Rich Cohen did an amazing job telling Jennifer Dulos’ story. A wealthy suburban mother goes missing after dropping her children off at school. She is in the middle of a horrible divorce, but sadly, her body is never found. Her husband and girlfriend are arrested for the murder, but he ends his life before he can be convicted. Such a tragic and sad story, I feel awful for the children. This book was written very well and I learned so much about this case. I liked the narrator for this audiobook, they spoke clearly and it was easy to listen to.

I chose this as a NetGalley audiobook request as I live in New England, yet somehow I never heard this story and I found it surprising and intriguing how that could be possible.

Less a typical true crime novel and more of a biography of Jennifer Farber Dulos leading up to her disappearance, it is nonetheless riveting in the descriptions of peoples, places, opulence, shocking behaviors, and shocking outcomes.

Cohen's investigative skills and diligent research were extremely impressive while also staying on point throughout with just the right respectful tone considering the subject matter. Far from dry, however, Cohen also aroitly provided a sardonic tone when deserved, read: over the top lifestyle and unimaginable wealth and privilege.

The incredible talent of narrator Edoardo Ballerini provided so much in depth and emotion which added to the drama and further propelled the story expertly as he always does.

I recommend this book and will look for more by Rich Cohen in the future! Thank you to NetGalley and publisher Farrar, Straus and Giroux for this audiobook ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Despite the title, this, for the most part, feels more like a biography than a crime book. The focus is less on the crime itself and more on the life of Jennifer Dulos before her disappearance. In some ways, this is refreshing — true crime is often at its best when it brings victims to life as real, complex people rather than simply recounting the tragedy. But in this case, the balance feels off. Most of the book is spent walking through Jennifer’s personal history in exhaustive detail, and after a while, it starts to drag. The chapters are long and often repetitive, with Cohen driving the same points home again and again.



While the research that went into this book is obvious, the end result feels more like a biography than a crime narrative. Readers hoping for a close examination of the investigation or the courtroom drama may find themselves disappointed. Murder in the Dollhouse has its strengths, particularly in its compassionate portrayal of Jennifer, but it struggles to keep a tight grip on the story’s central tension.

This book was dnf. I had issues with how he outlines her life. The author spends way too much time painting her as a woman who only cares about an expensive lifestyle. I don’t know whether this is true or not but it is way too much of a focal point. I couldn’t get past this part to even find out what happened.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC of Murder in the Dollhouse by Rich Cohen.

Truly a tragedy, the couple that has it all, torn apart by greed, infidelity, and perhaps psychopathy. This, somewhat detail heavy story systematically plays out every piece of the Jennifer Dulos murder, starting with her parents, down to the sentencing. It's maddening and tragic, but well told. If you are interested in high society true crime, this might be the ticket for a long plane ride.

This is a true crime story of a suburban mom who disappeared after dropping her kids off at school. Her husband (soon to be ex) and his new girlfriend were accused of murdering her, but a body has never been found.
I absolutely love true crime shows. I find the process of forensics and figuring out how these crimes occurred and ultimately who did it, fascinating. What I don't care so much about, is the whole life story of these people which is what a lot of this book was about.
What was impressive and what I appreciated is how much research went into this book. There was an afterword at the end stating where the information came from and there were so many things listed. Things like news articles, interviews, tv news, podcasts, and the author even went to some days of the trial. There had to have been an immense amount of research done to dig this deep into a family's history.
A lot of this book detailed both Jennifer and Fotis Dulos's lives before they met, during their marriage and during their divorce. Neither of them really lead super interesting lives in my opinion, so a lot of the book was kind of dull, but I knew knowing this information would help solidify Fotis's guilt. Once things started heating up during the divorce process, my interest piqued.
Fotis Dulos really was a master manipulator and so selfish. Unfortunately, Jennifer rushed into this relationship feeling she was becoming "too old" to start creating the family she so desperately wanted. All Fotos wanted was money and fortunately for him, Jennifer's family had it. Towards the end he successfully painted himself in a better light and made Jennifer seem like an unfit parent.
Hands down, my favorite part of the book was when they started finding all the evidence against Fotis and his girlfriend. He just made so many mistakes or thought he was above things and I just enjoyed all the evidence coming against him even though there was no body.
I enjoyed the audiobook narrator. I think he did a good job of keeping me interested even though the duller parts of the book.
While I wish more of this book had focused on the actual crime, I still found it interesting.

Nonfiction that covers very recent crimes can be incredibly thin, and bulked up with personal inferences and unnecessary information. This one certainly didn't fall all the way down that particular rabbit hole, and I did find some of the information about Jennifer's childhood and expectations of marriage to be intriguing and fairly well-balanced. Ultimately, though, it's hard to make a satisfying book about a deeply unsatisfying crime... I just left with impression of those poor kids.

Murder in the Dollhouse by Rich Cohen
Audio Version
Overall Grade: B
Information: B-
Writing/Organization: B-
Narration: B
Best Aspect: This was a very complete telling for the Jennifer Dulos murder.
Worst Aspect: Not the most interesting murder mystery… even the 48 hours special was dull.
Recommend: Yes.
Thanks NetGalley releases 5/20/25

Thanks to NetGalley and the author for granting me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a hard one to rate for a couple of reasons. It's technically well-written, for one, and for another, there's a crucial level of human compassion that should come from engaging with true crime that its consumers are responsible for just as much as its content creators.

But man, it is a struggle to give this the gravity it deserves. I was put off right from the beginning at the mild criticism cast toward people who correctly identify missing white woman syndrome, especially coming from one wealthy writer about the wealthy white subject of his book.

On the one hand, it is an indisputable tragedy, and the children involved will carry this for the rest of their lives. On the other, this is a book about the most insufferable people you've ever heard of doing things that, were they a lower tax bracket, would be considered trashy and tasteless.

Like, there's a weird cognitive dissonance at play with what happened when paired with how this is written. So much of the book is about wealthy white people drama that just feels, frankly, obnoxious to endure, but you also read it knowing that it's about a woman who suffered a violent crime, so you have to approach it with compassion.

I mean, some of us do. One of the reviews on Goodreads is apparently one of the victim's neighbors who literally called this "a must-read for true crime fans" so I guess there's only so much milk of human kindness to go around lol.

Anyway, I'd give this one a skip if you're actually looking for a true crime novel, rather than a sort of pseudo-biography of a woman who had every possible means at her disposal to protect herself, and still fell victim to her husband's wrath. I say this not to victim blame, but rather to highlight the devastating truth that all the money in the world will not save a woman from a man if he truly means her harm. But this book was not for me. I think it's mostly for rich people from New York or Connecticut with way too much time on their hands.

As an avid true crime consumer, I was already familiar with the Jennifer Dulos case and was curious to see how it would be portrayed.

If you’re looking for a focus on the investigative, criminal or legal angle then this is not the book for you. However, if you want a story that is victim-focused, that is written almost like a fictitious thriller, look no further. Rich Cohen does a fantastic job of focusing the story on Jennifer and her life, rather than the merits of her killer.

Ultimately, I was not as interested in learning about certain aspects of Jennifer’s upbringing and therefore was a bit bored at times. I wish there had been more discussion on domestic and intimate partner violence. But I do appreciate any true crime book that is victim-focused, and therefore if you’re unfamiliar with this case and interested in learning more about it, this would be a good source to check out.

Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the ALC!

This is a great dive into the life of Jennifer Dulos before and after she met her murderer. ⁣
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Many true crime stories focus so much on the killer rather than the people they killed, so I appreciate the author doing so much research into Jennifer’s story.⁣
⁣
Cohen paints a vivid picture of Jennifer’s privileged upbringing as well as the collapse of her marriage to a controlling, status-hungry man. ⁣
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This is everything that other true crime stories should be. The crime is important, but you can find facts of it anywhere. ⁣
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What you won’t find in news articles are the in-depth details Cohen provides throughout this book that remind us that Jennifer was a real person rather than a headline or a woman experiencing domestic violence. She was an accomplished writer, she had dreams and goals, she loved her family.⁣
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Jennifer also now has a law named after her, which “allows victims subject to coercive control by a family or household member to be eligible for civil restraining orders,” among other protections (Connecticut General Assembly, Public Act No. 21-78).

My gratitude to #netgalley, #macmillanaudio, & author #RichCohen for the opportunity to listen to #MurderInTheDollhouse on #audiobook (narrated by the incredible Edoardo Ballerini).

I was loosely aware of the Jennifer Dulos case back when details were emerging in May 2019 but never followed specifics beyond the basic info shown on the news. I learned, based upon the extensive information contained in this book, that a variety of case-related media had been created (print, small-screen) based upon the entirety of events. Even so, I would find it difficult to believe that any content could touch the thoroughness and intelligence with which this book was researched and compiled - that is the greatest takeaway from my reading experience. This compendium of facts, quotes, interviews, timelines, and relevant family/cultural background is expertly researched and well-written, A compelling and addictive account of a true and fairly recent tragedy..

The book is heartbreaking, frustrating, maddening, and deeply sad. The title is drawn from Jennifer Dulos' persevering childhood "dream" of the perfect family - a dollhouse family - based upon integral familial and cultural impressions (she is well-to-do and doted upon by her father). This is a story of a dream deferred and later - a dream (and the dreamer) destroyed - never to be located again (to date).

There were the repeated frustrations of delayed police work and less than thorough and timely investigations and the absolutely maddening role of the legal system - especially lawyers and judges - who only seemed to stoke the fires of bitterness and hatred between the estranged Dulos couple..

I finished the book with the feeling that nefarious and evil things were done - to Jennifer and to the Dulos children, especially - but that maybe some of it could have been avoided or at least not so aggressively provoked. Hate and fear make people do unthinkable and irreversible things and, without laying out specifics, I do believe that the perpetrators were especially narcissistic and had little to no compassion toward the Dulos children or their mother. I believe that they had deluded themselves into believing they were victims who were "owed" something and that became a blinding motivator for everything that followed.

I'm not a regular pursuer of true crime books but do have a background in criminology and sociology (and writing). Like most people I know, these cinematic, larger-than-life cases are so sensationally reported it is easy to get pulled into the story (aka 20/20 and Dateline). That said, this was NOT, in my opinion, a true crime book. It was clear from the beginning that Rich Cohen felt a personal connection to the people, places, and events which took place. I believe he did an excellent and thorough job in relating the tragedy of this lost mother and the legacy it will leave on all who knew and loved her (especially her children). I think it also serves as an excellent warning to those who travel down these bitter and acrimonious roads (esp with children involved). It's important, at various times, to stop and ask yourself what you are doing and - "Is it worth it?"

I strongly recommend the audiobook!!

I was so disappointed in this book. It sounded like such an interesting story that I had actually never heard about. Reading it, it included so many big names being connected to Jennifer that I would have thought this would have been a much bigger story. When I read the descrption it was an unputdownable edge of your seat story of her disappearance. Except the only part of this book that covered her murder and what happened was the last part of the book. The entire book was just back story on her and her husband and their life and divorce. Yes, it does give back story of what could have lead up to it but I didn't want to read a story about their lives. It was supposed to be about her disappearance, murder, and the after effects. Once it got to that it did interest me and how things played out but I almost DNF the book many times before that because it was just a life story about her.

Listened to the audio thanks to @netgalley and @macmillan.audio #partner

A great listen. Learned a few things I hadn’t known about this case. I’ve seen all the documentaries but didn’t remember the husband’s friend’s wife who Fotis had taken out to lunch/dinner and who he tried to get to go home with him. How creepy. Sounds like there would have been another victim had this other girl not listened to her instincts. It also throws a wrench into the potential planning of this murder and another person who could have stopped it - though that dude is a loser and wanted his own ex wife killed, I’m sure.

This broaches the issue of why so many men think it’s okay to kill women. The statistics are shocking, sad, and all around just horrible. Fotis was a spiteful man and his violence towards Jennifer was only escalating. More should have been done previous to her being killed. While her body has yet to be found we all know she is dead.

We need better resources for women in situations like the one Jennifer was in. More funding to programs like Women Care - who rebranded and are now called something else but I know them as Women Care. Restraining orders don’t save lives and are essentially useless in my eyes.

This was a comprehensive book that covers the early years of Jennifer’s life up until her disappearance. My heart breaks for her children. Jennifer had such a sad life towards the end. I wish she would have gotten to find her peace and happiness after her divorce.

Recommend.

This was interesting but not fascinating. More of a straightforward reportage of events than a book with an opinion on those events, it tells the story of Jennifer Dulos, who was in the midst of an acrimonious divorce and custody battle when she was killed by her husband. I was not familiar with the case before listening to the book; this may be of more interest to people who followed the news at the time and want more info on the backgrounds of the major players.

I listened to the audiobook but wasn't super impressed with the narration. I'd say if you're interested, either audio or print would be fine. I don't think the audio adds much (if anything) to the experience.

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the audiobook.

*no rating because of how sensitive it is.
Dark, chilling, and utterly gripping.
The narrator did an excellent job telling the story.
Murder in the Dollhouse dives deep into the haunting true crime case of Jennifer Dulos. It paints a vivid picture of the world she lived in…privileged, controlled and a polished life that holds darkness. You get a good look into her life leading up to her murder/disappearance.
It’s the kind of story that lingers.

I remember every second of following the horrific trial of the murder of Jennifer Dulos. This audiobook covers the unfolding of the case in great, heart-breaking detail. How did this divorce turn deadly so quickly? Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for a copy of this book for an honest review.

Unfortunately this one was just not for me. I was expecting more of an exciting true crime story but this did not keep me engaged. There was a lot of backstory without getting to the crime. There were also a lot of people introduced briefly and it was hard to keep track of them. I love true crime but this one just seemed like a lot of facts written down and not much reflection of the events. I did listen to the audiobook and perhaps reading would have been more engaging because the narrator held a monotone voice the entire time. If you are interested in her life and the events leading up to her death I would recommend this book however if you are looking for a true crime story then I would skip this one.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ARC/ALC in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 stars. This book was a slow start but once it got past Jennifer's younger years and into her marriage and divorce from Fotis Dulos it really held my interest. The contentious divorce in this book reminded me of reading "My Husband is Trying to Kill Me" by Jim Schutze, although this ends much more tragically.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

While the narrator has a really great voice, I felt that it distracted from the story. There is so much extra stuff leading up to the story itself that I had to remind myself what it was about. With the voice and the extra fluff, I found myself spacing out and realizing I missed moments.

I think a woman's voice would have been better suited to tell this woman's story.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rich Cohen, Edoardo Ballerini and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to read Murder in the Dollhouse. I have written this review voluntarily.