I feel like this book had an identity crisis. It gave hints to horror, was a mystery for the first bit, then a romance. Books can be multiple things, of course, but this wasn't woven together. It was almost like segments.

I started off enjoying the book, but the farther off the rails it went, the less I enjoyed it.

Kate Rudd narrates the audiobook.

I received an advance audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book was well written. Just when I thought I knew who the villain was. Bam! It is a character I would not have expected. A great twist to the ending. This book really emphasizes the limitations women lived under in the 1920’s. A fantastic strong heroine in an era where it was frowned upon to be an independent free thinking woman. Fantastic story, I recommend.

I received this audiobook from NetGalley and CamCat Publishing as an ARC. But then life got in the way, and I didn't get the chance to download and listen before it got archived; I have finally managed to circle back around and caught back up, so here is my honest review.

The Dollmaker is a historical mystery thriller set in the 1920s. It centers around a woman, Dawn, whose best friend Rose is kidnapped by a serial killer known as "The Dollmaker" who creates "dolls" from the severed limbs of their victims. Dawn wants to be a doctor, but is willing to leave that behind in order to find her missing friend before it's too late. Or before she's next.

I am a big fan of serial killer novels, and this one did not disappoint! It grabs you sucks you in right out of the gate. It is very captivating and thrilling, leaving you wanting more! I felt like the secondary plot of Dawn's struggles with her role as a woman in a patriarchal time added a very interesting layer to the story.

Kate Rudd, the narrator, does an amazingly dynamic job of telling the story, keeping a good pace (not too fast or slow) and make it engaging and a pleasure to listen to. The story tone was dark, mysterious and tense, with very likeable characters, strong character development, and a well-driven plot. I'm not sure what I was expecting going into this book (based on the description), but I was definitely surprised! And the twist was perfect! I was shook!

This book was a great listen, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who loves serial killer books and murder mysteries. I also plan on checking out mor of Shamy's work.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this read! This was a spooky read that gave me chills more than once. I was able to empathize with Rose, even though it seemed as if the plot was able to move forward with or without her.

The narrator was great and kept my interest, and the twist at the end took my breath away.

This is a story that is set in the 1920’s. The main character, Dawn, loves her best friend Rose so when she gets kidnapped right in front of her she will stop at nothing to save her from the city’s serial killer. This particular serial killer takes parts of women’s bodies and sews them together to make “art”
“Dawn stared in horror at the masterpiece. It was clearly a work of art, sick and twisted as it was.”
This book was a bit slow to start for me. The romance felt rushed and semi-stalkerish. I did not guess who the killer was until it was revealed at the end.


Thank you NetGalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Did not finish this audiobook, as I wasn’t able to enjoy the narration. Will probably try and read this again in the future, but then purchase it as an ebook or book to actually read it.

The characters were boring, pretty basic and flat. The plot was interesting, but it kind of jumped all over the place. One of my biggest complaints is that the main character didn't forward the plot; the plot kept going and she was simply getting dragged along with it. Ultimately, the "big reveal" was predictable, too.

The Dollmaker by Morgan Shamy, narrated by Kate Rudd, offers a gripping historical mystery thriller experience set in the 1920s.

Immersing oneself in a compelling Historical Fiction Horror story is always a treat, and The Dollmaker delivers right from the outset. Dawn, our protagonist, defies the societal norms of her time, dreaming of becoming a doctor despite the prevailing gender biases. The author adeptly captures the era's atmosphere, where women are relegated to the sidelines, and Dawn's determination to break free from these constraints is palpable.

As ballerinas begin to vanish, fear grips the community with whispers of The Dollmaker, a serial killer who mutilates his victims to create eerie life-size dolls. Dawn, alongside Gideon and Sebastian, embarks on a perilous journey to uncover the truth behind the disappearances. Shamy masterfully constructs a web of suspects, keeping readers on edge with each revelation and twist.

The narrative unfolds at a brisk pace, brimming with unexpected turns that will keep you guessing until the very end. Dawn's resilience and unwavering resolve to find her missing friend, Rose, add depth to the story. Brace yourself for a rollercoaster ride of suspense and intrigue as The Dollmaker unveils secrets that will leave you reeling.

It's impossible to discuss The Dollmaker without acknowledging Kate Rudd's exceptional narration. Her flawless pacing and nuanced delivery breathe life into the story, enhancing the overall listening experience. Rudd's portrayal of the characters adds depth and authenticity, making them truly come alive in the audiobook format. Her contribution takes The Dollmaker to new heights, ensuring that listeners are fully immersed in its chilling narrative.

I thought this book was a supper fun read. Perfect combination or romance, mystery and murder. I love a good who done it, so I was hooked. The narrator was good and easy to understand and fallow.

This one's okay there's something significant about it that stands out, but there's also nothing about it that makes me angry. It's a pretty average rate overall

I really enjoyed this book! It had a perfect blend of mystery and romance that kept me hooked from start to finish. Unlike some books that can feel slow, this one had a captivating storyline that never lost my interest. The characters were so likable and relatable, making it easy to get invested in their journey. I can't wait to recommend this amazing read to all my friends. It's just as thrilling as Jack the Ripper!

Thank You, NetGalley for giving me an opportunity to read this book.

I went into The Dollmaker by Morgan Shamy without any expectations and I cannot say how pleasantly surprised I was after reading it.

I loved the setting, the characters and the mystery.

I don't want to give away any spoilers.

So, I will only say that this book is totally worth your time. Please do give it a read.

Thanks.

The Dollmaker by Morgan Shamy is a historical mystery thriller set in the 1920s.

I was not sure what to expect when I started this book, but I was quickly hooked.
Set in a time period where women were still considered to be just an accessory to their husbands, Dawn has no interest in getting married. Her dream is to be a doctor, but with the view on women, she knows that although she was capable of doing everything the doctor she works for, she will never get the same respect that he receives. Women in the medical field were only considered midwives, and if they tried to do more, they were called witches.
When ballerinas begin to disappear, they fear the serial killer that has been named The Dollmaker must be responsible. The Dollmaker kills beautiful young women and cuts a part of the body off, reconnecting them in a Frankenstein like manner. The Dollmaker is creating their own life size version of dolls.
Trying to figure out who the Dollmaker causes you to suspect multiple people, and as the information is revealed, you begin to find more reasons each suspect could be the killer. The book moves fast, with twists and turns coming constantly. The author weaves an engaging mystery that truly captivates the reader. I loved Dawns courage and determination to find her friend Rose that’s missing, regardless of the danger she puts herself into. The book gives you Jack The Ripper vibes. Be ready for twists that you won’t see coming.

I went into this book thinking it would be just okay but I was surprised by how much I truly liked it. If you have read Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross, you will absolutely love The Dollmaker by Morgan Shamy. Though this book is not fantasy and is instead a mystery, it was spot on something that reminded me of it and drew me and kept me interested. I became invested in the characters and needed more and more with each page.

Set in the 1920’s when women were expected to become wives and stay home and raise the kids, Dawn has other plans for her life and a husband and kids are not part of it. Dawn is working for the local doctor, behind the scenes so that others won’t know that she is practicing medicine. The only person that Dawn can lean on when others want so much from her is her best friend Rose. When Rose disappears and a murderer kidnapping and murdering young women and turning their bodies into dolls, Dawn sets out on a mission to find the Dollmaker. With twists that are so unexpected, you won’t want to set this book down.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free copy of The Dollmaker by Morgan Shamy in exchange for my honest review.

Historical books are not one of the genres I enjoy, but this audiobook pulled me in and kept me hooked. The story reminded me of Jack the Ripper. The story took several twists and turns offering up three potential serial killers. I spent several chapters trying to narrow down the suspects only to be completely SHOCKED 😲 when the true doll maker is reveled.

The Dollmaker by Morgan Shamy will keep you guessing until the end. I had no idea who the killer was and was shocked when it was revealed. The story follows Dawn, a young woman in the early twentieth century, as she tries to find her best friend Rose, who was kidnapped by "The Dollmaker", a killer who poses pieces of women's bodies into "masterpieces". Quite a good story, very interesting and well written. I really enjoyed it. And the narrator did a great job as well! Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher.

The dollmaker is a serial killer who murders his victims takes parts of each victim and sews pieces together to make a perfect specimen. The murders started in New York and culminated in the "doll" and they are now starting back again as bodies are turning up missing key pieces. Dawn is a doctor, which is unheard of at this time, set in the 1920s, whose best friend goes missing. No one takes Dawn seriously so she takes it upon herself to discover who the dollmaker is on her own. She does partner with a wealthy gentleman whose fiance was murdered in the first series of murders.

Though this is a book of murders, the murder aspect is minimal, and the gore and violence are also minimal. This story takes a bigger look at the societal expectations of women during this time. Women were not in roles such as physicians, were not taken seriously when it came to reporting crimes, and were forced into marriages, still. Women took on a lot of abuse because the police and society would believe the man over the woman. Alongside this commentary, we have Dawn, who is trying to navigate the world and stand up for herself when her parents despise her and blame her for the death of her brother. There was a lot of back and forth with herself that tended to be repetitive and led to a bit of a downward spiral in the middle of the book. The book picked up pace at the end and wound up having some fantastic twists and turns. I thought I had figured out the mystery, but I was blindsided.

The writing was well done, and the descriptions of the ballet theater and what the dancers endured were fantastic. The social commentary was well done without being preachy. There was an allusion to still calling and claiming Dawn was a witch instead of a healer or doctor, because people are fearful of the unknown. The audio version was well done as well. The narrator was able to capture the suspense of the novel and helped keep your attention. Overall, the story was entertaining, it wasn't graphic and was even suitable as a young adult novel, for those who love horror without all the gore.

So grateful for the opportunity to listen to this wonderful book/audio! Thoroughly enjoyed the story and the narration!

For me this was part mystery, part love story, but I really enjoyed it! It was a very interesting book that caught my attention and held it throughout the whole book without dragging along like some books tend to do. The characters where very likable and relatable it was easy to fallow the story line. I would recommend this to all my friends.

The story itself is a 3 star story - mid with a predictable twist, blatantly obvious red herrings, and an odd sense of time to it where it was supposed to be set in the 1920s and there were cars, but everything felt more Edwardian era. The romance made no sense - why a smart woman insistent on being a doctor and terrified of being tied down and being forced into the role of a house wife would fall so instantly in love with a bizarre toxic man with childish outbursts is beyond me. Overall...this was just okay. Not very horror in my opinion. This book wrote a check it couldn't cash.

As for the narrator - took away another star because the narrator kept pronouncing the 'T' in the word 'valet'.