After five-year-old Jessica’s mother runs out on her and her father (who live in a small Louisiana country town) for life in the big city (New Orleans) Jessica starts playing in an old, abandoned, and decrepit house (Blahough mansion) next door. She thinks it looks like a castle. It is said to be haunted, but Jessica likes it. She loves exploring in it. She pretends a lady in a large, dusty picture she finds in the mansion, holding a baby, is now her mother. And Jessica loves playing with the dolls she finds in a large dollhouse in one of the bedrooms. But strange things are happening. Rocking chairs move on their own, the dolls are lifelike and walk around. Sometimes Jessica feels as though they are talking to her, and they call her Annabelle. But why? Who was/is Annabelle? Soon, people are disappearing, accidents and deaths are occurring. The family is concerned about Jessica because she is having nightmares and has become withdrawn…

This sure was a spooky and very captivating read! I really had a hard time putting this book down. It had a lot of eerie atmosphere, with the dark, creepy mansion, and those chilling, sinister dolls! Jessica was either pretty brave or stupid to go into that house alone. There were some unlikable characters and some likable characters. I felt bad when some of them were killed. The book had a lot of drama, excitement, and scares towards the end of the story.

Another entertaining read by Ruby Jean Jensen. ( )