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The Toy Maker
A missing woman.
A serial killer on the loose.
A smart-mouthed private investigator on the case.
What could go wrong?
Rylee Scott is a New York private investigator with a she's psychic and allergic to her cat. But only one of these secrets has the power to break her. When she's hired to find a missing woman, she finds herself racing against the clock to save her before she becomes the next victim of a prolific serial killer, the Toy Maker, who turns his victims into beautiful and horrific life-size versions of classic toys. After years of living under the radar, Rylee will have to enlist the help of the NYPD if she has any hope of bringing the woman home safe.
Calum Reese is an NYPD detective with a southern accent, a chip on his shoulder and a secret of his own. On the hunt for the Toy Maker, he finds himself working with a certain private investigator who knows things she shouldn't and refuses to play by his rules. Can they put aside their differences to catch the killer before more bodies drop? Or will they be drowning in corpses before long?
A serial killer on the loose.
A smart-mouthed private investigator on the case.
What could go wrong?
Rylee Scott is a New York private investigator with a she's psychic and allergic to her cat. But only one of these secrets has the power to break her. When she's hired to find a missing woman, she finds herself racing against the clock to save her before she becomes the next victim of a prolific serial killer, the Toy Maker, who turns his victims into beautiful and horrific life-size versions of classic toys. After years of living under the radar, Rylee will have to enlist the help of the NYPD if she has any hope of bringing the woman home safe.
Calum Reese is an NYPD detective with a southern accent, a chip on his shoulder and a secret of his own. On the hunt for the Toy Maker, he finds himself working with a certain private investigator who knows things she shouldn't and refuses to play by his rules. Can they put aside their differences to catch the killer before more bodies drop? Or will they be drowning in corpses before long?
210 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 24, 2022
3 people are currently reading
2156 people want to read
About the author
Melanie Flynn
1 book22 followersMelanie Flynn was born and raised in Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. She is a graduate of Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador where she got her Bachelor of Arts majoring in English and minoring in Psychology. She went on to graduate from the University of New Brunswick Law School with a Juris Doctor degree. Currently she is a practicing lawyer and small business owner. She co-hosts a variety podcast called Inconsistently Consistent. She is an animal lover and has two cats and a German Shepherd.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
November 21, 2022
Thank you to author, Melanie Flynn, for the #gifted copy!
•• R E V I E W ••
Missing persons case? Check.
Serial killer? Check.
Investigation under time pressure? Check.
Reading this book definitely made me miss a lot of sleeping hours. I found it addicting to read and extremely hard to put down even way past my bedtime! I was so engrossed with the story because it had so many mysterious factors that will keep you guessing until the last page! I am so so so thrilled that the author approached me to read and review her book because this is a thriller you wouldn’t want to miss out on! Grab your copies and thank me later 😁
•• R E V I E W ••
Missing persons case? Check.
Serial killer? Check.
Investigation under time pressure? Check.
Reading this book definitely made me miss a lot of sleeping hours. I found it addicting to read and extremely hard to put down even way past my bedtime! I was so engrossed with the story because it had so many mysterious factors that will keep you guessing until the last page! I am so so so thrilled that the author approached me to read and review her book because this is a thriller you wouldn’t want to miss out on! Grab your copies and thank me later 😁
May 28, 2025
I didn't mind this book, came across it looking for a different book with the same name, but that book has a very different tone. Thought this book would be darker, maybe more grizzly. Instead, it's like an ABC buddy cop series with a psychic angle. Not bad, just not what I was expecting. The dialogue between Cal and Reese feels a little too cheesy for me personally at times as well.
December 2, 2022
I loved this book, it was everything I love to read in a thriller. It kept you guessing, it was fast paced, & it didn’t give you a chance to get bored.
Recommend to anyone who loves a good fast pace thriller. I can’t wait for Calum & Rylee’s story to continue!
Recommend to anyone who loves a good fast pace thriller. I can’t wait for Calum & Rylee’s story to continue!
November 2, 2022
The toy maker
What a suspense and thrilling title which speaks about the story and gives you a glimpse of the same with the intriguing cover page. The title, cover and blurb found me so attractive, that it made me pick up this book for a read.
This is my first read from the author and i must say that the author has left no stones unturned to put in all the emotions in the story.
Rylee is a private investigator, with a secret; psychic and allergic to her cat. Reese an NYDP detective, on his hunt for the toy maker. Both the characters are described and plotted very well.
With many twist and turns the finding of the toy maker goes on, to catch the killer and much more thrilling suspense. So many chains linked together and a case to investigate to find the missing woman.
The author has described the characters with a finesse and the narration automatically connects you with the characters. The language was very simple to understand and the storyline was quite unique and intriguing one. Several twists and turns in the story made it an interesting read.
What a suspense and thrilling title which speaks about the story and gives you a glimpse of the same with the intriguing cover page. The title, cover and blurb found me so attractive, that it made me pick up this book for a read.
This is my first read from the author and i must say that the author has left no stones unturned to put in all the emotions in the story.
Rylee is a private investigator, with a secret; psychic and allergic to her cat. Reese an NYDP detective, on his hunt for the toy maker. Both the characters are described and plotted very well.
With many twist and turns the finding of the toy maker goes on, to catch the killer and much more thrilling suspense. So many chains linked together and a case to investigate to find the missing woman.
The author has described the characters with a finesse and the narration automatically connects you with the characters. The language was very simple to understand and the storyline was quite unique and intriguing one. Several twists and turns in the story made it an interesting read.
October 26, 2022
Reading detective stories gives me a sort of comfort. Mostly because such stories were a major part of me growing up. Now this story - The Toy Maker, is a detective story combined with my new favourite thing, psycho killers. Rylee, a private investigator teams up with Detective Reese to find out a missing girl who happens to be a captive of 'The Toy Maker'. They are on clock before the toy maker makes their new move. Honestly, the story is so terrifying and creepy as hell. And I read it during night, under my sheets! Damn, what was I thinking? The story was engaging and it kept me on my toes. The best part, it did not involve a romance angle. That's right, a story can be just as good without a love story. This book was totally worth my time (even under the sheets). Keeping this review short and sweet, just like the book. Also, can we just get the book 2 already? I want to see more of Rylee and Reese's duo solving cases.
March 16, 2023
Not gonna lie, as soon as I saw the cover, I was a little scared this leaned more horror and while the idea of these crimes are gruesome and give me the creeps, this is very much a thriller. PHEW! That being said, I still didn't sleep much while reading this LOL. The story was a little rough around the edges but I was hooked from the very start: the crimes are creative, the story is fast paced, there's some fun banter between our detective duo, Reese and Scott, and the inclusion of a psychic detective is definitely interesting, though I think I need to stew a bit more/read a few more books with these to figure out how I feel about it.
Either way, I found this book was a good ride despite there definitely still being loose ends, I'm thinking it's on purpose because a second book is coming! I'm excited to see where Reese and Scott's adventures lead them next - I have some theories and I'm hoping the author is gonna give us a twist so good that I'm gonna be screaming!
Content warnings: violence, death, kidnapping, victims are drugged, guns.
Either way, I found this book was a good ride despite there definitely still being loose ends, I'm thinking it's on purpose because a second book is coming! I'm excited to see where Reese and Scott's adventures lead them next - I have some theories and I'm hoping the author is gonna give us a twist so good that I'm gonna be screaming!
Content warnings: violence, death, kidnapping, victims are drugged, guns.
October 14, 2022
In my humble opinion, this book is worth the hype! This was such an engrossing, suspenseful read I found it hard to put down as the story really pulls you in and keeps you interested!
The cover, beginning and title of this book are so eye-pleasing and gorgeous, It's super fast paced and has short chapters that kept me reading for just a little bit longer. The plot is very clever and I love the characters. Very well developed characters whose emotions and despair you can really feel and ending totally unexpected.
The writing is and easy to follow. There is so much more I want to say about this book but I don't want to give too much away for those who haven't read this one yet!
I would recommend this book if you love a crime thriller where you're never quite sure what to expect next! 5/5💫
I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.
The cover, beginning and title of this book are so eye-pleasing and gorgeous, It's super fast paced and has short chapters that kept me reading for just a little bit longer. The plot is very clever and I love the characters. Very well developed characters whose emotions and despair you can really feel and ending totally unexpected.
The writing is and easy to follow. There is so much more I want to say about this book but I don't want to give too much away for those who haven't read this one yet!
I would recommend this book if you love a crime thriller where you're never quite sure what to expect next! 5/5💫
I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.
November 2, 2022
The Toy Maker was an awesome read. I just couldn't put the book down. If you are looking for a real page turner then this is the book for you!! I am looking forward to reading future novels by Melanie Flynn.
November 19, 2022
The Toy Maker
By
Melanie Flynn
Rating:5/5
Description:
A missing woman.
A serial killer on the loose.
A smart-mouthed private investigator on the case.
What could go wrong?
Rylee Scott is a New York private investigator with a secret: she's psychic and allergic to her cat. But only one of these secrets has the power to break her. When she's hired to find a missing woman, she finds herself racing against the clock to save her before she becomes the next victim of a prolific serial killer, the Toy Maker, who turns his victims into beautiful and horrific life-size versions of classic toys. After years of living under the radar, Rylee will have to enlist the help of the NYPD if she has any hope of bringing the woman home safe.
Review:
👉Talking about the title of the book, the title of the book is really so interesting to read.
👉The cover is appealing and attractive as well.Writing style is appreciable .The book is about Rylee Scott who is a New York private investigator with lots of secrets- she is psychic and allergic to her cat and many more secrets. But only one of these secrets has the power to break her.She is hired to find a woman who had gone missing from Columbia University’s campus. She finds herself racing against the clock to save her before she becomes the next victim of a serial killer named the Toy Maker, who turns his victims into horrific life-size versions of classic toys. There is another interesting character in the book-Calum Reese.
👉 He is an NYPD detective with a southern accent, a chip on his shoulder and a secret of his own.On the hunt for the Toy Maker, he finds himself working with Rylee who knows things she shouldn't and refuses to play by his rules.
👉Will they be able to put aside their differences to catch the killer and stop the murders? Or will they be drowning in corpses?
For book link:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0228858623#
Wow! What a book! I am in love with the book
For complete read do order the book on @amazondotcom
👉I just loved reading the book ...
Happy reading!
By
Melanie Flynn
Rating:5/5
Description:
A missing woman.
A serial killer on the loose.
A smart-mouthed private investigator on the case.
What could go wrong?
Rylee Scott is a New York private investigator with a secret: she's psychic and allergic to her cat. But only one of these secrets has the power to break her. When she's hired to find a missing woman, she finds herself racing against the clock to save her before she becomes the next victim of a prolific serial killer, the Toy Maker, who turns his victims into beautiful and horrific life-size versions of classic toys. After years of living under the radar, Rylee will have to enlist the help of the NYPD if she has any hope of bringing the woman home safe.
Review:
👉Talking about the title of the book, the title of the book is really so interesting to read.
👉The cover is appealing and attractive as well.Writing style is appreciable .The book is about Rylee Scott who is a New York private investigator with lots of secrets- she is psychic and allergic to her cat and many more secrets. But only one of these secrets has the power to break her.She is hired to find a woman who had gone missing from Columbia University’s campus. She finds herself racing against the clock to save her before she becomes the next victim of a serial killer named the Toy Maker, who turns his victims into horrific life-size versions of classic toys. There is another interesting character in the book-Calum Reese.
👉 He is an NYPD detective with a southern accent, a chip on his shoulder and a secret of his own.On the hunt for the Toy Maker, he finds himself working with Rylee who knows things she shouldn't and refuses to play by his rules.
👉Will they be able to put aside their differences to catch the killer and stop the murders? Or will they be drowning in corpses?
For book link:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0228858623#
Wow! What a book! I am in love with the book
For complete read do order the book on @amazondotcom
👉I just loved reading the book ...
Happy reading!
November 14, 2022
A little rough around the edges but the plot was well written enough to keep me hooked. The dynamic between Scotty and Reese was lovely and I like how they didn't end up together romantically. The fact that Reese's sister was missing/probably dead was sprung on pretty well, as it's something he probably wouldn't want to regularly think about but (like it says in the novel) something no one would know the actual truth about. The dialogue was well written in parts (although missing quotations at time, only at the beginning of sentences) and even earned a chuckle from me at times. I, much like the characters myself, am interested in how the Toy Maker was killing his victims with so little injuries, and who posed the Jack in the Box.
I do, however, think that the novel could have used a bit more refining. There's a lot of telling, not showing--especially in the beginning few chapters, although it does seem to get better later on. Some paragraphs could have been broken up, especially those with attached dialogue pieces. The flashbacks, very informative as they were about Scotty's past, probably could have been, perhaps, divided into their own chapters as the story went on with just little mentions here and there in the story itself. It felt a little jarring to be thinking about the murders at one point and then her dad and her childhood the next in a full flashback.
I do like watching as people grow as writers, though, so I'll be keeping an eye on more books by Melanie Flynn.
I do, however, think that the novel could have used a bit more refining. There's a lot of telling, not showing--especially in the beginning few chapters, although it does seem to get better later on. Some paragraphs could have been broken up, especially those with attached dialogue pieces. The flashbacks, very informative as they were about Scotty's past, probably could have been, perhaps, divided into their own chapters as the story went on with just little mentions here and there in the story itself. It felt a little jarring to be thinking about the murders at one point and then her dad and her childhood the next in a full flashback.
I do like watching as people grow as writers, though, so I'll be keeping an eye on more books by Melanie Flynn.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 3, 2024
Now don’t get me wrong I loved the premise of this book and the idea of for the storyline itself was really great, but the delivery just left something to be desired. I know that this is the authors first book, and I don’t know if perhaps it was self published and that explains a lot of what I’m about to say; but there are a lot of typos in here, misspelling, letters completely missing from the ends of words and a LOT of redundancy especially in the use of metaphors on the same page or even sometimes in the same line(this is what turned me off the most). I also found that the writing style was a little simplistic??? I think this story has great potential, especially as a series, as I would love to read more of Rylee and Calum solving crimes together; It’s like a classic buddy cop show with a psychic twist. But I really feel like this novel could have benefitted from more proofreading. Now all that said, I know writing your first novel is not easy, and I am comparing this to books that had TEAMS of people overseeing them to ensure their quality. And hey maybe I’m just being picky, it’s just one persons opinion. Don’t let my negative review prevent you from picking up your own copy and supporting a small author.
November 30, 2022
There have been stories about psychic detectives, but none I’m familiar with are quite like The Toy Maker. The detective in this story is New York City private investigator Rylee “Scotty” Scott, owner of Great Scott Investigations. Rylee isn’t your typical psychic who can (or claims to) see the future. Instead, she’s more of an empath, able to forge a connection with people, to be inside their heads. Sometimes this happens when she touches a person, sometimes, it’s spontaneous, but it isn’t something she can force on her own.
Most of Rylee’s investigations involve adulterous spouses. But Bobby Stephens brings her a different type of case: find his missing sister, Brianna. Through her unique abilities, Rylee soon learns Brianna is in the clutches of a diabolical serial killer called the Toy Maker. Sensing she might need official help, she takes the information she’s gathered to the police.
NYPD assigns detective Callum Reese to the case. A cynical loner, Reese carries a personal secret that drives his often self-destructive behavior. The detective isn’t thrilled about working with Rylee, and she’s not exactly happy to be working with him. They do manage to work together, though, in a race against time to catch this serial killer before another body drops.
Together, they rescue Brianna Stephens and collar the serial killer.
Or do they? This murderer may have undiscovered accomplices.
The Toy Maker is an elaborate story with many layers. Each secret Scotty and Reese uncover leads to another puzzle. Reese’s old-fashioned detective work complements Rylee’s psychic abilities, which are crucial to a successful conclusion to their case.
Using Rylee’s psychic gifts as a “magic bullet” to overcome obstacles would be easy. However, this is not the case since her insight comes with limitations. Some readers might consider the psychic angle hard to believe. But the author does an excellent job of making her gift seem plausible.
I liked The Toy Maker. I found it interesting, entertaining, and gripping enough to keep reading. On the other hand, some of the characters’ attributes can be extreme. For instance, Reese’s adamant refusal to forge meaningful interpersonal relationships is a severe reaction to the secret he holds deep in his soul. Another example is Brady, Rylee’s gay office manager, whose antics are sometimes stereotypical. And Rylee often obsesses over the potential consequences of anyone learning she has special powers.
For me, the book’s ambiguous ending was a let down. After some false starts and missed opportunities, Reese has the Toy Maker in cuffs in an interview room. Yet there is evidence that he has a yet-unidentified helper. Is this a teaser for another book? Maybe, but I found it an unsatisfactory ending.
Readers who appreciate mysteries and police procedurals will enjoy The Toy Maker.
Most of Rylee’s investigations involve adulterous spouses. But Bobby Stephens brings her a different type of case: find his missing sister, Brianna. Through her unique abilities, Rylee soon learns Brianna is in the clutches of a diabolical serial killer called the Toy Maker. Sensing she might need official help, she takes the information she’s gathered to the police.
NYPD assigns detective Callum Reese to the case. A cynical loner, Reese carries a personal secret that drives his often self-destructive behavior. The detective isn’t thrilled about working with Rylee, and she’s not exactly happy to be working with him. They do manage to work together, though, in a race against time to catch this serial killer before another body drops.
Together, they rescue Brianna Stephens and collar the serial killer.
Or do they? This murderer may have undiscovered accomplices.
The Toy Maker is an elaborate story with many layers. Each secret Scotty and Reese uncover leads to another puzzle. Reese’s old-fashioned detective work complements Rylee’s psychic abilities, which are crucial to a successful conclusion to their case.
Using Rylee’s psychic gifts as a “magic bullet” to overcome obstacles would be easy. However, this is not the case since her insight comes with limitations. Some readers might consider the psychic angle hard to believe. But the author does an excellent job of making her gift seem plausible.
I liked The Toy Maker. I found it interesting, entertaining, and gripping enough to keep reading. On the other hand, some of the characters’ attributes can be extreme. For instance, Reese’s adamant refusal to forge meaningful interpersonal relationships is a severe reaction to the secret he holds deep in his soul. Another example is Brady, Rylee’s gay office manager, whose antics are sometimes stereotypical. And Rylee often obsesses over the potential consequences of anyone learning she has special powers.
For me, the book’s ambiguous ending was a let down. After some false starts and missed opportunities, Reese has the Toy Maker in cuffs in an interview room. Yet there is evidence that he has a yet-unidentified helper. Is this a teaser for another book? Maybe, but I found it an unsatisfactory ending.
Readers who appreciate mysteries and police procedurals will enjoy The Toy Maker.
December 14, 2022
📚𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊:- ❞𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑻𝒐𝒚 𝑴𝒂𝒌𝒆𝒓❞
👨🦱𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑:- 𝑴𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒆 𝑭𝒍𝒚𝒏𝒏
🌌𝐌𝐘 𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒:- 𝟒.𝟗/𝟓 🌟
𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖:- The book “The Toy Maker” by Author “Melanie Flynn” published with all efforts to make the material error free after the consent of the author. The characters, incidents, events, and everything else mentioned in the book are the author’s efforts to give birth to such mind blowing story.
The cover and the title of the book are indeed eye catching. The book “The Toy Maker” is the kind of thriller book which was full of suspense and investigating thinking of the author. Now, coming to the plot, Rylee Scott the main character of the story is a New York private investigator having secret, which is likely to be having, psychic and allergic to her pet cat. It is the kind of secret that can break such a daring, strong, attentive investigator. One day Rylee Scott will hired for finding a missing women and she started to find herself and involved in this case before she becomes the next victim of a prolific serial killer, which was the Toy Maker. This serial killer is like that who turns his victims into beautiful and horrific life-size versions of classic toys before killing them. I do not want to give you more spoilers. The character were also captivating, human and highly relatable. The plot gets thicker with each chapter and everything is so well thought out. I highly recommend this book if you are looking for a refreshing, thrilling read.
This book is full of suspense, making you totally amazed by the Author's simplicity and honesty in her delivery. You can feel it while reading the book and note its great finessing. The Author has tried a lot to connect it with real life. In summary, the book and title are unique and I hope you will love the way it is presented.
👨🦱𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑:- 𝑴𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒆 𝑭𝒍𝒚𝒏𝒏
🌌𝐌𝐘 𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒:- 𝟒.𝟗/𝟓 🌟
𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖:- The book “The Toy Maker” by Author “Melanie Flynn” published with all efforts to make the material error free after the consent of the author. The characters, incidents, events, and everything else mentioned in the book are the author’s efforts to give birth to such mind blowing story.
The cover and the title of the book are indeed eye catching. The book “The Toy Maker” is the kind of thriller book which was full of suspense and investigating thinking of the author. Now, coming to the plot, Rylee Scott the main character of the story is a New York private investigator having secret, which is likely to be having, psychic and allergic to her pet cat. It is the kind of secret that can break such a daring, strong, attentive investigator. One day Rylee Scott will hired for finding a missing women and she started to find herself and involved in this case before she becomes the next victim of a prolific serial killer, which was the Toy Maker. This serial killer is like that who turns his victims into beautiful and horrific life-size versions of classic toys before killing them. I do not want to give you more spoilers. The character were also captivating, human and highly relatable. The plot gets thicker with each chapter and everything is so well thought out. I highly recommend this book if you are looking for a refreshing, thrilling read.
This book is full of suspense, making you totally amazed by the Author's simplicity and honesty in her delivery. You can feel it while reading the book and note its great finessing. The Author has tried a lot to connect it with real life. In summary, the book and title are unique and I hope you will love the way it is presented.
December 31, 2025
I received a copy of this book from the author, and I always enjoy discovering indie authors. It’s hard to believe The Toy Maker is a debut—this novel is confident, chilling, and incredibly gripping.
When Rylee Scott, a private investigator, is hired to locate a missing woman named Brianna, she quickly realizes she’s racing against a deadly clock set by a serial killer known as The Toy Maker. This killer transforms his victims into grotesque, life-sized versions of classic toys. As the case escalates, Rylee is forced out of the shadows and into an uneasy partnership with Calum Reese, a gruff NYPD detective with a Southern accent and a deep mistrust of private investigators.
Calum is investigating a brutal murder involving a woman found hanging from a tree, posed like a marionette—an image that perfectly captures the disturbing nature of this case. As Calum’s police investigation and Rylee’s private search intersect, the story unfolds into a high-stakes hunt where gritty police work collides with subtle paranormal elements.
This story is dark and genuinely unsettling. The serial killer is truly frightening—I couldn’t read this one at night because it was so creepy. I also had a hard time putting it down. While there are paranormal elements woven into the plot, they never felt overdone and instead added to the tension and unease.
The Toy Maker is a strong and memorable debut that blends horror, thriller, and supernatural elements seamlessly. Melanie Flynn clearly knows how to craft a hook that digs in deep and doesn’t let go. If you enjoy thrillers that aren’t afraid to get a little weird—and a little gory—this is a solid weekend read and one I highly recommend.
When Rylee Scott, a private investigator, is hired to locate a missing woman named Brianna, she quickly realizes she’s racing against a deadly clock set by a serial killer known as The Toy Maker. This killer transforms his victims into grotesque, life-sized versions of classic toys. As the case escalates, Rylee is forced out of the shadows and into an uneasy partnership with Calum Reese, a gruff NYPD detective with a Southern accent and a deep mistrust of private investigators.
Calum is investigating a brutal murder involving a woman found hanging from a tree, posed like a marionette—an image that perfectly captures the disturbing nature of this case. As Calum’s police investigation and Rylee’s private search intersect, the story unfolds into a high-stakes hunt where gritty police work collides with subtle paranormal elements.
This story is dark and genuinely unsettling. The serial killer is truly frightening—I couldn’t read this one at night because it was so creepy. I also had a hard time putting it down. While there are paranormal elements woven into the plot, they never felt overdone and instead added to the tension and unease.
The Toy Maker is a strong and memorable debut that blends horror, thriller, and supernatural elements seamlessly. Melanie Flynn clearly knows how to craft a hook that digs in deep and doesn’t let go. If you enjoy thrillers that aren’t afraid to get a little weird—and a little gory—this is a solid weekend read and one I highly recommend.
August 17, 2025
I was pleasantly surprised with this one!
Love supporting local authors but it's hit-or-miss, especially with a first novel.
This one could have used a bit more refinement/proofreading. There were several typos/grammatical errors I noticed and it was a bit wordy at times. Wish there was more showing instead of telling. Also, instead of giving us new background information about Rylee's childhood/past, it was a lot of the same line repeated over and over throughout the book. Also bothered me a little how "Rylee" turned to "Scotty" throughout the story, even in the chapter headings. A nickname works better when it's used sparingly instead of taking over the entire character. It could have used a little more detail/depth but overall it was decent. Would love to read the sequel to see how the writing grows, and to see what happens next with Rylee and Cal!
Love supporting local authors but it's hit-or-miss, especially with a first novel.
This one could have used a bit more refinement/proofreading. There were several typos/grammatical errors I noticed and it was a bit wordy at times. Wish there was more showing instead of telling. Also, instead of giving us new background information about Rylee's childhood/past, it was a lot of the same line repeated over and over throughout the book. Also bothered me a little how "Rylee" turned to "Scotty" throughout the story, even in the chapter headings. A nickname works better when it's used sparingly instead of taking over the entire character. It could have used a little more detail/depth but overall it was decent. Would love to read the sequel to see how the writing grows, and to see what happens next with Rylee and Cal!
November 10, 2025
🔹The Toy Maker🔹
5⭐️
🔹Psychic Private Investigator
🔹NYPD Detective
🔹Crime Thriller
🔹Dark & Twisty
🔹Strong Female Character
🔹 Duo POV & 200 Pages
🔹 First In Series
🔹 Canadian/NL Author
Rylee Scott, psychic PI, is on a mission to find a missing person that is possibly the next victim of the Toy Maker. A serial killer turning his victims into life size toys. Rylee must team up with Cal from the NYPD to help solve her missing persons case before it is too late…a to take down the Toy Maker.
What a fantastic read!! It was my first crime thriller in a long time and I just might be hooked! Rylee and Cal were the perfect duo for solving the twisted case! Also the banter and romance vibes was a nice surprise!
This book played out like an episode of Criminal Minds with the dark crime, logical thinking, & supporting side characters! So if you love crime tv shows this book is definitely for you 💙
5⭐️
🔹Psychic Private Investigator
🔹NYPD Detective
🔹Crime Thriller
🔹Dark & Twisty
🔹Strong Female Character
🔹 Duo POV & 200 Pages
🔹 First In Series
🔹 Canadian/NL Author
Rylee Scott, psychic PI, is on a mission to find a missing person that is possibly the next victim of the Toy Maker. A serial killer turning his victims into life size toys. Rylee must team up with Cal from the NYPD to help solve her missing persons case before it is too late…a to take down the Toy Maker.
What a fantastic read!! It was my first crime thriller in a long time and I just might be hooked! Rylee and Cal were the perfect duo for solving the twisted case! Also the banter and romance vibes was a nice surprise!
This book played out like an episode of Criminal Minds with the dark crime, logical thinking, & supporting side characters! So if you love crime tv shows this book is definitely for you 💙
February 18, 2023
I loved this book so much I need book 2 to come out right now!
The only negative thing I have to say about it is that is over and I have to wait for book 2.
I loved everything about it.
I loved the characters and the funny banter.
I loved that Rylee has psychic abilities. I thought that really added to the story and made it really interesting. I’ve never seen that done before in a thriller.
I liked that we got a little bit of backstory but not too much that it dragged on.
I loved the writing. It flowed easily and had me hooked from chapter 1.
I loved that we went through every step of the investigation with the characters. I felt like I was solving the case with them.
Highly recommend if you’re looking for a fast paced thriller!
The only negative thing I have to say about it is that is over and I have to wait for book 2.
I loved everything about it.
I loved the characters and the funny banter.
I loved that Rylee has psychic abilities. I thought that really added to the story and made it really interesting. I’ve never seen that done before in a thriller.
I liked that we got a little bit of backstory but not too much that it dragged on.
I loved the writing. It flowed easily and had me hooked from chapter 1.
I loved that we went through every step of the investigation with the characters. I felt like I was solving the case with them.
Highly recommend if you’re looking for a fast paced thriller!
April 23, 2023
It's a very well crafted mystery with charismatic main characters. It was wild to see someone who lives in Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, write a novel that takes place in New York City. Having lived in both places, I think she did a good job of conveying the NYC vibe. The one problem with the book was the copy editing. I started holding a pen while I read so I could correct the errors.
July 27, 2025
A fast paced, chilling thriller with a sharp edge of humor and heart.The Toy Maker’s Game delivers a gripping ride through the dark streets of New York with psychic PI Rylee Scott at the helm a heroine as flawed as she is fierce. The chemistry between her and brooding NYPD detective Calum Reese crackles with tension, while the twisted villain leaves a haunting impression. A perfect mix of suspense, supernatural intrigue, and snark, this book keeps you guessing and gasping until the final page.
January 22, 2026
Really enjoyed this book. Great characters and great story.
It started off strong and pulled you into it right away. Plot was good and the way the characters worked together was interesting..Fast paced and definitely a page turner.
Hard to believe this was a debut novel!! This is an author to watch.
The ending was good but...
My only complaint ......I will need to read the follow up book The Lost Lamb to help tie up the ending a little bit. I know that was left like that on purpose.
It started off strong and pulled you into it right away. Plot was good and the way the characters worked together was interesting..Fast paced and definitely a page turner.
Hard to believe this was a debut novel!! This is an author to watch.
The ending was good but...
My only complaint ......I will need to read the follow up book The Lost Lamb to help tie up the ending a little bit. I know that was left like that on purpose.
November 18, 2025
This is an easy book to read, both in terms of writing style and in that you want to keep turning the pages to see what is going to happen.
She is a debut author, from Newfoundland and it is always great to support our local authors.
I will admit that sometimes it is a touch cheesy and predictable but still fun enough to want me to see what happens in book 2!
She is a debut author, from Newfoundland and it is always great to support our local authors.
I will admit that sometimes it is a touch cheesy and predictable but still fun enough to want me to see what happens in book 2!
January 20, 2023
A great read from a first time author. Kept me guessing and intrigued and I finished it in one day. Definitely will read the next book!
February 9, 2026
This could be a great movie. It keeps you guessing and on the edge of your seat!
May 16, 2023
Set in New York, Melanie Flynn's debut novel, "The Toy Maker", follows psychic PI Rylee Scott and NYPD detective Calum Reese as they do everything in their power to find the horrific serial killer, the Toy Maker, before he makes more humans into classic toys. Melanie Flynn is a brilliant author who completely pulls the reader into the story with her intriguing writing style. Along with chasing the Toy Maker, the story is made all the more interesting with Rylee dealing with her psychic abilities and mommy issues and Calum hiding from his past. This book is recommended to all mystery and thriller buffs.
May 23, 2023
I started reading this book to support a local author but I finished it because of the fast plot and interesting characters. This book was my first step into mystery/thrillers and has become a pillar in what I expect out of the genre. I’m looking forward to the sequel!
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