Customer Reviews

The Doctor Makes a Dollhouse Call

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4 star:		(4)
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1 star:		(3)

 

 

Dr. Andrew Fennimore, an old-fashioned doctor who actually makes house calls, gets drawn into a mystery reminiscent of those written by Agatha Christie. Two sisters own a dollhouse, and before each murder, one of the dolls is murdered exactly as the victim is. Even when the sisters destroy the dollhouse, the murders continue. Although I enjoyed this book very much, it wasn't hard to figure out who the murderer was. Set up like Christie's "And Then There Were None," there was only one person who could logically be the murderer. Still, Robin Hathaway does an excellent job of setting up the main characters: the doctor, his assistants, and the two elderly sisters whose dollhouse becomes so sinister. I easily rooted for Andrew and worried for the sisters.

I have developed a real fondness for Dr. Fenimore and Mrs. Doyle. I find Hathaway's books comfortable in that she does not over-burden the reader with superfluous characters or twists and turns. I become quite attached to these folks while reading of their dilema, family relationships, and the motivations behind the murder(s). I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to have a fun, quick, uncomplicated read.

This is a fun and fast paced mystery much in the style and theme of Agatha Christie's Ten Little Indians. In fact, there is a lot to compare it to that familiar mystery. Still, it has suspense and puzzlement as one by one members of a family are killed off after discovering a similar fate has befallen tiny dolls in a family dollhouse. Dr. Fenimore and his compatriots are interesting and fun to get to know. The avid mystery reader may figure this out before the last chapters, but there is enough good misdirection to keep you guessing. This is a pleasant way to spend an afternoon or two.

Okay so Dr. Fenimore isn't Kojak but this book is well written and the characters are charming. I had never read a book where the sleuth erred on who the culprit was. I bet real live detectives do that all the time.
I just started another in the series.

I enjoyed "The Doctor Digs A Grave" - a solid 3 or 4 stars despite a little bit of unbelievability around the edges; it wasn't fabulous but it was fun. This one by contrast was so bad I couldn't believe it was by the same author. I would prescribe staying as far away from it as possible.

I knew in advance what I was getting into...but I couldn't help it...if you think the other Dr. Fenimore mysteries are bad, wait until you read this one...murders keep occuring in a family...the police are virtually non-existent; the family members don't change their routines, hide, or demand protection; Dr. Fenimore doesn't do any detecting of note (as usual)...the plot is ludicrous, the writing is poor, and the money spent on this book is wasted!

What a poorly written mystery....loose ends, a detective that doesn't detect much, thin plot...don't waste your time!