First, I won this book from Goodreads. Second, I now have all of Eleanor Kuhns' books on my Amazon wish list! I loved this book. I had never had much interest in history or the Shaker's communities, but Eleanor made it all come alive for me.
Will Rees lost his wife Dolly 5 years before this story, and as a weaver by trade, he had already been away from his farm and family more than he was there. After Dolly's death he left his farm and his son David in the care of his sister and her husband, and he left to continue his work. He did come back once in a while, but not often or long. He also didn't realize what his absence was doing to his son.
On the current trip home, he finds that David has left and is now living with the Shakers, and his sister's family isn't really keeping up the farm, but they are very possessive about it.
Will leaves to find David. When he does, the boy really isn't overjoyed to see him, quite rightly feeling abandoned, and while Will is trying to figure out a way to connect with him, one of the women in the Community is murdered. Will has a reputation of being able to help solve crimes of this nature, and he is asked to stay to help determine the killer (after he had originally been accused himself).
In the course of the investigation, he finds several other murders have been committed, and he feels that there is a link to all of them.
I was enthralled by the description of the life at that time, and really, really did not see the ending coming. Eleanor had me completely in the dark about the true murderer, and it really was a revelation.
I totally recommend this series to anyone who enjoys a good, clean tale of early history. It helps that there is a bit of romance in the air as well.
Will Rees lost his wife Dolly 5 years before this story, and as a weaver by trade, he had already been away from his farm and family more than he was there. After Dolly's death he left his farm and his son David in the care of his sister and her husband, and he left to continue his work. He did come back once in a while, but not often or long. He also didn't realize what his absence was doing to his son.
On the current trip home, he finds that David has left and is now living with the Shakers, and his sister's family isn't really keeping up the farm, but they are very possessive about it.
Will leaves to find David. When he does, the boy really isn't overjoyed to see him, quite rightly feeling abandoned, and while Will is trying to figure out a way to connect with him, one of the women in the Community is murdered. Will has a reputation of being able to help solve crimes of this nature, and he is asked to stay to help determine the killer (after he had originally been accused himself).
In the course of the investigation, he finds several other murders have been committed, and he feels that there is a link to all of them.
I was enthralled by the description of the life at that time, and really, really did not see the ending coming. Eleanor had me completely in the dark about the true murderer, and it really was a revelation.
I totally recommend this series to anyone who enjoys a good, clean tale of early history. It helps that there is a bit of romance in the air as well.
