Murder in Miniature: A Maple Bishop Mystery

A murder in mid-century Vermont sends dollhouse designer Maple Bishop home to Boston in Tietjen’s hit-or-miss sequel to Death in the Details. Maple, a WWII widow and law school graduate with a photographic memory, aides the sheriff of Elderberry, Vt., by building miniature reproductions of crime scenes. When a former member of the Irish mob and Elderberry resident is found dead in a burned house after a $2 million heist, the sheriff calls Maple in to help investigate. Their findings eventually send Maple back to her old Boston neighborhood, where she uncovers long-buried family secrets as she gets to the bottom of the case. Tietjen’s New England setting is well-drawn, and a sweet romantic subplot between Maple and the man who sells her dollhouses adds gentle humor. Unfortunately, the novel feels caught between tones, with heavy emotional beats chafing against the cozy-style antics of Maple’s dachshund and action that’s sometimes rooted in real history and other times far-fetched (especially when it comes to Maple’s near-superhuman investigative talents). It’s a disappointing follow-up to a promising debut. Agent: Chelsea Emmelhainz, Copps Literary. (Sept.)