Death of a Winter Shaker [Mass Market Paperback]

Deborah Woodworth (Author)

Book Description

Series: Sister Rose Callahan Mystery | Publication Date: April 1, 1997

SISTER ROSE IS ON A MISSION... TO CATCH A KILLER

The peaceful Shakers, pledged to hard work, worship and nonviolence could scarcely believe there was a dead body in their herb house. The handsome young drifter known as a "Winter Shaker" had professed to be a Believer to find refuge from the cold and the Depression. Now he'd gotten himself murdered.

Shaker Sister Rose Callahan, with her practical knowledge and worldly experience is assigned to find answers the sheriff refuses to consider-even if it mean discovering one of their own is the killer. But to protect a declining Shaker population, Rose must keep the sinful details hidden from the outside world. What the good Sister uncovers among the brethren are more than a tad of Earthly temptations, some un-Godly rivalry, and enough shameful secrets to raise havoc among the faithful...and to tempt some misguided soul to commit the most diabolical sin of all.

SISTER ROSE IS ON A MISSION... TO CATCH A KILLER

The peaceful Shakers, pledged to hard work, worship and nonviolence could scarcely believe there was a deadbody in their herb house. The handsome young drifter known as a "Winter Shaker" had professed to be a Believer to find refuge from the cold and the Depression. Now he'd gotten himself murdered.

Shaker Sister Rose Callahan, with her practical knowledge and worldly experience is assigned to find answers the sheriff refuses to consider-even if it mean discovering one of their own is the killer. But to protect a declining Shaker population, Rose must keep the sinful details hidden from the outside world. What the good Sister uncovers among the brethren are more than a tad of Earthly temptations, some un-Godly rivalry, and enough shameful secrets to raise havoc among the faithful...and to tempt some misguided soul to commit the most diabolical sin of all.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Deborah Woodworth spent her childhood in southern Ohio near the abandoned sites of several Shaker villages. Before turning to writing, she earned her Ph.D. in Sociology of Religion and spent a decade conducting research and teaching. She lives in New Brighton, Minnesota, near the Twin Cities.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Avon; 1st Avon Edition edition (April 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 038079201X
• ISBN-13: 978-0380792016
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,403,747 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great mystery and fascinating glimpse into Shaker community, January 21, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Death of a Winter Shaker (Mass Market Paperback)

I loved this book. Before reading it, about all I knew about the Shakers was that they were originally a fringe group of Quakers who shook (rather than quaked) in the presence of the Lord, and who believed in chastity for all members -- and that they made beautiful furniture and were outstanding cooks. But this book takes you right into a Shaker community, and makes the people seem very real. It therefore provided a fascinating glimpse into their way of life. But that was all serendipitious -- it is an excellent mystery in its own right, and thoroughly enjoyable. I can't wait to read the rest of this series.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A pleasant new series!, March 18, 1998

By 

J. Hitchin (Redmond, WA, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Death of a Winter Shaker (Mass Market Paperback)

This is a fascinating novel about a part of American history that I don't know very well. Shaker society was never really covered in class, and so I read this with fascination. Besides the well done parts about Shaker society, the mystery itself is also fun to read about. Sister Callahan seems to be the only sane person sometimes there as the other Shakers are portrayed as religious fanatics to the point of being violently fanatical. I'm hoping that the people we meet in the next book will be a tad calmer. Besides that one problem I was still enchanted by this book and look forward to the next one.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A different kind of mystery, December 3, 2001

By 

nlw (Jefferson City, MO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Death of a Winter Shaker (Mass Market Paperback)

Having visited a Shaker village and purchasing my copy there, I found that I could visualize the setting so easily. Ms. Woodworth does an excellant job of presenting the Shaker community very accurately. ( from what I learned ) I was very surprised at the development of the plot.
I am looking forward to adding the rest of the Shaker mysteries to my collection