Death of a Dyer

By: Eleanor Kuhns

Narrated by: Richard Waterhouse

Will Rees feels at home. It’s been a long time since he last felt this way - not since before his wife died more than five years ago and he took to the road as a traveling weaver. Now Rees is back on his farm, living with his teenaged son, David, and his housekeeper, Lydia - whose presence contributes more toward his happiness than he’s ready to admit. But his domestic bliss is shattered the morning a visitor brings news of an old friend’s murder.

Nate Bowditch and Rees hadn’t spoken in many long years, but as children they were closer than brothers, and Rees feels his loss acutely. Asked to look into the circumstances surrounding Nate’s death, Rees simply can’t refuse. At the Bowditch farmstead, Rees quickly discovers that everyone - from Nate’s frosty wife to his missing son to the shy serving girl - is hiding something. But are any of them actually capable of murder? Or does the answer lie elsewhere, behind stones no one even knew needed un-turning?

Death of a Dyer once again proves Eleanor Kuhns’ remarkable ability to spin a captivating story and capture the light and darker sides of human nature on the page.

©2013 Eleanor Kuhns (P)2013 AudioGO

Critic reviews

“Kuhns creates a marvelously chilly atmosphere throughout this suspense tale about seemingly upright people guarding evil secrets. Rees, the weaver, is a wonderful creation.” ( Booklist [starred review])

“Offers a sensitive look into matters of the heart woven into a nifty puzzle.” ( Kirkus Reviews)

Good series

I like this series a lot. You don't find many murder mystery books set in post-Revolutionary War 1790's and Eleanor Kuhns does a good job of bringing this period of U.S. history to life. The story seems to move slowly, but it is more due to the era it's set in. The characters are all well written and the resolution of the murder is satisfying. The reader did a good job, although I had to go back and listen to a few sentences to make sure I knew who was speaking/thinking a few times. All in all, it was good and I will be listening to more books in the series.

Might have been better with a better narrator

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Only someone interested in the time/or weaving

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

Taken out some of the insipid romance... much too forced. I don't think men in the 18th century did all that hand-wringing about getting re-married. Death was too common.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Definitely. Very cardboard narration.

Could you see Death of a Dyer being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

Yes, it's silly enough to be made into a tv series.