What do you think?
Rate this book
Maple Bishop #1
Death in the Details
Inspired by the real life Frances Lee Glessner and featuring a whip-smart, intrepid sleuth in post-WWII Vermont.
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 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 see “what’s big in what’s small,” Maple turns to what she knows best, painstakingly recreating the gruesome scene in 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 one of her neighbors who she never got along withher nemesis 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 a Nutshell is a stunning series debut.
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 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 see “what’s big in what’s small,” Maple turns to what she knows best, painstakingly recreating the gruesome scene in 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 one of her neighbors who she never got along withher nemesis 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 a Nutshell is a stunning series debut.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 9, 2024
68 people are currently reading
4572 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 231 reviews
April 5, 2024
This story was inspired by a real-life person, Frances Glessner Lee, who made miniatures of crime scenes to aid in investigations. It is set in the aftermath of WW2 in Vermont.
Maple Bishop has been left a war widow with no money, no job and a mortgage. She has always enjoyed making dolls houses and has rooms full of them, so when the idea comes up to try and sell them from a friend's hardware store she jumps at it. She is just starting to be successful when she delivers a house to one of her customers and finds him hanged. When she feels the police are not doing an adequate investigation she starts her own which includes building a dolls house of the crime scene.
The book was very well written and gave an excellent picture of the hardships of life immediately after the war. A really good example of historical mystery. Highly recommended.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Maple Bishop has been left a war widow with no money, no job and a mortgage. She has always enjoyed making dolls houses and has rooms full of them, so when the idea comes up to try and sell them from a friend's hardware store she jumps at it. She is just starting to be successful when she delivers a house to one of her customers and finds him hanged. When she feels the police are not doing an adequate investigation she starts her own which includes building a dolls house of the crime scene.
The book was very well written and gave an excellent picture of the hardships of life immediately after the war. A really good example of historical mystery. Highly recommended.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
May 1, 2024
don’t laugh but I’m going to say this murder novel was “cute” and I know that doesn’t sound like it could be a thing but trust me, this was a cute murder book
June 30, 2024
Death In The Details is the first novel by American author, Katie Tietjen. It’s October 1946 and, eight weeks after losing the husband who volunteered as a doctor in France, Maple Bishop learns that, despite the Government life insurance cheque, she is virtually penniless. And she may be the first woman to graduate from the Boston City Law School, but in Elderberry, Vermont, no-one will employ her in that capacity. If she doesn’t make the soon-due mortgage payment, she’ll be homeless.
Her one solace is making her miniatures: fully fitted, furnished and populated dollhouses. She has quite a lot of them, but can’t resist making more. When she’s at Ben Crenshaw’s hardware store picking up bits and pieces for a new one, he makes a suggestion that might benefit them both: display her houses in his window, and set up a work table in the store so customers can watch them being made. Maple’s rejection of the gossipy sewing group led by Elderberry’s self-appointed social chair, Ginger Comstock, makes her an outsider just as Ben's mixed race does.
When delivering one of her finished works, Maple stumbles on a grisly scene: the much-disliked husband of Angela Wallace is hanging from a noose in his barn, quite dead. She goes into the deserted house to call the Sheriff, but back in the barn, takes in various odd details. Maple is shocked when the Sheriff deems it a suicide not requiring investigation, and her troubled mind won’t rest until she has rendered each detail her photographic memory recorded into a miniature death scene complete with victim.
Not only does the Sheriff dismiss her ideas, he throws her out of the station. But when officer-in-training, Kenny Quirk returns her “death scene in a nutshell” he wants her to join him in a covert investigation. Perhaps not the wisest move, but his intentions are pure, and Maple finds it difficult to resist…
Tietjen offers an original plot with several twists and turns to keep the reader guessing and the pages turning right up to the exciting climax. She renders her setting and era well, deftly illustrating some of the hardships faced by communities in the early post-war years.
Her protagonist is a gutsy, no-nonsense woman describe by one friend as hard to like. She admits to using vinegar when honey would work better in interpersonal relations, finds people exhausting, prefers her stray orange cat’s straightforwardness and emotional transparency.
The story is inspired by the real-life Frances Lee Glessner, who made crafted miniature crime scenes, and the Author’s Note makes interesting background reading. The blurb describes this as a series debut, and more of this cast is most definitely welcome. Excellent historical crime fiction.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books.
Her one solace is making her miniatures: fully fitted, furnished and populated dollhouses. She has quite a lot of them, but can’t resist making more. When she’s at Ben Crenshaw’s hardware store picking up bits and pieces for a new one, he makes a suggestion that might benefit them both: display her houses in his window, and set up a work table in the store so customers can watch them being made. Maple’s rejection of the gossipy sewing group led by Elderberry’s self-appointed social chair, Ginger Comstock, makes her an outsider just as Ben's mixed race does.
When delivering one of her finished works, Maple stumbles on a grisly scene: the much-disliked husband of Angela Wallace is hanging from a noose in his barn, quite dead. She goes into the deserted house to call the Sheriff, but back in the barn, takes in various odd details. Maple is shocked when the Sheriff deems it a suicide not requiring investigation, and her troubled mind won’t rest until she has rendered each detail her photographic memory recorded into a miniature death scene complete with victim.
Not only does the Sheriff dismiss her ideas, he throws her out of the station. But when officer-in-training, Kenny Quirk returns her “death scene in a nutshell” he wants her to join him in a covert investigation. Perhaps not the wisest move, but his intentions are pure, and Maple finds it difficult to resist…
Tietjen offers an original plot with several twists and turns to keep the reader guessing and the pages turning right up to the exciting climax. She renders her setting and era well, deftly illustrating some of the hardships faced by communities in the early post-war years.
Her protagonist is a gutsy, no-nonsense woman describe by one friend as hard to like. She admits to using vinegar when honey would work better in interpersonal relations, finds people exhausting, prefers her stray orange cat’s straightforwardness and emotional transparency.
The story is inspired by the real-life Frances Lee Glessner, who made crafted miniature crime scenes, and the Author’s Note makes interesting background reading. The blurb describes this as a series debut, and more of this cast is most definitely welcome. Excellent historical crime fiction.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books.
June 28, 2025
Always eager to try new authors and their books, I turned to this series debut by Katie Tietjen. With an ARC for the second novel, I thought it best to begin with this a debut for context and interest. Maple Bishop had had a rough go, after he husband died in the Second World War. She has turned to creating miniature dollhouses to pass the time. However, when she stumbles upon a man hanging on his property, she refuses to be rebuffed by the police. Maple turns to being an amateur sleuth to get answers, working whatever angles she can to provide answers for the man’s family. Tietjen presents this unique approach to crime thrillers and has me eager to read more!
Maple Bishop not only lost her husband, Bill, in the Second World War, but discovered that he almost left her destitute. So as not to lose her Vermont home, Maple turns to selling miniature dollhouses, something that had helped distract her from the emotional void. When her first customer buys something, Maple is excited and decides to hand deliver the final product.
Upon her arrival, Maple finds the customer hanging in his own barn. After reporting it, the police consider it a suicide and ask Maple to let them do their job. Maple is not so convinced and begins doing her own investigation. She uses her skills and recreates the scene in miniature, hoping to prove to someone that she might have stumbled upon a murder.
Convincing only a police rookie, Kenny, Maple seeks to use her amateur sleuthing to prove a point. It is not going well, especially when a neighbour with whom she has long had a clash turns up dead. Maple is a suspect, forcing her to show once more than nothing is quite as it seems and it is all in the details. Katie Tietjen impresses with this premise and is sure to make a splash in the genre.
I enjoy unique perspective to the crime thriller genre, something that Katie Tietjen does effectively. Her ideas and premise makes the narrative quite alluring. It builds with each passing chapter and keeps the reader in the middle of the action. As the story progresses, the various characters flavour things in ways that only adds depth to the story. I am eager to learn more about Maple Bishop in the future, as there is something about her. Plot points serve to provide suspense and surprises for the reader to enjoy. There is something for everyone and with a second novel, I am excited to keep learning lore about all Maple has to offer.
Kudos, Madam Tietjen, for a book whose excitement is anything but tiny!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
Maple Bishop not only lost her husband, Bill, in the Second World War, but discovered that he almost left her destitute. So as not to lose her Vermont home, Maple turns to selling miniature dollhouses, something that had helped distract her from the emotional void. When her first customer buys something, Maple is excited and decides to hand deliver the final product.
Upon her arrival, Maple finds the customer hanging in his own barn. After reporting it, the police consider it a suicide and ask Maple to let them do their job. Maple is not so convinced and begins doing her own investigation. She uses her skills and recreates the scene in miniature, hoping to prove to someone that she might have stumbled upon a murder.
Convincing only a police rookie, Kenny, Maple seeks to use her amateur sleuthing to prove a point. It is not going well, especially when a neighbour with whom she has long had a clash turns up dead. Maple is a suspect, forcing her to show once more than nothing is quite as it seems and it is all in the details. Katie Tietjen impresses with this premise and is sure to make a splash in the genre.
I enjoy unique perspective to the crime thriller genre, something that Katie Tietjen does effectively. Her ideas and premise makes the narrative quite alluring. It builds with each passing chapter and keeps the reader in the middle of the action. As the story progresses, the various characters flavour things in ways that only adds depth to the story. I am eager to learn more about Maple Bishop in the future, as there is something about her. Plot points serve to provide suspense and surprises for the reader to enjoy. There is something for everyone and with a second novel, I am excited to keep learning lore about all Maple has to offer.
Kudos, Madam Tietjen, for a book whose excitement is anything but tiny!
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
July 27, 2025
This story was inspired by Frances Glessner Lee, a real person who made miniatures of crime scenes to aid in investigations and was influential in developing the science of forensics in the United States. This cozy mystery is set in Vermont, in the aftermath of WW2.
"... finding what's big in what's small ..."
Maple Bishop's husband died in the war and when she realizes she's been left penniless she sets out to make some money selling her intricately carved dollhouses. Unfortunately, while delivering a completed dollhouse, she finds her first customer dead, his body hanging in his own barn. Sensing that things aren't as straightforward as they appear she recreates the scene "in a nutshell" and begins her own investigation into his death with the help of a young officer-in-training. I really enjoyed this well-written engaging story with likeable characters and a twist at the end. I'm looking forward to reading the second book in this series. I was approved to read an ARC of the second book in the series, "Murder in Miniature", publishing in September 2025, and borrowed this first book from the London Public Library.
(NOTE: One minor quibble. Early in the book the sheriff tells Maple not to get her "panty hose in a twist" but from what I've learned panty hose was invented in the 1950s and wasn't widely available until 1959. This story takes place in 1946.)
(NOTE2: There are photos of some of Frances Glessner Lee's creations on the internet, some of which are housed in the Smithsonian. Hopefully they'll survive the government's meddling.)
"... finding what's big in what's small ..."
Maple Bishop's husband died in the war and when she realizes she's been left penniless she sets out to make some money selling her intricately carved dollhouses. Unfortunately, while delivering a completed dollhouse, she finds her first customer dead, his body hanging in his own barn. Sensing that things aren't as straightforward as they appear she recreates the scene "in a nutshell" and begins her own investigation into his death with the help of a young officer-in-training. I really enjoyed this well-written engaging story with likeable characters and a twist at the end. I'm looking forward to reading the second book in this series. I was approved to read an ARC of the second book in the series, "Murder in Miniature", publishing in September 2025, and borrowed this first book from the London Public Library.
(NOTE: One minor quibble. Early in the book the sheriff tells Maple not to get her "panty hose in a twist" but from what I've learned panty hose was invented in the 1950s and wasn't widely available until 1959. This story takes place in 1946.)
(NOTE2: There are photos of some of Frances Glessner Lee's creations on the internet, some of which are housed in the Smithsonian. Hopefully they'll survive the government's meddling.)
September 14, 2024
3.75 stars
Nice light easy to read cozy-esque debut novel. The start of a series, based on a real person and their hobby of doll house making, which spawned into crime scene caricatures.
For a debut this was very good. Good character development and story plot. The protagonist is refreshing and comfortable in appeal, yet a bit of a spit fire when need be. There was more to the mystery than I expected and it was wrapped up well at the end, but leaving enough overlap to plant the possibility of more stories.
Nice light easy to read cozy-esque debut novel. The start of a series, based on a real person and their hobby of doll house making, which spawned into crime scene caricatures.
For a debut this was very good. Good character development and story plot. The protagonist is refreshing and comfortable in appeal, yet a bit of a spit fire when need be. There was more to the mystery than I expected and it was wrapped up well at the end, but leaving enough overlap to plant the possibility of more stories.
April 13, 2024
Great premise. The actual inspiration for Maple, Frances Glessner Lee is absolutely fascinating and her miniature works are still used to teach detectives today.
I might have enjoyed this more if it had been written as Frances’ story.
Unfortunately, I found it very dull and just couldn’t muster up much interest in the characters or mystery.
I might have enjoyed this more if it had been written as Frances’ story.
Unfortunately, I found it very dull and just couldn’t muster up much interest in the characters or mystery.
May 16, 2024
Great debut book! I'm excited for the next one!
December 23, 2024
Synopsis
After the loss of her physician husband in WWII, Maple Bishop does what she can to support herself at a time when no one would hire a woman as an attorney despite her legal education. When she finds the body of a local bully, her skills may be needed to solve the murder. She may even have some very unique talents to lend to the investigation.
My Overall Thoughts
It’s a very creative story inspired by a fascinating, real-life heroine that suffers from overdramatization and preachiness.
What I Didn't Love
The theme of sex discrimination is undeniably central to the story, but the frequent repetition dilutes its impact. This is a recurring issue I’ve noticed in contemporary fiction—where overemphasis can overshadow the message. A well-crafted narrative often conveys its point more effectively without veering into repetitive, activist-style preaching.
Potentially Offensive Content
Violence
Adultery
What I Loved
The story is inspired by a real historic figure, Frances Lee Glessner, whose miniature representations of crime scenes aided investigators. The author worked this into her tale masterfully, creating a very plausible origin story for Glessner’s (or in this case, Maple Bishop’s) miniature creations.
After the loss of her physician husband in WWII, Maple Bishop does what she can to support herself at a time when no one would hire a woman as an attorney despite her legal education. When she finds the body of a local bully, her skills may be needed to solve the murder. She may even have some very unique talents to lend to the investigation.
My Overall Thoughts
It’s a very creative story inspired by a fascinating, real-life heroine that suffers from overdramatization and preachiness.
What I Didn't Love
The theme of sex discrimination is undeniably central to the story, but the frequent repetition dilutes its impact. This is a recurring issue I’ve noticed in contemporary fiction—where overemphasis can overshadow the message. A well-crafted narrative often conveys its point more effectively without veering into repetitive, activist-style preaching.
Potentially Offensive Content
Violence
Adultery
What I Loved
The story is inspired by a real historic figure, Frances Lee Glessner, whose miniature representations of crime scenes aided investigators. The author worked this into her tale masterfully, creating a very plausible origin story for Glessner’s (or in this case, Maple Bishop’s) miniature creations.
March 26, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for a copy of the e-book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
My Thoughts
Characters
I liked the characters-Mapel Bishop is the main character. She’s a widow that finds out her husband’s death leaves her destitute. A lawyer by training, she can’t find a job in her field because she’s a woman (the year is 1946), living in a small town in Vermont. She’s determined to make it on her own, but the only thing she can do is build dollhouses and the miniatures to make them lifelike. Then she discovers a body hanging from the rafters. Tiny details bother her, and she can’t ignore them because Maple has a strong sense of right and wrong, and a strong desire to see justice done. She’s a strong female character with a history of defeating the odds. She also has a prickly side to her, and it constantly alienates those around her, except for Charlotte.
Charlotte is her best friend. She has her hands full with three boys, and running diner with her husband, but she’s always there for Maple. Ginger Comstock is a thorn in Maple’s side.
Mystery
Maple finds a body hanging in a barn when she goes to deliver a dollhouse. She disagrees with the coroner’s ruling of suicide because small details bother her. She’s determined to find the truth. Kenny, one of the deputies, becomes her ally to find out the truth. The mystery kept me guessing until the end.
Final Thoughts
I really enjoyed reading Death in the Details. The characters are lively and engaging.
Mapel Bishop, the main characters, grows and changes throughout the novel. Watching her grow from a widow with what seemed to be insurmountable obstacles to a self-confident business owner. I was also drawn in by Mapel’s hobby of building dollhouses and furnishing them with miniatures she constructs herself. I’ve always found dollhouses and miniatures interesting, and this book didn’t disappoint. There is also humor throughout the book, which is always a plus.
The mystery kept me guessing throughout the book. The historical details also drew me into the novel. Overall, this debut novel is well-written, with complex characters, dollhouses and miniatures, and a mystery that kept me guessing until the reveal. I ordered a physical copy, and if there are more in this series, I will be reading them.
5/5 stars.
My Thoughts
Characters
I liked the characters-Mapel Bishop is the main character. She’s a widow that finds out her husband’s death leaves her destitute. A lawyer by training, she can’t find a job in her field because she’s a woman (the year is 1946), living in a small town in Vermont. She’s determined to make it on her own, but the only thing she can do is build dollhouses and the miniatures to make them lifelike. Then she discovers a body hanging from the rafters. Tiny details bother her, and she can’t ignore them because Maple has a strong sense of right and wrong, and a strong desire to see justice done. She’s a strong female character with a history of defeating the odds. She also has a prickly side to her, and it constantly alienates those around her, except for Charlotte.
Charlotte is her best friend. She has her hands full with three boys, and running diner with her husband, but she’s always there for Maple. Ginger Comstock is a thorn in Maple’s side.
Mystery
Maple finds a body hanging in a barn when she goes to deliver a dollhouse. She disagrees with the coroner’s ruling of suicide because small details bother her. She’s determined to find the truth. Kenny, one of the deputies, becomes her ally to find out the truth. The mystery kept me guessing until the end.
Final Thoughts
I really enjoyed reading Death in the Details. The characters are lively and engaging.
Mapel Bishop, the main characters, grows and changes throughout the novel. Watching her grow from a widow with what seemed to be insurmountable obstacles to a self-confident business owner. I was also drawn in by Mapel’s hobby of building dollhouses and furnishing them with miniatures she constructs herself. I’ve always found dollhouses and miniatures interesting, and this book didn’t disappoint. There is also humor throughout the book, which is always a plus.
The mystery kept me guessing throughout the book. The historical details also drew me into the novel. Overall, this debut novel is well-written, with complex characters, dollhouses and miniatures, and a mystery that kept me guessing until the reveal. I ordered a physical copy, and if there are more in this series, I will be reading them.
5/5 stars.
August 8, 2025
3.5 stars
Death in the Details by Katie Tietjen is the first in the Maple Bishop mystery series.
First, I'm not a big fan of cozy mysteries, and this somewhat feels like the start of a cozy series. I'm also not a fan of historical mysteries, but since this one takes place at the end of WWII, it doesn't really feel that old -- well, not to me, anyway. I'm also not a fan of romance in my mysteries, but so far it doesn't look like it will be a big deal. We shall see, since I already have the second book. I really should pay more attention to the blurbs.
All that being said, I really like the characters. Maple, Kenny, and even the Sheriff, are all really interesting characters. I also love Maple's friend Charlotte, who, at the beginning was her ONLY friend. I like Maple's somewhat abrasive ability to generally antagonize everyone.
The book looks a bit at WWII and it's rationing efforts. As the main character is inspired by a real-life woman who basically built miniatures to teach forensic science, it was very interesting. The book also looked at the disadvantages women faced in that time. But it mainly looks at love, grief, and friendship.
For a debut novel, this was quite good. Overall, it was a very fast and entertaining read, so now I'm looking forward to reading the next book.
Anyway, until next time....
For a more thorough review of this book and others (including the reason I chose to read/review this book, my own synopsis of the book, its author information and a favorite quotation or two from this book), please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
June 1, 2024
I heard about this one on booktube, and it sounded fascinating, so i bought it right away. The booktuber spoke about Frances Glessner Lee and her 'nutshells' that were made to help train police and investigators to study crime scenes. One of those was of a man hanging in a barn. Which is the death our main character gets tangled up in. I loved Maple. She felt real, and her grief genuine. I enjoyed getting to know her and the other characters in this book and to watch their growth throughout. I have always wanted to find a cozy mystery series but if I'm honest they never hold my interest and come across as cheesy. But this felt different. I enjoyed her and Macks friendship, her and Kennys as weel, the talk about tea and weather felt cozy but there was an edge to the story as well which was just perfect for me. I really hope the author writes more about Maple. I will definitely collect them all!
November 30, 2023
2.25/5
I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher
Maple Bishop is not having a good time. Recently widowed after her husband died in combat during World War II, her situation only gets more complicated when she finds out she's penniless. Alone and in need of money she turns her hobby, making extremely detailed dollhouses, into a small business. But things take a turn when one of her first customers winds up dead and Mabel has the dubious honor of finding the body. While dismissed as an "accident" by the authorities, Mabel cannot stop thinking about it and decides to reconstruct the scene in one of her miniatures finding discrepancies that lead her to believe something else is going on and that a killer is out there.
The author was inspired by Frances Lee Glessner, a woman who was instrumental in the development of forensic science in the USA. She created these intricated dioramas of crime scenes that helped teach the importance of processing the scene and observation. I found that story to be more compelling than the plot of this book. Is this bad? No, not really. It was just too boring, lacking a certain spark of something. For a book about miniatures it was missing more descriptions of these little houses and their details. The set up was contrived, Mabel's presence in the story stood out because of how unnatural it felt, an outsider in her own plot. I don't think the crime itself was that interesting, or difficult to put together. The way the characters spoke and interacted felt too modern at times, it was jarring when the story referenced WWII. Speaking of which, it did all the time. Even when it made no sense to mention it.
Where do I think the strenght of this book lies? In its emotional component. I actually really liked Mabel, with all her quirks and issues. She felt like quite the survivor and her distress was palpable. When the book dug deeper into the sense of loss the protagonist, and most of the side characters, was experimenting I did get sucked in. If this had been a drama about mourning and reconnecting with other people and her community it would have been a hit with me. Just remove the murder mystery gimmick and focus on the emotional toll of war and death.
I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher
Maple Bishop is not having a good time. Recently widowed after her husband died in combat during World War II, her situation only gets more complicated when she finds out she's penniless. Alone and in need of money she turns her hobby, making extremely detailed dollhouses, into a small business. But things take a turn when one of her first customers winds up dead and Mabel has the dubious honor of finding the body. While dismissed as an "accident" by the authorities, Mabel cannot stop thinking about it and decides to reconstruct the scene in one of her miniatures finding discrepancies that lead her to believe something else is going on and that a killer is out there.
The author was inspired by Frances Lee Glessner, a woman who was instrumental in the development of forensic science in the USA. She created these intricated dioramas of crime scenes that helped teach the importance of processing the scene and observation. I found that story to be more compelling than the plot of this book. Is this bad? No, not really. It was just too boring, lacking a certain spark of something. For a book about miniatures it was missing more descriptions of these little houses and their details. The set up was contrived, Mabel's presence in the story stood out because of how unnatural it felt, an outsider in her own plot. I don't think the crime itself was that interesting, or difficult to put together. The way the characters spoke and interacted felt too modern at times, it was jarring when the story referenced WWII. Speaking of which, it did all the time. Even when it made no sense to mention it.
Where do I think the strenght of this book lies? In its emotional component. I actually really liked Mabel, with all her quirks and issues. She felt like quite the survivor and her distress was palpable. When the book dug deeper into the sense of loss the protagonist, and most of the side characters, was experimenting I did get sucked in. If this had been a drama about mourning and reconnecting with other people and her community it would have been a hit with me. Just remove the murder mystery gimmick and focus on the emotional toll of war and death.
October 4, 2023
What a ride! Maple is a war widow who finds herself in a desperate situation after her husband’s affairs are settled. A trained lawyer ahead of her time and therefore unable to find work, she starts selling dollhouses and then uses them to recreate a crime scene she stumbled upon. The dollhouse helps identify inconsistencies with the investigation of the death and Maple finds herself uncovering a more elaborate plot.
The dialogue seems a touch modern at points for 1946, but Maple’s grief and loneliness feels authentic and heartbreaking. I teared up several times as she thought about her brother and husband. The financial devastation of WW2 on families is another element that stuck me over and over.
The dialogue seems a touch modern at points for 1946, but Maple’s grief and loneliness feels authentic and heartbreaking. I teared up several times as she thought about her brother and husband. The financial devastation of WW2 on families is another element that stuck me over and over.
July 6, 2024
Left penniless after her physician husband dies in France during WWII, Maple Bishop knows she must find work fast. Though trained as a lawyer, the lawyers in the small Vermont town of Elderberry that she lives in refuses to hire her because they’re unable to see past her gender.
Maple decides that she’ll transform her hobby into a job, and begins selling her highly detailed and beautifully constructed dollhouses.
After a local farmer dies, and his suicide is ruled as an accident, Maple is unconvinced. Using her experience creating miniatures, she meticulously recreates the death scene. This recreation convinces a junior, young police officer to ask for Maple's help in looking more deeply into the life of the dead man.
This was such a fun read. The pacing is great, with plenty of information delivered about Maple's circumstances and the inhabitants of the town well without overwhelming the narrative.
Maple is likeable and is not skilled at creating or maintaining friendly relationships. Not only is she an outsider in Elderberry (because her family has not been resident for generations—I have had the same experience when I lived in a small town for some years), but because she did not kowtow to the local gossip and her cronies, found herself frozen out of even the possibility of many friendships. Also, Maple is abrupt in her manner, and not interested in making her intelligence palatable to anyone who thinks women should smile and be polite, and not voice definite opinions.
I liked how the author's fascination with the real-life Frances Lee Glessner and her nutshells, miniatures of crime scenes, inspired this story's protagonist. The other details the author includes, including the continued rationing even post-war, played such a big part of this entertaining story.
I dearly hope to read more of Maple's exploits in the future.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Crooked Lane Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.
Maple decides that she’ll transform her hobby into a job, and begins selling her highly detailed and beautifully constructed dollhouses.
After a local farmer dies, and his suicide is ruled as an accident, Maple is unconvinced. Using her experience creating miniatures, she meticulously recreates the death scene. This recreation convinces a junior, young police officer to ask for Maple's help in looking more deeply into the life of the dead man.
This was such a fun read. The pacing is great, with plenty of information delivered about Maple's circumstances and the inhabitants of the town well without overwhelming the narrative.
Maple is likeable and is not skilled at creating or maintaining friendly relationships. Not only is she an outsider in Elderberry (because her family has not been resident for generations—I have had the same experience when I lived in a small town for some years), but because she did not kowtow to the local gossip and her cronies, found herself frozen out of even the possibility of many friendships. Also, Maple is abrupt in her manner, and not interested in making her intelligence palatable to anyone who thinks women should smile and be polite, and not voice definite opinions.
I liked how the author's fascination with the real-life Frances Lee Glessner and her nutshells, miniatures of crime scenes, inspired this story's protagonist. The other details the author includes, including the continued rationing even post-war, played such a big part of this entertaining story.
I dearly hope to read more of Maple's exploits in the future.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Crooked Lane Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.
April 30, 2024
Death in the Details by Katie Tietjen
With a mother who loved dollhouses, had more than one of her own, and took me to see a famous one in Chicago AND a father who loved mysteries, suspense, and crime stories – How could I not read this book? Finding out this is based on a real person who made miniatures to solve murders and teach the skill to others is just an additional bonus. I am hoping this will be a series but haven’t found out yet if it will or not.
The setting is a small town in Vermont just after the end of WWII. Mable “Maple” Bishop finds out she has less to fall back on than she thought and will need to earn a living. Little does she know that her hobby of creating miniature dollhouses might lead to a very interesting future.
An argument overheard, a murder scene stumbled onto, and realizing she sees what others have not, she recreates the murder scene in a miniature “nutshell”. She then uses her mental skills, legal knowledge, her husband’s medical books and her belief in justice and finding the truth to the best advantage and uncovers more than she or anyone else thought she would.
This story reminded me of stories I had heard about the scrimping and saving, rationing, donating items needed for the war effort, victory gardens, loss, and other issues that were real when my parents were young. I felt a part of the story and loved meeting characters that I hope will show up in a future book. Will Maple and Ben continue to spend time together in his hardware shop? Will Charlotte have more children? Will Kenny grow into his own and perhaps take over the sheriff’s department from his uncle?
This had some darkness to it with the mention of verbal and physical abuse, black market smuggling, murder, fraud and other crimes but it also talked of purpose, joy, and moving forward in a positive manner even when times are not easy.
I am glad I read this book and would recommend it to those who enjoy historical fiction and cozy mysteries.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4-5 Stars
With a mother who loved dollhouses, had more than one of her own, and took me to see a famous one in Chicago AND a father who loved mysteries, suspense, and crime stories – How could I not read this book? Finding out this is based on a real person who made miniatures to solve murders and teach the skill to others is just an additional bonus. I am hoping this will be a series but haven’t found out yet if it will or not.
The setting is a small town in Vermont just after the end of WWII. Mable “Maple” Bishop finds out she has less to fall back on than she thought and will need to earn a living. Little does she know that her hobby of creating miniature dollhouses might lead to a very interesting future.
An argument overheard, a murder scene stumbled onto, and realizing she sees what others have not, she recreates the murder scene in a miniature “nutshell”. She then uses her mental skills, legal knowledge, her husband’s medical books and her belief in justice and finding the truth to the best advantage and uncovers more than she or anyone else thought she would.
This story reminded me of stories I had heard about the scrimping and saving, rationing, donating items needed for the war effort, victory gardens, loss, and other issues that were real when my parents were young. I felt a part of the story and loved meeting characters that I hope will show up in a future book. Will Maple and Ben continue to spend time together in his hardware shop? Will Charlotte have more children? Will Kenny grow into his own and perhaps take over the sheriff’s department from his uncle?
This had some darkness to it with the mention of verbal and physical abuse, black market smuggling, murder, fraud and other crimes but it also talked of purpose, joy, and moving forward in a positive manner even when times are not easy.
I am glad I read this book and would recommend it to those who enjoy historical fiction and cozy mysteries.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane for the ARC – This is my honest review.
4-5 Stars
May 7, 2024
So lovely. Cozy, layered, emotional, and clever.
May 5, 2024
Tierjen has laid the groundwork for a strong series (I hope it becomes one!) featuring an intelligent, strong woman whose storylines can go in multiple directions.
May 5, 2024
3.5 rounding up. This is an interesting spin on a murder mystery by having the main character create miniatures of crime scenes to investigate. The reality is though that the dollhouses don’t crack the mystery, it’s the author’s photographic memory that does the trick. So I was a little disappointed when the aha moment didn’t actually come from a dollhouse despite the title and premise. This also suffers from a very typical debut problem of a A LOT of telling and not enough showing. Oftentimes the characters would react to an event and then this would be followed up with multiple sentences explaining exactly which emotions they were feeling and why. It was overkill and felt amateurish.
Maple Bishop’s husband was the town doctor but he just died in WWII and she is left with a mortgage she can’t pay. Despite being educated as a lawyer, not firm wants to hire a woman so she turns to her hobby of making dollhouses to help her earn some income. When she discovers a dead body while delivering a dollhouse, she can’t help but want to investigate more. When the death is ruled an accident, she knows it’s not right because she can perfectly recall what anomalies from the scene. She recreates the murder scene as a dollhouse and joins forces with a new deputy to convince the sheriff that the death is more than what it seems.
Maple Bishop’s husband was the town doctor but he just died in WWII and she is left with a mortgage she can’t pay. Despite being educated as a lawyer, not firm wants to hire a woman so she turns to her hobby of making dollhouses to help her earn some income. When she discovers a dead body while delivering a dollhouse, she can’t help but want to investigate more. When the death is ruled an accident, she knows it’s not right because she can perfectly recall what anomalies from the scene. She recreates the murder scene as a dollhouse and joins forces with a new deputy to convince the sheriff that the death is more than what it seems.
March 11, 2024
Set in post war America, 1946, We meet Maple Bishop, who has been widowed. Her late husband, Bill, who was a physician, didn’t need to fight in the War, but went through a sense of duty, and she has realised that she is hard up. At the age of 31, she needs to pay the bills, find money for the mortgage or be thrown out of her home, and it galls her that despite been trained in Law, with a degree, she cannot find a job because she is a woman.
Life seems hopeless. An idea takes shape, her hobby is making dollhouses, intricate in details, materials, and accurate depictions of the occupants, perhaps she can make money by taking commissions from the local people. The local store owner, Ben Crenshaw, will let her sell the houses in his store, hopefully it will bring in more customers for them both.
One night, Maple is delivering an order to an isolated farm property, when she gets there, she notices that the barn door is open, investigates and finds the body of a man hanging from the hay hoist. The Sheriff thinks suicide, Maple believes it is murder, but the deceased was unpopular and there is a marked reluctance to open up an investigation into the death. Maple decides to make a dollhouse of the crime scene, so she can test her theories of murder before she presents her findings to the Police, but her endeavours uncover a web of lies, deception and corruption, that puts her own life and liberty at danger.
An absolutely fascinating read, loosely based upon the real life person of Frances Glessner Lee, who also used her skills of making replicas of murder scenes to teach and train officers at the National Police College in America, her models were so highly detailed and logical, as seen on line, the more you study them, the more questions are posed.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers, Crooked Lane Books for my advanced digital copy, freely given in exchange for my honest review.
A five star rating. I will leave reviews to Goodreads and Amazon UK upon publication.
Life seems hopeless. An idea takes shape, her hobby is making dollhouses, intricate in details, materials, and accurate depictions of the occupants, perhaps she can make money by taking commissions from the local people. The local store owner, Ben Crenshaw, will let her sell the houses in his store, hopefully it will bring in more customers for them both.
One night, Maple is delivering an order to an isolated farm property, when she gets there, she notices that the barn door is open, investigates and finds the body of a man hanging from the hay hoist. The Sheriff thinks suicide, Maple believes it is murder, but the deceased was unpopular and there is a marked reluctance to open up an investigation into the death. Maple decides to make a dollhouse of the crime scene, so she can test her theories of murder before she presents her findings to the Police, but her endeavours uncover a web of lies, deception and corruption, that puts her own life and liberty at danger.
An absolutely fascinating read, loosely based upon the real life person of Frances Glessner Lee, who also used her skills of making replicas of murder scenes to teach and train officers at the National Police College in America, her models were so highly detailed and logical, as seen on line, the more you study them, the more questions are posed.
My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers, Crooked Lane Books for my advanced digital copy, freely given in exchange for my honest review.
A five star rating. I will leave reviews to Goodreads and Amazon UK upon publication.
October 17, 2024
I was excited to read this book. The idea of the nutshell studies of unexplained death, created by Francis Glessner Lee was very interesting to me. Unfortunately I had a hard time with the narrator constantly overexplaining her thoughts. I’m sure these monologues are meant to show that she stands for justice and righteousness, but I found it overly preachy and sanctimonious. There’s just no reason to spend so much time telling us how wrong it is for a husband to beat his wife. I wish there was more time spent on developing characters and relationships and less on explaining why you would want to solve an unsolved murder.
June 1, 2024
For a book about details, the editor or fact checker did not follow through with their job. Maple is told to not get her pantyhose in a twist. The problem is the story is post-WWII circa 1947 and pantyhose were not invented until 1959. Women would have worn stockings with a garter belt at this time. Unfortunately I couldn’t get past this detail.
September 27, 2024
Based on the true story of Frances Glessner Lee, this mystery follows Maple who starts building dollhouses to support herself after her husband's death in WWII. When a man dies, she makes one of the crime scene, convinced he was murdered. The sheriff doesn't believe her, but Maple is not deterred and starts investigating.
This one started out slow, but I am so glad I stuck with it! I loved Maple and Kenny's tag team investigation, and thought the whodunit was surprising (in a good way). If you are finding it a little slow at the beginning, stick with it! It really picks up and once I was past ⅓ in, I had to know what happened next!
I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This one started out slow, but I am so glad I stuck with it! I loved Maple and Kenny's tag team investigation, and thought the whodunit was surprising (in a good way). If you are finding it a little slow at the beginning, stick with it! It really picks up and once I was past ⅓ in, I had to know what happened next!
I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 1, 2024
Death scenes and dollhouses!! Who knew the two could go together so nicely in a murder mystery. In this story, Maple uses her unique ability as a tool to help solve a local murder in her small Vermont town. Using her photographic memory and the miniature that she is able to create of the crime scene she witnessed, Maple is able to assist with the local investigation, provide justice, and wrap things up in a tidy “nutshell.”
I’m so happy to have had the chance to read the Advanced Reader’s Edition e-copy of “Death in the Details" by Katie Tietjen; thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books!
I’m so happy to have had the chance to read the Advanced Reader’s Edition e-copy of “Death in the Details" by Katie Tietjen; thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books!
April 21, 2024
Cute. And I was going to say “weird,” but I think unexpected is a better word. Based on a real woman who used miniature houses/dioramas to advance the science of crime scene investigation. What an odd, real story!
Does this fit under the heading of cozy? I liked it well enough and I’ve always thought that I wouldn’t enjoy a cozy mystery.
Does this fit under the heading of cozy? I liked it well enough and I’ve always thought that I wouldn’t enjoy a cozy mystery.
August 25, 2024
This was lovely and a perfect, cozy intro to fall 🍁
February 3, 2025
Easy light read if you just want a break
May 12, 2024
This solid historical mystery debut is loosely based on the life of a real life heiress who made miniatures that were used to figure out crime scenes. Color me fascinated by the tight plot, the 1940s vibe and small town Vermont setting along with some really good writing! Looking forward to this author's next ones.
September 5, 2024
Historical mystery fiction—best type of read.
Inspired by the real-life mother of forensic science, Frances Glessner Lee. Maple Bishop is ready to put WWII and the grief of losing her husband, Bill, behind her. She is in Vermont post WWII and penniless. She makes dollhouses for sale and upon delivering one to her latest customer she finds a man hanging in a barn. She and her side kick Kenny sleuth out the murderer. An unexpected twist and happy ending. Good read
Inspired by the real-life mother of forensic science, Frances Glessner Lee. Maple Bishop is ready to put WWII and the grief of losing her husband, Bill, behind her. She is in Vermont post WWII and penniless. She makes dollhouses for sale and upon delivering one to her latest customer she finds a man hanging in a barn. She and her side kick Kenny sleuth out the murderer. An unexpected twist and happy ending. Good read
June 11, 2024
DNF @40%
Just too long, too slow.
Just too long, too slow.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 231 reviews