Nikki’s Review of The Dollmaker
By Morgan Shamy
Started: 10/16
Finished: 10/26
Back Jacket Synopsis:
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.
Nikki’s Review: This Jack the Ripper retelling set in the 1920’s managed to be both scary and swoon-worthy at the same time. I absolutely loved this book!
Things I loved: I enjoyed the pacing of The Dollmaker. Each chapter left me wanting more. I stayed up far too late on a few work nights because I had to know what was going to happen next!
The writing was vivid and I felt like I could see and feel everything alongside Dawn, the main character. Dawn was a lovely person to experience the story with and I was rooting for her from the first chapter. However, the brothers Gideon and Sebastian were definitely my favorite characters. Their dynamic was complex and drove the plot along. At the end I was swooning at the interactions between the love interests (I won't spoil it by revealing who!) and was smiling from ear to ear. The author is a former ballerina so I found the chapters set at the theater to be especially vivid and special. Bravo!
Great quote from the book:
“...if I were to link myself to someone in this life it would be someone like you.”
“Movie” Rating: PG-13. The book had some gruesome scenes with the Dollmaker and his creations.
Overall Recommendation: If you enjoy spooky stories and unique retellings, don't miss The Dollmaker! I loved reading this in October as part of my Halloween reading list, but it would be a fun read any time of year. I also believe that readers with a background in dance would love this story and author!
If you would like to purchase The Dollmaker on Amazon, follow this link
Disclaimer: *Our reviews are solely our opinions and not swayed by any outside factors. The reviews are for fun and not meant to be taken as a professional book endorsement, review, or advice.