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Death in the Details
Inspired by the real life Frances Lee Glessner and featuring a whip-smart, intrepid sleuth in post-WWII Vermont.
Maple Bishop is ready to put WWII and the grief of losing her husband Bill behind her. But when she discovers that Bill left her penniless, Maple realizes she could lose her Vermont home next and sets out to make money the only way she knows by selling her intricately crafted dollhouses. Business is off to a good start—until Maple discovers her first customer dead, his body hanging precariously in his own barn.
Something about the supposed suicide rubs Maple the wrong way, but local authorities brush off her concerns. Determined to see “what’s big in what’s small,” Maple turns to what she knows best, painstakingly recreating the gruesome scene in death in a nutshell.
With the help of a rookie officer named Kenny, Maple uses her macabre miniature to dig into the dark undercurrents of her sleepy town, where everyone seems to have a secret—and a grudge. But when one of her neighbors who she never got along withher nemesis goes missing and she herself becomes a suspect, it’ll be up to Maple to find the devil in the details—and put him behind bars.
Drawing inspiration from true crime and offering readers a smartly plotted puzzle of a mystery, Death in a Nutshell is a stunning series debut.
Maple Bishop is ready to put WWII and the grief of losing her husband Bill behind her. But when she discovers that Bill left her penniless, Maple realizes she could lose her Vermont home next and sets out to make money the only way she knows by selling her intricately crafted dollhouses. Business is off to a good start—until Maple discovers her first customer dead, his body hanging precariously in his own barn.
Something about the supposed suicide rubs Maple the wrong way, but local authorities brush off her concerns. Determined to see “what’s big in what’s small,” Maple turns to what she knows best, painstakingly recreating the gruesome scene in death in a nutshell.
With the help of a rookie officer named Kenny, Maple uses her macabre miniature to dig into the dark undercurrents of her sleepy town, where everyone seems to have a secret—and a grudge. But when one of her neighbors who she never got along withher nemesis goes missing and she herself becomes a suspect, it’ll be up to Maple to find the devil in the details—and put him behind bars.
Drawing inspiration from true crime and offering readers a smartly plotted puzzle of a mystery, Death in a Nutshell is a stunning series debut.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published April 9, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 149 reviews
April 5, 2024
This story was inspired by a real-life person, Frances Glessner Lee, who made miniatures of crime scenes to aid in investigations. It is set in the aftermath of WW2 in Vermont.
Maple Bishop has been left a war widow with no money, no job and a mortgage. She has always enjoyed making dolls houses and has rooms full of them, so when the idea comes up to try and sell them from a friend's hardware store she jumps at it. She is just starting to be successful when she delivers a house to one of her customers and finds him hanged. When she feels the police are not doing an adequate investigation she starts her own which includes building a dolls house of the crime scene.
The book was very well written and gave an excellent picture of the hardships of life immediately after the war. A really good example of historical mystery. Highly recommended.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Maple Bishop has been left a war widow with no money, no job and a mortgage. She has always enjoyed making dolls houses and has rooms full of them, so when the idea comes up to try and sell them from a friend's hardware store she jumps at it. She is just starting to be successful when she delivers a house to one of her customers and finds him hanged. When she feels the police are not doing an adequate investigation she starts her own which includes building a dolls house of the crime scene.
The book was very well written and gave an excellent picture of the hardships of life immediately after the war. A really good example of historical mystery. Highly recommended.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
May 1, 2024
don’t laugh but I’m going to say this murder novel was “cute” and I know that doesn’t sound like it could be a thing but trust me, this was a cute murder book
June 30, 2024
Death In The Details is the first novel by American author, Katie Tietjen. It’s October 1946 and, eight weeks after losing the husband who volunteered as a doctor in France, Maple Bishop learns that, despite the Government life insurance cheque, she is virtually penniless. And she may be the first woman to graduate from the Boston City Law School, but in Elderberry, Vermont, no-one will employ her in that capacity. If she doesn’t make the soon-due mortgage payment, she’ll be homeless.
Her one solace is making her miniatures: fully fitted, furnished and populated dollhouses. She has quite a lot of them, but can’t resist making more. When she’s at Ben Crenshaw’s hardware store picking up bits and pieces for a new one, he makes a suggestion that might benefit them both: display her houses in his window, and set up a work table in the store so customers can watch them being made. Maple’s rejection of the gossipy sewing group led by Elderberry’s self-appointed social chair, Ginger Comstock, makes her an outsider just as Ben's mixed race does.
When delivering one of her finished works, Maple stumbles on a grisly scene: the much-disliked husband of Angela Wallace is hanging from a noose in his barn, quite dead. She goes into the deserted house to call the Sheriff, but back in the barn, takes in various odd details. Maple is shocked when the Sheriff deems it a suicide not requiring investigation, and her troubled mind won’t rest until she has rendered each detail her photographic memory recorded into a miniature death scene complete with victim.
Not only does the Sheriff dismiss her ideas, he throws her out of the station. But when officer-in-training, Kenny Quirk returns her “death scene in a nutshell” he wants her to join him in a covert investigation. Perhaps not the wisest move, but his intentions are pure, and Maple finds it difficult to resist…
Tietjen offers an original plot with several twists and turns to keep the reader guessing and the pages turning right up to the exciting climax. She renders her setting and era well, deftly illustrating some of the hardships faced by communities in the early post-war years.
Her protagonist is a gutsy, no-nonsense woman describe by one friend as hard to like. She admits to using vinegar when honey would work better in interpersonal relations, finds people exhausting, prefers her stray orange cat’s straightforwardness and emotional transparency.
The story is inspired by the real-life Frances Lee Glessner, who made crafted miniature crime scenes, and the Author’s Note makes interesting background reading. The blurb describes this as a series debut, and more of this cast is most definitely welcome. Excellent historical crime fiction.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books.
Her one solace is making her miniatures: fully fitted, furnished and populated dollhouses. She has quite a lot of them, but can’t resist making more. When she’s at Ben Crenshaw’s hardware store picking up bits and pieces for a new one, he makes a suggestion that might benefit them both: display her houses in his window, and set up a work table in the store so customers can watch them being made. Maple’s rejection of the gossipy sewing group led by Elderberry’s self-appointed social chair, Ginger Comstock, makes her an outsider just as Ben's mixed race does.
When delivering one of her finished works, Maple stumbles on a grisly scene: the much-disliked husband of Angela Wallace is hanging from a noose in his barn, quite dead. She goes into the deserted house to call the Sheriff, but back in the barn, takes in various odd details. Maple is shocked when the Sheriff deems it a suicide not requiring investigation, and her troubled mind won’t rest until she has rendered each detail her photographic memory recorded into a miniature death scene complete with victim.
Not only does the Sheriff dismiss her ideas, he throws her out of the station. But when officer-in-training, Kenny Quirk returns her “death scene in a nutshell” he wants her to join him in a covert investigation. Perhaps not the wisest move, but his intentions are pure, and Maple finds it difficult to resist…
Tietjen offers an original plot with several twists and turns to keep the reader guessing and the pages turning right up to the exciting climax. She renders her setting and era well, deftly illustrating some of the hardships faced by communities in the early post-war years.
Her protagonist is a gutsy, no-nonsense woman describe by one friend as hard to like. She admits to using vinegar when honey would work better in interpersonal relations, finds people exhausting, prefers her stray orange cat’s straightforwardness and emotional transparency.
The story is inspired by the real-life Frances Lee Glessner, who made crafted miniature crime scenes, and the Author’s Note makes interesting background reading. The blurb describes this as a series debut, and more of this cast is most definitely welcome. Excellent historical crime fiction.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books.
September 14, 2024
3.75 stars
Nice light easy to read cozy-esque debut novel. The start of a series, based on a real person and their hobby of doll house making, which spawned into crime scene caricatures.
For a debut this was very good. Good character development and story plot. The protagonist is refreshing and comfortable in appeal, yet a bit of a spit fire when need be. There was more to the mystery than I expected and it was wrapped up well at the end, but leaving enough overlap to plant the possibility of more stories.
Nice light easy to read cozy-esque debut novel. The start of a series, based on a real person and their hobby of doll house making, which spawned into crime scene caricatures.
For a debut this was very good. Good character development and story plot. The protagonist is refreshing and comfortable in appeal, yet a bit of a spit fire when need be. There was more to the mystery than I expected and it was wrapped up well at the end, but leaving enough overlap to plant the possibility of more stories.
May 16, 2024
Great debut book! I'm excited for the next one!
March 26, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for a copy of the e-book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
My Thoughts
Characters
I liked the characters-Mapel Bishop is the main character. She’s a widow that finds out her husband’s death leaves her destitute. A lawyer by training, she can’t find a job in her field because she’s a woman (the year is 1946), living in a small town in Vermont. She’s determined to make it on her own, but the only thing she can do is build dollhouses and the miniatures to make them lifelike. Then she discovers a body hanging from the rafters. Tiny details bother her, and she can’t ignore them because Maple has a strong sense of right and wrong, and a strong desire to see justice done. She’s a strong female character with a history of defeating the odds. She also has a prickly side to her, and it constantly alienates those around her, except for Charlotte.
Charlotte is her best friend. She has her hands full with three boys, and running diner with her husband, but she’s always there for Maple. Ginger Comstock is a thorn in Maple’s side.
Mystery
Maple finds a body hanging in a barn when she goes to deliver a dollhouse. She disagrees with the coroner’s ruling of suicide because small details bother her. She’s determined to find the truth. Kenny, one of the deputies, becomes her ally to find out the truth. The mystery kept me guessing until the end.
Final Thoughts
I really enjoyed reading Death in the Details. The characters are lively and engaging.
Mapel Bishop, the main characters, grows and changes throughout the novel. Watching her grow from a widow with what seemed to be insurmountable obstacles to a self-confident business owner. I was also drawn in by Mapel’s hobby of building dollhouses and furnishing them with miniatures she constructs herself. I’ve always found dollhouses and miniatures interesting, and this book didn’t disappoint. There is also humor throughout the book, which is always a plus.
The mystery kept me guessing throughout the book. The historical details also drew me into the novel. Overall, this debut novel is well-written, with complex characters, dollhouses and miniatures, and a mystery that kept me guessing until the reveal. I ordered a physical copy, and if there are more in this series, I will be reading them.
5/5 stars.
My Thoughts
Characters
I liked the characters-Mapel Bishop is the main character. She’s a widow that finds out her husband’s death leaves her destitute. A lawyer by training, she can’t find a job in her field because she’s a woman (the year is 1946), living in a small town in Vermont. She’s determined to make it on her own, but the only thing she can do is build dollhouses and the miniatures to make them lifelike. Then she discovers a body hanging from the rafters. Tiny details bother her, and she can’t ignore them because Maple has a strong sense of right and wrong, and a strong desire to see justice done. She’s a strong female character with a history of defeating the odds. She also has a prickly side to her, and it constantly alienates those around her, except for Charlotte.
Charlotte is her best friend. She has her hands full with three boys, and running diner with her husband, but she’s always there for Maple. Ginger Comstock is a thorn in Maple’s side.
Mystery
Maple finds a body hanging in a barn when she goes to deliver a dollhouse. She disagrees with the coroner’s ruling of suicide because small details bother her. She’s determined to find the truth. Kenny, one of the deputies, becomes her ally to find out the truth. The mystery kept me guessing until the end.
Final Thoughts
I really enjoyed reading Death in the Details. The characters are lively and engaging.
Mapel Bishop, the main characters, grows and changes throughout the novel. Watching her grow from a widow with what seemed to be insurmountable obstacles to a self-confident business owner. I was also drawn in by Mapel’s hobby of building dollhouses and furnishing them with miniatures she constructs herself. I’ve always found dollhouses and miniatures interesting, and this book didn’t disappoint. There is also humor throughout the book, which is always a plus.
The mystery kept me guessing throughout the book. The historical details also drew me into the novel. Overall, this debut novel is well-written, with complex characters, dollhouses and miniatures, and a mystery that kept me guessing until the reveal. I ordered a physical copy, and if there are more in this series, I will be reading them.
5/5 stars.
April 13, 2024
Great premise. The actual inspiration for Maple, Frances Glessner Lee is absolutely fascinating and her miniature works are still used to teach detectives today.
I might have enjoyed this more if it had been written as Frances’ story.
Unfortunately, I found it very dull and just couldn’t muster up much interest in the characters or mystery.
I might have enjoyed this more if it had been written as Frances’ story.
Unfortunately, I found it very dull and just couldn’t muster up much interest in the characters or mystery.
June 1, 2024
I heard about this one on booktube, and it sounded fascinating, so i bought it right away. The booktuber spoke about Frances Glessner Lee and her 'nutshells' that were made to help train police and investigators to study crime scenes. One of those was of a man hanging in a barn. Which is the death our main character gets tangled up in. I loved Maple. She felt real, and her grief genuine. I enjoyed getting to know her and the other characters in this book and to watch their growth throughout. I have always wanted to find a cozy mystery series but if I'm honest they never hold my interest and come across as cheesy. But this felt different. I enjoyed her and Macks friendship, her and Kennys as weel, the talk about tea and weather felt cozy but there was an edge to the story as well which was just perfect for me. I really hope the author writes more about Maple. I will definitely collect them all!
November 30, 2023
2.25/5
I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher
Maple Bishop is not having a good time. Recently widowed after her husband died in combat during World War II, her situation only gets more complicated when she finds out she's penniless. Alone and in need of money she turns her hobby, making extremely detailed dollhouses, into a small business. But things take a turn when one of her first customers winds up dead and Mabel has the dubious honor of finding the body. While dismissed as an "accident" by the authorities, Mabel cannot stop thinking about it and decides to reconstruct the scene in one of her miniatures finding discrepancies that lead her to believe something else is going on and that a killer is out there.
The author was inspired by Frances Lee Glessner, a woman who was instrumental in the development of forensic science in the USA. She created these intricated dioramas of crime scenes that helped teach the importance of processing the scene and observation. I found that story to be more compelling than the plot of this book. Is this bad? No, not really. It was just too boring, lacking a certain spark of something. For a book about miniatures it was missing more descriptions of these little houses and their details. The set up was contrived, Mabel's presence in the story stood out because of how unnatural it felt, an outsider in her own plot. I don't think the crime itself was that interesting, or difficult to put together. The way the characters spoke and interacted felt too modern at times, it was jarring when the story referenced WWII. Speaking of which, it did all the time. Even when it made no sense to mention it.
Where do I think the strenght of this book lies? In its emotional component. I actually really liked Mabel, with all her quirks and issues. She felt like quite the survivor and her distress was palpable. When the book dug deeper into the sense of loss the protagonist, and most of the side characters, was experimenting I did get sucked in. If this had been a drama about mourning and reconnecting with other people and her community it would have been a hit with me. Just remove the murder mystery gimmick and focus on the emotional toll of war and death.
I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher
Maple Bishop is not having a good time. Recently widowed after her husband died in combat during World War II, her situation only gets more complicated when she finds out she's penniless. Alone and in need of money she turns her hobby, making extremely detailed dollhouses, into a small business. But things take a turn when one of her first customers winds up dead and Mabel has the dubious honor of finding the body. While dismissed as an "accident" by the authorities, Mabel cannot stop thinking about it and decides to reconstruct the scene in one of her miniatures finding discrepancies that lead her to believe something else is going on and that a killer is out there.
The author was inspired by Frances Lee Glessner, a woman who was instrumental in the development of forensic science in the USA. She created these intricated dioramas of crime scenes that helped teach the importance of processing the scene and observation. I found that story to be more compelling than the plot of this book. Is this bad? No, not really. It was just too boring, lacking a certain spark of something. For a book about miniatures it was missing more descriptions of these little houses and their details. The set up was contrived, Mabel's presence in the story stood out because of how unnatural it felt, an outsider in her own plot. I don't think the crime itself was that interesting, or difficult to put together. The way the characters spoke and interacted felt too modern at times, it was jarring when the story referenced WWII. Speaking of which, it did all the time. Even when it made no sense to mention it.
Where do I think the strenght of this book lies? In its emotional component. I actually really liked Mabel, with all her quirks and issues. She felt like quite the survivor and her distress was palpable. When the book dug deeper into the sense of loss the protagonist, and most of the side characters, was experimenting I did get sucked in. If this had been a drama about mourning and reconnecting with other people and her community it would have been a hit with me. Just remove the murder mystery gimmick and focus on the emotional toll of war and death.
October 4, 2023
What a ride! Maple is a war widow who finds herself in a desperate situation after her husband’s affairs are settled. A trained lawyer ahead of her time and therefore unable to find work, she starts selling dollhouses and then uses them to recreate a crime scene she stumbled upon. The dollhouse helps identify inconsistencies with the investigation of the death and Maple finds herself uncovering a more elaborate plot.
The dialogue seems a touch modern at points for 1946, but Maple’s grief and loneliness feels authentic and heartbreaking. I teared up several times as she thought about her brother and husband. The financial devastation of WW2 on families is another element that stuck me over and over.
The dialogue seems a touch modern at points for 1946, but Maple’s grief and loneliness feels authentic and heartbreaking. I teared up several times as she thought about her brother and husband. The financial devastation of WW2 on families is another element that stuck me over and over.
July 6, 2024
Left penniless after her physician husband dies in France during WWII, Maple Bishop knows she must find work fast. Though trained as a lawyer, the lawyers in the small Vermont town of Elderberry that she lives in refuses to hire her because they’re unable to see past her gender.
Maple decides that she’ll transform her hobby into a job, and begins selling her highly detailed and beautifully constructed dollhouses.
After a local farmer dies, and his suicide is ruled as an accident, Maple is unconvinced. Using her experience creating miniatures, she meticulously recreates the death scene. This recreation convinces a junior, young police officer to ask for Maple's help in looking more deeply into the life of the dead man.
This was such a fun read. The pacing is great, with plenty of information delivered about Maple's circumstances and the inhabitants of the town well without overwhelming the narrative.
Maple is likeable and is not skilled at creating or maintaining friendly relationships. Not only is she an outsider in Elderberry (because her family has not been resident for generations—I have had the same experience when I lived in a small town for some years), but because she did not kowtow to the local gossip and her cronies, found herself frozen out of even the possibility of many friendships. Also, Maple is abrupt in her manner, and not interested in making her intelligence palatable to anyone who thinks women should smile and be polite, and not voice definite opinions.
I liked how the author's fascination with the real-life Frances Lee Glessner and her nutshells, miniatures of crime scenes, inspired this story's protagonist. The other details the author includes, including the continued rationing even post-war, played such a big part of this entertaining story.
I dearly hope to read more of Maple's exploits in the future.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Crooked Lane Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.
Maple decides that she’ll transform her hobby into a job, and begins selling her highly detailed and beautifully constructed dollhouses.
After a local farmer dies, and his suicide is ruled as an accident, Maple is unconvinced. Using her experience creating miniatures, she meticulously recreates the death scene. This recreation convinces a junior, young police officer to ask for Maple's help in looking more deeply into the life of the dead man.
This was such a fun read. The pacing is great, with plenty of information delivered about Maple's circumstances and the inhabitants of the town well without overwhelming the narrative.
Maple is likeable and is not skilled at creating or maintaining friendly relationships. Not only is she an outsider in Elderberry (because her family has not been resident for generations—I have had the same experience when I lived in a small town for some years), but because she did not kowtow to the local gossip and her cronies, found herself frozen out of even the possibility of many friendships. Also, Maple is abrupt in her manner, and not interested in making her intelligence palatable to anyone who thinks women should smile and be polite, and not voice definite opinions.
I liked how the author's fascination with the real-life Frances Lee Glessner and her nutshells, miniatures of crime scenes, inspired this story's protagonist. The other details the author includes, including the continued rationing even post-war, played such a big part of this entertaining story.
I dearly hope to read more of Maple's exploits in the future.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Crooked Lane Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.
April 30, 2024
Death in the Details by Katie Tietjen
With a mother who loved dollhouses, had more than one of her own, and took me to see a famous one in Chicago AND a father who loved mysteries, suspense, and crime stories – How could I not read this book? Finding out this is based on a real person who made miniatures to solve murders and teach the skill to others is just an additional bonus. I am hoping this will be a series but haven’t found out yet if it will or not.
The setting is a small town in Vermont just after the end of WWII. Mable “Maple” Bishop finds out she has less to fall back on than she thought and will need to earn a living. Little does she know that her hobby of creating miniature dollhouses might lead to a very interesting future.
An argument overheard, a murder scene stumbled onto, and realizing she sees what others have not, she recreates the murder scene in a miniature “nutshell”. She then uses her mental skills, legal knowledge, her husband’s medical books and her belief in justice and finding the truth to the best advantage and uncovers more than she or anyone else thought she would.
This story reminded me of stories I had heard about the scrimping and saving, rationing, donating items needed for the war effort, victory gardens, loss, and other issues that were real when my parents were young. I felt a part of the story and loved meeting characters that I hope will show up in a future book. Will Maple and Ben continue to spend time together in his hardware shop? Will Charlotte have more children? Will Kenny grow into his own and perhaps take over the sheriff’s department from his uncle?
This had some darkness to it with the mention of verbal and physical abuse, black market smuggling, murder, fraud and other crimes but it also talked of purpose, joy, and moving forward in a positive manner even when times are not easy.
I am glad I read this book and would recommend it to those who enjoy historical fiction and cozy mysteries.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4-5 Stars
With a mother who loved dollhouses, had more than one of her own, and took me to see a famous one in Chicago AND a father who loved mysteries, suspense, and crime stories – How could I not read this book? Finding out this is based on a real person who made miniatures to solve murders and teach the skill to others is just an additional bonus. I am hoping this will be a series but haven’t found out yet if it will or not.
The setting is a small town in Vermont just after the end of WWII. Mable “Maple” Bishop finds out she has less to fall back on than she thought and will need to earn a living. Little does she know that her hobby of creating miniature dollhouses might lead to a very interesting future.
An argument overheard, a murder scene stumbled onto, and realizing she sees what others have not, she recreates the murder scene in a miniature “nutshell”. She then uses her mental skills, legal knowledge, her husband’s medical books and her belief in justice and finding the truth to the best advantage and uncovers more than she or anyone else thought she would.
This story reminded me of stories I had heard about the scrimping and saving, rationing, donating items needed for the war effort, victory gardens, loss, and other issues that were real when my parents were young. I felt a part of the story and loved meeting characters that I hope will show up in a future book. Will Maple and Ben continue to spend time together in his hardware shop? Will Charlotte have more children? Will Kenny grow into his own and perhaps take over the sheriff’s department from his uncle?
This had some darkness to it with the mention of verbal and physical abuse, black market smuggling, murder, fraud and other crimes but it also talked of purpose, joy, and moving forward in a positive manner even when times are not easy.
I am glad I read this book and would recommend it to those who enjoy historical fiction and cozy mysteries.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4-5 Stars
May 7, 2024
So lovely. Cozy, layered, emotional, and clever.
May 5, 2024
Tierjen has laid the groundwork for a strong series (I hope it becomes one!) featuring an intelligent, strong woman whose storylines can go in multiple directions.
May 5, 2024
3.5 rounding up. This is an interesting spin on a murder mystery by having the main character create miniatures of crime scenes to investigate. The reality is though that the dollhouses don’t crack the mystery, it’s the author’s photographic memory that does the trick. So I was a little disappointed when the aha moment didn’t actually come from a dollhouse despite the title and premise. This also suffers from a very typical debut problem of a A LOT of telling and not enough showing. Oftentimes the characters would react to an event and then this would be followed up with multiple sentences explaining exactly which emotions they were feeling and why. It was overkill and felt amateurish.
Maple Bishop’s husband was the town doctor but he just died in WWII and she is left with a mortgage she can’t pay. Despite being educated as a lawyer, not firm wants to hire a woman so she turns to her hobby of making dollhouses to help her earn some income. When she discovers a dead body while delivering a dollhouse, she can’t help but want to investigate more. When the death is ruled an accident, she knows it’s not right because she can perfectly recall what anomalies from the scene. She recreates the murder scene as a dollhouse and joins forces with a new deputy to convince the sheriff that the death is more than what it seems.
Maple Bishop’s husband was the town doctor but he just died in WWII and she is left with a mortgage she can’t pay. Despite being educated as a lawyer, not firm wants to hire a woman so she turns to her hobby of making dollhouses to help her earn some income. When she discovers a dead body while delivering a dollhouse, she can’t help but want to investigate more. When the death is ruled an accident, she knows it’s not right because she can perfectly recall what anomalies from the scene. She recreates the murder scene as a dollhouse and joins forces with a new deputy to convince the sheriff that the death is more than what it seems.
March 11, 2024
Set in post war America, 1946, We meet Maple Bishop, who has been widowed. Her late husband, Bill, who was a physician, didn’t need to fight in the War, but went through a sense of duty, and she has realised that she is hard up. At the age of 31, she needs to pay the bills, find money for the mortgage or be thrown out of her home, and it galls her that despite been trained in Law, with a degree, she cannot find a job because she is a woman.
Life seems hopeless. An idea takes shape, her hobby is making dollhouses, intricate in details, materials, and accurate depictions of the occupants, perhaps she can make money by taking commissions from the local people. The local store owner, Ben Crenshaw, will let her sell the houses in his store, hopefully it will bring in more customers for them both.
One night, Maple is delivering an order to an isolated farm property, when she gets there, she notices that the barn door is open, investigates and finds the body of a man hanging from the hay hoist. The Sheriff thinks suicide, Maple believes it is murder, but the deceased was unpopular and there is a marked reluctance to open up an investigation into the death. Maple decides to make a dollhouse of the crime scene, so she can test her theories of murder before she presents her findings to the Police, but her endeavours uncover a web of lies, deception and corruption, that puts her own life and liberty at danger.
An absolutely fascinating read, loosely based upon the real life person of Frances Glessner Lee, who also used her skills of making replicas of murder scenes to teach and train officers at the National Police College in America, her models were so highly detailed and logical, as seen on line, the more you study them, the more questions are posed.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers, Crooked Lane Books for my advanced digital copy, freely given in exchange for my honest review.
A five star rating. I will leave reviews to Goodreads and Amazon UK upon publication.
Life seems hopeless. An idea takes shape, her hobby is making dollhouses, intricate in details, materials, and accurate depictions of the occupants, perhaps she can make money by taking commissions from the local people. The local store owner, Ben Crenshaw, will let her sell the houses in his store, hopefully it will bring in more customers for them both.
One night, Maple is delivering an order to an isolated farm property, when she gets there, she notices that the barn door is open, investigates and finds the body of a man hanging from the hay hoist. The Sheriff thinks suicide, Maple believes it is murder, but the deceased was unpopular and there is a marked reluctance to open up an investigation into the death. Maple decides to make a dollhouse of the crime scene, so she can test her theories of murder before she presents her findings to the Police, but her endeavours uncover a web of lies, deception and corruption, that puts her own life and liberty at danger.
An absolutely fascinating read, loosely based upon the real life person of Frances Glessner Lee, who also used her skills of making replicas of murder scenes to teach and train officers at the National Police College in America, her models were so highly detailed and logical, as seen on line, the more you study them, the more questions are posed.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers, Crooked Lane Books for my advanced digital copy, freely given in exchange for my honest review.
A five star rating. I will leave reviews to Goodreads and Amazon UK upon publication.
September 27, 2024
Based on the true story of Frances Glessner Lee, this mystery follows Maple who starts building dollhouses to support herself after her husband's death in WWII. When a man dies, she makes one of the crime scene, convinced he was murdered. The sheriff doesn't believe her, but Maple is not deterred and starts investigating.
This one started out slow, but I am so glad I stuck with it! I loved Maple and Kenny's tag team investigation, and thought the whodunit was surprising (in a good way). If you are finding it a little slow at the beginning, stick with it! It really picks up and once I was past ⅓ in, I had to know what happened next!
I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This one started out slow, but I am so glad I stuck with it! I loved Maple and Kenny's tag team investigation, and thought the whodunit was surprising (in a good way). If you are finding it a little slow at the beginning, stick with it! It really picks up and once I was past ⅓ in, I had to know what happened next!
I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 21, 2024
Cute. And I was going to say “weird,” but I think unexpected is a better word. Based on a real woman who used miniature houses/dioramas to advance the science of crime scene investigation. What an odd, real story!
Does this fit under the heading of cozy? I liked it well enough and I’ve always thought that I wouldn’t enjoy a cozy mystery.
Does this fit under the heading of cozy? I liked it well enough and I’ve always thought that I wouldn’t enjoy a cozy mystery.
August 4, 2024
Maybe I need to try this book again later. My mom recommended this book to me and said it was really good but for me it was lack luster. I am going to reread it again later and see if maybe I missed something.
August 25, 2024
This was lovely and a perfect, cozy intro to fall 🍁
May 12, 2024
This solid historical mystery debut is loosely based on the life of a real life heiress who made miniatures that were used to figure out crime scenes. Color me fascinated by the tight plot, the 1940s vibe and small town Vermont setting along with some really good writing! Looking forward to this author's next ones.
September 5, 2024
Historical mystery fiction—best type of read.
Inspired by the real-life mother of forensic science, Frances Glessner Lee. Maple Bishop is ready to put WWII and the grief of losing her husband, Bill, behind her. She is in Vermont post WWII and penniless. She makes dollhouses for sale and upon delivering one to her latest customer she finds a man hanging in a barn. She and her side kick Kenny sleuth out the murderer. An unexpected twist and happy ending. Good read
Inspired by the real-life mother of forensic science, Frances Glessner Lee. Maple Bishop is ready to put WWII and the grief of losing her husband, Bill, behind her. She is in Vermont post WWII and penniless. She makes dollhouses for sale and upon delivering one to her latest customer she finds a man hanging in a barn. She and her side kick Kenny sleuth out the murderer. An unexpected twist and happy ending. Good read
June 11, 2024
DNF @40%
Just too long, too slow.
Just too long, too slow.
February 21, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for offering me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is a cute, fun, and light read. I wouldn't exactly describe it as a cozy mystery, although it certainly has a lot of the elements of the genre, including a cat. The main character is somewhat relatable, although in the beginning of the story, she has a temper thanks to which she manages to alienate a variety of people in a town she hasn't lived in for a long time.
I liked the mystery itself and the way it unfolded. I also appreciated her partner and the other little characters scattered throughout the story (her friend, her partner's family, the store owner, and even Ginger Comstock and the like). The novel reads well, too, so you're not going to get bored.
The reason I gave it four stars is that it could have been slightly more complex. First off, if the heroine is indeed based on Frances Glessner Lee, we could have gotten a bit more insight into how Maple makes her dollhouses (materials used, techniques, and so on). Secondly, I really, really didn't like the way she had moments where she remembered someone she had lost and she kept drowning in the pain. This woman was a widow and she had more grief about her brother than her husband, who had recently been killed in WWII. If that's not just a little bit suspicious, I don't know what is. I get that maybe she was this way because it was something she couldn't come to terms with, but I went "come on!!!" more than a few times throughout the novel because of how many times her dead brother kept popping up in the story. This put me off from the first few pages and I almost DNF-ed the book because of it, so beware that it might be something you may need to skip.
All in all, though, a nice combo between a cozy mystery and a historical fiction novel.
This is a cute, fun, and light read. I wouldn't exactly describe it as a cozy mystery, although it certainly has a lot of the elements of the genre, including a cat. The main character is somewhat relatable, although in the beginning of the story, she has a temper thanks to which she manages to alienate a variety of people in a town she hasn't lived in for a long time.
I liked the mystery itself and the way it unfolded. I also appreciated her partner and the other little characters scattered throughout the story (her friend, her partner's family, the store owner, and even Ginger Comstock and the like). The novel reads well, too, so you're not going to get bored.
The reason I gave it four stars is that it could have been slightly more complex. First off, if the heroine is indeed based on Frances Glessner Lee, we could have gotten a bit more insight into how Maple makes her dollhouses (materials used, techniques, and so on). Secondly, I really, really didn't like the way she had moments where she remembered someone she had lost and she kept drowning in the pain. This woman was a widow and she had more grief about her brother than her husband, who had recently been killed in WWII. If that's not just a little bit suspicious, I don't know what is. I get that maybe she was this way because it was something she couldn't come to terms with, but I went "come on!!!" more than a few times throughout the novel because of how many times her dead brother kept popping up in the story. This put me off from the first few pages and I almost DNF-ed the book because of it, so beware that it might be something you may need to skip.
All in all, though, a nice combo between a cozy mystery and a historical fiction novel.
May 25, 2024
With my interest in dollhouses and miniatures and the author finding inspiration in Frances Glessner Lee, the mother of forensic science, Death in the Details was a book I could not resist. For the most part, this is a very promising start to a new historical series.
The mystery is a strong one and used a factor in World War II life on the homefront that I seldom think about. The cast of characters is also strong. Maple is smart, has a very handy photographic memory, and has a knack for gathering friends around her-- something which she doesn't seem to be completely aware of. Her best friend Charlotte and Charlotte's husband Hank run the diner in town, and although I do like Charlotte, if she kept walking into my house unannounced, she wouldn't be my friend for long. Ben, a half-Japanese hardware store owner, Ginger Comstock ("Gossip Central"), and rookie police officer Kenny Quirk round out the major players. Oh, I almost forgot one! Sheriff Sam Scott started life as a cardboard lawman, but I am happy to say that he didn't stay that way.
But... as strong as the mystery and the characters are, one thing really annoyed me: slipshod editing. The book takes place in 1946. When the sheriff tells Maple "Don't get your pantyhose in a twist," it stopped me in my tracks. Did they have pantyhose in 1946? I had to stop and do a little investigating. No, they did not. So... when I find an error like that, it makes me suspicious. Yellowjackets that were hereafter referred to as bees didn't help, and then I found myself doing some digging on the subjects of seatbelts and plywood among other things.
Death in the Details is a strong mystery with a good cast of characters. Unfortunately, it is a bit weak in the details. Will I read the next book in the series? Yes, but I won't be in a rush to do so.
The mystery is a strong one and used a factor in World War II life on the homefront that I seldom think about. The cast of characters is also strong. Maple is smart, has a very handy photographic memory, and has a knack for gathering friends around her-- something which she doesn't seem to be completely aware of. Her best friend Charlotte and Charlotte's husband Hank run the diner in town, and although I do like Charlotte, if she kept walking into my house unannounced, she wouldn't be my friend for long. Ben, a half-Japanese hardware store owner, Ginger Comstock ("Gossip Central"), and rookie police officer Kenny Quirk round out the major players. Oh, I almost forgot one! Sheriff Sam Scott started life as a cardboard lawman, but I am happy to say that he didn't stay that way.
But... as strong as the mystery and the characters are, one thing really annoyed me: slipshod editing. The book takes place in 1946. When the sheriff tells Maple "Don't get your pantyhose in a twist," it stopped me in my tracks. Did they have pantyhose in 1946? I had to stop and do a little investigating. No, they did not. So... when I find an error like that, it makes me suspicious. Yellowjackets that were hereafter referred to as bees didn't help, and then I found myself doing some digging on the subjects of seatbelts and plywood among other things.
Death in the Details is a strong mystery with a good cast of characters. Unfortunately, it is a bit weak in the details. Will I read the next book in the series? Yes, but I won't be in a rush to do so.
June 1, 2024
For a book about details, the editor or fact checker did not follow through with their job. Maple is told to not get her pantyhose in a twist. The problem is the story is post-WWII circa 1947 and pantyhose were not invented until 1959. Women would have worn stockings with a garter belt at this time. Unfortunately I couldn’t get past this detail.
May 5, 2024
3.5 stars
April 8, 2024
I received a complimentary ARC copy of Death in the Details, A Novel by Katie Tietjen from Net Galley and Crooked Lane Books in order to read and give an honest review.
…This book was a unique, well written and cleverly plotted cozy mystery which had it all, an amazing protagonist, quirky cast of characters and a wonderfully twisty mystery that reaches a satisfying conclusion...
In this debut from author Katie Tietjen, we meet War widow Maple Bishop who is no stranger to grief, growing up in the rough parts of Boston, she lost her mother, her brother years before and now her husband has died serving his country. Longing for a fresh start, the newlyweds had moved to a small town in Vermont, before deploying he worked as a small-town doctor, and she was unable to get a job to utilize her law degree and not quite fitting in the small-town social circles stayed at home. When her husband dies during the war other than her good friend Charlotte, Maple has never felt so alone. Just when she believes things can’t get worse, she is informed by her lawyers that all but twelve dollars of her husband’s insurance policy has been eaten by debts accrued by her husband, not charging patients who were down on their luck. With a measly twelve dollars to her name, she doesn’t know how she will pay her mortgage. Her only solace is found in creating her miniature detailed doll houses with miniature dolls depicting happy comfortable lives. Through her grief she becomes obsessed with them and can’t seem to stop herself, as they take over her home. While picking up supplies at the local hardware store the owner, who has become a friend, offers her a place in front of the window to set up a table for her to set up shop both building them and selling, hoping it will help her and help bring business into the store. A deal is struck, and she begins the next day. When she meets the wife of the town bully, she can’t help but see the bruises so when she asks Maple to recreate her childhood home, Maple agrees, promising to deliver it to their home in a few days. On the scheduled evening, she goes to deliver it to the rural farm, but she feels something is wrong. There is no sign of life at the farm. Knowing they were expecting her she searches the property only to find the husband strung up to the rafters and the wife nowhere in sight. Shocked at the discovery she calls the police, but as she waits her mind does what it does best, and “find what’s big in what’s small” her focus falls on all the little details of the crime scene. While the apathetic police and the medical examiner are quick to declare the death an accident, Maple with all of details etched in her memory can’t believe the case has been closed and needs to figure it out by recreating the crime scene. Building it like she would a doll house she recreates the crime scene in a nutshell and begins weeding through the discrepancies convincing herself that the man’s death was murder. Armed with the nutshell she storms into the police station and presents her findings to the sheriff, but it just isn’t enough to convince him, and the case remains closed, and the death remains “an accident”. Not willing to stand for his apathy, she confronts him and is asked to leave the police station and does so knowing she has annoyed the sheriff too much. The next day an idealistic young deputy who witnessed her altercation with the sheriff believes her, returning the “nutshell” and together they begin to investigate the case quietly uncovering much more than they bargained for.
I absolutely loved the protagonist, Maple is well formed, her grief is palpable as is her honesty and tenacity. Even more impressive is that she is inspired by the real “mother of forensic science” Frances Glessner Lee, considered paramount to the first-of-its kind Department of Legal Medicine at Harvard University when the field of forensics was in its infancy. Lee crafted her intricately detailed miniature crime scenes called “Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death” used to train homicide investigators. This book was a unique, well written and cleverly plotted cozy mystery which had it all, an amazing protagonist, quirky cast of characters and a wonderfully twisty mystery that reaches a satisfying conclusion. I absolutely recommend it and I really hope there are future Maple Bishop books.
…This book was a unique, well written and cleverly plotted cozy mystery which had it all, an amazing protagonist, quirky cast of characters and a wonderfully twisty mystery that reaches a satisfying conclusion...
In this debut from author Katie Tietjen, we meet War widow Maple Bishop who is no stranger to grief, growing up in the rough parts of Boston, she lost her mother, her brother years before and now her husband has died serving his country. Longing for a fresh start, the newlyweds had moved to a small town in Vermont, before deploying he worked as a small-town doctor, and she was unable to get a job to utilize her law degree and not quite fitting in the small-town social circles stayed at home. When her husband dies during the war other than her good friend Charlotte, Maple has never felt so alone. Just when she believes things can’t get worse, she is informed by her lawyers that all but twelve dollars of her husband’s insurance policy has been eaten by debts accrued by her husband, not charging patients who were down on their luck. With a measly twelve dollars to her name, she doesn’t know how she will pay her mortgage. Her only solace is found in creating her miniature detailed doll houses with miniature dolls depicting happy comfortable lives. Through her grief she becomes obsessed with them and can’t seem to stop herself, as they take over her home. While picking up supplies at the local hardware store the owner, who has become a friend, offers her a place in front of the window to set up a table for her to set up shop both building them and selling, hoping it will help her and help bring business into the store. A deal is struck, and she begins the next day. When she meets the wife of the town bully, she can’t help but see the bruises so when she asks Maple to recreate her childhood home, Maple agrees, promising to deliver it to their home in a few days. On the scheduled evening, she goes to deliver it to the rural farm, but she feels something is wrong. There is no sign of life at the farm. Knowing they were expecting her she searches the property only to find the husband strung up to the rafters and the wife nowhere in sight. Shocked at the discovery she calls the police, but as she waits her mind does what it does best, and “find what’s big in what’s small” her focus falls on all the little details of the crime scene. While the apathetic police and the medical examiner are quick to declare the death an accident, Maple with all of details etched in her memory can’t believe the case has been closed and needs to figure it out by recreating the crime scene. Building it like she would a doll house she recreates the crime scene in a nutshell and begins weeding through the discrepancies convincing herself that the man’s death was murder. Armed with the nutshell she storms into the police station and presents her findings to the sheriff, but it just isn’t enough to convince him, and the case remains closed, and the death remains “an accident”. Not willing to stand for his apathy, she confronts him and is asked to leave the police station and does so knowing she has annoyed the sheriff too much. The next day an idealistic young deputy who witnessed her altercation with the sheriff believes her, returning the “nutshell” and together they begin to investigate the case quietly uncovering much more than they bargained for.
I absolutely loved the protagonist, Maple is well formed, her grief is palpable as is her honesty and tenacity. Even more impressive is that she is inspired by the real “mother of forensic science” Frances Glessner Lee, considered paramount to the first-of-its kind Department of Legal Medicine at Harvard University when the field of forensics was in its infancy. Lee crafted her intricately detailed miniature crime scenes called “Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death” used to train homicide investigators. This book was a unique, well written and cleverly plotted cozy mystery which had it all, an amazing protagonist, quirky cast of characters and a wonderfully twisty mystery that reaches a satisfying conclusion. I absolutely recommend it and I really hope there are future Maple Bishop books.
April 10, 2024
3.5 Stars
One Liner: A decent start to a series
1946, Vermont
Maple Bishop is stunned to discover that her doctor husband, Bill, left her almost penniless after his death. WWII has taken a lot from her, and she could lose even her home if she didn’t find a way to earn money.
Creating miniature houses (dollhouses) has been her passion (obsession) for a long time. Maple realizes she could turn it into a source of income. After all, no one wants to hire a woman despite her lawyer degree. Things take another turn when Maple’s first customer is found dead. The police call it suicide, but she cannot ignore the feeling that something is not right.
As Maple recreates the crime scene, in the nutshell, she decides to investigate the case and find out more. Can Maple succeed?
The story comes in Maple’s third-person POV.
My Thoughts:
This is a debut book and the first in the series (I couldn’t find the series title anywhere) inspired by the real life of Frances Lee Glessner, the woman famous for replicating miniature crime scenes with exact details.
I googled Frances before starting the book and realized there are many books available about the cases she solved. The book is only inspired by Frances, so Maple’s character stands on her own, has a backstory, and everything.
The blurb reveals a bit too much. One part of it doesn’t occur until 50%, so editing out the last paragraph to remove these details might be better.
The book is less than 300 pages and has a decent pace. It starts slowly (not surprising) but gains momentum as we settle into the narrative. There are enough scenes about dollhouse-making for the page count. I don’t need an introduction manual anyway.
Maple is a complex character. She is socially inept and brisk. She has many unresolved traumas and holds on to the past very tightly. She is also judgmental and not easy to like. Yet, I found that the character arc was decent (if not relatable). She realizes a few things and tries to take corrective steps. So, the way she handles the clues and solves the crime in a way aligns with this arc. (This may not work for everyone as it affects the mystery)
Apart from the mystery, the book focuses on personal tragedies, trauma, grief, PTSD, domestic abuse, etc. The beginning section, especially reads more like historical fiction. The mystery enters afterward.
The book has a neatly tied-up ending with a detailed epilogue of sorts. It can be a series (as mentioned in the blurb) or limited as a standalone.
To summarize, Death in the Details is an interesting read, even if it didn’t wow me. I would be willing to read the next book in the series.
Thank you, NetGalley and Crooked Lane Press, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #DeathInTheDetails
One Liner: A decent start to a series
1946, Vermont
Maple Bishop is stunned to discover that her doctor husband, Bill, left her almost penniless after his death. WWII has taken a lot from her, and she could lose even her home if she didn’t find a way to earn money.
Creating miniature houses (dollhouses) has been her passion (obsession) for a long time. Maple realizes she could turn it into a source of income. After all, no one wants to hire a woman despite her lawyer degree. Things take another turn when Maple’s first customer is found dead. The police call it suicide, but she cannot ignore the feeling that something is not right.
As Maple recreates the crime scene, in the nutshell, she decides to investigate the case and find out more. Can Maple succeed?
The story comes in Maple’s third-person POV.
My Thoughts:
This is a debut book and the first in the series (I couldn’t find the series title anywhere) inspired by the real life of Frances Lee Glessner, the woman famous for replicating miniature crime scenes with exact details.
I googled Frances before starting the book and realized there are many books available about the cases she solved. The book is only inspired by Frances, so Maple’s character stands on her own, has a backstory, and everything.
The blurb reveals a bit too much. One part of it doesn’t occur until 50%, so editing out the last paragraph to remove these details might be better.
The book is less than 300 pages and has a decent pace. It starts slowly (not surprising) but gains momentum as we settle into the narrative. There are enough scenes about dollhouse-making for the page count. I don’t need an introduction manual anyway.
Maple is a complex character. She is socially inept and brisk. She has many unresolved traumas and holds on to the past very tightly. She is also judgmental and not easy to like. Yet, I found that the character arc was decent (if not relatable). She realizes a few things and tries to take corrective steps. So, the way she handles the clues and solves the crime in a way aligns with this arc. (This may not work for everyone as it affects the mystery)
Apart from the mystery, the book focuses on personal tragedies, trauma, grief, PTSD, domestic abuse, etc. The beginning section, especially reads more like historical fiction. The mystery enters afterward.
The book has a neatly tied-up ending with a detailed epilogue of sorts. It can be a series (as mentioned in the blurb) or limited as a standalone.
To summarize, Death in the Details is an interesting read, even if it didn’t wow me. I would be willing to read the next book in the series.
Thank you, NetGalley and Crooked Lane Press, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.
#NetGalley #DeathInTheDetails
March 21, 2024
This is a genius idea for a cozy historical novel. Set in post WWII Vermont, widow Maple Bishop is looking at total loss. She’s lost her brother, her mother and her husband, and, as the insurance company informs her in the opening chapter, she’s also broke. She has $12 to her name and no way to pay her mortgage. Her husband’s car has no tires (donated to the war effort) so she can neither drive nor sell it.
The only thing keeping her going is the construction of dollhouses. She can’t stop herself, and her garage workshop is full of the things, complete with dolls living perfect doll lives. When she goes into the hardware store to purchase supplies, the owner offers her a corner of it to set up shop. He thinks it will bring in customers, and the houses will look great in the window.
She agrees and wheelbarrows her things over the next day. Business starts with a bang as a couple want to buy a house made to look like the wife’s childhood home. Maple agrees, noting the bruises on the wife’s arm and the bullying ways of the husband. When she goes to deliver it a few days later she finds the man hung in the barn and the wife nowhere to be found. Shaken, she calls the police, but as she’s waiting to be questioned her mind goes to details that don’t seem right to her.
While the dollhouses have kept her occupied, as her best friend points out, they aren’t bringing her joy. Weirdly, what begins to bring her joy is the re-construction of the crime scene in dollhouse form. When she shows her “nutshell” scene to the sheriff, however, he says the case is closed and the death is ruled an accident. She does catch the attention of the young deputy, and the two of them begin to investigate together.
The frustrations of their investigation are many, as few believe a dollhouse lady and an extremely young deputy. Maple’s determination to “find what’s big in what’s small” and her, let’s say, single mindedness, won’t let her give in. It’s giving her life a purpose, something she desperately needs. She’s a wonderful character and I liked the partnership between her and the deputy, who has his own family wartime losses to deal with.
Maple is based on the real Frances Glessner Lee, who did in fact create crime scene dollhouses and was the mother of crime scene investigation. I liked the energy in this book and I loved Maple, who is absolutely fierce. She does reclaim a bit of joy by the end of the book though she’s still dealing with her loss. This was a truly unique combination of a craft-based cozy with a police novel. Wonderful debut.
The only thing keeping her going is the construction of dollhouses. She can’t stop herself, and her garage workshop is full of the things, complete with dolls living perfect doll lives. When she goes into the hardware store to purchase supplies, the owner offers her a corner of it to set up shop. He thinks it will bring in customers, and the houses will look great in the window.
She agrees and wheelbarrows her things over the next day. Business starts with a bang as a couple want to buy a house made to look like the wife’s childhood home. Maple agrees, noting the bruises on the wife’s arm and the bullying ways of the husband. When she goes to deliver it a few days later she finds the man hung in the barn and the wife nowhere to be found. Shaken, she calls the police, but as she’s waiting to be questioned her mind goes to details that don’t seem right to her.
While the dollhouses have kept her occupied, as her best friend points out, they aren’t bringing her joy. Weirdly, what begins to bring her joy is the re-construction of the crime scene in dollhouse form. When she shows her “nutshell” scene to the sheriff, however, he says the case is closed and the death is ruled an accident. She does catch the attention of the young deputy, and the two of them begin to investigate together.
The frustrations of their investigation are many, as few believe a dollhouse lady and an extremely young deputy. Maple’s determination to “find what’s big in what’s small” and her, let’s say, single mindedness, won’t let her give in. It’s giving her life a purpose, something she desperately needs. She’s a wonderful character and I liked the partnership between her and the deputy, who has his own family wartime losses to deal with.
Maple is based on the real Frances Glessner Lee, who did in fact create crime scene dollhouses and was the mother of crime scene investigation. I liked the energy in this book and I loved Maple, who is absolutely fierce. She does reclaim a bit of joy by the end of the book though she’s still dealing with her loss. This was a truly unique combination of a craft-based cozy with a police novel. Wonderful debut.
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