Module 9 - The Dollhouse Murders

Summary:

This is an interesting mystery that occurs in an old house.  The people that once lived in the house were murdered.  Years later, a young girl named Amy goes to stay with her aunt in that house.  The people that were murdered were her great grandparents.  She finds a very lifelike dollhouse in the attic.  She is excited about it and plays with it. Her aunt is not near as happy as Amy about the discovery of the dollhouse.  Clare is very angry with Amy in fact.  Not only did Amy find the dollhouse but when she showed her aunt, the dolls were arranged in a strategic manner that depicted the original murder scene of her great grandparents.  However, Amy does not know this and also tries to convince her aunt that she was not the one that did it.  She is always hearing and seeing strange things involving the dollhouse and is not sure what to do about it.  Her handicapped sister ends up having to come and stay with her and her aunt as well.  This annoys Amy because she was actually glad to be away from her.  However, the two girls set out to try and solve the mystery of the murders together.  They end up finding that it was the gardener.  


APA Reference:


Wright, B. R. (1983). Dollhouse murders. New York, NY:  Holiday House, Inc.

My Impressions:

This was a cute mystery.  It reminded me of books like “The Indian in the Cupboard”.  The idea that this dollhouse was sending clues about the murder was fun and classic.  I was also brought back to a fascinating Twilight Zone episode where this one man was the only one that could see the woman inside the dollhouse come alive.  It was an easy read and I felt like the story could appeal to the kid in all of us.  It was also interesting to see what the dollhouse would do next.  As Amy realizes that the dollhouse is trying to tell her something, she began paying attention.  Clare was in too much denial.  I never could understand why the aunt could not just tell Amy about the murders.  I guess that would have ruined the whole story! 

Professional Reviews:

School Library Journal Review

Gr 4-7-Amy arranges to spend a few days alone with her Aunt Clare in the home once owned by her great grandparents.  She is particularly relieved to have some time for herself, free of having to care for her retarded sister, Louann. When she discovers an exquisite dollhouse in the attic, an exact replica of the family home, her aunt is unenthusiastic about her find and furious when she sees the placement of the dolls; years ago her grandparents had been murdered and the figures are now where the police found them the night of the crime.  She accuses her niece of insensitivity in reproducing the scene, but the girl denies responsibility for moving the dolls. An emergency at home means Louann must also stay at Clare’s and at first Amy is angry at having her plans to be alone shattered, but then the two girls discover the solution to the terrible crime.  The combination of a beautiful, fascinating dollhouse, dark family secrets, ghostly events, danger and suspense are sufficient to make this a likely choice for escape reading. – Karen Harris, Department of Library Science, university of New Orleans. 

Harris, K. N. (1983). The dollhouse murders (Book Review). School Library Journal, 30(3), 84.

Library Uses:

a.       Personally, I could use this book to teach a lesson on forensic science, investigations and police work. 

b.      Since this is a more harmless version of a murder mystery, young students could put on a skit to reenact the events of the dollhouse and the great detective work Amy and her sister Louann get into.