Dark Carousel books in order

Q: "How many books are in the Dark Carousel series?"

"There are four books in the Dark Carousel series, published between 2012 and 2017."

Q: "What is the first book in the Dark Carousel series?"

"The first book in the Dark Carousel series is Dollhouse, published in 2012."

Q: "Do the Dark Carousel books need to be read in order?"

"Dollhouse (2012) is the best starting point since it introduces the core themes and atmosphere of the series. The three 2017 books, Paper Dolls, Marionette, and Music Box, build on the foundation laid by Dollhouse, so reading in publication order will give you the full experience."

Reading order

#	Title	Published	Author	Buy on Amazon
1	Dollhouse	2012	Anni Taylor	Buy
2	Paper Dolls	2017	Anni Taylor	Buy
3	Marionette	2017	Anni Taylor	Buy
4	Music Box	2017	Anni Taylor	Buy

Anni Taylor began the Dark Carousel series with Dollhouse in 2012, a psychological thriller that uses the image of a dollhouse to represent control and captivity. The book set the tone for the series, blending traditional thriller plotting with an unsettling aesthetic drawn from childhood objects turned sinister. After a five-year gap, Taylor returned to the series in 2017 with three consecutive releases.

Paper Dolls, Marionette, and Music Box all arrived in 2017, each taking a different toy or plaything as its central metaphor. The titles themselves signal the series’ interest in the boundary between innocence and danger, and Taylor uses these objects to build atmospheres where something feels wrong long before the characters catch on. The rapid-fire release schedule in 2017 gave readers a chance to binge the series, and the four books together form a cohesive body of work within the psychological thriller genre.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the Dark Carousel series?

There are four books in the Dark Carousel series, published between 2012 and 2017.

What is the first book in the Dark Carousel series?

The first book in the Dark Carousel series is Dollhouse, published in 2012.

Do the Dark Carousel books need to be read in order?

Dollhouse (2012) is the best starting point since it introduces the core themes and atmosphere of the series. The three 2017 books, Paper Dolls, Marionette, and Music Box, build on the foundation laid by Dollhouse, so reading in publication order will give you the full experience.

Reading order#

Frequently Asked Questions

Reading order