Island of the Dolls is a thriller/horror novel by Jeremy Bates and it’s based on an actual island covered with dolls. The story takes the reader on a special trip to that mysterious, strange, and most of all, terrifying place. A very engaging Bates introduces an entertaining cast of characters while giving them life in a seriously dangerous environment. Sometimes a little over the top, the book skillfully presents a film type atmosphere.
A travel documentary team is about to investigate the strange island situated just outside Mexico City, called Isla de las Munecas. It is said to be haunted, which is exactly what the crew is going to discover for themselves. The crew consists of Jack, Pita, her brother Jesus and his girlfriend Elizaveta, along with Nitro and Pepper. With some tension between the guys, they set off on a boat towards the place that is known for all the dolls hanging from trees and huts.
Unknown to Jack, the skeptic, and the rest of the crew, the island has a troubled history. As they come across a dead body, the paranoia starts to sink in, and even Jack is forced to look at the possibilities that ghosts might truly exist. However, there is more than just a murderer on the island, because Pita has been keeping a secret from her husband to be. As things become more dangerous and mysterious, the tension continues building.
Off the bat, it was a very entertaining book. Bates spends some time familiarizing the reader with the characters, painting a vivid picture of their attitudes towards life. And after the stage has been set, he lets the animals loose in a manner of speaking. One of the main characters, Jack, comes with a natural cockiness that makes you hate and like him at the same time. Jesus, on the other hand, is much better at being unlikable.
Truth be told, I expected a little more in the “blood and guts” department, but the author chose a route with more psychological thrills. Is it still scary? Definitely. Bates knows how to creep into his reader’s mind and toy around.
I should also add that this is one of the more light-hearted horrors I’ve read, but not because of the storyline alone. It’s mostly due to the characters. As mentioned before, the book does have a theatrical style, which means the characters are larger than life. This is the case here. Every character you are going to read about has something definitive about them, and this gets exploited.
I had also envisioned a different ending, compared to most horror tales of this kind, but I was rather surprised. The question of who will like this book depends on your level of comfort. If you want a story that can easily be compared to a scary adventure, as opposed to horror gore, then you will find Island of the Dolls a great read!
Reviewed by Damnetha Jules
Damnetha is a staff writer, horror book and movie critic.