agent Zoe Storm in a race against time to stop a twisted killer targeting vulnerable children. With symbolic clues, emotional depth, and multiple points of view
This story grips you from page one. Perfect for fans of dark, character-driven crime fiction. A strong start to a promising new series.

This is the first book I have read by this author so wasn’t sure what to expect. What I got was a multi-layered thriller with a host of well-developed characters, twists and turns aplenty and an ending that I wasn’t expecting but brought everything together nicely. However, try as I might, I simply could not like Zoe Storm – I found her lack of self-awareness irritating from the very beginning!

The author writes from multiple POVs, and includes flashbacks to Zoe’s childhood, so I found I had to really concentrate on keeping track of who was speaking. I think that there were some areas that would have benefitted from further details and the ending, albeit a good one, did feel a bit rushed.

Another great start to a crime thriller series, agent Zoe Storm is sent to a remote office to lend them a hand. She didn't have a great chikdhood and has many unanswered questions. She has a secret though. What is it?. No one can ever find out what she does for a release when she isn't at work. Great read, can't wait for the next book.