This is a mystery set in 1946 Vermont. I've read about Frances Lee Glessner's work of making miniature crime scenes and was intrigued with a sleuth based on her, but making miniatures of crime scenes seems to be the only similarity between them. While the author wove historical details into the story to give it a distinct sense of time and place, she also used several phrases that didn't come into use until after that date. She also mentioned seat belts, but those weren't added to cars until after 1949. Wrong details like this kept me from getting immersed in the story.

The mystery was clue-based, but Maple was so certain that her judgements about others were correct that she couldn't see the obvious. I had most of the whodunit worked out back when the murder was discovered. The crime scene miniature was mostly a way for Maple to demonstrate her theories. Maple wasn't very likable at the beginning and only slowly learned how to get people to listen to her. She was very socially inept, and it didn't help that she assumed the worst about others and didn't hesitate to let a person know that she held them in contempt--which was most people. However, she's devoted to justice, has a photographic memory, is observant, and likes everything to be neatly explained, so she got it solved.

There was a minor amount of bad language. There was no sex. Overall, I'd recommend this novel, but more to historical fiction fans as the story was more about Maple growing as a person than the mystery.

First thank you @NetGalley and @katietietjen for providing me the ARC of this marvellous book..
Oh I am completely blown away.. The story, flow of the book, the way it’s written and the characters are so perfect.
This book actually shows that sometimes you need to look closer and simple minute details hold the biggest secrets.. I completely devoured into this and its unputdownable.. it keeps the reader so engrossed that you can’t keep it aside.. you just need to flow with the story and with each details that it unfolds.

The character are too good! I loved Maple. She is such a strong character and her determination is unmatched. They way she navigates in her situation is incredible. Love to Kenny for the urge to find the truth. Characters of Ginger, the sheriff adds the required touch of excitement and feel that this story needs!!

This story takes place in post-WWII in a small New England town. Add a dash of history with a strong dose of mystery, and the ending of this story is what is not expected.

I received a free copy of the book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This is a well-written historical mystery set in the post-WWII era. The descriptions of the characters and locations are well written.

Thank you to Katie Tietjen, NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the arc of this book.

What an amazing read. I could not put down. Recommend to anyone who loves crime books. Spell binding. I lost sleep so i could read wotjout interruption. Please enjoy.

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.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this good in advance
This was Katie’s first novel and she did an amazing job at it !
It was interesting to know that it was based upon a real life miniature dollhouse maker
Her writing made me feel like I was part of the story; walking the streets seeing the crime scenes
Looking into the little dollhouses and seeing the rooms and figures
Great job.
I will look for more books by this author in the future.

Recently widowed Maple Bishop has a mortgage to pay and no money left. Being the first female graduate of Boston City Law School doesn’t help much when no one's willing to hire a woman as their lawyer. To survive, she decides to turn her hobby, dollhouse making, into a business and is off to a good start.
The last thing Maple expected when delivering her first custom made dollhouse was to find her customer dead. The Sheriff may believe the cause of death to be suicide or even accidental, but Maple thinks otherwise. With the help of a young police officer and thanks to her often under-estimated skills, Maple will prove that there's more to this case than meets the eye.

I have mixed feelings about this book. This is frustrating because I wanted to "love" it : the writing was good, I liked the small town / post WWII setting, I found most characters in the story compelling and nuanced (Maple, Kenny and the Sheriff especially), BUT it took me about 10 days to read it. I found that the first third of the book was very slow-paced, I understand that the author needed to take Maple to wherever she had to be in order to start investigating a murder (I'm talking about her state of mind), and it is actually awesome that the MC didn’t magically have a "21st century feminist mentality" like we've seen in too many recent books and movies, but had to learn to be more assertive and make something of herself without the support and protection of a male relative. And since we're talking about Maple's state of mind, I know that grief comes in waves that sometimes hit you at the most unexpected moment, I also get that healing was an important part of the character's journey, but sorry, the whole thing with Jamie's coat was too repetitive.
Finally, and without revealing too much, I'll just say that part of the mystery was predictable.

This book had potential and tackled interesting topics the right way, I was maybe too impatient (and maybe that messed with my reading experience), I hope that most readers will have a better experience with it than I did.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for giving me access to this e-ARC in exchange of an honest review.

This is a light, but enjoyable, read with a woman, outside her time and outside her sphere, using the skills and talents she has in dollhouse making to help solve crimes. It is historical fiction based on a real-life person, and shows how anyone with a keen eye can unravel mysteries. Compelling enough that I wanted to get to the end and the solution, but not so intense that I couldn't sleep at night! A perfect bedtime read.

Death in the Details is a fun and interesting cosy mystery with a fast paced plot. I loved following along with Maple, especially seeing a woman's perspective in WWII who also gets to investigate murders and continue her hobby. Overall I think this is going to be a big hit with cost mystery lovers and I would love to read more.

Death, murder, black market. Even I didn’t see the killer until it was to late. Such a wonderful book. Loved Maple and her desire to solve problems. A must read for those who like mystery.

This was my first time reading this author and I loved it so much I would highly recommend this book to my cozy mystery loving customers. I loved the character of Maple, trying to make her way in the world and finding her place in a male dominated world after World War II. They plot moved fast and kept me guessing. Cannot wait to read more!

A very strong 4. I really enjoyed this one. I love the main character, Maple. Her struggles with loss and understanding her own talents is one that I think will resonate with most women. Of course, I love the dollhouses and sweet Ben. Even thought I don’t like cats, Mack is alright. The mystery was great but I wasn’t totally satisfied with who the ‘bad guy’ was because we don’t get much information about him before the big reveal and that feels a little like cheating to me. The supporting characters are excellently drawn. Maple’s got a very interesting life. A solidly crafted read, well worth the time.

After World War II, Maple, widowed and penniless, must learn to survive thanks to her hobby, miniature houses, to which she finds another use as a means to recreate and investigate murders.
An entertaining mystery that presents us with delightful characters that will make you want to know more about them and their lives. First book in a series that promises good characters and ingenious plots.

DEATH IN THE DETAILS is a dazzling debut! Maple is such a relatable heroine - an outsider in her postwar, small New England town - who finds community through her talent as a miniaturist and legal background. The mystery is perfectly paced, the characters are real, flawed, and imperfect, and the impeccable historic details round out every page. I'm a fan for life!

A delightful start to a new mystery series set right after WW2. Maple is having trouble adjusting to small town life, her husband died in the war, she’s worried about paying her mortgage, and although she has a law degree can’t find a job. Her one delight is crafting miniature houses that people love. After being first on site at an alleged suicide she quickly realizes it could be murder. When the sheriff tells her not to worry her pretty little head, she creates the scene in miniature, and partners with young deputy Kenny to find the truth.
Filled with wonderfully detailed characters and an interesting murder, I’m already waiting for the next book in the series.