Rating: Liked It!
Source: Publisher
Description: It's the week before New Year's Eve and genealogist Lucy Lancaster is mixing work and play quite nicely at the boutique Sutton Hotel in Austin, Texas. After two months of research she's finalizing her presentation for hotel heiress Pippa Sutton, her latest client.
Lucy has just arrived back at the hotel after a day of research when a strange man comes staggering toward her. She barely has time to notice his weak, sweaty appearance and broken tooth before he presses a classic Montblanc pen into her hand, whispers, "keep them safe," and collapses at her feet, dead.
Lucy only knows one person who might be able to explain the significance of the pen: her grandpa, who is a collector. But Grandpa has an odd reaction to the sight of the pen, and Lucy can't help but feel that it might have something to do with his experiences during World War II.
When Lucy becomes convinced that her hotel room has been searched and that there's more to the pen—and her grandpa—than meets the eye, she begins to draw connections from the present-day deaths and suspicious behaviors to a group of spies in World War II. Secret codes, old grievances, and traitors seem to hide behind every corner, and as Lucy begins to connect the dots someone seems determined to make sure the Lancaster line ends once and for all.
Genre: Mystery - Cozy
Why I Picked This Book: I enjoyed the first book and I love genealogy so this is a must read.
My Impression: This mystery is a family affair for Lucy as pretty early in her grandfather is drawn into the plot and all kinds of family secrets start coming to light. I enjoyed that the focus was on Lucy and her family a bit and I adored meeting her grandfather who was a very much front and center character.
I love love love the genealogy angle here and while the plot was a touch farfetched I enjoyed the book itself enough that it didn't bother me. I couldn't wait to see how everything unraveled and I this was an easy book to pick up and dive into. I had enjoyed the first book but felt like it had some pacing issues and I feel that while this book isn't perfect I really felt like I saw a lot of improvement there. Lucy isn't my favorite cozy mystery sleuth - she's still just a bit immature - but I enjoyed the side characters enough to get past that.
If you enjoy genealogy and love a cozy mystery this is a series you really must try!
Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Definitely! This series seems to be getting better and I love the genealogy part of it.
Would I Recommend this Book? If you enjoy cozy mysteries this is a fun one and if you also find genealogy or family secrets interesting then I think this is a must read!
* I received this book in exchange for an honest review. As always my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *
Would I Read More of this Series/Author? Definitely! This series seems to be getting better and I love the genealogy part of it.
Would I Recommend this Book? If you enjoy cozy mysteries this is a fun one and if you also find genealogy or family secrets interesting then I think this is a must read!
* I received this book in exchange for an honest review. As always my opinions and impressions are completely my own. *
Genealogy mysteries are great. I think there is another author with genealogy in the theme, Fiona Mountain. I wouldn't mind reading more of her work.
ReplyDeleteI've enjoyed genealogy mysteries in the past and have had the first book in this series on my list to try. Now another one is out. That might be the push I need. This author is from my area I think or at least writes about my area of the world. Glad you liked it!
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to get to this one!
ReplyDeleteEven though a book has some flaws other factors can outweigh them and it sounds like i this book they did!
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed it and want to read more of the series!
ReplyDeleteAn interesting premise. I think it's neat how geneaology is the focal subject in this series.
ReplyDeleteI love this cover! 😯
ReplyDelete