Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Murder in Miniature by Katie Tietjen Series: Maple Bishop #2
Published by Crooked Lane Books on September 23, 2025
Genres: Historical Mystery
Pages: 288
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
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In post-WWII Vermont, Maple Bishop has a thriving dollhouse business and a new career as a crime scene consultant for the local sheriff's office. On the surface, she seems to be doing well, but deep down Maple is still reeling from the death of her husband. When the body of an aspiring firefighter–who was close childhood friends with Kenny, the sheriff’s deputy and Maple’s confidante–is discovered in the charred remains of a burned cabin, Maple is called in to help determine whether the fire was an accident or a case of murder by arson.
Realizing there’s more to the crime than meets the eye, she sets out to unearth the discrepancies from the scene by re-creating the cabin in miniature. The investigation leads them to Maple’s old Boston neighborhood, forcing her to confront the past she’s desperately trying to forget.
As Maple and Kenny sift through clues, they uncover dark secrets that hit close to home, unraveling in unexpected ways—and putting their lives in danger.
A firefighter dies as a fire victim in his own home. A widowed dollhouse maker and amateur detective and forensics specialist partners with a local sheriff’s deputy to investigate. Katie Tietjen and her mid-twentieth century Maple Bishop series were new to me, but I was intrigued the Maple Bishop character based on a real-life criminology pioneer and set-in small-town Vermont.
Murder in Miniature is the second in the series, but I had no trouble reading it as a standalone.
Recently moved up from Boston, a well-liked firefighter is found dead at the scene of a fire in his own home. Maple is interested in helping her friend on the local force, Kenny, investigate. Maple does crime scene reconstructions in miniature using her dollhouse making skills to help them determine its murder and further advance the investigation.
Their investigation leads them back to Boston where they discover disturbing facts about the victim that give people motives for murder. Maple struggles with her ongoing grief for the loss of her husband as she presses forward with life and the investigation. But, the secrets uncovered are not just about the victim. She learns something personal that distracts her. She has to stay the course now because the murderer is none too keen to be tracked down.
Murder in Miniature was a satisfying cozy historical mystery that met my expectations. I loved learning how Maple helped solve the crime with her forensics skills and meeting her and the folks in Elderberry. I felt a little lag in the middle where I was impatient for things to move along, but never got bored. It was a tense finish that grabbed me good.
Maple’s character was layered and I appreciated that she was a seasoned age and a widow grappling with the complex emotions of grief and loss, but also how this changes her life and what she discovers. She is smart and careful. I liked her partnered with Kenny in the Sheriff’s department so she’s not just out there snooping on her own.
All around, a good outing and I would definitely read further and go back for book one. Historical cozy mystery fans should take a gander at the Maple Bishop series.
As a lifelong reader, it was inevitable that Sophia would discover book blogs and the joy of blog reviewing.Sophia is a prolific reader and audiobook listener which allows her to experience so many wonderful books, authors, and narrators.Few genres are outside her reading tastes, but her true love is fiction particularly history, mystery, sci-fi, and romance.Though, sorry, no horror or she will run like Shaggy and Scooby.
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How fun that she has a dollhouse business. You don’t hear of dollhouse makers that much anymore. This sounds interesting.
Exactly so, Mary! I was really captivated by her niche skill set and how she used it to solve crime. And, even better, its based on a true person.
How neat that this was based on a real-life criminologist! I’ll have to check it out!
Yes, it was neat to note this and wonder about the real-life gal as I was reading the story.
I do enjoy historical mysteries and living in the greater-Boston area… the setting sounds amazing. Thanks.
Yes, its right in your corner of the woods. 🙂
Ooh, the idea of creating the crime scene with miniatures like that is interesting! Sounds like a good book, and probably a good series. Great review!
Exactly my thoughts, too, Lisa!
Dollhouse? How fun.
Yeah, it was really unique and I loved that.