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Nine Dolls
Listening Length: 10 hours and 19 minutes
A remote Scottish manor. My first holiday with my husband’s friends. Nine sacred dolls. One brutal murder.
We find the doll shattered on the floor, its broken pieces scattered like a warning. That’s when everything starts to fall apart.
Now the power is out. A storm has trapped us here. And someone is dead.
We’ve only been married three months. And our first holiday as man and wife is spending ten days in a secluded Scottish manor with my husband’s old friends. I’ve never met them before.
From the moment I arrive, I feel like an outsider.
And it’s not just his friends. Things haven’t been normal since the first day, when someone moved the dolls.
I told them not to — never move the dolls before the tenth day of Navaratri, the Hindu Festival of Dolls. They’re not toys. They’re part of a sacred tradition.
But no one listened. Even Dhruv — my husband — told me to stop being silly.
I know they’re hiding something. I can’t trust any of them — not even the man I married.
Now one of us is dead. One of us is a killer. Am I going to make it out of here alive?
A remote Scottish manor. My first holiday with my husband’s friends. Nine sacred dolls. One brutal murder.
We find the doll shattered on the floor, its broken pieces scattered like a warning. That’s when everything starts to fall apart.
Now the power is out. A storm has trapped us here. And someone is dead.
We’ve only been married three months. And our first holiday as man and wife is spending ten days in a secluded Scottish manor with my husband’s old friends. I’ve never met them before.
From the moment I arrive, I feel like an outsider.
And it’s not just his friends. Things haven’t been normal since the first day, when someone moved the dolls.
I told them not to — never move the dolls before the tenth day of Navaratri, the Hindu Festival of Dolls. They’re not toys. They’re part of a sacred tradition.
But no one listened. Even Dhruv — my husband — told me to stop being silly.
I know they’re hiding something. I can’t trust any of them — not even the man I married.
Now one of us is dead. One of us is a killer. Am I going to make it out of here alive?
11 pages, Audible Audio
First published September 25, 2025
172 people are currently reading
236 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
September 2, 2025
This is not one of those books where you gradually learn that certain characters are toxic. In this one, they're toxic from the beginning and become stunningly more and more toxic all the way through.
I hated these people.
That being said, I did enjoy reading them!
While still at its heart another (oh my god why are there so many of these) reunion story, this one becomes much more refreshing since most of our characters are of Indian background and their culture and religious beliefs play a part in really setting our plot and atmosphere. I also enjoyed the dichotomy between their culture and the very modern life these folks lead.
That being said, you'll want to slap some of these people.
The reason behind everything was one I didn't see coming - always a pleasure.
Definitely entertaining and I would NEVER remain friends/acquaintances/anything with any of these people!
* ARC via Publisher
I hated these people.
That being said, I did enjoy reading them!
While still at its heart another (oh my god why are there so many of these) reunion story, this one becomes much more refreshing since most of our characters are of Indian background and their culture and religious beliefs play a part in really setting our plot and atmosphere. I also enjoyed the dichotomy between their culture and the very modern life these folks lead.
That being said, you'll want to slap some of these people.
The reason behind everything was one I didn't see coming - always a pleasure.
Definitely entertaining and I would NEVER remain friends/acquaintances/anything with any of these people!
* ARC via Publisher
October 22, 2025
Okay, so I have just finished this, Nine Dolls by Rupa Mahadevan and OMG, what a ride!
I'm all for any books with anything Southeast Asian within the covers, and Nine Dolls has that in spades, as well as being a compelling psychological thriller.
Ten people, some friends and some new to the group, end up in a house in Oban on a holiday that coincides with the Hindu festival of Navratri. Leela, wife of one of the original friend group members, is newly married and also religious, so she wishes to observe the holy festival while they are away. Part of this involves displaying nine dolls in a particular manner to honour different goddesses.
The dolls on display are a little different to the traditional ones; however, once everyone has consented to take part, she happily sets up her display and makes plans for the nine-day festival.
However, things go awry when she discovers that her display has been tampered with, and in the following days, more and more strange things happen to the dolls, as equally strange things occur in the house to different people, all while the Beast from the East takes effect.
I was hooked on this book from the start, and it had so many twists and turns, with the reader trying to work out what was going on and who was responsible for all these awful things...
Fantastic read!
I'm all for any books with anything Southeast Asian within the covers, and Nine Dolls has that in spades, as well as being a compelling psychological thriller.
Ten people, some friends and some new to the group, end up in a house in Oban on a holiday that coincides with the Hindu festival of Navratri. Leela, wife of one of the original friend group members, is newly married and also religious, so she wishes to observe the holy festival while they are away. Part of this involves displaying nine dolls in a particular manner to honour different goddesses.
The dolls on display are a little different to the traditional ones; however, once everyone has consented to take part, she happily sets up her display and makes plans for the nine-day festival.
However, things go awry when she discovers that her display has been tampered with, and in the following days, more and more strange things happen to the dolls, as equally strange things occur in the house to different people, all while the Beast from the East takes effect.
I was hooked on this book from the start, and it had so many twists and turns, with the reader trying to work out what was going on and who was responsible for all these awful things...
Fantastic read!
September 21, 2025
This book is a debut?!
Well this author is in for quite a career if this is the first book.
I read a lot, and it takes something special or different to really grab me, and thats exactly what Nine Dolls has done.
The basic premise, a group of friends meeting up, secrets and lies, so far so normal right. Throw in the fact they are mostly Indian and are celebrating a festival id never heard of, involving the Dolls of the title then it becomes unique.
Add in the beast from the east, and the remote Scottish setting, both characters in themselves, you have quite the tense atmosphere.
Some of the characters (most?!) were vile. I have to say Indian men don't come out well on the back of this! The women fare little better, so its not an attack on anyone.
Usually a book builds up to a big climax in the final part but this felt tense and edgy from the off. When you need to remind yourself to breathe you know its tense.
I kept saying to myself I will stop in a minute and go get my dinner, and I did, when id finished! I love how Rupa leaves a chapter on a cliffhanger and it can either be nothing or everything. You won't know til you read on.
So if its not clear already, I loved this. I look forward to future books as Rupa clearly has a very bright future. Im so here for it.
Well this author is in for quite a career if this is the first book.
I read a lot, and it takes something special or different to really grab me, and thats exactly what Nine Dolls has done.
The basic premise, a group of friends meeting up, secrets and lies, so far so normal right. Throw in the fact they are mostly Indian and are celebrating a festival id never heard of, involving the Dolls of the title then it becomes unique.
Add in the beast from the east, and the remote Scottish setting, both characters in themselves, you have quite the tense atmosphere.
Some of the characters (most?!) were vile. I have to say Indian men don't come out well on the back of this! The women fare little better, so its not an attack on anyone.
Usually a book builds up to a big climax in the final part but this felt tense and edgy from the off. When you need to remind yourself to breathe you know its tense.
I kept saying to myself I will stop in a minute and go get my dinner, and I did, when id finished! I love how Rupa leaves a chapter on a cliffhanger and it can either be nothing or everything. You won't know til you read on.
So if its not clear already, I loved this. I look forward to future books as Rupa clearly has a very bright future. Im so here for it.
September 30, 2025
This book was fantastic, I absolutely loved everything about this. A big highlight for me was learning about certain ceremonies and beliefs, it was so interesting.
I can’t tell you how many times I kept changing my guesses, and it was totally wrong in the end. The setting was perfect, Rupa definitely chose the best place for this story to be set in. I was quite nervous whilst reading this, many times I jump scared myself. The ending was definitely a surprise for me, but very very clever and well plotted.
I can’t tell you how many times I kept changing my guesses, and it was totally wrong in the end. The setting was perfect, Rupa definitely chose the best place for this story to be set in. I was quite nervous whilst reading this, many times I jump scared myself. The ending was definitely a surprise for me, but very very clever and well plotted.
October 1, 2025
This was another random listen from audible. This is a group of terrible people, I would not want to be friends with any of them in real life, but they were still interesting. There were some "mysteries" that were extremely obvious but it was still a ride seeing the characters move through it. I listened to the audiobook so can't "fact check" easily but there are a lot of holes in the plot and telling. Large ones. It only annoyed me after thinking about the book for a bit after finishing. But it was still a fun listen.
The narrator did a great job!
The narrator did a great job!
September 19, 2025
The blurb lured me in and it certainly lived up to my expectations. The reunion of a group of friends in a remote location sets the tone for a lot of mysterious and certainly creepy actions, leading everyone suspicious of each other.
I liked how the story was told from each person's POV. It needed to be done this way to see how toxic everyone basically is and what has happened in the past to bring things to a head now. It really worked for me and I found I had to keep reading more and more to see what happened next. It veered off in a direction I didn't foresee and the final twist totally threw me. Overall, it's a terrific read.
I liked how the story was told from each person's POV. It needed to be done this way to see how toxic everyone basically is and what has happened in the past to bring things to a head now. It really worked for me and I found I had to keep reading more and more to see what happened next. It veered off in a direction I didn't foresee and the final twist totally threw me. Overall, it's a terrific read.
October 15, 2025
I did not connect with the story. I was confused most of the time. I think if I read the physical book I might have gotten more out of it. But I do enjoy the narrators.
September 29, 2025
I loved learning about the Hindu Festival of Dolls, or Navaratri, where traditionally, nine dolls are displayed on handmade tiers. The higher tiers represent gods and goddesses, characters from mythology, or scenes from weddings. Everyday scenes are displayed on the lower tiers. However, Leela's version is a unique take, wherein the dolls assume the significance of the secrets of the people who have been invited to this remote house in the Scottish Highlands.
Leela carefully unwraps each doll and places each on the shelves, in the cabin adjacent to the house, which she and the other guests will visit each day. But then, the dolls are moved, each day, a different secret revealed. It's bad luck to even touch the dolls, but this? This is a very bad omen!
The book started out slowly, and the chapters are interspersed from different characters' POV. The problem I had was that there were reveals with backstories coming later, so that I always felt like I was missing something. What kept me engaged, though, was the great plot, learning about a cultural practice that was so well described and implemented into the storyline, and the twists at the end. This was a very ambitious and clever suspense thriller from this debut author.
Thank you to Joffe Books for publishing diverse voices and for sending me an advance reader's copy to review.
Leela carefully unwraps each doll and places each on the shelves, in the cabin adjacent to the house, which she and the other guests will visit each day. But then, the dolls are moved, each day, a different secret revealed. It's bad luck to even touch the dolls, but this? This is a very bad omen!
The book started out slowly, and the chapters are interspersed from different characters' POV. The problem I had was that there were reveals with backstories coming later, so that I always felt like I was missing something. What kept me engaged, though, was the great plot, learning about a cultural practice that was so well described and implemented into the storyline, and the twists at the end. This was a very ambitious and clever suspense thriller from this debut author.
Thank you to Joffe Books for publishing diverse voices and for sending me an advance reader's copy to review.
September 30, 2025
Nine Dolls by Rupa Mahadevan.
I really did enjoy this book. I loved the cover. It's why I signed up for this tour. I got into this book straight away. I liked the writing style and the story. I wasn't sure how I felt about the characters. I loved the setting. I did find it interesting to learn about Hindu and about the dolls. With a storm a power cut then a murder. I was quickly turning the pages to finish this book. I do definitely recommend.
I really did enjoy this book. I loved the cover. It's why I signed up for this tour. I got into this book straight away. I liked the writing style and the story. I wasn't sure how I felt about the characters. I loved the setting. I did find it interesting to learn about Hindu and about the dolls. With a storm a power cut then a murder. I was quickly turning the pages to finish this book. I do definitely recommend.
September 25, 2025
3 stars for me.
Leela and her husband Ghruv joining his friend on holiday in remote Scottish manor. She brings with her 9 dolls, to celebrate Hindu Festival ,and ask his friends for dolls not to be disturbed. Someone don't listen ,and is moving the dolls ,setting them up in weird positions . It seems that Ghruv friends are keeping secrets, and it may be just the case that someone will kill for this secrets to stay hidden.
Will Leela survive the holiday with her husband friends?
What happen between them years ago?
It was my first book by this author, an enjoyable read, even when I figure out plot quite early. Ghruv friends were more like enemies, and behavior toward each other ghastly. Would never want to be stranded with people like that on any holiday. Interesting to read about different tradition, and few POV made a fast read.
Thank you JOFFE publisher for arc.
Leela and her husband Ghruv joining his friend on holiday in remote Scottish manor. She brings with her 9 dolls, to celebrate Hindu Festival ,and ask his friends for dolls not to be disturbed. Someone don't listen ,and is moving the dolls ,setting them up in weird positions . It seems that Ghruv friends are keeping secrets, and it may be just the case that someone will kill for this secrets to stay hidden.
Will Leela survive the holiday with her husband friends?
What happen between them years ago?
It was my first book by this author, an enjoyable read, even when I figure out plot quite early. Ghruv friends were more like enemies, and behavior toward each other ghastly. Would never want to be stranded with people like that on any holiday. Interesting to read about different tradition, and few POV made a fast read.
Thank you JOFFE publisher for arc.
October 11, 2025
This is another new author for me but I just cannot resist being drawn to the creepy thriller covers - I can actually spot them a mile off now and this one grabbed my attention straight away!
As you know, I do judge a book by it's cover often and then go into them totally blind, so I wasn't sure what I'd be getting....and I love that excitement from the start.
Now this one does take a little time to get going. The character and scene setting was a little slow going, but just right at the very start.
Once we get through this, I was totally obsessed!
This whole concept was one of my favourites - the Scottish manor, friends trapped there by the weather, a murder and pretty much a closed door mystery - perfect!
But this had the unique element of including Navaratri - the Hindu festival of dolls.
This wasn't something I'd heard about before reading this book and I found the meaning behind the dolls and the rituals performed during the festival really interesting to learn about - even noticing people in my own community wearing certain colours over the last few days in celebration.
Now, if there's one thing that really gives me the creeps, it's children's dolls (like in this cover).
I can't explain it - I just really don't like them.
So, the idea that we're trapped with the dolls that keep mysteriously moving, really had me on edge throughout.
The author did a great job building up the tension through the story and this had me racing through the pages to find out who might die next and who was responsible for the events so far.
There were some really good twists within the story which I never saw coming even when I thought I'd worked things out, there'd be another twist.
This was a brilliant first read and I'm excited to see more from this author in the near future.
As you know, I do judge a book by it's cover often and then go into them totally blind, so I wasn't sure what I'd be getting....and I love that excitement from the start.
Now this one does take a little time to get going. The character and scene setting was a little slow going, but just right at the very start.
Once we get through this, I was totally obsessed!
This whole concept was one of my favourites - the Scottish manor, friends trapped there by the weather, a murder and pretty much a closed door mystery - perfect!
But this had the unique element of including Navaratri - the Hindu festival of dolls.
This wasn't something I'd heard about before reading this book and I found the meaning behind the dolls and the rituals performed during the festival really interesting to learn about - even noticing people in my own community wearing certain colours over the last few days in celebration.
Now, if there's one thing that really gives me the creeps, it's children's dolls (like in this cover).
I can't explain it - I just really don't like them.
So, the idea that we're trapped with the dolls that keep mysteriously moving, really had me on edge throughout.
The author did a great job building up the tension through the story and this had me racing through the pages to find out who might die next and who was responsible for the events so far.
There were some really good twists within the story which I never saw coming even when I thought I'd worked things out, there'd be another twist.
This was a brilliant first read and I'm excited to see more from this author in the near future.
October 30, 2025
3.5 stars
November 17, 2025
While the backdrop of the isolated Scottish coast, and the informative exposition of the festival occurring at the time of the book set a good scene, the sheer unlikability of the characters made it very difficult to become invested. There were some tense sections, and some interesting shifts when the author changed POV, it just wasn't enough for me to walk away with the ability to say I enjoyed it.
September 2, 2025
*ARC REVIEW*
A group of friends have a little reunion at a house in a remote part of Scotland, for the holiday of Navaratri. It's their first time getting together since they had been stalked years earlier and had their secrets exposed. Now, they find themselves the victims of another stalker, someone who seems to know the secrets that didn't get out before. And to make things worse, they're cut off from civilisation thanks to a terrible storm. Can they figure out who is tormenting them?
This story is told from multiple POVs; old friends Nancy and Smitha, as well as newcomers Leela and Livi. Each character had a vastly different voice, and it was interesting seeing how those of Hindu faith viewed the celebration of Navaratri.
The pacing was quite slow, but the author writes so well that it was easy to get lost in the story. I thoroughly enjoyed this one, and my guesses for who the stalker was and why they were doing it was completely wrong.
A solid debut from this author.
A group of friends have a little reunion at a house in a remote part of Scotland, for the holiday of Navaratri. It's their first time getting together since they had been stalked years earlier and had their secrets exposed. Now, they find themselves the victims of another stalker, someone who seems to know the secrets that didn't get out before. And to make things worse, they're cut off from civilisation thanks to a terrible storm. Can they figure out who is tormenting them?
This story is told from multiple POVs; old friends Nancy and Smitha, as well as newcomers Leela and Livi. Each character had a vastly different voice, and it was interesting seeing how those of Hindu faith viewed the celebration of Navaratri.
The pacing was quite slow, but the author writes so well that it was easy to get lost in the story. I thoroughly enjoyed this one, and my guesses for who the stalker was and why they were doing it was completely wrong.
A solid debut from this author.
October 20, 2025
Rupa Mahadevan writes wonderfully- Her writing is undeniably sharp, immersive, and layered with cultural depth. Mahadevan’s talent as a storyteller is undeniable; she captures mood and atmosphere with precision.
That said, the novel itself didn’t quite land for me. The plot felt cluttered, and despite the intriguing premise, I never fully connected with the characters or their motives, and the moral darkness of it all.
It’s one of those books where you can definitely admire the craft and the author’s brilliance, but the story is one you’ll like if you don’t mind uncomfortable characters and keeping track of each character, regardless of their grim motives.
That said, the novel itself didn’t quite land for me. The plot felt cluttered, and despite the intriguing premise, I never fully connected with the characters or their motives, and the moral darkness of it all.
It’s one of those books where you can definitely admire the craft and the author’s brilliance, but the story is one you’ll like if you don’t mind uncomfortable characters and keeping track of each character, regardless of their grim motives.
October 25, 2025
It started out with a cool premise but the more I read the less I cared about the characters. At least I learned more about Indian culture
October 19, 2025
Way too complicated. I couldn't keep up with the names and flicking from chapter to chapter. A good story ruined by too many characters
September 27, 2025
‘Nine Dolls’ is a delicious mix of an eerie psychological thriller and the Hindu festival of Navratri. It is such a unique premise which works beautifully to create bucketloads of tension, twists and turns, and a shocking conclusion. This is Rupa’s debut novel and it won the 2024 Joffe Prize for Emerging Authors and it is clearly well-deserved. You could pick this up as a reader and think Rupa had numerous books under her belt, as her voice is clearly defined.
So, my mum was a bit of a hippy and we spent a lot of time in India and Nepal when I was a child and I was fascinated with the Hindu religion. It is a haven for storytellers with their epics sagas, numerous gods and highly visual and colourful festivals. Therefore, I was very excited to see two of my loves being intertwined, Indian culture and Scottish crime fiction, and it has created an excellent thriller. The concept of Navratri for a book is brilliant as it allowed the author to have a definite timeline and with each day the tension builds, secrets are exposed and the reader becomes compelled to keep reading. I think BIPOC representation is very important and especially in Scottish crime fiction. We are becoming more diverse with each passing day and this should be reflected in our fiction and unfortunately that is not the case. Therefore, books like this one, whilst being entertainment, are also trailblazers in showing our diverse and welcoming country. The only thing I was disappointed with was the cover, as I would have thought having the traditional Hindu dolls would have been more appropriate to the story. Plus, it would have definitely been eye-catching and as freaky, especially if Durga was used.
It is clear that the author is also a fan of golden crime, i.e. Christie, Sayers, et al. Another reason this book was right up my street. You have the ‘big house’ setting, a big cast of characters, a storm that provides a ‘locked in’ situation, and lots of secrets coming out of the woodwork. I spend most of my time reading Christie books being confused, and this also happened here. This is not a criticism; in fact, the opposite. It shows that the author has deftly plotted the narrative to make the reader question everything until the final reveal.
I’m not going to say much about the actual plot as I feel it’s a story you should come to unaware and willing to just absorb it. Rupa has created a diverse cast of characters in this friend group, but Leela and Smitha stood out to me the most. But then I do love when an audience underestimates a woman!
I adored this book. It was punchy, precisely plotted, and a fantastic read. I can’t wait to see what Rupa does next! Let me know if you pick this one up!
October 2, 2025
Nine Dolls is an atmospheric, suspenseful story that follows a reunion of friends after a number of years apart.
We are introduced to a number of characters early on as they all travel to the meet up and it is hard to keep track of everyone to start with. I also feel like we don't get to know some of the characters very well and I question the need for them to even be included.
Aside from that, I enjoyed the roller coaster that Rupa Mahadevan has created. I will admit to being quite ignorant to Hindu culture and practices, so I was very interested in learning about the festival of Navaratri. A festival of celebration set against the backdrop of a thunderstorm in the Scottish wilderness makes for a breath-holding thriller, full of tension and suspicion, that I didn't want to put down until I found out what was going on!
I didn't guess the culprit or their motives, all thanks to multiple red herrings, so the ending was a big surprise to me.
This is a great debut and I look forward to reading more from Rupa in the future.
We are introduced to a number of characters early on as they all travel to the meet up and it is hard to keep track of everyone to start with. I also feel like we don't get to know some of the characters very well and I question the need for them to even be included.
Aside from that, I enjoyed the roller coaster that Rupa Mahadevan has created. I will admit to being quite ignorant to Hindu culture and practices, so I was very interested in learning about the festival of Navaratri. A festival of celebration set against the backdrop of a thunderstorm in the Scottish wilderness makes for a breath-holding thriller, full of tension and suspicion, that I didn't want to put down until I found out what was going on!
I didn't guess the culprit or their motives, all thanks to multiple red herrings, so the ending was a big surprise to me.
This is a great debut and I look forward to reading more from Rupa in the future.
September 21, 2025
3.5 Stars
Leela and her new husband Dhruv are about to spend ten days on holiday with some of his friends. Leela is taking some dolls with her to celebrate a Hindu festival Navaratri. The display is set up in a cabin but someone is entering the cabin each day and rearranging the dolls to depict an event that happened years ago. No one will admit to doing anything but things get more out of hand each day and with the weather turning bad not everyone will survive. I found this book a bit hard to follow. It is usually important to me to have some sort of feeling for the characters but this time I didn't either like or dislike anyone. The chapters each start with the day and name of a character but I had to keep going back to find out which person was telling the story. I would give the book 3.5 Stars.
Leela and her new husband Dhruv are about to spend ten days on holiday with some of his friends. Leela is taking some dolls with her to celebrate a Hindu festival Navaratri. The display is set up in a cabin but someone is entering the cabin each day and rearranging the dolls to depict an event that happened years ago. No one will admit to doing anything but things get more out of hand each day and with the weather turning bad not everyone will survive. I found this book a bit hard to follow. It is usually important to me to have some sort of feeling for the characters but this time I didn't either like or dislike anyone. The chapters each start with the day and name of a character but I had to keep going back to find out which person was telling the story. I would give the book 3.5 Stars.
September 27, 2025
I'm not sure why I am finding this so hard to review. Maybe it's because the plot is so twisty and intense. Maybe it's because there are a lot of characters, and I initially struggled to remember who was who. But mainly I think it's because I gave up trying to work it out and let myself go with the flow.
Firstly, I must say that I find festivals from other cultures really fascinating and I had never heard of Navaratri, the Hindu Festival of Dolls, and as we are told in the book blurb, the dolls 'are not toys. They’re part of a sacred tradition'. Once set up, they must not be moved till the festival is over, so when someone starts moving them, and the scenes playing out represent each of the character's deepest, darkest secrets, it becomes very sinister.
Leela and Livi are the newcomers. Both are partnered with men who formed part of a tight group of friends from university. Except they all seem to hate each other, so why they have agreed to have a reunion at a remote Scottish manor, I have no idea. I'd rather poke out my own eyes with a stick than stay with this toxic lot for 10 days.
Moving on, Leela is married to Dhruv and has never met any of his 'friends' before. Livi is in a relationship with Shravan, but Nancy is still obsessed with him. This doesn't make for a happy dynamic. Everyone thinks Nancy must be moving the dolls, but nothing is ever that simple. And when you think you've discovered the twist, there's another and then another. I'm exhausted, but I loved every minute of it.
Many thanks to @ZooloosBT for inviting me to be part of this blog tour.
Firstly, I must say that I find festivals from other cultures really fascinating and I had never heard of Navaratri, the Hindu Festival of Dolls, and as we are told in the book blurb, the dolls 'are not toys. They’re part of a sacred tradition'. Once set up, they must not be moved till the festival is over, so when someone starts moving them, and the scenes playing out represent each of the character's deepest, darkest secrets, it becomes very sinister.
Leela and Livi are the newcomers. Both are partnered with men who formed part of a tight group of friends from university. Except they all seem to hate each other, so why they have agreed to have a reunion at a remote Scottish manor, I have no idea. I'd rather poke out my own eyes with a stick than stay with this toxic lot for 10 days.
Moving on, Leela is married to Dhruv and has never met any of his 'friends' before. Livi is in a relationship with Shravan, but Nancy is still obsessed with him. This doesn't make for a happy dynamic. Everyone thinks Nancy must be moving the dolls, but nothing is ever that simple. And when you think you've discovered the twist, there's another and then another. I'm exhausted, but I loved every minute of it.
Many thanks to @ZooloosBT for inviting me to be part of this blog tour.
September 25, 2025
I thoroughly love a book where mostly all the characters are unlikeable. Especially when the spouse is unsupportive, it makes my blood boil, and it makes for a great read!
The early background story of how the origin of the Hindu festival of Navaratri came to be. And the victory of tjr Goddess Durga over the demon king Mahishasuran.
Leela, her husband, and his friends get together on holiday in Scotland. The trip coincides with the celebration of Navaratri. The nine day celebration is represented with the Nine Dolls that are put on display. Someone tempers with the display, and all hell breaks loose.
Loved the premise, the storyline, the dolls, and the confinement. The strange things slowly start to happen, and the fear and pressure that builds up.
Thank you, Netgalley and Joffe Books, for this eArc. All opinions are entirely my own.
The early background story of how the origin of the Hindu festival of Navaratri came to be. And the victory of tjr Goddess Durga over the demon king Mahishasuran.
Leela, her husband, and his friends get together on holiday in Scotland. The trip coincides with the celebration of Navaratri. The nine day celebration is represented with the Nine Dolls that are put on display. Someone tempers with the display, and all hell breaks loose.
Loved the premise, the storyline, the dolls, and the confinement. The strange things slowly start to happen, and the fear and pressure that builds up.
Thank you, Netgalley and Joffe Books, for this eArc. All opinions are entirely my own.
September 27, 2025
Loved how this suspenseful, psychological thriller keeps you guessing. The theme of Navaratri and the nine dolls makes this fascinating and gives the culprit the tools to play games with a group of friends.
Leela seems unsuspecting and different to the others. Her marriage brings her into the friendship group and I couldn't help feel sorry for her at times. The once tight-knit group seems to have a lot of history that she isn't aware of so makes her an outsider. I loved her commitment to her culture's tradition and how she educated others. It was sad but very necessary for the dolls to be used and it did make me wonder what else would be uncovered.
I guessed the John aspect to it all but not the full detail and the story was evenly paced with lots happening to keep you interested throughout.
Leela seems unsuspecting and different to the others. Her marriage brings her into the friendship group and I couldn't help feel sorry for her at times. The once tight-knit group seems to have a lot of history that she isn't aware of so makes her an outsider. I loved her commitment to her culture's tradition and how she educated others. It was sad but very necessary for the dolls to be used and it did make me wonder what else would be uncovered.
I guessed the John aspect to it all but not the full detail and the story was evenly paced with lots happening to keep you interested throughout.
September 16, 2025
So this is the debut novel for Rupa Mehdevan! I can't wait for more. Superbly written suspense.
A group of friends decide on a reunion at a friend's old and remote manor house in Scotland.
Two of the group are a newly wed Hindu couple, and the trip coincides with the Hindu festival of Navaratri, the festival of dolls
Leela wants to keep up the tradition and celebrate the goddesses' victory over evil and persuades her husband to bring the dolls in their boxes. Tradition has it that for nine days, nine dolls are prominently displayed until the tenth day. Things go awry when one of the dolls is broken on day one, and a guest is then found brutally murdered! Is this the curse of Navaratri? In true Hammer House of Horror style, the generator fails plunging the house into darkness, and a thunderstorm breaks. The murderer must be amongst them, and a twisty plot keeps you on the edge throughout.
A brilliant debut novel from Rupa Mahadevan, very well written with all the suspense expected of a Gothic tale Indian style with a shocking twist . I can't wait for more from Rupa.
A group of friends decide on a reunion at a friend's old and remote manor house in Scotland.
Two of the group are a newly wed Hindu couple, and the trip coincides with the Hindu festival of Navaratri, the festival of dolls
Leela wants to keep up the tradition and celebrate the goddesses' victory over evil and persuades her husband to bring the dolls in their boxes. Tradition has it that for nine days, nine dolls are prominently displayed until the tenth day. Things go awry when one of the dolls is broken on day one, and a guest is then found brutally murdered! Is this the curse of Navaratri? In true Hammer House of Horror style, the generator fails plunging the house into darkness, and a thunderstorm breaks. The murderer must be amongst them, and a twisty plot keeps you on the edge throughout.
A brilliant debut novel from Rupa Mahadevan, very well written with all the suspense expected of a Gothic tale Indian style with a shocking twist . I can't wait for more from Rupa.
September 25, 2025
This was a really good read. I loved the concept, and it was enjoyable to read. I liked the cover. The image of the doll was an excellent use of imagery, giving the concept of the book. The book was very well written and flowed nicely. The writing and language made this story a bit creepy. The book had plenty of twists and turns to keep me guessing. It was very difficult to put this one down! I loved the setting! Having it exclusively in the remote Scottish manor house made it very claustrophobic. This always takes a book of this genre from four to five stars! I really liked the characters. They all fit in well and flourished in the roles created for them. It was also difficult for the most part to know who to trust! I definitely recommend this book.
September 30, 2025
Thank you to Zooloo's Book Tours and the author for this ARC!
Firstly, I love love love reading a book with a different culture as a plot device, and reading about the dolls for the Navaratri festival was right up my street. I got to learn something interesting while reading. I particularly liked (not a plot spoiler) the way the barbie was included - the dolls don't have to be fancy, made for purpose, or only from South India, because it's the symbolism that's important.
Having had the premise of the dolls, I also really enjoyed the way the author brought them into the thriller storyline.
The characters were untrustworthy, the setting was suspicious, and some of the reveals were very exciting.
Firstly, I love love love reading a book with a different culture as a plot device, and reading about the dolls for the Navaratri festival was right up my street. I got to learn something interesting while reading. I particularly liked (not a plot spoiler) the way the barbie was included - the dolls don't have to be fancy, made for purpose, or only from South India, because it's the symbolism that's important.
Having had the premise of the dolls, I also really enjoyed the way the author brought them into the thriller storyline.
The characters were untrustworthy, the setting was suspicious, and some of the reveals were very exciting.
September 30, 2025
Loved this read, different points of view, short chapters and a gripping storyline made for a book I couldn’t put down.
Add in the secrets and lies between a group of people some friends with a history, shake them all about and mix in a killer and you’ve got the perfect recipe for a thriller.
Hard to believe this is a debut author I can’t wait to see what Rupa brings out next!
The pace was so good, as well as the building tension I loved learning about each character and set at the Hindu festival of Navaratri was fascinating and I enjoyed learning about the traditions.
Highly recommend this twisty thriller
Thank you @zooloosbooktours for having me on the tour
#rupamahadevan #ninedolls
#joffebooks #zooloosbooktours @rupa_mahadevan @joffebooks
Add in the secrets and lies between a group of people some friends with a history, shake them all about and mix in a killer and you’ve got the perfect recipe for a thriller.
Hard to believe this is a debut author I can’t wait to see what Rupa brings out next!
The pace was so good, as well as the building tension I loved learning about each character and set at the Hindu festival of Navaratri was fascinating and I enjoyed learning about the traditions.
Highly recommend this twisty thriller
Thank you @zooloosbooktours for having me on the tour
#rupamahadevan #ninedolls
#joffebooks #zooloosbooktours @rupa_mahadevan @joffebooks
September 25, 2025
Although I found this a little slow at first, it soon built up into a very different, cleverly written storyline and plot.
There are strong, interesting characters and many revelations and twists, leading to that final unexpected one.
It did keep me guessing all the way through, not that I guessed right.
On the whole, it is a thoroughly enjoyable book, and it will be interesting to see what the author comes up with next.
My thanks to Joffe books for the advanced copy. This is my honest and unbiased review of this book.
There are strong, interesting characters and many revelations and twists, leading to that final unexpected one.
It did keep me guessing all the way through, not that I guessed right.
On the whole, it is a thoroughly enjoyable book, and it will be interesting to see what the author comes up with next.
My thanks to Joffe books for the advanced copy. This is my honest and unbiased review of this book.
September 26, 2025
Leela is on holiday with her husband’s friends, they have been friends since studying at Stirling University. The holiday is in a remote house in Scotland, coinciding with Navaratri the Hindu festival of dolls, and Leela has brought her dolls, which cannot be touched until the 10th day. But someone has moved them and Leela says this brings bad omens.
Now the storm has caused a power cut, Leela can’t trust anyone and then one of the group is dead.
A very complicated story to follow and I admit I got lost a few times, but worth reading.
Now the storm has caused a power cut, Leela can’t trust anyone and then one of the group is dead.
A very complicated story to follow and I admit I got lost a few times, but worth reading.
September 26, 2025
A rollercoaster of a book which kept me guessing right up until the final chapter. Multiple POV and some very strong characters. Each day the dolls are visited and the positions moved revealing a secret belonging to one of the group. I did start to lose my way somewhat half way through and found myself getting a little confused (hence 3*) - there's a lot going on in this book! I was interested in the explanation of Hindu faith and the festival of Navaratri and it was clever to include it as part of a murder thriller. I loved the main female character Leela, she is one bad-ass Indian woman!
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