Zoe is part of the FBI, but after being undercover for so long, she's now working with a small town police department to find a missing girl. But when the girl turns up dead, it seems this small town has bigger secrets than she first thought, and she will need to find the truth before another crime is committed.

Choudhary writes each character with a unique back story, giving us an engaging narrative we can't put down.

Every character was so intriguing, and I loved how the main character, Zoe Storm, seemed to straddle a thin line between right and wrong.

This has to be my new favourite crime series, I cannot recommend enough!

This is my first book by Ruhi and it definitely won’t be my last. I love Zoe’s character. There’s so much depth to her. She’s more than just a Special Agent and we get only a taste of her past in this book. Zoe’s mind works in unique ways and she comes to conclusions quicker than some of her coworkers. I love that dynamic in police forces.

I listened to this one primarily on audio and I flew through it in only a day. Stephanie’s portrayal of Zoe really made me connect with her.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for my copies of this book.

An absolutely shocking and relentless thriller that keeps you guessing until the very end.
Impossible to put down, this gripping page turner is full of twists and shocks that draws the reader in and doesn’t let you go until the twisted and shocking finale.
Brilliantly crafted chills and more than enough clues to keep you guessing, this is one hell of a read.
Highly recommended.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

three nooses hanging from a tree
a girls body has been placed under that tree
a message is left in one of the hanging nooses

the message sent has been received theres going to be two more victims unless they can stop the perp

zoe storm is sent by the fbi to help the local police force, she is a milk shake drinking sweet eating fbi agent with talent for solving troubling cases and she may have some insight into this case...

ohhh man this book started off so well and i was hooked from the first page... but there was so much going on.... with zoe's past family history and with to many characters to get your head around i did lose my way a little bit... and i can get behind a sweet eating milk shake drinking fbi agent with a talent for solving crimes if it was made a bit clearer what sort of talent she has... i was a bit mystified.... but her back story sounds interesting with more clues at the end...

hopefully in the next book in this series things will become a bit clearer

The Hanging Dolls by Rubi Choudhary is a haunting and emotionally charged thriller that explores the darkest corners of human nature through the tragic lens of missing and murdered children. With a deeply unsettling premise and a narrative that doesn’t shy away from the grim details, this novel grips readers from the start and refuses to let go.

Choudhary’s writing is both chilling and compassionate, capturing the horror of the crimes while honoring the emotional weight behind them. The fear and grief felt throughout the story are palpable, and the atmosphere is thick with tension, dread, and sorrow. As the mystery unfolds, the disturbing truths at the heart of the story come to light in a twisted and unforgettable climax.

The Hanging Dolls is not only a gripping crime thriller but also a stark reminder of the fragility of innocence. Rubi Choudhary has crafted a story that is equal parts heartbreaking and horrifying—an unsettling, powerful read that lingers long after the final page.

Let me start by saying, for this being the first book in a series, I can easily see this becoming a favorite! The prologue hooked me, intrigued me, and pulled me in emotionally. And that ending? WHOA! I immediately had to see when the second book would release.
I read the book and listened to the audiobook - Stephanie Cannon, the narrator, did an excellent job heightening the tension and suspense, maintaining it throughout!

This is the first book I’ve read from the author and I’m so super excited for what she writes next!

If you enjoy FBI based characters and/or police procedurals or are just looking for a good thriller in general, I highly recommend checking out this FOUR STAR read! This was just released July 30th, 2025 and is free to read for Kindle Unlimited members.

Thank you NetGalley, Ruhi Choudhary, Bookouture and Bookouture Audio for the opportunity to enjoy this chilling story in exchange for a review.

I was very intrigued when during the intro of this new series, you get a very "Dexter-like" mystery with young Zoe finding her mother dead in her bath and having to be interrogated by the police, but she kept some important evidence from being found. And then, the book shifts to Zoe as an adult and being a special agent with strong empathy towards the murder (or other) victims she has to investigate around. It was a little hard to follow with all the jumps in narrative, hence why I would give it 4 starts instead of 5. Overall a good start of a new series, will be nice to read more of Zoe's story. Thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I’m always thrilled to begin a new crime fiction series.
This is new one beat me up!! Every time I thought I had things figured out the author used me as punching bag and walloped me with an other surprise!
The two themes in the story are rage and trauma.
Zoe possesses a lot of rage and questions. Almost every character has a deep seated secret that made my jaw drop.
The main culprit didn’t surprise me but many other revelations did take me surprise.
Will Zoe ever find the truth about her past??

This was a fantastic kick off to a new series. I am already completely invested in Zoe. The mystery is full of twists and suspense. I read it in one sitting. I also want more of Aiden. This was an intriguing read and that ending left me wanting the next book immediately!

The Hanging Dolls is book one in the FBI agent Zoe Storm series by Ruhi Choudhary.
So serial killer thriller’s are my absolute favorite!
And to say I’m beyond excited for a new series written by Choudhary is an understatement.
A thoroughly enjoyable and gripping psychological thriller, which will have you not wanting to put this down.
Many twists and turns to this mystery thriller. Great plot & great characters. Good right up to the last page.

I love the Detective Mackenzie Price series and can’t wait to see where this series goes.,

An absolutely gripping and unputdownable serial killer thriller with a jaw-dropping twist!

I had a hard time getting through this book. I was so excited to get the advance copy but this book dragged for me.

I have to say, the main reason I picked this book up was because the main character was called Zoe. I know I said it. I couldn't help myself. And then you get that chilling prologue, and then you are hooked.

I loved my namesake character. She's not named after me. We just had the same name, but from her opening backstory to what we uncover about her throughout the book, about her mum, and then that chilling end. I mean, I need answers now. I'm not gonna get any answers now either, which is really frustrating, because I don't even know when the next book is coming out, but I need some answers.

The main storyline is what we're here for. Although I did love the side storyline of Zoe, the main storyline was just so sad, you know, the three nooses, the girls, the missing girl, and everything between. It is one that, unless you are completely heartless, it will get you. There's no two ways about it. This storyline, whenever it involves children, even if you don't have children, gets you and the fact that these girls are the same age as my daughter, straight away, I'm hooked, I'm also scared, and I just want to hug my child and never let her out of my sight.

I love Zoe as a character. I love her tenacious behaviour. I love the bond that she's creating with Dr Aiden Wesley when we had the behind-the-scenes, sort of discussions that they have, and just seeing their friendship and their relationship grow throughout the book.
Steve was another favourite, but I can't talk about that. He is a great character. Just everything about this book, and being the first series, it just makes you want to carry on with the rest of the series.

I feel like we've got a lot more to unpack with Zoe. There's a lot more we need to know and that we don't know. Who the hell is the Viper, the case itself? I mean, the less you know about the book itself, the better. I mean, one scene I was in the car on the way home, because I bought the audiobook, and I was white knuckling it on my steering wheel. A scene with Zoe and Steve, when they were surrounded by a mob of people. Oh, my God, I was tense. It was just such an emotive and scary scene, you just didn't know what was going to happen next, and that got me.

I'm looking forward to the next one, if I haven't made that clear already. Zoe's a good character, Aiden's a good character, and I'm definitely looking forward to seeing more from the pair at them. Brilliant.

The Hanging Dolls kicks off a new crime thriller series featuring Special Agent Zoe Storm — a determined investigator driven by justice and a deep empathy for the victims she encounters. The case of young Lily Baker’s disappearance and the chilling symbolism left at the crime scene sets a dark and emotional tone right from the beginning.

This book has a strong premise and definitely delivers when it comes to suspense and atmosphere. The small-town setting, the emotional weight of the crimes, and Zoe’s own motivations make for an engaging start. I appreciated how the author laid the groundwork for the series and introduced characters with depth and potential for development.

That said, I did find the plot hard to follow at times. The narrative jumped around more than I prefer, which occasionally broke the momentum. There were moments where the pacing dragged slightly, especially in between action-heavy scenes. Still, those who enjoy detailed investigations and emotionally driven storytelling will likely find a lot to appreciate here.

Despite some unevenness, this is a solid first book in what looks to be an intriguing series. I’ll definitely be continuing with the next installment — I’m curious to see how Zoe’s story develops from here.

Another great read by Ruhi Choudhary
The plot was good, keeping me guessing till the end
The book does jump around a lot (in my opinion) while setting out the background but as this is book 1, I’m looking forward to seeing where Zoe Storm goes and how her character progresses
Looking forward to reading Book 2

From the premise, I really wanted to love this book. From the title to the main character, I was ready to get my teeth into a thriller and initially I really enjoyed it. However I did find that from the middle the pace slowed somewhat for me and I was wishing for more action to lure me back in. I think I would like to read the next book in the series but hope it’s a bit more pacy. Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and the author for the chance to review.

This book was an absolute page turner! Every chapter ended with a cliffhanger so you had to know what happened next! You were taken on a roller coaster of trying to figure out who the killer was in such a small town while also trying to figure out what happened in Zoe's past and how or who killed her mother. I have to say I had written down multiple theories as to what would happen and a few of them were right! I dont think I expected it to end the way it did but I absolutely will be reading more from this series because I have to know what happens! 10/10 recommend this book if you enjoy twists and turns and crime thrillers.

Harborwood in Washington is a small town with a close-knit community.

When six-year-old Lily Baker is abducted, the local police don’t know what to do - this is new to them, it just doesn’t happen in their town.

FBI Special Agent Zoe Storm is sent to help them. Zoe has her own problems, she’s an angry character who bottles things inside. With psychologist, Dr Aiden Wesley by her side, Zoe will need all the help she can get with this case.

When another child goes missing, the town is in uproar and demands action.

Why are the children being taken, just what is happening in this small town?

This was an emotionally-charged and dark thriller. With the subject being about children being murdered, it certainly wasn’t an easy read. I liked most of the characters, and the writer managed to get across the vulnerability of Zoe’s character.

The twists in the story meant that I was kept guessing throughout, which is always a good sign for me!

This is the first book in a new series and I’m looking forward to reading more, as this is also a new author to me.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

This is the first book in the Zoe Storm series and it was a goodie. From the get-go I really took to Zoe as a character. She’s an FBI Agent with a backstory of her own that I’m so invested in. There is 2 storylines running alongside each other in this one and I’m here for it and I can’t wait for the next instalment. I really liked this authors style of writing along with the well developed storylines and characters. I could really see myself getting into this series and getting to know Zoe more…

Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the opportunity to read and review #TheHangingDolls

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this digital advance copy. This is the first book in the FBI Agent Zoe storm series and my first book by this author. I was gripped from the beginning and really enjoyed getting to know Zoe and her psyche through her sessions with Dr Aiden and the POV from her childhood. As the storyline unfolded it was hard to predict the twists and turns. The book was left open for more in the series which I look forward to reading.

First book by this author, and a foray in a new series.
We are introduced to Special Agent Zoe Storm and her partner Dr Aiden Wesley.
A good thriller, a great twist which was not predictable, and a cracker of a story makes a brilliant read.
Zoe Storm is a great character, bends the rules a bit but out for justice for all.
Really look forward to book 2 already!