World's Scariest Places Book 4
Island of the Dolls
World's Scariest Places Book 4
Published: 21, March 2016
Author: Jeremy Bates
Genres: American, Classics, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Movie Tie-In, Mysteries, Supernatural, Suspense, Teen, Thrillers, Werewolf, Young Adult
The Review:
All the characteristics of a Jeremy Bates novel: well-written, well-paced, and you won't be able to put it down once you've started reading it. The 'World's Scariest Places' series is a brilliant concept, and "Island of the Dolls" is one of the most horrific episodes thus far. It's almost reminiscent of "Suicide Forest," which isn't a negative thing given it's one of my favorite books in the series so far.
"Island of the Dolls," like "Suicide Forest," has a fast-paced plot, appealing, sympathetic characters, and a frightening, atmospheric setting that Jeremy Bates' crisp, sharp writing expertly brings to life. The young ensemble of characters have a similar mix of friendships and rivalries, as well as a first-person narrator in the form of an American ex-pat teaching English to Japanese business people in "Suicide Forest" and a binge-drinking American race car driver in Mexico in "...Dolls."
Another thing they seem to have in common appears to be a Bates favored technique, in which the otherworldly shocks turn out to be less eerie and more of a very human tragedy. I shall not, however, expose anything about the novels to the readers.
As I've noted in previous book reviews, it's wonderful how the author takes genuine places and their histories and adds his own tale to them, and that is what he did with this story also. This one is really creepy with a great story as well. But there was one issue, and that was the second part of the book. The first half is fantastic, but it quickly devolves into something unexpected, as this author does with many of his works.
If you like horror stories set in scary places; you'll enjoy this one, as well as all of Jeremy Bates' previous works. I adore Jeremy Bates' writing style; all of his works have drawn me into the suspense, immersed me in the situation, and set my heart racing as I emerged into the action that lay just around the next corner.
The primary plot of this work takes place on an island, a terrifying site where a childhood tragedy occurred in the past. The specifics are unsettling. The action moves quickly, but the characters gradually reveal themselves, peeling away layers of themselves as you read on until the underlying problems and truth emerge, and the reader says, "Yes, that makes sense." The finale of this story is distinct from those of Bates' earlier works. I thought it was a creative finish, and I'm sure a lot of readers would agree with me. If you don't get it after reading the novel, just ask me why.
Final Thoughts:
The novel is not for everyone since some people may not appreciate the gore or the wild ways the party acted and reacted in certain situations that meant death in real life but some of them lived and in other cases, it was not "Horror" Horror for some readers. Even I thought it wasn't horror, but afterward, I realized my mistake, and you can see what I mean in the next paragraph.
I must admit that this book was not what I expected it to be, and that is my own fault because horror does not always mean ghosts or blood-sucking vampires and other dark things; horror can take many forms, such as gore, mutilation, the atmosphere, the anticipation, the dread of what is about to happen, and so much more that makes a reader's heart race and breathing go fast or slow or even stop. This book, like many others by Jeremy Bates, does the same thing, and he is a brilliant author. Almost all of Jeremy Bates' works are excellent, this one in particular. However, be warned: you will never look at a doll the same way again.
Synopsis:
“OVER ONE MILLION READERS HAVE TAKEN THE JOURNEY TO THE WORLD'S SCARIEST PLACES. NOW IT'S YOUR TURN.
USA Today and #1 Amazon bestselling author Jeremy Bates takes you to an infamous haunted island scattered with thousands of eerie dolls—where more than just the toys’ glassy eyes are upon you. Foreword Indies Book of the Year winner. For fans of Joe Hill and Stephen King.
Deep within an ancient Aztec canal system on the outskirts of Mexico City lies Isla de las Munecas...a reportedly haunted island infested with thousands of decrepit dolls.
While there to film a television documentary, several friends discover a brutal murder. Soon fear and paranoia turn them against one another—even as the unknown killer stalks them throughout the longest night of their lives.”
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