Nella Oortman isn't sure what to expect in Amsterdam. Her marriage to Johannes Brandt, a wealthy merchant trader, was negotiated out of necessity after her father's death left her family in dire financial straits. However, her marriage is not what she expected. Her husband is often absent, leaving Nella alone in the home with his sister, Marin, a maid named Cornelia, and his manservant, Otto. Johannes gifts Nella with a cabinet replicating their home in miniature fashion. What secrets will emerge as Nella hires a mysterious miniaturist to help her complete her cabinet?

Jessie Burton does a marvelous job at developing the characters in THE MINIATURIST. While the story is told from the perspective of Nella, each of the other characters has an incredible amount of depth and complexity to their character. My only wish is that we could have seen more of the crafter known primarily as THE MINIATURIST, as I wanted more than the glimpses we get of her character and motivation. The hints are quite tantalizing but left me with more questions than answers.

THE MINIATURIST is a remarkable story that strikes at the heart of the society of Amsterdam in the late 1600s. We see the sharp and somewhat startling contrast between the luxuries of the affluent and the overly zealous religious leaders. I love the rich attention to detail in THE MINIATURIST, as even the subtle details add additional layers of depth. THE MINIATURIST is brilliantly executed with surprising, even startling turns but it is the sort of read that is to be savored rather than rushed through.