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The Accidental Archivist
Fifty-something Kathleen used 23andme to identify her biological mother, who is rumored to have a child with a priest. Kathleen believes that her father is Angie’s great-uncle Ed, a beloved monsignor. Angie’s genealogy and medical backgrounds balk at this conclusion. Couldn’t it be one of the other seven priests in the family?
Despite initial reluctance, she is drawn full force into the mystery. Angie visits archives around Wisconsin, creating dossiers on the potential priest fathers. Kathleen discovers articles online with tantalizing clues hidden in plain sight. Angie’s geneticist sister applies modern techniques to unravel this complex case of genetic genealogy.
After a year, Angie determines that a distant relative is Kathleen’s and Henry’s father. They work together to sketch out their biological parents’ story, one wound up in expectations, disappointments, and secrets hidden in plain sight. As they arrive at answers, new questions continue to surface and each struggles to craft a narrative that answers them fully. Ultimately, they create a new definition of family and celebrate it with all of its amazing twists and turns.
Despite initial reluctance, she is drawn full force into the mystery. Angie visits archives around Wisconsin, creating dossiers on the potential priest fathers. Kathleen discovers articles online with tantalizing clues hidden in plain sight. Angie’s geneticist sister applies modern techniques to unravel this complex case of genetic genealogy.
After a year, Angie determines that a distant relative is Kathleen’s and Henry’s father. They work together to sketch out their biological parents’ story, one wound up in expectations, disappointments, and secrets hidden in plain sight. As they arrive at answers, new questions continue to surface and each struggles to craft a narrative that answers them fully. Ultimately, they create a new definition of family and celebrate it with all of its amazing twists and turns.
1 pages, Audio CD
Published November 26, 2024
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127 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
November 29, 2022
It’s 2:33 AM and I’m finally finished reading this miraculous story!
I am a glutton for genealogical fiction. I alternate between series by different authors. I stumbled onto THIS book, a true story of discovering a family’s history and connections. It is both miraculous and a blessing. I couldn’t put it down! When I was away from it, it called me like a siren. While I was reading it, life and all in it faded away. I loved everything about it. And everyone was/are real people. My favorite parts are the pictures and the diagrams that enhance the experience for those that get clarity and delight through the visual. Angela Bier is an amazing and compelling writer. In this case, truth is better than fiction. Who could’ve even thought this up?!! And Kathleen and Henry’s personalities shine through in their correspondence. You can’t help but experience all that they felt. The zoological genealogy software is intriguing. I have the same if not more endogamy in my father’s ancestors. The tangled ball of string in my family history could use that software, as I have thousands of DNA matches, where we’ve yet to find common ancestors, albeit we are close for some. A documentary please! Or Angie, when you exhaust your own family mysteries to research, I’d love you to help me untangle mine. (See book, The Star Creek Papers by Horace and Julia Bond-for some of that tangled string of my family) I’ve been working on it over 20 years. I need to learn some more genealogical research basics. Your book has taught me much, inspired me greatly, and touched my heart. I’m so happy for these 3 families whose past ancestors led the way to relationships and love today, and in the future. Btw, I pray Marilyn contacts Angie to express forgiveness and a softened heart. Loved this book!!
I am a glutton for genealogical fiction. I alternate between series by different authors. I stumbled onto THIS book, a true story of discovering a family’s history and connections. It is both miraculous and a blessing. I couldn’t put it down! When I was away from it, it called me like a siren. While I was reading it, life and all in it faded away. I loved everything about it. And everyone was/are real people. My favorite parts are the pictures and the diagrams that enhance the experience for those that get clarity and delight through the visual. Angela Bier is an amazing and compelling writer. In this case, truth is better than fiction. Who could’ve even thought this up?!! And Kathleen and Henry’s personalities shine through in their correspondence. You can’t help but experience all that they felt. The zoological genealogy software is intriguing. I have the same if not more endogamy in my father’s ancestors. The tangled ball of string in my family history could use that software, as I have thousands of DNA matches, where we’ve yet to find common ancestors, albeit we are close for some. A documentary please! Or Angie, when you exhaust your own family mysteries to research, I’d love you to help me untangle mine. (See book, The Star Creek Papers by Horace and Julia Bond-for some of that tangled string of my family) I’ve been working on it over 20 years. I need to learn some more genealogical research basics. Your book has taught me much, inspired me greatly, and touched my heart. I’m so happy for these 3 families whose past ancestors led the way to relationships and love today, and in the future. Btw, I pray Marilyn contacts Angie to express forgiveness and a softened heart. Loved this book!!
October 29, 2022
Confusing and Difficult To Finish
Although interesting the author offered too much minutia that made this a very confusing read. Brevity should have been used in the final edit. So much minutia made this difficult to finish. Came close to giving up multiple times. If there is ever a 2nd edition there is a lot of work to do!
Although interesting the author offered too much minutia that made this a very confusing read. Brevity should have been used in the final edit. So much minutia made this difficult to finish. Came close to giving up multiple times. If there is ever a 2nd edition there is a lot of work to do!
August 14, 2023
Good Storyline
I like reading Genealogist stories because they all use people we may or may not know. I thought it was great that you wrote a book on this storyline! Great story and most of us have to confess that we knew about parish priests having liaisons with children under eighteen years of age! Sometimes it was even with their own sexuality and children aren't always aware that anything was going on. I think it's perfectly fine that Ginny was the one he chose as he was comfortable around her. A priest needs someone sometimes to bring out their frustration to or to talk things out with. Kathleen and Henry were lucky to ha found out who their parents were and that their family wants them around!
I like reading Genealogist stories because they all use people we may or may not know. I thought it was great that you wrote a book on this storyline! Great story and most of us have to confess that we knew about parish priests having liaisons with children under eighteen years of age! Sometimes it was even with their own sexuality and children aren't always aware that anything was going on. I think it's perfectly fine that Ginny was the one he chose as he was comfortable around her. A priest needs someone sometimes to bring out their frustration to or to talk things out with. Kathleen and Henry were lucky to ha found out who their parents were and that their family wants them around!
November 24, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I love genealogy and family history and mysteries are one of my favourite genres. The search for a birth parent can be a long and difficult journey, and it was interesting to follow the story of how several cousins collaborated to solve a family mystery through the use of DNA testing and solid genealogical and family research. It was surprising to read that the author resisted DNA testing, considering it a lazy approach to genealogy and family history. Of course, nothing could be further from the truth! As Bier found, sometimes a DNA test result raises even more questions. The story has some surprising twists and while, many of us might hope for a follow-up book, that may be beyond the author's control.
November 19, 2024
This was a well-written interesting true story about how an amateur, but experienced, genealogist helped solve the mystery of a woman's parentage using conventional genealogy and dna findings. Kathleen was adopted, and later in her life, figured out through dna matches, who her mother was and also that her biological father was a priest. She contacted Angela, a dna match, for help. It was a tangled mystery, because the family had a number of possible priest candidates. In the process, Kathleen found a full brother, and a myriad of cousins who were were warm and supportive about learning they had new cousins to add to their family.
As an amateur genealogist myself, I really enjoyed this story.
As an amateur genealogist myself, I really enjoyed this story.
August 13, 2022
Really enjoyed this true tale of a friend who had a woman pop up on her radar screen through the world of genealogy. Thus was born a Wisconsin detective story to uncover the parents of a child given up for adoption. Was the father really a priest? Definitely some interesting twists along the way.
A casual writing style peppered with fierce intelligence and wit.
Highly recommend.
Brava to the author!
A casual writing style peppered with fierce intelligence and wit.
Highly recommend.
Brava to the author!
January 11, 2023
While The Accidental Archivist is an enjoyable read, it is also packed with valuable information. As a family researcher, I was particularly appreciative that Angela Bier put emphasis on the importance of building a story around an ancestor, rather than just finding names, dates, and locations. If a novice genealogist were to read this book, it would give them guidance as to the many places to search for information on the lives of their ancestor.
August 7, 2023
DNA journey
What a sincere and wonderful story of the truth found in the spit of these people. Their story brings to light the curiosity and yearning of those who seek where they came from, who they came from. And it’s told with warmth and love. I’m happy they found family that has warmly brought them into the fold.
What a sincere and wonderful story of the truth found in the spit of these people. Their story brings to light the curiosity and yearning of those who seek where they came from, who they came from. And it’s told with warmth and love. I’m happy they found family that has warmly brought them into the fold.
July 27, 2025
I loved The Accidental Archivist! The Wisconsin references made it feel so grounded and familiar, and the detailed investigative work was fascinating. Angela Bier does a beautiful job combining DNA tools with old-school archival digging to help people find their birth parents, and the story is told with so much empathy and heart. A moving, true family-history mystery.
September 24, 2022
Really engaging read by the wife of a high school classmate who has chronicled her investigation into her family’s genealogical background. We all have interest in family history, and a few details make this true story especially delightful, and surprisingly suspenseful!
May 12, 2023
fascinating!
I love true stories, and this one is a page turner! By the end of the book you will feel like you’ve joined these families, as well as the adoptees who did through genetics and genealogy! Highly recommend
I love true stories, and this one is a page turner! By the end of the book you will feel like you’ve joined these families, as well as the adoptees who did through genetics and genealogy! Highly recommend
June 18, 2023
unbelievable but true story
Angela is a fantastic writer and this true story reads like a mystery story. By her diligence and persistence she and a small
Group of family discovered the truth of adoption of two of her cousins
Angela is a fantastic writer and this true story reads like a mystery story. By her diligence and persistence she and a small
Group of family discovered the truth of adoption of two of her cousins
November 28, 2023
A Gripping, Informative Study!
As an amateur genealogist/family historian myself, I devoured this book, and highly recommend it to anyone who is researching their own family history.
As an amateur genealogist/family historian myself, I devoured this book, and highly recommend it to anyone who is researching their own family history.
December 29, 2023
Wonderful book
This book is right up my alley. I have been a genealogist for over 40 years , and I'm a sucker for stories such as this. A very well written book that keeps you interested every step of the way.
This book is right up my alley. I have been a genealogist for over 40 years , and I'm a sucker for stories such as this. A very well written book that keeps you interested every step of the way.
May 31, 2024
Fantastic Story!
As the only person in my family who isn't adopted, I'm always interested in adoption stories. This one had the additional factor of being bound up with Roman Catholicism. A very interesting read!
As the only person in my family who isn't adopted, I'm always interested in adoption stories. This one had the additional factor of being bound up with Roman Catholicism. A very interesting read!
January 11, 2025
This book was interesting, but there was too much information. Too many names. too confusing. Basically the author was helping a woman search for her biological father. That's fine for the author and her client, but there was not much in the book that was of interest to me.
July 23, 2022
excellent family-tree mystery!
This is a great book! Well written and researched! Family trees are so interesting and complex!! The Father mystery was so intriguing!
This is a great book! Well written and researched! Family trees are so interesting and complex!! The Father mystery was so intriguing!
October 9, 2022
What a very interesting read ! Stick with this book as in the beginning I nearly gave up !
November 9, 2023
Nope!
Did not like this at all!
The writing style was choppy and there was absolutely no editing done at all. Also formatting was skewed on kindle version. Pathetic!
Did not like this at all!
The writing style was choppy and there was absolutely no editing done at all. Also formatting was skewed on kindle version. Pathetic!
October 13, 2025
The Accidental Archivist by Angela Bier is a fascinating study of how this self-appointed family historian of a large extended family was notified by a cousin of a mysterious DNA match. Skeptical at first, Angela took on the task of working with this cousin and several others to get to know their new-found cousin and try to figure out how she fit into their giant jigsaw puzzle of a family tree. This adventure of discovery took her from her roots in Eastern Europe to various towns and communities in Wisconsin. In addition, her research unearthed a common and somewhat accepted practice in the Catholic Church whereby parish priests traditionally had dedicated housekeepers to look after them, but, at times, those relationships became very deep indeed.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews