What do readers think of A Simple Murder by Eleanor Kuhns? Write your own review.

No DNA, no finger prints, no video cameras - utterly no technology is used in the solution of a murder mystery which takes place in 1796 America. Boring? Definitely not! In her first novel Eleanor Kuhns demonstrates nuanced character development and complex plot lines that engage the reader to the very last page of this novel. Kuhns' itinerant weaver-detective, William Rees' skills closely align to Sherlock Holmes', where extraordinary common sense and thoughtful insight solve the crime. And because Kuhns' good writing skills enable you to take this journey with Rees, you will need to find more than a few hours to complete the whole book.

The mystery, A Simple Murder by Eleanor Kuhns was utterly captivating from the first paragraph to the last. The Shaker settlement in Maine was the setting for a deep mystery, involving Shakers, a detective and family members. It was very enlightening to see the life style of the Shakers in this book. I could not put it down. I highly recommend this story and look forward to other books published by Eleanor Kuhns.

Last week when I went to a doctor's appointment I took "A Simple Murder" with me. When I was called back to see the doctor I was so upset because I wanted to sit and read this book! It has a great plot, believeable characters, and an unusual setting. 1796 in a Shaker community is not where you would expect a murder mystery to be placed.Having visited a Shaker village in Kentucky helped in "seeing" the community in the story. Also, I was interested in the weaving because a good friend of mine is a weaver. This is a great book. I loved it and hope there will be more stores about Will Rees solving mysteries.

This one has it all - a whodunit in a historical setting, family drama, interesting characters, unusual setting, an almost-love story. Devoured in 2 evenings, and I can't wait for more. This book should appeal to a wide range of readers, men and women alike, and be of interest for book club discussion because of the human aspect in the father-son relationship. Hope the promise of a series comes true, I can see Rees as a character to follow.

Hard to believe this was a first novel - well written and researched (historical facts were part of the story and not a separate "lecture" as so many authors make the mistake of doing). The characters were three dimensional and the plot kept me guessing as to "who-done-it"

I would recommend this novel to anyone who likes both mysteries and historical fiction.

I was intrigued with the opportunity to learn more about the Shakers and more about life in 1796 America. While "A Simple Murder" did provide me a some insight into both, I found the pace a bit too slow moving. All the ingredients are there for a good read, but the character of Will Rees was off-putting. Lydia, on the other hand, was fascinating, a strong woman torn between two worlds and showing the capability of creating a life for herself in either. There are other characters in the book who are better delineated and more interesting than Mr. Rees.

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.

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.