The Dollmaker by Morgan Shamy

Recently I received an ARC for this book, The Dollmaker by Morgan Shamy and I will admit that I was pleasantly surprised.

Set in the 1920s it follows a young woman, a former debutant, who is actively trying to become a doctor. She studies on her own and assists the town doctor, but so many things are considered unseemly for women to deal with. Her parents are scheming to marry her off for money so that they can rejoin society, yet her “unwomanly ways” and lack of wealth makes her undesirable.

Rumors hit the town of a serial killer that targets ballerinas and poses the victims sewn together as dolls displayed in public. It all seemed abstract until her best friend, a top ballerina, was kidnapped in front of her. Now she must race the clock to find her friend and stop the murderer.

For a YA novel, this book is different- in a good way. The characters are well rounded and the mystery was very well written. Searching for a serial killer normally is a very dark plot, but Shamy has made it both uncomfortable and enjoyable. The only issue I had was with the ending as it harkens back to the way things were wrapped up in books written in the time period the book is set in. Other than that it is a very enjoyable book. It reminds me of early Agatha Christie novels and the Mary Russell series.

The book will be out by March 2023.