This book was an amazing read. It was very much a Jack the Ripper retelling and I am all about it. This is one of Morgan Shamy's greatest novels. I have read it twice and listened to it once because it is that good.

4 solid starts. After reading so many smutty romances Im glad i was able to dive into The Dollmaker.
It was a really good book. Loved the narrator she did an amazing job. Story line was great... I was sitting and guessing who the dollmaker was... Dawn was a strong FMC, but I at some parts she was tad annoying. Loved Sebastian character I wish there was more written about him. Gideon annoyed me... rich guy with no respect for lower class.
this book gave off gothic vibes. The 1920 era was not best place for women and it was showed in the book, how little say they had. Glad times changed.
Thank you for letting me listen to it.

This was a gothic thriller. There is a tiny bit of romance in it, but it is not the driving force of the story. In fact, the love of the main character, Dawn, for her friend Rose and for her career as a Doctor are the main focus of the story.
I was engrossed by the story from the get go.

It kept my interest for the most part while I listened to it. I definitely was not expecting the Doll maker to be who it was, which was a great twist. Especially thinking back there were subtle clues thrown in that were easily missed. Which isn't hard to see why since even Dawn wasn't expecting it to be that person.

Loved this! Set during the 1920's a healer must figure out who is kidnapping women and butchering them.

I was given this audiobook for free by NetGalley and CamCat Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
I read the audiobook of The Dollmaker written by Morgan Shamy in 2 days during the school week. That should tell you how much I like it. I was hooked on the story super fast. I was easily into the pacing of the book, how the story was unfolding seemed a little fast but it was enough to keep me engaged.
I loved how the characters acted toward each other and I could think these were real interactions between people in the time setting to book takes place, in the 1920s. The main character, Dawn, was likable and knew what she wants, so that makes her a great main character in my opinion.
If you don't like a sort of allusion to a love triangle maybe this isn't the book for you cause there is an allusion to it with two other secondary characters. Personally, I adore love triangle so I was happy to see it, even though it's barely said.
The narrator spoke a little slow for my liking so I bumped the speed a little, but besides that she was great. English is not my main language, but with how she pronounced the words I understood everything that was happening clearly.
However, I don't think this book should be categorized as a horror book. Yes, there was some tense moment but it's more historical thriller-esque than a true horror book.

thank you CamCat Publishing and NetGalley for this opportunity!
I will be posting a story review on the 25/01 on my instagram about my review of The Dollmaker. thsi story will stay in my reviews Highlight on my instagram page

I had no idea what to expect when I went into this book and I enjoyed it quite a bit! It was like Stalking Jack the Ripper meets a book I know I've read but can't remember! 😂🙈 But it had an unexpected forced marriage, historical romance that I was so excited about. I really enjoyed the mystery element and that we did get some romance.

I only wish that the romance had been developed more. I wanted more of their relationship. More moments of them together but I did really enjoy what we got I just felt like it could have been deeper! But the overall, storyline was great and kept me guessing! I'm so excited I didn't predict who the killer was! The audio format was excellent and I definitely recommend checking it out if you want a unique mystery with a forced marriage! I was really rooting for our main character because the poor girl is treated not great by her loved ones. So I was happy she found a nice guy. I just want more of them!!!!!

Utter perfection! This was poignant and mysterious and beautifully written. If Perfume: The Story of a Murderer had a baby with Anatomy: A Love Story, The Dollmaker would be it! I was hung on every word and the ending threw me completely! It's a must read!

As if dolls like Annabelle aren’t creepy enough, imagine dolls made out of the body parts of various women stitched together?

This book is about a 1920s serial killer who does just that with the bodies of their victims.

Honestly one of the best horror books. Hands down.

Now I want to start with saying that I wouldn't really put this in the Horror category. There are two very short instances that could be considered a little tense but even that is pushing it. There is really nothing scary about this book. It's no different than any other mystery really. You might be able to push for Mystery/Thriller but it would be a stretch. Like Stalking Jack the Ripper was more horror than this and it isn't even marketed as horror.

Due to this genre issue I'm kinda disappointed. When I see Horror I want hairs to raise on the back of my neck, I want to feel creeped out & on edge. I got none of that here. While I do love a good mystery, with the marketing for this one, it was a bit of a expectations vs reality situation.

While we are on a bit of a negative already, let's continue in that realm. Can we talk about the love interest admitting to stalking her and knowing a lot about her to the point he fell in love with her and she's like that's cool... Sorry what? I won't say more as I don't want to spoil anything for potential readers but that situation just rubbed me the wrong way. In fact both of the male major characters kinda gave me the ick. Actually, add Rose's betrothed, the ballet teacher, the brother's creepy uncle, the cop & Dawn's father to the mix and make it all 7 that give me the ick. The only decent male in the place was the Dr.

Okay this next paragraph is kinda spoilery but I'm feeling petty....

We have Mr. goes to a brothel every night but I love her so much, Mr. stalks her and then saves her from an arranged marriage by making her only other choice to marry him, Mr. obsessed with a chick he was one of multiple suitors of and loses his mind when she dies, Mr. my son got sick as a child and blames his daughter who wasn't even at fault, gets into a heap of debt and then is happy to marry her off to a creepy old man to save said debt, Mr. creepy old man that will tell her to 'warm his bed' or he will ruin her reputation, Mr. straight up incompetent at his job and is happy drugging people instead of actually solving a crime & Mr. abuses his power as a teacher and a man and sexually assaults younger women.

Yep we have some top blokes in this book.

As for the other characters. Dawn was kinda annoying but the strong female MC side comes out occasionally. And all the other characters played so minimal of a part that I honest don't have any thoughts about them. They are just cardboard cutouts. Even Rose, who is a main part of the plot, all I know is that she loves ballet...

Now plot wise it definitely had potential. It was one of those mysteries where I did not see the reveal coming from a mile away. Yet the pacing was a bit off and I just wasn't invested as so many of the characters annoyed me. The idea of the Dollmaker killer who Jeepers Creepers style chops people up but instead of making a nice wall tapestry instead tries to Frankenstein them into a perfect doll...? That has POTENTIAL! But this author just didn't hit the mark.

ANOTHER issue I had was again this was marketed as a horror but it was also marketed as that murders were going to be the main plot point. Yet it really felt more like a book about Dawns life and there just happened to be a murder going on and her best friend gets taken.

The more I'm writing this review the more I'm realising I can't think of anything actually positive besides 'it wasn't horrible'...

Wait actually I found a positive. I did really enjoy the audiobook itself. The narration was really good and kept me engaged the entire time. I'll definitely keep an eye out for other books narrated by Kate Rudd.

Overall this was a book that I flew through on audiobook but I just didn't care for. If it wasn't for the audiobook I likely would have DNFd early on as I just couldn't connect or care for the characters as so many of them were either toxic or bland and I was also just disappointed by the marketing vs what the story actually was. It definitely didn't hit the nail on the head for me unfortunately.

When Dawn's close friend Rose is kidnapped by a serial killer, Dawn is determined to break social norms to find and save her friend before it's too late. Little does she know that this case will bring them closer together than she could ever have expected.

The Dollmaker is a wonderful time capsule into a world past, where we get to see a strong woman fight for what she wants in life. I liked Dawn, and her stubborn attitude. She's loyal to those she trusts, and distrustful of everyone else around her. The ballerinas were also very badass.

Her romantic relationship felt unbelievable to me, and several of the surprises didn't feel surprising. I did love the twist as to who the killer was and it totally got me! Overall this is a good book, and I'm excited to read more by Morgan Shamy.

Set in the 1920s, our protagonist, Dawn, defies societal norms for women, aspiring to be a healer/doctor rather than conforming to marriage and motherhood. As she becomes entangled in a murder mystery, racing against time, the characters come to life, leaving readers eager for a potential series continuation. The story explores Dawn's struggles in a society where women are viewed as property, adding a dark and suspenseful layer to the narrative. The gripping tale unfolds with unexpected twists, keeping readers on the edge of their seats and emotionally invested in Dawn's journey. If you enjoy dark suspenseful reads, this book is sure to leave you captivated and shocked by its conclusion. Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to listen to this audio book.

This book is good. I think the author explains everything perfectly. I understand that during this time families betroth their daughters to men but I do not like how her parents talked to her. I was happy though that she stands up for herself somewhat throughout the book.

I am going to start my review by saying, that I picked this up as it was classed as a horror, it sounded like a horror and the cover gave it the same feel, it’s not a horror. I guess the grotesque display of the bodies could be deemed horror but we don’t really ‘see’ this creation. This is more a historical thriller than a horror. Now that’s out of the way…

I did enjoy this book. It gave me the feel of a Kerri Maniscalco book and her duo Audrey Rose Wadsworth and Thomas Cresswell, but different. I did like Dawn a lot, but man why did she have to get involved!! She should have just stayed at home, SAFE! However, I guess if you saw your best friend being taken then I would be involved too.

I seriously did not have any clue as to who was the “mastermind” or the ‘Dollmaker’ and it was a shock to see who it was! Although, I only can’t quite figure out how they fit the description. Still, that was such a shock and a clever reveal – so well played Morgan, well played! So many times I thought I had caught the killer, but I must try harder.

The story itself is not the key feature, yes there is a serial killer on the loose, and occasionally women are being killed, but the main focus of this book is Dawn. Dawn and her life, her horrid parents, trying to find her place in the world as she is very much in a male-dominated world. Looked at as a witch, when she just wants to help. Sebastian and Gideon were great supporting characters, each with their woes and strengths.

The era and the setting were a huge part of the book and I enjoyed it so much more because of it. It helps aid Dawn’s plight and watch her character grow.

This is definitely a book with a different feel to it, and one I liked. I did struggle at the beginning to get into it and occasionally I got lost in the audiobook to some of the characters but overall it was a fun way to spend 8 hours!

After listening to this audiobook just shrugged. I found some of the vocabulary to be out of time period and towards the end it felt like The Phantom of the Opera with the estranged brother who lived underground pining after a girl. The mystery aspect was ok, nothing super spectacular as far as other novels. I guess I would have likes more about the main character being a Dr, or Healer as she kept referring to herself as. Overall this was just Meh for me.

Historical fiction is my favorite genre but I usually don't read horror. I was drawn to this book because of the title/cover though, and I think it's worth a listen!

This is set in the 1920's, when women had significantly less rights (if any, although sadly, it does feel like we're currently going backwards as far as progress). The story follows Dawn, who's determined to break through societal expectations + become a doctor, but is sidetracked when her best friend is kidnapped by a serial killer who murders young women + sews them back up into "dolls."

I ended up suspecting almost everyone in the book other than the actual culprit, so nicely done! I liked the mystery and the narrator does a great job distinguishing between the different characters. No spoilers, but there are aspects of romance in this as well. (If you're looking for straight up horror, you won't get that until halfway into the book.)

Overall, it was an enjoyable read, although I did get somehwat irked by the number of times I heard "chest heaving." 3.5 stars rounded up to 4!

Thank you to NetGalley + the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for a review.

I was drawn to this audiobook because of the total and cover. I knew it would be a good read and I had to request it. This one I did read the synopsis and that sealed the deal.

I really liked our main character because she was a strong and independent woman and she made sure her family and other knew about it and she didn’t really give a crap. Dawn’s fall from grace due to her father’s gambling habit didn’t stop her from continuing with her dream to become a doctor. I also really liked the Dawn would do anything for her friend including putting herself in danger. I also enjoyed the audiobook, I like the narrators voice and the voices she made for different characters.

The villain in the book, the Dollmaker is terrifying. All the young woman have to be very careful as to not be kidnapped and end up cut up and put back together. We follow Dawn as she tries to find out who the murderer is after they kidnap her best friend Rose right in front of her eyes. We get to see the thought process behind Dawn and Gideon’s suspicions of “who dun it”. When the secret is finally revealed I would have never guessed that. The murderer wasn’t even on my radar.

I would recommend this novel to other mystery thriller lovers.

I was approved to listen to this audiobook through Netgalley. The Dollmaker is a historical fiction and a horror. It is set in 1920s America and there is a heavy underlying message about the extreme lack of rights that women had in that time period and some of the struggles that women face to this day.
There is a serial killer who is attacking young women, and doing horrible and gruesome things with them postmortem. The story centres around Dawn, whose family have been disgraced from high society, still struggling to put on airs and graces for the town at large yet Dawn, a promising doctor, struggles with being taken seriously about anything that is important to her; her intelligence, her career all while dealing with her mother forcing marriage upon her. It is during this saga that someone close to her is taken, believed to be by the Dollmaker and she makes an unlikely ally where together they try to find out who this crazed Dollmaker is.
It is tense, there is great pacing in the story. The horror elements up until the halfway mark in the story have been minimal, the story focusing more on Dawn and the elements of her day to day life rather than the murders themselves.
There are a few parts of the story that absolutely had me angry at the suffering and day to day expectations of what these women went through, knowing that things have improved for us now in 2024, however, a lot of these same fears are all too familiar.
The ending did shock me. I actually did not see that coming. The whole way through Dawn debates between a few suspects and they are all good choices, I would have been happy with any of them being the culprit because it is believable and yet, that final reveal was not what I was expecting! The ending was even better than I could have imagined, I really wasn’t sure how this one was going to go, I didn’t see how there could possibly be a positive outcome however, Morgan achieved that. I was happy with the ending. I liked that a lot.

"The Dollmaker" by Morgan Shamy, narrated by Kate Rudd, takes readers on a journey into the dark and chilling world of a serial killer in the 1920s. While the premise promises a gripping tale of suspense, my overall experience with this audiobook left me with mixed feelings.

I almost did not finish this, the initial chapters struggled to engage me, and I found it challenging to connect with the story. The pacing seemed sluggish, making it a bit of a struggle to continue. Surprisingly, the narrative only truly captivated me around the 60% mark. It was at this point that the plot took a turn, revealing new layers of mystery and intrigue that finally hooked my interest.

The setting in the 1920s, where societal norms limited women's opportunities, added a compelling layer to the story. Dawn's pursuit of a career in medicine despite societal expectations provided a touching backdrop. Dawn's determination to break societal barriers and pursue a career in medicine was a highlight. Her self-assurance and motivation in the face of adversity added a strong and empowering element to the story. The portrayal of Dawn's parents as unsupportive and harsh contributed to the complexity of her character. This added a layer of depth to Dawn's struggles and motivations.

The narrative's strength lies in its ability to keep readers guessing. My thoughts oscillated between various characters, adding an element of suspense and unpredictability to the story.

Narration:
The narration by Kate Rudd was adequate. While it didn't particularly stand out, it served the story well. Rudd's performance maintained a consistent tone and pace, complementing the unfolding mystery without distracting from the plot. While not exceptional, the narration contributed to the overall experience without detracting from the story's merits.

In conclusion, "The Dollmaker" offers a slow burn of mystery with a backdrop of societal challenges, earning it 3 stars. While it took time for the story to grip me, the intricate plot and the resilient character of Dawn, coupled with the serviceable narration, ultimately made the journey worthwhile. If you have the patience to endure a gradual buildup, the audiobook might reward you with a satisfying resolution to its enigmatic tale.

Thank you NetGalley and CamCat for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book! A historical thriller with a female lead - who went against societal norms. Perfection! I thought I had the killer all figured out but not was I wrong!

A must read/listen in my opinion. The narrator was perfect for this book as well. She really captivated you.