Review: Factually-inspired horror
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 12 25, 2013
The Doll is what I would consider to be a by-the-book horror story and I don't necessarily think that's a terrible thing.  It's pacing and plot aren't going to surprises many veteran fans of the horror genre who enjoy spooky stories; however, I feel that the effort was well-executed with foreboding and creepiness applied in the right places.Something I feel Martin deserves credit and respect for is how much research she included in her story.  The island mentioned in the story is an actual place I saw in documentary prior to reading The Doll.  The back stories are in-synch between the two and I appreciate Martin's diligence there.  The light peppering of occultism also added a layer that enriched the premise for a short story.The only thing that prevented me from giving this story a fifth star is the "I-know-where-this-is-going" feeling that didn't defy my expectations.  Whether you would call it "classic" or "cliche", The Doll is a decent short story with an authentic twist.