The miniature house gives the book its title but disappointing that we don't really learn the secrets of the minaturist - how she predicted the future with her pieces or knew of private things or how the pieces changed or disappeared. So we are left with a story about a bride who marries a rich merchant and slowly (very slowly) uncovers the secrets of her new home in the big city. That her husband is gay shouldn't be a big surprise since he never sleeps with her. His sister's secrets take longer to unfold. In some ways it is a coming of age story for the young bride. By the end, she is the only one left to take care of the household and sell the sugar. Her husband is put to death for sodomy. Her sister-in-law dies in child birth because she doesn't want anyone to know who the father is but it is obviously Otto the black manservant (slave??). Not sure how a blacklisted family is going to survive with out a male head of household but maybe that is for the sequel. The historical context seems well researched and accurate but there isn't much history in the story.