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Play Dead: A Psychological Horror Novel of Stolen Children and Living Dolls
The doll existed before the kidnapping.
Eighteen months after five-year-old Mia Dawson disappeared, her mother sees her again on a stranger’s livestream. She is sitting at the end of a child-sized table in a yellow chair, surrounded by hyperrealistic dolls, while thousands of viewers watch. The woman behind the camera calls her Annie. Kate knows better. She recognizes the split in Mia’s thumbnail, the notch in her ear, and the tiny details no artist should have been able to recreate by accident.
Nicole Perry has built an enormous online following around her seventeen “children,” complete with birthdays, favorite foods, bedtime routines, family photographs, and personalities her followers know by heart. Annie has been part of that family since before Mia vanished, which should make Kate’s theory impossible. Then the girl moves again. Police search Nicole’s home and find exactly what Nicole says they will find: dolls. Kate is left with one choice. If she wants to know what is really happening inside that house, she has to get close enough to see it for herself.
Using a false name, Kate takes a temporary job inside Nicole’s carefully staged world. Behind the cameras, locked rooms, household rules, and perfectly arranged family moments, she discovers something far worse than a woman obsessed with lifelike dolls. Children are being taught new names, new memories, and new versions of themselves. They learn when they are allowed to move, when they are allowed to speak, and how to become perfectly still when the red light comes on. Beside each living child is a copy convincing enough to take their place.
Mia is alive, but she is no longer the five-year-old Kate has spent eighteen months trying to bring home. The deeper Kate gets into Nicole’s system, the more she realizes that finding her daughter was only the beginning. To get Mia out, Kate will have to survive a house built to make truth look like obsession, convince people who have already been taught what to believe, and face the possibility that loving the child who came home means letting go of the child she lost.
PLAY DEAD is an uncanny psychological horror novel about missing children, manufactured memories, online spectators, and the terrifying power of a story repeated until everyone accepts it as truth. Sometimes the easiest way to hide a child is to put her where everyone can see her.
A Note From the Publisher
Thank you for considering Play Dead. This is a psychological thriller with horror elements involving child abduction, captivity, exploitation, obsessive online audiences, and disturbing doll imagery.
Eighteen months after five-year-old Mia Dawson disappeared, her mother sees her again on a stranger’s livestream. She is sitting at the end of a child-sized table in a yellow chair, surrounded by hyperrealistic dolls, while thousands of viewers watch. The woman behind the camera calls her Annie. Kate knows better. She recognizes the split in Mia’s thumbnail, the notch in her ear, and the tiny details no artist should have been able to recreate by accident.
Nicole Perry has built an enormous online following around her seventeen “children,” complete with birthdays, favorite foods, bedtime routines, family photographs, and personalities her followers know by heart. Annie has been part of that family since before Mia vanished, which should make Kate’s theory impossible. Then the girl moves again. Police search Nicole’s home and find exactly what Nicole says they will find: dolls. Kate is left with one choice. If she wants to know what is really happening inside that house, she has to get close enough to see it for herself.
Using a false name, Kate takes a temporary job inside Nicole’s carefully staged world. Behind the cameras, locked rooms, household rules, and perfectly arranged family moments, she discovers something far worse than a woman obsessed with lifelike dolls. Children are being taught new names, new memories, and new versions of themselves. They learn when they are allowed to move, when they are allowed to speak, and how to become perfectly still when the red light comes on. Beside each living child is a copy convincing enough to take their place.
Mia is alive, but she is no longer the five-year-old Kate has spent eighteen months trying to bring home. The deeper Kate gets into Nicole’s system, the more she realizes that finding her daughter was only the beginning. To get Mia out, Kate will have to survive a house built to make truth look like obsession, convince people who have already been taught what to believe, and face the possibility that loving the child who came home means letting go of the child she lost.
PLAY DEAD is an uncanny psychological horror novel about missing children, manufactured memories, online spectators, and the terrifying power of a story repeated until everyone accepts it as truth. Sometimes the easiest way to hide a child is to put her where everyone can see her.
A Note From the Publisher
Thank you for considering Play Dead. This is a psychological thriller with horror elements involving child abduction, captivity, exploitation, obsessive online audiences, and disturbing doll imagery.
671 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 22, 2026
About the author
M. Boudreaux
10 books27 followersM. Boudreaux is a Louisiana-based author of psychological horror, suspense, dark thrillers, and Southern Gothic fiction. Her stories live in the places where grief, obsession, trauma, memory, fear, and fractured trust start changing what people believe about themselves and each other.
She found her way into horror almost by accident. While writing through years of personal trauma, every attempt at something lighter seemed to turn unsettling, sad, or quietly wrong. Eventually, she stopped trying to pull the stories somewhere safer and started writing the books she actually wanted to read.
Her published work includes The Listener, a psychological horror novel about childhood secrets, grief, and a presence that knows exactly which voice someone would follow into the dark; The Grief Counselor, where a trusted grief counselor's understanding of loss becomes something far more dangerous; The Kettle, a Southern Gothic horror novella built around family history, disappearance, and the things a small town would rather leave buried; and Play Dead, a dark psychological thriller about missing children, online audiences, obsession, and a mother who recognizes something everyone else has overlooked.
Her fiction is especially interested in emotional vulnerability and what happens when it becomes dangerous. Grief can be manipulated. Memory can lie. Love can become leverage. The person offering safety may be the one you should fear most. Even when the horror becomes supernatural, the thing underneath it usually begins somewhere painfully human.
Boudreaux writes across interconnected thrillers, standalone horror, psychological suspense, and darker experimental fiction, which means there is almost never only one manuscript open on her computer. Living with ADHD has made peace with that arrangement considerably easier.
She is also the creator of The Unsettled Shelf, a home for her books, upcoming releases, dark fiction, and the readers who like their stories unsettling enough to follow them after the last page.
M. Boudreaux lives in Louisiana, where she continues writing books about terrible decisions, complicated women, buried secrets, and the uncomfortable possibility that the explanation you were hoping for might be worse than the thing you feared.
Find M. Boudreaux online:
The Unsettled Shelf
Amazon Author Page
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
**Received an Arc copy from Netgalley**
3.5 rounded up
This book is more of a psychological horror or thriller than a horror horror. Reading the premise got me right away and I knew I had to read it.
I really enjoyed the book, and kept wondering what was going to happen or come next.
There were some parts that were a bit predictable (I won't spoil them), but there were also a lot of things that kept you asking, what's next?
I will admit that there were a couple of scenes where a lot of things were happening at once and I was confused as to who was speaking, or who was doing what, so I wish the dialogue or the descriptions had made it more clear.
I also wanted more of the psychological aftermath at the end. What happened to those children? How was everyone dealing with the situation? What happened with the sponsors?
I saw that there is a second book coming out so hopefully that will deal with some of the questions I have and give me more of what I wanted.
All in all though, I really enjoyed this read, and I wasn't ever bored. If psychological horrors are your thing, and you don't mind creepy dolls, then I recommend you check it out.
3.5 rounded up
This book is more of a psychological horror or thriller than a horror horror. Reading the premise got me right away and I knew I had to read it.
I really enjoyed the book, and kept wondering what was going to happen or come next.
There were some parts that were a bit predictable (I won't spoil them), but there were also a lot of things that kept you asking, what's next?
I will admit that there were a couple of scenes where a lot of things were happening at once and I was confused as to who was speaking, or who was doing what, so I wish the dialogue or the descriptions had made it more clear.
I also wanted more of the psychological aftermath at the end. What happened to those children? How was everyone dealing with the situation? What happened with the sponsors?
I saw that there is a second book coming out so hopefully that will deal with some of the questions I have and give me more of what I wanted.
All in all though, I really enjoyed this read, and I wasn't ever bored. If psychological horrors are your thing, and you don't mind creepy dolls, then I recommend you check it out.
September 28, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, M. Boudreaux, and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for a copy of Play Dead in exchange for an honest review.
Okay, first and foremost… those reborn babies FREAK ME OUT. 😳😂 And apparently M. Boudreaux knew exactly what they were doing because after reading this, I was absolutely looking at reborn dolls online like, “Okay… did that one just move?” 👀
When Katie spots one of the reborn babies move—and thinks it could possibly be her missing daughter, Mia—she immediately starts digging for answers. And honestly, I was right there with her.
I have to wonder if this book had anything to do with that woman on TikTok with all the reborn babies because, M. Boudreaux, you picked one hell of a creepy topic! 😂 If it wasn't inspired by her, the timing is still hilarious because now I’m side-eyeing every reborn doll I see.
When Katie goes into the home to work and hopefully find out more, I could completely understand the three things running through her mind:
Please let my eyes be deceiving me.
Please let me be able to go home at night.
Please let Mia actually be in this house, disguised as Annie.
That last one especially kept me invested. When you're dealing with a missing child, every tiny possibility becomes HUGE, and I thought the author did a good job capturing that desperation and hope.
This book definitely tackles some heavy topics, so it isn't exactly a fluffy Saturday-night read. But weirdly enough, it was exactly what I needed for a lazy Saturday night. It was creepy, unsettling, and definitely had me questioning what the hell I was looking at. 😂
I have to give M. Boudreaux credit because I will never look at a reborn baby the same way again.
Final Verdict:
3.5 stars rounded up to 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Creepy? ✔️
Unsettling? ✔️
Had me checking whether dolls were moving? ABSOLUTELY. 😂
A solid Saturday-night thriller that managed to creep me the hell out—and apparently that's exactly what I needed.
Okay, first and foremost… those reborn babies FREAK ME OUT. 😳😂 And apparently M. Boudreaux knew exactly what they were doing because after reading this, I was absolutely looking at reborn dolls online like, “Okay… did that one just move?” 👀
When Katie spots one of the reborn babies move—and thinks it could possibly be her missing daughter, Mia—she immediately starts digging for answers. And honestly, I was right there with her.
I have to wonder if this book had anything to do with that woman on TikTok with all the reborn babies because, M. Boudreaux, you picked one hell of a creepy topic! 😂 If it wasn't inspired by her, the timing is still hilarious because now I’m side-eyeing every reborn doll I see.
When Katie goes into the home to work and hopefully find out more, I could completely understand the three things running through her mind:
Please let my eyes be deceiving me.
Please let me be able to go home at night.
Please let Mia actually be in this house, disguised as Annie.
That last one especially kept me invested. When you're dealing with a missing child, every tiny possibility becomes HUGE, and I thought the author did a good job capturing that desperation and hope.
This book definitely tackles some heavy topics, so it isn't exactly a fluffy Saturday-night read. But weirdly enough, it was exactly what I needed for a lazy Saturday night. It was creepy, unsettling, and definitely had me questioning what the hell I was looking at. 😂
I have to give M. Boudreaux credit because I will never look at a reborn baby the same way again.
Final Verdict:
3.5 stars rounded up to 4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Creepy? ✔️
Unsettling? ✔️
Had me checking whether dolls were moving? ABSOLUTELY. 😂
A solid Saturday-night thriller that managed to creep me the hell out—and apparently that's exactly what I needed.
October 4, 2026
📖 Play Dead by M. Boudreaux
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫✨ 3.75 stars
I knew I was going to like this book from the premise alone, and thankfully, it did not disappoint. Play Dead is a deeply unsettling and emotional thriller that touches on some incredibly difficult topics, including children being exposed online, mental health, and human trafficking.
The story follows Kate and Matt, whose lives are turned upside down when their child becomes connected to a terrifying situation involving missing children and a world far darker than they could have imagined. As the story unfolds, we get a glimpse into the devastating impact these events have on families, and I honestly had so much sympathy for Kate and Matt. I just wanted to give them both a hug. I cannot imagine what it must be like to go through something like this.
Was I frustrated with the plot at times? Absolutely. There were definitely moments where I wanted the characters to make completely different decisions. But at the same time, we have the luxury of sitting outside the situation and judging their choices. None of us really knows what we would do when faced with something this horrifying.
And Nicole… I hated that woman. She irritated me from the very beginning and somehow only managed to make me dislike her more as the story progressed.
Also, I have never been a fan of dolls. I have always found them creepy as hell, and this book definitely did absolutely nothing to change my mind. If anything, it just reinforced my belief that dolls are terrifying.
What really got to me, though, was how heartbreaking this story is, especially knowing that things like this can happen in the real world and aren’t just something we encounter in fiction. The book explores some incredibly heavy subjects and definitely leaves you thinking about how vulnerable children can be in today’s world, especially when so much of their lives are shared online.
Despite the difficult subject matter, I really enjoyed reading this one. I ended up reading it in one sitting because I had to know how it was going to end. It definitely kept me hooked.
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫✨ 3.75 stars
I knew I was going to like this book from the premise alone, and thankfully, it did not disappoint. Play Dead is a deeply unsettling and emotional thriller that touches on some incredibly difficult topics, including children being exposed online, mental health, and human trafficking.
The story follows Kate and Matt, whose lives are turned upside down when their child becomes connected to a terrifying situation involving missing children and a world far darker than they could have imagined. As the story unfolds, we get a glimpse into the devastating impact these events have on families, and I honestly had so much sympathy for Kate and Matt. I just wanted to give them both a hug. I cannot imagine what it must be like to go through something like this.
Was I frustrated with the plot at times? Absolutely. There were definitely moments where I wanted the characters to make completely different decisions. But at the same time, we have the luxury of sitting outside the situation and judging their choices. None of us really knows what we would do when faced with something this horrifying.
And Nicole… I hated that woman. She irritated me from the very beginning and somehow only managed to make me dislike her more as the story progressed.
Also, I have never been a fan of dolls. I have always found them creepy as hell, and this book definitely did absolutely nothing to change my mind. If anything, it just reinforced my belief that dolls are terrifying.
What really got to me, though, was how heartbreaking this story is, especially knowing that things like this can happen in the real world and aren’t just something we encounter in fiction. The book explores some incredibly heavy subjects and definitely leaves you thinking about how vulnerable children can be in today’s world, especially when so much of their lives are shared online.
Despite the difficult subject matter, I really enjoyed reading this one. I ended up reading it in one sitting because I had to know how it was going to end. It definitely kept me hooked.
August 28, 2026
This story follows the determination of a mother, Kate, who is desperately searching for her daughter, who has been missing for 18 months. Nicole is known to her audience for having silicone dolls, each with their own likes, dislikes, and personalities. She feeds them, changes them, and cares for them like you would a real human child. But how do you prove that some of those dolls *could* be real when her fanbase is fully supporting her?
I have to say, I felt like a fly on the wall the entire time I was reading this. This may sound harsh, but I would’ve loved to see more of the psychological aftermath. I felt like there was so much potential there, and I wanted to sit with those emotions a little longer.
I also have to mention that the ending stopped what felt like a mid-thought and was very abrupt. I would’ve loved to see the story wrap up a little more fully instead of ending so suddenly.
That being said, I did enjoy this book, and nothing felt out of place to me. It kept me invested, and overall, I’m glad I read it.
.
.
Thank you so much for the opportunity to read and review this book! All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and are not influenced by receiving an advance copy.
I have to say, I felt like a fly on the wall the entire time I was reading this. This may sound harsh, but I would’ve loved to see more of the psychological aftermath. I felt like there was so much potential there, and I wanted to sit with those emotions a little longer.
I also have to mention that the ending stopped what felt like a mid-thought and was very abrupt. I would’ve loved to see the story wrap up a little more fully instead of ending so suddenly.
That being said, I did enjoy this book, and nothing felt out of place to me. It kept me invested, and overall, I’m glad I read it.
.
.
Thank you so much for the opportunity to read and review this book! All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and are not influenced by receiving an advance copy.
October 2, 2026
Okay, I’m a little surprised this one has such high ratings because it just didn’t quite work for me. So maybe it’s a **me problem**.
The premise was definitely fresh and unlike anything I’ve read before. The whole doll aspect was creepy, especially the idea of these hyperrealistic “children” being part of a family that thousands of people are watching online. That setup had me hooked, and the beginning was really strong. Unfortunately, the middle was where I started struggling. It felt like a lot of things were happening without actually moving the story forward, and I felt like I was powering through rather than flying through the pages. I also found the writing a little stiff, which made it harder for me to connect with the characters. The story did pick back up toward the end, and I was interested enough to see how everything played out, but by then I was ready to be done. 😂
I can absolutely see why this one is getting great reviews, the concept is unique, creepy, and has a lot of potential. It just wasn't the right fit for me.
There’s a sequel coming, but I think I’ll probably leave this little dollhouse behind.
The premise was definitely fresh and unlike anything I’ve read before. The whole doll aspect was creepy, especially the idea of these hyperrealistic “children” being part of a family that thousands of people are watching online. That setup had me hooked, and the beginning was really strong. Unfortunately, the middle was where I started struggling. It felt like a lot of things were happening without actually moving the story forward, and I felt like I was powering through rather than flying through the pages. I also found the writing a little stiff, which made it harder for me to connect with the characters. The story did pick back up toward the end, and I was interested enough to see how everything played out, but by then I was ready to be done. 😂
I can absolutely see why this one is getting great reviews, the concept is unique, creepy, and has a lot of potential. It just wasn't the right fit for me.
There’s a sequel coming, but I think I’ll probably leave this little dollhouse behind.
September 30, 2026
I was instantly drawn to this book’s cover. If a cover intrigues me, I’m more likely to read it. This one really struck a chord. I couldn’t imagine my child going missing and searching for them for 18 months, with no leads until someone claimed to have seen them on an online forum about a family. Kate and Matt have been searching for their daughter for 18 months, with no success. The situation is starting to unravel. One day, Kate is asked to check out a website featuring a “doll” who looks just like her daughter. When the site’s owner, Nicole, posts looking for help, Kate knows she must investigate further. This psychological thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat. It’s almost like human trafficking, exploring how far one woman might go to sell children and how far a mother will go to reclaim them. It’s definitely a great read for October.
November 6, 2026
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this review copy.
This was a very interesting read, when dealing with stories that involve children it can be very hit and miss, but the author handled the subject with a lot of care. I really enjoyed my time with this story, the characters were very believable and the story definitely kept me engaged.
This was a very interesting read, when dealing with stories that involve children it can be very hit and miss, but the author handled the subject with a lot of care. I really enjoyed my time with this story, the characters were very believable and the story definitely kept me engaged.
October 12, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!
This is a really interesting premise for a horror novel, and I have to admit it won me over in concept. There’s been this weird spate online of reborn and lifelike dolls (appreciating there’s a facet of people who have them to deal with trauma) and some of them are freakishly lifelike. The way that some creators deal with them is also on the interesting side, and I think this book was a really cool way to take that on from a horror perspective.
Unfortunately, a lot of the book fell a bit flat for me. I wished that we could have been given more info on the characters, and that there was a bit more meat on the bones of the plot itself. It’s got a great hook, don’t get me wrong, but I just wanted a smidgen more. There was also a lot of action that seemed to have the occasional plot hole, which bothered me a bit too. I just would have loved to have something tight, action packed, and fully consistent.
I do think there’s the makings of a fantastic book here, I just wish it took a bit more time and didn’t dedicate so much to the rules of the house. Putting a little more heart into the characters and the kids especially would have been fantastic. By no means is this a terrible one, just one that I felt could have been a bit better overall.
This is a really interesting premise for a horror novel, and I have to admit it won me over in concept. There’s been this weird spate online of reborn and lifelike dolls (appreciating there’s a facet of people who have them to deal with trauma) and some of them are freakishly lifelike. The way that some creators deal with them is also on the interesting side, and I think this book was a really cool way to take that on from a horror perspective.
Unfortunately, a lot of the book fell a bit flat for me. I wished that we could have been given more info on the characters, and that there was a bit more meat on the bones of the plot itself. It’s got a great hook, don’t get me wrong, but I just wanted a smidgen more. There was also a lot of action that seemed to have the occasional plot hole, which bothered me a bit too. I just would have loved to have something tight, action packed, and fully consistent.
I do think there’s the makings of a fantastic book here, I just wish it took a bit more time and didn’t dedicate so much to the rules of the house. Putting a little more heart into the characters and the kids especially would have been fantastic. By no means is this a terrible one, just one that I felt could have been a bit better overall.
October 4, 2026
Could've been really good. So confusing at the end and went on way to long.
October 2, 2026
I received a free advance copy of this book and am leaving an honest review.
I went into Play Dead expecting creepy dolls and came out feeling slightly suspicious of every realistic looking doll I've ever seen.
This story follows Kate, whose six-year-old daughter Mia has been missing for eighteen months. Then Kate comes across a livestream featuring Nicole Perry and her rather unsettling collection of reborn dolls. One of those dolls, Annie, looks exactly like Mia.
Which is already creepy.
Then Annie moves.
And that is where things get considerably worse.
Kate starts noticing details that shouldn't be there. Mia's distinctive thumbnail. The notch in her ear. Little things that make Kate realise this isn't some bizarre coincidence or a doll that just happens to look like her missing daughter. She starts digging and eventually gets herself inside Nicole's house, where she discovers that the dolls are hiding something far more disturbing than I expected.
I really liked the premise of this one. Reborn dolls are already sitting somewhere in that lovely little valley between “impressive craftsmanship” and “please don't let that thing blink,” so making them part of a missing-child story was a pretty effective choice. (I think a little toooo effective.)
And as a mother myself, I was biting my lip reading this one. I caught myself more than once wondering what I would do if something like this happened to me. That made the story hit a little differently because Kate's desperation isn't just some abstract character motivation. The thought of your child disappearing and then seeing something that might actually be them? Absolutely horrifying.
And Nicole...
Nicole is creepy as hell.
What I liked about her is that she isn't written like some over-the-top horror villain who spends her evenings stroking a cat while explaining her evil master plan. She's calm. She's polite. She talks to people normally. She has her online audience and her carefully constructed little world, which somehow makes what she is doing even worse.
The social media side of the story also worked really well for me. The livestream audience isn't just decoration in the background. People watch, speculate, follow the drama and become part of the whole situation. There is something particularly uncomfortable about watching people turn something horrifying into online entertainment.
I also really liked Mia's role in the story.
She isn't simply sitting there waiting for Kate to find her. Mia learns how Nicole operates and tries to communicate with Kate through the livestream, using small things she knows Kate would recognise. That made some of the scenes between them surprisingly emotional.
And this is where I think the storytelling works particularly well. The story keeps peeling back another layer. You think you've figured out what the dolls are about, and then you discover there is more to it. More children. More evidence. More people involved. More of the strange online world surrounding Nicole.
There is a lot going on, but I don't think that's a bad thing in horror. Give me the creepy stuff. I have apparently volunteered for this.
Where I did struggle occasionally was with how much the story explains.
There are parts where the mechanics behind what Nicole is doing, the dolls, the house and the wider operation are explained in quite a lot of detail. Some of it is interesting and important to understanding what is happening, but there were moments when I wanted the book to stop explaining and just let me sit there being uncomfortable.
Because sometimes the scariest thing is not knowing exactly how the horrible thing works.
I also found myself yelling at Kate a few times.
Girl.
I understand your child has been missing for eighteen months. I understand desperation. I understand why you are doing what you're doing.
But when the police basically tell you not to do something and you decide, “Excellent. I shall now absolutely do that thing,” I am sitting here like MA'AM.
That said, I thought the ending was handled really well.
It doesn't simply go, “Mia has been rescued! Everyone hug! The end!” Because obviously that would be far too emotionally convenient.
Mia has been missing for eighteen months. She's been manipulated and controlled, and getting her back doesn't magically erase everything that happened to her. The aftermath actually takes time to deal with that, and I appreciated it.
I also liked that the larger operation doesn't suddenly become a perfectly neat little box with a bow slapped on it. There are still disturbing things left behind, including evidence of a much larger network and archived material reaching back further than the events Kate initially understands.
Overall, I really enjoyed Play Dead. It is creepy, disturbing and has a genuinely interesting premise, but what I appreciated most was that there was an actual story underneath the creepy dolls.
There were definitely things I would have changed, particularly some of the more detailed explanations and procedural sections, but I never felt like the author didn't know where the story was going.
And honestly, I think the fact that I finished the book and immediately looked at realistic dolls slightly differently means it did its job.
4.5/5
I would recommend this book to people who enjoy missing-child thrillers, psychological horror, creepy dolls and stories where the internet somehow manages to make an already horrifying situation even more horrifying.
Nicole, respectfully, I would like to unsubscribe from your doll family.
I went into Play Dead expecting creepy dolls and came out feeling slightly suspicious of every realistic looking doll I've ever seen.
This story follows Kate, whose six-year-old daughter Mia has been missing for eighteen months. Then Kate comes across a livestream featuring Nicole Perry and her rather unsettling collection of reborn dolls. One of those dolls, Annie, looks exactly like Mia.
Which is already creepy.
Then Annie moves.
And that is where things get considerably worse.
Kate starts noticing details that shouldn't be there. Mia's distinctive thumbnail. The notch in her ear. Little things that make Kate realise this isn't some bizarre coincidence or a doll that just happens to look like her missing daughter. She starts digging and eventually gets herself inside Nicole's house, where she discovers that the dolls are hiding something far more disturbing than I expected.
I really liked the premise of this one. Reborn dolls are already sitting somewhere in that lovely little valley between “impressive craftsmanship” and “please don't let that thing blink,” so making them part of a missing-child story was a pretty effective choice. (I think a little toooo effective.)
And as a mother myself, I was biting my lip reading this one. I caught myself more than once wondering what I would do if something like this happened to me. That made the story hit a little differently because Kate's desperation isn't just some abstract character motivation. The thought of your child disappearing and then seeing something that might actually be them? Absolutely horrifying.
And Nicole...
Nicole is creepy as hell.
What I liked about her is that she isn't written like some over-the-top horror villain who spends her evenings stroking a cat while explaining her evil master plan. She's calm. She's polite. She talks to people normally. She has her online audience and her carefully constructed little world, which somehow makes what she is doing even worse.
The social media side of the story also worked really well for me. The livestream audience isn't just decoration in the background. People watch, speculate, follow the drama and become part of the whole situation. There is something particularly uncomfortable about watching people turn something horrifying into online entertainment.
I also really liked Mia's role in the story.
She isn't simply sitting there waiting for Kate to find her. Mia learns how Nicole operates and tries to communicate with Kate through the livestream, using small things she knows Kate would recognise. That made some of the scenes between them surprisingly emotional.
And this is where I think the storytelling works particularly well. The story keeps peeling back another layer. You think you've figured out what the dolls are about, and then you discover there is more to it. More children. More evidence. More people involved. More of the strange online world surrounding Nicole.
There is a lot going on, but I don't think that's a bad thing in horror. Give me the creepy stuff. I have apparently volunteered for this.
Where I did struggle occasionally was with how much the story explains.
There are parts where the mechanics behind what Nicole is doing, the dolls, the house and the wider operation are explained in quite a lot of detail. Some of it is interesting and important to understanding what is happening, but there were moments when I wanted the book to stop explaining and just let me sit there being uncomfortable.
Because sometimes the scariest thing is not knowing exactly how the horrible thing works.
I also found myself yelling at Kate a few times.
Girl.
I understand your child has been missing for eighteen months. I understand desperation. I understand why you are doing what you're doing.
But when the police basically tell you not to do something and you decide, “Excellent. I shall now absolutely do that thing,” I am sitting here like MA'AM.
That said, I thought the ending was handled really well.
It doesn't simply go, “Mia has been rescued! Everyone hug! The end!” Because obviously that would be far too emotionally convenient.
Mia has been missing for eighteen months. She's been manipulated and controlled, and getting her back doesn't magically erase everything that happened to her. The aftermath actually takes time to deal with that, and I appreciated it.
I also liked that the larger operation doesn't suddenly become a perfectly neat little box with a bow slapped on it. There are still disturbing things left behind, including evidence of a much larger network and archived material reaching back further than the events Kate initially understands.
Overall, I really enjoyed Play Dead. It is creepy, disturbing and has a genuinely interesting premise, but what I appreciated most was that there was an actual story underneath the creepy dolls.
There were definitely things I would have changed, particularly some of the more detailed explanations and procedural sections, but I never felt like the author didn't know where the story was going.
And honestly, I think the fact that I finished the book and immediately looked at realistic dolls slightly differently means it did its job.
4.5/5
I would recommend this book to people who enjoy missing-child thrillers, psychological horror, creepy dolls and stories where the internet somehow manages to make an already horrifying situation even more horrifying.
Nicole, respectfully, I would like to unsubscribe from your doll family.
October 17, 2026
To view on Rainy Day's Books, Video Games and Other Writings: https://rainyday.blog/2026/10/17/book...
Rating: 4 stars
I received a digital copy of this book through the publisher on NetGalley for an honest review.
Play Dead was an interesting read that kept me engaged from start to finish. What I enjoyed most about this book was getting a glimpse into the world of a woman with such a large online following who collects silicone dolls. A woman who keeps her followers engaged by having them decide for her through her social media platforms when these dolls will eat and where they’ll sleep, not all of them knowing the impact such a choice has on these dolls. Because what some of her followers don’t know is that these silicone dolls look a lot like children who have gone missing. Silicone dolls were created months before these children disappeared, and the children were taught to behave like the dolls, so when the cameras rolled with them on the screen, the children were always hiding in plain sight so nobody would suspect anything was amiss. Learning how Nicole was able to accomplish this brought chills up and down my spine as I was reading Play Dead, but it also kept me engaged in the story as I wanted to see how this book would come to an end and all these children would be saved and brought home.
What also kept me reading was Kate. Yes, she annoyed me at times when she didn’t listen to the detective who was trying to help her with rescuing her daughter, but I also completely understood why. Kate figured out early on from watching that video that was sent to her about Nicole that the doll that looked like Mia was her daughter from very few fragments and didn’t want to take the chance of losing any opportunity she had to get her daughter back. So when an opening for getting into Nicole’s house came up, it made perfect sense that she jumped at the chance to take it. I also enjoyed that she did this too because it allowed us as the reader to get to see the inner workings of Nicole’s world when it came to the setup of her house with the dolls. Also, when she realized her daughter wasn’t the only one trapped in Nicole’s house, she decided she wanted to do everything she could to save all the children that were trapped in her house no matter what it took. So no matter what she did that annoyed me throughout the book, that right there made up for it for me.
I also enjoyed getting to see the dynamic between Kate, Mia, and the other two children who were in the house, Caleb and Sophie, as they were doing the best they could to get out of Nicole’s clutches. I know all of the children were doing the best they could to survive such awful circumstances, playing by Nicole’s messed-up rules when it came to everything they could and couldn’t do in the house. Which is why, when certain scenarios happened in the book, I wasn’t at all surprised by them and wasn’t upset with the child involved because they were just trying to survive a situation they found themselves in.
If there was anything about Play Dead I was annoyed with in particular, it would be how detailed the story would get at times. While I understood needing to know what was going on in Nicole’s house along with the rules these children had to live by, there were times when I felt like there was almost too much detail in this book. I get that certain aspects of the story need details, but there was certain information I was perfectly fine not needing to know that I felt like bogged down the story. It was great to find out, though, how all of this even started to begin with, so I appreciated that information being included here.
I also wasn’t the biggest fan of the ending either. Mostly because I wanted there to be more of what happened after the children got out of Nicole’s house. And I feel like the book just ends all of a sudden with no real conclusion that’s satisfactory to me as a reader.
Overall, though, I enjoyed reading Play Dead as it brought chills down my spine in a good way, and I never knew, with each page, the direction the story was going to go. I highly recommend this book to those wanting to read books with a thrilling mystery, especially anyone who enjoys reading books about missing children, as well as those who like books that involve people who livestream. And I think anyone who enjoys horror books involving dolls will enjoy this book too. Play Dead was published on September 22, 2026, for those interested in giving this book a read.
Rating: 4 stars
I received a digital copy of this book through the publisher on NetGalley for an honest review.
Play Dead was an interesting read that kept me engaged from start to finish. What I enjoyed most about this book was getting a glimpse into the world of a woman with such a large online following who collects silicone dolls. A woman who keeps her followers engaged by having them decide for her through her social media platforms when these dolls will eat and where they’ll sleep, not all of them knowing the impact such a choice has on these dolls. Because what some of her followers don’t know is that these silicone dolls look a lot like children who have gone missing. Silicone dolls were created months before these children disappeared, and the children were taught to behave like the dolls, so when the cameras rolled with them on the screen, the children were always hiding in plain sight so nobody would suspect anything was amiss. Learning how Nicole was able to accomplish this brought chills up and down my spine as I was reading Play Dead, but it also kept me engaged in the story as I wanted to see how this book would come to an end and all these children would be saved and brought home.
What also kept me reading was Kate. Yes, she annoyed me at times when she didn’t listen to the detective who was trying to help her with rescuing her daughter, but I also completely understood why. Kate figured out early on from watching that video that was sent to her about Nicole that the doll that looked like Mia was her daughter from very few fragments and didn’t want to take the chance of losing any opportunity she had to get her daughter back. So when an opening for getting into Nicole’s house came up, it made perfect sense that she jumped at the chance to take it. I also enjoyed that she did this too because it allowed us as the reader to get to see the inner workings of Nicole’s world when it came to the setup of her house with the dolls. Also, when she realized her daughter wasn’t the only one trapped in Nicole’s house, she decided she wanted to do everything she could to save all the children that were trapped in her house no matter what it took. So no matter what she did that annoyed me throughout the book, that right there made up for it for me.
I also enjoyed getting to see the dynamic between Kate, Mia, and the other two children who were in the house, Caleb and Sophie, as they were doing the best they could to get out of Nicole’s clutches. I know all of the children were doing the best they could to survive such awful circumstances, playing by Nicole’s messed-up rules when it came to everything they could and couldn’t do in the house. Which is why, when certain scenarios happened in the book, I wasn’t at all surprised by them and wasn’t upset with the child involved because they were just trying to survive a situation they found themselves in.
If there was anything about Play Dead I was annoyed with in particular, it would be how detailed the story would get at times. While I understood needing to know what was going on in Nicole’s house along with the rules these children had to live by, there were times when I felt like there was almost too much detail in this book. I get that certain aspects of the story need details, but there was certain information I was perfectly fine not needing to know that I felt like bogged down the story. It was great to find out, though, how all of this even started to begin with, so I appreciated that information being included here.
I also wasn’t the biggest fan of the ending either. Mostly because I wanted there to be more of what happened after the children got out of Nicole’s house. And I feel like the book just ends all of a sudden with no real conclusion that’s satisfactory to me as a reader.
Overall, though, I enjoyed reading Play Dead as it brought chills down my spine in a good way, and I never knew, with each page, the direction the story was going to go. I highly recommend this book to those wanting to read books with a thrilling mystery, especially anyone who enjoys reading books about missing children, as well as those who like books that involve people who livestream. And I think anyone who enjoys horror books involving dolls will enjoy this book too. Play Dead was published on September 22, 2026, for those interested in giving this book a read.
October 4, 2026
Play Dead by M. Boudreaux is a quick, compelling read with a strong premise and plenty of suspense. I was immediately drawn back into the Southern embrace of North Carolina (my home state), where the story unfolds. As a fan of psychological thrillers, I appreciated the tense atmosphere. Some may argue this book leans into horror, but I consider it a thriller—though that’s a debate for another time. There are no supernatural elements here, just “real” people committing horrific acts—which, in some ways, can be even more disturbing.
The book explores the world of child trafficking, as well as the way social media can groom viewers into participating in a perfectly curated life. Some elements could be compared to mommy vlogging, but it also plays on the creep factor many people feel when watching some reborn community members share their routines. Now, don’t mistake that for me saying this book attacks people who collect or create reborn dolls, because that would miss the bigger picture. The point is how much information we willingly put out there for anyone to see.
Ultimately, this book urges readers to reconsider sharing every detail of their child’s life online—or at least, it should. There are real predators in the world searching for personal details to exploit, unraveling the story of your life and, in the worst cases, using that information to take something far more precious: your child.
The author excels at setting up the story, providing just enough detail, and creating complex characters. However, I found the dialogue between characters less effective at times.
For example:
“What does A mean?” she asked.
“Available.”
“What does B mean?”
Nicole drew a line through the question on the form. “Backup.”
There are quite a few moments like this where the dialogue shifts between characters with very little indication of who is speaking or what is happening between the lines. This style—often called ‘floating dialogue’ in publishing—relies on bare lines of conversation without dialogue tags or action beats to anchor the reader. While it can create a fast pace, I occasionally had to pause and figure out who was talking. At times, it felt more like I was reading a script than a novel, and that style didn’t resonate with me the way the rest of the book did.
There were also a few minor errors—such as sentences or character names that didn’t quite make sense. For instance, toward the end, Mia’s mother is told she can’t contact the witnesses. Later, she describes one witness as a “woman,” then refers to the same person as a little girl. These small inconsistencies pulled me out of the story.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the premise and suspense of Play Dead. The story transforms something as ordinary as sharing your life online into something deeply unsettling. Perhaps that’s what lingers with me most: the scariest elements aren’t supernatural—they’re things that could actually happen.
I’d really like to read this author again, and I want to note that 4 stars is a solid read for me—especially when I can so easily be distracted by details like the ones I mentioned above.
I would definitely recommend this book to others who enjoy psychological thrillers. Another thing to note: there is very little cursing (just once, and not even the worst of words) and no sexual content, making it a clean read for those who value that as well.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley for review purposes. I was not compensated for this review, and all opinions expressed are my own.
For a cottagecore soul with a gothic heart, there’s always room for another reader at the table. Come join me at TheDravenRahl.com and stay awhile.
The book explores the world of child trafficking, as well as the way social media can groom viewers into participating in a perfectly curated life. Some elements could be compared to mommy vlogging, but it also plays on the creep factor many people feel when watching some reborn community members share their routines. Now, don’t mistake that for me saying this book attacks people who collect or create reborn dolls, because that would miss the bigger picture. The point is how much information we willingly put out there for anyone to see.
Ultimately, this book urges readers to reconsider sharing every detail of their child’s life online—or at least, it should. There are real predators in the world searching for personal details to exploit, unraveling the story of your life and, in the worst cases, using that information to take something far more precious: your child.
The author excels at setting up the story, providing just enough detail, and creating complex characters. However, I found the dialogue between characters less effective at times.
For example:
“What does A mean?” she asked.
“Available.”
“What does B mean?”
Nicole drew a line through the question on the form. “Backup.”
There are quite a few moments like this where the dialogue shifts between characters with very little indication of who is speaking or what is happening between the lines. This style—often called ‘floating dialogue’ in publishing—relies on bare lines of conversation without dialogue tags or action beats to anchor the reader. While it can create a fast pace, I occasionally had to pause and figure out who was talking. At times, it felt more like I was reading a script than a novel, and that style didn’t resonate with me the way the rest of the book did.
There were also a few minor errors—such as sentences or character names that didn’t quite make sense. For instance, toward the end, Mia’s mother is told she can’t contact the witnesses. Later, she describes one witness as a “woman,” then refers to the same person as a little girl. These small inconsistencies pulled me out of the story.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the premise and suspense of Play Dead. The story transforms something as ordinary as sharing your life online into something deeply unsettling. Perhaps that’s what lingers with me most: the scariest elements aren’t supernatural—they’re things that could actually happen.
I’d really like to read this author again, and I want to note that 4 stars is a solid read for me—especially when I can so easily be distracted by details like the ones I mentioned above.
I would definitely recommend this book to others who enjoy psychological thrillers. Another thing to note: there is very little cursing (just once, and not even the worst of words) and no sexual content, making it a clean read for those who value that as well.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Netgalley for review purposes. I was not compensated for this review, and all opinions expressed are my own.
For a cottagecore soul with a gothic heart, there’s always room for another reader at the table. Come join me at TheDravenRahl.com and stay awhile.
September 23, 2026
I received an Advanced Reader Copy from the author and am choosing to voluntarily leave an honest review.
I will start of by saying that initially I tried to start this series by skipping book one and going to book 2. I know that there are many series in which the books could serve as standalones but trust me...this is not one of them. It honestly made such a difference. I nearly DNFd book 2 because I was so lost that I was like "ok I have no clue what I'm reading right now...how did we get here? Why are things playing out this way?" I reached out to the author and told her that I felt I was missing massive parts to the story and that I was deeply regretting not reading book 1 first. She was honestly the sweetest and agreed to let me start where I always should've. Once I picked up this one ...I could not put it down! It was absolutely pulse pounding and gut wrenching. There were quite a few points where I wanted to jump through the pages and help these poor children. It wasn't long at all before I became so immersed in the world that I forgot I was reading altogether! As someone who has ADHD, it can be quite difficult to not only get my attention but keeping it is a feat that few have accomplished. This author managed to not only do that but she made me feel for the characters too. What started off as a possible DNF quickly turned into my latest obsession. I read this book in 2 days!!! It's over 500 pages and yet, I couldn't put it down!
Here's just a little bit about the story:
I love that we are immediately plunged right into the main plot. No slow burn here. It begins right in the heart of the story. A mother is staring at a Livestream that someone has sent her of a woman who has a collection of dolls whom she treats as if they are living, breathing children. The woman who sent the link to the mother is trying to help her locate her young daughter who was kidnapped 18 months ago. We are there with this mother for every painstaking part of her search. There are secrets that are revealed and all is not at all what it seems on the surface. I loved the way the author kept you guessing too. She's written it in a way where you start to feel like believing what you know is true in your heart may in fact just be your own wishful thinking. I won't say much more beyond that because I don't want to spoil it. All I will say is buckle up!
I will start of by saying that initially I tried to start this series by skipping book one and going to book 2. I know that there are many series in which the books could serve as standalones but trust me...this is not one of them. It honestly made such a difference. I nearly DNFd book 2 because I was so lost that I was like "ok I have no clue what I'm reading right now...how did we get here? Why are things playing out this way?" I reached out to the author and told her that I felt I was missing massive parts to the story and that I was deeply regretting not reading book 1 first. She was honestly the sweetest and agreed to let me start where I always should've. Once I picked up this one ...I could not put it down! It was absolutely pulse pounding and gut wrenching. There were quite a few points where I wanted to jump through the pages and help these poor children. It wasn't long at all before I became so immersed in the world that I forgot I was reading altogether! As someone who has ADHD, it can be quite difficult to not only get my attention but keeping it is a feat that few have accomplished. This author managed to not only do that but she made me feel for the characters too. What started off as a possible DNF quickly turned into my latest obsession. I read this book in 2 days!!! It's over 500 pages and yet, I couldn't put it down!
Here's just a little bit about the story:
I love that we are immediately plunged right into the main plot. No slow burn here. It begins right in the heart of the story. A mother is staring at a Livestream that someone has sent her of a woman who has a collection of dolls whom she treats as if they are living, breathing children. The woman who sent the link to the mother is trying to help her locate her young daughter who was kidnapped 18 months ago. We are there with this mother for every painstaking part of her search. There are secrets that are revealed and all is not at all what it seems on the surface. I loved the way the author kept you guessing too. She's written it in a way where you start to feel like believing what you know is true in your heart may in fact just be your own wishful thinking. I won't say much more beyond that because I don't want to spoil it. All I will say is buckle up!
October 3, 2026
Doll stories have always intrigued me. The history of dolls and their usage throughout history has always drawn me. From toys to collectables to possible occult activity, dolls are a comfort and a worry, depending on the person's point of view.
This story has dolls created to look exactly like stolen children.
It's hard to go into detail about the whys and whats in this story. Suffice it to say, dolls are created as exact replicas for children that are soon to be taken from their families.
Reviews I have seen for this book have been in the 4.5/5 categories with the reviewers raving about the tense, jaw-dropping presence of the story. The horror. The attention to detail. I'm here to be a Downer Debbie. (Sorry to all you Debbies out there.)
The story was sound. The writing was decent, although somewhat stilted in my opinion. In several places, I had to go back and reread sections because the speaker wasn't identified and the dialog was so stiff you felt you might be reading from a medical journal. The idea behind stealing children and reprogramming them for (leaving this part out as a possible spoiler) was relatable. Not much different than things that pop up on the nightly news on occasion.
If it had stayed in that believable lane, I could have given it a higher rating. But the amount of omniscience required to pull off an operation of this magnitude would have necessitated hundreds, if not thousands, of agents in place, working like well-oiled machinery. The fact that our antagonist was "always" 1-3 steps ahead of the mother involved, who was searching for her own child, as well as multiple agencies of law enforcement, was nothing short of fantasy realism.
This is only my opinion, and maybe I didn't sit with it in a dark room long enough to grasp the genius of it, but I found myself skimming, just trying to find something I could grasp onto that might make me change my mind. At the end of the day, I found myself disappointed. I had high hopes, but came away feeling like it was like baking a cake. It was still tasty, but a little overcooked around the edges for my taste.
The sequel will be out soon, maybe already is. Will I read it? Possibly. Just to see where it goes and if I am swayed from my present opinion.
As always, my thanks to NetGalley and Victory Editing for allowing me to read before the pub date.
This story has dolls created to look exactly like stolen children.
It's hard to go into detail about the whys and whats in this story. Suffice it to say, dolls are created as exact replicas for children that are soon to be taken from their families.
Reviews I have seen for this book have been in the 4.5/5 categories with the reviewers raving about the tense, jaw-dropping presence of the story. The horror. The attention to detail. I'm here to be a Downer Debbie. (Sorry to all you Debbies out there.)
The story was sound. The writing was decent, although somewhat stilted in my opinion. In several places, I had to go back and reread sections because the speaker wasn't identified and the dialog was so stiff you felt you might be reading from a medical journal. The idea behind stealing children and reprogramming them for (leaving this part out as a possible spoiler) was relatable. Not much different than things that pop up on the nightly news on occasion.
If it had stayed in that believable lane, I could have given it a higher rating. But the amount of omniscience required to pull off an operation of this magnitude would have necessitated hundreds, if not thousands, of agents in place, working like well-oiled machinery. The fact that our antagonist was "always" 1-3 steps ahead of the mother involved, who was searching for her own child, as well as multiple agencies of law enforcement, was nothing short of fantasy realism.
This is only my opinion, and maybe I didn't sit with it in a dark room long enough to grasp the genius of it, but I found myself skimming, just trying to find something I could grasp onto that might make me change my mind. At the end of the day, I found myself disappointed. I had high hopes, but came away feeling like it was like baking a cake. It was still tasty, but a little overcooked around the edges for my taste.
The sequel will be out soon, maybe already is. Will I read it? Possibly. Just to see where it goes and if I am swayed from my present opinion.
As always, my thanks to NetGalley and Victory Editing for allowing me to read before the pub date.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"Eighteen months after her daughter vanished, Kate sees her again on a stranger's livestream, seated among hyper realistic dolls."
You had me at summary. I have never read a book with this premise before and was immediately interested in learning more. The author did not let me down.
This whole book is one giant mind game after another. Every time you - or Katie - think you know what's going on, something unexpected happens. Nicole, the one hosting the livestreams, is very thorough, very intelligent and ridiculously prepared. There were so many times where I thought the book was close to going one way or another just for something to happen. It's definitely an edge of your seat book.
To explain how good the story is, I'll say this - you have your main answer by less than 30% in. Of course, there's still a million questions, but your main question is answered. So how is there another 70%? Well, I told you Nicole was smart. She's very good at playing mind games with people and whilst it's easy enough to do with children, her ability to do it with adults as well is nothing short of genius. Every time you might think she's not in charge... well.
The children or dolls in this book were sufficiently creepy. Whether they were ones that were silicone or ones of possible flesh, they were unsettling and definitely crossed the boundaries between hyper realistic dolls and doll-like children. Which is not something I ever thought I'd be thinking much about, but here we are.
I don't want to say too much about things because I don't want to get flagged for a spoiler, but this book is DEFINITELY worth reading. It's unsettling, it's confusing, it's frustrating at times because Nicole makes such a good antagonist. Good thing we have Kate, right? ;) She does her best.
On a technical side, the writing was really good and easy to get through. I enjoyed reading the author's writing style. It was very engaging and I could picture the scenes easily in my head.
You had me at summary. I have never read a book with this premise before and was immediately interested in learning more. The author did not let me down.
This whole book is one giant mind game after another. Every time you - or Katie - think you know what's going on, something unexpected happens. Nicole, the one hosting the livestreams, is very thorough, very intelligent and ridiculously prepared. There were so many times where I thought the book was close to going one way or another just for something to happen. It's definitely an edge of your seat book.
To explain how good the story is, I'll say this - you have your main answer by less than 30% in. Of course, there's still a million questions, but your main question is answered. So how is there another 70%? Well, I told you Nicole was smart. She's very good at playing mind games with people and whilst it's easy enough to do with children, her ability to do it with adults as well is nothing short of genius. Every time you might think she's not in charge... well.
The children or dolls in this book were sufficiently creepy. Whether they were ones that were silicone or ones of possible flesh, they were unsettling and definitely crossed the boundaries between hyper realistic dolls and doll-like children. Which is not something I ever thought I'd be thinking much about, but here we are.
I don't want to say too much about things because I don't want to get flagged for a spoiler, but this book is DEFINITELY worth reading. It's unsettling, it's confusing, it's frustrating at times because Nicole makes such a good antagonist. Good thing we have Kate, right? ;) She does her best.
On a technical side, the writing was really good and easy to get through. I enjoyed reading the author's writing style. It was very engaging and I could picture the scenes easily in my head.
October 5, 2026
Play Dead by M. Boudreaux is a psychological horror novel of Stolen Children and Living Dolls.
18 months after her 5-year olds disappearance Mia's mom she's her again on a strangers livestream. Tons of viewers are watching the stream filled with hyper realistic dolls, but Kate knows her daughter when she sees her. There's just one problem, Annie as the daughter is now known as, has existed as part of this online "family" since before she went missing.
Nicole Perry has built an enormous online following around her 17 "children". Her videos center around birthdays, food, bedtime, basically daily life with the "children". Police raid Nicole's house but all they find are hyper realistic dolls.
Kate is sure that Annie is her daughter, and not a doll. So much so that she fakes her name and takes a temporary job inside Nicole's house so she can prove it.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion and review.
Play Dead is a psychological thriller that involves child abduction, captivity, obsessive online audiences and realistic dolls. I devoured this book, I Just couldn't put it down. I kept wondering how there was so much of the book left, not because it was boring as it certainly was the opposite but because I couldn't figure out where this was going to go next. Play Dead is one of those books that lives rent free in your head for a bit after you read it. This was my first time reading a book from this author, and I immediately went and added their other books to my tbr list.
#PlayDeadMBoudreaux NetGalley
18 months after her 5-year olds disappearance Mia's mom she's her again on a strangers livestream. Tons of viewers are watching the stream filled with hyper realistic dolls, but Kate knows her daughter when she sees her. There's just one problem, Annie as the daughter is now known as, has existed as part of this online "family" since before she went missing.
Nicole Perry has built an enormous online following around her 17 "children". Her videos center around birthdays, food, bedtime, basically daily life with the "children". Police raid Nicole's house but all they find are hyper realistic dolls.
Kate is sure that Annie is her daughter, and not a doll. So much so that she fakes her name and takes a temporary job inside Nicole's house so she can prove it.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion and review.
Play Dead is a psychological thriller that involves child abduction, captivity, obsessive online audiences and realistic dolls. I devoured this book, I Just couldn't put it down. I kept wondering how there was so much of the book left, not because it was boring as it certainly was the opposite but because I couldn't figure out where this was going to go next. Play Dead is one of those books that lives rent free in your head for a bit after you read it. This was my first time reading a book from this author, and I immediately went and added their other books to my tbr list.
#PlayDeadMBoudreaux NetGalley
Review of advance copy received from Author
4⭐️ - 🫑
☆ Psychological horror
☆ Unraveling sanity
☆ Dolls or kids
☆ Trafficking
☆ Distorted reality
ARC review
Thanks to M. Boudreaux for the free copy.
In this story, we are following the story of this little girl who was abducted 18 months earlier by a women with a hyper realistic doll collection. The mother sees the "doll" move on a live stream and she decides to go investigate what's going on in that house by accepting a job on set.
This was my first psychological horror book and I liked it. I think that it's definitely the kind of book that's not going to be for everyone, though. It's creepy and tense in the best way. You're never really sure what's real and what's not.
Since it's my first story in this genre, I wasn't expecting to be able to make that many accurate predictions and that was true. I can't speak to someone who is an avid reader of this genre. I think the villain in this story was very well done. I hated her with my entire chest.
I think the topics in this book were very interesting. The idea that social media can create an entire narrative and having people believe it's true. It makes you wonder what makes something real or true. Can more than one thing be true at once?
One thing I'll say is the ending was very abrupt. It's like it ended in the middle of an epilogue. I would have liked to have a bit more insight into the future.
I would definitely recommend this book, but check your triggers and protect your mental health.
☆ Psychological horror
☆ Unraveling sanity
☆ Dolls or kids
☆ Trafficking
☆ Distorted reality
ARC review
Thanks to M. Boudreaux for the free copy.
In this story, we are following the story of this little girl who was abducted 18 months earlier by a women with a hyper realistic doll collection. The mother sees the "doll" move on a live stream and she decides to go investigate what's going on in that house by accepting a job on set.
This was my first psychological horror book and I liked it. I think that it's definitely the kind of book that's not going to be for everyone, though. It's creepy and tense in the best way. You're never really sure what's real and what's not.
Since it's my first story in this genre, I wasn't expecting to be able to make that many accurate predictions and that was true. I can't speak to someone who is an avid reader of this genre. I think the villain in this story was very well done. I hated her with my entire chest.
I think the topics in this book were very interesting. The idea that social media can create an entire narrative and having people believe it's true. It makes you wonder what makes something real or true. Can more than one thing be true at once?
One thing I'll say is the ending was very abrupt. It's like it ended in the middle of an epilogue. I would have liked to have a bit more insight into the future.
I would definitely recommend this book, but check your triggers and protect your mental health.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was an ARC that I received and I have to say this was both parts AMAZING and utterly terrifying at the same time. I love a good physiological thriller and this definitely topped them.
The story follows our FMC Kate who is going through a living nightmare that no mother should ever have to go through. Her daughter Mia was kidnapped from her school 18 months prior. With her sheer determination to find her daughter, after multiple sources posted on the find Mia webpage about a doll that resembled her, Kate finds herself obsessed with our 2nd FMC Nicole in a desperate bit to find out if she has her daughter.
Now in real life, I would be terrified of Nicole! You wouldn’t catch me near her house. Nicole has AN EXTENSIVE collection of reborn dolls. 17 to be precise all with their own quirks and personalities. Nicole livestreams events for her dolls and this is when Kate is convinced one of the dolls is actually her missing daughter.
What better way to prove that theory, then to accept a job helping for a birthday party in who you believe is your daughters kidnappers house!!!
I won’t say anymore from hear on out, but there was definitely points when Kate met Nicole that from the off were very sketchy and I found myself wanting to scream at Kate to run for the hills. But i understand her wanting to stay.
If you love physiological thrillers then this highly recommended and is the book for you!
The story follows our FMC Kate who is going through a living nightmare that no mother should ever have to go through. Her daughter Mia was kidnapped from her school 18 months prior. With her sheer determination to find her daughter, after multiple sources posted on the find Mia webpage about a doll that resembled her, Kate finds herself obsessed with our 2nd FMC Nicole in a desperate bit to find out if she has her daughter.
Now in real life, I would be terrified of Nicole! You wouldn’t catch me near her house. Nicole has AN EXTENSIVE collection of reborn dolls. 17 to be precise all with their own quirks and personalities. Nicole livestreams events for her dolls and this is when Kate is convinced one of the dolls is actually her missing daughter.
What better way to prove that theory, then to accept a job helping for a birthday party in who you believe is your daughters kidnappers house!!!
I won’t say anymore from hear on out, but there was definitely points when Kate met Nicole that from the off were very sketchy and I found myself wanting to scream at Kate to run for the hills. But i understand her wanting to stay.
If you love physiological thrillers then this highly recommended and is the book for you!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 30, 2026
Play Dead is a psychological horror thriller. This story did not go in the direction I thought it would but I really enjoyed this.
This story was so unique and I don't know how to put to words the way this sporty played out, but I'm going to do my best here.
Nicole has quiet a large following online where she has seventeen hyperrealistic dolls, or children as she refers to them, complete with routines, birthdays, favorite colors... all the things to make them as unique as children. Once of the dolls name is Annie and Annie has been a part of the family for a long time. So when Mia Dawson, a 5 year old girl goes missing, Know one thinks it's possible that she can be Annie. But Kate, Mia's mother, sees the videos and knows without a doubt, that is her daughter. Kate goes undercover and gets a job working for Nicole to help with all the behind the scenes set up, but her goal is to find out if that is her daughter. While people online have previously claimed to see the dolls move and called police, they leave without finding a trace of any living child and find exactly what Nicole claims they are, dolls. But as Kate investigates to find her daughter, she uncovers the horror living in that house. She not only finds her daughter, but other living children in that house as well, and now in order to get her daughter out, they'll all have to continue playing by Nicole's rules while being heavily monitored.
This story is eerie and dark. I kept finding myself wanting to know more about what horrors the children had to face at the hands of Nicole to get them to be so cooperative and obedient. I can't wait for the next one the series. I am definitely hooked!
This story was so unique and I don't know how to put to words the way this sporty played out, but I'm going to do my best here.
Nicole has quiet a large following online where she has seventeen hyperrealistic dolls, or children as she refers to them, complete with routines, birthdays, favorite colors... all the things to make them as unique as children. Once of the dolls name is Annie and Annie has been a part of the family for a long time. So when Mia Dawson, a 5 year old girl goes missing, Know one thinks it's possible that she can be Annie. But Kate, Mia's mother, sees the videos and knows without a doubt, that is her daughter. Kate goes undercover and gets a job working for Nicole to help with all the behind the scenes set up, but her goal is to find out if that is her daughter. While people online have previously claimed to see the dolls move and called police, they leave without finding a trace of any living child and find exactly what Nicole claims they are, dolls. But as Kate investigates to find her daughter, she uncovers the horror living in that house. She not only finds her daughter, but other living children in that house as well, and now in order to get her daughter out, they'll all have to continue playing by Nicole's rules while being heavily monitored.
This story is eerie and dark. I kept finding myself wanting to know more about what horrors the children had to face at the hands of Nicole to get them to be so cooperative and obedient. I can't wait for the next one the series. I am definitely hooked!
October 7, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley, M. Boudreaux, and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for a copy of Play Dead in exchange for an honest review.
OMG what did I just read??? I don’t think I’ve ever felt this uncomfortable while reading a book ever!
The premise is quite clear so I knew what I was getting myself into but the execution was powerful enough to make me forcefully stop reading every now and then and just breathe in to calm my nerves!
If you want to know what I’m talking about just google reborn dolls…. Or don’t, actually because it’s creepy AF!
Having said that, I completely understand that many parents use them to process their grief when losing a child.
This book is tapping into a parent’s primordial fear and it’s relentless!
Kate loses Mia, her 6 yo daughter to a moment of distraction and 18 months later thinks she found her when watching an influencer’s video about reborn dolls.
Except that those dolls move… and one of them looks like Mia.
If you think this is creepy wait until Kate takes action to get to the truth.
Overall it’s not quite a 4 stars because I felt at times like I was reading the script of a movie (and what a movie would that be!!!) rather than a novel.
The dialogue felt more functional than what real people would actually say.
But I still recommend it, it makes for a super uncomfortable but at the same time enjoyable read!
OMG what did I just read??? I don’t think I’ve ever felt this uncomfortable while reading a book ever!
The premise is quite clear so I knew what I was getting myself into but the execution was powerful enough to make me forcefully stop reading every now and then and just breathe in to calm my nerves!
If you want to know what I’m talking about just google reborn dolls…. Or don’t, actually because it’s creepy AF!
Having said that, I completely understand that many parents use them to process their grief when losing a child.
This book is tapping into a parent’s primordial fear and it’s relentless!
Kate loses Mia, her 6 yo daughter to a moment of distraction and 18 months later thinks she found her when watching an influencer’s video about reborn dolls.
Except that those dolls move… and one of them looks like Mia.
If you think this is creepy wait until Kate takes action to get to the truth.
Overall it’s not quite a 4 stars because I felt at times like I was reading the script of a movie (and what a movie would that be!!!) rather than a novel.
The dialogue felt more functional than what real people would actually say.
But I still recommend it, it makes for a super uncomfortable but at the same time enjoyable read!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book held me captive in a way I have not been held captive in a long time when it comes to Psychological Thrillers. It had me turning pages and clinging to every word with my mind trying to race ahead to guess the outcome and even with guessing most of it right I still enjoyed the twists and turns and the actual WTF moments. I have already told a few people they need to read it when it comes out and because I haven’t steered them wrong yet they added it to their TBR. I’m also kinda hoping this becomes a movie I would love to see the way they approach it and I want to see how well certain characters look alike.
That being said, I only gave it 4 because there were a few times throughout the book where I was like “wait what?” and had to go back because if felt like the author maybe thought we knew something but we didn’t…but that was only maybe 3 times and not that big a deal for the whole story
Then the end…it just stops and you go to turn the page and there is no more…I am all for leaving the reader wanting more but this felt more abrupt than that. Anyway despite those few minor things this book was awesome as a fan of Psychological Thrillers but terrifying as a Mother and yet it is still worth the read.
That being said, I only gave it 4 because there were a few times throughout the book where I was like “wait what?” and had to go back because if felt like the author maybe thought we knew something but we didn’t…but that was only maybe 3 times and not that big a deal for the whole story
Then the end…it just stops and you go to turn the page and there is no more…I am all for leaving the reader wanting more but this felt more abrupt than that. Anyway despite those few minor things this book was awesome as a fan of Psychological Thrillers but terrifying as a Mother and yet it is still worth the read.
Review of advance copy
Play Dead is a chilling novel that starts intensely and never lets up. It is an addictive read and incredibly difficult to put down.
The story begins 18 months after Kate’s daughter, Mia, was kidnapped. In a strange turn of events, Kate spots Mia during a doll collector’s livestream featuring eerily realistic reborn dolls. Desperate to find her daughter, Kate takes a job helping the collector, Nicole, stage the dolls. Then everything changes when one of them moves—because it is not a doll at all. It is a real child.
What follows is a heart wrenching game of cat and mouse as Kate uncovers the horrifying truth about Mia and other missing children living with Nicole and “Dad.” The police repeatedly fail to find the children, refuse to investigate locked rooms, and even notify Nicole before arriving. This part was absolutely infuriating, and if it is an accurate portrayal of police work, count me out.
What I found most inconceivable, however, was a parent seeing her missing child and not immediately taking her back. That said, I still enjoyed the story. It is deeply unsettling, frightening, and nearly impossible to put down.
The writing is well done. There were a few plot holes but overall a good thriller.
The story begins 18 months after Kate’s daughter, Mia, was kidnapped. In a strange turn of events, Kate spots Mia during a doll collector’s livestream featuring eerily realistic reborn dolls. Desperate to find her daughter, Kate takes a job helping the collector, Nicole, stage the dolls. Then everything changes when one of them moves—because it is not a doll at all. It is a real child.
What follows is a heart wrenching game of cat and mouse as Kate uncovers the horrifying truth about Mia and other missing children living with Nicole and “Dad.” The police repeatedly fail to find the children, refuse to investigate locked rooms, and even notify Nicole before arriving. This part was absolutely infuriating, and if it is an accurate portrayal of police work, count me out.
What I found most inconceivable, however, was a parent seeing her missing child and not immediately taking her back. That said, I still enjoyed the story. It is deeply unsettling, frightening, and nearly impossible to put down.
The writing is well done. There were a few plot holes but overall a good thriller.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 26, 2026
review of advanced copy received from NetGalley
The first two pages hook you into the story right away. Kate and her husband Matt have been looking for their abducted daughter for eighteen months when suddenly they get a tip on their Facebook page. A real born doll influencer, Nicole, has a doll that looks just like Mia and it looks as though it might not even be a doll at all. Kate has to help detectives solve the case and figure out if Nicole is just a crazy doll mom or if there’s something more sinister going on.
The plot of the story was good, I enjoyed trying to find out what was going on and it was pretty twisty. My only problem with it was the formatting and the way that the story was told to the readers more than shown. There was also a lot of punchy dialogue and dialogue not attributed to one person which sometimes had me lost as to who was saying what. In the same page the characters would be planning to do something and then the next sentence they would be going out to do that thing without much buildup.
Overall I had a good time reading it and I would read more of her work.
The first two pages hook you into the story right away. Kate and her husband Matt have been looking for their abducted daughter for eighteen months when suddenly they get a tip on their Facebook page. A real born doll influencer, Nicole, has a doll that looks just like Mia and it looks as though it might not even be a doll at all. Kate has to help detectives solve the case and figure out if Nicole is just a crazy doll mom or if there’s something more sinister going on.
The plot of the story was good, I enjoyed trying to find out what was going on and it was pretty twisty. My only problem with it was the formatting and the way that the story was told to the readers more than shown. There was also a lot of punchy dialogue and dialogue not attributed to one person which sometimes had me lost as to who was saying what. In the same page the characters would be planning to do something and then the next sentence they would be going out to do that thing without much buildup.
Overall I had a good time reading it and I would read more of her work.
October 12, 2026
I received an advance reader copy of this book and am voluntarily providing an honest review.
Premise
A missing child case takes a dark and strange turn when a living doll web broadcaster becomes linked.
Liked
* A unique, complicated, sprawling plot with crazy twists and revelations
* A very strong leading character who goes through fire for her kid
* Devious and unhinged villains that you love to hate
* Actually helpful police force
* Well-developed characters and carefully handled profiles of trauma
Not for Me
* Way too long
* The plot and action can get rather convoluted and difficult to understand
* I am not sure if the central conspiracy is very plausible (especially with evasion of authority)
Closing Comment
I can forgive the length of the novel because the author commits extremely hard to the concept with all the backstory, planning, and technical details that give credence to the crime. Even though I had a hard time following all the plot turns and action, I nonetheless cared about the victims and their parents deeply by the end of the book. I just think that a thorough editing could drastically improve the readability of this innovative novel.
Premise
A missing child case takes a dark and strange turn when a living doll web broadcaster becomes linked.
Liked
* A unique, complicated, sprawling plot with crazy twists and revelations
* A very strong leading character who goes through fire for her kid
* Devious and unhinged villains that you love to hate
* Actually helpful police force
* Well-developed characters and carefully handled profiles of trauma
Not for Me
* Way too long
* The plot and action can get rather convoluted and difficult to understand
* I am not sure if the central conspiracy is very plausible (especially with evasion of authority)
Closing Comment
I can forgive the length of the novel because the author commits extremely hard to the concept with all the backstory, planning, and technical details that give credence to the crime. Even though I had a hard time following all the plot turns and action, I nonetheless cared about the victims and their parents deeply by the end of the book. I just think that a thorough editing could drastically improve the readability of this innovative novel.
October 16, 2026
A mother finds her missing daughter on a livestream, sitting among a stranger’s reborn dolls, and every person watching has an explanation ready before she can finish the sentence. That’s the engine of Play Dead, and it’s as strong a horror premise as anything I’ve read this year. The safest place to hide a child, this book argues, is in front of an audience.
What earns the four: the children. They’re never props. They’ve built their own rules underneath the adults’, and watching a seven-year-old reason her way around the person who controls the lights is the best material in the book. The ending is the right one, and I won’t say more than that.
What holds it back is pace. The third part turns a domestic horror novel into a procedural, and the villains are always one step ahead. There are also slips a final editing pass would catch. The writing underneath doesn’t need the help, and that’s the frustrating part: when the author trusts a small moment, it’s genuinely excellent. Great story. A few more weeks in the drawer and it’d be something special.
Copy received through the Horror Writers Association as a Bram Stoker Award submission. Full video review on The Veiled Archive.
What earns the four: the children. They’re never props. They’ve built their own rules underneath the adults’, and watching a seven-year-old reason her way around the person who controls the lights is the best material in the book. The ending is the right one, and I won’t say more than that.
What holds it back is pace. The third part turns a domestic horror novel into a procedural, and the villains are always one step ahead. There are also slips a final editing pass would catch. The writing underneath doesn’t need the help, and that’s the frustrating part: when the author trusts a small moment, it’s genuinely excellent. Great story. A few more weeks in the drawer and it’d be something special.
Copy received through the Horror Writers Association as a Bram Stoker Award submission. Full video review on The Veiled Archive.
Review of advance copy received from Author
✨ARC Review✨
⭐️:4.5/5
⚠️Check Your TW⚠️
M Boudreaux, thank you for allowing me to arc read your book! I absolutely loved this thriller. Always check your triggers this book does have some heavy/creepy topics.
I don’t like spoiling the story for others but this made me feel like I was in Criminal Minds show like put me in I got this lol
This book I definitely loved, I was captivated and definitely making theories along the way. Imagine your child being taken and you are non-stop til you bring her home. One day a tip brings you to a social media page where this lady goes live and you were tipped that a doll looks just like your daughter. The power of social media plays a big part and it’s crazy how you realize how fast words and movements can spread.
I literally felt like I was there in the situation and going along every step of the way with Kate, the mom. I was hoping for some more about the captor and needed more for the ending. It was like it was just stopped abruptly. However, overall I really did enjoy this thriller and how much detail and plot was put into it.
⭐️:4.5/5
⚠️Check Your TW⚠️
M Boudreaux, thank you for allowing me to arc read your book! I absolutely loved this thriller. Always check your triggers this book does have some heavy/creepy topics.
I don’t like spoiling the story for others but this made me feel like I was in Criminal Minds show like put me in I got this lol
This book I definitely loved, I was captivated and definitely making theories along the way. Imagine your child being taken and you are non-stop til you bring her home. One day a tip brings you to a social media page where this lady goes live and you were tipped that a doll looks just like your daughter. The power of social media plays a big part and it’s crazy how you realize how fast words and movements can spread.
I literally felt like I was there in the situation and going along every step of the way with Kate, the mom. I was hoping for some more about the captor and needed more for the ending. It was like it was just stopped abruptly. However, overall I really did enjoy this thriller and how much detail and plot was put into it.
October 5, 2026
I don't even have words for this book! I started it at 9pm and sat up until 3:30am to finish it, I just couldn't put it down.
Everything about this book was incomparable, from the incredible detail in every page to the goosebumps down my arms for every line I read.
Reading Kates desperation, trying to decide between the right thing for her daughter and her instincts as a mother, broke my heart in a way I can't describe. This whole story made me second guess everything I thought I knew about Internet safety when it comes to kids.
Nicole is a disturbing, incredible character who's terrifying not just for the things she does but for the calm, calculated way she does all of it. I was on the edge of my seat waiting to find out what she'd do next and what she knew.
This book is one I would recommend to anyone, both for the remarkable plot and the lessons to be learned from it.
As someone who doesn't read a lot of horror stories, I'm so glad I picked this one. M. Boudreaux is an outstanding author and I'll be looking forward to the sequel!
Everything about this book was incomparable, from the incredible detail in every page to the goosebumps down my arms for every line I read.
Reading Kates desperation, trying to decide between the right thing for her daughter and her instincts as a mother, broke my heart in a way I can't describe. This whole story made me second guess everything I thought I knew about Internet safety when it comes to kids.
Nicole is a disturbing, incredible character who's terrifying not just for the things she does but for the calm, calculated way she does all of it. I was on the edge of my seat waiting to find out what she'd do next and what she knew.
This book is one I would recommend to anyone, both for the remarkable plot and the lessons to be learned from it.
As someone who doesn't read a lot of horror stories, I'm so glad I picked this one. M. Boudreaux is an outstanding author and I'll be looking forward to the sequel!
Review of advance copy
Play Dead blends psychological horror with emotional realism in such a way that it truly gets under your skin. Nothing about this book feels cheap or exaggerated - the dread builds slowly, layer by layer, until you realize you’ve been holding your breath. Kate’s grief, desperation, and determination are written with sharp honesty and clarity - never rushed. Nicole’s world of “children” is one of the most unsettling I’ve ever read. The author’s use of repetition, illusion, and ritual in a deeply psychological way shows how obsession can twist reality. The writing is clean, with a strong atmosphere and horror that comes from the characters as much as the plot. The ending is both satisfying and disturbing, tying together the themes of control, identity, and illusion. A fantastic horror novel lingers long after the book is done. I received a free copy of this book; my review is completely honest and unbiased.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC REVIEW
I rated this book a 4 out of 5 because it reminded me of a true crime documentary kind of. The story kept me captivated the whole time and I loved that, but I did have a few "what?" Moments. When I read I paint a picture/movie in my head and there were so many small details (in a good way) that I would have to sit and reread parts to get myself back on track.
I will say that this book does make you realize like yeah it is fiction, but could very much be nonfiction. This world is so corrupt and it is sad that things that happened in this book do happen in real life.
The part that really threw me was the ending. Like I understand a cliffhanger, but holy s*it lol like do we get a novella or short story after that? I want more, but not too much. The ending almost made it feel unfinished. I will say though, this was my first psychological horror so maybe it's supposed to be that way. Anyways, I'm super happy I got to read it! The author did great!
I rated this book a 4 out of 5 because it reminded me of a true crime documentary kind of. The story kept me captivated the whole time and I loved that, but I did have a few "what?" Moments. When I read I paint a picture/movie in my head and there were so many small details (in a good way) that I would have to sit and reread parts to get myself back on track.
I will say that this book does make you realize like yeah it is fiction, but could very much be nonfiction. This world is so corrupt and it is sad that things that happened in this book do happen in real life.
The part that really threw me was the ending. Like I understand a cliffhanger, but holy s*it lol like do we get a novella or short story after that? I want more, but not too much. The ending almost made it feel unfinished. I will say though, this was my first psychological horror so maybe it's supposed to be that way. Anyways, I'm super happy I got to read it! The author did great!
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