I had tried starting this book a couple different times over the years, and never really got very far. This year, it was selected for my "Books to Read" list for the year. So...I tried it again. I did finish the book this time, but I was not enthusiastic about it. It had multiple points-of-view, and sometimes it was narrated by the sister of the main female character, and I don't really understand why. I can understand switching between the mother and father of the missing girl, but I don't get why there needed to be other narrators thrown in there. I feel like there was a lot of story line that didn't necessarily need to be there, it was just extraneous information that had no real bearing to the actual story. The characters were alright, there was enough development to have a feel for them, and there were redeeming qualities in them. But I wasn't really rooting for anyone, or really invested in them finding their daughter (or who took her). The ending needed about another 15-20 pages to tie everything together. I was thoroughly underwhelmed when I got to the last page, and still had questions about plot lines that didn't really have an end.

All in all, I'd say skip this book. It didn't grip me like a mystery should, and I didn't really care who did it, why, or what happened to their daughter. I really pretty much just went through the motions reading this, I wasn't really interested or invested in it. ( )

THE DOLLMAKER. Yep, it was as creepy as the cover. This book came out a few years before The Graveyard Queen series by Amanda Stevens, and I loved it. She knows how to create troubled and tragic characters who draw readers into their stories, and Dave and Claire – ugh, their story was heart-wrenching! Their daughter disappeared without a trace seven years earlier, their marriage fell apart, and Dave turned to alcohol. Then suddenly, Claire comes across a mysterious doll in a shop window that looks just like their missing daughter, down to the birthmark on her arm. Coincidence?

THE DOLLMAKER was an exciting and emotional novel of suspense, set in one of my favorite locations, New Orleans. It was interesting how the author talked about Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath on the city. There were many layers to this story, not only the doll, but also the reemergence of a cold case Dave had first investigated at the time of his daughter’s disappearance. There was also a diverse cast of notable secondary characters, some good, some bad, but which was which?

Final Thoughts: If you enjoy page-turning, creepy suspense with just the barest hint of romance, I’d highly recommend THE DOLLMAKER. ( )

I wasn't particularly attached to any of the main characters. I especially didn't like Charlotte and Alex. There wasn't enough creep or scares for me. As far as the plot, it was WAY to easy to figure out. There was much potential for this story, it just wasn't established. I am not sure if I will try this author again or not. I hated the ending of this and honestly couldn't recommend it. ( )

Een geweldig goed en vooral spannende pocket. Er wordt op een hele gedoseerde manier naar een geweldig goed en vooral verrassend einde toe gewerkt. Een aanrader. ( )

This book was okay. I liked the main characters, and was rooting for them to get back together, but it just took too long for me. And then the climax and conclusion was really fast. As for suspense, there wasn't a whole lot. I sort of knew what was going on most of the book. If it hadn't been for the fact that I did like Dave and Claire so much, I probably wouldn't have finished the book. ( )