Mary Burton has a way of writing a story that pulls you in and it doesn't;t want to let you go. It is full of suspense and it is not easy to figure out who did it. SHe has the right people in the right place. Even though this is part of a series you can read it as a stand alone.

This is my kind of thriller.Dark,gory and gruesome.Fast paced with a sprinkle of heat.I just devoured it.Just read it.

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 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. Part of a trilogy so be prepared for some missing backstory but this is a very dark and twisted thriller with a truly icky serial killer. You will be sleeping with your lights on for a while!

This book is dark, and creepy and it had me spooked from the very beginning. Keep the lights on!
Many thanks to Kensington and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Dollmaker by Mary Burton
The Forgotten Files #2

Sicko psycho serial killer with a doll fetish needs to be taken down in this disturbing novel that sees Agent Dakota Sharp looking for a killer that could also possibly be the person that killed his sister. \

What I liked:
* Dakota Stark: Virginia State Policeman and Agent, Ex-Marine sniper, estranged husband, bright, focused, immerses himself in cases, grieving the loss of his sister Kara over a decade later, still loves his wife
* Dr. Tessa McGowan: medical doctor, pathologist, forensic anthropologist, Dakota’s estranged wife, friend of Kara’s and other missing and deceased women, bright, caring, loves Dakota and wants to make a go of their marriage
* The look at things from the serial killer’s viewpoint – really can’t see how a person could end up thinking that way and doing what was done
* The twists and turns, secrets, cover-ups, and emotional issues there were
* The plot, setting, pacing, and writing
* The police procedural aspects of the story
* The many characters that could show up in future books in this series – especially those at the Shield Security offices
* How the clues finally led to the killer
* That the story made me care and hope for a happy outcome

What I didn’t like:
* Who and what I was meant not to like
* The killer – really wanted this person taken off the streets
* The death of Terrance and his father’s part in it
* The people complicit in keeping the serial killer in business

Did I enjoy the book? Yes
Would I read more in this series/ by this author? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington-Zebra Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4-5 Stars

Another great read by Mary Burton! Thriller keeps you on the edge of your seat wanting to keep reading until the end! This book will not disappoint!

I really enjoyed this! I liked the ending and will definitely be checking out more books in the series and from Mary Burton. I would recommend this! Special Thank you to Mary Burton, Kensington Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second book by Mary Burton I've read and enjoyed. She's starting to be on my radar more and more and I've added several of her books to my tbr list. Even though I'm not a big fan of romance, Mary manages to weave a bit into her suspenseful thrillers and I don't mind it. Glad to have discovered this author and will be reading more from her for sure. My thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Mary Burton is an absolute gem to read! This was a fast paced exciting thriller that had me on the edge of my seat! It has murder, mystery and suspense with a touch of romance!

Diane is found dead and the killer has left a unique scene to be investigated. The Two murders are connecting the future and the past. It seems the killer is after Tessa.

As the tale unravels you see who could be the killer. I was trying to piece together who it was and as it unraveled I was pleasantly surprised by the ending !

This book has it all and you should read it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington books for this arc

I really struggled to get into this book, I am not entirely sure why but I think the pacing and story telling just sort of confused me and I didnt have a really good grasp as to what was happening so ultimately dnf'd

RATING: 4 STARS
(I received an ARC from the PUBLISHER via NETGALLEY)
(Review Not on Blog)

Several years ago I read Burton's Senseless series and I liked but found the suspense and romance a bit flat. That didn't stop me from still adding her books to my "want to read" list. While I found the chemistry of the characters flat, Burton does write well. And, damn this series just knocked me off my feet. When I requested the first book, the Shark, I was expecting a good read, but instead I found myself in an awesome romantic suspense. I felt like I was reading Karen Rose or Allison Brennan. After a few pages into The Dollmaker, about a killer dressing and making up his victims up as dolls, I was hooked. I enjoyed the past and chemistry of Dakota and Tessa but it was the killer that had me flipping the pages. If you are looking for a satisfying romantic suspense thriller, read this series (please note it is graphic).

This storyline is WILD and not for the faint of heart. Absolutely a page turner that you have to know what happens next. There’s plenty of detective work, with a good mix of personal storyline with Dakota and Tessa as well. This had me hooked and I can’t wait to see where the story takes us next. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to provide my honest review.

The Dollmaker by Mary Burton
The Forgotten Files series #2. Thriller with a smidge of romance. Can be read as a stand-alone.
Someone with a twisted mind is kidnapping women and altering their faces to resemble life-sized dolls. As a forensic pathologist, it’s up to Dr Tessa McGowin to help the agent in charge of the investigation. Dakota Sharp is Tessa’s estranged husband and he’s determined to catch this deranged doll killer. He needs to moves fast though as it seems like Tessa is likely to be his next target.

A gruesome sicko, using his tattoo skills to change a woman’s appearance to be the perfect doll for him. There are chapters from the female victim’s (3rd person) perspective that a chilling because we know she’s not going to survive. Dakota and Tessa have to put aside their personal issues and look at her past to figure out who it might be that’s stalking her.

Gripping and intense.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley and the publisher.

Mary Burton can always be counted on to give me nightmares, but I love her books!!! This one reminds me of an episode of Criminal Minds, but better. When Tessa and Dakota team up, they are a formidable force against the evil this one man seems determined to commit over and over. Well written, great characters, fast paced with tension building slowly as they move closer to THE DOLLMAKER.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this exceptional good book


Dr. Tessa McGowan is back in town to change what happened between with her husband...after spending time away from him working to identify the bodies of the soldiers found in vietnam she is ready to change the outcome of an impending divorce with Dakota Sharp and to make their marriage work

though she has her work cut out for her as dakota hasnt changed and is even more of a closed book than before

but dakota has his mind on his latest case and its a chilling one, the victim is made up to look like a doll and not only that its not make up that this perp is using, he is tattooing the victims to look like dolls and dressing them up in doll like outfits

but what is even more chilling once the victim is identified she is known to tessa and to dakotas late sister and now with dakotas sisters cold case being reopened where will all this lead to

what an intense read this was... i was on the edge of my seat many times during the reading of this one oh man my throat was in my mouth at the end, could not put it down

cant wait for the next book from this author

“The Dollmaker” by Mary Burton was an edge of the seat story that keeps you guessing until the end. This story is hard to put down and sends you on many twists and turn throughout the whole book.
Dakota is a state trooper that is tasked with solving two cases. As he takes on this task his estranged wife comes back into town. Dakota starts to make connections to a case in his past. As all the clues start to come in will Dakota be able to solve it before it’s too late.
Highly recommend this gripping story.

The Dollmaker by Mary Burton is a dark and twisted mystery/thriller.
This story is very intense and a complete page-turner, I couldn't stop until I got to the end.
Dr. Tessa McGowan is strong and a top notch character.
This is a book with a tightly written plot that includes crime procedures as well as clever plot twists. I loved it and look forward to reading the other titles that follow this one in the series!

Thank You NetGalley and Zebra for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

I enjoy the characters and setting of this and the previous Forgotten Files - I would read more of them!

Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review

The Dollmaker by Mary Burton combines a police procedural, crime thriller, and romantic suspense into a fascinating, shocking, and chilling tale. Dr. Tessa McGowan is a forensic pathologist. She’s married, but separated from Virginia State Police Agent Dakota Sharp. Someone is kidnapping women and altering their faces to resemble dolls. Twelve years ago, a tragedy occurred in Sharp’s world that has caused him to devote himself to capturing killers. His one regret is that it cost him Tessa.

Tessa is reasonable, calm, straightforward, and can easily shrug off anxiety. She has changed in the last eight months and wants to make their marriage work. Sharp has a desire to protect and seek justice. He’s a workaholic who doesn’t project emotions making him seem distant to others. His ability to compartmentalize and detach enables him to do his job well. I felt like Sharp was better defined and had more depth than Tessa in this one, but both were well done. It was also great to catch up with characters from book one including Riley Tatum and Clay Bowman. The character that stands out though, is the unknown antagonist that is being sought in the story.

Mary Burton knows how to write a police procedural with plenty of suspense and thrills that allow readers to experience shocking action scenes from the comfort and safety of their homes. From a heartbreaking prologue to a shocking and chilling second chapter, I couldn’t stop turning the pages to see what would happen next. This is a story of multiple murder cases, one of which is a cold case. The author does a great job of bringing together the past and the present with case files, interviews, and photos.

The author is a great storyteller with gripping scenes and a disturbing story intermixed with a couple trying to decide if they can reconcile and be happy together. The plot moves at a fast pace with twists and turns. The antagonist’s identity was a complete surprise to me. The chemistry between Tessa and Sharp was there, but took a backseat to the crime thriller and police procedural parts of the book. There was a steamy scene or two.

Overall, this tense, suspenseful, and tragic thriller gripped me from the beginning. It was difficult to put down. The author brings strong characters, a great plot, wonderful relationships, and excellent pacing to the novel. Written for those who love crime thrillers and detective stories with a little romance, The Dollmaker is thought-provoking and has an antagonist that is dark and sinister. I’m a fan of the series and looking forward to reading the next book.

Kensington Books, Zebra and Mary Burton provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. The publication date is currently set for December 26, 2023. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

4.25⭐

The Dollmaker is a complex mystery. Full of suspense and danger. As a cold-case, the murder of a teenager and the strange death of a woman made to look like a doll all slowly connect and come together for a shocking conclusion.

With Virginia Bureau of Investigation Agent Dakota Sharp at the centre of it all. 

As he's the half-brother of the cold-case victim, and her death has stayed with him. In fact, you could say it has consumed him. So much so, his marriage has broken down, and he's now hyper-focused on his career because of it. Which is good for those who he is seeking justice for but not so good for him or his work-life balance.

Particularly as he is about to come face to face with his ex-wife. When she returns to Virginia to work in the ME's office. And where she encounters a case that forces her to confront her past and exposes her to danger. 

Which directly lands her back into her ex-husband's orbit.  

And with a front-row seat to the killer known as the doll maker. Who is one crazy sick individual! Not to mention an intriguing storyline that is fast-paced and full of interesting characters. This was a great read and one I would happily recommend to others.

My thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy of The Dollmaker. 😊