The Dollhouse Murders

What if there were a grisly double murder in your family's past? What if that unsolved murder were a dark family secret uncovered by furtive sleuthing? Carol Jordan Stewart offers a fast-paced narration of 12-year-old Amy's story as she struggles with a concealed past and a terrifying present. Stewart's unimpassioned delivery of Amy's Aunt Claire is perfectly suited to the emotionally controlled woman who has hidden the pain of her parents' murders for more than thirty years. And Stewart's superb reading of Amy's developmentally delayed sister, Luanne, employs the cadences and innocence befitting such a character. Pacing is used effectively during scenes of high tension while bars of ominous music introduce each tape and set the mood for a mystery kids will thrill to. T.B. (c) AudioFile, Portland, Maine

March 1, 1999
Wright's taut, suspenseful novel proves a solid choice to kick off the Live Oak Mysteries audio series. The attic is always a great place to look for nuggets of one's family history, but when 12-year-old Amy explores her great-grandparents' attic, she uncovers clues to a chilling family secret. As Amy and her Aunt Claire sift through clothes, trinkets and other memorabilia, Amy comes across Aunt Claire's long-forgotten dollhouse, a finely crafted replica of the house they are in. Aunt Claire seems unusually distressed about the dollhouse and Amy is determined to find out why. The real fun begins when Amy learns that the dolls in the dollhouse move of their own will--and that they seem to be trying to tell her something. After a little sleuthing at the local library, Amy learns that her great-grandparents were murdered years ago and that Aunt Claire's fianc (who died in a car accident that same night) was the prime suspect in the unsolved case. Before long, Amy unravels the mystery, helping Aunt Claire to resolve her feelings about the past. A subplot about Amy's relationships with her parents, younger sister and best friend adds depth and warmth to this crisply paced tale. Stewart handles the narration with aplomb, using her voice to give listeners a hint of each character's personality. Her portrayal of Aunt Claire, who delivers a few chillingly snappish retorts to Amy, is particularly strong. Ages 8-up.