Book Description
From the suspense thriller “Lady” comes “Paper Dolls” a standalone fashion thriller novel with the late Ingrid Eckhart’s daughter undertaking a high-stake in her career after the death of her mother then later running into the unabating Tex Hayes and Rory Holden—the lieutenant and sergeant—who would stop at nothing in their mission to take down her niece—the infamous Cora Eckhart— from the first tale in this elegantly told gritty trilogy saga.
After scouting for talent to conduct a casting call, project manager and ex fashion model turned photographer Irma Eckhart uncovers the start of a deadly mystery she never saw coming.
Models smile for the camera then bliss turns into bloodshed when handpicked aspiring fashion models in search of their dreams land gigs that take them abroad to the exquisite, fascinating countries of Italy, Spain, England, and France.
These fresh-faced young ladies with killer-looks find more than they expect when their counterparts start vanishing at every turn going ignored by their fanatical photography crew whose primary concern is satisfying their high-end clients and meeting the strict deadlines for their projects.
Book Review
When beauty meets brutality: a photoshoot you won’t survive! “Paper Dolls” by LaToya Lawrence grabbed my attention immediately with its fascinating blend of high fashion and high stakes. This standalone thriller gives us a fresh perspective in a gritty world we glimpsed in “Lady,” but you don’t need prior knowledge to get pulled into this dark, glamorous mystery.
At the center is Irma Eckhart—an ex-model turned photographer with a complicated legacy. As the daughter of the late Ingrid Eckhart and aunt to the notorious Cora Eckhart, Irma already carries plenty of baggage. But when her fashion shoots across Europe turn deadly, with models disappearing without explanation, she finds herself entangled in something far more sinister than missed deadlines and difficult clients.
What makes this book so captivating is the contrast between the glossy, aspirational world of international fashion and the brutal reality lurking beneath. Lawrence expertly uses the backdrop of “exquisite, fascinating” European locales like Italy, Spain, England, and France to create both allure and menace. You can practically feel the unease building as these idyllic settings become increasingly sinister with each vanishing model.
The conflict intensifies with the introduction of Lieutenant Tex Hayes and Sergeant Rory Holden, law enforcement officers with a singular focus: taking down Irma’s niece Cora. Their relentless pursuit adds another layer of tension as Irma navigates not only the mystery of her disappearing models but also this threat to her family.
This noir-tinged thriller reminds me of both “The Devil Wears Prada” and “Silence of the Lambs” – a mashup that shouldn’t work but absolutely does. Lawrence doesn’t shy away from showing how industries that promise glamour and fame can become dangerous traps for the ambitious and unwary.
If you enjoy stylish thrillers where the menace builds slowly against gorgeous backdrops, “Paper Dolls” delivers a catwalk strewn with breadcrumbs to a shocking conclusion.
