What do you think?
Rate this book
The Doll House
Not yet published
Expected 28 Jul 26When a boy moves into his late grandfather’s mansion, he discovers eerie spell books, creepy dolls, and strange noises. But one doll feels especially off—maybe it’s nothing, or maybe it’s…watching. This creepy middle grade read is perfect for fans of the Goosebumps series.
Garrett never met his grandfather, Burke, but he’s heard the stories from his mother. Burke was an enormously successful writer, but he was also notoriously cruel, especially to his family. After he passes away suddenly, Garrett and his mother are told that his enormous fortune is hers…if they agree to spend a week at his estate.
The house is a monument to Burke’s obsession with puppet-like dolls, and the attic is packed with cryptic notes and ancient books. It’s clear that his grandfather was up to something, but Garrett can only guess what, and his fear only deepens when he finds a creepily detailed doll with 'Marion' written on the foot.
As the week progresses, Garrett realizes that the house isn’t what it seems. An old typewriter clicks away on its own. There are sounds in the night that come from the basement. And strangest of all is Marion, who always seems to be watching...
Garrett never met his grandfather, Burke, but he’s heard the stories from his mother. Burke was an enormously successful writer, but he was also notoriously cruel, especially to his family. After he passes away suddenly, Garrett and his mother are told that his enormous fortune is hers…if they agree to spend a week at his estate.
The house is a monument to Burke’s obsession with puppet-like dolls, and the attic is packed with cryptic notes and ancient books. It’s clear that his grandfather was up to something, but Garrett can only guess what, and his fear only deepens when he finds a creepily detailed doll with 'Marion' written on the foot.
As the week progresses, Garrett realizes that the house isn’t what it seems. An old typewriter clicks away on its own. There are sounds in the night that come from the basement. And strangest of all is Marion, who always seems to be watching...
- GenresMiddle Grade
288 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication July 28, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
E ARC provided by Netgalley
It’s always been just Garrett Weathers and his mother June, so when they are visited by a lawyer representing his recently deceased grandfather, it’s a bit of a surprise. There’s been years of estrangement, but the grandfather, who wrote under the pen name Alistair Gray, has left his sizable estate to the two, on one condition. They must spend a week at his house in Georgia, Inkwell Point. June is reluctant, but Garrett is curious, so the two set off on an adventure. The house is enormous but very creepy; it looks like the Addams family house, and there are pieces of wooden dolls strewn about. Not only that, but when Garrett moves a chair that is wedged under the closet door in his room, he finds a super creepy, life sized doll there! The lawyer indicates that Alistair had some sort of unsavory project going on, and June is reticent about why she never visited her parents, which makes Garrett even more curious. There’s a locked basement door behind which there are skittering noises, a typewriter that communicates with Garrett, and a creepy attic workshop with even more dolls. The handyman’s son, Wes, agrees to help Garrett investigate, but refuses to enter the house, since he knows how sinister it feels. Garrett learns that his grandmother was a painter as well as a writer, and died some years ago. He also discovers that Alistair’s siblings all died in their 40s and 50s within a very short span of time. Even though the typewriter warns him to leave the dolls alone and to not put any of the pieces back together, Garrett continues to pry into the past, with terrifying results. Will he and his mother be able to understand their troubled legacy and move on?
Strengths: Finding out your grandfather was a bestselling author. Cool. Inheriting his palatial estate. Awesome. Discovering that there are murderous doll corpses with a dark secret strewn everywhere. Terrifying! There were deeply creepy moments scattered throughout the book, but nothing so disturbing that fourth and fifth graders would have nightmares after reading this. I did appreciate that Garrett told his mom some of what was going on, and that she was somewhat sympathetic. The backstory with her father’s past plays out in a sometimes understandable and sometimes fantastical way, and I didn’t quite put together what Alistair’s diabolical plan was. Definitely a twist on the scary doll and haunted house tropes, and another very solid book by this author.
Weakness: I’ve read hundreds of middle grade novels about haunted places and things, and I’m ready for something new. A haunted community center? Park? Little used mall? Dollar store? Church? There are some haunted library and school books. And why is it always dolls? Couldn’t we have haunted books, pets (Red Rover!), backpacks, or technology? Haunted technology would be awesome.
What I really think: I like Gillespie’s work, especially Grin, so will definitely purchase this one for fans of Currie’s It's Watching, Alexander’s Follow Me, and Sutherland’s The Nightmare Next Door. I’m not entirely sure whether the cover is scary or icky, but I can certainly hand sell this if students find the cover TOO disturbing. I know I’ll have to hide the book when my usual substitute covers for me, since she can’t stand scary doll covers!
https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...
https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...
https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...
https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...
It’s always been just Garrett Weathers and his mother June, so when they are visited by a lawyer representing his recently deceased grandfather, it’s a bit of a surprise. There’s been years of estrangement, but the grandfather, who wrote under the pen name Alistair Gray, has left his sizable estate to the two, on one condition. They must spend a week at his house in Georgia, Inkwell Point. June is reluctant, but Garrett is curious, so the two set off on an adventure. The house is enormous but very creepy; it looks like the Addams family house, and there are pieces of wooden dolls strewn about. Not only that, but when Garrett moves a chair that is wedged under the closet door in his room, he finds a super creepy, life sized doll there! The lawyer indicates that Alistair had some sort of unsavory project going on, and June is reticent about why she never visited her parents, which makes Garrett even more curious. There’s a locked basement door behind which there are skittering noises, a typewriter that communicates with Garrett, and a creepy attic workshop with even more dolls. The handyman’s son, Wes, agrees to help Garrett investigate, but refuses to enter the house, since he knows how sinister it feels. Garrett learns that his grandmother was a painter as well as a writer, and died some years ago. He also discovers that Alistair’s siblings all died in their 40s and 50s within a very short span of time. Even though the typewriter warns him to leave the dolls alone and to not put any of the pieces back together, Garrett continues to pry into the past, with terrifying results. Will he and his mother be able to understand their troubled legacy and move on?
Strengths: Finding out your grandfather was a bestselling author. Cool. Inheriting his palatial estate. Awesome. Discovering that there are murderous doll corpses with a dark secret strewn everywhere. Terrifying! There were deeply creepy moments scattered throughout the book, but nothing so disturbing that fourth and fifth graders would have nightmares after reading this. I did appreciate that Garrett told his mom some of what was going on, and that she was somewhat sympathetic. The backstory with her father’s past plays out in a sometimes understandable and sometimes fantastical way, and I didn’t quite put together what Alistair’s diabolical plan was. Definitely a twist on the scary doll and haunted house tropes, and another very solid book by this author.
Weakness: I’ve read hundreds of middle grade novels about haunted places and things, and I’m ready for something new. A haunted community center? Park? Little used mall? Dollar store? Church? There are some haunted library and school books. And why is it always dolls? Couldn’t we have haunted books, pets (Red Rover!), backpacks, or technology? Haunted technology would be awesome.
What I really think: I like Gillespie’s work, especially Grin, so will definitely purchase this one for fans of Currie’s It's Watching, Alexander’s Follow Me, and Sutherland’s The Nightmare Next Door. I’m not entirely sure whether the cover is scary or icky, but I can certainly hand sell this if students find the cover TOO disturbing. I know I’ll have to hide the book when my usual substitute covers for me, since she can’t stand scary doll covers!
https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...
https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...
https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...
https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...
May 13, 2026
My love of horror and thrillers started at a young age, and I still enjoy picking up middle grade books whenever one catches my eye. The Doll House is a chilling paranormal mystery that’s perfect for fans of Slappy from the Goosebumps books. With a creepy mansion, eerie dolls, and suspense around every corner, this one had me totally hooked. I loved it!
Review of advance copy
Thank you Random House Kids @RandomHouseKids #RandomHouseKidsPartner Delacorte Press @delacortepress and D.W. Gillespie @dwgillespie for this free book! PUBLISHES JULY 28, 2026
“The Doll House” by D.W. Gillespie ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Genre: Middle Grade Horror Novel.
Garrett never met his grandfather Burke, but he’s heard stories from his mother. Burke was a very successful writer, but he was also very cruel to his family. When Burke suddenly dies, Garrett and his mom move into his grandfather's mansion. They must stay there a week to inherit Burke’s enormous fortune. The house is filled with creepy, puppet-like dolls, eerie spell books, and strange occurrences like an old typewriter that clicks away on its own. And there’s a very unsettling doll named Marion that seems to watch him. As the week passes, Garrett and his mom uncover dark secrets about his grandfather's obsession with dolls and the supernatural.
Author Gillespie’s book is filled with dark, generational family secrets and supernatural mystery. It’s suspense-filled freaky action, weird languages and curses, and things that go bump in the night-because D.W. Gillespie is the King of Middle Grade Horror! IYKYK. If you haven’t read his books, but you like the Goosebumps series, you’ll like this. It’s creepy, frightening, fun and it’s 5⭐️s from me 📚👩🏼🦳#thedollhouse #dwgillespie
“The Doll House” by D.W. Gillespie ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Genre: Middle Grade Horror Novel.
Garrett never met his grandfather Burke, but he’s heard stories from his mother. Burke was a very successful writer, but he was also very cruel to his family. When Burke suddenly dies, Garrett and his mom move into his grandfather's mansion. They must stay there a week to inherit Burke’s enormous fortune. The house is filled with creepy, puppet-like dolls, eerie spell books, and strange occurrences like an old typewriter that clicks away on its own. And there’s a very unsettling doll named Marion that seems to watch him. As the week passes, Garrett and his mom uncover dark secrets about his grandfather's obsession with dolls and the supernatural.
Author Gillespie’s book is filled with dark, generational family secrets and supernatural mystery. It’s suspense-filled freaky action, weird languages and curses, and things that go bump in the night-because D.W. Gillespie is the King of Middle Grade Horror! IYKYK. If you haven’t read his books, but you like the Goosebumps series, you’ll like this. It’s creepy, frightening, fun and it’s 5⭐️s from me 📚👩🏼🦳#thedollhouse #dwgillespie
April 11, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book. Such a good, creepy read.
Wow - this story is genuinely creepy. I can see how people are terrified of dolls or at least, find them disturbing.
Garrett and his mother are given an unexpected opportunity: to inherit her late father's wealth. A man she hasn't seen since she left home at the age of 18. Burke, the grandfather, was a well-known writer who lived in an enormous mansion known as The Doll House. However, there is one condition attached to the inheritance - they must spend one week living in the house. And at first, it doesn't seem like much of a challenge to Garrett and his mom. But how things change after that first night.
Garrett is under the impression that his grandfather, who he has never met, has left him with the task of finishing something for him. With the reluctant help of the groundskeeper's son, who refuses to step foot inside the mansion, Garrett sets forth to complete this task.
With doll parts scattered throughout the house and the surrounding grounds, a basement door that is mysteriously locked from the inside with no key in sight, and upstairs, a marionette doll that is hidden away in a closet, the house is starting to feel less like a home and more like a warning.
But a warning against what?
Wow - this story is genuinely creepy. I can see how people are terrified of dolls or at least, find them disturbing.
Garrett and his mother are given an unexpected opportunity: to inherit her late father's wealth. A man she hasn't seen since she left home at the age of 18. Burke, the grandfather, was a well-known writer who lived in an enormous mansion known as The Doll House. However, there is one condition attached to the inheritance - they must spend one week living in the house. And at first, it doesn't seem like much of a challenge to Garrett and his mom. But how things change after that first night.
Garrett is under the impression that his grandfather, who he has never met, has left him with the task of finishing something for him. With the reluctant help of the groundskeeper's son, who refuses to step foot inside the mansion, Garrett sets forth to complete this task.
With doll parts scattered throughout the house and the surrounding grounds, a basement door that is mysteriously locked from the inside with no key in sight, and upstairs, a marionette doll that is hidden away in a closet, the house is starting to feel less like a home and more like a warning.
But a warning against what?
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley for ARC in exchange for an honest review! The Doll House by D. W. Gillespie is an absolutely creepy middle grade horror read that fully delivers on its unsettling premise. From the cover alone, you know you’re in for something dark—and the story follows through with a strong, eerie atmosphere throughout.
Garrett moves into his late grandfather Burke’s massive estate after his death, only to discover the house is filled with disturbing secrets—especially the dolls scattered throughout the property. The most chilling presence is the doll Marion, found in the attic, which always feels like it’s watching. Strange things begin happening in the house: unexplained noises, a typewriter that seems to move on its own, and a growing sense that the house itself is alive in some way.
The tension builds slowly but effectively, and the focus on the dolls—especially Marion—adds a constant layer of discomfort that never really lets up.
This is a very creepy read without being overly graphic, and I’d definitely recommend it for fans of K.R. Alexander or anyone who enjoys haunted house stories with an unsettling, atmospheric feel. Great for readers ready to step into light horror.
Garrett moves into his late grandfather Burke’s massive estate after his death, only to discover the house is filled with disturbing secrets—especially the dolls scattered throughout the property. The most chilling presence is the doll Marion, found in the attic, which always feels like it’s watching. Strange things begin happening in the house: unexplained noises, a typewriter that seems to move on its own, and a growing sense that the house itself is alive in some way.
The tension builds slowly but effectively, and the focus on the dolls—especially Marion—adds a constant layer of discomfort that never really lets up.
This is a very creepy read without being overly graphic, and I’d definitely recommend it for fans of K.R. Alexander or anyone who enjoys haunted house stories with an unsettling, atmospheric feel. Great for readers ready to step into light horror.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Garrett has never met his estranged grandfather. But when the man dies, Garrett and his mom are set to inherit his wealth. All they have to do is stay in his remote mansion for one week. When they arrive they find a sprawling house filled with large wooden doll or marionette limbs and old family secrets. Just when he thinks the house can’t get any weirder, Garret discovers something thumping late at night in the locked basement.
The Doll House is a fast-paced story with plenty of surprising scares and interesting twists on the doll horror genre. I enjoyed uncovering this house and family’s secrets along with Garrett. His writerly flair for the dramatic made for an intriguing character young readers will connect with.
Thank you to Random House Children’s Books and NetGalley for providing the e-arc for my honest review.
The Doll House is a fast-paced story with plenty of surprising scares and interesting twists on the doll horror genre. I enjoyed uncovering this house and family’s secrets along with Garrett. His writerly flair for the dramatic made for an intriguing character young readers will connect with.
Thank you to Random House Children’s Books and NetGalley for providing the e-arc for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you netgalley for this Arc! It was definitely not my usual read but it ended up being such a memorable read for me. My husband loved Gillespie's other reads, most memorably, Grin, so we were eager for the next. The story pulled me in quickly and kept that steady sense of unease all the way through. The characters felt authentic and layered, which made the tension feel real rather than overdone. There’s a quiet creepiness woven throughout that builds beautifully instead of relying on shock alone. The pacing was smooth and intentional, never dragging and never rushing. It’s the kind of book that leaves you thinking about it long after you’ve finished the last page. Another great middle grade read from Gillespie!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
4.5 I loved Grin so jumping into this one with my favorite theme (spending a night in a creepy house because of an agreement or a net) was only logical. So creepy. A mother and a son inherit a house, the kid didn't know a thing about his mom's family and he convinces his mom to accept the deal. Spend a week there and you'll get it all. But what he gets is learning all about the dark past and having terrible things chase him. I couldn't put it down. The author describes the scenes so well that I could hear the footsteps and see the head looking. Super cool.
P.s- It's the third book this week I read that has a wolf spider, one more and I'll have lots of nightmares. Eheh
P.s- It's the third book this week I read that has a wolf spider, one more and I'll have lots of nightmares. Eheh
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
🦵 THE DOLLHOUSE 🦵 by @dwgillespie
.
Finished this cracker middle grade horror over the weekend, filled with plenty of creepy scenes to keep you up at night 🕷
.
Complex family dynamics, friendship, abandonment, mysteries, death and occult curses... yep.
.
The house itself feels like a mysterious character with ample nooks and hidden secrets and generations of stories to tell.
.
Garrett, though terrible at making healthy life choices, is an easy narrator to follow along. Throw in his new friend, ride or die, Wes and its likely id dive into that basement with them.
.
For lovers of mg horror and haters of dolls 🪆
.
.
Finished this cracker middle grade horror over the weekend, filled with plenty of creepy scenes to keep you up at night 🕷
.
Complex family dynamics, friendship, abandonment, mysteries, death and occult curses... yep.
.
The house itself feels like a mysterious character with ample nooks and hidden secrets and generations of stories to tell.
.
Garrett, though terrible at making healthy life choices, is an easy narrator to follow along. Throw in his new friend, ride or die, Wes and its likely id dive into that basement with them.
.
For lovers of mg horror and haters of dolls 🪆
.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Creepy marionette mannequins…….need I say more 😱
Thanks to NetGalley for Arc
This was a bit cheesy at first, with the writing, the MC breaking the fourth wall, in a goosebumps kinda fashion. The chills and thrills were terrifying. I love a good doll/puppet horror and this did bring that.
This is marketing as a middle grade and for the most part it feels that way. But when you find out about certain things, it felt more early YA.
Overall 4⭐️
Felt like Thirteen Ghosts meets Puppet Master
Thanks to NetGalley for Arc
This was a bit cheesy at first, with the writing, the MC breaking the fourth wall, in a goosebumps kinda fashion. The chills and thrills were terrifying. I love a good doll/puppet horror and this did bring that.
This is marketing as a middle grade and for the most part it feels that way. But when you find out about certain things, it felt more early YA.
Overall 4⭐️
Felt like Thirteen Ghosts meets Puppet Master
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I received an ARC of The Doll House by D. W. Gillespie from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
When I first requested this book, I didn't even realize it was a Middle Grade Horror Novel 😅 the plot seemed up my horror alley with the creepy dolls and haunted mansion setting! Middle school me would have EATEN this book up, especially with my love of the Goosebumps series. I would recommend this book to the middle school audience with a love of horror, but wouldn't be surprised if nightmares occurred 😅 there were a lot of great detail for a YA book as well. ⭐️4/5
When I first requested this book, I didn't even realize it was a Middle Grade Horror Novel 😅 the plot seemed up my horror alley with the creepy dolls and haunted mansion setting! Middle school me would have EATEN this book up, especially with my love of the Goosebumps series. I would recommend this book to the middle school audience with a love of horror, but wouldn't be surprised if nightmares occurred 😅 there were a lot of great detail for a YA book as well. ⭐️4/5
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A solid spooky read for fans of Goosebumps! The introduction pulled me in and the mystery around Garrett's grandfather kept things interesting. Marion the doll is genuinely unsettling. This was definitely more of a classic, predictable MG horror than anything new and exciting, but that's definitely not a bad thing if we want to get kids to read more books.
Thank you Penguin Random House and NetGalley for this ARC!
Thank you Penguin Random House and NetGalley for this ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was so thankful to have received an ARC of this book. I loved Grin and Give Me Something Good to Eat so I was super excited for this, and it did not fail. All the characters felt genuine which was a huge positive for me, it was creepy and gave those good creepy vibes, and it felt perfectly paced. Another great book by D.W. Gillespie
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really enjoyed reading The Doll House. It tells the story of Garrett, a thirteen year old boy, who wants to be a writer and decides to tell the story of his adventure at this grandfather's house, who recently passed away and whom he never met. Once I started reading it, I didn't want to stop. Thank you #NetGalley and #DelacortePress for the opportunity to read an advanced copy.
![Profile Image for Carly [A Beauty & Her Books].](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1711660636i/17243629._UX200_CR0,39,200,200_.jpg)
May 8, 2026
Downright terrifying in the best way possible! After reading Grim, I knew that D.W. Gillespie was going to be an auto-buy author for my MG horror books. Y'all, this did not disappoint, and now I am even more terrified of dolls just waking up and trying to kill me 🔪 While Garrett never met his grandfather, his mother is offered his estate, but in order to claim it, they must spend a week in this...house. This starts off strange and only gets stranger (I mean, not everyone just has random wooden doll parts around their yard 😅), but when we really learn about what the grandfather was doing with the dolls, OH BOY! This book gives all the chills, and the cover totally adds to it. I am so excited to see what Gillespie makes me terrified of next 😂
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews