SYNOPSIS
The Doll from Dunedin is the sequel to the 2024 Readers’ Favorite Gold Medal winner in Fiction – Mystery – General, The Desk from Hoboken.
Still reeling from the dangers of a recent case, forensic genealogist RaeJean Hunter takes on a supposedly routine case to locate the missing heir of a woman she met in Central Park a year ago. Tantalized by a hefty income, she accepts.
But there’s a catch-she must find the heir within six months or the forty-million-dollar estate is donated to a local university.
With the tight deadline comes the chance of a sizeable bonus, a series of unforeseen obstacles, and the unexpected connection to a cold case from 1910, when perfume heiress Dorothy Arnold disappeared without a trace.
Armed with only her genealogical skills, the books and historical documents she unearths, and an antique doll that seems to be guiding her toward the answers she needs, RaeJean faces dangerous events that threaten to shatter her world and challenge her to meet the deadline. Her travels throughout the United States and New Zealand in search of answers bring with it its own question: Will she find the heir before time runs out?
But someone doesn’t want her to solve the case. The clock is ticking, and it will take every ounce of grit RaeJean has to solve this mystery and outwit the dangers that threaten her present while she sifts through the past.
CLICK TO PURCHASE:
Amazon | B&N | Series on Amazon
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ML Condike’s novel, The Doll From Dunedin released October 22, 2024, is the second book in her genealogy mystery series. The first novel, The Desk From Hoboken (March 5, 2024), received a gold medal in the 2024 Readers Favorite, General Mystery category. Her stories blend facts with fiction, using historical records and current technology to solve century-old cold cases.
She’s published in seven anthologies including Granbury Writers’ Bloc (2019, 2022); Key West Writers Guild (2023); and SinC North Dallas (2022, 2023, 2024).
She’s a member of MWA, Florida Chapter, Sisters in Crime National, Sisters in Crime North Dallas, Granbury Writers’ Bloc, and Key West Writers Guild.
REVIEW
ML Condike’s ‘The Doll from Dunedin,’ A Genealogy Mystery, Book 2, blends history, early twentieth-century societal practices, hidden secrets, and greed into this fabulous forty-million-dollar whodunit. Though readers can dive into this excellent standalone novel, it is highly recommended that they consider ML Condike’s ‘The Desk from Hoboken,’ A Genealogy Mystery Book 1. The series delivers mystery solving from a forensic genealogy perspective, which is intriguing and informative.
In ‘The Doll from Dunedin,’ ML Condike uses rich descriptive prose to immerse readers in an incredible journey. Enjoy the luxurious ambiance of Jill Harriet Hamilton’s Fifth Avenue apartment, including the enviable art gallery with paintings by renowned masters. Tramp across the incredible hiking trails of New Zealand, experiencing incredibly diverse scenery. Visit small towns in America to unfold secrets hidden behind walls of time.
Readers will relate to the realistic multidimensional characters of RaeJean Hunter, a renowned forensic genealogist, and her devoted husband, Sam, an antique clock expert. The devoted couple has experienced heartbreaking challenges yet is united and supportive of one another. The cast of supporting characters, even the corgis, weave this mystery into a tapestry of intense suspense, heart-stopping events, and a multi-generational family cover-up that may finally see the light of day through the clues RaeJean uncovers. The dialogue is appropriate for each character based on age, education, location, and situation, and it is perfectly timed to move the story forward to an unexpected finish.
Numerous themes, including adoption, mental illness, fertility, abandonment, and Jill’s childhood doll (which seems to communicate eerily through its eyes), are captured throughout the pages of this captivating book. The author’s detailed research provides insights into human DNA, the provenance of works of art, the value of written journals before the Internet age, and the potential effects of poisonous spiders, adding credibility to this novel.
In ‘The Doll from Dunedin,’ readers may think they’ve uncovered the solution at various points, only to realize their mistake when the unexpected ending is perfectly executed. Fans of intricate mysteries will appreciate the journey from the first page to the last.
Look for #LoneStarLitTheDollFromDunedin on your preferred social media platform to learn more about this book.
