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Island of the Dolls (World's Scariest Places) Hardcover – March 21, 2016
Jeremy Bates (Author) Find all the books, read about the author, and more. See search results for this author |
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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.
Praise for Jeremy Bates:
"Old-school horror story reminiscent of Stephen King" ★★★★★
"Best book I've read to date" ★★★★★
"Perfect for Laymon fans!" ★★★★★
"Definitely recommend to all fans of modern horror" ★★★★★
"A master storyteller!" ★★★★★
"I sort of fell into Jeremy Bates by accident, and I'm so glad I did. He's one of my new favorite writers, and I urge everyone to check him out" ★★★★★
"The most chilling book I’ve ever read!" ★★★★★
"Absolutely loved this book" ★★★★★
"Non-stop adrenaline rush from beginning to end" ★★★★★
"Any Stephen King or Dean Koontz fan will love it" ★★★★★
"I was hooked from the first page!" ★★★★★
"Binge worthy!" ★★★★★
"This is one of the best books I have ever read!" ★★★★★
"A very juicy, scary ride" ★★★★★
"Suicide Forest is up there with Joe Hill's Heart Shaped Box" ★★★★★
"Scariest book I've ever read" ★★★★★
"Huge fan of Mr Bates! You won't be disap-pointed" ★★★★★
"Edge-of-my-seat experience! I felt I was indeed living the horror" ★★★★★
"Page-turner with a twist! I was hanging on to every word!" ★★★★★
"One of the greatest suspense-filled books I have ever read" ★★★★★
"If you enjoy Richard Laymon, you'll love reading Jeremy Bates" ★★★★★
"A true edge-of-your-seat thriller...I couldn't put it down!" ★★★★★
"Startlingly Spooky!" ★★★★★
"A non-stop page-turner!" ★★★★★
"Early Stephen King, Robert McCammon, Jeremy Bates is a must read!" ★★★★★
"As usual Jeremy Bates has done it again... Give him a try, you'll not regret it" ★★★★★
Although in a series, this is a STAND-ALONE novel. For fans of Stephen King, Dean Koontz, Richard Laymon, Bentley Little, as well as other horror and mystery authors such as Dan Simmons, Jack Ketchum, Robert McCammon, Brian Keene, Darcy Coates, Amy Cross, Jeff Strand, Ambrose Ibsen, Jeremy Robinson, Nick Cut-ter, Blake Crouch, Joe Hill, Iain Rob Wright, Jeff Menapace, Matt Shaw, Heather Graham, Jack Kilborn, James Herbert. We hope you enjoy!
Enjoy this horror thriller in audiobook, paperback, hardcover, and eBook. When you purchase the book in paperback or hardcover from Amazon, you can immediately start reading this best seller free on any computer via Kindle Cloud Reader, on Amazon Kindle Fire, or on any smartphone or tablet with the free Kindle reading app. Hear your favorite characters come to life in the bestselling audio book now available through Audible. Watch for new releases and many other best seller thriller books from Jeremy Bates.
- Print length325 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- Publication dateMarch 21, 2016
- Dimensions6 x 1.01 x 9 inches
- ISBN-10198809108X
- ISBN-13978-1988091082
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From the Publisher



ISLAND OF THE DOLLS
Gold Medal Winner of the Foreword INDIES Horror Book of the Year Award.
Editorial Reviews
Review
"Jeremy Bates writes like a deviant angel I'm glad doesn't live on my shoulder"—Christian Galacar, author of GILCHRIST
"The perfect antidote to a restful night's sleep, The Sleep Experiment is a fast-paced thriller that will keep the pages turning late into the night"—Steven Sayers, author of THE SOUL DWELLER
"Jeremy Bates is a skilled weaver of nightmares"—Ambrose Ibsen, author of THEHAUNTING OF BEACON HILL
"Jeremy Bates knows scary. You're going to have a good time with whatever he writes"—Jeff Menapace, author of BAD GAMES
"A compelling and provocative read. One cannot help but wonder how important sleep really is"—Booklist
"[Bates] is the real deal. He is a bit of a mix of Stephen King and Richard Laymon. You won't regret your purchase"—Amazon Top Contributor
"I keep hearing this author being compared to the likes of Stephen King or Dean Koontz. I think [he] should be known for his OWN style of writing"—Amazon Reviewer
"Will remind readers what chattering teeth sound like"—Kirkus Reviews
"Voracious readers of horror will delightfully consume the contents of Bates's World's Scariest Places books"—BookLife Prize
"Creatively creepy and sure to scare"—The Japan Times
"Thriller fans and readers of Stephen King, Joe Lansdale, and other masters of the art will find much to love"—Midwest Book Review
"An ice-cold thriller full of mystery, suspense, fear"—David Moody, author of HATER and AUTUMN
"I have long been a fan of Dean Koontz, Stephen King, and Frank Peretti and I feel confident that I can now add Jeremy Bates to that list"—Reader Views
"Will delight horror fans who want their novels steeped in psychological suspense as well as action"—Midwest Book Review
"A page-turner in the true sense of the word"—HorrorAddicts
"Will make your skin crawl"—Scream Magazine
"Shocking"—Booklist
"Told with an authoritative voice full of heart and insight"—Richard Thomas, Bram Stoker nominated author
"Grabs and doesn't let go until the end"—Writer's Digest
"A horror writer to watch"—True Review
"Bates offers a truly chilling tale that reminds readers that humans can be the worst type of monster to fear, after all"—BookLife Prize
"Would make a great screenplay!"—Suspense Magazine
"Bates doesn't miss a trick"—Glenn Kleier, New York Times bestselling author
"Bates knows how to creep into his reader's mind and toy around"—Horror Palace
"Something to give you chills before you go to bed"—San Francisco Book Review
"Excellent!"—Andrew Peterson, international bestselling author of FIRST TO KILL
"Spellbinding"—Bestsellersworld
"Reads like a combination of Stephen King, Dean Koontz, and Clive Barker"—Midwest Book Review
"Invites you to read it in one sitting"—Hellnotes
From the Author
- Winner, "Reader Views Literary Awards" Horror Novel Award, 2018-2019, for "Mountain of the Dead."
- Finalist, "Aurealis Award for Excellence in Speculative Fiction" Horror Novella Award, 2017,for "The Mailman."
- Finalist, "Australian Horror Writers Association" Shadows Award, 2017, for "The Mailman."
- Winner, "Foreword INDIES" Horror Book of the Year Award Gold Medal, 2016, for "Island of the Dolls."
- Finalist, "Next Generation Indie Book Awards" Horror Novel Award, 2017, for "Island of the Dolls."
- Finalist, "The Skoutz Award" German Horror Award, 2017, for "Suicide Forest."
- Finalist,"Aurealis Award for Excellence in Speculative Fiction" Horror Novella Award, 2016, for "Box of Bones."
- Finalist, "Australian Horror Writers Association" Shadows Award, 2016, for "Box of Bones."
- Winner, "Crime Writers of Canada" Arthur Ellis Award/The Lou Allen Memorial Award, 2016,for "Black Canyon."
- Winner, "Australian Horror Writers Association" Shadows Award, 2015, for "The Catacombs."
- Winner, "IPPY(Independent Publisher Book Awards)" Bronze Medal/Horror, 2016, for "The Catacombs."
- Finalist, "Next Generation Indie Book Awards" Horror Novella Award, 2016, for "Black Canyon."
- Winner, "Reader Views Literary Award" Global Award, 2014-2015, for "Suicide Forest."
- Honorable Mention, "Reader Views Literary Award" Mystery/Thriller/Suspense/Horror Award,2014-2015, for "Suicide Forest."
- Finalist, "Goodreads Choice Awards" 2015, for "Suicide Forest."
- Finalist," Australian Horror Writers Association" Shadows Award, 2014, for "Suicide Forest."
- Finalist, "Foreword INDIES" Horror Book of the Year Award, 2014, for "Suicide Forest."
- Finalist, "Foreword INDIES" Thriller & Suspense Book of the Year Award,2012, for "White Lies."
About the Author
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Product details
- Publisher : Ghillinnein Books (March 21, 2016)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 325 pages
- ISBN-10 : 198809108X
- ISBN-13 : 978-1988091082
- Item Weight : 1.41 pounds
- Dimensions : 6 x 1.01 x 9 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #1,463,108 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #15,797 in Supernatural Thrillers (Books)
- #51,574 in Horror Literature & Fiction
- #64,444 in Suspense Thrillers
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

USA TODAY and #1 AMAZON bestselling author Jeremy Bates has published more than twenty novels and novellas. They have sold more than one million copies, been translated into several languages, and been optioned for film and TV by major studios. Midwest Book Review compares his work to “Stephen King, Joe Lansdale, and other masters of the art.” He has won both an Australian Shadows Award and a Canadian Arthur Ellis Award. He was also a finalist in the Goodreads Choice Awards, the only major book awards decided by readers. The novels in the “World’s Scariest Places” series are set in real locations and include Suicide Forest in Japan, The Catacombs in Paris, Helltown in Ohio, Island of the Dolls in Mexico, Mountain of the Dead in Russia, and Hotel Chelsea in New York City. The novels in the "World's Scariest Legends" series are based on real legends and include Mosquito Man, The Sleep Experiment, The Man From Taured, Merfolk, and The Dancing Plague. You can check out any of these places or legends on the web. Also, visit JEREMYBATESBOOKS.COM to receive Black Canyon, WINNER of The Lou Allin Memorial Award.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
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Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2021
Top reviews from the United States
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Like the other books of his I have read, Bates could benefit greatly from a good editor. I’ve found errors in most, if not all of his books I’ve read so far and I felt like this one had more than usual. He is otherwise a great writer with a very interesting and creative mind. Worth the read.
Just about to download another of his books.
The characters were well developed, and the little twist towards the end (something I was not expecting) left me wanting more to the story about Maria.
Definitely a great read (I have collected all of his books)
Really excellent character building, plot placing, & vivid imagery.
The story starts out good. It definitely grabbed my attention. Instantly, I imagined myself on the island with Jack and his friends. Jack is kind of the main voice for the six friends. The story alternates between him and Maria. Maria's story is the past.
She was obsessed with her doll. Her mother could not get it away from her. I preferred Maria's story than really the present. Partly due to the fact that none of the others were that endearing. I did not care if something happened to them.
Honestly, I figured this whole story out very early on. There were no great surprises and the "scary" factor was low. The whole concept of the dolls does get a higher rating for creepy. Overall, I was a bit disappointed in this book but I would try another one by this author.
Top reviews from other countries

In common with "Suicide Forest" " Island of the Dolls " has a fast paced narrative, attractive, likeable characters and a creepy, atmospheric setting, which Jeremy Bates ' clear, sharp prose brings to life very effectively. The youthful cast of characters share a similar mixture of friendships and emnities, and a first person narrator in the form of - in "Suicide Forest" - an American ex-pat teaching English to Japanese businessmen, and a binge drinking American race car driver in Mexico drinking himself to oblivion in "...Dolls".
Another feature both share seems to be a favourite device of Bates', insofar as the supernatural scares turn out to be less occult and more a very human tragedy...
But I won't spoil the fun ! While "Island of the Dolls" isn't quite worthy of the 4 and 5*s for "Catacombs" and "Suicide Forest" it is vintage Jeremy Bates, and definitely worth checking out. I can't wait to see which Scariest Place he'll get to next ! Any suggestions ? I'd try the floodplanes of the Danube, Algernon Blackwood's setting for "The Willows" or maybe Bodmin Moor...

I found the characters difficult to connect to with, the hero constantly reliving a difficult past with typical hero flaws. Some characters (Pepper and Lucinda) had great potential but were majorly underdeveloped and didn't serve any real purpose or add to the story.
While Maria's story was a sad one, this again could have been used so much more. I was hoping for a much spookier feel considering the setting, potentially with a more supernatural feel.
If you're looking for a supernatural horror, I don't think you'll find it here. An ok read but not the best. Sorry!


I expected it to be much more about the actual island and the dolls, I was expecting a Stephen-King-type of story, but - although it seems to go this way at the start - then it takes another direction.
Some characters are annoying (can’t stand the Russian girl), and the end is a bit disappointing.
Worth reading for the first half.
