Cover Her Body, A Singular Village Mystery (Singular Village Mysteries) [Kindle Edition]

I love action/mystery stories that feature strong women. Generally I don't read historical fiction because, well, I miss the fingerprints and cell phones. But the description of "Cover" sounded so interesting that I decided to give it a try and I am very glad that I did. This novel works on every level: the reader learns about a period of history that most are probably unfamiliar with; the whodunnit portion is as well done as any I have read; and the main character demonstrates a way of getting things done when, perhaps, you are not the one - in this case even the class - with any real power. Since our power relationships always put us below someone or some group, we can all learn from Adelaide. "Cover" is one of the very few works of fiction which I am likely to read again, perhaps more than once, and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Having just visited Zoar, Ohio this summer and also being a descendant I was eager to read Cover Her Body in hopes of getting a historical peek into the lives of my ancestors. This was such an enjoyable read and a great little mystery that I had to remind myself that I was reading fiction. Eleanor stirred the village of Zoar and her characters (both factual and imagined) to life in an exciting tale of murder, redemption and forgiveness. Will be looking forward to more Eleanor Sullivan stories in the future. Recommend!

Eleanor Sullivan's Cover Her Body is a historical Murder Mystery set in 1830's Zoar, Ohio. A Separatist community follows strict rules, as many religious sects stemming from Old World countries. However, history is filled with instances where such strict adherence is not only an obstacle to law and order, but the actually the cause of life-threatening actions. In Sullivan's tale of religious rules, young love, murder, women's struggle for equality, and self-awareness, there is nothing lacking.

Adelaide, the main character and hero, is a young married woman struggling with an awakening of the world around her, and an opening and expanding mind; when she comes upon the reality that her dear friend's daughter has been murdered. Determined to find the killer, she is relentless in her search for the truth of what happened, and at the same time, discovers that the flickers of self-doubt that plague her are unwarranted.

The characters are a rich tapestry of vivid and vibrant workmanship. Each may be woven of Fiction, but form a reality that is impenetrable by the reader's mind and eyes. Head to foot creative artistry is abound as the tale unfolds, and readers attempt to follow the clues Adelaide is putting together to solve the crime that only she is willing to accept as a reality.

The plot is interesting and tantalizing to the senses. Erected in the simplistic countryside of Ohio, the tale is anything but basic. It holds a multitude of layers and stories within the main tale. A reader will never be bored with this novel, although it bears careful reading, if for no other reason than the reader's attempt to solve the crime before Adelaide.

I do not make a habit out of reading Mystery, and have been known, at times, to avoid the genre do to the monotonous repetition of story line and plot devices. That said, I was not only pleasantly surprised by the familiar yet fresh feel of this novel, that I found myself enveloped by the author work and eager to continue the read until end. I would definitely recommend this work to any reader eager for a worthy and engrossing experience.