#Bookreview of The Russian Doll
By: Owen Thomas
Publication Date: November 1, 2022
Publisher: OTF Literary
ISBN: 978-1737737698
Reviewed by: Alma Boucher
Review Date: December 31, 2025
Owen Thomas returns with The Russian Doll, the second installment in his Raymond Mackey Mystery series, delivering a dark, layered crime novel that deepens both character and intrigue. Picking up after the emotional and professional fallout of Message in a Bullet, Thomas places former Chicago homicide detective Raymond “Mack” Mackey in another seemingly straightforward case that quickly unravels into something far more sinister.
Mack is back to work with the Internal Affairs Division and trying to regain his personal and professional life. Of course, this is a character that does not like to play by the rules and cannot, much to his supervisor's dismay and frustration, avoid straying from the path of trying to weed out the bad cops. Nadia King and her daughter, Danika, come to Mack to find a sentimental and important family heirloom, a Russian nesting doll. The nesting doll was stolen from her mother’s house the night her brother, Joe, was murdered. What should be a very easy case turns out to be an extremely difficult endeavor. Mack is assaulted and threatened to be killed. He does not have a lot of trust in those around him nor a lot of help along the way.
The quest to recover a missing Russian nesting doll is the heart of the novel. This object seems innocent but is tied to cold cases, corruption, and brutal violence. The doll is the driving force and a powerful metaphor in the plot. Mack, haunted by grief and anger, feels realistic as he operates the way he seems fit. The supporting characters, particularly Nadia King and her daughter, Danika, add depth to the narrative.
The writing style is engaging and keeps reader’s attention throughout. The pacing allows tension to build that keeps you on edge. The plot is complex but never feels overwhelming. Each revelation fits neatly into the larger plot, much like the nested layers of the nesting doll.
The book excels as a crime mystery and as a character study. Themes of grief, corruption, and trust are woven seamlessly into the narrative. Readers new to the series will engage fully, and returning fans will appreciate the deeper exploration of Mack’s struggles. Owen Thomas is a skilled storyteller, capable of crafting intelligent and emotional crime novels that linger long after the final page.
Quill says: Dark, layered, and emotionally charged, The Russian Doll peels back its mystery with precision and grit, delivering a crime novel that is as psychologically compelling as it is suspenseful.
For more information about The Russian Doll, please visit the author's website at: owenthomasliterary.com/
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