Rose also knows that Hancock is not only suffering from the Depression that the rest of the country is in, but also from declining membership. Rose agrees to go out of a sense of duty, and her friend Gennie Malone, a former Shaker, is more than willing to accompany Rose and is eager to help solve another mystery with her.

Upon arriving in Hancock, the two women agree to separate and appear not to know one another. Gennie settles with the outside hired women who run the kitchen and takes the general store job vacated by the dead young woman. The dead girl's sister, Dulcie, is drawn to Rose and quickly takes her into her confidence. Rose learns that there are many new members in this order, some of whom have torn their families apart to become Believers, but who among them has caused enough grief to commit murder.

Working quickly and carefully, Rose learns many secrets that the normally simple and faithful people hold. Gennie spends her time with the outsiders and the two hope to quickly unmask the source of the unrest and evil.

The Killing Gifts is a simply told mystery that is full of details that describe the life of a Shaker community in a way that will make readers see that the lives of these faithful people are as full as people who lead more worldly lives. The contrast is drawn between the older Shakers, the novitiates and the outsiders and their different ways of life, but it also shows that people are very much the same.

Rose is a caring and compassionate Elder, but is not so inflexible as to shun others who choose a different way of life. She is an able investigator and helps keep reign on Gennie, the more eager and impulsive of the two. Rose's new friend Dulcie is a sad, genuine character, although it might be expected she would be more distraught over the death of her sister.

The mystery surrounding Julia's murder and the other evil events occurring in the community will keep readers guessing for most of the novel. There is one last surprise for Gennie at the end, one that may cause her to look harder at her engagement, but will result in her growing up a bit. Killing Gifts is a solid entry in a series that depicts a gentler way of life in an earlier time.

--Jennifer Monahan Winberry