The Doll Maker

By: Claire Highton-Stevenson

Narrated by: Fiona Thraille

Length: 6 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's Summary

A body turns up in a field. She’s blonde and her eyes have been gouged out. DI Sophie Whitton knows it's him - The man the press has dubbed: The doll maker. Whitton and her team must act fast if they are to stop anyone else falling victim to the doll maker.

With an innate need to seek the truth and find justice for the dead, DI Whitton risks losing it all, including her long-term relationship with live-in lover, Yvonne, as she strives to find a killer, and maybe even herself along the way.

©2018 Claire Highton-Stevenson (P)2019 Claire Highton-Stevenson

Such a twisty book! Love it

This story is one of my favourites, and I was a little hesitant to try the audio version, but I'm so glad I did. I hadn't listened to this narrator before, but she did a great job of bringing this book to life, and I'll certainly be listening again!

Good gritty mystery/romance

I enjoyed 'Escape and freedom' by this author, and was lucky enough to win a copy of this one. I am not really a fan of mystery/romance, unless it is really done well. So I was pleased this read like a typically good British crime story, with a lesbian romance added in. Dectective Sophie Whitton is a prickly, workaholic detective whose relationship with her lover of 4 years is teetering on the edge of collapse. Her already tough cop's life has gotten much tougher, due to the serial killer who is evading their best efforts to catch him. He is escalating, and Sophie and her colleagues become more and more obsessed with stopping him. Will Sophie manage to solve the case? And is there love and happiness in her future?
I thought the mystery was really well done - I was quite hooked. I must admit that I didn't always like Sophie, especially at the beginning when I thought she should have been more aware of her part in the problems in her relationship. But I had to admit that it was depicted pretty realistically and she grew on me. I also enjoyed the further developments on the love front...won't spoil it for you. I also liked the other characters, like Sophie's partner, Dale.
The narration was decent, but not my favourite. I didn't like Rachel's voice - I thought it was a bit to high, breathy and silly. And she is important in the story, so featured a lot. But I have learnt that we all experience narrators differently, so it could very well not be a problem for others. I look forward to discovering new works by this author - I feel she will get better and better with each book.

This was a great story

This was a great story, opened my eyes to lesbian detective stories. Awesome writin 5 stars all the way

Fantastic thriller (and love story)

One of the best books I've read this year. Had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. The narration took it to the next level.

Wickedly good thriller!

Let me start by saying I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook, both because of the author's skill and the flawless narration by Fiona Thraille. She was a perfect choice for this book and did a wonderful job In Narrating...with that said I’m still astonished that this is the first time Claire Highton Stevenson dabbled in Murder/Mystery/Thriller. The story is so well written and thought out. The main character “Sophie” is no where near perfect and carry plenty of baggage while trying to do her job. Rachel is the mysterious Nurse who catches Sophie’s eye and yet has some secrets of her own. Then you have the Killer who is wickedly brutal and seeks to tell his story the only way he knows how and that is threw murder and revenge. All the bases for creating such a great thriller is in this book including twist and unexpected turns. It had me turning the pages when I originally read the book. It’s the same with the Audiobook, I found it hard to stop at times and just wanted to listen to it threw the very end. I highly recommend you give this book a listen! I’m also keeping my fingers crossed that will see another Detective Sophie Whitton Story in the near future 🤞

Really well done crime thriller!

Just finished this and oooo - it's a good one. The storyline is engrossing and keeps you on your toes. Detective Inspector Sophie Whitton leads a team trying to track down a serial murderer, while her relationship at home reaches a breaking point. How many will suffer until the sick and methodical assailant is caught? Can her relationship survive all the late nights required for her job? And who is the stunning nurse at the hospital shamelessly flirting with the attractive detective? All certainly worth discovering in this read! Highton-Stevenson nearly gave me a heart attack at one point, but because I was so invested in the outcome and these characters, I'll forgive her. lol Also impressive was narrator Fiona Thraille, who does a great job with the various voices and adds to the overall experience. Definitely recommend! 4.5 stars

Enthralling Chase of a Serial

This work is a very good entry into the tumultuous world of Detective Sophie Whitton and a case that shapes her life. The story is not unlike others in this genre but is told well and builds suspense with each character that is introduced. This is listed within the LGTBQ bucket and there are overtones present but what makes this work so well is that this is no different from the other works in this vertical.

Her relationships all face the same challenges as the normal lead detectives and is held in the same manner by her compatriots. She's a stand up person that's hell bent on honor and justice but is learning to be more than that. This is a great start to a series that should continue to explore the underbelly of those that live amongst us and it'll be a joy to read/listen to that journey.

The narration of the work is very well done and matches the urgency of the case and lives of the characters with the right amount of levity thrown in. I liked the fact that the shift in character wasn't always as clear as i've heard in other books as it tied into the mania of the work itself and what is going on within each. Jumping in and out of characters' minds/voice was something that really added to the work and made the anguish and twist all the more enjoyable.

excellent read.

great story, great mystery. i thoigh i had it all figured out and i was so wrong lol. great characters and romance. end shook me at first. highly recommended!

Creepy

My favorite type of story. With a strong yet vulnerable lead character chasing the bad guy. Sofie Whitton has depth and yet can be so shallow at times. She is a hero. I can’t wait for more. Narration was spot on bathe didn’t make the butch detective sound like a little girl. I recommend this to anyone looking for suspense, mystery or thriller.

An edgy mystery romance you must read.

This mystery romance from Claire Highton Stevenson changed my perception on the genre. I was grabbed by the story from the first chapter. The plot twists and completely surprising ending kept me reading. The life of detective Whittom was brought to the pages so imperfect yet all you could do was love her. The romance so directly tied to the case unfolds beautifully. Fiona Thraille was marvellous in voice character's and makes the story a great listen. It is so worth the listen.

Don't let the Cover deture or frighten you

Don't let the Cover deture or frighten you from listening to this book. It's not a horror story. A great murder mystery story by the talented Claire Highton-Stevenson. Having read this story when it was first released and loved it, I have been waiting for it to released onto audio book with much anticipation and I wasn't disappointed. The story is just as good on audio, fiona is engaging and keeps you listening and the combination of Fionas reading and claires story telling is a addictive combination, you don't want to stop listening and want more. I highly recommend this audio book and if you've never read or listened to any of claires book then you really are missing out on a real talent.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful