This was a fascinating book. Rich Cohen (who I love) delves into the disappearance and murder of Jennifer Dulos. I had heard about this story on Dateline or 20/20 or any popular true crime podcast. But this book tells the story of Jennifer and her marriage and her striving for perfection and her murder. It was well-written and absorbing.

Jennifer came from a very wealthy family. She was raised to believe in perfection and appearance. She tried to be a writer and wrote a play that her family was angry with her for staging. She left the players company. She moved to Colorado, where she meets up with a former classmate at Brown, Fotis Dulos, a Greek immigrant. Though married at the time, he strikes up a relationship with Jennifer. Eventually they marry and have four kids.

Fotis is concerned with appearances. He was a champion water-skier and pushes his children to do it - whether they want to or not. He has a temper. He travels a lot. Owns a home building business that he borrows tens of millions of dollars from Jennifer's father to keep afloat. Then he meets a woman in Miami and starts seeing her. As Jennifer and Fotis being down the road of a very nasty, very drawn-out divorce, their relationship deteriorates.

Then Jennifer disappears. Eventually the police start piecing the mystery together. And I am not going to say anything else. This book drew me in and kept me turning pages. It was an excellent dissection of wealth, expectation, class, and violence. If you like true crime, you'll like this story.

T'rue crime fans - here's your book for the Spring! In one of the richest areas of Connecticut, Jennifer Dulos disappeared on May 24, 2019 after she dropped her kids off at school. Her ex-husband, Fotis, is then arrested for her murder and amazingly is released on bail. Upon learning his bail is about to be revoked, he dies by suicide, still proclaiming his innocence. These aren't spoilers - there was a tremendous amount of press coverage about the case, and author Rich Cohen explores and amplifies the coverage in great detail.
Murder in the Dollhouse tells a terrible story of murder, money, greed, and the failure of the legal system. I had read quite a bit already about the case, but the book went into greater detail about the whole situation, especially about Jennifer's background and her family. Cohen brought in additional sources to amplify the story, including family members, psychiatrists and lawyers involved in their divorce, their nanny, and Jennifer's friends. There's also a fair amount of detail about water skiing and competitions, which I truly didn't believe was actually a thing. The epilogue takes us up to the most recent sentencing of Michelle Traconis, former girlfriend and accomplice of Dulos. I listened to the audio book and narration by Edoardo Ballerini was well done.
Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to read Murder in the Dollhouse. I received a complimentary copy of the audiobook and opinions expressed are completely my own.

I had not heard of this case before having the chance to listen to this as one of my MacMillan Audio ALCs this month. I also don't typically read/listen to true crime, but I was very intrigued by the description.
There was a lot of backstory here. More than I needed, personally. The first 2/3 of the book is all about Jennifer's life and the last 1/3 is about the case + trial.
I think the ex husband was guilty AF and I think his lawyer was a POS for trying to say Jennifer "gone girl'd" herself. Her son's victim statement at Michelle's trial made me cry and I would be interested to know what the five kids think about their father.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced audio book.

What happened to Jennifer Dulos is tragic and I can see how her murder and the fall out from it could seem like prime material for a nonfiction story. Unfortunately, for me, the execution didn't hold my attention.

Masterfully crafted true crime book that delves into the tragic and shocking case of Jennifer Dulos’s murder. From the very first chapter, the story grips the listener, unfolding with a tension that makes it impossible to pause.
What sets this book apart is Cohen’s meticulous research and detailed documentation. He not only recounts the events but also provides deep insights into the legal battles, the key players, and the larger societal themes surrounding the case. The storytelling is both compelling and informative, making it a fascinating listen for true crime enthusiasts.
The narration is simply fantastic. The voice actor delivers the story with perfect pacing, capturing the suspense and emotion without ever feeling overdramatized. The measured tone enhances the experience, keeping listeners engaged while maintaining respect for the gravity of the subject matter.
Every aspect of Murder in the Dollhouse—from its gripping storytelling to its impeccable narration—makes it a standout in the true crime genre. A nail-biting and unforgettable listen. Highly recommended.

The narrator for this one did an amazing job! I was hooked from the beginning and so drawn into the story. I really wish her husband had given the family more closure prior to taking himself out of the picture. There is a lot of drama, and it was eye opening seeing a glimpse into a wealthy lifestyle and the means people will go to keep their secrets quiet. Thank you so much for this audiobook!

ARC review • pub date 05.20.25
🎧 audiobook review

I went into thinking it would be a documentary like feel about the murder/disappearance of Jennifer Dulos. I’m pretty familiar with the case as I’ve seen the dateline episode as well as other true crime articles.

The book ended up being mostly about Jennifer’s upbringing, her family beliefs, and eventually her strained marriage with Fotus. Her murder wasn’t really mentioned until about 88% into the book.

That being said, it was still a good book, just more read like a biography. If you go in knowing that and wanting that, you will probably really enjoy this story.

3 ⭐️

Thanks so much to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for my ALC.

#MacAudio2025

Murder In The Dollhouse is the riveting and meticulously researched missing person and presumed murder of Jennifer Dulos, Jennifer grew up in the elite world of money, privilege and luxury. She had everything she wanted in life except for a husband and children. After originally meeting at Brown University, a chance encounter a decade later leads to a fast marriage and 5 children. Jennifer and Fotos’s marriage becomes one of the most contentious divorces in Connecticut state history.

She has not been seen since 2019, and legally declared dead in 2024.

This book is filled with impeccable research and details that will keep the reader turning the pages. As an avid true crime aficionado, this book was perfect! I’ll definitely be recommending it

This was a very interesting book about Jennifer Dulos who was murdered by her husband and his girlfriend. I usually get a bit frustrated when a book goes all the way back to childhood and spends so much time on events that didn't have to do with the crime. But this one was done really well and hold my interest the entire time.

It's a pretty comprehensive look into the disappearance of Jennifer Dulos. Rich does a deep dive into Jennifer's life, not just the days leading up to her disappearance, but he goes back to her childhood. I found it informative.

Murder in the Dollhouse: The Jennifer Dulos Story by Rich Cohen, takes us through the life and final days of Jennifer Dulos who was murdered by her husband and his girlfriend. It reads more like a mystery/thriller than true crime, keeping the reader fully immersed and invested in the story throughout. The writing focused on the events that lead up to the murder but lacked the same level detail for the crime itself, and may disappoint some pure crime purists.

In addition to the book, I had the good fortune to be able to listen to the book simultaneously as well. The Narration by Edoardo Ballerini was amazing, setting a great pace for the book. I will be looking into this narrator in the future.

Thank you to Farrar, Straus and Giroux and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to read the eARC and listen to the ALC. All opinions are my own.


Print book Rating: 3 Stars
Audible book Rating: 5 stars
Pub Date: May 20 2025

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I am familiar with the case, but I learned a lot more details about the family here. It was interesting to learn about Jennifer before and after her husband. What a tragedy for an amazing woman and mother. Thank you for sharing about Jennifer’s law and I hope it helps many people. My heart is with those 5 children.

I remember this case when it happened so I was super excited to dive in. The loved the way the story was told. I enjoyed the details of their lives leading up to the crime. It gave you better insight than what was in the media at the time. I also enjoyed the narrator

My actual rating is 3.5 ⭐️. I am a huge fan of true crime novels and know that they contain a lot of information. However, I feel there was a lot of fluff and needless words in this book. Once you get past all the padding, it's really quite an interesting story. I also feel this would be a much better book to listen to with a different narrator. The monotone voice and droning on and on put me to sleep several times, and had me having to go back to listen again to those I fell asleep for. I honestly probably would have only given it a 2 or 3 ⭐️ if it were not for my love of true crime and this actually being an interesting story I hadn't heard of before. I feel this could easily be a 4 star audio if the author eliminated some unnecessary to the story fluff and a completely different narrator.

I’m rating this 3 stars because even though it’s not for me, it seems throughly researched and potentially right for the right person.

I found the authors communication style to be a little odd. I don’t know exactly how to pin it, but I personally didn’t connect with his approach to sharing this story.

While it is well-researched and the author states his fixation on the story due to proximity- I still feel this reads like a book report. It is mostly chronologically linear with a lot of biographical details.

I also feel the author didn’t really add any interesting insight or perspective. So while this is certainly a tragic story, I’m left questioning what he is contributing to the narrative.

Perhaps those more acquainted with the news cycle around this case will appreciate the compilation of the family history and the case details into this single source.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, Farrar, Straus, and Giroux for an audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the free audiobook in exchange for my honest review. Edoardo Ballerini does a brilliant job narrating this story and making it come to life.

True crime at its finest! Jennifer Dulos was a beautiful heiress and mother of 5 who disappeared one day after dropping her kids off. It was very clear that her husband killed her as he was known to be an unstable man that was not taking their divorce well. Such a tragic story but very well told!

What a crazy story! I love true crime on audio, so I enjoyed this book. Narrator was good. Very "dateline"esque.

4 stars

What a chilling, disturbing narrative.

I came into this read without any prior knowledge of this case at all, so my review is obviously from the perspective of a reader who has no incoming expectations or feelings about the case or the parties it involves. A future step I'll take is researching how more informed readers feel about this presentation.

Jennifer Dulos, the focal point of this novel and crime, was a devoted mother from an incredibly privileged background. Her choices in marital partner? More out of a sense of urgency (fertility) than logic. This is now even clearer based on the fact that Dulos one day went missing and never returned, and every sign points to the creep to whom she was married.

This is a tragic tale, obviously, and while it's unfortunately one we hear a lot in this society, it still has it's particularities. As much as one can enjoy true crime, I did find this to be logically ordered, supported, and engaging, especially in the audio format. It's a tough listen for obvious reasons, and prospective readers should anticipate that experience.

4.25/5. Thank you to Rich Cohen, Macmillan Audio, and Netgalley for the ALC/audio ARC.

I remember when this case broke, Jennifer Dulos disappearing right after I became a mother for the first time. Being adjacent to the forensic science field, I yearned to analyze all the evidence, but without a body, what could we do? Well, plenty, as Fotis Dulos and his accomplices found out.

Rich Cohen weaves together an interesting narrative of Jennifer's life from when they were in the same social circles during their collegiate years to what he could interpret through his source materials (as described in his Note on Sources near the end of the book). Though there were moments when he took a little bit of liberty (such as going through what Jennifer's last thoughts might have been), they weren't as frequent as they could have been. I very much appreciated that he didn't attempt to write what the children may have felt upon seeing their father for the last time as he succumbed to his suicide attempt.

I felt this did have a fair amount of new material with acquaintances he and Jennifer shared giving their insight. It helped keep the focus on Jennifer and her story, the victim (along with her family and friends who lost her). It also laid out the facts of the case in a way that flowed, tying in backstory where needed and in a cohesive way. A definite recommendation to true crime fans that don't feel averse to stories of this nature.

The story is about the disappearance and likely murder of Jennifer Dulos during the tumultuous divorce. She comes from wealth (her aunt is Liz Claiborne). It’s truly heartbreaking and the author gave us a personal view into Jennifer’s life. He paints a picture of Jennifer Dulos both before and after she married Fotus. Her body has never been found, and her husband was ultimately charged with her murder.

I have read and followed the case and I found details that were brand new to me. Thank you NetGallery for allowing me to read this book.