This book was such a cozy surprise—with a dark little twist. I wasn’t sure what to expect going in, but Maple Bishop totally won me over. She builds dollhouses for a living (yes, really) but also helps the local sheriff’s office by recreating crime scenes in miniature. It sounds quirky, but it actually works so well in the story.

Set in post-WWII Vermont, the atmosphere is quiet and nostalgic, but there’s a simmering sadness under it all, especially with Maple still grieving her husband. The mystery kicks off when a cabin fire leaves someone dead, and the more Maple and Kenny dig, the more things stop adding up.

The miniature recreation angle is super creative—it’s like watching her piece together the truth inch by inch, literally. There’s a good mix of emotional depth, clever sleuthing, and just enough danger to keep things tense. I also loved the subtle chemistry between Maple and Kenny—nothing forced, just something there.

My only small complaint is that a couple parts slowed down more than I wanted, especially when it dipped into Maple’s past. But overall, it’s a really unique, heartfelt mystery with just the right amount of charm and grit. I’d totally read more in this series.

I really did not enjoy this book. I did not realize it was the second book and maybe I would have enjoyed it more if I had read the first. I did not connect with any of the characters or the plot. The dollhouse component of the book was almost nonexistent and didn’t really play a role in anything.

Inspired by Frances Glessner Lee's miniature replicas of crime scenes, Maple Bishop finds herself replicating a real crime scene from her hometown. When a young firefighter's body is found amid the smoldering remains of his cabin, Maple feels obligated to solve the crime. Creating the miniatures in tiny size replicas is time consuming but very fulfilling as Maple solves the crime and learns something about her past. Very enjoyable. and I look forward to others in this series.

Mystery readers looking for something more than a cozy and less than hardcore police procedural will fully appreciate this offering from Katie Tietjen. With main character Maple based on the “mother of forensic science,” it would be hard to go astray. Maple will appeal to many readers, as her attention to detail in constructing her miniature dollhouses and in her approach to solving a gruesome murder is pretty brilliant. (I admit, though, the miniatures reminded me of the CSI Las Vegas story thread that featured a serial killer who made miniatures of their death scenes.) Maple is reminiscent of an American Maisie Dobbs, and fans of that series will certainly enjoy this one. There is also a fairly overt suggestion that Maple may have some sensory issues, which again will appeal to some readers as they are handled with sensitivity.

Overall, this is a solid mystery and a series I will definitely read again.,

A clean novel with a strong female character who has overcome loss and is finding success as a single widow. She is using her talents and quick mind to help the sheriff solve crimes and works well with others. I also like the book cover..

Book #2 of Maple Bishop's series:

You can read the second book as a standalone. I haven't read the first book as well but it wasn't difficult at all to get into the book.

Cozy mystery & a strong female lead: I really enjoyed reading it.

The characters are really well-written. Maple's character is just so unique & astounding. It's inspired by Frances Glessner Lee, a woman known as the mother of forensic science. Lee used to built extremely detailed miniatures of crime scenes that she used to help train police investigators across the country.

Even though some of the plot twists were easy to guess but it was really engaging. I wasn't bored at all while reading it.

I recognized the "burnt cabin" scenario at once and was interested to see what Tietjen would do with it. How she blended several narrative threads gave a nice complexity to a seemingly simple scene. I loved the way the dollhouses were used to consider several options. Th reading is smooth, like a cozy, but there's also a seriousness about the crime that cozies often lack. Well done.

Thank you NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books and the author for supplying this ARC for an honest review.

This was the first cozy mystery I’ve read in quite some time, and I’m so glad this one was my introduction back into the genre.

While a few twists were a bit predictable, I found myself fully engaged in the story and invested in Maple’s journey. The subplot involving her brother was also intriguing, and I’d love to see how that storyline develops in a potential third book.

This is the second installment in the Maple Bishop Mystery series. Although I haven’t read the first book yet, it was easy to jump into this one without feeling lost—though I’m definitely planning to read the first book now!

Tietjen’s writing in Murder in Miniature really highlights their storytelling talent, and they’ve created a cast of characters that I thoroughly enjoyed.

WWII widow, Maple Bishop's doll house business has expanded. She recreates murder scenes in miniature to help solve murders. She is now a consultant to the police in her small Vermont town. In this case a young firefighted has died in a cabin fire. There are questions, was it arson, murder, an accident. Her miniature reconstructions can help discover the truth.

Murder in Miniature, the second book in the Maple Bishop series, captivated me with its unique premise based on the real-life female investigator, Frances Glessner Lee, who helped develop forensic science. Maple Bishop, a widow in the small town of Elderberry, uses her dollhouses—“nutshells”—to recreate crime scenes and solve mysteries. In this book, she’s called to investigate a firefighter's death in a suspicious house fire.

Though this can be read as a standalone, I found myself diving into the first book out of curiosity, and it added depth to the characters. Maple’s role as a consultant to the local sheriff, along with her evolving friendship with Kenny, adds layers to the story. The pacing is quick in the beginning and end, keeping the mystery engaging, though the middle dragged a bit with some unnecessary stretches.

Despite a few predictable twists, the story kept me hooked. The clean, cozy mystery with hints of romance and forensics worked well, and the new characters introduced show promise for future books. The emotional depth, particularly in Maple’s personal journey, added richness to the narrative.

Overall, Murder in Miniature is a clever, enjoyable read, and I’ll definitely continue with the series.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed Murder in Miniature! This classic whodunit mystery featured a strong female lead and a well-developed cast of secondary characters who enriched the story. While I could tell early on who the killer was—perhaps due to reading so many cozy mysteries—the journey was still highly enjoyable.

One of the standout aspects of this book was its historical setting. Taking place just after World War II, it offers a refreshing change from the more common contemporary or Victorian-era cozies. The post-war atmosphere adds depth to the mystery, particularly in how society was shifting and opportunities for women were evolving.

What truly made this novel special was that the main character was inspired by a real person—Frances Glessner Lee. Known as the “mother of forensic science,” Lee pioneered crime scene investigation with her intricate miniature crime scene dioramas, which helped train detectives in the art of solving murders. Tietjen does a fantastic job weaving elements of Lee’s groundbreaking work into the story, making it all the more compelling for readers who enjoy historical mysteries with real-life influences.

Overall, Murder in Miniature is a solid and engaging read, perfect for fans of historical cozies and strong female sleuths.

I was so interested in reading this book, I had to search out the first book in the Maple Bishop series! I read the first in the series, Death in the Details, in one day and barreled on to Murder in Miniature. The second book is even better than the first! The characters grow and change from book one to book 2, and I love that; they really feel alive. Highly recommend!

Suspense, emotion and a history lesson.

The construction of crime scene miniatures, combined with a photographic memory see Maple working as a “consultant” with the local police (as close as a woman in rural Vermont can get in the period just after WW2). A mysterious fire and body, Hollywood stars, childhood friends, lost family members and ties to the Irish Mob in Boston. Beautifully tied together in this 5 star read.

The second book of the Maple Bishop mystery series stands on its own as a reader and the series is based on a real woman, Frances Glessner Lee, it’s a brilliant way to share her story in such an entertaining and sweet way. I loved this book and can’t wait for more of Maple.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Crooked Lane Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Murder in Miniature was a wonderful mystery. It was so good, that I went back and read the first book. Maple Bishop is a widow and lawyer who lives in Vermont during post-WWII. She makes a living creating miniature doll houses that are pieces of art. She also has a job as crime scene consultant and uses her skills to recreate crime scenes to determine whether a death was accidental or a murder. Her latest case involves the death of a firefighter - is she looking for a murderer or an accident? Maple needs to find out quickly so she isn't the next target.

The book is based on a real person, Frances Glessner Lee. who is the "Mother of forensic science". Through Maple, it's fascinating to learn about crime scene consultants and the obstacles Maple faced. The book is full of " red herrings" and you won't want to put it down. Maple is a likable character who is starting over. I can't wait for her next case!

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Kensington. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Katie Tietjen for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Murder in Miniature coming out September 23, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I didn’t read the first book in the series, but I was really interested in checking this book out. I really love historical mysteries. I thought it was really sad that Maple’s husband died. Post war were tough times for all those affected. I think the miniature business was really interesting. It’s also interesting that she had work as a crime scene consultant in a male dominated field. I thought the writing and mystery was really well done. I would definitely check out more books by this author!

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical mysteries!

My 6P review: Premise, Plot, People, Place, Prose/Pace, Praise

Maple Bishop uses her dollhouse making skills to recreate crime scenes. Working with the local Sheriff, and her close friend Kenny, they investigate the death of the local firefighter.

This was such a unique story set in the 1950’s post-war Boston.

Although there wasn’t much of a mystery because it could only have been the one person given the details supplied by Maple, I still enjoyed it.

I loved the miniature scenes Maple created and I really liked her independent nature.
This story was inspired by the real life of Frances Glessner Lee which made it even more interesting.

With a beautiful cover too, what was there not to like about this book.

Score 130/150= 8.6

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was disappointed to find this was the second in a series once I received the advance copy. But this is a stand alone, for certain,The first book isn't needed to follow this story. This was a decent second book, and I will go and get the first to see how it all started.

The story is based around Maple Bishop, who is a dollhouse creator and amateur sleuth. She has a good eye for detail and joins the Sheriff and Fire Chief as well as a widower and his dog to help solve a historical mystery, It's set in 1947 and the plot is based on using dollhouse replicas to figure out crime scenes - which is really well done by the author. Maple can determine whether crimes are an accident or arson, murder, etc.

The author does a great job of balancing suspense with introducing Maples past traumas and grief. This personal dimension adds a compelling layer to the plot, enriching the mystery as Maple works on solving these crimes.

There are twists and a lot of charm in Murder in Miniature. I hope there will be another book in the series.

Thank you NetGalley, Crooked Lane and Ms. Tietjen for this advance copy. Opinions are my own.

Murder in Miniature is an engrossing and atmospheric mystery that will appeal to fans of historical fiction, true crime, and those who enjoy a strong, character-driven plot. Katie Tietjen has crafted a novel that’s as intellectually stimulating as it is captivating, and it offers a great blend of suspense, historical depth, and clever detective work. If you love puzzles, twists, and a rich historical setting, this book will not disappoint.

This was the first title I've read by this author. I noticed quickly it was the second in a series, but that really didn't matter to the story line. I was fascinated with the characters from page one and didn't see who done it until it was revealed at the end. Will definitely be reading all the series.

This book was alright. I didn’t realize that it was the second book in the series.

Maple is still dealing with the death of her husband. And then the sheriffs deputy’s remains are found in a burned cabin. She decides to create a miniature cabin so she can find the discrepancies from the scene.

I didn’t find myself reaching for this book. I’m not really into historical fiction so I think that’s why I didn’t enjoy it as much.

Thank you NetGalley, Katie and Crooked Lane Books for eARC!

Rating: 📕📕📕
Publication Date: September 23 2025

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