MURDER IN THE DOLLHOUSE reminds us once again of a well-known quote from F. Scott Fitzgerald: “Let me tell you about the very rich. They are different from you and me.”

This is the fascinating real-life account of the disappearance of Jennifer Dulos, a wealthy suburban mother from Connecticut who brought her children to school one morning and vanished hours later. Her body has never been found, and the subsequent criminal investigation became the costliest in Connecticut law enforcement history. You will shake your head in disbelief as you delve deeply into this extraordinary story that often sounds like it would be the foundation for a multi-episode television drama, even though it’s heartbreakingly true.

"MURDER IN THE DOLLHOUSE is an intriguing read that deserves a wide audience. While his analysis is journalistic and thorough, Rich Cohen has told this story in a humane manner, which is very much appreciated."

Rich Cohen is a prolific writer who came to this story because “[m]y family and I live near where this took place, and Jennifer and I were roughly the same age and ran in the same literary circle.” He began covering the case for Air Mail, a digital weekly created by Graydon Carter, the editor of Vanity Fair magazine.

Jennifer Dulos was the daughter of Hilliard Farber, a wealthy banker and philanthropist who treated his children with substantial largess. While a student at Brown University, she met Fotis Dulos, who was born in Turkey but moved to Greece before coming to the US in 2000. They married one month after Fotis’ divorce from his first wife. Cohen documents with precision how they established a wealthy New York lifestyle with the assistance of Hilliard’s financial backing. The Fore Group, started by Fotis, developed luxury homes in suburban Connecticut.

Cohen’s observation regarding the husband/father-in-law dynamic and its impact on Jennifer and Fotis’ marriage may be applicable to many relationships. But like everything else in MURDER IN THE DOLLHOUSE, it is magnified by the enormous financial stakes involved. Jennifer was used to a certain lifestyle, and all of the participants in her life were obligated to help her maintain that status. When this way of living was threatened, it destroyed the family. Perhaps more importantly, Hilliard thought that Fotis was a dangerous and violent person. In many respects, he hoped that the money would help control and calm his son-in-law. Unfortunately, it did neither.

By 2012, the marriage was clearly showing signs of difficulties. Finally, Jennifer filed for divorce in 2017. The issues were typical, but the personalities and the money available to the parties made the divorce litigation extremely combative.

Once Jennifer disappears, the police investigation becomes fully documented. Modern investigative techniques, including scientific evidence gathering, cell-phone triangulation and CCTV --- are all detailed. While no smoking-gun evidence was ever discovered, law enforcement was able to bring forth a fairly solid case.

MURDER IN THE DOLLHOUSE is an intriguing read that deserves a wide audience. While his analysis is journalistic and thorough, Rich Cohen has told this story in a humane manner, which is very much appreciated.