Where to Start with Eleanor Kuhns
For readers looking to dive into Eleanor Kuhns's meticulously researched historical mysteries, there are two distinct entry points. The primary path is her acclaimed Will Rees Mysteries, a long-running series set in the late 18th century. If you prefer ancient history, her newer Ancient Crete Mysteries offer a journey back to the Bronze Age. We strongly recommend reading both series in their publication order to appreciate the character growth and evolving historical landscapes.
Will Rees Mysteries Reading Order
The Will Rees series follows a Revolutionary War veteran and traveling weaver who reluctantly becomes a detective in the post-Revolutionary United States. The series is best read in order of publication, which mirrors the internal chronology of Rees's life, his travels, and the growth of his family.
- A Simple Murder (2012) - Rees returns to his Maine hometown only to find his wife has died, prompting him to seek solace in a nearby Shaker community where a young woman has been murdered.
- Death of a Dyer (2013) - Rees returns to his farm to mend relations with his son, but is pulled into investigating the murder of a master dyer.
- Cradle to Grave (2014) - Rees investigates the mysterious death of a young woman whose baby has gone missing, leading him back to the Shakers.
- Death in Salem (2015) - A trip to Salem, Massachusetts, drags Rees into a web of maritime merchants, witchcraft lore, and murder.
- The Devil's Cold Dish (2016) - Set during a harsh winter, Rees is caught in a bitter feud between local townspeople and suspects accused of witchcraft.
- The Shaker Murders (2018) - Rees is summoned back to a Shaker community in Maine to investigate suspicious accidents.
- Simply Dead (2019) - Rees travels to a quiet Amish community in Pennsylvania, discovering that peace is hard to find when a killer is on the loose.
- A Circle of Dead Girls (2020) - Rees goes searching for missing young women in New York state, uncovering a dark conspiracy.
- Death in the Great Dismal (2021) - The search for a runaway slave takes Rees into the treacherous and wild Great Dismal Swamp.
- Murder on Principle (2021) - Rees investigates a death within a strict religious group, testing his own beliefs and deductive skills.
- Murder, Sweet Murder (2022) - Rees faces a complex case involving local trade disputes and poisonings in his home community.
- The Long Shadow of Murder (2025) - When a visitor is found dead near the Shaker settlement, Rees must unravel old Revolutionary War secrets to clear innocent suspects.
Ancient Crete Mysteries Reading Order
Set in Knossos around 1450 B.C.E., this series introduces Martis, a young bull dancer and apprentice healer. These books blend Bronze Age mythology, archaeology, and suspense.
- In the Shadow of the Bull (2023) - Martis faces her first dangerous trial as a bull dancer while trying to solve a murder in the royal court.
- On the Horns of Death (2024) - Martis is caught between rival factions in Knossos as another death threatens the stability of the palace.
- A Murder of Furies (2026) - Martis helps search for a missing young girl and uncovers a conspiracy involving a deadly substitution during a sacred serpent ceremony.
What to Know Before You Start
As a former librarian with a master's in Library Science from Columbia University, Eleanor Kuhns infuses her novels with rich historical accuracy. Her personal hobby as an avid handweaver directly inspired the trade of her protagonist, Will Rees. Throughout the Will Rees series, readers will learn about 18th-century trades, including weaving, dyeing, barrel-making, and sail-making. While the mysteries are self-contained whodunits, the overarching character arc—especially Rees's transition from an estranged, grieving widower to a settled family man with a wife, Lydia, and six children—makes sequential reading highly rewarding.