Detective Inspector Helen Grace is back for the third instalment in the DI Helen Grace series with The Doll’s House. This time she is on the hunt for another serial killer in Southampton, one that has gone unnoticed for several years.
The Doll’s House sees a young woman go to sleep in her own bed only to wake up locked up in a dark cellar with no idea how she got there. She has been abducted and her nightmare is just about to begin.
Meanwhile, the body of a similar looking woman is uncovered on a beach but she had never been reported missing and had still been tweeting and texting right up to her discovery of her body. Someone has been sending messages from beyond the grave!
DI Helen Grace is convinced she is yet again searching for another serial killer in Southampton. One who has gone undetected for years and one who is very clever and resourceful. She is determined to save the latest victim at all costs.
While she gets on with her job, police politics are at play and someone is hell-bent on getting her removed from the police force, so she is fighting on two fronts.
The Doll’s House is a good story but I was left a bit disappointed after reading Eeny Meeny and Pop Goes the Weasel (I loved the fast pace and brutalness of these). The first half of the book featured more about the police politics and, for me, didn’t have enough action (I think Mr Arlidge spoiled me in the first two books in the series). The second part of the book got more interesting and sped up more. While about a serial killer there is no real killing happening and is more psychological.
That said, the story was good and interesting while building up the characters more (you learn more about each character as the series of books continue). We also see some of the old characters leave and some new ones introduced.
The Doll’s House by M. J. Arlidge is a different addition to the DI Helen Grace series but it is still a great thriller that will ensure you will not be able to set the book down and keep turning page after page.
Rating: 4.5/5
RRP: £7.99 (Paperback)
Available to buy from Amazon here.