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A Dollhouse to Die For
Deadly Notions Mystery #2
Cate Price

Berkley Prime Crime
May 6, 2014/ ISBN 978-0-425-25880-4
Mystery/Cozy/Amateur Sleuth

Reviewed by Laura Hinds

 

In this sequel to Going Through The Notions, Daisy Buchanan finds herself with a sewing basket full of trouble. She’s bought a dollhouse to give to a dear young girl for her birthday, little knowing the trail of tragedy that would come with it.

First, a stubborn collector, Harriet Kunes, is adamant that she must have it and is willing to pay $1,000 for the house. After Daisy sticks to her guns, an unknown intruder tries to steal the dollhouse from Daisy’s shop, Sometimes a Great Notion, where she sells vintage sewing supplies and notions. To make matters worse, Harriet has died, electrocuted by one of her own dollhouses—and it’s murder! Someone fooled with the wires and jammed the circuit breaker, dooming Harriet the moment she plugged in the dollhouse transformer.

When Daisy’s new landlord, the nasty Chip Rosenthal, demands that she no longer rent month-to-month, but instead sign a lease that carries a triple times the rent increase, she sinks into despair over her beloved shop, and sets out with a realtor to find a new location. It seems like everything is going wrong, but at least Daisy has her health and her husband and her home, which is more than can be said for Harriet, and a possible previous murder victim, Harriet’s friend, Sophie Rosenthal…who just happens to be old Chip’s late aunt.

Daisy is as unconventional as her village in Millbury, Pennsylvania is quaint. The other characters are unique and lovable, and they grew on me fast. This was a fun read, and I enjoyed it immensely. The mysteries are good and solidly plotted. Although I had an inkling of the killer’s identity, I questioned myself about it often, as there were several other plausible possibilities. Anyone who enjoys a good cozy will find themselves right at home reading A Dollhouse to Die For, but be prepared, good things do come in small packages and you may find yourself fighting the urge to go out and buy a dollhouse of your own to decorate.

 
Reviewed 2014
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