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Dolly Dearest
80 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 29, 2026
About the author
Neil D'Silva
36 books176 followersWith 12 books to his credit, Neil D’Silva is a known name in the Indian literary world. His unique stories have struck a chord with a wide range of readers, eliciting praise from various quarters. He is published with leading publishers such as Penguin Random House, Rupa Publications, and Hachette among others, and has won screen adaptation deals on four of his books.
He has been named as one of the Top 7 Indian horror writers to be read by UK’s DESIblitz magazine. Considered as one of the forerunners of contemporary Indian horror literature, he has been covered by several leading publications and is invited to speak at prominent litfests around the country.
He was a winner at the Delhi Literature Festival Short Story Competition of 2015. His book Maya’s New Husband won the title of Entertainer of the Year at the Literary Awards 2015 that was co-hosted by Authors’ Ink Publications and Inside Stories.
He has been named as one of the Top 7 Indian horror writers to be read by UK’s DESIblitz magazine. Considered as one of the forerunners of contemporary Indian horror literature, he has been covered by several leading publications and is invited to speak at prominent litfests around the country.
He was a winner at the Delhi Literature Festival Short Story Competition of 2015. His book Maya’s New Husband won the title of Entertainer of the Year at the Literary Awards 2015 that was co-hosted by Authors’ Ink Publications and Inside Stories.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 2, 2026
“Mighty men have fallen to the taste of the flesh, my brother. Even artificial flesh.”
- Neil D'Silva, Dolly Dearest
Sid Patel is an individual with a perverse behaviour. A silicone doll arrives at his doorstep. His lustful advances reach a peak when he decides to use the toy as an answer to his sexual adventures.
”The doll became a part of his private and intimate life; no longer an ‘it’ but a ‘she’.”
Dolly Dearest by Neil D'Silva is a haunting exploration of human psyche. He has breathed life to his protagonists by moulding them with uncharacteristic traits. Some parts of the novella did remind me of how the wrongdoings towards women revolted against the predatory behaviours of certain men. The crisp writing evokes the right reactions despite its short length. The redemption arc is deliberately carved slowly for maximum effect. The bits and pieces of humour sprinkled on the pages gave the piece a twisty dimension.
”There wasn’t a wrinkle of expression on her face—the blue eyes were dead as ever.”
Overall Dolly Dearest is a chilling account of how humans can go to any lengths to quench their unfulfilled desires. An absolute mind-bending book that scrapes the dark underbelly of human nature exposing the unsettling depths of obsession and desperation. The atmospheric writing is unsettling sending a cold shiver down your spine.
“I am the Selene you wanted. More real than real.”
September 20, 2026
This story feels like watching a man walk into his own ruin with his eyes wide open. Sid is one of those characters who frustrates you, worries you and breaks your heart all at once because his loneliness is so real that you understand every wrong turn he takes even when you wish you didn't.
Selene, the thing he clings to becomes less of a character and more of a mirror reflecting everything he refuses to face about himself.
And then there's Gaurav, the messy, loyal, bleeding friend who shows up even when he shouldn't have to. Their dynamic is what gives the story its emotional weight- one man blinded by desire, one man trying to pull him back and a presence in the house that grows more terrifying the more Sid insists on seeing it as love.
Reading this feels tense and intimate like you're trapped in that apartment with them, watching obsession turn into horror and loyalty turn into sacrifice. This book promises a slow, creeping psychological unraveling tension that comes from human flaws not jump scares.
It promises a story where the characters as Sid, Gaurav & Selene stay with you long after you're done because they feel real in all the uncomfortable ways.
A story that makes you think about desire, denial and the dangerous things we project onto the people and objects we want to love.
Selene, the thing he clings to becomes less of a character and more of a mirror reflecting everything he refuses to face about himself.
And then there's Gaurav, the messy, loyal, bleeding friend who shows up even when he shouldn't have to. Their dynamic is what gives the story its emotional weight- one man blinded by desire, one man trying to pull him back and a presence in the house that grows more terrifying the more Sid insists on seeing it as love.
Reading this feels tense and intimate like you're trapped in that apartment with them, watching obsession turn into horror and loyalty turn into sacrifice. This book promises a slow, creeping psychological unraveling tension that comes from human flaws not jump scares.
It promises a story where the characters as Sid, Gaurav & Selene stay with you long after you're done because they feel real in all the uncomfortable ways.
A story that makes you think about desire, denial and the dangerous things we project onto the people and objects we want to love.
September 22, 2026
“Mighty men have fallen to the taste of the flesh, my brother. Even artificial flesh.”
I saw this randomly on IG and I wish I remembered who posted about it. This is a bite sized horror book and I read it in one sitting during a pedicure. This is a story of a man named Sid who lost his wife. He lives a lonely life but does have one good friend, Guarav.
One day a life sized doll shows up on his doorstep and it somewhat resembles his late wife. Not wanting to waste this opportunity Sid begins living with this doll, dressing her, applying his wife’s old makeup to her. In this weird domestic cohabitation Sid starts to see the doll change. The makeup looks too real. Did an eye move? Was that an exhaled breath?
Although this is a short book we do get a fairly full length story. I can’t tell you what happened during my pedicure because I was IN Sid’s apartment with him and his creepy ass doll. If you’re looking for a quick read that’s unsettling then this might be for you.
I saw this randomly on IG and I wish I remembered who posted about it. This is a bite sized horror book and I read it in one sitting during a pedicure. This is a story of a man named Sid who lost his wife. He lives a lonely life but does have one good friend, Guarav.
One day a life sized doll shows up on his doorstep and it somewhat resembles his late wife. Not wanting to waste this opportunity Sid begins living with this doll, dressing her, applying his wife’s old makeup to her. In this weird domestic cohabitation Sid starts to see the doll change. The makeup looks too real. Did an eye move? Was that an exhaled breath?
Although this is a short book we do get a fairly full length story. I can’t tell you what happened during my pedicure because I was IN Sid’s apartment with him and his creepy ass doll. If you’re looking for a quick read that’s unsettling then this might be for you.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews