Deadly Pedigree

Nick Herald Genealogical Mystery #1

by Jimmy Fox

Mystery, genealogy, murder! Climbing Louisiana family trees can be deadly. Nick Herald, a professional genealogist working in New Orleans, searches for possible Louisiana relatives of a lonely Holocaust survivor. After the shocking murder of the elderly man who was his client, Nick fears that something much more sinister than innocent genealogical curiosity lurks in the shadows. He must find the truth! What buried secrets haunt the present? To find out, Nick warily navigates a dangerous forest of mysteries with roots in Jewish and African American tribulations and triumphs. His investigation delves deeply into the unique history and complex ethnic gumbo of Louisiana. He struggles to unravel a tangled tale of betrayal, bigotry, lust, shame, and love spanning oceans and continents and two centuries of Louisiana’s past, back to the Civil War, slavery days, and beyond. Ultimately, Nick makes courageous decisions to right old wrongs and expose the guilty, while fighting desperately to outsmart his foes, stay alive, and save all that he holds dear!

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Mystery Thriller

274 pages, Paperback

First published August 2, 2001

Reviews

[Katharine Ott · Rating 1 out of 5]

"Deadly Pedigree" - written by Jimmy Fox and published in 2001 by Top Publications. Genealogical mysteries are not especially big sellers, but I've enjoyed some of them very much. Not this one. The writing itself was too wordy, too flowery, too full of itself, with many descriptions and details not at all moving the story forward. But the worst sin was the genealogist himself, Nick Herald. In a money-grabbing assault on old records, he razors some out of ledgers found in musty basements, steals others from supposedly abandoned buildings, and actually sets fire to and destroys another genealogist's research. The fact that he is able to restore these records in the end in no way redeems his actions. The basic genealogical question was interesting, but I really disliked the way it was told.

[Mystic Miraflores · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed this book and glad to meet a different type of detective, the genealogist-detective. I am a little bit weary of reading books about the baker-detective, the chef-detective, the florist-detective, etc., so was happy to run across this series and author. I look forward to reading more in the series. Nick is very real: neither all good or all bad, but often in a gray area--like a true person. His sexual appeal and prowess seems a bit over-inflated (he's not described to look like Brad Pitt or someone like that) and that gets tired after a while. Plus there were some misspellings and formatting problems. But overall, I liked the book.

[Tina Mann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Caught attention from page 1

My favorites: genealogy and mystery wrapped in one! This book caught me and kept my attention from page 1.
Mindblowing!

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first genealogical mystery I have read. The story was well done, but it did drag a bit in several places, and the author spends a lot of time on descriptions and background, which could have been written more tightly and shorter. Nick Herald is a former professor who lost his job over some shady dealings (he proclaims his innocence) turned genealogical consultant, who is hired by two people to look into the same genealogy, one to get the records and story out the other to have the records and story destroyed. Nick travels throughout Louisiana from his home base in New Orleans searching for answers and clues to the genealogy in question, encountering some mystery and excitement along the way. Nick is a hardworking, earnest guy seeking answers. However, I am not sure I agree with or approve of his methods and actions all the time. Still, he does get the job done. I enjoyed the descriptions of Louisiana, but found them tedious at times. He could have written them more concisely. I also thought the ending of the story was rather weak, compared to other mysteries I have read. Nevertheless, this is a good book and has a lot of interesting information on Louisiana and genealogy research and worth reading. I received this book free on-line to read and review.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

Proving that genealogists can be hard-boiled detectives, "Deadly Pedigree" follows a discredited academic in a "milk them for as much as I can" genealogy business as he's hired to collect everything about an immigrant lineage for two reasons: one to let the truth come out, and one to remove all evidence at any cost. While the protagonist is sympathetic, his moments of guilt don't exactly stop him from acting immorally to get what he wants (so I couldn't always exactly root for him).

The locations are well described, if perhaps too much (an occasional full page of exposition between lines of dialogue), but often the dialogue seems to get the same treatment (who talks like that?). This and the "know it's wrong, but do it anyway" nature interrupted the flow for me, but it won't stop me from checking out the next two Nick Herald mysteries ("Lineages and Lies" and "Jackpot Blood", both being reissued in paperback and Kindle soon).

I received this Kindle edition during a free promotion period.

[Kirsten Lenius · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read, this book is a murder mystery which involves geneology and history, both European and United States.

The geneologist was a former professor who was fired from his teaching position after accusations of plagarism were made against him.

Two people hire him to research the same family line for different purposes. One wishes to document it; the other wishes the evidence of it to be destroyed. Each has their own reasons and matters grow both complicated and deadly.

I can't say I liked the 'hero' all that well. He was a little too amoral for my taste, but at least he was interesting. There were many other characters who all had their own little stories, as well, though I did not find that distracted from the story.

There were a couple of spots which could have used some tightening, but it kept my attention. I'd read this author again.

[Karen Syed · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am glad I read this book. Genealogy ranks right up there with reading for me, so to be able to read mysteries with this kind of premise is pure joy for me.

I will admit that there are some issues with editing, but the story is solid and more than a little interesting. Jimmy Fox has created a character that is uniquely flawed and fairly likeable.

With a doable number of twists and a solid mystery, "Deadly Pedigree" offers readers a unique approach to the genre as well as inserting a fair amount of history and intrigue.

Nick Herald is quite a character and I look forward to reading more of this series.

[Roberta · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story -- all genealogists feel like detectives. But usually family secrets from the past have no repercussions in the present. And the dead bodies stay buried.

It was a little funny that the book started out with Nick Herald wondering if he had wasted money on the ad that he had placed in the yellow pages. There were better places for him to advertise and, even back in the dark ages of 2001, genealogists advertised on the Internet. It is also rare for any genealogist to be dazzled by being offered a huge advance.

[Marty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this as a win from another site to my Kindle. I liked the story and found it compelling. I thought it was well written and well thought out. Nick is hired to look up old family for two very people who each have an agenda. One deadly. The book was a fast read and left lots of room open for a sequel. I thought the romance side of the story, such as it was fairly believable as was the book ending however fast it moved.
I would read more from this author.

[Dave W · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is an interesting mix of people, history, New Orleans and genealogy. It provides a real example to substantiate some of the stereotypes we have developed for the period. I also enjoyed the variety of methods employed to chase down the history of the family while living with the current and daily reality.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

Great characters, great story line, and great plot. I wanted to rush through the book but at the same time I wanted to read slow so it wouldn't end. I already have Fox's next book downloaded. One downside, I had never encountered several of the words used throughout the book. I love to expand my vocabulary but wasn't online when I was reading.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

A first book in series - and I'm looking forward to more! Main character Nick Herald is a professional genealogist, hired by two different people to trace a genealogical line. One wants the truth. The other wants to bury it, along with anyone who gets in the way.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book. As I am with all genealogy mysteries, I thought it was a little far fetched, but who would want to read a book based on the real day to day activities of a genealogist. I thought it was well written and I liked the main character. I will definitely read more.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a mystery, it was good. Seriously, though, what "professional genealogist" does NOT know that family surnames have NOT been changed through history by bad spelling or English speaking census takers translating from someone who spoke another language originally?

[Dawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truly enjoyed this story once it got going, but I had some issues with the main character. Didn't appreciate some of his antics & cringed @ his ethics, but overall I liked him in the end & hope to read more of the series.

[Linda Cole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mystery history and murder combined

Mystery history and murder combined

anyone who loves history and how it affects the future of the next generation will enjoy this book very believable

[Barbara L. Castells · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting use of a geological study.

I would recommend this book to any fan of geological study and murder mystery books. Characters are well defined and deserve to be seen in future volumes.
Barbara Castells.

[j. Diane Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A serious page turner, with bits of humor. Enjoyed!!

I love genealogical mysteries. The author does not allow a lull. It is a joyful, fast paced mystery. Nick Herald is a lovable character.

[Cheri · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a fine airplane read, and the genealogical twist was different and enjoyable. But I'm getting tired of grouchy, deeply flawed protagonists who have gorgeous women falling all over them for no apparent reason and of stereotypical portrayals of academe.

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It was filled with accurate details of genealogical methodology and, at the same time, with exciting twists and turns regarding the pedigree of one family in particular. Suspenseful and well-written; definitely hard to put down.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book - esp. if you're interesting in detective stories and genealogy.

[Rachelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was really 3 1/2 stars and one of the better genealogy mysteries I have read. Sometimes a little over the top in believability, but that's not why we read mysteries is it?

[Val Sanford · Rating 1 out of 5]

The main charachter was just too cynical and depressing for me, and a touch mean-spirited to boot. Perhaps I am missing a great character arc or maybe it's just my mood.

[Robin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Couldn't get passed the hokey dialogue.

[Kay C · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great genealogical mystery with lots of twists and turns and interesting characters. The solid writing kept me going and looking forward to picking up the book every time.

[Cindy Brooks · Rating 2 out of 5]

Deadly Pedigree:A Nick Herald Genealogical Mystery
Not one of my favorite books in the series.