This is the second book in The Forgotten Files series by Mary Burton. Like all her books, this one had me hooked from the start to the finish. Dakota Sharp is a Virginia State detective. He is at the funeral of his stepfather, when he is approached by a retired PI who was at one time the Chief of Police. He is challenged to pick up the case of his stepsister who was found dead of an apparent overdose 12 years earlier. There are many who believed that Kara was murdered. Tessa, is Dakota’s estranged wife and had been a close friend of Kara’s. She has returned to town and has been hired as the local forensic pathologist. Now one of Kara’s friends is missing, a young boy has been killed for no apparent reason and Dakota is on the case.

This is one of those stories that makes you cringe at times while reading it. The Dollmaker is definitely psychopathic and what he does to the women he kidnaps is very bizarre. When the body of Kara’s friend is found, the mystery ramps up quickly. This is one of those books that has me wanting to sit and watch reruns of Criminal Minds. It is the story of a serial killer which also has it in the psychological thriller. Parts were chilling and kept me turning the pages while trying to guess the outcome. There are twists, turns and suspense that had me turning pages quickly. I did a read listen, but read more because I can read faster than the narration. There were things I had figured out early, but there was so much more that surprised me. And the finale, totally unprepared for it, but it was so well done. This story is a dark thriller that may be hard for some people to read, but it is not as descriptive as some I have read. I will definitely be reading more in The Forgotten Files series.

The Dollmaker is one of those books you cannot put down!!! I found myself staying up late and waking early because I couldn't stop thinking about this book!!! This series is OUTSTANDING!! Well worth more than 5 stars...
I'm glad that Mary Burton will be continuing more books in this series and I am so excited to see what's in store next!!!

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).

Another winner from Mary Burton. I felt that the category romantic suspense might not have been for me but for once I was delighted to be proven wrong. Tessa was a fantastic character and I loved her attitude to life and love too. The plot rattled along at a fast pace and kept me engrossed over a rainy weekend. I will definitely be looking out for her next book and will recommend it to friends who enjoy a gripping read with strong female characters.

Thanks to netgalley for the opportunity to have read this great book. I've loved Mary Burton since I can remember, and was thrilled to read another killer read! This book was number 2 in the Forgotten Files series and was once again a killer offering by a brilliant author. Worth your time and effort.!

I Love this series and I love Mary. There are always unexpected twists and turns, a great plot, unforgettable characters, and never ending thrills.

If you haven't read any of Mary's books, RUN and get them because you are so missing out.

Griping. Great. I couldn't put it down. And I wasn't able to guess the end which is always a plus!

This could be a CSI episode. Mutilated bodies are being found telling a macabre tale of a sadistic killer who is kidnapping women and turning them into life-like dolls. Burton has away of catching the human spirit and resolve and grabbing your attention form page one and not letting go

A great thriller. Lots of twists and a very enjoyable read.

I love that this is a bit of a second change romance. Tessa and Dakota were together in the past and tragedy separated them. While its something terrible that is bringing them back together, it is a compelling story. There is danger and I thought that it was very well written. You simply cannot find a good stopping point in this story! You will want to gobble it up in 1 sitting because you want to know how the danger will unfold and if Tessa and Dakota can heal their fractured past! I compare this to the Virtue Falls series by Christina Dodd!

For Dr. Tess McGowan, returning to Richmond, Virginia was fraught with memories and a man who turns her inside out. But in her job as a forensic pathologist, she finds her latest case file to be the most gruesome. Mutilated bodies are being found telling a macabre tale of a sadistic killer who is kidnapping women and turning them into life-like dolls. It’s her job to aid the leading agent on the case, Dakota Sharp, except working together with her estranged husband will cause them both to face their pasts.

Twelve years before, Dakota Sharp’s world was destroyed in a tragedy that caused him to focus on hunting down killers and neglecting his marriage to Tess. When he finds out that Tess is back in town and working in the medical examiner’s office, Dakota is determined to be professional even as he is drawn to this determined woman. But this killer is smart, determined and as they get closer to the deranged psychopath, the killer sets his sights on Tess. Can Dakota and Tess figure out the clues and solve the case before Tess becomes the next victim of THE DOLL MAKER?

Wow, Mary Burton delivers a fast paced story that will chill you to the core even as you flip the pages to see what happens next. Ms. Burton delivers a story that is at times fraught with twists and turns that the reader doesn’t see coming and a secondary story of two people reconnecting and trying to work out their differences. This book is like a puzzle the reader has to figure out. It has a devious and diabolical killer that just chills you to the soul, a mystery that pulls you in and characters that you can’t help but enjoy. The story moves quickly, keeps the reader glued to the pages and entertained till the very end.

Meet Tess and Dakota. Two headstrong people who are made a mess of their marriage but finally figure out they are meant for one another. I got to admit when I first met Dakota Sharp, he was a bit rough around the edges for my taste, quite focused to point of ignoring everything and everyone around him. That is until Tess comes back into his life. Then my lord, the sparks flew between them. Tess needed that time away from Dakota to see what she needed and wanted while doing work over seas. These two characters are quite entertaining, enjoyable and made me root for them to succeed as a couple even as I tried to figure out the clues left by the killer alongside them. They had substance and were written so life-like I half expected them to pop up in my living room at times while reading THE DOLL MAKER. The killer is just creepy and the author does a fine job in getting into the mind of them to show the reader just how diabolical they can be. The secondary characters are just as well written as our main players and keep the story moving along nicely.

THE DOLL MAKER is a wonderful story that will thrill and chill you this winter’s night as it keeps you on the edge of your seat. If you enjoy a romantic suspense story that is full of twists and turns, a killer that will give you nightmares and a mystery to solve then you will enjoy Ms. Burton’s latest installment in the Forgotten Files series. You don’t have to read book one, The Shark, in order to read this installment. The books stand alone and I know I am eager to see where the third book, The Hangman, goes next.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement

I really enjoyed this book! It was a fast-paced mystery that I couldn't put down. The characters were interesting and well-developed and I loved Dakota's smart detective skills. The case itself was intriguing, and the villain had just enough crazy to make for an exciting and entertaining read. The story was very well-written and I appreciated Mary Burton's attention to detail. I've read several of MB's books and this is my favorite so far. A solid 4.5 stars!