The Dollmaker

Forgotten Files, Book 2

By: Mary Burton

Narrated by: Christina Traister

Dr. Tessa McGowan had never seen anything quite like it. But the mutilated bodies on her exam table tell a stunningly macabre tale: someone with a twisted mind is kidnapping women and altering their faces to resemble real, life-size dolls. As a forensic pathologist, it's her job to aid the agent leading the case—even if that agent is her estranged husband.

Twelve years ago an unspeakable tragedy destroyed Dakota Sharp's world. Haunted by the ghosts of his past, he's devoted himself to capturing killers. His only regret is that it cost him Tessa. Now, as the Dollmaker case brings them together—and raises his suspicions that he's crossed paths with this deranged psychopath before—they may just have their second chance. But it seems Dakota's not the only one who wants to make Tessa his own...

She may be the Dollmaker's next target, but Tessa has no intention of winding up as another toy on his shelf. Can she and Dakota stop this ghastly killer before his next deadly playdate?

©2016 Mary Burton. (P)2016 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Interesting Plot Line

Liked this book, good believable characters, and interesting overall premise. Only concern I had was that the end seemed to come very quickly with everything just falling right into place and missing opportunity to build some tension. Overall a good listen.

Story good - narrater awful

Story kept my attention. The narrater was so loud I had to turn down the volume. But at times, in the middle of a group of sentences she would unexpectedly raise her voice. I am assuming this is studied inflection or something like that but it isn't normal speaking and was annoying.

The book was the average police detective procedure, which I like. It kept supplying clues and moved along without boring interludes. I like that all the law officials got along with each other.

I didn't guess the 'dollmaker' identity until second to last chapter so that is a good book.

Not my favorite of her novels

Excellent narrator, but I found this a little discombobulated and some parts obvious. The love story was a little meh for me. The narrator made the book. Overall good, but not her best.

Great listen

This was a great book just when you think you know the truth you get a shock and awe

Fantastic Romantic Suspense @$7.34 A Bargain

Agent Dakota Sharp works homicide for the Virginia State Police Department. He chose this career after his half-sister Kara died from an apparent overdose of drugs. He was devastated by her loss and filled with questions nobody could answer. Kara never used drugs. Years later, while attending his step-father Roger's funeral, a private investigator approached Dakota stating he was hired by Roger to gather all the evidence surrounding Kara's death. Roger never believed Kara died the way the authorities claimed and his dying wish was to have Dakota re-examine all the information one last time.
Dr. Tessa McGowan is a forensic pathologist and also the estranged wife of Dakota Sharp. She spent the last year working outside the country helping identify remains of American soldiers who went missing in Vietnam. She is ready to come home. She wants to reconnect with Dakota and save her marriage. She accepted a job in the Virginia State Medical Examiner's Office in Richmond which would force them to work together. She was best friends with his sister Kara in college and knew her death had a huge impact on Dakota but his unyielding determination to solve cases made her believe he was not committed to their marriage.
As he starts to unwind the puzzle pieces of these homicides, he begins to fear there might be some kind of personal connection from his past with this psychopath committing these homicides. Worse, Tessa might be in the cross hairs of this killer.


Christina Traister was very good with the delivery of the story

Awesome read and Awesome narration..

What a fabulous book. It was exciting from beginning to end. Tessa and Sharp was such a great pair. They were separated after 8 months of marriage then she came back to town after 8 months of being in Viet Nam looking for American soldiers who’d been shot down in the war. She had changed and wanted to make their marriage work but he was afraid that if she left him once that she’d leave him again. It was a good love story but it was a better murder mystery.

Sharp was looking for a serial killer while having Andrews, a computer genius, look into his sister’s 12 year old death. He refused to believe she died from and accidental overdose but he was out of clues.

Oh, and the serial killer he was looking for? He was one sick puppy. And I was surprised to find out who it was.

There was more sex in this book than in other of Ms. Burton’s, more desire, more romance. It wasn’t just a vanilla sex scene that I couldn’t wait to get past. It was nice and romantic. I’ve read 3 or Ms. Burton’s books and this was the best one so far.

And the F-bomb was used 14 times.

As to the narration: Absolutely phenomenal. I thought Christina Traister was good in The Shark, Ms. Burton’s other book that I really liked, but she was fantastic in this book. Women’s voices were great, men’s voices were perfect, but she really read with such emotion, suck feeling, that it was awesome. She laughed, she cried, she whispered, she did everything. She gets better with each book she reads. After listening to her in this book Christina Traister has become one of my top 5 female narrators.

Cold case

Narrator:
Christina Traister narrated this crime novel. Christina had her work cut out for her in voicing all the characters in this book. She was convincing in all areas that mattered voicing all these characters. The sound quality was flawless. There were no outside disturbances during the performance. The performance was read word perfectly with the acting skills of a professional.

Agent Dakota Sharp was dedicated to solving his cases. The long demanding hours, however put a strain on his marriage to Tessa. Tessa unable to understand Dakota’s dedication left for eight months. When she returned to his world she chose to join forces with it by becoming a medical examiner.

A Cold case from twelve years ago gets reopened regarding Sharp’s sisters murder. I like the way Sharp investigated his cases. His fact finding skills were interesting. He kept the case flowing at a steady pace. His partner Vargas balanced Sharp with her type of questioning. They had this good cop bad cop vibe when questioning individuals. Together they did a convincing job of analyzing evidence.

The story had a good balance between romance and detective work. The romance didn’t take away from the work nor did the work effect the romance.

The Dollmaker was an unknown face yet held a point of view that was chilling. Every time I read his scenes it stopped my heart.

suspense at it's best

I listen while I work. I love the suspense. I have the next book loading, I can't wait.

Captivating

Loved it. Kept me hooked the entire time. Excellent narration. On to the next one in the series!

Another great book!

I’m absolutely intrigued with Mary Burton and her incredible books.
I love the stories that she comes up with and how she takes her readers on these great adventures.