The Doll Factory

By: Elizabeth Macneal

Narrated by: Tuppence Middleton

In this "sharp, scary, gorgeously evocative tale of love, art, and obsession" (Paula Hawkins, best-selling author of The Girl on the Train), a beautiful young woman aspires to be an artist, while a man’s dark obsession may destroy her world forever.

In 1850s London, the Great Exhibition is being erected in Hyde Park, and among the crowd watching the dazzling spectacle, two people meet by happenstance. For Iris, an arrestingly attractive aspiring artist, it is a brief and forgettable moment, but for Silas, a curiosity collector enchanted by all things strange and beautiful, the meeting marks a new beginning.

When Iris is asked to model for Pre-Raphaelite artist Louis Frost, she agrees on the condition that he will also teach her to paint. Suddenly, her world begins to expand beyond her wildest dreams - but she has no idea that evil is waiting in the shadows. Silas has only thought of one thing since that chance meeting, and his obsession is darkening by the day.

"A page-turning psychological thriller" (Essie Fox, author of The Somnambulist) that will haunt you long after you finish it, The Doll Factory is perfect for fans of The Alienist, Drood, and The Historian.

©2019 Elizabeth Macneal (P)2019 Simon & Schuster

Wonderfully developed

It just builds and builds. So fantastic to listen to. I found myself cheering on some and berating others as I listened.

A story of perseverance and love

The author brings each character to life with such detail, taking you through the quest for personal freedom, love, suspense and evil obsession all without getting too wordy. The story revolves around one main character but is told through several, which pulled me in emotionally helping me to have a deeper understanding of each. And because this is set in a time when society was divided into two distinct groups, the haves and the have nots, it makes the personal plight of the main character seem almost impossible at times. The author brings the evil obsession of one to life that you actually understand the thought process and you become almost sympathetic towards him. At the end you are anticipating a knight in shining armor to save the day but surprise, it is not to be. A story of perseverance and love.

Slow to Develop but Worth the Wait

I read a very positive review of this book, and was not disappointed. Will recommend to my bookclub.

A slow start- keep with it

The beginning of the book goes very slowly. I almost quit. I’m glad I stuck with it. The plot is not original, and at times it’s very scattered and can’t decide what story it is telling. Halfway through it gets its legs and tells the story. I enjoyed the ending. I liked the main character.

No Thank You

Just seems very ,confusing I restarted 3 times from the start. I never figured this one out, I'm sorry to say.

Female empowerment

It is a creepy book filled with villains and love. Sisters sticking together and female empowerment.

Predictable

I found this story to be predictable and frustrating at times. The narrator does a nice job.

An engrossing listen

This book had been in my wish list for a while and I am sorry I didn’t invest in it sooner. The author has done a brilliant job of capturing the rigidity of Victorian England and showing how they shaped the lives of the three main characters. I don’t want to give any spoilers so won’t say much more. The narrator was excellent. I will be buying the author’s second book.

An Emotional Journey

I will say above all else this book was very emotional and that third act will forever be stuck in my brain. The whole book is fantastic, but that final act? I felt so many things. Anger, sadness, joy, hope, depressed, rage, but ultimately relief. I nearly cried several times, I clutched my pillow, it was intense!

Would I have loved to have added on little tiny thing at the end? Sure. But I think the point was Iris having to save herself and I can appreciate her strength.

Ending dragged and dragged and …

… Dragged to a most disappointing ending. A shame because it was really great . I couldn’t believe it was the ending . I was giving this a 4 star review before I was kept hostage … I wish I had jumped ship 2 hours earlier .