The Barbie Killer

by Julia McDermott

When Dolly Garner’s husband is transferred to the small town of Huntington, Kansas, she hates the thought of uprooting their young family and starting over a thousand miles away. But after a year of living on savings and credit cards after Tim’s previous lay-off, refusing to move is out of the question. So they sell their home, pack their bags, and focus on the wholesome Midwestern values, a lower cost of living, and less crime.

But Dolly’s first impressions are not good. The people seem standoffish, unfriendly, and tight-lipped. The women she meets are materialistic and obsessed with status. More unsettling, Dolly learns that years ago, a brutal murder took place on the property where her family’s home now stands, and the case was never solved.

When a violent crime shocks the community, the town secret is A serial killer is on the loose and preying on the women of Huntington. As paranoia surges and the line between neighbor and predator blurs, Dolly realizes she can’t trust anyone in this town.

Inspired by true events, this twist-filled thriller will leave you breathless until the final page.

230 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 31, 2026

About the author

Julia McDermott is the author of thriller THE BARBIE KILLER, two psychological suspense novels, a French travel/romance, and a work of creative nonfiction awarded Finalist, 2016 Georgia Author of the Year - memoir category.
Julia graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill and spent her junior year in the south of France. When not writing or reading, she enjoys ballroom dancing, walking on the beach, traveling in France with her husband, and binge watching French and British murder mystery series. She lives in Florida and loves football, the UNC Tar Heels, most kinds of art, and all things French.

Reviews

[Tiffany Haineault · Rating 2 out of 5]

Advanced readers copy from NetGalley

2/5
Quick Thoughts:
This is a fast-paced book that’s under 230 pages. It revolves around Dolly who moves to a new town with her husband and kids. There are some dark events that have taken place in this town over 20 years that the locals prefer to forget. Then a few people are murdered and it brings these secrets to light.

I would like to mention that this book is in no means bad, it just wasn’t a book for me.

What I Loved:
* I did like to see that Dolly and the women who are being targeted in this book look for resources in keeping themselves and the people around them safe.
* I enjoyed the multi POV

What Didn’t Work for Me:
* I didn’t enjoy that almost every single male character in this book viewed women as weak or sensitive.
* It was mentioned that even the strongest women is no match for the weakest man.
* I did find that the killer had some plot armour when it came to some kills and not others.
* Dolly is portrayed as extremely paranoid when it comes to her house and the history behind it. She’s told by a few people to just “not be anxious” as though that will magically cure her anxiety.
* Several written mistakes that took me out of the story.

I would recommend this book for someone who is looking for a fast-paced read that’s very short. I’d say if people enjoy a unique POV then check this book out!

[Holley Desigio · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an eBook copy of "The Barbie Killer" from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Dolly and Tim are a happily married couple in Atlanta with 3 kids and a busy life in the city. But When Tim gets a new job in Hutchinson, Kansas, the family is forced to move to a small town away from everything they know. Hark, the company Tim is working for, is full of upper middle class men who believe in a certain way of conducting yourself, and as the family tries to adjust and fit it, they learn that all is not what it seems. The barbie killer, a man who attacks women at random, has been on the loose for almost 20 years and the killings have started up again as they arrive to town. As they become more and more paranoid about co-workers and neighbors, they must decide how to respond to to the killer. Heidi, one of the wives in town, also has an interest in the killer, and so Dolly and her work together to try and learn all they can to keep themselves and their families safe. Told from the perspectives of the killer, Dolly, and Tim, we learn about secrets hiding behind this town. This is a pretty straightforward, easy read, with me finishing the book in about 5 hours. The different perspectives add a creepy tone to the book, and the killers perspective is chilling. Although not gory, there are mentions of blood and violence, so be prepared. The questions of how to make yourself safe in an unsafe world prevade the page, with Dolly getting weapons and researching killers to try and better understand why this might be happening makes perfect sense, and makes Dolly an easy to root for heroine. While the reveal is not shocking for those who pick up clues well, how the attacks fit togother and who the culprit is makes sense. Overall, this novel an interesting read that focuses on the psychology of crime, and how it affects those closest to it, grappling with the big city vs. small town debate people have been having for a century now. The 1990s setting works well to up the stakes for those in danger in the story, but close enough to modern day that it doesn't feel aged. Rounded up from a 3.75.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Barbie Killer is a tense, unsettling thriller that takes the promise of a fresh start and slowly twists it into something far darker. When Dolly Garner uproots her family for the quiet charm of Huntington, Kansas, she’s clinging to hope — a new job for her husband, a safer community, a chance to rebuild after a difficult year. But from the moment she arrives, the town feels… off. The smiles don’t reach people’s eyes, the conversations stop a little too quickly, and the women she meets seem polished to perfection in a way that feels more performative than friendly.
Dolly’s discomfort is immediate and relatable. She’s trying to settle in, trying to make the best of a situation she never wanted, yet the town keeps pushing her to the margins. And when she learns that a brutal, unsolved murder took place on the very property where her family now lives, the unease deepens into something colder.

The novel really hits its stride when a new violent crime rocks Huntington, shattering the illusion of safety and exposing the truth: a serial killer is hunting the women of this seemingly wholesome town. The shift from quiet suspicion to full‑blown paranoia is handled beautifully. Neighbours become potential threats, every interaction feels loaded, and Dolly’s growing fear is written with a raw, human clarity that makes the tension feel personal.

What elevates the story is how it leans into the claustrophobia of small‑town secrets — the way everyone seems to know something, yet no one will say a word. The atmosphere thickens with each chapter, and the sense of isolation becomes almost suffocating as Dolly realises she can’t trust anyone, not even the people who claim to welcome her.

Inspired by true events, The Barbie Killer is a twist‑filled, breath‑catching thriller that explores the dark underbelly of a town desperate to maintain its perfect façade. Sharp, unsettling, and impossible to put down, it’s a story that lingers long after the final page.

With thanks to Julia McDermott, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the plot of this. Serial killer book always draws me in. I liked the setting of middle of nowhere Kansas, the throwback to the 90’s, and I really enjoyed the characters. Dolly as a name was a bit on the nose but once you get over that she’s just an everyday mom and I respect that. Her relationship with Tim was really nice too, you don’t always see a strong marriage in books anymore. There’s always something nefarious going on these days so I enjoyed that aspect.

I did feel like there was a bit too much filler of the day-to-day activities. Some of that made it really hard to stay engaged. I understand why it was important because little things were happening here and there that were pertinent to the story but at times it just felt like too much.

[Al · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moving from a big city, specifically Atlanta, to a small town in Kansas, the reasonable assumption is that odds of you being murdered are going to decrease. And they would, unless that small town has a serial killer who the townspeople don’t like to talk about, so new people don’t find out until they’re already moved to town. That’s what happens to Dolly Garner and her husband. Now what should they do? None of the potential answers are very good and the more they find out about what’s going on, the scarier it becomes. How this all resolves and the pieces to the mystery behind the killer make for an intense and interesting read that readers who enjoy thrillers should love.

**Originally written for "Books and Pals" book blog. May have received a free review copy. **

[Carrie Nellis Crisp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tim Garner was transferred from Atlanta Ga to Huntington Kansas for his new company that hired him. His wife Dolly had her own reservations about moving so far a way from their home town but this just might be their break or her death .....Not only was there a murder where her house was built there's a serial killer on the loose and he's been killing for many years and there's no leads . Dolly started her own research when Maggie who could've been her twin was found murdered just like the other victims. I definitely liked this book a lot . Its not real long and short chapters however for me it was hard to put down .

[Kheyra Santos · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave The Barbie Killer a four stars because of how masterfully it builds a sense of quiet, suburban dread that felt incredibly realistic. Knowing it was inspired by the author’s real-life experience living in a community haunted by a serial killer added a layer of chilling authenticity that kept me completely hooked. I loved how the story captured that "Midwestern nice" facade where everyone is a little too perfect and a little too quiet about the darkness hiding in plain sight. The pacing was excellent and the atmosphere was thick with tension, making it a truly addictive read that stayed on my mind long after I finished the last page.

[Josephine Bercegeay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Net Galley for approving my arc read of this and thank you Julia Mcdermott as well

The Barbie Killer was such a good book I love a good thriller Had me on the edge of my seat the whole entire time after Dolly and her husband move to a small town to escape things that were going on back where they came from all to have killings start in their own neighborhood by the Barbie doll killer When she finds out that someone was killed in their new home all secrets and everything comes out Will they survive or will the barbie doll killer get them as well

[Maja · Rating 3 out of 5]

First things first, thank you Netgalley and also Xpresso Book Tours for this ARC!

Uhm... I am not sure about this one. The premise was good, and I liked that the story moved along at a fast pace. I did like Dolly, our FMC. But besides that.... I think the characters were all build from bad cliches and the writing itself seemed to be messy and a little unpolished. I am giving this one three stars.

[E Pontellier · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fast-paced serial killer thriller reminiscent of Mary Higgins Clark. The suspense grabs you from page one and the tension steadily builds as the narrative shifts between the tortured thinking of the killer and the creepy coldness of the men and women who inhabit the superficially ‘normal’ Midwestern town where the book is set. A fun and satisfying read.