The Dollmaker

The Dollmaker
Amanda Stevens

In Terrebonne Parish, Louisiana, a terrible secret is about to be uncovered by a woman whose daughter vanished seven years ago without a trace…And now a new clue has surfaced…a doll that is the spitting image of Claire Doucett's missing child, right down to the tiny birthmark on the girl's left arm. A chance sighting of the eerily lifelike doll in a French Quarter collectibles shop leaves Claire shaken to her core…and more determined than ever to find out what happened to her beloved Ruby.When the doll is snatched and the store's owner turns up dead, Claire knows the only person she can turn to is ex-husband Dave Creasy, a former cop who has spent the past seven years imprisoned by his own guilt and despair. He let Claire down once when she needed him the most. Can she make him believe the doll really exists? She'll have to if they're to survive an encounter with a brutal psychopath–the dollmaker–who stole their future to feed an obsession that will never die.

Praise for

Amanda Stevens

“The sinister world of Amanda Stevens will feed

the dark side of your soul…and leave you

hungry for more.”

—New York Times bestselling author Christina Dodd

“Breathless, chilling and unforgettable.

When you crack open an Amanda Stevens book,

prepare to be thrilled.”

—USA TODAY bestselling author Patricia Kay

“Just Past Midnight is a taut and suspenseful tale

guaranteed to keep readers on the edge of their

seat. The twists and turns are diabolical,

unpredictable and chilling.”

—Romantic Times BOOKreviews

“Ms. Stevens shows her magic of writing tales to

snare the reader. She weaves intrigue,

believable characters, legends and emotion

together seamlessly for an engrossing read.”

—Best Reviews on Secret Sanctuary

The Dollmaker

Amanda Stevens

www.mirabooks.co.uk (http://www.mirabooks.co.uk)

For Leanne, Lucas and Steven

I am deeply grateful to my editor,

Denise Zaza, and everyone at MIRA Books

for their encouragement and support and

for helping me turn a dream into reality.

Many thanks to my agent, Helen Breitwieser,

for her advice and enthusiasm, and most of all,

for not allowing this story to fade away. Thanks

also to Carla Luan and Heather MacAllister for

their tireless brainstorming and critiquing and to

Leanne Amann for her innovative PR strategies.

Contents

Prologue (#u260c7f85-220b-5315-b230-6a04eebf71de)

Chapter One (#u6ad85367-7746-5092-98d9-354d69a35e7c)

Chapter Two (#u51f8bd1f-d17f-5785-ae83-acb79bc8aefe)

Chapter Three (#u821d7361-da07-528b-8757-6e5665b8100f)

Chapter Four (#u3f90114b-95f1-5b6e-a350-3a491e18c225)

Chapter Five (#u5d1a8f03-c580-558f-8d68-5022fd5557e4)

Chapter Six (#u608d9368-0d8a-5783-a757-c6ab3b1fe203)

Chapter Seven (#ue1f5c8c3-a42b-5e4f-8c30-1ce54edf3214)

Chapter Eight (#u03ae731d-1bd9-52df-aef8-84fb60ef7147)

Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)