The Nesting Dolls

A Joanne Kilbourn Mystery #12

by Gail Bowen

Just hours before her body is found in a car in a parking lot, a young woman hands her baby to a perfect stranger and disappears. The stranger is the daughter of Delia Wainberg, a lawyer in the same firm as Joanne Kilbourn's husband. One close look at the child suggests that there might be a family relationship, and soon the truth about the child Delia gave up for adoption years ago comes out. The boy must be Delia's grandson. Then his mother is found dead, sexually assaulted and murdered. Not only is there a killer on the loose, but the dead woman's partner is demanding custody of the child.


From the Hardcover edition.

Genres: Mystery, Canada, Fiction, Crime, Adult

304 pages, Hardcover

First published August 17, 2010

About the author

Gail Dianne Bowen (née Bartholomew) is a Canadian playwright and writer of mystery novels. Born in Toronto, Ontario, Bowen was educated at the University of Toronto, the University of Waterloo and the University of Saskatchewan. She subsequently taught English in Saskatchewan, and is currently a professor of English at First Nations University of Canada. Bowen's mystery novels feature Joanne Kilbourn, a widowed mother, political analyst and university professor who finds herself occasionally involved in criminal investigations in various parts of Saskatchewan. Many have been adapted as Canadian television movies by Shaftesbury Films.

Series:
* Joanne Kilbourn Mystery

Awards:
Arthur Ellis Award
◊ Best Novel (1995): A Colder Kind of Death

Reviews

[Robyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have nothing new to say, haha. Next!

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first chose this book, I didn’t realize that it was part of a series. When I found out afterwards, I was a little nervous that I would be totally lost and not know enough of the back story to be able to understand the storyline. Thankfully, this was not the case at all.

The story begins with Joanne and Zack, a couple that is thrown into a situation involving Zack’s close friend and business partner. I immediately fell in love with the couple because they have such a strong, understanding, and loving relationship. The struggles and situations that the couple experience throughout the story certainly test their bond to the extreme, but they always come out ahead. The couple is thrown into this mystery from the very beginning and they become more and more involved as the story develops. They somehow managed to deal with the drama gracefully and respectfully, even though morals and ethics come into play more than once.

The mystery itself was so fascinating and intriguing that I was hooked from the very beginning. I was instantly pulled in when the stranger abandons her baby in the middle of a horrific Canada snowstorm. A thousand questions came to mind - why would someone do that? Who could do that to a baby? Was this act pre-meditated or done on a whim? These questions were answered as the story progressed and were done superbly well.

One of my favorite aspects of the story is how the author portrayed Zack and the difficulties he faces being handicapped. It’s not overbearing or over-the-top, but realistic and heartfelt. Your heart goes out to him at times, but that quickly fades and turns into sheer admiration because he is such a strong character and not someone that likes pity taken upon him.

Reading this book makes me really want to read the first 11 books in the series! The mystery and suspense the author creates is phenomenal and makes you turn the pages faster and faster to see what happens next.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good story. Appreciate the setting: Regina at Christmas. All the family "Kodak" moments do get a bit tiresome. Would have liked to see more time spent fleshing out the mystery and less on the "perfect" and somewhat unbelievable Joanna's family life is.

[Rachel Sim · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a bit of a disappointment. The story started off pulling me in, but then it felt like it played second to all the personal family matters that appeared in the book. It was almost as if the story itself was too short, so some filler was needed. I had guessed the first and second twists, but the last one was brushed over as a “just kidding we didn’t want to be THAT disturbing” type of add in. I think the thing that bothered me the most was the exceptional amount of typos in the book. I get having one or two, but I felt like I was picking out a few each chapter. For me, this isn’t something I would recommend to a friend as something to pick up, it just didn’t satisfy the way a murder mystery should.

[Anie · Rating 1 out of 5]

The situations and events in this book are so unlikely as to make the story absurd. The author didn't bother to spend any time on research, she just cranked out something that was no doubt published only because of previous successes. Even little things, like a person in a wheelchair hanging out on a hotel balcony (think about it, have you eve seen an accessible balcony n a ron that is mot accessible?) or a wood carving being produced in a matter of days, added to my annoyance at having wasted my time reading this harlequin-like drivel.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

On a cold and blustery night in Regina, a young woman places her 6 month old son in the arms, of Isabel, a friend of Joanne’s daughter. Hours later, the woman is found raped and killed.
Two women, one the child’s grandmother want custody of Jacob, both with a compelling reason and able to provide a good home. Joanne & her husband Zack, a lawyer find themselves on opposite sides of this heartbreaking story.

I have read many books in the series and looking forward to reading more. A compelling story, full of past secrets that are in danger of being exposed.

[Cybercrone · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rate it a 3.5.
I got more involved in this one than I have in some of the other books in this series.
I was somewhat disappointed at the end as I had thought someone would be charged for pushing the old guy off the roof, but it wasn't to be.
Also the quote"All will be well" that the author attributes (through her character) to a yoga instructor is actually from Julian of Norwich, and goes back to the 1300s and the first published book written by a woman.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not quite a 4 but higher than a 3. I’ve read Bowen’s earlier books in this series but then my library stopped carrying them. I enjoyed the return and will try to get the subsequent ones. Interesting storyline, though some of the writing—especially pertaining to the two main characters—Joanne and Zack—is a bit clunky. Overall, though, an enjoyable read.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars because of kismet: I began reading this a month before Christmas, just as Joanne, family, and friends were beginning their own holiday celebrations. Of course, hers isn't all COVID-y, but then again I certainly hope mine doesn't involve a murder . . . I love how Gail Bowen combines family drama within the context of Joanne's ability to invariably ferret out murderers.

[Liana Pitel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this for our book club. Good solid story set in Canada. Parts of the plot are a bit of a stretch but it’s entertaining. And it’s set at Christmas. I love Christmas. I think I’ll read another book in this series.

[John · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tedious drama of the rich. Disappointing. Book Club read.

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great Bowen novel!

[Danah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love that Bowen’s books take place in Canada. She also keeps up a good pace and a good balance of dialogue and description.

[Lyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christmas in Regina, Saskatchewan. Great setting for Gail Bowen latest book. If you want to read an excellent mystery series, this is it.

Christmas in Regina, Saskatchewan, takes a sinister turn that involves academic Joanne Kilbourn (married to successful lawyer Zach Shreve) in a mystery surrounding a baby and his missing mother.

Delia Wainberg, one Zack's law partners, gave up a child for adoption at the beginning of her career. When her adopted parents die, Delia's daughter Abigail, a new mother herself, decides to find her biological mother. At first she only asks for medical information that might someday be necessary for her and her baby, Jacob.

Later she gives Jacob to Delia's teenage daughter Isobel and disappears. The next day, Abigail's murdered body is found in her car. Delia's lover Nadine refuses to believe Abigail didn't want her to raise Jacob and prepares to bring a lawsuit against Delia for custody.

Reading a new book in this long running series is like visiting a friend. This is one of my favorite series and I recommend it to mystery lovers.

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy read and rather predictable but non the less enjoyable. A baby is thrust into the arms of a student during a school concert, the baby's mother first making sure that isobel was Delia's daughter. Abby, the baby's mother had been born to Delia many years ago and was given up for adoption to a Port Hope couple. The father was unknown. After Jacob (the baby) is cared for by Delia's husband and investigations ensue to find the father so their adoption could be legalised. Long story short, Zack and Joanne become involved as lawyer and family friends. The baby's mother Abby has a partner Nadine who also wishes to adopt Jacob. A brain damaged retired judge who has a love for women and has had many affairs features in the story. Soon after Abby gives her baby away she is murdered and raped.

[Bobbi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book for a book club and thoroughly enjoyed it!
We didn't realize it was part of a series when we chose and and although it read as a good stand alone novel, I think that reading the other books in the series first would have built onto the characterization, especially of Jo.
I found it very hard not to steam roll through this book and try to keep to our chapter reading each week and a few of the others in our group felt the same way. I must have changed my theory on who-dun-it a million times throughout. Many twists and turns in the plot but all out awesome and add to the suspense and mystery.
I will be going back and reading the first book in the series.

[Craig M · Rating 2 out of 5]

Abby Michaels gives her baby, Jacob, over to Delia Wainberg (one of Zach’s associate lawyers). Abby is Delia’s Joanne is being pressured to include Theo Brokaw, a retired judge, as a part of a TV program on the Supreme Court.

I am just trying to read a couple of Bowen’s earlier books that I had not read. I am not enjoying them like I used to. The Zack/Joanne relationship is too perfect, and there is no character development. Bowen’s plots do not seem to be as interesting as they once were. The character’s reactions to events (Nadine’s coming to terms with Noah and Delia adopting Jacob, for example) often seem too simplistic and contrived.

[Lbaker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow - my favourite in this series. I couldn't put it down, and had to hold myself back to not peek at the end to see if my guess was correct (it was nearly - but not exactly!).

Joanne Kilbourn and her extended family are great, they're flawed, funny, quirky, grumpy, sexy, and just so real. I want a picture painted by Taylor, and to recommend my daughter work for Mieka! I even am tempted to visit Regina - and for a born and bred west coast Canadian - that is amazing.

[Joanne]

Delia & Noah Wainberg: Young woman gives them her baby; woman is Delia's daughter whom she gave up for adoption years before
-Myra and Judge Brokaw: he's suffered a brain injury from a fall; she wants Joanne to do a program about the Judge on Nationtv
-Abbey, Delia's daughter, is found murdered and raped
-Nadine: Abbey's partner who wants to fight for custody of the child
-Zack is felled by the flu: complicated by his parapalegia

[Jennifer Eagle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found the relationship between Joanne Killbourn and her husband somehow too precious- there were serious ethical dilemmas between them and I wondered if a couple would truly breeze through them so easily. I found the wonderful tension that was created at the beginning of the book over the duelling custody of the mystery child kind of fizzed out into this melting pot of agreeableness. Haha! I suppose I am a reader that needs sustained tension rather than mediation in a murder novel.

[Wendell Hennan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Taylor begins a relationship with Declan and a stranger hands a 6 month old baby to Taylor's friend Isobel after a school Christmas Concert and leaves. The story of Zack's partner Delia having had a daughter the first year out of law school and given her up for adoption unfolds. The baby's mother is found dead after a winter blizzard and Delia and her husband Noah were chosen by the mother to have custody. Another good read. Re read October/21.

[Claire Naden · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my pick for the Vroman's Mystery Reading Group and I did enjoy it. Well written, good character development and not just about the "murder mystery." Bowen develops her characters and the Canadian setting lends itself well - of course Bowen is a Canadian and her books take place there. I would probably read another one of Bowen's books.

[Peggy · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable series with likeable characters and interesting issues. In this one, the emphasis is on one of Joanne's husband's law partners, Delia Wainberg, who has been a character in previous books. Her long lost daughter (given up for adoption at birth) suddenly appears, but is just as suddenly murdered.

[Naomi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought the characters were interesting but the ending was a little too tidy for me.
I found it hard to believe that Delia and Noah were the parents of Abby Michaels . Then the fact that Judge Brokaw had befriended Abby and was the father of her baby Jacob was a little unbelievable!
It was fun to read about different parts of the city of Regina!

[Leslie Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bowen invests each of her novels with the extraordinariness of the ordinary and an eye for the complexity of family dynamics. She never shows us evil wholly prevailing because she has created a central character who carries within her the goodness of humanity. Bowen's mysteries are full of the tiny details of life and capture her subjects with a jeweller's eye.

[David W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

So am wondering what happens next book
Does Joanne's daughter Mieka marry the new lawyer in the firm, go back to her ex, or go after the hunk physiotherapist who is looking after Zack?
And what happens to Zack. Does the progression of the sore lead to his death.
And I have to wait until the library gets it for me.

[Penny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Needed an easy read after Jacob de Zoet and this fit the bill. I do enjoy this series but Gail Bowen is becoming so politically correct it makes my teeth hurt and so culturally snobbish it makes me laugh a bit.

[Debbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yeah, not one of my favourites of hers. Spent more time on her personal life than the actual mystery which I figured out in the first 50 pages. Also didn't like how she made everything politically correct at the end. Had a chance for edginess and blew it.

[Christal Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gail Bowen's books are a true delight. Every new book develops Zack's character in more detail and adds more layers to his relationship with Joanne. An unexpected twist at the end wraps the story up nicely.

[Clare · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another winner. I love tucking in with Joanne and Zack and kids and going along for the ride as they solve the crimes that come their way.