“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.
“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
“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
Ghostville Hero wrote: When John Everson released Five Deaths For Seven Songbirds, I wrote in my review that it is a pitch perfect tribute to the Giallo genre…With more of a gothic setting and tone, The Bloodstained Doll is a much different representation of the Giallo genre than Five Deaths for Seven Songbirds. It is also more of a straightforward telling, not as many red herrings and not really as much of the wildness that is in the previous novel. With more of a subdued tone, Everson has a chance to spend a little more time building the plot, giving the characters some very demented personal flaws and hobbies, and in the end, this does not read as much of a mystery to solve but as a murder novel with trashy rich people doing trashy rich people things.
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