Review: Death in Salem by Eleanor Kuhns

A Mysterious Review of Death in Salem by Eleanor Kuhns. A Will Rees Mystery.

Review summary: The murder mystery storyline in this historical novel set in the late 18th century is an intriguing one, well-structured and paced, with a series lead who is an engaging, vibrant character. Fans will embrace this strong addition to the series, and new readers will likely seek out the earlier books. (Click here for text of full review.)

Our rating:

Death in Salem
Eleanor Kuhns
A Will Rees Mystery
Minotaur Books (June 2015)

Publisher synopsis: It's 1796, and traveling weaver Will Rees is visiting Salem, Massachusetts. He's in town to buy a luxurious gift for his pregnant wife, a few yards of well-made fabric from the traders at the famed Salem harbor. While traveling through Salem, however, Rees comes upon a funeral procession for the deceased Mrs. Antiss Boothe. When Rees happens upon Twig, a friend who fought alongside him in the war, he learns that Mrs. Boothe had been very ill, and her death had not come as a surprise. But the next morning, the town is abuzz with the news that Mr. Boothe has also died — and this time it is clearly murder. When the woman that Twig loves falls under suspicion, Twig persuades Rees to stay in Salem, despite the family waiting for him back home in Maine, and help solve the murder.

Rees is quickly pulled into the murky politics of both Salem and the Boothe family, who have long been involved in the robust shipping and trading industry on the Salem harbor. Everyone Rees meets seems to be keeping some kind of secret, but could any of them actually have committed murder?