The Doll (Stevens novel) explained

Author:Taylor Stevens
Isbn:9780307888785
Pub Date:June 4, 2013
Publisher:Crown Publishing Group
Awards:Barry Award for Best Thriller (2014)
Series:Vanessa Michael Munroe
Preceded By:The Innocent
Followed By:The Catch

The Doll is a 2013 mystery novel by Taylor Stevens, the third book in her Vanessa Michael Munroe series. The Doll won the 2014 Barry Award for Best Thriller.

Reception

Publishers Weekly called The Doll "harrowing," noting that "at story’s end, none of the players [characters] is left unscathed." They highlighted the continued development of Munroe's character, saying she "remains as compelling as ever: violent yet protective of innocence, imprisoned by not only her past but also the choices she has made in response to it, and painfully conscious of her closeness to sanity’s edge."[1]

Kirkus Reviews referred to the novel as "powerfully contained," similarly stating, "there is no release for the tormented heroine, only license to live another day."[2]

Shelf Awarenesss Julia Jenkins wrote, "Stevens again crafts a lightning-swift plot that races across continents and inflicts extreme trauma upon characters she's taught us to care about. Intelligent action and pacing are a bonus, and other characters [...] are engaging and provide banter; but it's Munroe herself who stars, with her wondrous and myriad abilities and her surprisingly soft heart."[3]

Booklist[4] and Library Journal'[5] also reviewed the novel.

Awards and honors

The Doll won the 2014 Barry Award for Best Thriller.[6]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2013-03-11 . The Doll: A Vanessa Michael Munroe Novel by Taylor Stevens . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230827045117/https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780307888785 . 2023-08-27 . 2023-08-27 . Publishers Weekly.
  2. Web site: 2013-02-17 . The Doll . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20150919114222/https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/taylor-stevens/the-doll-stevens/ . 2015-09-19 . 2023-08-27 . Kirkus Reviews.
  3. Web site: Jenkins . Julia . 2013-06-11 . The Doll . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230206034634/https://www.shelf-awareness.com/readers-issue.html?issue=204 . 2023-02-06 . 2023-08-27 . Shelf Awareness.
  4. Web site: 2013-05-01 . The Doll . subscription . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230827050049/https://www.booklistonline.com/The-Doll-Taylor-Stevens/pid=5944493 . 2023-08-27 . 2023-08-27 . Booklist.
  5. Web site: Brosie . Laura . 2013-09-01 . The Doll . subscription . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230827050047/https://www.libraryjournal.com/review/the-doll . 2023-08-27 . 2023-08-27 . Library Journal.
  6. Web site: Taylor Stevens . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230607184925/http://stopyourekillingme.com/S_Authors/Stevens_Taylor.html . 2023-06-07 . 2023-08-27 . Stop, You're Killing Me!.