THE WITCH DOLL

An evil governess, bewitched dolls, and a dip into the past combine in a tale that's just right for a stormy afternoon's read. Linda discovers the doll, retrieving it from the ""rag-and-bone"" man, but it's her friend Joanna who falls under its spell as it grows into a small but imperious person named Tilda. In another part of town, another woman has shrunk into a doll, rendered inanimate until Tilda chooses her next victim. Linda discovers the half-century-old link and prevents Tilda from making a complete transformation. A complicated set-up bogs down the first half; but as Linda unravels the story, events take on a mesmerizing speed. Despite somewhat flat characterizations (other than the evil governess, everyone seems fairly similar), a good yarn for those who prefer a little eeriness to hard-edged horror. The ending is wide-open for a sequel.