Sign up for our newsletters to receive our Best of 2024 ezine!

Read advance reader review of A Simple Murder by Eleanor Kuhns, page 3 of 6

Summary | Reviews | More Information | More Books

A Simple Murder by Eleanor Kuhns

A Simple Murder

by Eleanor Kuhns

  • Critics' Consensus (1):
  • Published:
  • May 2012, 336 pages
  • Rate this book

About this book

Reviews


Page 3 of 6
There are currently 39 member reviews
for A Simple Murder
Order Reviews by:
  • Mary S. (Bow, NH)
    A Shaker murder mystery
    As someone who has lived near a Shaker community for many years of my life, I was very interested to read A Simple Murder. I found the book to be historically accurate as well giving a good portrayal of Shaker life. Overall I thought the book was well written, moved at a good pace, and had enough twists so that I stayed interested and couldn't solve the mystery right away.

    The only part that I found tedious was the constant "washing up," and description of same, of the main character. While I appreciate good hygiene, I don't need to read about it 3 and 4 times in a chapter.
  • Prella M. (Lafayette, IN)
    Murder or Murders??
    Ms. Kuhns spins her tale gradually as she reels in the reader. She combines a murder in a Shaker community with life in 1796. As a lover of mysteries and history this book appealed to me. I confess it about 50 pages to truly interest me but for the last 75 I could not put it down. It would make a good beach read this summer.
  • Pam L. (Indialantic, FL)
    A Simple Murder
    Just a good old fashioned murder mystery. It kept my interest throughout. Loved that it took place in 1796 among the Shakers. I want ot know what will be Will Reese's next mystery to solve and where that will take place. Bravo, Eleanor Kuhns.
  • Brenda S. (Grand Rapids, MN)
    A Fun Read
    Eleanor Kuhns did enough research to make this historical thriller believable and fun to read. The subplots worked well together and kept the story flowing...it was easy to read several chapters without pause. The only criticism was giving some of the secondary characters more than one name. However, the mystery was so intense, I had to cheat and read the ending...well worth knowing as a person completes the book. I loved it!
  • Lisa E. (Cincinnati, OH)
    A Good First Effort
    This murder mystery takes place in a Shaker settlement during the late 18th century. The setting makes the story interesting and out-of-the-ordinary, and the solution is both surprising and believable. The writing is slightly awkward, but this is a first novel, and the author will undoubtedly improve as she brings her engaging detective, weaver Will Rees, back for more mystery-solving.
  • Valerie C. (Chico, CA)
    A good historical fiction/mystery
    The setting is the Northeastern US in the late 1700's, the plot involves a series of murders all somehow connected to a Shaker community, and a traveling weaver becomes involved in it all. An easy, pleasurable read with enough complexity and character development to hold interest. I have already passed my copy on to a friend to read - definitely recommended for those with an interest in historical fiction and/or mysteries.
  • Mary B. (St Paul, MN)
    A Simple Murder
    The story is very interesting with the events taking place in 1796. A variety of characters add to the sense of mystery. I would like to see several of the central characters continue their adventures!

More Information

Read-Alikes

Top Picks

  • Book Jacket
    Prophet Song
    by Paul Lynch
    Paul Lynch's 2023 Booker Prize–winning Prophet Song is a speedboat of a novel that hurtles...
  • Book Jacket: The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern
    The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern
    by Lynda Cohen Loigman
    Lynda Cohen Loigman's delightful novel The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern opens in 1987. The titular ...
  • Book Jacket: Small Rain
    Small Rain
    by Garth Greenwell
    At the beginning of Garth Greenwell's novel Small Rain, the protagonist, an unnamed poet in his ...
  • Book Jacket: Daughters of Shandong
    Daughters of Shandong
    by Eve J. Chung
    Daughters of Shandong is the debut novel of Eve J. Chung, a human rights lawyer living in New York. ...

BookBrowse Book Club

Book Jacket
The Rose Arbor
by Rhys Bowen
An investigation into a girl's disappearance uncovers a mystery dating back to World War II in a haunting novel of suspense.
Book Jacket
The Story Collector
by Evie Woods
From the international bestselling author of The Lost Bookshop!
Who Said...

Beliefs are what divide people. Doubt unites them

Click Here to find out who said this, as well as discovering other famous literary quotes!

Wordplay

Big Holiday Wordplay 2024

Enter Now

Your guide toexceptional          books

BookBrowse seeks out and recommends the best in contemporary fiction and nonfiction—books that not only engage and entertain but also deepen our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.