Mary Burton is an author that I've been curious to try
out, but I've also been a bit cautious since romantic
suspense is a genre that I've had some problem with,
often it's too much romance and too little suspense for
my taste and with flat characters. So, THE DOLLMAKER is
my introduction to Mary Burton's world and I'm glad to
say that it worked fine.
Dr. Tessa McGowen has just arrived back home after being
away a year in Vietnam working to identify remains of
American soldiers. She left behind her husband, Dakota
Sharp, who is suspecting that she now will file for
divorce. She left him because of his tendency to be a
workaholic. And, in her new job as a forensic pathologist
she will have to work with him since he works with the
Virginia State Police. Then, a body of a woman with
altered face to resemble a doll is found and soon it's
clear that the Dollmaker is not finished with just
altering one woman into a doll, he is after other women
and could Tessa be in danger?
THE DOLLMAKER is the second book in The
Forgotten
Files series, but you can read this
one without having read the previous book. I know because
I haven't read A href="http://freshfiction.com/book.php?
id=82417">THE SHARK. However, I do want to
read it
now after finishing THE DOLLMAKER. I do have some issues with
this book, mainly it's very predictable, the whole case,
the identity of the first woman, how the Dollmaker
chooses them and the identity of the Dollmaker. I had an
inkling of whom it would be quite early one and it turned
out I was right. However, the book also had well-
developed characters. Tessa and Dakota's struggle with
their marriage and working relationship felt real. He
worked too much and his loss of a sister twelve years ago
still hurts him. I love the fact that in this book Tessa is
the one more interested in giving their
marriage
another chance. Often, I feel when I read romantic
suspense is that the man is the one pursuing the
woman, here the situation is definitely not so.
So, THE DOLLMAKER may lack many twists and
turns, but it has genuine characters and for me is a
real treat since I have read so many romantic suspense
books with flat characters. I would have loved some
additional complex spins
to the story, but still, I found the book to be
enjoyable and recommend it. Now, I've got to go read THE SHARK
Dr. Tessa McGowan had never seen anything quite like it. But
the mutilated bodies on her exam table tell a stunningly
macabre tale: someone with a twisted mind is kidnapping
women and altering their faces to resemble real, life-size
dolls. As a forensic pathologist, it’s her job to aid the
agent leading the case—even if that agent is her estranged
husband.
Twelve years ago an unspeakable tragedy destroyed Dakota
Sharp’s world. Haunted by the ghosts of his past, he’s
devoted himself to capturing killers. His only regret is
that it cost him Tessa. Now, as the Dollmaker case brings
them together—and raises his suspicions that he’s crossed
paths with this deranged psychopath before—they may just
have their second chance. But it seems Dakota’s not the only
one who wants to make Tessa his own…
She may be the Dollmaker’s next target, but Tessa has no
intention of winding up as another toy on his shelf. Can she
and Dakota stop this ghastly killer before his next deadly
playdate?