by D.W. Gillespie
Release Date: July 28, 2026
2026 Delacorte Press
Ebook ARC; 288 Pages
ISBN: 978-0593814925
ASIN:B0FY4YDMJS
Audiobook: B0FY51QT9P
Genre: Fiction / Horror / Middle Grade
Source: Review copy from publisher
4 / 5 Stars
Summary
Garrett never met his grandfather, Burke, but he’s heard the stories from his mother. Burke was an enormously successful writer, but he was also notoriously cruel, especially to his family. After he passes away suddenly, Garrett and his mother are told that his enormous fortune is hers…if they agree to spend a week at his estate.
The house is a monument to Burke’s obsession with puppet-like dolls, and the attic is packed with cryptic notes and ancient books. It’s clear that his grandfather was up to something, but Garrett can only guess what, and his fear only deepens when he finds a creepily detailed doll with 'Marion' written on the foot.
As the week progresses, Garrett realizes that the house isn’t what it seems. An old typewriter clicks away on its own. There are sounds in the night that come from the basement. And strangest of all is Marion, who always seems to be watching...
The house is a monument to Burke’s obsession with puppet-like dolls, and the attic is packed with cryptic notes and ancient books. It’s clear that his grandfather was up to something, but Garrett can only guess what, and his fear only deepens when he finds a creepily detailed doll with 'Marion' written on the foot.
As the week progresses, Garrett realizes that the house isn’t what it seems. An old typewriter clicks away on its own. There are sounds in the night that come from the basement. And strangest of all is Marion, who always seems to be watching...
My Thoughts
The Doll House was a lot of fun to read and for a middle grade horror novel, it definitely had its creepy moments. I know one of the things that has always creeped me out over the years has been dolls, especially the Bisque Porcelain era starting in the 1850s. I can handle a lot of things in horror novels, but keep those dolls away from me. Even as a kid I didn't like to play with dolls as I found them creepy.
One of the things I really enjoyed in this book was the relationship between Garrett and his mom. Because it has always been the two of them, you could sense the easy camaraderie between them as well as the open lines of communication. So when things start getting a little weird around the house, Garrett doesn't feel afraid to tell his mom about what he sees or hears even though her response is somewhat lukewarm. I did really like that Garrett behaved like a twelve-year-old boy, full of curiosity, and disobeyed his mother once in a while even if it was not necessarily open rebellion. When you have this big, creepy old house that was lived in by a grandfather you did not know, what would any kid do? Explore, naturally. And if they explored in areas that shouldn't be explored? Well, that happens, doesn't it? I would have done the same. I explored my memere's basement even though I was told not to go into certain areas. A big creepy house would have been a gold mine for someone who was curious and wanted answers like Garrett.
The plot moved along rapidly which is something I would expect in a middle grade novel in order to keep a young person engaged, but it certainly kept me engaged as well. There were definitely some creepy moments, and some things that happened to Garrett that were somewhat dangerous, but still at the level of a middle grade novel. There were quite a few themes running through this book that an adult could unpack quite easily, but may be somewhat of a reach for younger children which is fine as they would enjoy the story quite easily regardless. Some of the themes were: childhood abuse, death, control, generational trauma, spousal abuse, communication, friendship, loyalty, parenting, family, and the list goes on. Most of the themes were not delved into too deeply and were at the level of this book, but they are still great launching pads for those who wish to have deeper discussions with their children. My only negative on this book is there are dozens of MG books that have dolls and a haunted house, so I would like to read something with a different take once a while, like maybe haunted technology or any other haunted item that does not feature dolls. Just a personal thought and this in no way reflects my enjoyment of this book.
Verdict
The Doll House was a creepy MG novel with a fun plot and interesting characters. I did really like the setting as it was atmospheric and haunting, and definitely a kid's playground, especially for one looking for adventure and mayhem like Garrett. I enjoyed the ending to the book and thought it all tied in nicely in the end although I did feel like the explanation for the motive for Garrett's grandfather was a bit loose and not fully explained. However, the tension of the story was kept up throughout and I had a difficult time putting this book down. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is nostalgic for that Goosebumps creepiness or, not having read those books, just want a fun creepy book.
