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The Pruning Murders: A Genetic Genealogy Murder Mystery
THE PRUNING MURDERSThey're dying in order. And their only connection is blood.
When a librarian in Munich dies in a "gas explosion," FBI Agent Angela Reeves notices something disturbing in the cold case the victim's DNA links her to an unsolved murder from 1997.
Then another match dies. Across the ocean. Different method. Same genetic signature.
Someone is hunting through family trees.
But why?
Forensic genealogist Dr. Dana Walsh has spent her career connecting the living to the dead through DNA. Now she's racing to map a killer's bloodline before the next name is crossed off—a twenty-year-old college student who has no idea she's being watched.
Texas Ranger Tom Salgado knows one this isn't random. The precision is surgical. The pattern is deliberate. And the killer has been doing this for decades.
Sometimes the most dangerous predators are the ones you're related to.
As public DNA databases become the newest weapon in both solving—and committing—murder, three investigators must learn to hunt in the shadows of inheritance. Because some family secrets don't stay buried.
They come back to kill you.
See what members of Goodreads has to
"The Pruning Murders isn’t just a thriller—it’s a warning. James Lefemine explores how tools meant to connect families can be exploited to destroy them, creating a story that feels chillingly realistic. Thought-provoking and pulse-pounding, this novel will appeal to readers who love dark thrillers that challenge both the mind and the conscience."
Hussain Al Meraj
"The Pruning Murders is a terrifyingly smart thriller that feels ripped straight from tomorrow’s headlines. James Lefemine takes the concept of forensic genealogy—something most of us associate with family trees and ancestry kits—and twists it into a weapon of obsession and control. The idea of a killer using DNA databases to hunt down his own bloodline is deeply unsettling, and Lefemine doesn’t shy away from the moral and psychological darkness behind it. This is a fast-paced, intellectually provocative thriller that lingers long after the final page."
Selina Dawson
"Relentless, Riveting, and Impossible to Put Down. The emotional currents running beneath the action elevate the story beyond a typical thriller. Fans of Jeffery Deaver and Karin Slaughter will be right at home."
Shmuel Yaccoby
When a librarian in Munich dies in a "gas explosion," FBI Agent Angela Reeves notices something disturbing in the cold case the victim's DNA links her to an unsolved murder from 1997.
Then another match dies. Across the ocean. Different method. Same genetic signature.
Someone is hunting through family trees.
But why?
Forensic genealogist Dr. Dana Walsh has spent her career connecting the living to the dead through DNA. Now she's racing to map a killer's bloodline before the next name is crossed off—a twenty-year-old college student who has no idea she's being watched.
Texas Ranger Tom Salgado knows one this isn't random. The precision is surgical. The pattern is deliberate. And the killer has been doing this for decades.
Sometimes the most dangerous predators are the ones you're related to.
As public DNA databases become the newest weapon in both solving—and committing—murder, three investigators must learn to hunt in the shadows of inheritance. Because some family secrets don't stay buried.
They come back to kill you.
See what members of Goodreads has to
"The Pruning Murders isn’t just a thriller—it’s a warning. James Lefemine explores how tools meant to connect families can be exploited to destroy them, creating a story that feels chillingly realistic. Thought-provoking and pulse-pounding, this novel will appeal to readers who love dark thrillers that challenge both the mind and the conscience."
Hussain Al Meraj
"The Pruning Murders is a terrifyingly smart thriller that feels ripped straight from tomorrow’s headlines. James Lefemine takes the concept of forensic genealogy—something most of us associate with family trees and ancestry kits—and twists it into a weapon of obsession and control. The idea of a killer using DNA databases to hunt down his own bloodline is deeply unsettling, and Lefemine doesn’t shy away from the moral and psychological darkness behind it. This is a fast-paced, intellectually provocative thriller that lingers long after the final page."
Selina Dawson
"Relentless, Riveting, and Impossible to Put Down. The emotional currents running beneath the action elevate the story beyond a typical thriller. Fans of Jeffery Deaver and Karin Slaughter will be right at home."
Shmuel Yaccoby
539 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 6, 2025
About the author
James Lefemine
6 books5 followersJames Lefemine, known affectionately as Jim to his friends, is a dedicated family man and passionate historian. Married over 40 years with two children and four grandchildren, Jim's interest in genealogy was sparked by the expansion of his own family, revealing a rich tapestry of ancestral stories. Since taking on the role of family historian in 2014, Jim has delved deep into his roots, meticulously researching and constructing a family tree that now boasts over 2,000 ancestors spanning many generations. This journey into his past has become a labor of love, with Jim dedicating many hours each month to further expanding his knowledge of his family history. Jim's passion for history extends beyond his own lineage. While researching family members who served in World War II, he became involved in broader historical projects. In 2014, he served as the Historical Researcher for "Red Tracers," the WWII Unit History Book of the 482nd AAA Battalion, written by Walt Cross.
Drawing on his father's military experiences, Jim authored and edited two books about WWII air combat units. The first, "319th Heavy Bombardment Squadron of the 90th Bombardment Group in the South-West Pacific," was re- published on September 20, 2014. His second project, "The Black Pirates: 400th Bomb Squadron in the Southwest Pacific, 1942-1944, followed shortly after on October 17, 2014.
In 2024 Jim published 3 books, all providing a unique perspective on genealogy, family tree building and the application of DNA Genealogy in criminal forensic investigations of cold cases. All three are currently available on Amazon.com: Roots And Branches, A Guide To Building Your Family Genealogy Tree; Roots And Branches II, A Guide To DNA Genealogy To Help Build Your Family Tree; and Revolutionizing Law Enforcement Investigations Through DNA Genealogy, Solving The Unsolvable Through Genetic Detective Work.
Jim’s newest book, just recently published in November 2025, is a genealogy murder mystery titled; The Pruning Murders.
Drawing on his father's military experiences, Jim authored and edited two books about WWII air combat units. The first, "319th Heavy Bombardment Squadron of the 90th Bombardment Group in the South-West Pacific," was re- published on September 20, 2014. His second project, "The Black Pirates: 400th Bomb Squadron in the Southwest Pacific, 1942-1944, followed shortly after on October 17, 2014.
In 2024 Jim published 3 books, all providing a unique perspective on genealogy, family tree building and the application of DNA Genealogy in criminal forensic investigations of cold cases. All three are currently available on Amazon.com: Roots And Branches, A Guide To Building Your Family Genealogy Tree; Roots And Branches II, A Guide To DNA Genealogy To Help Build Your Family Tree; and Revolutionizing Law Enforcement Investigations Through DNA Genealogy, Solving The Unsolvable Through Genetic Detective Work.
Jim’s newest book, just recently published in November 2025, is a genealogy murder mystery titled; The Pruning Murders.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
December 14, 2025
When Science Becomes a Weapon
What makes The Pruning Murders stand out is how disturbingly plausible it feels. James Lefemine expertly blends cutting-edge forensic science with classic serial-killer suspense, creating a story that feels both modern and timeless. The use of DNA databases and genealogy tools adds an eerie realism that makes every chapter feel urgent. Marcus Keene isn’t just evading capture—he’s rewriting his own ancestry, one death at a time. The investigative team is equally compelling, particularly Dr. Dana Walsh, whose work assembling family trees becomes a race against time. This isn’t just a thriller about murder; it’s about identity, inherited trauma, and how far someone will go to erase a past they can’t accept. Fans of smart, science-driven crime fiction will find this impossible to put down.
What makes The Pruning Murders stand out is how disturbingly plausible it feels. James Lefemine expertly blends cutting-edge forensic science with classic serial-killer suspense, creating a story that feels both modern and timeless. The use of DNA databases and genealogy tools adds an eerie realism that makes every chapter feel urgent. Marcus Keene isn’t just evading capture—he’s rewriting his own ancestry, one death at a time. The investigative team is equally compelling, particularly Dr. Dana Walsh, whose work assembling family trees becomes a race against time. This isn’t just a thriller about murder; it’s about identity, inherited trauma, and how far someone will go to erase a past they can’t accept. Fans of smart, science-driven crime fiction will find this impossible to put down.
December 14, 2025
A Relentless Game of Genetic Cat and Mouse
From its chilling premise to its globe-spanning pursuit, The Pruning Murders delivers nonstop tension. James Lefemine creates a terrifying antagonist in Marcus Keene—a man who uses invisibility, intelligence, and modern technology to stay one step ahead of the law. The novel shines in its ensemble cast of investigators, each bringing a different skill set to the hunt. Interpol agent Klara Voss and Texas Ranger Tom Salgado add grit and emotional weight, while FBI Agent Angela Reeves anchors the story with determination and urgency. The looming danger facing Maya Aldridge adds heart-pounding stakes, reminding readers that behind every genetic match is a real human life. This book is sharp, suspenseful, and disturbingly relevant in an era obsessed with DNA.
From its chilling premise to its globe-spanning pursuit, The Pruning Murders delivers nonstop tension. James Lefemine creates a terrifying antagonist in Marcus Keene—a man who uses invisibility, intelligence, and modern technology to stay one step ahead of the law. The novel shines in its ensemble cast of investigators, each bringing a different skill set to the hunt. Interpol agent Klara Voss and Texas Ranger Tom Salgado add grit and emotional weight, while FBI Agent Angela Reeves anchors the story with determination and urgency. The looming danger facing Maya Aldridge adds heart-pounding stakes, reminding readers that behind every genetic match is a real human life. This book is sharp, suspenseful, and disturbingly relevant in an era obsessed with DNA.
December 13, 2025
The Pruning Murders is a terrifyingly smart thriller that feels ripped straight from tomorrow’s headlines. James Lefemine takes the concept of forensic genealogy—something most of us associate with family trees and ancestry kits—and twists it into a weapon of obsession and control. The idea of a killer using DNA databases to hunt down his own bloodline is deeply unsettling, and Lefemine doesn’t shy away from the moral and psychological darkness behind it. The novel’s multiple perspectives, from FBI Agent Angela Reeves to the relentless Texas Ranger Tom Salgado, create a gripping cat-and-mouse chase across borders. Marcus Keene is especially haunting—not just a killer, but a man convinced he’s correcting history. This is a fast-paced, intellectually provocative thriller that lingers long after the final page.
December 15, 2025
The Pruning Murders isn’t just a thriller—it’s a warning. James Lefemine explores how tools meant to connect families can be exploited to destroy them, creating a story that feels chillingly realistic. The concept of erasing an entire bloodline is horrifying, but Lefemine grounds it in emotional and psychological depth, making Marcus Keene more than a one-dimensional villain. The investigation unfolds with precision, revealing how modern forensic genealogy is reshaping criminal justice. Every revelation tightens the tension, and the race to stop Marcus before he completes his “mission” is gripping to the very end. Thought-provoking and pulse-pounding, this novel will appeal to readers who love dark thrillers that challenge both the mind and the conscience.
December 10, 2025
Terrifyingly Plausible and Utterly Compelling
This book got under my skin in the best possible way. The Pruning Murders blends suspense, science, and psychology into a gripping narrative that feels uncomfortably realistic. The concept of “pruning” a bloodline through genetic tracking is unlike anything I’ve seen in crime fiction. Marcus Keene’s motivations are chilling, but grounded enough to make him feel real. The ensemble cast of investigators provides balance—each with personal stakes and specialized strengths that enrich the story. Lefemine’s pacing is sharp, his world-building incredibly immersive, and the tension expertly sustained. If you want a thriller that leaves you thinking long after you finish, this is it.
This book got under my skin in the best possible way. The Pruning Murders blends suspense, science, and psychology into a gripping narrative that feels uncomfortably realistic. The concept of “pruning” a bloodline through genetic tracking is unlike anything I’ve seen in crime fiction. Marcus Keene’s motivations are chilling, but grounded enough to make him feel real. The ensemble cast of investigators provides balance—each with personal stakes and specialized strengths that enrich the story. Lefemine’s pacing is sharp, his world-building incredibly immersive, and the tension expertly sustained. If you want a thriller that leaves you thinking long after you finish, this is it.
December 10, 2025
A Razor-Sharp Thriller with a Terrifyingly Real Edge”
The Pruning Murders delivers a fresh jolt to the crime-thriller genre. James Lefemine masterfully fuses forensic genealogy with relentless psychological suspense, crafting a story that feels disturbingly possible. Marcus Keene is a cold, calculated villain whose mission to erase his own bloodline is as chilling as it is original, and the investigative team—Reeves, Walsh, Salgado, and Voss—brings heart, grit, and intelligence to the chase. Fast-paced, gripping, and eerily timely, this is a modern thriller that lingers long after the final page.
The Pruning Murders delivers a fresh jolt to the crime-thriller genre. James Lefemine masterfully fuses forensic genealogy with relentless psychological suspense, crafting a story that feels disturbingly possible. Marcus Keene is a cold, calculated villain whose mission to erase his own bloodline is as chilling as it is original, and the investigative team—Reeves, Walsh, Salgado, and Voss—brings heart, grit, and intelligence to the chase. Fast-paced, gripping, and eerily timely, this is a modern thriller that lingers long after the final page.
December 9, 2025
James Lefemine delivers an unusually sharp and intelligent thriller here. The Pruning Murders dives into the world of genealogy and DNA technology with a level of detail that feels both educational and frighteningly real. The idea of a killer weaponizing genetic databases is not just creative—it’s eerily timely. I enjoyed how the story doesn’t rely solely on violence but on psychological tension, moral conflict, and scientific intrigue. Each investigator brings something essential to the chase, and Maya Aldridge’s unwitting role adds emotional weight. This book is perfect for readers who enjoy thrillers grounded in modern science and ethical complexity.
December 8, 2025
🔰🔰🔰 A Chilling Masterpiece of DNA and Darkness 🔰🔰🔰
The Pruning Murders is one of those rare thrillers that grabs you by the throat from the opening page and never lets up. James Lefemine expertly blends cutting-edge forensic genealogy with the classic cat-and-mouse intensity of a seasoned serial-killer chase. What makes this book so gripping is how disturbingly plausible it feels—someone using public DNA tools to erase their own bloodline? Terrifying. The characters—Agent Angela Reeves, Dr. Dana Walsh, Tom Salgado, and Klara Voss—form a compelling, deeply human investigative team you want to root for. The pacing is relentless, the twists smart, and Marcus Keene is one of the most haunting antagonists I’ve read in years.
The Pruning Murders is one of those rare thrillers that grabs you by the throat from the opening page and never lets up. James Lefemine expertly blends cutting-edge forensic genealogy with the classic cat-and-mouse intensity of a seasoned serial-killer chase. What makes this book so gripping is how disturbingly plausible it feels—someone using public DNA tools to erase their own bloodline? Terrifying. The characters—Agent Angela Reeves, Dr. Dana Walsh, Tom Salgado, and Klara Voss—form a compelling, deeply human investigative team you want to root for. The pacing is relentless, the twists smart, and Marcus Keene is one of the most haunting antagonists I’ve read in years.
December 10, 2025
A Smart, Atmospheric Thriller for the DNA Age 🔥
What impressed me most about The Pruning Murders is how deeply researched and atmospheric it is. Lefemine builds a chilling, believable world where DNA databases—usually tools of connection—become instruments of destruction in the hands of a ghostlike assassin. The narrative moves seamlessly between the killer’s methodical path and the investigators’ race to decode his patterns. Dana Walsh’s expertise adds intellectual depth, while Texas Ranger Tom Salgado brings raw emotional grit after surviving Marcus’s brutality. The suspense builds layer by layer until the final confrontation feels both inevitable and shocking. A truly modern thriller for today’s tech-driven world. 🔥
What impressed me most about The Pruning Murders is how deeply researched and atmospheric it is. Lefemine builds a chilling, believable world where DNA databases—usually tools of connection—become instruments of destruction in the hands of a ghostlike assassin. The narrative moves seamlessly between the killer’s methodical path and the investigators’ race to decode his patterns. Dana Walsh’s expertise adds intellectual depth, while Texas Ranger Tom Salgado brings raw emotional grit after surviving Marcus’s brutality. The suspense builds layer by layer until the final confrontation feels both inevitable and shocking. A truly modern thriller for today’s tech-driven world. 🔥
December 9, 2025
Relentless, Riveting, and Impossible to Put Down
From chapter one, The Pruning Murders establishes itself as a high-stakes international pursuit with chilling stakes. Marcus Keene is a villain who is terrifying not because he’s chaotic, but because he’s calculated—driven by a warped, almost philosophical mission. The global scope of the hunt keeps the tension alive, while the forensic genealogy component gives the story a unique and fascinating edge. Angela Reeves and her team feel real—flawed, determined, and fully human. The emotional currents running beneath the action elevate the story beyond a typical thriller. Fans of Jeffery Deaver and Karin Slaughter will be right at home.
From chapter one, The Pruning Murders establishes itself as a high-stakes international pursuit with chilling stakes. Marcus Keene is a villain who is terrifying not because he’s chaotic, but because he’s calculated—driven by a warped, almost philosophical mission. The global scope of the hunt keeps the tension alive, while the forensic genealogy component gives the story a unique and fascinating edge. Angela Reeves and her team feel real—flawed, determined, and fully human. The emotional currents running beneath the action elevate the story beyond a typical thriller. Fans of Jeffery Deaver and Karin Slaughter will be right at home.
January 5, 2026
There's way too many red flags of AI slop all around. -_-
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews