The Doll House by Phoebe Morgan
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Read: 2nd September 2018
Purchase: Amazon
★★★★★ 5 stars
Corrine is desperate to have a baby and has been undergoing IVF with her partner Dominic. After several unsuccessful attempts they decide to go one last round with the help of Corrine's older sister Ashley, having spent the last of their savings on previous attempts. When Corrine finds a piece of a doll house that she and her sister Ashley had as children, she takes it as a sign that she will soon be pregnant but when other pieces start appearing she begins feeling paranoid.
But lately Corrine has been on edge what with the hormones and the desperation of wanting to have a baby of her own. So when she starts to make some bizarre suggestions of someone leaving pieces of her childhood doll house for her, of feeling as if she is being followed, that someone has been in the flat and strange goings on that she can't explain, Dominic begins to wonder whether it has all been too much for her and suggests she see someone.
Corrine's older sister Ashley appears to have the perfect life - husband, three children and financial security - but like her sister she has troubles of her own. Her husband always appears to be working late (is he having an affair?), her teenage daughter is becoming a nightmare coming home drunk and her 9 month baby daughter is suffering from night terrors.
The two sisters are incredibly close and call each other regularly, but each doesn't want to trouble the other with the extent of their worries knowing they each have their own problems so sadly they don't get the support they would otherwise give each other. Because both women don't seem to be getting the support from their partners. Don't get me wrong, Dominic is loving and attentive and incredibly supportive of Corrine but he does take her thoughts on the doll house a little too lightly that I felt like reaching into the pages and strangling him! But for reality's sake, I guess that is how one would react feeling that the other is too paranoid.
At the centre of this book is the girls' father who died a year before and they are approaching the one year anniversary of his death. Although he is dead, his involvement in the story is one of importance. The girls loved their father incredibly but Corrine is troubled when they visit their mother in Kent as to where all their father's belongings have disappeared to. There is nothing left of him and where is the doll house their mother is adamant is in the loft? Corrine has searched for it and knows it is not there. So why does their mother claim that it is? What is she afraid of?
THE DOLL HOUSE is a slow burning thriller but once it gets going you won't want to put it down! As the story progresses you get a real sense of foreboding and creepiness. You can feel Corrine's "paranoia" and Ashley's hopelessness. Told from various POV - Corrine, Ashley and also Dominic - we are also witness to the sad story of a little girl and her mother which becomes the story of the mystery person behind Corrine's increasing paranoia. Who are these people? And what part do they play? And who are they in the present? I easily guessed one of them but was surprised at the other. And an ending I didn't see coming!
There is so much more to say about this book but in doing so could ruin the it for the reader, so the less said the better. Believe me, although you may think I have said a lot there is still so much more.
THE DOLL HOUSE is a chilling, sinister and haunting tale that is a must for fans of psychological thrillers. I cannot believe this is a debut it is THAT good! Pick it up and I dare you to be able to put it down again.
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