This is the second novel in the Forgotten Files series by Mary Burton, It can also be a standalone. This book was first published in November of 2016. Dr. Tessa McGowan is back in town after a rift in her marriage made working abroad seem like a good option. But the months away clarified her priorities and Tessa’s back to stay.
Agent Dakota Sharp harbors guilt and anger over the death of his younger sister. Her death was ruled an overdose twelve years back, but his family never accepted the ruling. Dakota feels Tessa deserves better than he’s able to give, but his feelings for her are a hard thing to fight.
Two murders connect the past and present, and the fact the killer may be after Tessa as well, force these two to work together, making it impossible to deny the intense connection they share.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this e-arc.*

it was okay, but it lacks of intense/suspense element which make me hard to get into it. Not to mention there were also unnecessary scenes that should have not be included here.

Overall, the premise/concept were intriguing but other than that, it's predictable.

Thank you to netgalley for the advanced review copy.

The Dollmaker fills that "creepy serial killer stalking our female lead" hole that sometimes comes up in my reading. I found both Tessa and Dakota to be interesting characters with a second-chance romance thread to pull for, and as the deaths increased and the tie to their pasts was revealed, I gasped out loud in surprise. I am thrilled to have found a new-to-me romantic suspense author to follow.

Thank you to Kensington Books for my #eARC.

I like Mary Burton; she’s a good writer and storyteller. This is the 11th book (two different series and some standalones) of hers that I have read. I’m a huge fan of her Criminal Profiler series and really hope she hasn’t abandoned it and is just busy working on all her other series. I’m typically not a big fan of romantic suspense stories, so many of them are just really bad! However, Burton seems to have mastered just the right formula for them, mixing just the right amount of suspense and romance. Too many of them lean wwwaaayyy too heavily towards the “romance” part (and really poorly too) and fail to provide much suspense. JMHO

Anyway, the book summary lays out the primary and secondary storylines. Most of the story revolves around the primary storyline of the investigation of the Dollmaker killings. The story flips back and forth between Tessa, Dakota and the Dollmaker. Tessa and Dakota’s chapters are sprinkled with the aftereffects of their estranged marriage when Tessa left Dakota and spent almost a year in SE Asia, and the subsequent friction between the two now that she is back in the states. Tessa has taken a job that has her now butting heads with Dakota on the Dollmaker case.

Burton does a really good job of laying the story out, leaving clues along the way. It’s well into the second half, almost to the end (85%) that a major revelation is dropped and I’m pretty sure I know who the killer is but not sure how the story will all fall together. Well, I was sooo wrong!!! Did not see that one coming; this was definitely a solid 4star story. I want to thank NetGalley and Kensington Books for sending me this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

#NetGalley #KensingtonBooks #TheDollmaker

Detective Dakota Sharp is investigating the murders of women who were made up to look like dolls. His estranged wife Tessa, a medical examiner helps him investigate the gruesome murders. This was a great book that I didn’t want to put down. It is second in a three book series and can be read by its self. Thanks NetGalley and Kensington Books for this free readers copy!
It will be re-released December 26, 2023.

A second chance at everything combined with a twisty hunt for a very creepy killer featuring the estranged partners Dr. Tessa McGowan and Dakota Sharp. Know that this is a reissue and that it's part of a series but that it also makes a fine standalone. The Dollmaker does awful things and these two must find him before he kills again, even as they deal with their own problems. Thanks to Netgalley for the arc. It's a fast paced read that will keep you turning the pages.

This was an exciting read from the first page to the last. There are all sorts of twists and turns as Agent Dakota Sharp and his now estranged wife who has returned to try to repair their marriage, Dr Tessa MacGowan, try to find the psychotic murderer who is killing Tessa’s high school friends. The murder investigation was well plotted. The characters were distinctive and likeable. There is a bit of romance as Dakota and Tessa try to repair their relationship but I was disappointed that Tessa kept doing all the work with Dakota receiving but not returning the effort.

The Dollmaker by Mary Burton is a suspenseful thriller/romance book that is the second in the series. It easily works as a stand alone book because the author gives you enough background. I hadn't read the previous book but that did not cause me any difficulties with understanding/following this book. Tessa McGovern is a forensic pathologist who just returned from an overseas job of identifying soldiers bodies. She is quickly reunited with her estranged spouse agent Dakota Sharp during the course of their jobs. Dakota Sharp has been trying deal with the fall out of the death of his teenage sister and the breakdown of his family afterwards. As the story progresses we learn of the serial killer the Dollmaker and his penchant for a quiet perfect doll. The story ramps up the suspense as Dakota and Tessa are getting closer to figuring out who the killer is and who will be next on his list of victims.
I want to thank #NetGalley and Kensington Books for the digital advanced reader copy for my honest review.

After an overseas assignment, Dr. Tessa McGowan is back in her hometown and determined to win her estranged husband, Dakota Sharp, back. They’re teamed together to solve the case of The Dollmaker. The victims’ faces have been tattooed to look like real dolls. The case is bizarre in more ways than one, and Dakota feels he’s crossed paths with the killer before, and he’s concerned that Tessa might be next on the killer’s list.

An engrossing thriller with twists, turns, surprises, and more.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

In my opinion, the best thrillers have the following:
A strong protagonist - you actually want them to do good.
A creep factor - could be the villain, the crime, or both.
A late twist - the author may hint at this so when you figure it out, you want to scream at the characters to warn them.
This book has all 3 elements which is why it earned the rating it did.

At first, there seems like a lot of random plotlines:
A detective who is still recovering from his sister's murder.
A drug deal gone wrong.
And the murder of girls who look like dolls (this is the creep factor). I won't get into what this killer does to them.
But eventually, the plotlines come together, and it all makes sense, so be patient. It is oh-so-twisted.

I really loved how this story was put together from beginning to end. This looks like it is a re-release, and I'm so happy it crossed my path. Definitely worth checking out if you are a fan of psychological thrillers.

Wow!! What can I say....? This one pulls you in and doesn't let go till the end. And the end? It comes out of left field cause there's no hint throughout of who exactly is "The Dollmaker." This one has a mix of mystery, romance and everything in between. It is a page-turner that will keep you tuned in every step of the way. I highly recommend!!!

The Dollmaker Mary Burton was first printed on November 15, 2016 and the author updated the story with little correcting editorial issue. The cover has also been updated.
The Dollmaker is still an amazing read that comes many TV shows have tried to recreate with very little success.
This is one of the creepiest serial killer stories I have read. Mary Butron is a killer when it comes stories with serial killers as the lead.
If you read the book back in 2016 not enough has been changed to want to buy a new copy.

Thank you to Netgalley

I almost put down this book. I almost didn’t think I could do it. I was so creeped out in the first couple of chapters that I really didn’t think I could read it. Then, the story just drew me in and I couldn’t put it down. It kept me on the edge of my seat.
Great read if you like creepy thrillers!

Unfortunately I didn’t realise this was book 2 in a series so that’s probably why i didn’t enjoy it as much as I could of done. I really wish I had realised before I jumped into this book. This book was one of the most creepiest books i have read in a while. It was such a fast paced read and the characters were really interesting and the characters were written really well. Such a page Turing book that keeps you hooked and interested in the story to the very end.
Overall I very good book. Xx

My thanks to Net Galley and Kensington for allowing me to review this arc.

Really enjoyed this book. There are 2 sub stories, a murder of a young boy and a serial killer that turns his victims into dolls. The story lines do come together thanks to Dr Tessa McGowan and her estranged husband Agent Drake . This book reminded me of a Criminal Minds episode I saw once where the killer turned his victims into marionette puppets, where this was the dolls. Loved the characters and how demented the killer was. Highly recommend!

Forensic pathologist Dr Tessa McGowan is back and working with her estranged husband Agent Dakota Sharp. Sharps life was tragically altered 12 years ago and he has been guilt ridden since. Now someone is taking women and changing their faces to resemble dolls.

There are several interconnected cases in this book that will keep you on the edge of your seat. There are so many twists and turns you don't know which way to turn. I had one part of the ending figured out but still didn't guess who the killer was. I would give this book 4 1/2 stars. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

I read this book in 2022. I enjoyed this entire series. I love the characters and all the twists and turns. I am a big fan of Mary Burton. I look forward to any new books by this author

This was one of the creepiest books I’ve read in a long time. It was fast paced and no holds barred horrifying.
The characters were likeable and realistic. This book was gritty and intense. A page turner to the max.
If you want to stay up way to late reading and then have nightmares this book is the one for you.
A great super scary rollercoaster of a read!

Featuring forensic pathologist Dr. Tessa McGowan and her husband from whom she is separated, Dakota Sharp, this book was a race to the finish from the first page. With macabre and gruesome killings and clues that just kept coming but would not come together in the minds of the investigators, this book was amazingly well written and intricately layered. Dealing with family relationships, finding a way to let go of the past as well as solving cold cases, this book had everything a mystery buff like me enjoys. I was not able to figure out the villain but trying was part of the fun of reading the story. The “dollmaker” has a goal in mind and this is one villain who does not plan to be thwarted by state police, FBI agents or forensics. He wants to capture women and make them into his playthings, fashioning them into his dolls, with the faces that he creates. Lots of details about his work, but nothing too stomach-turning or gory. The pacing was perfect, the characters were relatable and the entire experience of diving into this book was a thrilling adventure into the mind of a demented serial killer.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16th CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

Keep thinking I am losing my mind by seeing her titles pop up again. Mary Burton has become an auto buy, turn on the audiobook and roll through all of them kind of author. Great suspense, good timing, dialog and she always has a little bit of steam. Well done, enjoyed this one!