A dark and complex tale of family secrets, long standing grudges and murder set in Boston at the beginning of the 1800's

As Will Rees and is wife Lydia are coming to the rescue of her father who stands accused of murdering one of his employees, her family is starting to fall apart at the seams. Long buried secrets and the family unwillingness to face its murky past when it comes to slavery, threaten to bring matters to a boiling point...
But when other members of the family are murdered, events start to take a more sinister path : is the family really falling apart or is it being specifically targeted for different reasons?

This is the 11th title in a series that keeps getting better and better.
The plot is tightly woven with lots twists and turns, the cast is exquisitely drawn and the New England atmosphere is vividly rendered. It can be read as a standalone but some familiarity with other titles in this marvellous series could come really handy.

A captivating historical murder mystery that really deserves to be enjoyed without any moderation whatsoever

Many thanks to Severn House and Netgalley for this terrific ARC

This is the 11th book in the series. This time, Will and Lydia are in Boston because Lydia’s father is accused of murder. Lydia is estranged from her family, except her half-sister Cordelia. When they arrive in Boston, with their daughter Jerusha along so she can look at a school in Boston, they are met with guarded hostility. Lydia’s father is quite wealthy and has been able to evade charges; however, the scandal has wiped away their social life and Cordelia is afraid she will not be able to get married. Both Lydia’s father and her stepmother ask that they not investigate the murder, but they do so anyway.
Will is completely out of his element in Boston as he is used to a more rural life. There is a lot of familial tension which leads to many potential suspects. The author has a neat writing style, and you are able to be transported back to the 1800s whether it’s in Maine (where the other books in the series take place) or in Boston (for this one). It is a very well-written and entertaining historical fiction mystery. As I have said with the other books in the series, each book can be read as a stand-alone – you get just enough background information – but it is better to read the series in its entirety.

Will Rees comes to Lydia's Boston home to find out who killed someone her father is accused of murdering. This historical novel is very dark with several murders and a family with acceptance of slavery and looking down on none middle class business families. Excellent writing and historical background but need for a strong stomach with noir story line.

Lydia and Will Rees amateur detectives are called home when Lydia’s father is accused of murder. Family tensions and a story with many twists leave them feeling lost at first not believing that murder has come so close to home. Family characters that are not very likeable leave you with many suspects. The investigation starts off at a slow pace but really picks up a speed at the finally.
I was given an arc of this book by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Another gripping and entertaining historical mystery set in XIX century USA. I loved how the author develops the historical background and how it is vivid.
The mystery is solid, I was glad to catch up with the characters and they are as well developed as usual.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Will Rees and his wife Lydia travel to Boston in 1801 to support Lydia's family after her estranged father is accused of murder. This is another great Will Rees mystery with compelling characters and a great mystery.
Fans of this series and of historical mysteries will not be disappointed.

I received a free copy of this book from Severn House via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.

Murder sweet murder by Eleanor Kuhns.
A Will Rees Mystery Book 11.
January, 1801. When Lydia's estranged father is accused of murder, Will Rees escorts her to Boston to uncover the truth. Marcus Farrell is believed to have murdered one of his workers, a boy from Jamaica where he owns a plantation. Marcus swears he's innocent. However, a scandal has been aroused by his refusal to answer questions and accusations he bribed officials. As Will and Lydia investigate, Marcus's brother, Julian, is shot and killed. This time, all fingers point towards James Morris, Lydia's brother. Is someone targeting the family? Were the family quarreling over the family businesses and someone lashed out? What's Marcus hiding and why won't he accept help? With the Farrell family falling apart and their reputation in tatters, Will and Lydia must solve the murders soon. But will they succeed before the murderer strikes again?
Slow but readable. OK story and characters. Not my usual read. But gave it a go. 3*.

Immersive Historical Mystery..
The eleventh in the Will Rees Mystery series finds Will Boston bound on a mission to clear the name of his wife’s estranged father. In such a case of murder, reputations lie in shreds and lives ruined but can Will and Lydia bring their investigation to a successful conclusion before death strikes again? Immersive historical mystery, nicely penned, red herrings aplenty and with credible, well drawn characters. A fitting series addition,

It's 1801. Will and Lydia are living peacefully and happily in Maine when a letter arrives from Lydia's half sister Cordy who is distressed because their father has been accused of murder. Well, she's mostly distressed because this has ruined her chances at finding a good wealthy husband. Will and Lydia, despite Lydia's great distaste for her estranged father pack up their daughters and head to Boston, where the situation quickly becomes murkier as there are additional murders. There's a certain irony in Will, who has spent so much time helping enslaved people escape to safety, is investigating to prove the innocence of a man who has made his money off plantations. I've enjoyed this series for the atmospherics and the characters but the mysteries are pretty good too. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. For fans of historical mysteries- and it will be fine as a standalone.

January 1801. Lydia Rees has received a letter from her half-sister, Cordelia, asking them to come to Boston to stay with her estranged family, as their father has been associated with a murder, and the resulting sigma has affected badly their social position. She wants Lydia and Will to investigate. But what could be the motive for the murders and by whom.
A well-written and entertaining historical mystery. With its varied and likeable characters though not so much the Farrell family. Another good addition to this series, which can easily be read as a standalone story.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Murder, Sweet Murder is the eleventh book in the William Rees series. Thomas Jefferson is about to take the presidency William is heading to Boston with his wife, ex-Shaker Lydia, adopted teenaged daughter Jerusha and baby Sharon to respond to a letter from Lydia's half sister, Cordy. Their extremely unlikeable father was widely suspected of committing a murder and somehow got the investigation shut down. But the scandal has torpedoed their social life and Cordy is afraid she'll never find a husband. William and Lydia, against her father's express wishes, begin to investigate, starting with her father's estranged brother, Julian and her brother James, who is also estranged. Lydia herself left seven years ago' Cordy's parents are encouraging her father's much older and very unlikeable business associate as a suitor, more people die, we learn a lot about women's fashion and a bit about the slave trade and rum. All in all a very enjoyable book and I will go back to pick up this series.

I've read most of the volumes in Eleanor Kuhns' Will Reese series, set in early America, and have enjoyed them. They always offer a solid read—sometimes satisfactorily so, sometimes quite rewardingly. My favorite volume takes place in a southern swamp inhabited by runaway slaves. This volume takes place in Boston in the family home of Will's wife Lydia. Lydia's father—with whom her relationship is strained, to say the least—has been accused of murder. He's wealthy and powerful enough to evade charges, but Lydia's younger half-sister has asked Lydia and Will to investigate. Suspects abound, though I found myself fairly sure of whodunnit a bit early.

If you enjoy historical mysteries, you should enjoy this one, though you may want to begin with one or two earlier volumes in the series to get a sense of what Will and Lydia's lives are like when they're home raising a cluster of children, farming, and working to make ends meet.

I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher via Net Galley; the opinions are my own.

Murder, Sweet Murder is an engrossing historical mystery that can be read as a standalone even though it is part of the Will Rees series. Will and Lydia Rees visit her family in Boston to try to clear her father of suspicion of murder. The story, setting and characters are well developed, believable and interesting. There are many suspects and possible motives that are narrowed down to reach a satisfying conclusion. New readers will enjoy discovering this series while followers will enjoy learning more about Lydia's family in the latest in the series.

Another great entry in the Will Rees series. This book gives us a peek into Lydia’s family and upscale life in post revolutionary Boston.

Proving her father innocent may call for Lydia Rees to find another family member guilty of murder.

Could it be Lydia's debutante sister, anxious to avoid a loveless marriage? Lydia's brother, whose opposition to slavery in the sugarcane fields has his father threatening to disown him? Lydia's uncle, who runs the family distillery and holds secrets from long ago? Or could her father have done the deed?

Lydia and husband, Will, head to Boston, the hometown Lydia fled years ago in favor of life in a Shaker village in Maine. She met and married weaver Will and lives happily on a 19th Century farm with their natural and adopted children. Her sister knows that Will and Lydia have solved several mysteries and begs their help.

"Murder Sweet Murder" Is Eleanor Kuhns' eleventh book in a series that gets better and better.