“Bloodstained Doll is a twisted tale of murder and paranoia that really amps up the tension! John Everson perfectly captures the twists and shocking violence of the giallo era of potboilers! Lots of dangerous fun!”
~ Jonathan Maberry, New York Times bestselling author of the Joe Ledger thrillers.
When Allyson’s mom dies unexpectedly in a London car accident, she thinks her world has hit rock bottom. But that’s before she leaves her friends and life behind to go live with her rich, estranged Uncle Otto in Germany. She should have felt like a rags-to-riches princess when she arrived at the gorgeous country mansion, which is so big half of it was shuttered to avoid caretaking. But Kurt, the gardener, and Ingrid, the frigid housekeeper make her feel anything but welcome while her cousin Martin gives her the creeps. And she doesn’t know what to make of ancient Aunt Ida or Otto’s brazen personal assistant, Ella.
On her first night in her new home, a child’s casket is unearthed in the backyard during a violent storm. When the family goes outside a few hours later to investigate, they find the wooden box empty of bones.
But that’s just the start of a series of gruesome events. Suddenly people start turning up dead in the quaint nearby town of Hildegard. A decapitated pigs head appears on her uncle’s desk. And a man with ice-blue eyes seems to be following Allyson.
Is there a connection?
As the noose tightens and murders draw closer to Berger Mansion, Allyson and her new boyfriend Andrew discover a startling dark truth hidden in the attic. Soon they find that both of their lives are now at stake if they don’t discover why each broken body is decorated with… a Bloodstained Doll.
“John Everson’s The Bloodstained Doll is a pitch-perfect evocation of everything devotees of Italian giallo films from the 1970s loved about them. All the beloved tropes are present, but Everson invests them with new, vibrant life in a tale that is both modern and classic in all the best ways. These pages crackle with palpable, page-turning suspense. Highly recommended.”
~ Bryan Smith, author of Depraved and 68 Kill
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More praise for The Bloodstained Doll
“Allyson’s ‘situation’ veers more toward the Gothic than the colorful, but the story remains chockfull of mystery, violence, sex (of a kind), betrayal, and other dire consequences. Just like real life, only without the lawsuits. Don’t miss the ride, you’ll be in masterful hands – and don’t forget, along with that Gothic vibe, there’s going to be a LOT of color to go around.”
~ Gerard Houarner, author of Painfreak and Road From Hell
“After his brilliant Five Deaths for Seven Songbirds, John Everson returns to the world of the 70s Italian mystery thrillers (named for their distinctive yellow covers) with his newest novel, The Bloodstained Doll. Recently orphaned, young Allyson lands at her wealthy but weird Uncle Otto’s mansion in Germany and immediately mysterious deaths begin to plague the family and acquaintances. Allyson has no choice but to investigate – for she might well be on the list! Rife with twists, red herrings, and devilish doings in the dark, The Bloodstained Doll is a gothic giallo worthy of the masters. We can only hope Everson’s exploration of the genre will continue. Highly recommended for fans of both print and film gialli!”
~ W.D. Gagliani, author of the Nick Lupo Series and The Judas Hit
