Murder on Principle - (Will Rees Mystery) by Eleanor Kuhns (Hardcover)

About the Book

A slaveholder from Virginia is found dead in Maine shortly after Will Rees helps escort a slave and her child to safety. Was he searching for the slave? The slaveholder's sister arrives demanding justice, but Rees is torn. Should he help find the killer of the notoriously cruel man or let them go free?

Book Synopsis

Will Rees faces a moral dilemma when a slaveholder is murdered while attempting to recapture a former slave: should he pursue lawful justice or should he let the killer go free?

November 1800, Maine. After helping their long-time friend Tobias escort his wife, along with a liberated slave and her child, from the Great Dismal back to Durham, Will and Lydia Rees's lives are interrupted when a dead body is found near their home.

The body is that of Mr Gilbert, a slaveholder from the Great Dismal. Was he murdered in pursuit of the former slaves?

When it's discovered Gilbert was infected with smallpox, and Gilbert's sister arrives demanding justice and the return of her absconded slaves, Will is torn. Finding the killer could lead to the recapture of the former slaves. Letting them go free could result in a false arrest and endanger the Durham community. Will must make a choice . . .

Review Quotes

This continuation of the story of Will Rees and his family stands on its own,
probing issues of race relations and religion in our early republic - Booklist

A complex mystery that focuses on the institutional racism still sadly ingrained in
the nation's psyche - Kirkus Reviews

This sobering look at the cultural divide over slavery in the early days of the
Republic deserves a wide audience - Publishers
Weekly