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Baby Doll
______________________________________________ A SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER AND RICHARD & JUDY BOOK CLUB PICKRead the novel that kept Tess Gerritsen transfixed and entertained until the very last pageYou’ve been held captive in one room.You’ve been mentally and physically abused every day since you were sixteen years old.Then, one night, you realise your captor has left the door to your cell unlocked.For the first time in eight years you’re free.This is what happens next.______________________________________________Praise for Baby Doll‘What a compulsive read! A brilliant first novel that kept me transfixed and entertained until the very last page.’- Tess Gerritsen 'An incredibly powerful debut' - Sunday Mirror‘Compelling psychological thriller.’ - Daily Express‘With a narrative that can only be described as 'nuclear', the story of newly freed Lily and her daughter Sky moves at breakneck speed ... It's a really good read.’ - Stylist‘Compelling first novel ... Overton throws in enough twists, turns, and surprises to keep the reader wondering what on earth can happen next.’ - Publishers Weekly‘If Overton’s debut is anything to go by, she’ll soon be up there with the best of them!’ - Peterborough Evening Telegraph‘Riveting from the first line.’ - Woman's Own‘Gritty, captivating thriller.’ - Love Reading‘A gripping page-turner that will make you think about what it means to be free.’ - Glamour South Africa ‘Riveting and difficult to put down.’ - News Gazette‘You’ll feel the sudden urge to check the locks on your front door.’ - The Line Up ‘A fast paced and intense story that once I started I found I could not put down… the sheer heartbreak and horror of this story will keep you hooked…’ - Feminisia Libros Reviews______________________________________________If you love Baby Doll, try Hollie Overton's chilling latest novel, THE RUNAWAY
283 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 12, 2016
819 people are currently reading
14111 people want to read
About the author
Hollie Overton
4 books550 followersHollie Overton is a TV writer and producer. She has written for Shadowhunters, Cold Case, and The Client List, Hollie's debut thriller, BABY DOLL is an international bestseller and was published in eleven countries. Her 2nd novel, THE WALLS will be released Aug. 2017. An identical twin, Hollie grew up in Kingsville, Texas but now resides in LA with her husband and rescue dog Stevie.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,048 reviews
August 29, 2016
3.5 stars.
I FINALLY FINISHED A BOOK AFTER BEING IN THE WORST READING SLUMP EVER! Review on my channel coming soon!
I FINALLY FINISHED A BOOK AFTER BEING IN THE WORST READING SLUMP EVER! Review on my channel coming soon!
March 3, 2017
I don’t know why I haven’t learned my lesson about reading books that claim to be the next Gone Girl or The Girl on the Train. Why do I keep doing this to myself? I only end up disappointed.
I have to wonder if the person that wrote the blurb for this book has even read either of those books. I would have to say not, because there is no comparison. Aside from the first few chapters, there is nothing surprising about this plot. There is no shocking revelation or exceptional plot twist that makes this a standout. Not in my eyes, at least.
I totally get this is a work of fiction. That this scenario is not real. But as a reader there has to be some plausibility for me to enjoy the story. I didn’t walk away from this book thinking that anyone in Lily’s situation would act the way she did. After 8 years or 3,110 days of captivity, it would take more than a day before anyone could handle the nuances of real life or subjecting themselves to public scrutiny. She would have had years of trauma to overcome.
What bothered me the most was how the author chose to tell the story. Rather than giving us first hand experience or letting us live through the eyes of the characters, we’re simply told about what happened secondhand. She chose to let us live through the boring, humdrum, everyday events instead. Things that didn’t really add much of anything to the story. It felt so surface. There was no depth to the characters or connection to the story for me.
Aside from all that, it was the over-the-top quality of the story that ultimately cemented this as a two star read for me. The author flitted from one contrived event to the next. There was no character building or development of the story. For this reader, it was too much. It was overdone.
Take this for what it is - my opinion. I was looking forward to reading this book, but it wasn’t one that worked for me. If you are expecting Gone Girl greatness, I would reconsider picking this one up.
*ARC provided by Redhook Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
I have to wonder if the person that wrote the blurb for this book has even read either of those books. I would have to say not, because there is no comparison. Aside from the first few chapters, there is nothing surprising about this plot. There is no shocking revelation or exceptional plot twist that makes this a standout. Not in my eyes, at least.
I totally get this is a work of fiction. That this scenario is not real. But as a reader there has to be some plausibility for me to enjoy the story. I didn’t walk away from this book thinking that anyone in Lily’s situation would act the way she did. After 8 years or 3,110 days of captivity, it would take more than a day before anyone could handle the nuances of real life or subjecting themselves to public scrutiny. She would have had years of trauma to overcome.
What bothered me the most was how the author chose to tell the story. Rather than giving us first hand experience or letting us live through the eyes of the characters, we’re simply told about what happened secondhand. She chose to let us live through the boring, humdrum, everyday events instead. Things that didn’t really add much of anything to the story. It felt so surface. There was no depth to the characters or connection to the story for me.
Aside from all that, it was the over-the-top quality of the story that ultimately cemented this as a two star read for me. The author flitted from one contrived event to the next. There was no character building or development of the story. For this reader, it was too much. It was overdone.
Take this for what it is - my opinion. I was looking forward to reading this book, but it wasn’t one that worked for me. If you are expecting Gone Girl greatness, I would reconsider picking this one up.
*ARC provided by Redhook Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
May 20, 2016
*Thank you to Netgalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review*
Oddly enough, this book begins AFTER the main event is over and done with - that event being Lily's abduction some eight years earlier. Although we don't have in-depth details of her time in captivity, we know that she has been both physically, and mentally abused during that time, and has also given birth to her daughter Sky, who was fathered by her captor.
The opening chapter is where we first meet Lily and Sky. It begins with their escape from their basement hell - a windowless room with no contact with the outside world. To say this first chapter is heart pounding is an understatement. The disbelief that Lily has, that she might finally be free, and the stomach churning fear that her abductor will return to stop her is almost unbearable. But luck is on her side, and she and Sky make it back to her family home. But if you think it's all going to be moonlight and roses, and happy ever after, then think again. The aftermath is anything but smooth, with the whole family thrown into turmoil
The storyline was very good, with lots of tension and a twist that I never saw coming till it hit me between the eyes! The only criticism I have, is that I couldn't really connect with any of the characters, I found them quite irritating. Were it not for that irritation, I would have rated it 5 stars.
Oddly enough, this book begins AFTER the main event is over and done with - that event being Lily's abduction some eight years earlier. Although we don't have in-depth details of her time in captivity, we know that she has been both physically, and mentally abused during that time, and has also given birth to her daughter Sky, who was fathered by her captor.
The opening chapter is where we first meet Lily and Sky. It begins with their escape from their basement hell - a windowless room with no contact with the outside world. To say this first chapter is heart pounding is an understatement. The disbelief that Lily has, that she might finally be free, and the stomach churning fear that her abductor will return to stop her is almost unbearable. But luck is on her side, and she and Sky make it back to her family home. But if you think it's all going to be moonlight and roses, and happy ever after, then think again. The aftermath is anything but smooth, with the whole family thrown into turmoil
The storyline was very good, with lots of tension and a twist that I never saw coming till it hit me between the eyes! The only criticism I have, is that I couldn't really connect with any of the characters, I found them quite irritating. Were it not for that irritation, I would have rated it 5 stars.
July 18, 2016
Find all my reviews on my blog at: https://thesuspenseisthrillingme.com
Date Read: 07/18/16
Pub Date: 07/12/16
3 STARS
“For fans of Gone Girl and Girl on the Train, Baby Doll is the most tense thriller you will read this year.
Held captive for eight years, Lily has grown from a teenager to an adult in a small basement prison. Her daughter Sky has been a captive her whole life. But one day their captor leaves the deadbolt unlocked.
This is what happens next…
…to her twin sister, to her mother, to her daughter…and to her captor.”
Not a lot to go on right? Notice that little blurb at the top- “For fans of Gone Girl and Girl on the Train…”. Stop right there. This is an EXTREMELY unfair comparison as this book in no way was similar to those aforementioned. I think a good number of lukewarm to poor reviews of this book are due to the fact the reader felt duped into believing that they were picking up a book that was arresting with at least 1 or more major plot twists. Unfortunately, I was one of those readers, which made me feel a little guilty as I believe part of my reasoning behind a lower rating was due to feeling misled. If you want my personal opinion, this was more relatable to the novel Room by Emma Donoghue than anything else (I loved that book by the way), if it had been written involving the aftermath of the kidnapping. To end my initial rant, if this book had been marketed to a different crowd, it would be receiving a higher overall rating, but that’s just my opinion.
Another thing to note is that this book isn’t about Lily’s captivity, not really. After a glowing first few chapters that had me hooked, we are thrown into the aftermath and what life is like for herself and her family of everyday life. The ending did speed up a bit once again, but the middle was just a little meh. I thought there would be more thrilling action, but it was just domestic drama that seemed a bit trite compared to the premise of Lily being held captive for 8 years. While not going into the plot too deeply, Lily seemed a bit normal, like she hadn’t experienced daily, overwhelming trauma for almost a decade. I was expecting turmoil and struggles, but she seemed just fine.
I know this sounds like nothing but a giant bash-this-book post, but I promise its not. Hollie Overton clearly is a talented writer, I just wasn’t the right reader for this book. My tastes are slightly different, so I was expecting this to be told and read from a completely different angle. This is a classic case of “I enjoyed reading this book, it just wasn’t one I’ll be remembering for years to come”. I can say with confidence that I would be interested in reading the author’s next book, as I feel she has tremendous potential and would love to watch her growth from book to book. I don’t give out 3 star ratings if I don’t enjoy the book, so please take this for what it is-simply my opinion.
*I’d like to thank the publisher for providing my copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Date Read: 07/18/16
Pub Date: 07/12/16
3 STARS
“For fans of Gone Girl and Girl on the Train, Baby Doll is the most tense thriller you will read this year.
Held captive for eight years, Lily has grown from a teenager to an adult in a small basement prison. Her daughter Sky has been a captive her whole life. But one day their captor leaves the deadbolt unlocked.
This is what happens next…
…to her twin sister, to her mother, to her daughter…and to her captor.”
Not a lot to go on right? Notice that little blurb at the top- “For fans of Gone Girl and Girl on the Train…”. Stop right there. This is an EXTREMELY unfair comparison as this book in no way was similar to those aforementioned. I think a good number of lukewarm to poor reviews of this book are due to the fact the reader felt duped into believing that they were picking up a book that was arresting with at least 1 or more major plot twists. Unfortunately, I was one of those readers, which made me feel a little guilty as I believe part of my reasoning behind a lower rating was due to feeling misled. If you want my personal opinion, this was more relatable to the novel Room by Emma Donoghue than anything else (I loved that book by the way), if it had been written involving the aftermath of the kidnapping. To end my initial rant, if this book had been marketed to a different crowd, it would be receiving a higher overall rating, but that’s just my opinion.
Another thing to note is that this book isn’t about Lily’s captivity, not really. After a glowing first few chapters that had me hooked, we are thrown into the aftermath and what life is like for herself and her family of everyday life. The ending did speed up a bit once again, but the middle was just a little meh. I thought there would be more thrilling action, but it was just domestic drama that seemed a bit trite compared to the premise of Lily being held captive for 8 years. While not going into the plot too deeply, Lily seemed a bit normal, like she hadn’t experienced daily, overwhelming trauma for almost a decade. I was expecting turmoil and struggles, but she seemed just fine.
I know this sounds like nothing but a giant bash-this-book post, but I promise its not. Hollie Overton clearly is a talented writer, I just wasn’t the right reader for this book. My tastes are slightly different, so I was expecting this to be told and read from a completely different angle. This is a classic case of “I enjoyed reading this book, it just wasn’t one I’ll be remembering for years to come”. I can say with confidence that I would be interested in reading the author’s next book, as I feel she has tremendous potential and would love to watch her growth from book to book. I don’t give out 3 star ratings if I don’t enjoy the book, so please take this for what it is-simply my opinion.
*I’d like to thank the publisher for providing my copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.
October 23, 2016
Update: 10-23-16. Kindle book $2.99. Not sure for how long.
***MILD SPOILERS***
--->EXCERPT<---
A dead bolt has a very specific sound. Lily was an expert at recognizing certain sounds--the creak of the floorboards signaling his arrival, the mice scurrying across the concrete in search for food. But Lily always braced herself for the sound of the dead bolt, listening as metal scraped against the metal. The lock as beginning to rust, so it always took him several tries. But inevitably, she would hear the click, the sound that meant they were trapped for another week, another month, another year. But tonight, she heard nothing. Only deafening silence. Hours passed, and she couldn't stop thinking about the lock.
Lily has was taken when she was sixteen by someone that was a prominent person in the community. His name is Rick. He kept her in the basement of his cabin in the woods for eight years. This is where she also gave birth to their child Sky from the multiple rapes from Rick. She suffered a lot of abuse in the little basement. But one time... just one time.. he forgets to latch the lock.
RUN RUN RUN.. FREE FREE FREE...
I was so nervous that Lily and Sky weren't going to make it. I thought it would be some sick joke. But it was a harsh reality when Lily realized how close to home she actually was and that's even scarier.
The book is told from multiply POVs. You have Lily, Rick (evil man), Eve (Lily's Mom) and Abby (Lily's twin sister.) They all have important parts to play in the book.
Abby has pined for her twin sister ever since she was taken. She kept telling people that Lily was still alive and she was right when Lily shows up on the doorstep with Sky. Abby has a very volatile temper. She's very protective of Lily and she does a very good job in my opinion. But there is one thing that Abby is afraid for Lily to know. She doesn't want to hurt her. I won't get into all of that, you can read the book.
As you can figure, the family goes through a lot of stuff. They have to face the trial with Rick and let me tell you... I did not see that coming. It was so wonderful and maybe I shouldn't say that but I felt that way. Sometimes people get what they deserve that the justice system just can't do for themselves.
At first I was torn between a three star or what because at first the book did sound similar to another book. But then the book took off in another direction and I really enjoyed it. Okay if I confess the part that turned me around was in the courtroom and what lovely feelings revenge can make you feel against someone that hurts women. There was a great happily ever after as well as their should be in this case.
*I would like to thank Netgalley and Redhook Books for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.*
MY BLOG: Melissa Martin's Reading List
***MILD SPOILERS***
--->EXCERPT<---
A dead bolt has a very specific sound. Lily was an expert at recognizing certain sounds--the creak of the floorboards signaling his arrival, the mice scurrying across the concrete in search for food. But Lily always braced herself for the sound of the dead bolt, listening as metal scraped against the metal. The lock as beginning to rust, so it always took him several tries. But inevitably, she would hear the click, the sound that meant they were trapped for another week, another month, another year. But tonight, she heard nothing. Only deafening silence. Hours passed, and she couldn't stop thinking about the lock.
Lily has was taken when she was sixteen by someone that was a prominent person in the community. His name is Rick. He kept her in the basement of his cabin in the woods for eight years. This is where she also gave birth to their child Sky from the multiple rapes from Rick. She suffered a lot of abuse in the little basement. But one time... just one time.. he forgets to latch the lock.
RUN RUN RUN.. FREE FREE FREE...
I was so nervous that Lily and Sky weren't going to make it. I thought it would be some sick joke. But it was a harsh reality when Lily realized how close to home she actually was and that's even scarier.
The book is told from multiply POVs. You have Lily, Rick (evil man), Eve (Lily's Mom) and Abby (Lily's twin sister.) They all have important parts to play in the book.
Abby has pined for her twin sister ever since she was taken. She kept telling people that Lily was still alive and she was right when Lily shows up on the doorstep with Sky. Abby has a very volatile temper. She's very protective of Lily and she does a very good job in my opinion. But there is one thing that Abby is afraid for Lily to know. She doesn't want to hurt her. I won't get into all of that, you can read the book.
As you can figure, the family goes through a lot of stuff. They have to face the trial with Rick and let me tell you... I did not see that coming. It was so wonderful and maybe I shouldn't say that but I felt that way. Sometimes people get what they deserve that the justice system just can't do for themselves.
At first I was torn between a three star or what because at first the book did sound similar to another book. But then the book took off in another direction and I really enjoyed it. Okay if I confess the part that turned me around was in the courtroom and what lovely feelings revenge can make you feel against someone that hurts women. There was a great happily ever after as well as their should be in this case.
*I would like to thank Netgalley and Redhook Books for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.*
MY BLOG: Melissa Martin's Reading List
May 24, 2016
Good idea, failed execution.
The book felt like one of those Lifetime dramas, all overwrought and ridiculous. The multitude of voices felt rushed and superficial, not one character behaved in a realistic fashion, everyone seemed most concerned about their love lives, the whole thing was drawn out too long.
If anything, it was rather pointless. The strapline said the escape being just the beginning. Yeah, it is. The he's arrested. Then another thing (spoiler-but not really because you can see it coming). The End. The bit in between is just people enacting family drama- fights between sisters, mother trying to get it on with the Sheriff, lots of banal internal dialogue.
It might have worked if the people had been given more depth. Maybe.
Thanks in any case to Random House/Cornerstone and Netgalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review.
The book felt like one of those Lifetime dramas, all overwrought and ridiculous. The multitude of voices felt rushed and superficial, not one character behaved in a realistic fashion, everyone seemed most concerned about their love lives, the whole thing was drawn out too long.
If anything, it was rather pointless. The strapline said the escape being just the beginning. Yeah, it is. The he's arrested. Then another thing (spoiler-but not really because you can see it coming). The End. The bit in between is just people enacting family drama- fights between sisters, mother trying to get it on with the Sheriff, lots of banal internal dialogue.
It might have worked if the people had been given more depth. Maybe.
Thanks in any case to Random House/Cornerstone and Netgalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 4, 2017
As the story opens Lily and her daughter Sky are being held captive in the basement of a cabin set deep in the woods. Their captor has, for the first time in eight long years, neglected to lock the door. Ever apprehensive that this may be just another, in a long list of tests that Rick, her captor, has set for her, Lily gathers up Sky and takes her first shaky step toward freedom.
Soaked in fear and swimming in adrenaline, once Lily is able to get her bearings she realizes that she has been close to home all this time. What unfolds then is Lily’s journey back to her former life. Except we all know that is no longer possible. Held captive for eight years and clutching her daughter, a product of that same captivity, Lily’s former life is forever gone.
Lily has a twin sister, Abby and this story is as much about the bond between Lily and her sister as it is about Lily’s struggle to get home, or at least today’s closest proximity to home. I confess that I have never really understood that twin thing, that bond you hear so much about, but I had a real struggle identifying with most of the actions and decisions employed by both Lily and Abby. There were times when, especially early on, I questioned the plausibility of what happened.
Narrated by four perspectives: that of Eve (the twins mother), Lily, Abby and Lily’s abductor Rick, the reader is privy to what happened eight years ago, the impact it had on those left behind and what unfolds for each of these characters once Lily returns. I really think the premise held huge promise, so much fertile soil to excavate that was sadly left untapped. Oddly enough it was the four main characters that seemed so very shallow and not fully developed. I found I could relate better to some of the other cast members like Wes, Lily’s one time suitor and Abby’s current lover. Lily’s daughter Sky was another lost opportunity and even though she was most often there in the midst of things, her presence felt more like background décor.
This has been sitting in my currently reading slot for some time now, but that is the result of how hectic life has been for me recently. In truth I read this in pretty short order, once I actually sat down to do so.
My thanks to Redhook Books, NetGalley and Hollie Overton for the chance to read this story.
2.5 rudimentary stars!
Soaked in fear and swimming in adrenaline, once Lily is able to get her bearings she realizes that she has been close to home all this time. What unfolds then is Lily’s journey back to her former life. Except we all know that is no longer possible. Held captive for eight years and clutching her daughter, a product of that same captivity, Lily’s former life is forever gone.
Lily has a twin sister, Abby and this story is as much about the bond between Lily and her sister as it is about Lily’s struggle to get home, or at least today’s closest proximity to home. I confess that I have never really understood that twin thing, that bond you hear so much about, but I had a real struggle identifying with most of the actions and decisions employed by both Lily and Abby. There were times when, especially early on, I questioned the plausibility of what happened.
Narrated by four perspectives: that of Eve (the twins mother), Lily, Abby and Lily’s abductor Rick, the reader is privy to what happened eight years ago, the impact it had on those left behind and what unfolds for each of these characters once Lily returns. I really think the premise held huge promise, so much fertile soil to excavate that was sadly left untapped. Oddly enough it was the four main characters that seemed so very shallow and not fully developed. I found I could relate better to some of the other cast members like Wes, Lily’s one time suitor and Abby’s current lover. Lily’s daughter Sky was another lost opportunity and even though she was most often there in the midst of things, her presence felt more like background décor.
This has been sitting in my currently reading slot for some time now, but that is the result of how hectic life has been for me recently. In truth I read this in pretty short order, once I actually sat down to do so.
My thanks to Redhook Books, NetGalley and Hollie Overton for the chance to read this story.
2.5 rudimentary stars!
October 7, 2018
Baby Doll had so much promise and I was really excited to start reading it. The synopsis made it sounds fabulous. I quickly felt that the book was not giving me the buzz factor that a book in this genre should.
A young woman has been held captive, tortured, raped and beaten against her will by a man she should have been able to trust. Locked away for years one day she realises she can run for her freedom...and she does.
The story then concentrates on how things are with her integrating back with her family including her twin sister and a lot has happened in the years she was hidden away. But she's alive and wants to bring her captor to justice.
The execution was not great, there are a lot of long-winded pages and chapters where situations drag out unnecessarily. It slows the book down a lot. The start of the book is great, it's exciting and the end of the book has the thrills and twists also. Sadly the middle of the book was just very lukewarm with fairly forgettable moments.
I wanted more depth, rawness and human grief from the characters. There has been so much damage done but at times it's like it's brushed over too lightly in my opinion.
I give Baby Doll 3 stars, great plot and if there was more pace, less wordiness and more shocks through the book this would have been facts drug! I still enjoyed reading it, I just won't be raving to anyone about it.
Thanks so much to the publisher for an ARC of this book to read and review.
A young woman has been held captive, tortured, raped and beaten against her will by a man she should have been able to trust. Locked away for years one day she realises she can run for her freedom...and she does.
The story then concentrates on how things are with her integrating back with her family including her twin sister and a lot has happened in the years she was hidden away. But she's alive and wants to bring her captor to justice.
The execution was not great, there are a lot of long-winded pages and chapters where situations drag out unnecessarily. It slows the book down a lot. The start of the book is great, it's exciting and the end of the book has the thrills and twists also. Sadly the middle of the book was just very lukewarm with fairly forgettable moments.
I wanted more depth, rawness and human grief from the characters. There has been so much damage done but at times it's like it's brushed over too lightly in my opinion.
I give Baby Doll 3 stars, great plot and if there was more pace, less wordiness and more shocks through the book this would have been facts drug! I still enjoyed reading it, I just won't be raving to anyone about it.
Thanks so much to the publisher for an ARC of this book to read and review.
September 22, 2016
1.5 stars
So this is how the book was described:
For fans of Gone Girl and Girl on the Train, BABY DOLL is the most tense thriller you will read this year.
Sounds like a winner, right?
WRONG!!
This was not a thriller, let alone tense. It doesn't have any correlation to Gone Girl or Girl on The Train in any way shape or form.
This is a the author's first book, and you can read the signs throughout.
Underdeveloped characters, sophomoric writing style, and pointless story lines just made this a mess for me to read. Example Eve: I'm not sure why she was given dedicated chapters and what her infidelity had to do with anything?
The only chapters I looked forward to were those for Rick-the essential bad guy. But even those made me cringe at times at the absurdity of his thoughts and actions.
This was almost a DNF, but I was curious to see if the ending would provide any better entertainment, and unfortunately it didn't.
If you are looking for a good suspense novel, keep looking as this isn't it. This is more about relationships between family and lovers more than anything, and even that failed in my opinion.
Moving on....
ARC through NetGalley
So this is how the book was described:
For fans of Gone Girl and Girl on the Train, BABY DOLL is the most tense thriller you will read this year.
Sounds like a winner, right?
WRONG!!
This was not a thriller, let alone tense. It doesn't have any correlation to Gone Girl or Girl on The Train in any way shape or form.
This is a the author's first book, and you can read the signs throughout.
Underdeveloped characters, sophomoric writing style, and pointless story lines just made this a mess for me to read. Example Eve: I'm not sure why she was given dedicated chapters and what her infidelity had to do with anything?
The only chapters I looked forward to were those for Rick-the essential bad guy. But even those made me cringe at times at the absurdity of his thoughts and actions.
This was almost a DNF, but I was curious to see if the ending would provide any better entertainment, and unfortunately it didn't.
If you are looking for a good suspense novel, keep looking as this isn't it. This is more about relationships between family and lovers more than anything, and even that failed in my opinion.
Moving on....
ARC through NetGalley
June 17, 2016
Lily has been held captive for eight years. She has been raped, beaten and mentally abused. She has a daughter, Sky, fathered by her abductor. Then one day to her astonishment, she finds the door unlocked. Still fearful, Lily and her daughter escape the ghastly basement in which they have been imprisoned. You might think that from this point that Lily's life would get so much better. Not so, there is further turmoil awaiting her.
On returning to her family home, Lily finds things have changed quite dramatically. Lily's disappearance tore the family apart. Her father's pain was too much for him, her twin sister, Abby, is struggling to combat her addiction and her mother is a mess. The focus on what happens when Lily returns home is interesting, underlining just how much Lily was not the only victim. It is also fascinating to have a glimpse into the life of her abductor and how those in his family had no idea of what he was capable of.
Whilst the premise of the book was compelling, the writing and plot felt uneven and the characterisation a little on the weak side. Nevertheless, overall I did enjoy aspects of the book. Thanks to Random House Cornerstone for an ARC.
On returning to her family home, Lily finds things have changed quite dramatically. Lily's disappearance tore the family apart. Her father's pain was too much for him, her twin sister, Abby, is struggling to combat her addiction and her mother is a mess. The focus on what happens when Lily returns home is interesting, underlining just how much Lily was not the only victim. It is also fascinating to have a glimpse into the life of her abductor and how those in his family had no idea of what he was capable of.
Whilst the premise of the book was compelling, the writing and plot felt uneven and the characterisation a little on the weak side. Nevertheless, overall I did enjoy aspects of the book. Thanks to Random House Cornerstone for an ARC.
October 9, 2025
Riveting from the first line. The story goes with a breakneck speed, making you read it in one breath. I loved the different personalities of people and how the story was put together in the chapters. Wonderful book!
February 6, 2017
I have desperately been wanting to read Baby Doll since it came out last year and was over the moon to win a copy on Twitter this week .....until I started to read the reviews! I was very disappointed to read that so many people didn't enjoy it. So the only way to find out for myself was to read it straight away. I know now where most people are coming from. I too would have liked to read more about Lily's time in captivity (being the dark and twisted person I am) especially when she refers to the 'training' period Rick put her through at the beginning of the abduction. Perhaps there could have been flashback chapters interweaved with the story? The book covers the immediate aftermath of Lily's escape and although the first couple of chapters were quite tense after that it just became a mundane book. Saying that, I did still enjoy it, I never wanted to put it down and although I cant ever personally understand the bond between twins or even just having a sibling the connection between Lily and Abby was ultimately what controlled the book and the finale to the story. As long as you're not looking for a twisted deep psychological thriller and looking more for a safe read then you will still enjoy "Baby Doll" and I maybe would read her next book due out this year. I couldn't quite give this 4 stars more 3.5 so have had to round down to 3.
August 31, 2016
My review of Baby Doll is now up on Fresh Fiction!
To say that I was blown away by this book is an understatement! I was hooked from the first page and I could hardly put down the book. You can read the whole review here!
To say that I was blown away by this book is an understatement! I was hooked from the first page and I could hardly put down the book. You can read the whole review here!
June 28, 2018
BABY DOLL is sold as something which would appeal to fans of Paula Hawkins and Gillian Flynn (a tag that seems to be stamped on all new psychological thrillers these days...). In any case, I was expected, if nothing else, to be gripped by a creepily engaging story. Unfortunately, this feeling vacillated quite a bit. The book is told in various POVs and certain ones are definitely more interesting than others, leading me to lose interest in chunks of the book, while it picked up for others. Also, while obviously feeling for the victims of this story, I never connected to any of the characters, which tends to downgrade a book in my eyes. I don't need lovely characters I want to be best friends with (though it's always wonderful if that is the case), but I do need characters who can hold my attention. Another little niggle is that there were so many occasions when this book reminded me so much of ROOM by Emma Donaghue, which was quite excellent, and I'm afraid BABY DOLL suffered in the comparison.
Overton does have a good way of writing, with flowing dialogue and the multiple POVs are done smoothly, which is certainly a skill! I also wanted to know the outcome of the story, even if the characters weren't quiet doing it for me, so I kept reading. I was surprised by the ending, though I'm not sure I liked it. Overall, decent entertainment, but ultimately, I think it will blend into the hazy area of so-so mysteries in my mind.
I received this book from Netgalley and have written what I think is a fair and fitting review, thanks!
Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com
Overton does have a good way of writing, with flowing dialogue and the multiple POVs are done smoothly, which is certainly a skill! I also wanted to know the outcome of the story, even if the characters weren't quiet doing it for me, so I kept reading. I was surprised by the ending, though I'm not sure I liked it. Overall, decent entertainment, but ultimately, I think it will blend into the hazy area of so-so mysteries in my mind.
I received this book from Netgalley and have written what I think is a fair and fitting review, thanks!
Find more reviews and bookish fun at http://www.princessandpen.com
June 8, 2016
Hollie Overton is a really natural author, her books seem to flow and grasp me in.
This book Baby Doll was no exception.
We have a young girl who was kidnapped by this man. We later get to know how this came about and who by.
To imagine being kept in one room and being used for all purpose like a "baby Doll" by this man is unthinkable.
But this is what she had to endure.
Its an intense read at times, sometimes mellows out in its telling of it, but it allowed me to get more breath until it gathered momentum again.
Her sister [twin] has meanwhile got involved with her kidnapped sisters 'first love', so when her twin escapes from the mans clutches, there is more in the family that unfolds.
I could see why her sister was a bit OTT at times and swore and cursed a lot, if you put yourself in her shoes.
I would like to thank Redhook Books via Net Galley for granting my wish to read this.
July 24, 2017
Going into this book I saw reviews stating anything from a 'disappointing read,' to this being 'just like gone girl,' so I did not know what to expect. The synopsis on the back of the book was enough to peak my interest so I decided to go for it. And boy am I glad that I did! I have not read the book 'Room,' but I have seen the movie, and I can only imagine that this book is inspired by that story or vice versa because they were eerily similar. With that being said I loved both stories and really enjoyed this read! I loved that it was told from several different peoples perspective's, going from the victim to the bad guy and then moving on to the relatives - I really think this enhanced the read, giving it depth and a really clear understanding of how this tragedy affected everyone in the community. I was raised in a small town and rural community and went to a small school and Can say that this was what I thought to be a very accurate and realistic portrayal of such a tragedy and how a community can respond to such horrific events....until the very end lol. There were just a couple things that I felt the author jammed in before finishing the story that could have ruined the read entirely but for me just kind of made me raise my eyebrows a bit and move on. I'd have to say that these events came off as a bit unrealistic, but the writing was so good it did not completely ruin the story for me, I give this a solid four rating and will be keeping my eye out for other novels by Holly Overton
May 4, 2017
Firstly I’d like to thank Netgalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for the opportunity to read this book.
”BABY DOLL is the most tense thriller you will read this year.” … no it isn’t.
1.5 stars
I was looking forward to giving this a read, it sounded like an exciting thriller; woman escapes from her captor and now she’s trying to rebuild her life and future. But it doesn’t really start out that way… everything kind of falls into place for Lily in the first few pages and so you think, is this going to be as exciting as I first hoped? Well the answer to that is no, it’s not.
It’s all very over the top. Every single thing Abby & Lily do is grossly OTT. I mean I don’t personally know how I, or my family would react if something like this happened but it all seems very overplayed, cliche and cheesy.
It’s also a bit ridiculous, not the kidnapping and abuse, of course that’s not, but everything else is. The town seems raving mad, no wonder no one noticed a psychopath in their midst! I mean for one, this town needs to sort out it’s police force, they’re so unprofessional!
I don’t think Overton did a particularly good job at portraying the characters. They all seemed very wooden and lifeless. I found them all to be extremely childish, shallow and very selfish and so couldn’t connect with any of them. They also felt completely fake, like the things they did and said were not something you could imagine a real person doing or saying. We were supposed to empathise with Lily but it just wasn’t possible for me, she was cold and boring and I think the multiple POV’s was a bad call on Overton’s part because it means we can’t spend that time getting to know the character and instead have to put up with everyone else's junk (cough cough the mother's affair cough cough) that we don’t care about, which disconnects us entirely from the story. I would go so far as to say I felt this story was more about idiotic Abby than it was about boring ol’ Lily. We also couldn’t attach to Lily because this book moved so ridiculously fast! I couldn’t keep up, what’s the rush?
I don’t think this was very well written either, it all seemed very rushed. Also, why was Eve called “Eve” one minute and “Mom” the next? And why couldn’t Abby call “Mr Hanson” by his actual name? We get it, he was your teacher, but you’re an adult now, with a kid and this man ruined your sister's life, would you really be calling him “Mr Hanson” all the time. It was like I was reading the POV of a 6 year old.
I admit the twist was quite a shock and I hadn’t seen that particular ending coming about, but I still thought it was a bit silly, hence the extra half a star I gave the book.
Too "family drama" for me. I wanted a fast paced thriller not some sappy, emotional love story. This book was supposed to focus on the broken Lily rebuilding her life with her loving family surrounding her, but instead turned into a ridiculous love triangle story that I couldn’t care less about. Give me more of Rick’s POV if you must, anything to get me away from twin sisters fighting over one stupid man. Abby was so fucking annoying when it came to Wes, she was so desperately needy for him all the while putting on a stupid I-don’t-need-you front. Deal with it Abby, you love him and he loves you, just fucking deal with it.
In the end I skipped the last 10 pages or so, I was done with this book when I was 20% the way through… Maybe this would be a good book for people who are into “chick-lit/women's fiction” - whatever that means, but it’s not my cup of tea.
”BABY DOLL is the most tense thriller you will read this year.” … no it isn’t.
1.5 stars
I was looking forward to giving this a read, it sounded like an exciting thriller; woman escapes from her captor and now she’s trying to rebuild her life and future. But it doesn’t really start out that way… everything kind of falls into place for Lily in the first few pages and so you think, is this going to be as exciting as I first hoped? Well the answer to that is no, it’s not.
It’s all very over the top. Every single thing Abby & Lily do is grossly OTT. I mean I don’t personally know how I, or my family would react if something like this happened but it all seems very overplayed, cliche and cheesy.
It’s also a bit ridiculous, not the kidnapping and abuse, of course that’s not, but everything else is. The town seems raving mad, no wonder no one noticed a psychopath in their midst! I mean for one, this town needs to sort out it’s police force, they’re so unprofessional!
I don’t think Overton did a particularly good job at portraying the characters. They all seemed very wooden and lifeless. I found them all to be extremely childish, shallow and very selfish and so couldn’t connect with any of them. They also felt completely fake, like the things they did and said were not something you could imagine a real person doing or saying. We were supposed to empathise with Lily but it just wasn’t possible for me, she was cold and boring and I think the multiple POV’s was a bad call on Overton’s part because it means we can’t spend that time getting to know the character and instead have to put up with everyone else's junk (cough cough the mother's affair cough cough) that we don’t care about, which disconnects us entirely from the story. I would go so far as to say I felt this story was more about idiotic Abby than it was about boring ol’ Lily. We also couldn’t attach to Lily because this book moved so ridiculously fast! I couldn’t keep up, what’s the rush?
I don’t think this was very well written either, it all seemed very rushed. Also, why was Eve called “Eve” one minute and “Mom” the next? And why couldn’t Abby call “Mr Hanson” by his actual name? We get it, he was your teacher, but you’re an adult now, with a kid and this man ruined your sister's life, would you really be calling him “Mr Hanson” all the time. It was like I was reading the POV of a 6 year old.
I admit the twist was quite a shock and I hadn’t seen that particular ending coming about, but I still thought it was a bit silly, hence the extra half a star I gave the book.
Too "family drama" for me. I wanted a fast paced thriller not some sappy, emotional love story. This book was supposed to focus on the broken Lily rebuilding her life with her loving family surrounding her, but instead turned into a ridiculous love triangle story that I couldn’t care less about. Give me more of Rick’s POV if you must, anything to get me away from twin sisters fighting over one stupid man. Abby was so fucking annoying when it came to Wes, she was so desperately needy for him all the while putting on a stupid I-don’t-need-you front. Deal with it Abby, you love him and he loves you, just fucking deal with it.
In the end I skipped the last 10 pages or so, I was done with this book when I was 20% the way through… Maybe this would be a good book for people who are into “chick-lit/women's fiction” - whatever that means, but it’s not my cup of tea.
July 6, 2016
Lily has been held captive for the past eight years but now her captor has made a mistake and Lily is able to get free. While she was in captivity she had a daughter who is now six and Lily wants nothing more than to keep her daughter safe and return home to her family.
Showing up after eight years of being missing it's not easy for Lily or her family to deal with the aftermath of the kidnapping. This is the story of what happens once Lily returns home to find her twin sister is now with Lily's high school sweetheart and the man that had taken her hostage is a well known and respected man in society.
Baby Doll changes the view point all throughout the story between Lily, her mother Eve, her sister Abby and her former captor Rick. Returning home after eight years when her family never expected to ever see her again brings a lot of issues into Lily's family. There was a lot of drama all throughout as the characters do their best to overcome a really horrific situation.
I found myself completely engaged in this story rather early on even though a part of me questioned the characterization in this read. Lily who had been held captive really seemed to be the strongest character in the book but I suppose there's no right way for anyone to react to something horrible. I gave up questioning the personalities fairly quickly though and just sat back and enjoyed the ride through the twists and turns and ended up really liking the story in the end.
Overall, this one is really more drama based than thriller which wasn't what I expected but still good writing and enjoyed the read.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
Showing up after eight years of being missing it's not easy for Lily or her family to deal with the aftermath of the kidnapping. This is the story of what happens once Lily returns home to find her twin sister is now with Lily's high school sweetheart and the man that had taken her hostage is a well known and respected man in society.
Baby Doll changes the view point all throughout the story between Lily, her mother Eve, her sister Abby and her former captor Rick. Returning home after eight years when her family never expected to ever see her again brings a lot of issues into Lily's family. There was a lot of drama all throughout as the characters do their best to overcome a really horrific situation.
I found myself completely engaged in this story rather early on even though a part of me questioned the characterization in this read. Lily who had been held captive really seemed to be the strongest character in the book but I suppose there's no right way for anyone to react to something horrible. I gave up questioning the personalities fairly quickly though and just sat back and enjoyed the ride through the twists and turns and ended up really liking the story in the end.
Overall, this one is really more drama based than thriller which wasn't what I expected but still good writing and enjoyed the read.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.wordpress....
August 28, 2016
Overall, I was disappointed.
'Held captive for eight years, Lily has grown from a teenager to an adult in a small basement prison. Her daughter Sky has been a captive her whole life. But one day their captor leaves the deadbolt unlocked.
This is what happens next...
...to her twin sister, to her mother, to her daughter...and to her captor.'
It was all there; the plot sounded great, it held so much promise. But the treatment the plot received was superficial. Not at any point did I feel connected to any of the characters; never did I feel emotionally invested in the outcome. Not once did I fell as though I was 'there'; there was no heart pounding, no breath holding, no 'OMG!' moments, no tension, no suspense.
All in all, this was a very forgettable read. 2.5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House, Cornerstone Century for a digital ARC copy of Baby Doll by Hollie Overton in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
'Held captive for eight years, Lily has grown from a teenager to an adult in a small basement prison. Her daughter Sky has been a captive her whole life. But one day their captor leaves the deadbolt unlocked.
This is what happens next...
...to her twin sister, to her mother, to her daughter...and to her captor.'
It was all there; the plot sounded great, it held so much promise. But the treatment the plot received was superficial. Not at any point did I feel connected to any of the characters; never did I feel emotionally invested in the outcome. Not once did I fell as though I was 'there'; there was no heart pounding, no breath holding, no 'OMG!' moments, no tension, no suspense.
All in all, this was a very forgettable read. 2.5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House, Cornerstone Century for a digital ARC copy of Baby Doll by Hollie Overton in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
March 8, 2017
Baby Doll was a pretty fast read. However, it was also incredibly bland. The first few chapters instantly grabbed my attention. Then, the story fizzled out. It got predictable and, overall, not that enjoyable. I was rolling my eyes and cringing the characters dialogue.
This book felt like it was trying too hard. It could have been much better. I'm honestly not quite sure why I chose to read this as I didn't enjoy Gone Girl, a book it's compared to in the description.
This book felt like it was trying too hard. It could have been much better. I'm honestly not quite sure why I chose to read this as I didn't enjoy Gone Girl, a book it's compared to in the description.
December 30, 2025
I saw the trailer for the new series (dropping January 8th, by the way), and thought it sounded like a book, then found out it was, and here we are now.
Baby Doll wasn't what I thought it would be, as it focused on the aftermath of the crime, instead of the crime itself.
It started off good, and it reminded me of one of my favourite TV shows, The Missing, but then when , it slowly started going downhill.
You'd think Lily would have a hard time readjusting to the world after her escape, but that didn't seem to be the case at all. It was more about the things that happened to her family/friends while she was gone, than anything else.
I wish we got more info about those eight years, I understand why we didn't, and that the focus wasn't supposed to be on that, but daily family life wasn't as gripping as the author probably hoped it would be.
Something else that irked me was how often Abby's weight gain was mentioned. She's pregnant, but even if she wasn't, okay, she gained weight, now what? Leave her alone!! Or the comparisons between her and the (obviously, she's been held captive in a basement) starved twin were so...no.
There's multiple PoVs in the book, and I did enjoy this aspect, but I have to say that Rick's fell off somewhere in the middle. He went from evil villain to cringey weirdo in the blink of an eye. I was physically rolling my eyes whenever his PoV came around after that.
I didn't fully connect to the rest of the characters either, but I don't think they're badly written. It's the author's first book, and it shows, but it's not bad, the potential was there, it just wasn't fully realised.
And honestly, even if I'd known what I was getting into, I still would've read it. But do I think it's necessary to read before the show? Ehh, probably not.
Baby Doll wasn't what I thought it would be, as it focused on the aftermath of the crime, instead of the crime itself.
It started off good, and it reminded me of one of my favourite TV shows, The Missing, but then when , it slowly started going downhill.
You'd think Lily would have a hard time readjusting to the world after her escape, but that didn't seem to be the case at all. It was more about the things that happened to her family/friends while she was gone, than anything else.
I wish we got more info about those eight years, I understand why we didn't, and that the focus wasn't supposed to be on that, but daily family life wasn't as gripping as the author probably hoped it would be.
Something else that irked me was how often Abby's weight gain was mentioned. She's pregnant, but even if she wasn't, okay, she gained weight, now what? Leave her alone!! Or the comparisons between her and the (obviously, she's been held captive in a basement) starved twin were so...no.
There's multiple PoVs in the book, and I did enjoy this aspect, but I have to say that Rick's fell off somewhere in the middle. He went from evil villain to cringey weirdo in the blink of an eye. I was physically rolling my eyes whenever his PoV came around after that.
I didn't fully connect to the rest of the characters either, but I don't think they're badly written. It's the author's first book, and it shows, but it's not bad, the potential was there, it just wasn't fully realised.
And honestly, even if I'd known what I was getting into, I still would've read it. But do I think it's necessary to read before the show? Ehh, probably not.
June 28, 2016
This book gripped me from the start and kept me hooked all along. Although it wasn't a classic and there were a few holes in the plot, I still enjoyed it.
Lily has been held captive for eight years and now she seizes an opportunity to escape with her daughter Sky. Lily was kidnapped by Rick, a local teacher who for the last eight years has abused Lily both sexually and mentally while keeping her locked up. On escaping she manages to get back home where she finds her family has carried on without her, her father is now dead and her first love is about to become the father of her twin sister Abby's baby. This all happens in the opening few pages and the rest of the book deals with the aftermath of these events.The alternates between the main characters as they give their accounts giving an insight into their part in the story.
Yes the novel could have been better written and yes like I said the plot could have been more water tight but it is still a good read and every book doesn't have to be an absolute classic to be entertaining.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Random House for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for a honest review.
Lily has been held captive for eight years and now she seizes an opportunity to escape with her daughter Sky. Lily was kidnapped by Rick, a local teacher who for the last eight years has abused Lily both sexually and mentally while keeping her locked up. On escaping she manages to get back home where she finds her family has carried on without her, her father is now dead and her first love is about to become the father of her twin sister Abby's baby. This all happens in the opening few pages and the rest of the book deals with the aftermath of these events.The alternates between the main characters as they give their accounts giving an insight into their part in the story.
Yes the novel could have been better written and yes like I said the plot could have been more water tight but it is still a good read and every book doesn't have to be an absolute classic to be entertaining.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Random House for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for a honest review.
May 3, 2016
This book begins when a young woman, held captive for eight years, and her daughter, fathered by her captor and abuser, manage to escape. It is bound to invite comparison with Room. I much preferred this. Lily and her daughter, Sky, escape when their captor makes a mistake and doesn't bolt the door. Happily ever after? Not likely! Lily's twin, Abby and her mother, Eve, have been so deeply affected by her disappearance that their own lives have been changed almost as much as hers.
I enjoyed the fact that this story began where others leave off. We gain some insight from Lily about what happened to her in her captivity but that's not what this story is about. It's about all the other lives touched and tainted by the crime. Not only her family, but her abductor’s too. His wife who apparently didn't suspect his perverse behaviour. His mother, Lily's grandparents, her boyfriend at the time she was taken. We watch the subsequent struggle for a normal future by people who have had a big chunk of their past stolen. I found it totally gripping.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for a review copy of this book.
I enjoyed the fact that this story began where others leave off. We gain some insight from Lily about what happened to her in her captivity but that's not what this story is about. It's about all the other lives touched and tainted by the crime. Not only her family, but her abductor’s too. His wife who apparently didn't suspect his perverse behaviour. His mother, Lily's grandparents, her boyfriend at the time she was taken. We watch the subsequent struggle for a normal future by people who have had a big chunk of their past stolen. I found it totally gripping.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for a review copy of this book.
April 16, 2024
This book was so good, although it has a very similar plot line to other books of its nature this book flows differently. Lily breaks out of captivity after eight years and this book is all about the aftermath of being captured, tortured and tormented and the effects Lilly’s return has on her family.
Four stars might have been a little generous, but I couldn’t put this book down I read it in one sitting because I just needed to know what was happening next and that excitement carried on right to the last sentence.
I think one thing I really love about this is the flip between people and their perspectives one chapter it would be the victim and the next the villain. The ending was brilliant too just the perfect to way to end this book I thought and a little bit of a surprise.
The only reason I won’t give this book any more than four stars is because it was a little unrealistic and maybe towards the end a few things were rushed into, I also would’ve liked a little more action,
Four stars might have been a little generous, but I couldn’t put this book down I read it in one sitting because I just needed to know what was happening next and that excitement carried on right to the last sentence.
I think one thing I really love about this is the flip between people and their perspectives one chapter it would be the victim and the next the villain. The ending was brilliant too just the perfect to way to end this book I thought and a little bit of a surprise.
The only reason I won’t give this book any more than four stars is because it was a little unrealistic and maybe towards the end a few things were rushed into, I also would’ve liked a little more action,
May 21, 2021
This book could have been been a lot better in my opinion. It wasn't bad and I didn't throw it across the room, it was just ok.
I know it's received different kinds of reviews, so don't be discouraged about reading it if it sounds like you would enjoy it.
The story line is good, just not realistic in places. I don't believe someone could go through what the main character did, and then take up life like she did.
It just didn't work for me.
I know it's received different kinds of reviews, so don't be discouraged about reading it if it sounds like you would enjoy it.
The story line is good, just not realistic in places. I don't believe someone could go through what the main character did, and then take up life like she did.
It just didn't work for me.
December 31, 2025
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
The sheer thought of being abducted and kept in a basement by a depraved predator for over eight years is beyond imaginable. It brought plenty of chills down my spine. The aftermath of such a horrific event is the focus of Hollie Overton’s debut thriller, Baby Doll.
Lily Riser is a teenager who has her life ripped apart from her one fateful afternoon. After a fight with her twin sister Abby that leaves her without a ride home from high school, Lily accepts help from a trusted figure. This dangerous and life changing journey, results in Lily’s kidnapping and enclosure the basement of cabin by a deranged abductor for over eight years. In that time, Lily is subjected to countless instances of sadistic abuse and even gives birth to the abductor’s child. Lily’s chance at freedom finally arrives one cold winter’s night, when her abductor makes a critical mistake. He accidentally leaves the door to Lily’s small basement home for the last eight years unlatched, while visiting his wife. Lily makes a desperate bid for freedom with her six year old daughter Skye, she takes a huge risk but it is worth it. When she reaches the outside area of the cabin, she sees she is heartbreakingly close to her childhood home. When she arrives home, Lily realises the true impact of her abduction and the eight years spent locked away has had on her family. Her mother is a nervous wreck, her father passed away soon after Lily was abducted from a heart attack and her twin sister Abby has battled with substance abuse. Lily may have escaped her hellhole, but life on the outside is just as hard as Lily, Skye and her family struggle to adjust to her reappearance. Then there is Lily’s captor, who the police finally apprehend and charge. However, a long and convoluted court case is just the beginning for Lily and her family.
Baby Doll was a book that held me captive for the couple of days it took me to race through this compulsive novel. I wasn’t surprised by the fact that I was so drawn to this story, as I selected Baby Doll on the basis that it was part of the 2017 selection for the Richard and Judy book club. A book club that rarely gets a recommendation wrong. Baby Doll was one of those books that I had a great difficulty in putting down and plenty of willpower was needed to stop myself from continually thinking about this book. It is up there with a handful of five star reads I have collated this year, making it one of the best psychological thrillers I have read in 2017.
It was interesting to find out that the very talented debut author of this book, Hollie Overton, is a twin and has had a rather difficult background. This seeps through into her writing, she clearly gets the twin dynamic and as a result, it came across on the page as extremely authentic. The twin relationship always fascinates me and the scenario this set of twins, Lily and Abby are presented with, is emotionally moving. The twin relationship stands strong in this book but so does the darkness of the crime, which is perhaps informed by Hollie Overton’s own past.
The narrative in Baby Doll follows a compelling formula. It kicks off with Lily’s escape from her confinement, rather than her capture. It flits between the past and present, eventually filling in the gaps and letting the reader know the specific details of Lily’s initial entrapment and eight years of torture. Baby Doll is a novel that alternates perspective, between Lily’s point of view, moving onto Lily’s mother Eve, through to twin sister Abby and finally the perpetrator of the crime, Rick. Overton seems to cover all bases with this shifting style of perspectives novel. We are also privy to the feelings and reactions to this crime and the aftermath, through Lily’s high school sweetheart Wes (now the father of Abby’s baby) and Lily’s young daughter Skye. There are other significant faces that all have a role to play in this twisted tale, from the oblivious Missy, Rick’s wife, to a female prison guard who takes a dangerous fancy to Rick.
Character wise, Overton has a solid grip on this area. Rick, the abductor, came across as the most well defined character in this sordid tale. This psychotic, calculated and twisted protagonist was responsible for many of the shocks this book had to deliver. Lily, his victim, was also a well formed character. Eve, Lily’s mother, frustrated me at many points but it is hard to criticise a mother who has suffered such a big loss. I am not sure how I would react if I was placed in the same situation. Abby, Lily’s twin sister, was a complex character full of emotional bite.
Baby Doll was a novel that never really seemed to let up pace wise, as soon as I read the very first page of this novel, I was committed to this emotional journey. There were plenty of twists and unexpected deviations to the narrative that gave this novel impact. There is no question that Baby Doll is an emotional book and at times hard to read, but in general Lily’s attack is somewhat watered down. Overall, I thought Baby Doll offered the reader a deeply introspective story of the various stages of an awful abduction. Overton moves through these stages with skill, from the moments (and character choices) that lead to the abduction, the incarceration, the dramatic escape, the reunion with family, the rehabilitation, court case and settlement following the case.
Baby Doll is a story that chronicles the devastation that the crime of abduction not only has on the victim and their immediate family, but on a whole community. Baby Doll is a standout debut and I can’t wait to hear more from this exciting new voice in the psychological thriller genre.
The sheer thought of being abducted and kept in a basement by a depraved predator for over eight years is beyond imaginable. It brought plenty of chills down my spine. The aftermath of such a horrific event is the focus of Hollie Overton’s debut thriller, Baby Doll.
Lily Riser is a teenager who has her life ripped apart from her one fateful afternoon. After a fight with her twin sister Abby that leaves her without a ride home from high school, Lily accepts help from a trusted figure. This dangerous and life changing journey, results in Lily’s kidnapping and enclosure the basement of cabin by a deranged abductor for over eight years. In that time, Lily is subjected to countless instances of sadistic abuse and even gives birth to the abductor’s child. Lily’s chance at freedom finally arrives one cold winter’s night, when her abductor makes a critical mistake. He accidentally leaves the door to Lily’s small basement home for the last eight years unlatched, while visiting his wife. Lily makes a desperate bid for freedom with her six year old daughter Skye, she takes a huge risk but it is worth it. When she reaches the outside area of the cabin, she sees she is heartbreakingly close to her childhood home. When she arrives home, Lily realises the true impact of her abduction and the eight years spent locked away has had on her family. Her mother is a nervous wreck, her father passed away soon after Lily was abducted from a heart attack and her twin sister Abby has battled with substance abuse. Lily may have escaped her hellhole, but life on the outside is just as hard as Lily, Skye and her family struggle to adjust to her reappearance. Then there is Lily’s captor, who the police finally apprehend and charge. However, a long and convoluted court case is just the beginning for Lily and her family.
Baby Doll was a book that held me captive for the couple of days it took me to race through this compulsive novel. I wasn’t surprised by the fact that I was so drawn to this story, as I selected Baby Doll on the basis that it was part of the 2017 selection for the Richard and Judy book club. A book club that rarely gets a recommendation wrong. Baby Doll was one of those books that I had a great difficulty in putting down and plenty of willpower was needed to stop myself from continually thinking about this book. It is up there with a handful of five star reads I have collated this year, making it one of the best psychological thrillers I have read in 2017.
It was interesting to find out that the very talented debut author of this book, Hollie Overton, is a twin and has had a rather difficult background. This seeps through into her writing, she clearly gets the twin dynamic and as a result, it came across on the page as extremely authentic. The twin relationship always fascinates me and the scenario this set of twins, Lily and Abby are presented with, is emotionally moving. The twin relationship stands strong in this book but so does the darkness of the crime, which is perhaps informed by Hollie Overton’s own past.
The narrative in Baby Doll follows a compelling formula. It kicks off with Lily’s escape from her confinement, rather than her capture. It flits between the past and present, eventually filling in the gaps and letting the reader know the specific details of Lily’s initial entrapment and eight years of torture. Baby Doll is a novel that alternates perspective, between Lily’s point of view, moving onto Lily’s mother Eve, through to twin sister Abby and finally the perpetrator of the crime, Rick. Overton seems to cover all bases with this shifting style of perspectives novel. We are also privy to the feelings and reactions to this crime and the aftermath, through Lily’s high school sweetheart Wes (now the father of Abby’s baby) and Lily’s young daughter Skye. There are other significant faces that all have a role to play in this twisted tale, from the oblivious Missy, Rick’s wife, to a female prison guard who takes a dangerous fancy to Rick.
Character wise, Overton has a solid grip on this area. Rick, the abductor, came across as the most well defined character in this sordid tale. This psychotic, calculated and twisted protagonist was responsible for many of the shocks this book had to deliver. Lily, his victim, was also a well formed character. Eve, Lily’s mother, frustrated me at many points but it is hard to criticise a mother who has suffered such a big loss. I am not sure how I would react if I was placed in the same situation. Abby, Lily’s twin sister, was a complex character full of emotional bite.
Baby Doll was a novel that never really seemed to let up pace wise, as soon as I read the very first page of this novel, I was committed to this emotional journey. There were plenty of twists and unexpected deviations to the narrative that gave this novel impact. There is no question that Baby Doll is an emotional book and at times hard to read, but in general Lily’s attack is somewhat watered down. Overall, I thought Baby Doll offered the reader a deeply introspective story of the various stages of an awful abduction. Overton moves through these stages with skill, from the moments (and character choices) that lead to the abduction, the incarceration, the dramatic escape, the reunion with family, the rehabilitation, court case and settlement following the case.
Baby Doll is a story that chronicles the devastation that the crime of abduction not only has on the victim and their immediate family, but on a whole community. Baby Doll is a standout debut and I can’t wait to hear more from this exciting new voice in the psychological thriller genre.
February 9, 2017
3.5 stars. Lily has held captive for eight years in a small basement prison. Her daughter Sky has been held captive all her life. One day Lily & Sky get the lucky break Lily has waited for - her captor has forgot to lock the door when they left. What happens next to her twin sister, to her mother, to her daughter and to her captor......
In some instances this book is predictable. The story does get a bit flat in the middle but apart from that it is a decent read.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Random House UK, Cornerstone and the author Hollie Overton for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
In some instances this book is predictable. The story does get a bit flat in the middle but apart from that it is a decent read.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Random House UK, Cornerstone and the author Hollie Overton for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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June 22, 2016Had to DNF this one at 60% hence no rating- the writing is great by the way but the story did not grab me personally. I liked the original premise but for ME it was heavy on melodrama. I think this will be a stand out read for a lot of lovers of pyschological thrillers who like something a bit different. Sadly for whatever odd reason did not resonate with my reading head.
July 18, 2016
Yyyyyyyyyyaaaaaaawwwwwnnnnnnnnnn
You too might just get to yawn that extravagantly should you decide to read this very derivative, watered down version of Room. You too could have the "pleasure" of meeting some creep who keeps a girl in a basement for a long time only to have her escape when he does something dumb. You too will most likely predict the cliched ending before you're done with the first paragraph of chapter one. You too will recall other, better, thrillers that actually say something that sets them apart from the eighty gazillion other books just like it. You too will think to yourself "well that was an astronomical waste of my time and attention!"
Nothing to see here folks. Its all been done before.
You too might just get to yawn that extravagantly should you decide to read this very derivative, watered down version of Room. You too could have the "pleasure" of meeting some creep who keeps a girl in a basement for a long time only to have her escape when he does something dumb. You too will most likely predict the cliched ending before you're done with the first paragraph of chapter one. You too will recall other, better, thrillers that actually say something that sets them apart from the eighty gazillion other books just like it. You too will think to yourself "well that was an astronomical waste of my time and attention!"
Nothing to see here folks. Its all been done before.
February 7, 2017
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I was concerned when I started this book because there was ALOT of exposition within the first few chapters. But the changing of perspectives in the novel and suspense sucked me in. The novel rotates between the perspective of Lily the protagonist, her twin sister Abby, Eve her mom and Rick her captor. The multiple perspectives worked well because they were mostly between the two sisters. The author did a great job of making me care and root for Lily and Abby, who are very different but completely devoted to each other. The bond that exists between the twins was one of the best I've seen described, probably because the author is a twin herself.
This is a story of redemption, but it describes Lily getting her life together in a realistic way. Lily makes mistakes along the way and has to let go of the years she lost while being helped captive. The people around her also have understandably moved on with life, and have to readjust to having her back. Lily's captor Rick is clearly a psychopath but I liked getting a glimpse into his thoughts and experiences. The other characters are also fleshed out well, so no part of this book felt like filler. I felt a full range of emotions while reading, which is what good books do.
Towards the end of the book things took a turn from how I thought it would go. The suspense was great and I couldn't read fast enough. This was a wonderful thriller, and I was pleasantly surprised by the author's ability to make the story different than the usual woman held captive narrative we've all been subjected too many times. I would recommend this book to adult readers who enjoy suspense and characters you can cheer for.
I was concerned when I started this book because there was ALOT of exposition within the first few chapters. But the changing of perspectives in the novel and suspense sucked me in. The novel rotates between the perspective of Lily the protagonist, her twin sister Abby, Eve her mom and Rick her captor. The multiple perspectives worked well because they were mostly between the two sisters. The author did a great job of making me care and root for Lily and Abby, who are very different but completely devoted to each other. The bond that exists between the twins was one of the best I've seen described, probably because the author is a twin herself.
"Each day, he'd taught her how to be a little less human. And now, everything she'd learned from him would be his undoing."
This is a story of redemption, but it describes Lily getting her life together in a realistic way. Lily makes mistakes along the way and has to let go of the years she lost while being helped captive. The people around her also have understandably moved on with life, and have to readjust to having her back. Lily's captor Rick is clearly a psychopath but I liked getting a glimpse into his thoughts and experiences. The other characters are also fleshed out well, so no part of this book felt like filler. I felt a full range of emotions while reading, which is what good books do.
Towards the end of the book things took a turn from how I thought it would go. The suspense was great and I couldn't read fast enough. This was a wonderful thriller, and I was pleasantly surprised by the author's ability to make the story different than the usual woman held captive narrative we've all been subjected too many times. I would recommend this book to adult readers who enjoy suspense and characters you can cheer for.
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