This book was ok, just not something that made me want to pick it up and be excited about it. I did finish, but there was nothing “different “ about this plot. Another typical investigation story. The narrator was decent. If I was reading this and not listening to it, I probably would not have finished it.

3.5/5 ⭐️

The Hanging Dolls follows FBI Agent Zoe Storm as she uncovers the death of seven-year-old Lily Baker, who was found in the woods with a note and three nooses hanging from a tree. Another girl was found dead, and a third one went missing. So, Zoe had to race to find the girl alive.

“The value of a person is inversely proportional to their size.”

This fast-paced crime thriller story has a decent plot. It provided enough foreboding atmospheric scenes that made me slightly tensed. The plot twist provided a good climax to the case. The ending made me want to reach for book 2.

The only drawbacks I can say is that there are not enough adrenalin fueled scenes, and compelling puzzles.

If you are new to this genre or just want an “easy crime thriller” read, this one is for you.

Thank you to Netgalley and Boukouture Audio for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Hanging Dolls dives deep into a chilling investigation centered on a killer targeting young girls. As the case unfolds, dark secrets begin to rise to the surface—not just from the suspects, but from the very heart of the small town itself. The investigators find themselves entangled in a web of lies, fear, and deeply buried truths that shake the community to its core. The tension simmers from page one, keeping you just as anxious as the characters who are desperate for answers.

This book had me hooked the entire time—I was constantly guessing and reevaluating what I thought I knew. Just when I felt like I had it figured out, the story delivered a twist I never saw coming. The suspense was intense, the pacing spot-on, and the final reveal was jaw-dropping. If you love crime thrillers with strong investigative angles and plenty of small-town secrets, Hanging Dolls is a must-read.

This was the first book I’ve read (or listened!) by the author. It was a genuinely enjoyable experience. This book is the first in the Zoe Storm series, and it’s impossible not to be eager for the second one. If you enjoy thriller, crime, fiction and mystery; then this one is definitely for you!
This is an ARC review. I appreciate receiving this copy from NetGalley and the publisher in return for an honest review.

A mystery thriller that started and ended with me captivated! The story takes us through a small town with an FBI agent who was sent to help solve a crime. The story weaved many pieces of the small town life together and I did not see the resolution! I will eagerly be waiting for the next book to come out in this series to see where FBI Agent Zoe Storm goes to solve her own life’s mystery.

The Hanging Dolls by Ruhi Choudhary
4.5 starts out of 5

The Hanging Dolls is book #1 in a new series featuring FBI agent Zoe Storm. Zoe’s mom dies when she is very young. It appears to be a suicide, but Zoe knows otherwise. Years later, Zoe works for the FBI and is involved in a case involving a missing 7 year old girl who appears to be taken by a serial killer. In a side story, Zoe continues to try to find out what happened to her mom years ago.

When I first started reading books for fun, once I was finished being assigned books that I didn’t really like in school, serial killer books were my jam. As I’ve read more, I don’t go back to this genre as often, but this book reminded me why I loved that genre of book. The relationship between Zoe and her partner is interesting and the case they are solving has many twists to it.

I began the audiobook at the start of a 3 hour trip and when I got home I kept listening until it was over. Stephanie Cannon did a great job narrating the book and I had very little trouble following the characters simply by the different voices that she used. It’s rare for me to have a book keep my interest to the point that I finish it in one day, but that’s what happened in this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I needed to sleep, but I simply couldn’t stop! I was enthralled from the first chapter where we meet Zoe as a child, before charging into the main mystery: now a Special Agent, she’s been summoned to a small town to investigate the disappearance (and then murder) of young Lily Baker. As the locals are rocked by tragedy, Zoe races against the clock to find the killer and to make sure that they don’t get any other children.

Teetering on the edge of thriller and horror, I enjoyed this story and the unraveling of the townspeople and their secrets; Zoe herself has quite a past and many things she is facing. I enjoyed the different red herrings and characters as they came into play, especially Aiden, her associate.

Stephanie Cannon gave a phenomenal narration as always, nailing the different voices of the characters and distinguishing them in a way that doesn’t distract from the tale. The pacing and emotion from her performance really immersed me into the story. I was honestly not sure of this book at first due to the dark content, but when I saw that she was the narrator, I had to give it a go, and as always, I was not disappointed.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story. Zoe is an interesting and complex character, and I hope to see her again soon as the series unfolds.

Thank you to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for this audiobook ARC; all opinions are my own.

Thank you Netgalley for my copy.

This book fell flat for me. First of all, police procedure isn't my favourite and this is part of an FBI series, which I didn't realize. There was enough information that most of it made sense, but if course some elements were missing. I mention this because it wasn't clear in the description. I tend to avoid series.

Some thing(s) I liked:
✅Writing was okay
✅Fairly short

Some thing(s), not so much:
⭕Munchausans by proxy is an archaic and outdated term. It is not used any more and a little more research should have been done. It should be referred to as Factitious Disorder Imposed on Another (FDIA).
⭕Also, with a frequency of fewer than 1 in 10,000, it is classes as very rare. more than one mother in the same small area had this very rare mental illness? So improbable, it's near impossible. I get it, it's for the purpose of the story, but thriller still have to be believable.
⭕Zee is annoying and her masochism via illegal wrestling just feels silly

I love FBI thrillers and this one was really great! The narrator was clearly spoken and each word was enunciated well. This first novel in the series introduced a bunch of characters and their various dramas, but I never had any issue following along and knowing who was who. I really enjoyed the overall mystery and the who done it, though I did have my guesses. Overall, I can't wait to see more of this series and get to know the characters more and see the background plot lines come to a head.

Thank you netgalley and Bookouture for the ALC!

Really like the writing and the characters
Super intrigued by Zoe
Interesting story about murder
It was a bit slow in the middle and dragged but the twists and ending was really good!

This book was like reading a Criminal Minds episode. The FMC def gave Prentiss vibes.

It was a phenomenal thriller. It had me questioning everyone’s motives until the very last chapter. Creepy, clever, and just the right amount of messed up. The interlacing plots kept the book high paced and nonstop.

"We have to tell our daughters to be careful because no one tells their sons to behave."-this quote lives rent free in my brain purely because of its truth.

I definitely recommend this book. Fans of the BAU, this one’s for you!

This is a gripping and suspenseful mystery that kept me on edge from the very first chapter. The story follows FBI Special Agent Zoe Storm as she tries to solve the mystery of six year old Lily Baker. When the body of Lily Baker is found in the woods against a tree and three nooses are hanging nearby, indicating there will be more children taken, Zoe Storm draws you into a dark and twist-filled investigation.

The plot was well-crafted, with just the right mix of tension and intrigue. I really liked the characters and the overall storyline. The book had me hooked right from the beginning, and just when I thought I had everything figured out, a twist would catch me completely off guard. I really enjoyed this book overall and found it hard to stop listening.

The narration by Stephanie Cannon was fantastic. Her voice work was excellent, making it easy to distinguish between characters and adding an extra layer of tension and emotion to the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for providing an advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest opinion.

When I saw the synopsis for The Hanging Dolls, it brought me right back to the crime thrillers books on CD I used to listen to when I was younger driving around! My mom and I always traded them back and forth!

And it was just that! A fast-paced crime thriller with a "I don't need anyone" FMC FBI agent with a dark past. The crime she was investigating in this small town was a brutal one, and it was a race against the clock to stop the killer before they struck again. This one had some good twists and some great supporting characters. At times, I found Zoe's mission to uncover the truth about her mother's death a bit distracting from the investigation storyline, but once it was really set up, I felt engaged with both! The audio was also really well done, which just added to the story!

This book got me invested enough to want to continue on the Zoe Storm journey, and I will definitely be looking for the next book.

Thank you, @netgalley & and @bookouture, for this ALC in exchange for an honest review

This is the start of a new series that follows FBI Special Agent Zoe Storm. From the book blurb, “When the body of young Lily Baker is found in the sprawling woods behind the close-knit town of Harborwood, Washington, Special Agent Zoe Storm and her partner Dr Aiden Wesley rush to the scene. Nearby, three symbolic nooses hang from a branch and Zoe feels certain that it’s a warning that two more lives will be taken.”

What I liked: Most aspects of the book, the characters, the setting, the core mystery were good, not amazing, but good. I enjoyed the close knit town aspect and the gloomy Pacific Northwest vibes. The FMC Zoe Storm is an enjoyable character, with lots of secrets in her past that I am sure will be delved into more as the series goes on. The ending was sufficiently satisfying, but don’t expect crazy twists.

What I didn’t love: Maybe it was just a me problem, but I found the different POVs and flashbacks a bit confusing, especially because I listened to this as an audiobook. I prefer the chapter titles to include the year or some other clear marker that we are no longer in the present. There are still parts of this book that I don’t know if they took place in the past or the present. And I’m still unsure about how some characters were related to others. There was a bit too much side “clutter” in the book to make the core mystery really immersive. We are following Zoe in the present, trying to find missing girls, but we are also in the past with Zoe as a kid when her mom died, and also Zoe maybe in the past or present in her sessions with the FBI psychologist (who is also her partner), and then we also follow various townspeople. It’s just a lot. There were also parts that required my disbelief to be suspended a bit too much. A pharmacist just casually telling another person about a third parties meds? Would never happen. Little things like that took me out of the narrative at times.

Overall, this was a very middle of the road thriller. I don’t know that I will continue the series, but I did enjoy this book for what it was!

The Hanging Dolls started right off into the action. There were many characters and many backstories which I kind of got lost in and couldn't figure out who was who at times. The narrator did a good job of voicing so many characters, some did sound similar and that may be where I lost track of which character was which. It kept me guessing until the end and I sure didn't figure any of it out! Overall it was a very good book and I look forward to reading more about Zoe. I really need to keep reading and find out all there is to know about her life.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and Bookcouture for the advance Arc audiobook. I really appreciate the opportunity to read this book.

Unfortunately I ended up DNF’ing this book.

The narrator was not the best and the male character voices just sounded comical.

I was also not connecting to the main female character.

I will not leave a rating on Goodreads since I did not finish this novel.

4.25/5 stars. Thank you to Ms. Choudhary, the publisher, and Netgalley for the ALC!

I really enjoyed the start of this series. Zoe Storm is a strong character who has a dark childhood. This has led her to her career in the FBI, working the hard cases. And the case she and her temporary partner, Dr. Aiden Wesley, get called to is one of the darker ones. A child has been found dead with a sign that more are to come...

The main plot of the story was very intriguing. We hop around to a few characters, mainly Scott (the lead detective) and Zoe, with the majority being Zoe. There are some time skips throughout that may be a little difficult to determine in the audiobook, but I think the narrator does an excellent job in trying to differentiate. There were some twists and turns in this novel that I didn't see coming and I always appreciate that in a mystery!

Ms. Choudhary leaves just enough of a breadcrumb trail in a subplot following Zoe's past that I need to follow. So you can consider me a subscriber to this series!

The little girl’s body rests gently against the trunk of an old fir tree, her small hands laid delicately in her lap. From the day she became a Special Agent, Zoe Storm vowed to seek justice for the innocent. And for this little angel, her promise burns brighter than ever.

When the body of young Lily Baker is found in the sprawling woods behind the close-knit town of Harborwood, Washington, Special Agent Zoe Storm and her partner Dr Aiden Wesley rush to the scene. Nearby, three symbolic nooses hang from a branch and Zoe feels certain that it’s a warning that two more lives will be taken.

Witnesses spotted Lily talking to an unknown man, and she was given candy shortly before she disappeared. Then, another girl vanishes from her bed in the middle of the night. The only link between the girls is that they were from broken homes. Did the killer promise them safety?

With time running out, Zoe uncovers a cryptic note with a clue pointing to the name of the next child and an abandoned greenhouse on the outskirts of town. Zoe knows the killer has set a trap for her. But with two lives hanging in the balance, she will do everything to bring her home.

An utterly gripping new crime thriller series that will have you flipping the pages deep unto the night until the final heart-stopping twist. Fans of Mary Stone, Kendra Elliot and Melinda Leigh will be hooked from start to finish.

While I went into this blindly, not realizing it's the first book in a series, I did really enjoy the alternating storyline. I really liked Zoe and Dr. Aiden's characters. The narration was good in the sense that you could easily tell past and present but if more characters are added in book 2, it may be beneficial to have a male narrator as well. The ending definitely did what it's supposed to in a series. Wraps up enough to feel satisfied, but leaves enough questions that you are looking for the next book.

Thank you to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ALC 🎧
Expected publication July 30, 2025

I was really looking forward to finding a new series that I love, but I'm not sure how I feel about this yet. The writing itself and the MC were great. I enjoyed the bit of mystery we got with her backstory, which will obviously be revealed more with later books. The premise was intriguing & dark - right up my alley. There were two things that kept me from rating higher. One is that the ending fell flat. I was surprised with the reveals, but I didn't FEEL anything. I wanted some "edge of my seat" moments that never came.

Secondly, I didn't like the narration, which can ruin a book. I think this would've been a different experience had I read the physical copy. The narrator did AWFUL male character voices, and there are several of them. I have to visualize a book like a movie when listening or reading, so it completely throws me off when character voices are terrible. She made every one sound like an elderly man on the brink of death. It was so frustrating. It actually reminded me of some old man cartoon character, but I can't place which one. I really want to give book #2 a shot, but I will stick to the physical or Kindle version, depending on the narrator.

Atmospheric and Dark, But Didn’t Fully Deliver for Me

Ruhi Choudhary’s The Hanging Dolls opens with a chilling crime scene and a determined Special Agent Zoe Storm, setting the stage for a suspenseful ride. The premise—missing girls, a symbolic message left at the scene, and a twisted trail of clues—is compelling and emotionally charged. It’s everything you want from a gritty, small-town serial killer thriller.

The audiobook narration by Stephanie Cannon is solid and steady. She gives Zoe a confident voice, and her pacing fits the story’s tone. However, I did find some of the character voices blended together, which occasionally made it hard to follow emotionally intense moments.

While the beginning drew me in, the middle slowed down, with familiar tropes and a few predictable beats. The final twist was intriguing but didn’t land as powerfully as I hoped. Still, fans of procedural thrillers and dark investigations will find enough here to enjoy.

3/5 stars – Atmospheric and well-narrated, but the pacing and predictability held it back.