Dollface by Lindy Ryan is a suburban slasher horror about the cult-like conformity of PTA groups, the masks people wear to fit into society, and the makeup used to hide who they really are. The killer in Dollface wants everyone to stop hiding behind those masks.
The premise is simple: Jill has just moved to the New Jersey suburbs and reluctantly joins the cult-like PTA. Soon, members begin getting stalked and murdered. Jill, a horror writer by trade, realizes she is living in a slasher scenario and must use her genre knowledge to survive.
The writing reminded me of My Heart Is a Chainsaw by Stephen Graham Jones, where encyclopedic horror knowledge becomes a survival tool. Jill’s narration jumps rapidly from thought to thought, movie reference to flashback, which takes time to adjust to. Ryan also leans heavily on long, run-on sentences that occasionally left me breathless while reading.
The book opens with a flashback chapter that becomes important later. The writing is intentionally vague, showing snapshots of something horrific before revealing the full picture later. I did not think this was the strongest way to begin the novel. It made me reread the chapter because the final line offers the clearest hint of what happened, but it also made me feel like I had already missed something.
The pacing is slow at first, but once I adjusted to the style around the 40% mark, it improved significantly and the run-on sentences became less noticeable.
The ending was surprisingly strong. I was worried because I thought I had already figured out the killer, and I was not impressed with that possibility. Ryan still had a few tricks left, and by the end I felt entertained and satisfied.
Dollface will be published on February 24, 2026, by St. Martin’s Press — Minotaur Books.
Why did I read Dollface by Lindy Ryan?
I received an eARC through NetGalley thanks to St. Martin’s Press — Minotaur Books. I was not familiar with Lindy Ryan’s previous work, but the pitch of Barbie meets Scream immediately sold me. That combination alone made me want to give the book a shot.
Plot Summary:
Jill moves her family from the West Coast to suburban New Jersey. She is a stay-at-home horror writer, her husband is a military contractor, and they have a son entering fifth grade. They are quickly greeted by an overeager neighbor who also happens to be the elementary school’s PTA president. Jill gets roped into joining and immediately feels like an outsider, even as the group appears welcoming.
After the PTA’s first meeting at a local coffee shop, a server who was rude to the group is found dead the next day. This death triggers a chain of events in which members of the PTA are stalked, maimed, and murdered by a killer wearing a doll face mask.
What I Liked:
I enjoyed how reluctant Jill is about the PTA while continually getting pulled deeper into it. It was amusing that she kept ending up with higher responsibilities despite trying to stay on the sidelines.
The movie references are constant. The ones that stood out most to me were Psycho, The Shining, Carrie, and The Stepford Wives.
I loved the history tidbit about ice cream socials. Learning that oyster was once a popular ice cream flavor is something I will never forget.
I appreciated the eventual reveal about what really happened with the mom in Chapter 0. Even though I disliked the opening, I was glad the story eventually clarified it.
The ending pulled together many of the story threads. I went in worried I would not be satisfied, but it delivered.
The book effectively explores themes of conformity, beauty standards, and the pressure to fit in. The use of masks and makeup as symbols for hiding flaws, opinions, and even violence was handled well.
What I Disliked:
Chapter 0 did not work for me as an opener. The vagueness is intentional, but it creates confusion rather than intrigue. I can see it being a reason some readers might DNF the book, even though the scene becomes meaningful later.
Jill’s scattered focus became frustrating. The narration often jumps abruptly between topics, movie references, flashbacks, and present-day events, which disrupted the flow.
Kitty, Jill’s sister, is initially described like a generic beauty influencer, but she is actually a horror makeup tutorial creator, which is a very different image. My mental picture of her kept shifting as I read.
Recommendation:
Dollface by Lindy Ryan is a solid slasher with an interesting premise. The writing style ultimately held it back for me, especially in the early chapters. The second half is noticeably stronger than the first.
I compared it to My Heart Is a Chainsaw, another book where I struggled with the style despite appreciating the ideas. I really wanted to love this one but did not quite connect with it.
I also recently read two outstanding slashers, Breathe In, Bleed Out by Brian McAuley and The Autumn Springs Retirement Home Massacre by Philip Fracassi, which may have set a very high bar.
I cannot fully recommend Dollface, though dedicated slasher fans may still find elements to enjoy.
Rating:
Dollface by Lindy Ryan
3 out of 5 stars
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