I’m kicking off the first Friday of Summer of Horror with a list! Last summer I explored color in horror book covers, and this year I’m tackling some horror tropes, both familiar and a little off the beaten path. Haunted or possessed dolls is one of the creepier themes in horror, and while it’s not as popular as other tropes, I managed to find eight books that fit the theme. I started with my Goodreads “read” list and was able to find quite a few. The last two books haven’t been released yet, but I’m dying to read both! I’m staying away from older books (I did an internet search for possessed doll books and found a bunch from the 1970s!) so these are all fairly new.
How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix. This is the book that started my search for other possessed doll books. If you haven’t read it, the story revolves around a brother and sister who are wrapping up their parents affairs after they are killed in a freak accident. And their mother’s hobby was making dolls and puppets, which are EVERYWHERE in the house. This is a fun, spooky and emotional story that I highly recommend.
The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell. This book as well as the sequel (House of Splinters) are two of the scariest books I’ve read! They involve a family house that appears to be cursed with possessed “silent companions” (wooden figures that depict people and animals). Both are so much fun!
Snake-Eater by T. Kingfisher. The possessed doll isn’t the main story element in this book, but I wanted to include it because there is indeed a doll that keeps moving around the house. The story itself is one of Kingfisher’s best, I loved it!
Night of the Mannequins by Stephen Graham Jones. This awesome slasher is about a possessed mannequin, and it’s a quick read with a great twist.
Teddy Bears Never Die by Cho Yeeun. This is a recent read that I really enjoyed. The story revolves around a stuffed teddy bear possessed by the soul of a young boy. This is another slasher that’s perfect for summer, and if you’d like to give a translated Korean horror story a try, I recommend it.
The Cellar Below the Cellar by Ivy Grimes. This bite-sized folk horror novella involves a magical doll, a nod to a Russian fairy tale. I enjoyed this off-kilter story that was very different from anything I’ve read.
The Porcelain Sisters by Daryl Gregory. This is an upcoming October release that I’m very excited to read! The story is about a woman and her sister, who just happens to be a haunted doll!
She’s a Doll by Barbara Truelove. I love how obvious the title is—this is the story of a murdered girl who possesses a porcelain doll. I just requested this on NetGalley, I hope I’m approved!
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