The Toy Maker by Melanie Flynn is a spine-chilling novel that takes you on a merry chase hunting a prolific serial killer haunting New York. 

Review

We have all loved toys in our childhood. As we grew up, our interest in them gradually waned. Still, when we come across a beloved toy, we are filled with nostalgia and the warmth of our childhood memories. Imagine, coming face to face with a life-sized version of a classic toy. What would you do if the toy was actually made of a human? 

In Melanie Flynn’s The Toy Maker, a terrifying serial killer is on the loose. Known as the Toy Maker, he takes humans and horrifically transforms them into beautiful classic toys. His first victim, a human marionette, sends Shockwave throughout New York. Detective Calum Reese resolves to find him before he showcases his next piece of horrendous artwork. 

Psychic private investigator, Rylee Scott, is super competent with only one secret, her psychic abilities. Though nobody, apart from her father, knows about her gift, she makes full use of it to solve her cases. However, she is tired of all the lucrative yet scandalous adultery cases at her disposal. When poor Bobby Stephens comes to her with a plea to find his missing sister, Brianna, Rylee takes up the case for free and makes up her mind to find the girl at all costs. She throws caution to the wind and consults the NYPD when she gets an inkling of Brianna’s connection with the Toy Maker. Fate throws Calum and Rylee together as they race against time to find the Toy Maker and save his next victim. 

Who is the Toy Maker? Is he the one who took Brianna? Will Calum and Riley be able to find him in time and stop his chilling crafts? 

The Toy Maker is an intensely engrossing novel penned by Melanie Flynn. The writing style is on point and the characterizations are masterful. You would be surprised to know that this amazing book is Flynn’s first attempt at writing fiction.

Flynn keeps the readers on their toes right from the beginning of the book. With red herrings everywhere, we are desperate to find the killer just like Rylee and Calum. Flynn builds the suspense in such an intriguing manner that we are astounded when the killer finally becomes known. Throughout the book, we are both stupefied and horrified by the Toy Maker’s creations. Flynn’s vivid writing style actually brings the masterful pieces of art to life. At the same time, she makes the terror experienced by the victims real for us. This leaves us chilled to the bone. 

The Toy Maker is not just some run-of-the-mill serial killer. He is a complex character with many layers to his persona. I applaud Flynn for creating such an intriguing antagonist. In fact, Melanie Flynn is great at building dynamic characters. Rylee and Calum are both extremely capable people with some twisted secrets. While Rylee’s psychic powers make her reclusive, Cal’s secret leaves him tormented. Both of them like to have control of their situations and make minimal contact with other people. Naturally, when they butt heads, sparks fly. They clash at every point yet there is undeniable chemistry between them. I loved seeing them working together and having each others’ backs. 

The Toy Maker is written in the third-person narrative that shifts between Rylee and Calum’s perspectives seamlessly. Both Rylee and Calum are strong individuals. Hence, their voices are distinct. Never once was I baffled by the shifting perspectives. In fact, by giving us insights into both Rylee’s and Cal’s minds, Flynn made the story all the more interesting. This is a testament to her brilliant writing talent. 

The book is devoid of any flaws. Even the editing is professional, especially considering that this is Melanie Fynn’s debut book. 

Overall, The Toy Maker by Melanie Flynn is a supremely entertaining read that completely sucks you into the story. I loved how the book ended on a tantalizing cliffhanger while tying up all the strands of the current plot. This makes me want to grab the next book in the series as soon as possible. I cannot wait to read more about Cal and Rylee’s shenanigans. 

I highly recommend Melanie Flynn’s The Toy Maker to all mystery and thriller fans. 

Book Details

• Title: The Toy Maker
• Author: Melanie Flynn
• Genre: Mystery, Thriller
• Theme: Serial Killer, Detective, Psychic,
• Publication Date: July 24, 2022
• ISBN or ASIN: B0B7KNRZWH
• Number of Pages: 233
• Minimum Audience Age: 13

Book Themes

(Note: 0=none, 1=a few, 2=considerable, 3=pronounced, 4=excessive)

• Sexual themes: 1
• Religious themes: 0
• Violence, self-harm, etc.: 3
• Crude language, expletives, swearing, etc.: 2
• Other adult themes: 0

Rating

• Content: 5 stars
• Writing Style: 5 stars
• Appeal to Target Audience: 5 stars
• Uniqueness: 5 stars
• Editing: 4 stars
• Other factors: 5 stars
• Overall: 4.8 out of 5

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