If you like a charming multigenerational family story, "The Roots of the Olive Tree" is for you. But I expected more from this book when the theme of a life-prolonging gene mutation present in the five living generations of the female members of this family was introduced. After all, the title does include the word, "roots!" A confirmation of this theory was to be found in Australia, but the author never takes the reader there. So in the end, this book was a pleasant read with characters not particularly memorable, with relationships not particularly interesting and with a plot not particularly engaging. I do want to thank the author for naming her characters in alphabetical order according to their place in the family: Anna, Bets, Callie, Deb and Erin. This did help me to distinguish the characters' storyline one from the other.

No DNA, no finger prints, no video cameras - utterly no technology is used in the solution of a murder mystery which takes place in 1796 America. Boring? Definitely not! In her first novel Eleanor Kuhns demonstrates nuanced character development and complex plot lines that engage the reader to the very last page of this novel. Kuhns' itinerant weaver-detective, William Rees' skills closely align to Sherlock Holmes', where extraordinary common sense and thoughtful insight solve the crime. And because Kuhns' good writing skills enable you to take this journey with Rees, you will need to find more than a few hours to complete the whole book.

If you are willing to invest in reading 200 pages before significant plot development begins, learning little about most of the characters in these first 200 pages, and/or are open to the intriguing possibilities of karma and reincarnation, then you will be nearly unable to put this book down until you have read the last 200 pages. While the novel was an exciting ride, I was very moved by the themes - I am still reflecting on the power of belief in karma and multiple lifetimes. The narrative flowed smoothly and the dialog was realistic, making the reading of the first 200 pages at least manageable. Although, ironically, I cannot say that I liked any of the characters, their stories of love and loss resonated with me and I find myself wanting to share the novel with my friends.