I love FBI thrillers and this one was really great! The narrator was clearly spoken and each word was enunciated well. This first novel in the series introduced a bunch of characters and their various dramas, but I never had any issue following along and knowing who was who.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC, in exchange for an honest review. A cop, landed in a town to solve child abductions, turned murders. Lots of mis-direction to lead you astray, the story was solid, but I felt the planted distractions were just that. Constant opportunities to make you consider new suspects. I loved Zoe’s character, but felt like I had missed a prequel…. 3.5 stars, rounded up.

Ruhi Choudhary delivers a masterclass in crime fiction with The Hanging Dolls, the gripping first book for the Detective Zoey Storm series. Set against the brooding backdrop of the Pacific Northwest, this audiobook pulls listeners into a tangled web of secrets, trauma, and suspense that never lets up.
Choudhary’s descriptive writing, brought vividly to life by the narrator, immerses you in a haunting setting where every shadow seems to whisper a secret.
Zoey Storm is a compelling protagonist—driven FBI agent, vulnerable, and haunted by her past. Her emotional depth adds gravity to the narrative, making the stakes feel intensely real.
From the eerie discovery of a doll hanging in the forest next to a little girls body, to the unfolding investigation, the plot is packed with twists and turns that keep you on edge.
The voice performance of Stephanie Cannon enhances the experience beautifully. The narrator delivers with nuance and tension, capturing the characters’ personalities and emotions with precision.
This audiobook is a must-listen for fans of psychological thrillers and procedural dramas.
Choudhary crafts a suspenseful, emotionally layered story that grabs hold and doesn’t let go. If you love strong female leads, dark secrets, and edge-of-your-seat pacing, The Hanging Dolls will not disappoint.

Thank you to the author, narrators, publisher and Net Galley for providing an E-audio ALC of this title.

Publication date July 29, 2025

Man did this one mess with my head. Truly a psychological thriller. I did like this book and all the twists but I do think a need a Sweet book chaser after this sad book. The ending was not what I thought it would be.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this arc.

The Hanging Dolls by Ruhi Choudhary was absolutely awesome! Especially on audio! The narrator truly brought the story to life and made the tension feel so real. I was completely hooked by the plot and the dark, chilling atmosphere. The race to catch the killer before another girl went missing had me hanging on for dear life! I loved all the characters and the side plots that added depth and built up to a brilliantly twisty ending. This is an all-around fantastic thriller in my book!

Thanks so much to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC audiobook.
What a great book!!
I will be honest, at first I did not like Zoe, I still don't like some of her mannerisms, but she became more tolerable as the book went on.
This book was so twisty!!
I listened in one day because I literally could not stop!
It was constant action and boy, what a twisted ending.
I look so forward to future books in the new series!
The narration was spectacular!
Now, off to tell all of my reader friends!

What a twist! I felt on end he the whole time I was listening. It really delved deep into trauma and how individuals are impacted by events they have experienced.

This is the first book in the Zoe Storm series and it was a goodie. From the get-go I really took to Zoe as a character. She’s an FBI Agent with a backstory of her own that I’m so invested in. There is 2 storylines running alongside each other in this one and I’m here for it and I can’t wait for the next instalment. I really liked this authors style of writing along with the well developed storylines and characters. I could really see myself getting into this series and getting to know Zoe more…

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review #TheHangingDolls

The Hanging Dolls by Ruhi Choudhary
Narrated by Stephanie Cannon
Publication date - 30th July 2025
Thanks to @netgalley and @bookouture for this audio book.

I enjoyed this book, and looking forward to reading more of the Zoe Storm books in the future. I really like her character. This book was filled with so many twists and a mind blowing ending that I didn't see coming (no spoilers). If you like murder, fbi agent, and small town drama - then this books worth a read.
5 stars

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC. I thoroughly enjoy reading thrillers, and this one was captivating. The book was engaging right off the bat and the intentional reveal through third person narrative, helps continue the mystery and slow reveal so the reader doesn't feel like the characters are withholding information. It just flows as it would if you were hearing a story from someone else.

Well written and captivating. It was easy to read and basic. Easy to follow and not very many layers to the story.

I reviewed the audiobook, the narration was good. I loved that I couldn't hear the narrators breathing or any background noise. I think I would have enjoyed the book more. The audiobook was narrated and they did a few voices for the characters, so that took away from the plot a bit.

The story was well written. Engaging and captivating, I couldn't put it down because I wanted to know what was coming.

It is the beginning of a new series so I'm excited to see more character development and it might be more like a series in which we get more information about the main characters as they have more cases.

Excited to see what's next

***Awaiting approval of Amazon review

Zoe Storm is an amazing woman! Even with dark mysteries in her past surrounding the death of her mother, she still goes out and helps those that need protecting. And this time it is the horrible crime of a child's death, with possibly more to follow. I love that despite how strong Zoe is, she is not perfect. She has her own devils to deal with (especially when going undercover to catch a very bad man) and sometimes that leads to vigilante justice. She is balanced by Aiden Wesley, a psychiatrist with a great brain to tease out the clues the killer left behind with each new dead girl. Now this case with Lily and the others is very twisty and it leads to an edge of the seat experience in the race to catch the killer before they strike again. So many suspects and red herrings plus other crimes muddying the waters and secrets galore. For such a small town, it holds quite a lot! And if that isn't enough, Zoe finds more hints about her mother and why she may have died.

This is a good first book of a new series and I am looking forward to see what crimes Special Agent Zoe Storm is called to solve and whether she can find out the truth about her mother and the dark past she was running from! I got the chance to listen to this as an audiobook and the narrator, Stephanie Cannon, did a great job in bringing the characters and story to life! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to listen to follow Zoe as she lets nothing get in the way of answers and finding the killer!

This was a good listen. Plenty of twists to hold my interest. Most I did not figure out, which is always a good thing. Good narrator. Looking forward to rest of series!

Special Agent Zoe Storm and Dr Aiden Wesley will travel to Harborwood, Washington after the body of. Seven year old girl is found. An unknown man was seen and cryptic notes left at the scene. Before they can find the killer another girl is taken and killed. Is there more than one person responsible?

Very well written and well narrated novel (I listened to the audiobook’). Good characters that have complicated pasts that they are still trying to deal with. Well paced crime novel where the killer leaves no clues for them to follow. The FBI will work closely with local law enforcement, putting themselves in danger too.

The Hanging dolls
Author Ruhi Choudary
Narrator Stephanie cannon
Mystery /police procedural
4*
Good story
Good narration
Special agent Zoe Storm is sent with Dr Aiden to assist with a missing child case , unfortunately the girl is found dead in the woods.
As the case unfolds and we learn more about the town and its in habitants , we also get flash backs to Zoe finding her mother dead and setting her on a quest to help others in need as well as discovering the truth behind her mothers death .
This is the start of a new series and both Zoe and Aiden look like being interesting characters with depth that is going to be developed further .
The plot was interesting and there were plenty of suspects and evidence to keep me engaged and I was surprised by the ending .
I will definitely be looking out for the next in the series .

I absolutely loved this book! The story was great and so was the narrator! I was hooked and couldn’t stop listening!

Say it with me… PLOT twist! That ending… I did NOT see that one coming. This is a new to me author so I wasn’t sure what to expect but dang girl you might be a new favorite of mine. I enjoyed the multiple povs since It helped me get to know the characters. I’m eager to see how things develop for Zoe in the next chapter. My girl has a lot of issues to deal with and I hope she confronts her past. Overall this was an excellent read and I’ll eagerly await the next book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the audiobook ARC of The Hanging Dolls by Ruhi Choudhary. I was hooked from the start. Special Agent Zoe Storm is a sharp and relatable lead, and her partnership with forensic psychologist turned FBI agent Aiden Wesley adds real depth.

Called to the remote town of Harborwood after a young girl is found dead with three nooses hanging nearby, Zoe and Aiden uncover layers of dark secrets. The tension builds with every chapter, and the twists kept me fully engaged right to the end.

The narrator brought the whole story to life, moving effortlessly between characters and adding to the suspense. Well paced, tightly plotted and emotionally gripping, this is a standout thriller. I’ll definitely be back for more in the Zoe Storm series.

This is hands down the best book I’ve read this year. Twisty, dark, and completely addictive, I couldn’t put it down. The atmosphere is chilling, and the mystery drew me in. If you love crime thrillers that actually keep you guessing, this one delivers. Absolutely unforgettable, I actually cried when it ended. Highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good old “whodunnit”! Creator Tag TAYBEARYBOOKCORNER for Instagram, TikTok, Lemon8, and Facebook

The Hanging Dolls by Ruhi Choudhary marks the beginning of the Special Agent, Zoe Storm series. This is a complex thriller featuring a range of well-developed characters and presented from various perspectives and timelines. There are plenty of twists and turns, culminating in an ending that took me by surprise but tied everything together beautifully.

I enjoyed the audiobook narrated by Stephanie Cannon, who did a fantastic job; however, at times the voice variations were not very clear, and I found myself needing to focus intently to keep track of who was speaking.

The book opens with a shocking scene that immediately captured my interest and left me eager for more! After this thrilling start, the pace slows a bit and shifts to Zoe involved in a complex case concerning the disappearance of a young girl named Lily. When Lily's body is found, the town is left in shock. The police, including Zoe, feel frustrated as the killer leaves no solid evidence, yet there are enough clues to suggest that this is just the first of three victims.

The Hanging Dolls by Ruhi Choudhary introduces the fierce, determined Special Agent Zoe Storm. She is a powerful new heroine who will steal your heart. When a young girl’s body is found in misty woods, Zoe races against time, haunted by cryptic clues and chilling symbolism. It’s a twist-filled, edge-of-your-seat thriller you won’t want to put down.