I am proud to announce that as a twenty-seven-year-old American, I have managed to not become hooked on any true crime podcasts, nor Netflix series. And my daily reading reflects this as well—I have only read a few true crime books, none of which compare to Capote’s In Cold Blood. Nonetheless I saw Murder in the Dollhouse and decided to reinvigorate the genre into my summer reads. Sadly, this book did not provide any tinder for a long-extinguished flame. I am unsure whether to blame the messenger, author Rich Cohen, or whether this lower rating can be attributed to something even simpler: did Jennifer’s story deserve to make it to long form print? I do not want to minimize her story—far from it—instead I think the 350-page book could have been better suited for a Saturday New York Time’s editorial. As described below, Murder in the Dollhouse does go to the heart of a true crime first-degree murder; however, the long, winding path it takes is filled with useless background which in turn dilutes the “true crime” portion of book enough to grant the reader zero surprise or shock in the end.

I had never heard of Jennifer Dulos and her accompanying tragic story, but I did recently complete watching Jon Hamm’s Your Friends and Neighbors, which takes place in a parallel setting: New York’s ultra-rich suburbia. Reading Cohen describe Jennifer’s daily life and pursuits of her peers was analogous to Hamm’s disdain for the environment he had crafted for himself. In the end none of these affluent attributes were the arbiter of a sad ending, but Cohen loved to list out price points and just how expensive of a life those in Connecticut could afford. Although I did not find this book highly enjoyable, I think there is a huge market for those who would. Millions of Americans listen daily to podcasts and follow Instagram accounts tailored only to one idea: drama. Murder in the Dollhouse extensively covers a divorce proceeding, friend groups breaking up, and a secret love affair. For those who tune in to drama just for the sake of it, Cohen’s book is right up your alley.