In the Shadow of the Bull - (Ancient Crete Mystery) by Eleanor Kuhns (Hardcover)

About the Book

Ancient Crete, 1450 BC. In a world of Goddess worship, sacred snakes and sacrifice, human jealousy, resentment and betrayal still run wild. When her sister Arge drops to the floor and dies at her wedding, fifteen-year-old Martis, a young poet and bull leaper in training, is certain her sister was murdered. She vows to uncover the truth...

Book Synopsis

In a world of Goddess worship, sacred snakes and sacrifice, human jealousy, resentment and betrayal still run wild . . .

Ancient Crete, 1450 BC. When her sister Arge drops to the floor in convulsions and then dies at her wedding, fifteen-year-old Martis, a young poet and bull leaper in training, is certain she was murdered.

The prime suspect is the groom, Saurus, a barbarian from the Greek mainland, but when Arge's Shade visits Martis, swearing Saurus is not her murderer, Martis vows to uncover the truth.
As Martis begins asking questions, she discovers that while her sweet sister Arge may have had no secrets, many of the people around Martis certainly do... but if the murderer is not Saurus, then who is it? The Egyptian lady who frequents the docks, one of Martis's other sisters, her father, or someone entirely different?
Martis is in a battle against time to save her sister's Shade from eternal unrest and uncover the killer before they strike again . . .

Review Quotes

This complex, character-driven mystery is loaded with fascinating historical details-- "Kirkus Reviews"

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

A fascinating look at the Great Dismal Swamp and the enslaved who fled there trying to find freedom. The murder mystery is multi-faceted, with many red herrings and plot twists-- "Historical Novel Society on Death in the Great Dismal"

Crisply drawn characters, combined with the immersive Boston setting, which beautifully delineates the life and times of the era, from the rich to the very poor, add up to a satisfying historical mystery-- "Bookliston Murder, Sweet Murder"

Plenty of interrogations, sleuthing, and complicated family secrets coming to life-- "The Historical Novels Review on Murder, Sweet Murder"

The setting and historical detail remain sharp, with strong, descriptive prose-- "Booklist on A Circle of Dead Girls"

The story shines for its historical backbone and atmospheric details ... Perfect for readers of Margaret Lawrence's Hannah Trevor novels and Eliot Pattison's Bone Rattler series-- "Booklist on Death in the Great Dismal"

This sobering look at the cultural divide over slavery in the early days of the Republic deserves a wide audience. The intricate plot builds to a satisfying resolution-- "Publishers Weekly on Murder on Principle"

About the Author

Eleanor Kuhns is a previous winner of the Minotaur Books/Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel competition for A Simple Murder. The author of eleven Will Rees mysteries, she is now a full-time writer after a successful career as the Assistant Director at the Goshen Public Library in Orange County, New York.