This is the 4th book in the series.

It's 1796. Will is a traveling weaver/loomer from Maine. He travels to Salem (MA) to get some fabric so dresses can be made for his pregnant wife, Lydia. While he is in Salem, he witnesses a funeral procession and then realizes that the town's undertaker is a friend of his. His friend, Twig, informs Will that he believes the person who dies was murdered. Twig knows Will has untied the knots of mysteries in the past and solved murders so he asked Will to look at the body and meet the family. One of the family members hires Will to stay in Salem and solve the murder of his dad. During the course of Will's investigation, he sends Twig to Maine to get Lydia because she provides him with another perspective.

Lydia is from the Shakers and was raised in an affluent family in Boston. She has a child from her first marriage and is pregnant with her first child with Will. They have also adopted four other kids. Each book in the series is a different mystery that needs to be solved. ( )

This fourth installment in the historical Will Rees Mystery series is wonderfully atmospheric. It is set in 1796 Salem, Massachusetts - roughly 100 years after the witch trials. However, superstitions are still quite plentiful and one can easily use that to one's advantage.

Of equal abundance, are the red herrings in this well developed story. There are so many possible motives which come into play. It appeared as though right up until the end, the hero was still attempting to make sense of the goings on in this town and was hopeful someone would misstep and all would be made clear.

Having spent many a weekend in Salem with my father during my youth, I was transported to the old wharf and again walking through the old narrow streets. The underground tunnels are very real and tell tale of a smuggler's paradise and the ever hopeful Freedom Train. Author Eleanor Kuhns richly captures the essence of this old whaling and merchant ship town. She keenly develops her characters and deftly describes the sights, sounds and smells of a long forgotten age. I look forward to grabbing copies of her other books in this series, "A Simple Murder", "Death of a Dyer", "Cradle to Grave", and "The Devil's Cold Dish", and reliving my New England upbringing surrounded by history.

I am grateful to author Eleanor Kuhns and Goodreads First Reads Giveaway for having provided a free copy of this book. Their generosity, however, did not influence this review - the words of which are mine alone. ( )

Traveling through Salem on his way home, ​Will ​Rees encounters an old friend and becomes involved in a murder investigation at the request of his friend, Twig.

Rees wonders how he became involved in this investigation when all he wanted was to go home and see his wife, Lydia. Could he bring her here to help?

​I enjoyed the time period DEATH IN SALEM was set in but am glad I didn't live then. Horse and buggies, no phones,​ women who had to stay home, women who were not allowed to be educated, some women who couldn't eve​n read​. What a time to be a man, right?

Being a man meant being a sailor or a merchant in this town. And being a wealthy merchant in this case was bad for Jacob Boothe. His wealth may have been what got him murdered.

But, who was the murderer of not one but now two people and then a third? Could Will figure it out or is his investigation putting him in danger.

It took a few pages to become part of the story, but I enjoyed DEATH IN SALEM. I liked the characters and the storyline. The characters perfectly portrayed the era. The storyline kept me guessing until the end. The wrap up and solving of the murder was unique.

The storyline definitely held my interest, and I am going try some of Ms Kuhn's other books. Murder and mishaps prevailed along with authentic characters who got the job done.

DEATH IN SALEM is a book historical fiction and murder fans do not want to miss. 4/5

This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation in return for an honest review. ( )

Will Rees is called upon to investigate the stabbing of a Salem shipping magnate named Boothe in this work of historical fiction. Soon other murders follow. Rees follows leads that take him into Salem's tunnels, into the shady part of town called Black Cat, and to other areas. He must also determine if smuggling had a role in the deaths. The novel is a bit conversation-heavy and did not maintain my interest well. Sentences seemed choppy instead of well-constructed, adding to the problems. I suspect that some readers will enjoy this more than I did. Persons who have read the earlier installments in the series might also appreciate it more. The review is based on an advance reader's e-galley provided by the publisher through NetGalley for review purposes. ( )