Wormwood by Susan Wittig Albert

Shaker History, Murder Mysteries, and Cult-Like Secrets ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This mystery blends Shaker history with a dual-timeline style story told partly through journals while also following a present-day investigation involving murder, scandal, and long-buried family secrets.

And honestly, the historical side of this story was the strongest part for me.

I really enjoyed learning more about the Shakers, their strict control over members, and the almost cult-like structure woven throughout the history sections of the book. Some of the most interesting moments came from seeing how members manipulated situations behind the scenes and managed to pull the wool over the eyes of leadership for generations.

The story does a great job intertwining a modern murder investigation with older Shaker scandals, slowly revealing how one family has been financially tied to the Shaker culture and secrets for generations. Watching those connections unfold between past and present made the mystery feel layered and compelling.

What held the story back for me was the main character, China Bayles.

I really struggled with the amount of interference and borderline evidence tampering she gets involved in throughout the investigation. China repeatedly inserts herself into active criminal investigations, questions suspects herself, and essentially solves the crime independently before handing information over to law enforcement afterward.

And honestly… as a lawyer, she should absolutely know better.

Even with her husband being a police officer, a lot of her behavior crossed lines that made the investigation feel unrealistic at times. I think I would have enjoyed the mystery much more if stronger boundaries had existed between amateur sleuthing and official police work.

Still, the Shaker history, layered family scandal, journal entries, and cult-like atmosphere made this a compelling read overall.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 Stars

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— Amanda R.

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