Book Review: The Doctor Makes a Dollhouse Call

Reviewed By: Harriet Klausner

[4 stars]

The Doctor Makes a Dollhouse Call Amazon US PB Amazon US HC Amazon Canada PB Amazon Canada HC
Robin Hathaway
Class/Genre: Mystery Cozy Amateur Sleuth Senior Sleuths
Series: Doctor Fenimore # 2
St. Martin’s, Jan 2000, $23.95, 288 pp.

Just before the Revolutionary War, the Pancoast family founded Seacrest, a resort town near Philadelphia. Over two centuries later, the townsfolk still hold the Pancoast family in high esteem. Especially loved is the senior citizen Pancoast sisters Judith and Emily. The duo owns an incredible dollhouse that is identical to every nook and cranny in their mansion. Additionally, family members have a miniature that is an exact replica of them.

This year, the siblings are preparing the Thanksgiving dinner when they notice the doll of their niece Pamela lying face down in her plate. They think mice must have knocked the doll over. However, Pamela is found dead. The two sisters ask their friend Dr. Andrew Fenimore to look into the death. Besides being a physician, Andrew has experience as an amateur sleuth. He learns that someone poisoned Pamela. Soon two more family members die with their replicas giving a foreshadowing of their death. As months go by and more killings follow, it soon appears that only the murderer will remain as the sole living family member; that is if the killer is even a Pancoast.

Anyone who has read Agatha Christie’s AND THEN THERE WERE NONE or seen one of the movies of that novel will realize that Robin Hathaway has put her own spin to the tale. The concept works as it maintains a freshness that will fascinate the audience until the novel is finished. The first class story line stars two adorable elderly ladies and an amateur detective. Though the murder count is high, violence is nil and kept off-stage. Thus, in spite the constant killings, Ms. Hathaway has written a wonderful Americanization of a Ms. Christie-like cozy.

Harriet Klausner

Reprinted with permission. Do Not repost without permission from the author, Harriet Klausner