What do you think?
Rate this book
Alex and Briggie #1
Cankered Roots
Alexandra Campbell, a spunky young widow, partnered with Brighamina Poulson, an even spunkier, rifle-toting grandmother thinks that as they have begun a genealogy business (RootSearch, Inc.), it is high time she finds out her family secret. Something went wrong in her family during her adolescence, changing her mother from a Chicago North Shore matron into an alcoholic and a doting father into a workaholic. The moment she graduated from High School, she was sent to the Sorbonne in Paris with a generous bank account and instructions not to return.
It is now fifteen years since she has seen her parents, and she intends to lay the ghost that has separated her family for good. However, as usual in Alex’s unpredictable life, things do not go as planned. After an acrimonious fight with her once beloved father, she leaves with only a wallet-sized photograph of a woman she knows nothing about.
That night, Alex’s father is killed. Bewildered and grieved that her family can never be whole again, she soon finds out that she is the chief suspect in the murder. With the unflappable Briggie at her side, she uses all her new genealogical skills, and (with the help of Briggie’s deer rifle) discovers a secret so bizarre that she finally understands why her parents wanted her far away and safe.
It is now fifteen years since she has seen her parents, and she intends to lay the ghost that has separated her family for good. However, as usual in Alex’s unpredictable life, things do not go as planned. After an acrimonious fight with her once beloved father, she leaves with only a wallet-sized photograph of a woman she knows nothing about.
That night, Alex’s father is killed. Bewildered and grieved that her family can never be whole again, she soon finds out that she is the chief suspect in the murder. With the unflappable Briggie at her side, she uses all her new genealogical skills, and (with the help of Briggie’s deer rifle) discovers a secret so bizarre that she finally understands why her parents wanted her far away and safe.
213 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 1994
22 people are currently reading
249 people want to read
About the author
G.G. Vandagriff
55 books323 followersG.G. Vandagriff is the author of over thirty novels Amazon #1 Bestselling Author. The Last Waltz, the first novel in her 20th Century Historical Romance Series won the Whitney Award for Best Historical Novel in 2009. There are now two more books in that series—Exile and Defiance.
Thirteen of her novels are Regency romances, compared by critics to the witty novels of Georgette Heyer. She has also written a lively genealogical mystery series featuring Briggie and Alex, two whacky widows, as sleuths. Her most recent publications are Romantic Suspense. Her trilogy featuring Breaking News, Sleeping Secrets, and Balkan Echo tell the tale of high profile TV journalists--the Super Sleuths of WOOT TV station in Chicago.
GG graduated from Stanford and received her master’s degree from George Washington University. She worked as an associate editor at Stanford’s Hoover Institution, an assistant treasurer in the Harvard Treasurer’s office, a bond analyst at Fidelity Investments, and an international banker for Continental Illinois National Bank (later acquired by Bank of America).
She and her husband David are the parents of three children and seven grandchildren, her greatest joys in life. Her favorite novel? Jane Eyre. She also loves Florence, Sundance Resort, The Voice, hot chocolate, lilacs, and dachshunds.
Find out more about her books, download a free novella, and sign up for her newsletter at http://ggvandagriff.com. Also, be the first to know when Vandagriff’s next book is available by following her at http://bookbub.com/authors/G.G.Vandag... to receive new releases and discount alerts.
Thirteen of her novels are Regency romances, compared by critics to the witty novels of Georgette Heyer. She has also written a lively genealogical mystery series featuring Briggie and Alex, two whacky widows, as sleuths. Her most recent publications are Romantic Suspense. Her trilogy featuring Breaking News, Sleeping Secrets, and Balkan Echo tell the tale of high profile TV journalists--the Super Sleuths of WOOT TV station in Chicago.
GG graduated from Stanford and received her master’s degree from George Washington University. She worked as an associate editor at Stanford’s Hoover Institution, an assistant treasurer in the Harvard Treasurer’s office, a bond analyst at Fidelity Investments, and an international banker for Continental Illinois National Bank (later acquired by Bank of America).
She and her husband David are the parents of three children and seven grandchildren, her greatest joys in life. Her favorite novel? Jane Eyre. She also loves Florence, Sundance Resort, The Voice, hot chocolate, lilacs, and dachshunds.
Find out more about her books, download a free novella, and sign up for her newsletter at http://ggvandagriff.com. Also, be the first to know when Vandagriff’s next book is available by following her at http://bookbub.com/authors/G.G.Vandag... to receive new releases and discount alerts.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
May 11, 2017
Being a genealogist, I was excited to read this book. I love how the book is set in 1989, the days before technology. It’s fun to read about researching “old school.” Incorporating history into the mystery allows the storyline to have multiple layers and depth. The author is very talented to be able to develop the characters, past and present, and tie them altogether. The story line is very interesting and unique. There are four more books in this series and I am anxious to read all of them.
October 3, 2007
I love (and know) G.G. Vandagriff. The first book I read of her's was "Of Deadly Descent" which was actually the 2nd of her 3 books in this group. "Cankered Roots" was the first, which I finally got ahold of this summer. I read that, then re-read "Of Deadly Descent". I also read "Tangled Roots", the latest in this group. I loved the characters in the books, Alex and Briggie. She is currently writing the 4th of the Alex and Briggie adventures and she's been getting alot of my input on it. I'd recommend them because they are mysterious, deal w/genealogy and just a touch of romance. I keep telling G.G. no mushy romance. AND they incorporate the LDS religion into the stories....which adds to the mystery of it all.
November 2, 2011
This is a new Author and genre for me, I wasn't to sure how I would like this book as it's got a lot of geneology to it. I was pleasantly surprised as it was filled with mystery as well, the blurb of the novel peeked my interest and I'm very glad it did as I was thrilled reading it.
Having not read this type of book before I took a little bit for me to get into, but, once I did it took off like a bullet and I could not put it down. I loved GG's style of writing, I really loved how she mixed mystery with history and geneology, it really made for a fantastic mix along with the character's she has created and also adding in the LDS religion that Briggie introduced to Alex, only added more to the mystery. I found it interesting with trying to figure out the family history, I related to that part, with my own quest to try and figure out my mom and dad's family history/tree to see where I come from in the geneology aspect of things.
Alex is my favorite character. I am really looking forward to reading more of these characters and what is in store for them next. I am happy to recommend this book to all and I can't wait for the next book.
I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did!!! Enjoy!!!
Having not read this type of book before I took a little bit for me to get into, but, once I did it took off like a bullet and I could not put it down. I loved GG's style of writing, I really loved how she mixed mystery with history and geneology, it really made for a fantastic mix along with the character's she has created and also adding in the LDS religion that Briggie introduced to Alex, only added more to the mystery. I found it interesting with trying to figure out the family history, I related to that part, with my own quest to try and figure out my mom and dad's family history/tree to see where I come from in the geneology aspect of things.
Alex is my favorite character. I am really looking forward to reading more of these characters and what is in store for them next. I am happy to recommend this book to all and I can't wait for the next book.
I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did!!! Enjoy!!!
August 25, 2012
Cankered Roots by GG Vandagriff is an emotional tale of love, loss and finding out who you are. Alex, a genealogist, takes a break from helping others learn about their family trees and concentrates on her own. Desperately wanting to have a family after her husband's death, she sets out to uncover the grandfather she barely knew and whom her parents are determined to forget ever existed. What she begins to uncover reminds Alex that sometimes it is better to leave things buried in the past.
Originally written in 1993, this new edition of Cankered Roots was a pleasure to read. Taking a step back from modern technology, Alex and her friends have to uncover her family history by traditional means - searching libraries, microfilms, court documents, etc. It was so nice to read a story that isn't built around technology and how easy it is to find information online. Throw in nice doses of mystery, blackmail, unknown identities...even a dash of romance...and Cankered Roots is a great book to get lost in. I am eagerly looking forward to reading more adventures from Alex and her friends.
Originally written in 1993, this new edition of Cankered Roots was a pleasure to read. Taking a step back from modern technology, Alex and her friends have to uncover her family history by traditional means - searching libraries, microfilms, court documents, etc. It was so nice to read a story that isn't built around technology and how easy it is to find information online. Throw in nice doses of mystery, blackmail, unknown identities...even a dash of romance...and Cankered Roots is a great book to get lost in. I am eagerly looking forward to reading more adventures from Alex and her friends.
August 8, 2008
I don't have much to say about this book because frankly, I did not enjoy it all that much.
Cankered Roots is the story of Alex Campbell and her search for answers to her past. Alex has not seen or spoken to her parents in years and after confronting them about the "family secret" her father is murdered. Alex and her friend/business partner begin to unravel the secret through genealogical research in order to catch the murderer.
The characters were flat and I often found myself wondering what their motivations were for the actions they took. Much of the plot was farcical and unbelievable. I found myself rolling my eyes at the way she portrayed the police and Vandagriff tried to heighten the suspense by bringing in a supposed connection to the mafia but it was poorly developed and far from suspenseful.
An interesting idea poorly executed.
Cankered Roots is the story of Alex Campbell and her search for answers to her past. Alex has not seen or spoken to her parents in years and after confronting them about the "family secret" her father is murdered. Alex and her friend/business partner begin to unravel the secret through genealogical research in order to catch the murderer.
The characters were flat and I often found myself wondering what their motivations were for the actions they took. Much of the plot was farcical and unbelievable. I found myself rolling my eyes at the way she portrayed the police and Vandagriff tried to heighten the suspense by bringing in a supposed connection to the mafia but it was poorly developed and far from suspenseful.
An interesting idea poorly executed.
March 22, 2009
This was a book group read. It is sort of Mormon fiction, but the 'Mormon' portions are very small and somewhat unnecessary. It is basically a mystery where a murder occurs because of genealogy or family research that is being done and the mystery and murder are solved because of the genealogy. Crazy, no? It became a little confusing, but if you read it quick and when you aren't tired you will probably fair better. The big issue I had with it is kind of silly. Alex - the main character - goes 'home' after being estranged from her parents for 15 years. They aren't home when she arrives, so she lets herself in the house and makes herself at home. I thought it highly unlikely that anyone would do that after no contact for so long. Like I said, silly.
February 7, 2009
Synopsis:
Because I am a genealogy enthusiast, my mysteries naturally feature genealogy sleuths—Alexandra Campbell and Brighamina Poulson. Alex reunites with her parents for the first time in eighteen years, and the result is murder! In order to solve it, she and Briggie have to uncover the secrets in her own family tree, discovering in the process why she was sent away to Paris at age eighteen. A recent convert to the LDS church, she is still grieving over the death of her husband, but is powerfully attracted to Daniel Grinnell, a psychotherapist who knows just a little too much about her for comfort.
Because I am a genealogy enthusiast, my mysteries naturally feature genealogy sleuths—Alexandra Campbell and Brighamina Poulson. Alex reunites with her parents for the first time in eighteen years, and the result is murder! In order to solve it, she and Briggie have to uncover the secrets in her own family tree, discovering in the process why she was sent away to Paris at age eighteen. A recent convert to the LDS church, she is still grieving over the death of her husband, but is powerfully attracted to Daniel Grinnell, a psychotherapist who knows just a little too much about her for comfort.
November 22, 2011
This book is great for mystery lovers and history lovers. To solve the mystery you need to go into the past to learn the truth behind it. The characters are lovable and very real; by the end of the book I felt I was part of the team! The story is fast paced and keeps you guessing and when you get to the end you want more! Lucky that this is just the first in the series (at the moment there are 5 Alex and Briggie mysteries)! I really enjoyed this book and I like that it is a very well written story that keeps you wanting to read without the need for any explicit scenes.
I highly recommend this book and I can honestly say that I have a new series that I must complete!!!!
I highly recommend this book and I can honestly say that I have a new series that I must complete!!!!
January 2, 2016
I re-read this book recently and enjoyed it just as much as I did the first time. Genealogy and murder mystery are a brilliant combination. Alex is a fun, but not too perfect, protagonist, with plenty of realistic (and a few less realistic) problems. Although it's an LDS novel, the religious themes weren't overpowering to the story, which I appreciated. A fun, light read for anyone who likes genealogy, mysteries, or especially a combination of the two.
Note: for some reason the books in this series aren't officially numbered, but this is the first book.
Note: for some reason the books in this series aren't officially numbered, but this is the first book.
December 29, 2012
This story was so jam-packed with action I kept thinking G.G. Vandagriff is a very gifted author. I don't have a clue how she created this story because it was mind boggling. I immediately liked Alex and Daniel. They seem to read each other well, and I hope their relationship will blossom. And, I sort of read into a possible relationship between Daniel's father and Alex's partner Brighamina (I really like that name!). What I really learned from this story is how interesting genealogy could be used to solve this intricate mystery.
July 19, 2012
Who takes so long to read a 200 page book? Had it not been for the library challenge, I would have thrown this book in the trash ( ok, maybe not, as it is a library book, and I don't want to pay 40 bucks to replace it). I see what folks mean now when they say "I read things I would not have picked up if it wasn't for the challenge!". Next time, I am skipping the challenge and checking out one of my faves. And this book is a series, so I COULD read more.....egads!
February 21, 2008
I really liked this mystery as well as the sub-plots going on that are somehow linked back to the main mystery. I really enjoyed it and want to find her third book that also has the same main character.
April 28, 2008
An absolutely fantastic mystery all about GENEALOGY!! It made me remember the excitement of unconvering your family, of solving the mysteries, of learning about your own personal history. Great book.
February 12, 2020
This is the first of a set of three genealogy mysteries. Alex wants to know about her beloved grandfather, but her parents refuse to discuss him and have removed everything about him from the house. Her anger erupts when Alex confronts her father and the next thing she finds out is that he is dead. Genealogical investigation and detectives conducting an investigation go side by side through a bit of the book, with the genealogy making connections that might lead to solving the murder.
It was interesting to see the research play out, esp. since it was the best available when the book was written; thankfully research is a bit easier now. This book good for cozy fans who also like genealogy. Some references to LDS religious beliefs might irritate a few readers, but if not for them, researching ones roots would be almost impossible.
It was interesting to see the research play out, esp. since it was the best available when the book was written; thankfully research is a bit easier now. This book good for cozy fans who also like genealogy. Some references to LDS religious beliefs might irritate a few readers, but if not for them, researching ones roots would be almost impossible.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 3, 2021
I read this back in the day when it was first published and remembered liking it but I didn’t remember anything beyond it being a murder mystery centered around genealogy. I recently read her last novel in this series and felt like I was walking in half way thru so I thought I’d reread this first one to recatch the storyline. Nope. Oddly still feel a bit like I walked in the middle of it. I think that there is a really good premise here but the characters are flat and the plot is convoluted. It was funny to go back to the early 90s and see how far we’ve come in our ability to research though.
March 27, 2019
3 1\2 stars
I really enjoy genealogy mysteries and this one is written before personal computers, or ancestry.com, which should have been fascinating. Too much guessing instead of hard facts. Too much coincidence to be believable. I plan to read more from this author and hope the writing has improved. The constant references to the LDS was annoying and unnecessary to the story.
I really enjoy genealogy mysteries and this one is written before personal computers, or ancestry.com, which should have been fascinating. Too much guessing instead of hard facts. Too much coincidence to be believable. I plan to read more from this author and hope the writing has improved. The constant references to the LDS was annoying and unnecessary to the story.
October 15, 2023
This book has my favorite hobby, genealogy/family history, and one of my favorite genres, mystery.
A young widow who has been estranged from her parents for 15 years returns to her family home looking for information for her family tree.
Things start happening when her parents won’t give her answers. They say they are doing it for her protection. She then calls her older friend Brighamania to help her with her search. There is a mystery to be solved.
It was a quick read.
A young widow who has been estranged from her parents for 15 years returns to her family home looking for information for her family tree.
Things start happening when her parents won’t give her answers. They say they are doing it for her protection. She then calls her older friend Brighamania to help her with her search. There is a mystery to be solved.
It was a quick read.
June 8, 2017
The mystery was complicated, but the story wondered all over the place getting to a most convoluted ending. It was hard to like the main character.
May 17, 2018
Alex is a delightful character!
March 27, 2019
Addictive reading !
September 11, 2022
The cover and title were really intriguing. The mystery was ok, but not my style.
January 15, 2012
I borrowed this in December through the KDP Select lending program. It dealt with two interests of mine, genealogy and murder. As the author notes in "A Letter to Readers" this was her first published book from 1994. She states in the book that it was set in 1992 (Kindle location 4253) However internal evidence suggests that the story was actually happening in 1989-- see below.
Which brings me to the story. The main character is a widowed convert to Mormonism and a professional genealogist. Not only does she make her living by researching families, she has an obligation to search her own family history and perform temple ordinances for as many deceased persons as possible*.
The point is to create an eternal family in the afterlife. A big deal isn't made of this in the book although knowing it might help the reader understand why Alexandra is so desperate to find out about her grandfather and his ancestors. Her parents had destroyed all of the documentation relating to her grandfather Borden after his death. Now she was going to find out the truth from them. But shortly after she arrives at her parents home she gets in a fight with her father and rushes away. Shortly thereafter she is notified that her father is dead. With her co-genealogist, Briggie, and her friend/vague romantic interest Daniel she tries to figure out the mystery of her grandfather's background and how it was connected to her father's death.
It's a first book so that is some excuse for the clumsiness of the prose. It improves some as the story progresses. Alexandra is supposed to be 35. "She'd been twenty when they'd sent her off to Paris, now she was thirty-five" (Location 232 on Kindle Fire) She finds a letter she wrote her parents from Paris in 1974. (id. 386) However, she behaves like someone a decade younger, especially when dealing with her parents.
A bland sort of mystery that might appeal to the cozy fan.
_____________________
*This is controversial because of course no one can asked the deceased if they want to become posthumous members of the Church of LDS. Ordinances have been performed for both Adolph Hitler and Ann Frank. This has resulted in a great many historical family records being digitized and made available to searches which is of great benefit to those of us interested in history, but also other organizations such as the Catholic Church are not allowing digitizing of some records they control because of the use that members of the Mormon Church is putting the information to.
Which brings me to the story. The main character is a widowed convert to Mormonism and a professional genealogist. Not only does she make her living by researching families, she has an obligation to search her own family history and perform temple ordinances for as many deceased persons as possible*.
The point is to create an eternal family in the afterlife. A big deal isn't made of this in the book although knowing it might help the reader understand why Alexandra is so desperate to find out about her grandfather and his ancestors. Her parents had destroyed all of the documentation relating to her grandfather Borden after his death. Now she was going to find out the truth from them. But shortly after she arrives at her parents home she gets in a fight with her father and rushes away. Shortly thereafter she is notified that her father is dead. With her co-genealogist, Briggie, and her friend/vague romantic interest Daniel she tries to figure out the mystery of her grandfather's background and how it was connected to her father's death.
It's a first book so that is some excuse for the clumsiness of the prose. It improves some as the story progresses. Alexandra is supposed to be 35. "She'd been twenty when they'd sent her off to Paris, now she was thirty-five" (Location 232 on Kindle Fire) She finds a letter she wrote her parents from Paris in 1974. (id. 386) However, she behaves like someone a decade younger, especially when dealing with her parents.
A bland sort of mystery that might appeal to the cozy fan.
_____________________
*This is controversial because of course no one can asked the deceased if they want to become posthumous members of the Church of LDS. Ordinances have been performed for both Adolph Hitler and Ann Frank. This has resulted in a great many historical family records being digitized and made available to searches which is of great benefit to those of us interested in history, but also other organizations such as the Catholic Church are not allowing digitizing of some records they control because of the use that members of the Mormon Church is putting the information to.
January 14, 2010
As our story opens “Crouching in the overgrown shrubs, the stocky, ginger-haired man consulted his watch for the fifth time in the past half hour. Where was she? . . . Then he heard it— the slap of sandals against the brick sidewalk . . . he gripped the butt of the gun in his pocket . . . with glee . . . darting out in the open he fired. The victim looked down and saw the spreading stain darkening her shirt. . . She leaped off the steps, kicked off her sandals and struck the squirt gun from his hand with a roundhouse kick.”. Thus we are introduced to Alexandra Campbell and Daniel Grinelle. Alexandra is a young widow working to rebuild her life after the sudden death of her husband.. Daniel is Alexandra’s former therapist and current boyfriend. In addition to dealing with her husband’s unexpected departure from her life, Alex is also trying to come to terms with the estrangement from her parents for several years due to their curious efforts to push their daughter away from them. All of this has left Alex as something of an emotional wreck and on a psychiatrist couch trying to deal with her abandonment issues. Enter one Brighamina Poulson. A widow, mother of 9, avid Kansas City Royals fan and partner with Alex in RootSearch, Inc ., a genealogy firm. “Briggie,” is a distant cousin of Alex’s dead husband. She is also the person responsible for introducing Alex to the LDS church and is the person directly responsible for Alex’s current profession as a genealogist. Due to her new found interest in genealogy Alex is determined to uncover the mystery surrounding her much loved grandfather and get to the bottom of the reasons why her parents deserted her and why there is so much secrecy surrounding her paternal grandfather. Alex and Briggie, along with Alex’s “special friend” Daniel and Daniel’s dad are able with their collective talents and wisdom to solve the complex mystery surrounding Alex’s family. One of the valuable things one can glean from this enjoyable piece of fiction is some insight into some of the tools available to persons digging into their family histories. It is the answers to the genealogy that ultimately solve the mysteries in this story.
March 26, 2014
Genealogy is my main hobby and reading murder mysteries is my second, so this book combining the two naturally appealed to me. I liked the convoluted genealogical puzzle and the way they went about solving it best. The telling of the tale was a little rough and the characters not completely believable, especially the main character, Alex, but she is likable, so I forgave the rough edges and got the second book in the series. Alex's partner, Brighamina "Briggie" Poulson, and Alex's boyfriend's father are very funny, very entertaining. The plot is almost over the top, a hoot. There is perhaps a little too much going on--had I been the editor, I would have suggested dropping the conversion to the Mormon faith subplot and its concurrent Atonement issues--as a Mormon myself, I could appreciate it because I understood all the shorthand and the myriad of things not said, but as a literary critic, I don't think it works well.
August 10, 2016
Alex has been estranged from her parents for years. They weren't even there for her when her husband died in a plane accident.
Since then she's joined the LDS church and become a certified geneologist, and she needs to get information from her parents to complete her geneology.
Her parents are noticable upset by her request. She leaves frustrated. That night her father is murdered. Although she is one of the suspects (and partially because of it), she's determined to find her father's killer and find out why he was killed. She's sure the key to unlocking the mystery is somewhere in her family history. The more she delves, the more dangerous things become until her own life hangs in the balance.
It's confusing because a soldier from WWI has assumed the identity of her GF. She has to find the descendants of the real soldier, as well as to determine what happened to her GF
Since then she's joined the LDS church and become a certified geneologist, and she needs to get information from her parents to complete her geneology.
Her parents are noticable upset by her request. She leaves frustrated. That night her father is murdered. Although she is one of the suspects (and partially because of it), she's determined to find her father's killer and find out why he was killed. She's sure the key to unlocking the mystery is somewhere in her family history. The more she delves, the more dangerous things become until her own life hangs in the balance.
It's confusing because a soldier from WWI has assumed the identity of her GF. She has to find the descendants of the real soldier, as well as to determine what happened to her GF
February 4, 2016
I really like the idea of a mystery tied up in someone's family history.
Alex has been estranged from her parents for years. They weren't even there for her when her husband died in a plane accident.
Since then she's joined the LDS church and become a certified geneologist, and she needs to get information from her parents to complete her geneology.
Her parents are noticable upset by her request. She leaves frustrated. That night her father is murdered. Although she is one of the suspects (and partially because of it), she's determined to find her father's killer and find out why he was killed. She's sure the key to unlocking the mystery is somewhere in her family history. The more she delves, the more dangerous things become until her own life hangs in the balance.
Alex has been estranged from her parents for years. They weren't even there for her when her husband died in a plane accident.
Since then she's joined the LDS church and become a certified geneologist, and she needs to get information from her parents to complete her geneology.
Her parents are noticable upset by her request. She leaves frustrated. That night her father is murdered. Although she is one of the suspects (and partially because of it), she's determined to find her father's killer and find out why he was killed. She's sure the key to unlocking the mystery is somewhere in her family history. The more she delves, the more dangerous things become until her own life hangs in the balance.
Read
June 6, 2008A murder mystery with a twist. Alexandra Campbell knows there is a family secret about her grandfather that has torn her family apart. When she presses her father for details, he is found dead. She begins to unravel the family secrets in earnest in a way that only a professional genealogist is equipped to do. Alexandra's troubled life wasn't nearly as distracting to me as the improbability of the whole convoluted plot. Still it's a quick read and engaging.
May 1, 2009
Mystery solved by genealogists? Alexandra is struggling to find a sense of "family" and pushes her parents to tell her more about her beloved grandfather. Of course, everything isn't quite what it seemed. Lost me partway through and I felt they jumped to too many conclusions didn't care for the ending - felt like it was set up for another book (which I don't like. Tell me a story then stop and tell me another, please!).
August 26, 2010
Saying I enjoyed this book isn't quite true. But I didn't DISlike it. It was a good story, and that's why I kept reading. But her writing was VERY choppy, and I had to reread many things to understand what she was saying. The storyline also was confusing.
I also wanted to read it so that I can read the next 3 books in the series. I DID like that her LDS tones were not heavy nor tedious; just right on that count.
I also wanted to read it so that I can read the next 3 books in the series. I DID like that her LDS tones were not heavy nor tedious; just right on that count.
June 16, 2008
Written by my former bishop's wife. Thought it would be worth it to check it out, since I know the author and I like mysteries.
I liked the book - it was hard to put down in a few places - but there were parts of it that I didn't feel were entirely believable. I tend to be over critical at times, though. My wife read this before I did and really liked it.
I liked the book - it was hard to put down in a few places - but there were parts of it that I didn't feel were entirely believable. I tend to be over critical at times, though. My wife read this before I did and really liked it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews