Doll Steak

by Matthew Tait

Trapped within a room of sinister dolls, an average man if forced to confront his worst fears ... and quickly learns that staring into the abyss does not grant you a reprieve from them.

Genres: Horror

18 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 11, 2021

About the author

Matthew Tait is an award-winning Australian horror author whose work blends psychological intensity with uncanny, brutal atmosphere. He published his first collection of dark fiction in 2011 and has since built a catalogue of titles praised for their originality and emotional depth. His novel Deception Pass won the Australasian Shadows Award for Best Novel, an honor for which he has been nominated three times. His short story Car Crash Weather was also commended by the Australian Horror Writers Association.

A former horror columnist and lifelong devotee of the genre, Tait’s work has been described as “the sort of horror Clive Barker must read on his days off.” When not crafting unsettling narratives, he’s immersed in the gritty tones of grunge music.

Reviews

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

What is the secret behind Ms Seebecks reborn children? Why is facing Eddie Long, a craftsman, setting up new shelves in the dolls room, a kind of panic attack? What about his former ex-girlfriend and her confession of abortion? Tight knit, sometimes eerie wicked little tale. At parts a bit predictable but compelling. The ending was a bit quick. Liked the references to Nirvana's last album and Kurt's philosophic view on the world.

[Lisa Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Doll Steak is a fun and creepy read, a twisted little story with much more to it than the synopsis suggests. It is surprisingly evocative and wholly disturbing.

I say it is a fun read because I enjoy creepy stories, but the subject matter is actually intense, and some of the sequences are hardcore without being graphic. I had only read one short story by Matthew Tait previously and picked this up on a whim; I found the cover, title, and synopsis intriguing. I am very glad I did! Tait is clearly a daring writer with a wonderfully dark imagination. I plan to read more of his work.

Highly recommended, but not for the faint of heart.

[Jenette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short and sweet

This little horror story was unexpected and was able to convey a morbid and creepy vibe in so few pages! I did like it and it reminded of a friend’s mom who used to collect dolls and kept them in a room that creeped me out as well.

[Sea Caummisar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super short. I think it was 15 pages or so.
The title made me think the story was going to be totally different than what it was. Still, it was a fun short read. I guess a lot of people have some sort of fear of dolls. I don't. I do remember a movie about dolls that I watched as a very young child, where the dolls killed the guests in a large home.
If someone had a fear of dolls, they would find this short creepy