My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Many Thanks to Net Galley, IBPA and Anita Dickason for a chance to review this book.

The cover of the book made me expect something like ‘Annabelle’, even though the doll ‘Betsy’ in this book is more ragged-looking. NOT DEAD was a big surprise for me. I didn’t expect it to be such a good thriller so much that I had a hard time putting it down.

Meridian is a small town in Texas from where 4 yr old Mandy has been kidnapped. The police chief Chad has moved over from Atlanta Police and the reasons for the change are not something he wants to disclose to anyone. Mandy’s aunt Ashley who is also the new investigative reporter in town has also moved recently after the death of her fiancee. Chad and Ashley hit all the wrong notes at their first meeting even though both feel a spark of attraction. However they soon join forces to find the reasons behind Mandy’s disappearance. With Ashley’s help, Chad realizes there has been a series of kidnappings in the area and painstakingly goes over every single detail connected with the doll that has been left behind at the spot where Mandy was last seen playing The doll Betsy becomes the crucial piece of evidence that leads to the criminals behind the kidnapping.

The paranormal element in the story creates the necessary chills making it one superb thriller in this category. It is an added plus that the author is a retired Dallas police officer, so there’s an authentic feel to the plot. The only thing I wish is that I had got to this book a couple of months back so that I could have visited this small town in Texas.



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