The Doctor Makes a Dollhouse Call

This is a fun and fast paced mystery much in the style and theme of Agatha Christie's Ten Little Indians. In fact, there is a lot to compare it to that familiar mystery. Still, it has suspense and puzzlement as one by one members of a family are killed off after discovering a similar fate has befallen tiny dolls in a family dollhouse. Dr. Fenimore and his compatriots are interesting and fun to get to know. The avid mystery reader may figure this out before the last chapters, but there is enough good misdirection to keep you guessing. This is a pleasant way to spend an afternoon or two.

I have developed a real fondness for Dr. Fenimore and Mrs. Doyle. I find Hathaway's books comfortable in that she does not over-burden the reader with superfluous characters or twists and turns. I become quite attached to these folks while reading of their dilema, family relationships, and the motivations behind the murder(s). I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to have a fun, quick, uncomplicated read.

Dr. Andrew Fennimore, an old-fashioned doctor who actually makes house calls, gets drawn into a mystery reminiscent of those written by Agatha Christie. Two sisters own a dollhouse, and before each murder, one of the dolls is murdered exactly as the victim is. Even when the sisters destroy the dollhouse, the murders continue. Although I enjoyed this book very much, it wasn't hard to figure out who the murderer was. Set up like Christie's "And Then There Were None," there was only one person who could logically be the murderer. Still, Robin Hathaway does an excellent job of setting up the main characters: the doctor, his assistants, and the two elderly sisters whose dollhouse becomes so sinister. I easily rooted for Andrew and worried for the sisters.

This is a wonderful story which uses a doll's house to give clues as to who will be murdered next. The characters are interesting and well developed. The book leaves you wanting to read the next adventure.

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 are the senior citizen Pancoast sisters Judith and Emily. The duo own 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