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The Doll
The Island of the Dolls is a strange and eerie tourist destination in Mexico, where hundreds of decomposing dolls hang from trees like grisly Christmas ornaments. On a trip to the island, Joyce Parker's daughter falls in love with a beautiful but sinister doll. Soon after, she starts developing strange mannerisms that concerns Joyce. Her research into the doll's past reveals a dark history, and the curse of a lonely child spirit.
30 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 2, 2011
435 people are currently reading
1665 people want to read
About the author
J.C. Martin
3 books114 followersJ.C. Martin is a butt-kicking bookworm: when she isn’t reading or writing, she teaches martial arts and self-defence to adults and children.
After working in pharmaceutical research, then in education as a schoolteacher, she decided to put the following to good use: one, her 2nd degree black belt in Wing Chun kung fu; and two, her overwhelming need to write dark mysteries and gripping thrillers with a psychological slant.
Her short stories have won various prizes and have been published in several anthologies. Her debut novel, Oracle, will be released by J Taylor Publishing on August 1st, 2012.
Born and raised in Malaysia, J.C. now lives in south London with her husband and three dogs.
After working in pharmaceutical research, then in education as a schoolteacher, she decided to put the following to good use: one, her 2nd degree black belt in Wing Chun kung fu; and two, her overwhelming need to write dark mysteries and gripping thrillers with a psychological slant.
Her short stories have won various prizes and have been published in several anthologies. Her debut novel, Oracle, will be released by J Taylor Publishing on August 1st, 2012.
Born and raised in Malaysia, J.C. now lives in south London with her husband and three dogs.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 454 reviews
November 1, 2018
I’m not normally a fan of short stories, I find they don’t have enough depth or development of either the plot or characters, but this sounded really spooky and (after all) it IS almost Halloween!
There’s something quite chilling about dolls for me - do they come to life when no one is looking, creeping about in the dead of night No? Ok just me then! Anyway make no mistake about it, the dolls in this story will really give you the creeps. The narrative was crisp, and laced with some truly chilling moments - just perfect for this time of year! Definitely recommended.
There’s something quite chilling about dolls for me - do they come to life when no one is looking, creeping about in the dead of night No? Ok just me then! Anyway make no mistake about it, the dolls in this story will really give you the creeps. The narrative was crisp, and laced with some truly chilling moments - just perfect for this time of year! Definitely recommended.
October 21, 2018
A group of people (on a tour) get brought to an island called "The Island of the Dolls". Joyce Parker, who is there with her six-year-old daughter Taylor, can't wait to leave the island, it gives her the creeps. There are dolls hanging all over the island... decomposing dolls, headless dolls, eyeless dolls... The group are told a story, by the guide, about a little girl named Salvadora who drowned there many years ago, and the dolls that were left there by a man named Don Santana to appease Salvadora, who he believed haunted him.
Joyce can't wait to leave the eerie island. But Taylor loves the dolls, especially one she finds in a small shed. The guide tells them not to touch the dolls, they will bring you bad luck.
After they get back home Taylor keeps talking about her imaginary friend named Dora. Joyce is used to this, Taylor has had imaginary friends in the past. But this one is different...
This was a very short and spooky read! (For such a short story, 30 pages, it worked really well.) I liked the descriptions of the island, and the very strange and creepy dolls. The story was well-written, fast-paced, and captivating. It was interesting even when they were off the island and back home.
A great book to read in October!
Joyce can't wait to leave the eerie island. But Taylor loves the dolls, especially one she finds in a small shed. The guide tells them not to touch the dolls, they will bring you bad luck.
After they get back home Taylor keeps talking about her imaginary friend named Dora. Joyce is used to this, Taylor has had imaginary friends in the past. But this one is different...
This was a very short and spooky read! (For such a short story, 30 pages, it worked really well.) I liked the descriptions of the island, and the very strange and creepy dolls. The story was well-written, fast-paced, and captivating. It was interesting even when they were off the island and back home.
A great book to read in October!
February 15, 2020
"Joyce supressed a shudder. Dolls in all sizes, in various states of decay, hung from trees like grisly Christmas ornaments".
The Doll by J.C. Martin
Now THIS scared the heck out of me!
If you want a short story..that is more then 10 or 20 pages but is still short enough to finish in an hour or less this is your book.
Why do dolls scare us so much? This is the second short horror I have read in the last two weeks involving dolls and this one freaked me out more then the first.
It is very atmospheric. It takes place..much of it..on an island. The Island of the dolls.
Folklore, The Super Natural and an abandoned barn of dolls all play significant roles here. I was freaked out. Quite a bit.
I liked the lush Island atmosphere although that started fading with all the reveals. This book is genuinely scary.
I was kind of reminded of the movie "The Skeleton Key". I am not sure why that is because the plots are very different but the vibe and atmosphere..it just took me back to that movie.
If you are a horror fan and if you love dark and ominous stories about Dolls, you will want to put this on your list.
The Doll by J.C. Martin
Now THIS scared the heck out of me!
If you want a short story..that is more then 10 or 20 pages but is still short enough to finish in an hour or less this is your book.
Why do dolls scare us so much? This is the second short horror I have read in the last two weeks involving dolls and this one freaked me out more then the first.
It is very atmospheric. It takes place..much of it..on an island. The Island of the dolls.
Folklore, The Super Natural and an abandoned barn of dolls all play significant roles here. I was freaked out. Quite a bit.
I liked the lush Island atmosphere although that started fading with all the reveals. This book is genuinely scary.
I was kind of reminded of the movie "The Skeleton Key". I am not sure why that is because the plots are very different but the vibe and atmosphere..it just took me back to that movie.
If you are a horror fan and if you love dark and ominous stories about Dolls, you will want to put this on your list.
May 4, 2018
Dolls...dolls...headless doll...eyeless doll...creepy altar...strange symbols on creepy altar...more dolls...
Joyce Parker and her six year-old daughter, Taylor, are visiting an island. Not just any island, though. It’s The Island of the Dolls!
The tour guide tells a creepy tale of a girl who drowned there and how the dolls were hung up all over the island as a way to pacify her spirit. Joyce can’t wait to leave the island because of the strong spooky factor, but her daughter is mesmerized by some of the more well preserved dolls and makes a fuss about leaving too quickly.
► I liked the way this story was written! It was intriguing at the start, became eerie and more disturbing after the characters left the island, and also included some folklore/ tidbits about Santeria. The ending wasn’t a shock but this was a great short story to read in between a lengthy novel.
*Amazon freebie.
Joyce Parker and her six year-old daughter, Taylor, are visiting an island. Not just any island, though. It’s The Island of the Dolls!
The tour guide tells a creepy tale of a girl who drowned there and how the dolls were hung up all over the island as a way to pacify her spirit. Joyce can’t wait to leave the island because of the strong spooky factor, but her daughter is mesmerized by some of the more well preserved dolls and makes a fuss about leaving too quickly.
► I liked the way this story was written! It was intriguing at the start, became eerie and more disturbing after the characters left the island, and also included some folklore/ tidbits about Santeria. The ending wasn’t a shock but this was a great short story to read in between a lengthy novel.
*Amazon freebie.
March 1, 2015
Rating: 4/5
Really creepy and disturbing story. Especially for me since I am terrified of dolls. Great horror story. If only there was more.
Really creepy and disturbing story. Especially for me since I am terrified of dolls. Great horror story. If only there was more.
October 3, 2018
What an evil, twisted little story. It completely plays on the fear of dolls and secret islands. It was a fast, short read perfect for October. A good ending as well. I recommend it!
March 10, 2016
What is it about dolls in horror books that have you on edge before you begin reading? After all they are just dolls, can't hurt you right?
I loved this short story, it had everything a good horror short should have. I loved the plot. Mother and Daughter holiday in Mexico where they tour a creepy island with dolls hanging everywhere from the trees. Legend states they are there to give a young girl who died there someone to play with. Creepy indeed.
Mother and Daughter wander off the beaten path and that's it for plot I'm giving you. I found that the characters were really well written, they "popped" alive off the page, the dialogue was interesting and I was gripped by where everything was leading.
I loved the story of the ancient religions both light and dark that were practiced in Mexico and surrounding countries. I'm going to have to Google if it's fact or fiction. I'm guessing a blend. But it was an added layer to the book.
Weird and sinister things creep up behind you fast and this short story just didn't let me go until the end, which I did not predict but loved it. A talented writer, I could see great enjoyment from a full novel if written as well as this.
A fab short horror story if you are short on time, better than a lot I find out there. 4 stars from me for this little gem. Nicely done.
I loved this short story, it had everything a good horror short should have. I loved the plot. Mother and Daughter holiday in Mexico where they tour a creepy island with dolls hanging everywhere from the trees. Legend states they are there to give a young girl who died there someone to play with. Creepy indeed.
Mother and Daughter wander off the beaten path and that's it for plot I'm giving you. I found that the characters were really well written, they "popped" alive off the page, the dialogue was interesting and I was gripped by where everything was leading.
I loved the story of the ancient religions both light and dark that were practiced in Mexico and surrounding countries. I'm going to have to Google if it's fact or fiction. I'm guessing a blend. But it was an added layer to the book.
Weird and sinister things creep up behind you fast and this short story just didn't let me go until the end, which I did not predict but loved it. A talented writer, I could see great enjoyment from a full novel if written as well as this.
A fab short horror story if you are short on time, better than a lot I find out there. 4 stars from me for this little gem. Nicely done.
February 25, 2015
Nice, creepy short story. Dolls creep me out, so this was automatically a good one for me. It wasn't the most groundbreaking story, as the basic premise has been done before, but overall still not a bad horror story.
April 10, 2015
It was recommended to me, to check out a short story called, "The Doll" by J. C. Martin, currently offered free on Amazon.
I will never feel the same about "Dolls" again. I don't read a lot of short stories, but this one was "creepy", but still well written.
"Dolls of all sizes, in various states of decay, hung from trees like grisly Christmas ornaments."
In this story, a mother, Joyce, and her daughter, Taylor, visit the Island of the Dolls in Mexico, where dolls hang from the trees as a tribute or Voodo offering for a little girl who drowned on the island.
This short story is a tale of intrigue and suspense. I can clearly visualize the scene. A quick enjoyable story, not to read at night!
I will never feel the same about "Dolls" again. I don't read a lot of short stories, but this one was "creepy", but still well written.
"Dolls of all sizes, in various states of decay, hung from trees like grisly Christmas ornaments."
In this story, a mother, Joyce, and her daughter, Taylor, visit the Island of the Dolls in Mexico, where dolls hang from the trees as a tribute or Voodo offering for a little girl who drowned on the island.
This short story is a tale of intrigue and suspense. I can clearly visualize the scene. A quick enjoyable story, not to read at night!
June 10, 2013
I admit I like free shit. I also admit I’m not entirely rational in my thought process. For example, I happily hand over my Bouchercon and Left Coast Crime Conference fees and feel like I’ve won the lottery when I receive a bag filled with books. Seriously, this ends up being one of the major highlights of these conferences. So in my continued pursuit of this high, minus the conference fees, I have decided to scour Amazon for the best free short stories and books available. With that being said, let’s get to the review.
THE DOLL wasn’t scary or creepy like I had hoped it would be. At best it was a bit weird and slightly disturbing. None of the characters really resonated with me, and the pace of the story seemed slow and off its mark, not so good when it’s only 30 pages long.
I never felt like I was completely involved in this saga, more like an outsider hovering above this tale, with my grip on reality still held firmly in place.
Somehow one of the dolls migrates off the island, the details of which are never fully explained, and that’s when the situation escalates. But that’s where this tale lost its grip on the edge of the cliff. Short stories can end rather abruptly, as this one did, but the end still felt unsatisfying.
THE DOLL wasn’t scary or creepy like I had hoped it would be. At best it was a bit weird and slightly disturbing. None of the characters really resonated with me, and the pace of the story seemed slow and off its mark, not so good when it’s only 30 pages long.
I never felt like I was completely involved in this saga, more like an outsider hovering above this tale, with my grip on reality still held firmly in place.
Somehow one of the dolls migrates off the island, the details of which are never fully explained, and that’s when the situation escalates. But that’s where this tale lost its grip on the edge of the cliff. Short stories can end rather abruptly, as this one did, but the end still felt unsatisfying.
August 9, 2014
This short story had nothing new to offer in the horror vein, and its predictability was of the eye rolling variety. The writing seemed almost childish to me. Short stories work with limited space, so they really need to snap; sadly, this one did not. It would probably work a lot better for someone who has not read very much of this genre. The price was free, so no harm done.
October 12, 2012
A creepy little short that was fun to read. I've always harbored a strange fear of dolls. Reading a short story about an entire island with dolls hanging from trees and whatnot did nothing to alleviate my fears.
September 14, 2017
Brilliant creepy little story about a real place. I'd seen something on TV a few years ago about Isla de las Munecas so was quite keen to read this short story, as there is nothing quite so creepy as lots decapitated dolls hanging in trees!
Good characters and dialogue all wrapped up with a macabre ending, I will be looking out for more from this author.
Good characters and dialogue all wrapped up with a macabre ending, I will be looking out for more from this author.
December 27, 2013
I've had this eBook for quite some time now and finally got around to reading it. I was not disappointed! This short story captured my interest from the first page. It is well-written and the characters are realistic. I just had to know what was going to happen next. Joyce and her six-year-old daughter take a trip to Mexico and visit an island where they find dolls dangling in tribute to a young girl who drowned. The guide warns the tourists not to touch the dolls. To do so is prohibited and would cause bad luck. One mocking tourist disregards the guide as he grabs onto the dolls and poses for a picture. Later, Joyce reads that he has drowned in his pool. Spooked by the island and the "coincidental" death of the tourist, she's relieved that neither she nor her daughter touched any of the dolls. Yet, she's in for a shocker when she makes a startling discovery....
Excellent short story. I'll definitely be reading more books by this author.
Excellent short story. I'll definitely be reading more books by this author.
May 8, 2015
4.5*
October 13, 2016
A spooky short tale set in Isla de las Munecas The Island of the Dolls, it tells the tale of a little girl and her mother who visit the island on a trip were from there.. A series of events happen that is very sinister.
I was Really lucky with this one I found it for free while hunting around the kindle store. The cover was what hooked me to it. The tale, it's self was extremely impressive the way the plot flowed as well. What I loved most about it is where the story is based, it's based on the spooky island of the dolls and it's haunting past. There's so many places in the world that have themes like this, and that Hooked the little Real paranormal fan in me.
Give this book a read I promise you it's short but you won't be disappointed.
I was Really lucky with this one I found it for free while hunting around the kindle store. The cover was what hooked me to it. The tale, it's self was extremely impressive the way the plot flowed as well. What I loved most about it is where the story is based, it's based on the spooky island of the dolls and it's haunting past. There's so many places in the world that have themes like this, and that Hooked the little Real paranormal fan in me.
Give this book a read I promise you it's short but you won't be disappointed.
February 16, 2012
A nice little short and creepy read. Dolls and talk of voodo on a boat sightseeing tour serve a good chilling little read.
"Dolls of all sizes, in various states of decay, hung from trees like grisly christmas ornaments. Most have lost limbs, eyes, or entire torsos to the passage of time. With their still plump cherub cheeks, they would have been pretty once upon at time, looking at home in a little girls bedroom - a little girl like Taylor. Now, their grimy, cracked complexions and missing eyes made them look more like mutant chunky dolls."
"Dolls of all sizes, in various states of decay, hung from trees like grisly christmas ornaments. Most have lost limbs, eyes, or entire torsos to the passage of time. With their still plump cherub cheeks, they would have been pretty once upon at time, looking at home in a little girls bedroom - a little girl like Taylor. Now, their grimy, cracked complexions and missing eyes made them look more like mutant chunky dolls."
August 11, 2013
Yet another haunted doll tale. Better than the last one I read, but not by far as creepy as I was expecting. Except for the ending, that was quite lovely.
November 9, 2015
A short horror yarn which gives itself a checklist of things to do:
- Spooky Mexican setting √
- Creepy plastic dolls √
- Mother and daughter in jeopardy √
And whilst it does all those things well, and is quite well written to boot, it never does anything particularly interesting with the concepts it has. It just lays them out in much the same way a hundred-plus short stories, books and films have before. The result is a perfectly serviceable scary little tale, but not one that’s particularly challenging or inspiring.
- Spooky Mexican setting √
- Creepy plastic dolls √
- Mother and daughter in jeopardy √
And whilst it does all those things well, and is quite well written to boot, it never does anything particularly interesting with the concepts it has. It just lays them out in much the same way a hundred-plus short stories, books and films have before. The result is a perfectly serviceable scary little tale, but not one that’s particularly challenging or inspiring.
December 5, 2019
I really liked this book of 30 pages. It talks about the.history about the doll island. I have always had a fascination with doll island, don't know why. But the history is spot on with a mix of flash fiction. I liked it because it's spooky lol.
July 27, 2013
It was a good little read.
October 5, 2020
I found it to be better than I was expecting. I liked how it ended. I liked the premise of the story. It held my attention and was a good fit for my reading needs at the moment.
I would recommend it for a quick spooky read.
I would recommend it for a quick spooky read.
April 16, 2014
Clowns. Monsters under the bed. Dolls. Children.
As a child (or an adult) there are many things in horror folklore and society that trigger the fear response in all of us. J.C. Martin takes the latter two and combines them to tension filled, suspenseful effect.
A short story, easily enjoyed in one sitting, the story details a mother and her child as they visit the Island of the Dolls in Mexico. The mother, initially hesitant, becomes more and more horrified as the tour is conducted and the secrets of the island are revealed. On leaving, her daughter starts to act strange, replacing her imaginary friend with another. And then weird things start to happen...
Horror 101 is always refreshing. The reason for this is seeing different authors put a spin on it. Yes, I love when authors go outside of the box and create something surreal and horrific, but when an author follows the rules, produces a straight-laced horror story, like this one, it's always refreshing. Using children and motionless dolls to substantial effect, this story will keep you turning those Kindle pages until the very end. The ending, where somewhat predictable, is still satisfying because the quality of the writing tells such a good story.
Four stars from me, mainly because I saw the ending coming a mile off. But that's me, I read a lot and horror is my speciality. For anyone wanting a quick, enjoyable read, this is a must. And its free. You can't say better than that.
As a child (or an adult) there are many things in horror folklore and society that trigger the fear response in all of us. J.C. Martin takes the latter two and combines them to tension filled, suspenseful effect.
A short story, easily enjoyed in one sitting, the story details a mother and her child as they visit the Island of the Dolls in Mexico. The mother, initially hesitant, becomes more and more horrified as the tour is conducted and the secrets of the island are revealed. On leaving, her daughter starts to act strange, replacing her imaginary friend with another. And then weird things start to happen...
Horror 101 is always refreshing. The reason for this is seeing different authors put a spin on it. Yes, I love when authors go outside of the box and create something surreal and horrific, but when an author follows the rules, produces a straight-laced horror story, like this one, it's always refreshing. Using children and motionless dolls to substantial effect, this story will keep you turning those Kindle pages until the very end. The ending, where somewhat predictable, is still satisfying because the quality of the writing tells such a good story.
Four stars from me, mainly because I saw the ending coming a mile off. But that's me, I read a lot and horror is my speciality. For anyone wanting a quick, enjoyable read, this is a must. And its free. You can't say better than that.
May 25, 2022
The creepy cover for The Doll does fit the creepy story inside of a trip to an island of dolls that it is wise not to touch, but a young girl finds them so irresistible…so beware, what is done cannot always be undone and the ending undone me, which was worth a star on its own.
December 6, 2012
This was a genuinely spooky story. Doll are spooky in general and Martin has done them justice here. Reminded me of a particularly creepy episode of prematurely cancelled tv show The River, Marbeley, which was very well done and it is indeed a compliment for the story to have such an excellent visual counterpart. Recommended.
April 16, 2013
A creepy little short story about Mexico's "Island of the Dolls" (Google it! You won't be disappointed!). Having seen the "Island of the Dolls" featured on a couple of TV shows, I found this short story very interesting.
4 STARS
4 STARS
April 17, 2012
Marvelously scary, excessively spooky, what horror stories should all be like.
November 18, 2014
It started out a little slow, but it turned out better than I expected and I thought it was too short. Great read and I hope there's more to come!
December 3, 2014
Great short story, creepy. I love the occult reference. But I can't say that I didn't see the ending coming.
December 25, 2013
The Doll is what I would consider to be a by-the-book horror story and I don't necessarily think that's a terrible thing. It's pacing and plot aren't going to surprises many veteran fans of the horror genre who enjoy spooky stories; however, I feel that the effort was well-executed with foreboding and creepiness applied in the right places.
Something I feel Martin deserves credit and respect for is how much research she included in her story. The island mentioned in the story is an actual place I saw in documentary prior to reading The Doll. The back stories are in-synch between the two and I appreciate Martin's diligence there. The light peppering of occultism also added a layer that enriched the premise for a short story.
The only thing that prevented me from giving this story a fifth star is the "I-know-where-this-is-going" feeling that didn't defy my expectations. Whether you would call it "classic" or "cliche", The Doll is a decent short story with an authentic twist.
Something I feel Martin deserves credit and respect for is how much research she included in her story. The island mentioned in the story is an actual place I saw in documentary prior to reading The Doll. The back stories are in-synch between the two and I appreciate Martin's diligence there. The light peppering of occultism also added a layer that enriched the premise for a short story.
The only thing that prevented me from giving this story a fifth star is the "I-know-where-this-is-going" feeling that didn't defy my expectations. Whether you would call it "classic" or "cliche", The Doll is a decent short story with an authentic twist.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 454 reviews