Published by CamCat Books on February 28, 2023
Format: Audiobook
Source: Net Galley
Pages: 304
Goodreads
“A tour de force that has it all.” —Annelise Ryan, USA Today bestselling author of A Death in Door County
“You will devour this book.” —Barbara Conrey, USA Today bestselling author of Nowhere Near Goodbye and international bestselling author of My Secret to Keep
No one is safe. Not when the Dollmaker lurks in the shadows.
When Dawn Hildegard’s best friend Rose is kidnapped by “The Dollmaker,” a crazed serial killer who creates “art” from women’s bodies, she drops everything to find her—including her dream of becoming a doctor. With the help of a handsome new acquaintance and his mysterious brother, they set off to find the killer. Although they quickly become friends, Dawn cannot shake the uneasy feeling that the brothers know more about the murders than they admit.
As more and more victims are found murdered and displayed throughout town, Dawn must use her wits to find Rose before it’s too late. And before she too becomes the Dollmaker’s next victim.
I am going to start my review by saying, I picked this up as it was classed as a horror, it sounded like a horror and the cover gave it the same feel, it’s not a horror. I guess the grotesque display of the bodies could be deemed horror but we don’t really ‘see’ this creation. This is more a historical thriller than a horror. Now that’s out of the way…
I did enjoy this book. It gave me the feel of a Kerri Maniscalco book and her duo Audrey Rose Wadsworth and Thomas Cresswell, but different. I did like Dawn a lot, but man why did she have to get involved!! She should have just stayed at home, SAFE! However, I guess if you saw your best friend being taken then I would be involved too.
I seriously did not have any clue as to who was the “mastermind” or the ‘Dollmaker’ and it was a shock to see who it was! Although, I only can’t quite figure out how they fit the description. Still, that was such a shock and a clever reveal – so well played Morgan, well played! So many times I thought I had caught the killer, but I must try harder.
The story itself is not the key feature, yes there is a serial killer on the loose, and occasionally women are being killed, but the main focus of this book is Dawn. Dawn and her life, her horrid parents, trying to find her place in the world as she is very much in a male-dominated world. Looked at as a witch, when she just wants to help. Sebastian and Gideon were great supporting characters, each with their woes and strengths.
The era and the setting were a huge part of the book and I enjoyed it so much more because of it. It helps aid Dawn’s plight and watch her character grow.
This is definitely a book with a different feel to it, and one I liked. I did struggle at the beginning to get into it and occasionally I got lost in the audiobook to some of the characters but overall it was a fun way to spend 8 hours! I will definitely read more by Morgan!
Until the next time xxx
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