What do you think?
Rate this book
Sister Rose Callahan #6
Dancing Dead
The curious are flocking to a quaint Kentucky village, where the North Homage Shakers have opened a hostel rumored to be inhabited by a nineteenth-century spirit. Business is booming even in the throes of the Great Depression -- until a hostel guest is found murdered and Sister Rose Callahan is compelled to investigate. An orphan girl claims to have seen a hooded specter dancing through the village. And now Sister Rose fears there is more than one ghost involved in this dark shadow play -- as the secrets haunting visiting strangers and the local devout alike threaten to turn Shaker against Shaker and shatter their peaceful society forever.
- GenresMystery
336 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 1, 2002
About the author
Deborah Woodworth
12 books7 followersDeborah 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
May 10, 2026
Will the world never stop causing problems for the fictional North Homage Shaker village in fictional Languor County, Kentucky? Sadly, the world will, as this is the sixth and final book in the beloved series about a Northern Kentucky Shaker village and its courageous Eldress Rose Callahan. I have loved the series so much!
In this farewell novel, the Shakers have opened a hostel on their grounds, and readers will immediately realize the squabbling guests each have something to hide. At the same time as the opening, Languor residents claim to be seeing the ghost of a long-dead Shaker sister — the titular dancing dead. Sister Rose looks into the reports and finds out much more than she bargained for. Readers will thrill to the suspense final chapters of this excellent novel.
By 1937, North Homage, once home to 400 Believers, had dwindled to thirty-something. In real life, the last Shaker village in Kentucky, located near Bowling Green, closed in 1922. (I’ve been to the Shaker village at Pleasant Hill, near Lexington, which closed in 1910, several times, and I highly recommend visiting.)
Author Deborah Woodworth published this final novel in 2002. Although there’s no announcement at her publisher HarperCollins’ website for her, I think we can assume that we will hear no more about Sister Rose and the rest of the Shakers doing their best to continue Mother Ann Lee’s ministry in 20th century. What a pity! How I will miss them all.
In this farewell novel, the Shakers have opened a hostel on their grounds, and readers will immediately realize the squabbling guests each have something to hide. At the same time as the opening, Languor residents claim to be seeing the ghost of a long-dead Shaker sister — the titular dancing dead. Sister Rose looks into the reports and finds out much more than she bargained for. Readers will thrill to the suspense final chapters of this excellent novel.
By 1937, North Homage, once home to 400 Believers, had dwindled to thirty-something. In real life, the last Shaker village in Kentucky, located near Bowling Green, closed in 1922. (I’ve been to the Shaker village at Pleasant Hill, near Lexington, which closed in 1910, several times, and I highly recommend visiting.)
Author Deborah Woodworth published this final novel in 2002. Although there’s no announcement at her publisher HarperCollins’ website for her, I think we can assume that we will hear no more about Sister Rose and the rest of the Shakers doing their best to continue Mother Ann Lee’s ministry in 20th century. What a pity! How I will miss them all.
August 1, 2019
At this time, this is the last of the Shaker mysteries. Even though the basic plot of each is pretty much the same (there are one or more murders and it takes Sister Rose to figure out what no one else can) the books are so well written and the characters so well drawn that each book is its own small masterpiece.
One thing I find especially interesting about this series is that the stories take place in the waning days of the Shakers. By the time of the Depression many villages had already closed and those that were still in operation had dwindling numbers of Brothers and Sisters. I don't believe I have ever read a novel involving Shakers set in this period; most seem to use the setting of an earlier, more prosperous and productive time. We know that the sect once thrived, and their artisans invented many things that we take for granted today. Shaker furniture is still reproduced; actual antiques are in great demand. Shaker farming techniques and foodways are still of great interest. Today there are two Shakers still living and working and praying at the last operational Shaker Village, Sabbathday Lake in Maine. The Shaker mysteries suggest what happened in the years following their glory years. And no, it was a preponderance of murders!
One thing I find especially interesting about this series is that the stories take place in the waning days of the Shakers. By the time of the Depression many villages had already closed and those that were still in operation had dwindling numbers of Brothers and Sisters. I don't believe I have ever read a novel involving Shakers set in this period; most seem to use the setting of an earlier, more prosperous and productive time. We know that the sect once thrived, and their artisans invented many things that we take for granted today. Shaker furniture is still reproduced; actual antiques are in great demand. Shaker farming techniques and foodways are still of great interest. Today there are two Shakers still living and working and praying at the last operational Shaker Village, Sabbathday Lake in Maine. The Shaker mysteries suggest what happened in the years following their glory years. And no, it was a preponderance of murders!
May 18, 2023
A great story about a Shaker community, North Homage located in Kentucky. This particular group takes in orphans during the Great Depression. A new development on the property, a hostel, has just opened up and people from the outside world are allowed to come and take respite there Many Shakers are not happy about the outsiders walking the grounds meant for them alone and trouble begins to brew. One of the visitors is murdered and the guilt is placed on a Shaker. Sister Rose Callahan takes it upon herself to solve the crime. When she uncovers the secrets of those staying at the hostel, her life is threatened as well.
August 27, 2017
Light, fast read. Minor swearing.
August 30, 2018
I always enjoy a good mystery, especially a Shaker mystery, and this whole series by Deborah Woodworth was that, and more! I highly recommend this series!
July 7, 2020
I started reading this series many years ago. This appears to be the last book. Too bad.
August 18, 2012
Ron - 3 stars; Nancy - 4 stars
October 23, 2014
The last book in the series.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews