The book focused too much on Jennifer's background, with details that didn't hold my attention. It would have been more engaging if her murder had been delved into more, as that was what piqued my interest in the book.

Thank you for sharing an advanced copy of Murder in the Dollhouse with me. It was an easy read, sometimes focusing on somewhat inconsequential topics for too long and skimming over those that seemed more important. It's such an interesting case, and the author tried mightily to help the reader get to know Jennifer Dulos, to make her a real person, but the sad truth is, she remains the victim of this story, unable to really come alive to those who didn't know her, which makes the "getting to know Jennifer Farber" section of the book a bit repetitive and long. Also...what is the author's obsession with people who are bald? Why on earth does it have to mentioned repeatedly when introducing someone that they are bald or balding? That was strange. Overall, I would recommend this book, but it definitely helps to have some knowledge of the case beforehand.

Unfortunately this just wasn’t holding my attention at all. I read a good few true crime books but I was never so bored at the beginning of one. The background of her life, while important, could have been condensed down as I feel there were too many people and friends to keep track of.

Would have preferred if the background was weaved into the main story as we go along.

Thanks to Farrar, Straus and Giroux and NetGalley for the arc in exchange of an honest review.

I went into this book as a true crime book. it read more like an editorial piece for a magazine.
Certainly, there was some facts about the case, however, about 15% of the book is the author speculating what the parties had felt, using a lot of I am sure she felt this, I am positive the person wondered this.

Another 25% of the book was devoted to Jennifers college days. it was painful to wade through all of the minutia of someone's life. WE did NOT need to know scenes from a play, who her friends were, etc.

the last 25% of the book is notes on sources. Which was odd for a true crime book, but I appreciated it nonetheless.

THe last 35% of the book actually deals with Jennifers murder (what else can it be?) and the contentious divorce from her husband. This is what the nitty gritty true crime book lovers devour. However, the author does another disservice here as well, by over explaining everything, going into the weeds to explain things and really being repetitive.

Finally we get to the day of the murder and this, THIS is where the author finally shines! he details the timeline and then gives up more details. It was a great piece of writing.

Overall the book is lacking as a true crime novel. It lacks the finesse of a good editor who would have cut out 75% of the college days of Jennifer. Further the author, as far as I know, never interviewed Fotis' family/friends, attempted to interview Michelle, Nicole, people ACTUALLY connected to the case. Was it because the crime was still so new?

It felt like this book was a biography on Jennifer's college years and very little on her actual murder.

thank you Farrar, Straus and Giroux, as well as NetGalley for sending me an ARC of this book!

I have watched and read a lot of material on the Jennifer Dulos case, and I feel like Rich Cohen truly brought a unique perspective to all the information he brought forth. He got in contact with so many people I had never heard of before relating to the case, presented so much new information, and I felt like I knew the main people in this story through him and his writing. This story is truly heartbreaking and Cohen gave us a personal view specifically into Jennifer’s life, which opened my eyes up even more to what the victims of this case went through. I would not suggest reading this book all at one time or in one sitting as the information is heavy and can be upsetting. With that being said, Rich Cohen analyzes and presents the information in such a digestible and captivating way, it is definitely worth the read, especially if you have never heard Jennifer’s story before. Really enjoyed it!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

It's rare that a true crime book goes into such painstaking detail to go through the life of a victim, but that's exactly what this book does, and it's all the more poignant for it. This book is an examination in minute detail of Jennifer Dulos, a woman who marries later in life and then finds that her husband is not all that he appears to be. I found the first half of this book really interesting. While it doesn't necessarily endear Jennifer (she was certainly a complex woman!), it does make for a very interesting study of someone who could be manipulated by someone like Fotis Dulos was.

The writing of Fotis is a study of a narcissist. The man very clearly cared only for his own interests and making himself look good, particularly through his treatment of his wife and children. He was irredeemable, and this book makes that very clear. The story of the murder side of this is really interesting, but not in a way that feels voyeuristic- rather, it feels like this was written for the express purpose of making clear just how dangerous men like this can be, and how easy it can be to fall into the trap of someone like this.

I did find that this book ended a little abruptly, and that the fallout of the case could have been given a little more attention, but this book does need to be commended for a laser focus on what should be at the heart of any case - the victim.

I loved this book couldn't recommend it more
Rated this book 5 stars
Loved the style of writing and the characters

Here I go again, with my secret pleasure reading: true crime. Rich Cohen, a well-known author and journalist (columnist for The Wall Street Journal, contributing editor at Vanity Fair and Rolling Stone) has written the amazing story of Jennifer Dulos, a wealthy Connecticut woman who dropped her kids off at the New Canaan Country School one morning in 2019 and then just vanished. Since then, the mystery surrounding her disappearance has been the subject of multiple articles, podcasts, posts on social media – people are obsessed. And why not? The story Cohen tells in Murder In The Dollhouse: The Jennifer Dulos Story has it all: money, sex, violence, marriage, divorce, adorable children…

As a rich woman living with her husband Fotis Dulos in an incredibly wealthy suburb, Jennifer had what seemed to be a charmed life. Previously known as an all-white enclave (with prohibitions against Jews, Catholics, and African-Americans), New Canaan had changed by the time the Duloses moved there. As Cohen notes, “...as every American knows, big money soothes even the oldest prejudices.”

Prior to marrying Dulos, Jennifer led what seems to be a shallow life, spending years “shopping” for everything including a husband. Writing about a potential life partner, she ways “ “We are at the same level of attractiveness’…as if she was playing dress-up, seeking a perfect match for her doll in the dollhouse.” Having married Fotis Dulos in her thirties, after a few years they had five children and were working through the details of their divorce. Jennifer was determined to find justice. Her disappearance sparked a huge discussion, practically a cottage industry. Cohen writes about the subject in extensive detail, and provides an incredibly detailed list of sources (in fact, I was only at 75% on my Kindle when the story itself was complete, with the remaining 25% being notes.

Why did this case capture the attention of so many people? “Some tell you it’s the media’s obsession with dead white women…Jennifer was white and her daddy was rich…the story says something about our society, which, though placed on the surface, is roiling beneath; because it expresses a terrifying truth–when a bad person is determined, no amount of money, court orders, or security systems can protect you.”

Spoiler alert: After her disappearance, Dulos’s husband and his girlfriend were arrested. On the day he was to report to court, he killed himself rather than face what awaited him there. His girlfriend was tried and convicted of conspiracy to commit murder, and earlier this year, she was convicted and sentenced to serve 14+ years.

This book is incredibly well done, and is highly recommended for true crime fans, and anyone curious about the rich and how screwed up things can get. With thanks to Farrar, Straus, & Giroux and NetGalley for providing a copy in exchange for my honest review, this one gets five stars.

Terribly sad barely scratches the surface of this unrelentingly depressing read. Cohen plunges readers into the chilling case of Jennifer Dulos, a woman whose life of privilege and picture-perfect suburban affluence dissolved into a nightmare of betrayal, violence, and unimaginable loss.

Cohen renders the events with painstaking detail, but it’s hard to escape the suffocating sense of hopelessness. The story lays bare the emptiness of wealth and the toxic interplay of status, control, and vengeance. While undeniably well-written and meticulously researched, it’s a heavy read that will weigh on you long after the final page. Perfect for true crime enthusiasts who can handle a raw, heartbreaking story.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux for the opportunity to read and review Murder in the Dollhouse: The Jennifer Dulos Story prior to publication.

3 stars.

Jennifer Dulos, a rich, suburban mother of five disappears. She comes from wealth (her aunt is Liz Claiborne. I did not know until I read this book that there actually was a Liz Claiborne. That brand was SO big back in the 1980s. Huge. Humongous . It was probably too old for me but I still wore it all the time. Anyway…..no matter how rich you are you are always, always going to have women who just can’t seem to get out of their own way and marry assholes and that was Jennifer. Ladies, make your money (if you have it) work for you!

At first Jennifer is so selective regarding her life partner and then ends up with this? The book is really about an unhappy woman trying to live the life she thinks she’s supposed to have and then get killed for her trouble. Sad, really. Honestly, I saw this somewhere after the election…is it true? Paraphrasing…but telling women to remember it’s every single one of them. Depressing? As he’ll. True? In my darkest moments I’m afraid it might be.

I received a free copy of, Murder in the Dollhouse, by Rich Cohen, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Jennifer Dulos, has not been seen since 2019. Jennifer dropped her kids off at at school , and vanished. Going through an ugly divorce with her estranged husband, Fotis Dulos. What a read, divorce makes people do crazy things.

I loved this book. It was thrilling and gripped me from the first page to the last. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the free eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for sharing this nonfiction ARC. I had not heard of this case before. Overall, the book fell in the just okay category for me as I didn’t feel the writing was that good, and my main takeaway was that multiple wealthy narcissists were involved and that domestic violence is pervasive. That is sadly true, but unfortunately not very novel.

I succumbed to my curiosity and voyeuristic tendencies. And if you too can't resist a peek at the life of the rich and entitled this will satisfy you greatly. Cohen does a very deep and detailed dive into Jennifer's life, mostly before she was married. From then on, the story has less detail as he writes of the derailment of her marriage and what motherhood meant and did for her. It is certainly fascinating and you'll end the book with just one thought in your mind.... and I'm not going to say it here!

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. I was totally immersed and could not put it down until the end.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book. This was an excellent true crime read! The story was well researched and had me seething with anger for Jennifer and her plight. I would highly recommend for any true crime fans to get a copy of this book today!

“Murder in the Dollhouse” by Rich Cohen is an informative and gripping account of the life and mysterious disappearance of Jennifer Dulos. Born into a wealthy, privileged family, Jennifer lived a life of luxury, traveling on private jets and enjoying the comforts that money could buy. Despite this, she longed for a family of her own. At 35, she met Fotis Dulos at an airport, and they quickly married after Fotis divorced his wife. Together, they had five children, including two sets of twins.

However, their marriage quickly became toxic. Fotis was abusive, and their relationship grew increasingly unstable. Eventually, Jennifer decided to divorce him, leading to a lengthy and bitter legal battle. In 2019, Jennifer disappeared without a trace, and her body was never found. Fotis was later charged with her murder but died by suicide in 2020 from carbon monoxide poisoning.

Cohen’s book delves into the complex dynamics of Jennifer and Fotis’s marriage and raises the haunting question: Did Fotis murder Jennifer before taking his own life, leaving their five children orphaned? With its deep exploration of Jennifer’s life and the events surrounding her disappearance, Murder in the Dollhouse is a compelling and tragic look at a case that remains unsolved.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Farrar, Straus, and Giroux for this advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review!

4.5
I requested this on a whim and though true crime books are not always a sure thing, I expect a certain amount of quality from FSG, and I liked the vintage feel of the cover!
I wasn’t familiar with this case – the disappearance and presumed murder of Jennifer Dulos, after dropping her five children off at school in her affluent and ostensibly safe neighbourhood, but the basic details sounded more familiar as I read.
I was hooked immediately! The author clearly did extensive research, and as a result the first chapter gives a detailed look at Jennifer and her background – it’s refreshing to read about the woman at the centre of everything as a real person with interests, goals and flaws rather than a brief overview. Not only was there a lot of information, but it was presented in a way that I could easily forget I was reading a work of non-fiction, so drawn as I was into Jennifer’s life and youth in NYC.
Given the nature of the crime (a disappearance and apparent murder, lacking any definitive proof) most of the book details Jennifer, her husband and their contentious ongoing divorce. The author has interviewed various people and consulted sources, such as legal records, that document the facts and as a result seems to give a very credible account of what happened – at least leading up to Jennifer’s disappearance.
There are a couple of points where a bit of sensationalism creeps in – imagining Jennifer’s last moments and thoughts, whereas stating that the last interaction of the children and their father (about which there is no mystery) is too private. I agree, it is private, but I also think Jennifer deserves enough dignity not to have her final moments invented.
In summary, a well-written and thorough look at the case that I found difficult to put down!
Thanks, NetGally and FSG.

Wow I really enjoyed this book it was a good short read following Jennifer’s life and the details on her disappearance, it deep dives into behind closed doors and the ugly truth and secrets that was unfolded, if you want a book that will take you into a deep dive spiral this book is for you.

A chilling portrait of a narcissistic psychopath and his naïve victim. While Jennifer Dulos’s shallowness and privilege initially make it a bit hard to relate to her (the "Dollhouse" in the title is an apt metaphor), by the end of the book you will be seething with rage at Fotis Dulos and yearning for justice for Jennifer. An excellent book that was very difficult to put down.

From New York Times bestselling author Rich Cohen, an enthralling and deeply investigated book about Jennifer Dulos, a suburban mother who disappeared one morning after dropping her kids at school.

The daughter of Hilliard and Gloria Farber, Jennifer was born in New York in 1968 into a world of privilege and vast wealth. She attended Saint Ann's, an elite private school in Brooklyn, and went on to graduate from Brown, one of the top Ivy League colleges. One of Jennifer’s greatest aspirations in life was finding the perfect husband and becoming a mother.

Although she was courted by many men, it wasn’t until Jennifer was thirty-five and traveling through Aspen airport when she reconnected with Fotis Dulos, a Greek-American she’d crossed paths with years earlier at Brown. Their relationship started on sour note when Jennifer found out Fotis had a wife, however they stayed together and when his divorce was finalized, they married and had five kids.

While Jennifer focused on motherhood, her husband was building a business financed by her parents. Jennifer’s friends expressed concerns about her husband’s violent outbursts and their fears that he only married her for the money. After years of mental anguish, Jennifer filed for divorce and fought for custody of the kids. A nasty court battle ensued, costing the couple a fortune, money Jennifer had but Fotis did not. He risked losing his business and the pleasures to which he’d grown accustomed.

On the morning of May 24, 2019, Jennifer left her New Canaan home to take her kids to school. She has been missing, presumed dead, ever since. In Murder in the Dollhouse, Cohen pieces together facts from Jennifer’s early life, marriage and divorce, and draws a devastating narrative of her murder at the hands of her husband.

Once I started this, I could not put it down. As Cohen writes, “This is a story of love and hate, money, debt, and status but it’s also about the lives of people you only think you know.”