Dr. Tessa McGowan had never seen anything quite like it. But the mutilated bodies on her exam table tell a stunningly macabre tale: someone with a twisted mind is kidnapping women and altering their faces to resemble real, life-size dolls. As a forensic pathologist, it’s her job to aid the agent leading the case—even if that agent is her estranged husband.Twelve years ago an unspeakable tragedy … tragedy destroyed Dakota Sharp’s world. Haunted by the ghosts of his past, he’s devoted himself to capturing killers. His only regret is that it cost him Tessa. Now, as the Dollmaker case brings them together—and raises his suspicions that he’s crossed paths with this deranged psychopath before—they may just have their second chance. But it seems Dakota’s not the only one who wants to make Tessa his own…
She may be the Dollmaker’s next target, but Tessa has no intention of winding up as another toy on his shelf. Can she and Dakota stop this ghastly killer before his next deadly playdate?
more
I like Mary Burton in general; her books are always solid. This one was exceptional, with a very twisted killer and complex main characters that put this one above the norm. Great romantic suspense.
One more fine read in a long line of good reads by Ms. Burton.
Mary Burton manages every time to bring a twisting suspense plot, with great characters and weave in an intelligent romance all in one book
What a sicko this killer is?? But you will enjoy every minute reading it!
What can I say this author is excellent. She writes a good story and creates plots that are suspenseful. There is a hint of steam in there which is appropriate to the story. Narration was excellent and I look forward to her next book
THIS REVIEW IS FOR BOTH THE AUDIOBOOK AND EBOOK VERSIONS
Great story, so thrilling and interesting. Suspenseful and twisted but I think most serial killer stories have a bit of twisted content. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the narration was perfectly performed. I recommend this book.
reading now
While I still enjoyed the story I didn’t relate as well to these characters. Not my favorite from Mary Burton but still good. It was intriguing and suspenseful. I didn’t feel as if the two main characters had any chemistry, but the Doll Maker character was written perfectly. Although he was a horrendous character he was perhaps my favorite simply because he was written as such an incredibly insane person. It gave me chills to think of coming face to face with someone like that. The fact that a decade old case tied into the present day murders was a great twist. So all in all I enjoyed this story.
I can’t get enough of this author every book full of action and who is doing the killing
Mary Burton is one of my favorites. It has been a while since I read this series, but it was a page turner for sure.
Very well written fast moving story
I like how this new book almost seamlessly continued on from The Shark, just moving characters to the center of the story who were more in the background previously and vice versa. I like this approach to keeping a familiar thread running through totally different stories. I’m ready for the next!
Very, very good.
I have read several of this author’s books. I have never been disappointed in them. The Dollmaker kept me in suspense and I had a hard time putting it down. The characters were very well written. I highly recommend this book and this author.
Very good book!
This was a very intriguing book. Mary Burton knows how to keep you in suspense
I liked the story, it was ok. Not the page turning, suspenseful kind of story that sticks with you but enjoyable enough to finish it and like it. The romance was bland and boring and didn’t really add anything to the story.
I really liked this book! Hated to see it end!
A bit creepy but kept me guessing.
I love all of Mary Burton’s books and this book was no different.
In this intricate suspense, multiple pieces of a puzzle are laid out – a cold case, a murder of a teenager, the bizarre death of a woman made up to look like a doll – that leave your on the edge of your seat as the author slowly connects all those pieces for shocking conclusion.
The main players are Virginia State Police Agent Dakota Sharp who is the half brother of the cold case victim. Her death years ago still consumes him and cost him his marriage. He is like a dog with a bone when he gets a case which is great for his job but not for his personal life. Tessa McGowan is a forensic pathologist who has just returned to Virginia to take a job in the ME office and is also the estranged wife of Dakota. Her intentions were to return to town and try and work on her marriage. But Dakota stubbornness in wanting to work things out and the eventual identity of the dead woman made to look like a doll brings up her past in college that could have deadly results for her today.
The author also gives us a front row seat into the mind of The Dollmaker – this is one creepy dude that has some sick fetishes.
As with the first book the characters are mainly from the Virginia State Police and Shield Security so we get to see all the characters from the first book back again along with getting to meet characters that will be in future books. If you like suspense series with a touch of romance and some evil bad guys I recommend this series.