Caroline is a professional doll collector and is known to run off at a moment’s notice chasing a rare doll. Nina is not so sure Caroline is hot on the trail of a new acquisition. A homeless woman, who once had one of the best known doll collections, has died. The police suspect murder and they suspect Caroline, a suspicion that grows stronger the longer she is on the lam. Gretchen takes the next flight to Phoenix where she finds the police have a pretty good circumstantial case, though she knows her mother wouldn’t kill, even for a chance at what would be the centerpiece to her doll collection.

Gretchen and Nina begin to investigate the local doll collectors at the same time they try to locate Caroline without tipping off the police. Gretchen is on the right trail and even though she doesn’t realize it, the killer does.

Dolled Up for Murder is the first of what is sure to be an entertaining series. The story is told from two points of view: Gretchen’s and Nina’s Phoenix investigation and Caroline’s as she tracks a killer across the country by way of online doll auctions. At first it is not clear what Caroline is running from - or to - adding an additional layer to the mystery. Gretchen develops nicely over the course of the book and makes some good decisions for herself and her future. Nina is an eccentric foil for Gretchen’s common sense.

As the plot unfolds, Caroline’s story begins to fit in with Gretchen’s investigation, creating a clearer picture and pointing toward both murderer and motive. Dolled Up for Murder is a fun book with a lot of doll lore and a smart mystery is sure to entertain.

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry