Author: Katie Tietjen
Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery & Suspense
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Book Release Date: 2024
Pages: 282
Source: Netgalley/Publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: Inspired by the real-life mother of forensic science, Frances Glessner Lee, and featuring a whip-smart, intrepid sleuth in post-WWII Vermont, this debut historical mystery will appeal to fans of Victoria Thompson and Rhys Bowen.
Maple Bishop is ready to put WWII and the grief of losing her husband, Bill, behind her. But when she discovers that Bill left her penniless, Maple realizes she could lose her Vermont home next and sets out to make money the only way she knows how: by selling her intricately crafted dollhouses. Business is off to a good start—until Maple discovers her first customer dead, his body hanging precariously in his own barn.
Something about the supposed suicide rubs Maple the wrong way, but local authorities brush off her concerns. Determined to help them see “what’s big in what’s small,” Maple turns to what she knows best, painstakingly recreating the gruesome scene in miniature: death in a nutshell.
With the help of a rookie officer named Kenny, Maple uses her macabre miniature to dig into the dark undercurrents of her sleepy town, where everyone seems to have a secret—and a grudge. But when her nosy neighbor goes missing and she herself becomes a suspect, it’ll be up to Maple to find the devil in the details—and put him behind bars.
Drawing inspiration from true crime and offering readers a smartly plotted puzzle of a mystery, Death in the Details is a stunning series debut.
My Review: Death in the Details is a post-WWII historical mystery set in Vermont. Maple is a widow, who is struggling to pay her mortgage. She decides that in order to make money, she must sell her dollhouses that she makes. When her first customer dies, it is ruled as an accidental death. However, Maple believes it is murder. Could Maple convince the sheriff to reinvestigate the case and find the murderer?
Maple is a very compelling character. She is a woman who has suffered a lot of trauma after losing both her brother and husband. She is also very educated. She graduated law school, but her gender prevents her from getting a job. She is also very observant and pays attention to small details. I like that Maple is very determined to get justice and to find the truth. She trusts her instincts and uses her intellect to prove the sheriff wrong. She is also treated as an outsider and tries to find acceptance in a small town. Therefore, Maple was a very engaging and likable character!
Overall, this book is about trauma, belonging, and justice. I liked all of the characters and found them to be very realistic. I also thought the mystery was very complex and was done very well. I thought the setting of rural Vermont was very refreshing. The only thing I did not like about this book was that the beginning was very slow. After it picked up pace, I found it to be a very engrossing and fun read! I look forward to reading the sequel! Death in the Details is perfect for fans of The Secret Detective Agency, A Traitor in Whitehall, and Miss Aldridge Regrets!
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
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