Quick Reads 2: The Dolls House Players

By Arabella Parke

A troupe of actors become trapped in the sinister world of a puppeteer whose idea of performance is far from ordinary. Somehow, they find themselves living in a strange 1930s-style dolls' house by day and performing on stage by night, as though they are part of an elaborate and unsettling production.

They know they have been captured - but how it happened, and how they came to be living inside this peculiar miniature world, remains a mystery. The puppeteer watches, directs and controls everything with chilling precision, treating their lives as nothing more than part of his private theatre.

At first, they try to play along, hoping to understand the rules of the performance. But when the choice of actors becomes increasingly bizarre, and the roles more disturbing, it becomes clear that this is no ordinary show.

Escape may be the only way out.

Others have tried.

Others have failed.

The question is - should they try?

This story was previously published as part of a collection of short stories in The Healthiest Corpse in the Morgue. It has been edited and reproduced here as a standalone story.

This book forms part of the Quick Reads series - shorter stories in length, yet full of detail, intrigue and imagination. Perfect for reading whenever and wherever the mood takes you.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0GS1WPQ5B
• ISBN13: 9798251425383
• Release Date: March 2026
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 90 Pages
• Weight: 0.29 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 6.0" x 9.0"