George and Grace O'Bannion retired to Virginia's rural Northern Neck, a rolling land laced with many creeks and small rivers. Grace is a retired Army Intelligence officer and George a retired history professor and author of a successful series of historical novels. A very old man, last of a Virginia family tracing back to the 1600s is found murdered in his two century old plantation home. George, doing research for a second historical fiction series, becomes involved when it appears a potentially very valuable but hidden archive of family records may have provided a motive. Gradually, a tale of generations of murder, betrayal, exploitation and manipulation come to light.
I think I would have enjoyed this book more if I had read the previous 2 books in the series. This is the 3rd book in the Northern Neck Mystery series. I picked this one because it's set in Virginia, very near my location. Grace and George have retired to this rural area so George can do research for his next historical novel. He had hopes of researching the family archive of a very old Virginia family. The last member of the family is found dead before he can do his research. Many dark family secrets are uncovered.