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The Fourth Descendant
When Michelle receives a call from a Richmond historian, she sees the chance for a much-needed adventure. All she has to do is find a century-old key.
Three others – a guitarist, an engineer, and a retiree – receive similar calls. Each family possesses a key to a four-lock safe found buried in a Virginia courthouse, though their connection is as mysterious as the safe itself. Their ancestors should not have interacted, had no apparent reason to bury the safe, and should not have disappeared thereafter.
Bearing their keys, Michelle and the other descendants converge in the courthouse basement and open the safe, revealing the truth about their ancestors - a truth stranger, more deadly, and potentially more world-changing than any of them could have imagined. Now it’s up to them to keep their discovery out of the wrong hands.
Three others – a guitarist, an engineer, and a retiree – receive similar calls. Each family possesses a key to a four-lock safe found buried in a Virginia courthouse, though their connection is as mysterious as the safe itself. Their ancestors should not have interacted, had no apparent reason to bury the safe, and should not have disappeared thereafter.
Bearing their keys, Michelle and the other descendants converge in the courthouse basement and open the safe, revealing the truth about their ancestors - a truth stranger, more deadly, and potentially more world-changing than any of them could have imagined. Now it’s up to them to keep their discovery out of the wrong hands.
306 pages, Paperback
First published January 30, 2015
601 people are currently reading
1446 people want to read
About the author
Allison Maruska
21 books126 followersAllison is a YA and mystery/suspense author, blogger, teacher, mom, wife, coffee and wine consumer, and owl enthusiast. Her blog includes humor posts, short stories, and posts on writing strategy, parenting, and teaching.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews
May 16, 2015
There is a case for having a model of what Multiculturalism in literature should look like and author, Allison Maruska has crafted it in this well-written, character driven, mystery novel. The Fourth descendant performs on this level flawlessly and every other level as well. I’m not one to usually speak on race in reviews because I think it only causes the problem to persist, but it deserves mentioning that Maruska is a white author who has created 4 diverse protagonists who have non-traditional characteristics. In other words, she has literally obliterated stereotypes in this compelling story. This effect is so profound that it took me four chapters to get it in my thick head the ethnicity of the characters and during a second read … you heard me right, even during a second read, I made an assumption the main characters were, again, white (except one and when you read it, you will know why) because the author is white. This was humbling as I thought I was immune to these chains.
Above and beyond that, The fourth descendant is a great story that keeps you guessing … usually wrong. It takes you places you never expect to go, which makes for a fun ride, but make no mistake this is a serious novel. The characters are well-developed in this easy read, but more importantly they grow, they change, they evolve, and that’s where the real games begin. This story has just about everything: mystery, murder, suspense, love, very passionate love that tugs at your heart strings (bring some tissue), and even comedic relief. I’ve followed Maruska’s blog which includes humorous posts. This extends to The Fourth Descendant with quick-witted lines like, “Jackson sat in a booster seat next to her, throwing Cheerios onto the floor and occasionally getting one into his mouth.”
Maruska’s prose is extremely tight as she blends vivid descriptions, subtle actions, and snappy, authentic dialogue in single passages giving the story great cinematic appeal. Maruska also masterful wields a third-person point of view and at same time tells the story from four different perspectives. I read a lot of stories, and I wouldn’t be going overboard in saying this is one of the very best I’ve read. Five stars plus for The Fourth Descendant!
Above and beyond that, The fourth descendant is a great story that keeps you guessing … usually wrong. It takes you places you never expect to go, which makes for a fun ride, but make no mistake this is a serious novel. The characters are well-developed in this easy read, but more importantly they grow, they change, they evolve, and that’s where the real games begin. This story has just about everything: mystery, murder, suspense, love, very passionate love that tugs at your heart strings (bring some tissue), and even comedic relief. I’ve followed Maruska’s blog which includes humorous posts. This extends to The Fourth Descendant with quick-witted lines like, “Jackson sat in a booster seat next to her, throwing Cheerios onto the floor and occasionally getting one into his mouth.”
Maruska’s prose is extremely tight as she blends vivid descriptions, subtle actions, and snappy, authentic dialogue in single passages giving the story great cinematic appeal. Maruska also masterful wields a third-person point of view and at same time tells the story from four different perspectives. I read a lot of stories, and I wouldn’t be going overboard in saying this is one of the very best I’ve read. Five stars plus for The Fourth Descendant!
February 5, 2016
The concept sounded interesting, so I picked up this book for free on Kindle. I'm so glad it was free, because the premise quickly turned to a steaming pile of idiocy. It's sort of like watching a horror movie and screaming "WHAT ARE YOU DOING DON'T DO THAT" at the screen again and again, as the characters continue to make stupid choice after stupid choice.
The improbable things counter:
I wanted to give up on this book, but I refuse to let it beat me. Instead I'm bitching about it to my wife as I'm reading it, which helps me get through it.
It's very likely that I am not the intended audience for this book. Like hangnails, I pick at plot holes until they bleed. I don't (as a general rule) like mystery/thriller books of the grocery-store variety. I like advanced character development. If I can't understand why a character is doing something, it's pretty much a guarantee I'll hate the book. And I understand precisely none of these characters, so this book fell super flat for me.
The shortest summary of this book I can give is simply: what the fuck, Sharon?
The improbable things counter:
I wanted to give up on this book, but I refuse to let it beat me. Instead I'm bitching about it to my wife as I'm reading it, which helps me get through it.
It's very likely that I am not the intended audience for this book. Like hangnails, I pick at plot holes until they bleed. I don't (as a general rule) like mystery/thriller books of the grocery-store variety. I like advanced character development. If I can't understand why a character is doing something, it's pretty much a guarantee I'll hate the book. And I understand precisely none of these characters, so this book fell super flat for me.
The shortest summary of this book I can give is simply: what the fuck, Sharon?
March 12, 2015
The Fourth Descendant is a fast-paced, creative mystery story. It picks up quickly, although in the very first chapters of the book there is some repetition of similar events as the four protagonists are introduced. This part could have been edited down. Once the introductions are over with the plot twists enter the picture; and there are a lot of them! Every time I thought I had figured the author's mind out and could guess where the story was going to go, something entirely different happened. This is truly the book's forte; by the end I felt like anything could happen, and nobody was safe. At the same time, particularly in the beginning of the story the dramatic moments could have been milked even more - as it was I thought some moments with a lot of potential didn't quite get the firepower they merited. I had no such complaints by the end of the book, however - I must admit that parts of the final chapters actually had me in tears. If you are in want of a mystery but still want a light read, you should give this new release a try.
January 11, 2021
Good premise, not so well told.
Things I didn’t like:
Cluttered repetitious beginning.
Dave - this made no srnse
Jonah - why?
Sharon - nothing she did made any sense
Michelle/Mark/Damien. There was no point in any of this. Except if it takes a fling to make someone realize they are abused, I doubt the guy would leave so easily and give you the kids.
Damien - why?
130 year old people who share nothing about their lives
Alex - WTF?
Chris the river dude - There was no reason for him at all
Things I liked
Good premise.
Things I didn’t like:
Cluttered repetitious beginning.
Dave - this made no srnse
Jonah - why?
Sharon - nothing she did made any sense
Michelle/Mark/Damien. There was no point in any of this. Except if it takes a fling to make someone realize they are abused, I doubt the guy would leave so easily and give you the kids.
Damien - why?
130 year old people who share nothing about their lives
Alex - WTF?
Chris the river dude - There was no reason for him at all
Things I liked
Good premise.
November 24, 2021
Something happened 100 years ago . 4 men hid a secret and hoped that 100 years later it would be found and protected. so to ensure the find they gave a key to one person in each family of the 4 men. 100 years later it is found but to open it it would take the 4 keys . so a search was found of each descendant that had kept the key and had it handed down to them 100 years. The story line is amazing and it has a surprising ending. this is a good read especially for the younger generations.
July 12, 2017
Needless to say, I was excited to find out that I had won two books signed by the author in Dan Alatorre’s First Word Weaver Contest in May 2017. The first book I delved into was, The Fourth Descendant. I loved it so much, I had to review it.
The story begins by introducing the reader to four different people, whom each receives a call from Alex Pratt, a representative from the Richmond Historical Society requesting his or her presence to help solve a mystery.
Recently, the city had done some renovations to the courthouse where they found buried beneath the floorboards a wooden box that contained a mysterious letter giving directions to a safe built into the basement wall that included four deadbolts.
Also included in the letter, was the puzzling information that each of the four letter signer’s descendants would possess the keys to open the deadbolts. All four keys were needed to open the locks at the same time.
The four descendants are unusual. Michelle Jensen is a wife and mother, the descendant of a Chinese immigrant. Jonah, a guitarist, is the descendant of a freed African slave. Damien, an engineer, is the descendant of an Irish immigrant; and Sharon Ellis, a widower, the direct descendant of an original English Colonist.
The four individuals have nothing in common except for the fact that somehow their ancestors had collaborated on something of great importance. Each of them agrees to pursue the mystery of the four keys.
Little do they know, but the secrets revealed to the four descendants lead them into discovering not only their ancestor’s pasts but their own futures. I found the characters to be well developed and realistic in their endeavors.
This book is an incredible mystery filled with suspense that drips off the pages much like a Dean Koontz novel. I could not put it down. Filled with twists and turns, this saga will keep you on your toes trying to figure out what happens next. The ending was not what I expected!
MY RATING:
Character Believability: 5
Flow and Pace: 5
Reader Engagement: 5
Reader Enrichment: 5
Reader Enjoyment: 5
Overall Rate: 5 out of 5 stars
The story begins by introducing the reader to four different people, whom each receives a call from Alex Pratt, a representative from the Richmond Historical Society requesting his or her presence to help solve a mystery.
Recently, the city had done some renovations to the courthouse where they found buried beneath the floorboards a wooden box that contained a mysterious letter giving directions to a safe built into the basement wall that included four deadbolts.
Also included in the letter, was the puzzling information that each of the four letter signer’s descendants would possess the keys to open the deadbolts. All four keys were needed to open the locks at the same time.
The four descendants are unusual. Michelle Jensen is a wife and mother, the descendant of a Chinese immigrant. Jonah, a guitarist, is the descendant of a freed African slave. Damien, an engineer, is the descendant of an Irish immigrant; and Sharon Ellis, a widower, the direct descendant of an original English Colonist.
The four individuals have nothing in common except for the fact that somehow their ancestors had collaborated on something of great importance. Each of them agrees to pursue the mystery of the four keys.
Little do they know, but the secrets revealed to the four descendants lead them into discovering not only their ancestor’s pasts but their own futures. I found the characters to be well developed and realistic in their endeavors.
This book is an incredible mystery filled with suspense that drips off the pages much like a Dean Koontz novel. I could not put it down. Filled with twists and turns, this saga will keep you on your toes trying to figure out what happens next. The ending was not what I expected!
MY RATING:
Character Believability: 5
Flow and Pace: 5
Reader Engagement: 5
Reader Enrichment: 5
Reader Enjoyment: 5
Overall Rate: 5 out of 5 stars
March 23, 2015
Reviewed by Michelle Stanley for Readers Favorite
The Fourth Descendant is a historical mystery by Allison Maruska. A Richmond historian contacts Sharon, Jonah, Damien and Michelle with incredible news that changes their lives forever. An old letter found in a historic courthouse links these strangers. The letter states that keys entrusted to the families by their ancestors over a century ago will unlock a hidden safe in the courthouse. The perplexed descendants travel to Richmond and open the safe. They find a map and a mason jar filled with a white powdery substance. The unexpected contents and baffling revelations surrounding their ancestry raise more shocking questions than giving answers about their relatives who went missing from their families. Another historian steals the jar and kidnaps Sharon, who makes a deadly decision to keep the jar and its powerful contents hidden from her captor and the other descendants.
Allison Maruska has taken me on an amazing historical adventure in The Fourth Descendant. The blurb drew my interest but still did not prepare me for some parts with very ingenious twists. The story is even more fascinating because the author has expertly written a novel in a way that put me at ease with a well-defined plot and interesting characters. The main characters have personal problems they struggle with and this new development allows them to consider making serious decisions that could bring adverse changes into their lives and those of the people they love. The Fourth Descendant by Allison Maruska is an intriguing historical fiction that is also touching when characters reminisce about the past.
The Fourth Descendant is a historical mystery by Allison Maruska. A Richmond historian contacts Sharon, Jonah, Damien and Michelle with incredible news that changes their lives forever. An old letter found in a historic courthouse links these strangers. The letter states that keys entrusted to the families by their ancestors over a century ago will unlock a hidden safe in the courthouse. The perplexed descendants travel to Richmond and open the safe. They find a map and a mason jar filled with a white powdery substance. The unexpected contents and baffling revelations surrounding their ancestry raise more shocking questions than giving answers about their relatives who went missing from their families. Another historian steals the jar and kidnaps Sharon, who makes a deadly decision to keep the jar and its powerful contents hidden from her captor and the other descendants.
Allison Maruska has taken me on an amazing historical adventure in The Fourth Descendant. The blurb drew my interest but still did not prepare me for some parts with very ingenious twists. The story is even more fascinating because the author has expertly written a novel in a way that put me at ease with a well-defined plot and interesting characters. The main characters have personal problems they struggle with and this new development allows them to consider making serious decisions that could bring adverse changes into their lives and those of the people they love. The Fourth Descendant by Allison Maruska is an intriguing historical fiction that is also touching when characters reminisce about the past.
July 28, 2016
I hesitate to call this "mystery" or "suspense" because it didn't elicit that strong of an emotional response, but it mostly falls into those categories. It's a good basic premise, although the writing feels like a poor first draft that is not fleshed out. The characters are interesting, but entirely too flat for what they could have been. I had trouble defining any personality differences between the two main male characters, even up until the end, because other than their basic physical description, there was nothing in their interactions to give them any distinction.
The basic ending, that of how the whole mystery played out, was "meh" and only somewhat feasible (science aside, of course). The endings for a couple of characters were so ridiculous as to be laughable .
It's an ok first effort, but mediocre in execution. I encourage the author's creativity, but would encourage the story to be more developed and the characters deepened a bit in her next effort.
The basic ending, that of how the whole mystery played out, was "meh" and only somewhat feasible (science aside, of course). The endings for a couple of characters were so ridiculous as to be laughable .
It's an ok first effort, but mediocre in execution. I encourage the author's creativity, but would encourage the story to be more developed and the characters deepened a bit in her next effort.
February 5, 2015
Excellent read by newcomer Allison Maruska! I read The Fourth Descendant in one sitting because I just couldn't put it down!! I was hooked from the first intro and the plot twists that kept me so engaged I couldn't wait to turn the page. The characters are well developed and make you feel their joy, angst, fear, etc. throughout the adventure they lead you on. Maruska uses history, family loyalty, and love to create a fast paced mystery that leaves you on the edge of your seat. You will not be disappointed in this book! I can't wait to read more from Maruska!
July 1, 2015
The Fourth Descendant is the epitome of literary fiction, a well-written novel that allows the reader to embark on a wonderful story. The concept enables talented author Allison Maruska to create distinctive characters with unique voices and to thread these characters into a mysterious odyssey full of twists and turns. The protagonists are fully fleshed out and the reader becomes privy to their emotions and actions as the plot unfolds. Just when the reader thinks she knows what's going to happen next, she is left amazed. I highly recommend this extremely enjoyable read.
August 4, 2015
The Fourth Descendent is a fast-paced mystery in which four strangers come together. The link between them is missing keys, handed down by their ancestors. All four keys are required to open a safe…
The characters were well developed and felt real and I enjoyed the many twists and turns - the author kept me guessing right to the end. The book had the feel of a good yarn and it reminded me of ‘National Treasure’ in some ways. It would make a great movie. Highly recommended.
The characters were well developed and felt real and I enjoyed the many twists and turns - the author kept me guessing right to the end. The book had the feel of a good yarn and it reminded me of ‘National Treasure’ in some ways. It would make a great movie. Highly recommended.
April 17, 2015
I received a copy of this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
The first thing I need to say about "The Fourth Descendant" is that it is an amazingly fast read.
I can't fault Allison Maruska's writing... although there seem to be a couple of holes in the plot, which I don't want to mention here (no spoilers!).
Interesting. Thought-provoking. Entertaining.
Yep. A good read.
The first thing I need to say about "The Fourth Descendant" is that it is an amazingly fast read.
I can't fault Allison Maruska's writing... although there seem to be a couple of holes in the plot, which I don't want to mention here (no spoilers!).
Interesting. Thought-provoking. Entertaining.
Yep. A good read.
June 28, 2015
The Fourth Descendant
I really enjoyed this book. The characters were easy to relate to and very likable. The story was quick to involve me and keep me up reading late at night until I finished it. I have a close affinity for anything to do with keys, so this definitely grabbed my attention. I can't wait to read more books by this author.
I really enjoyed this book. The characters were easy to relate to and very likable. The story was quick to involve me and keep me up reading late at night until I finished it. I have a close affinity for anything to do with keys, so this definitely grabbed my attention. I can't wait to read more books by this author.
June 11, 2016
This book started out with so much potential. Sigh, it needed to be 100 pages longer to develop the characters more. Things happened too fast. You're like "wait, what"? They didn't make sense. I don't want to say to much and give out spoilers so think of this as a harlequin of historical thrillers and you won't be disappointed.
March 30, 2017
Very good
The Fourth Descendant is a very good story. It certainly made me view "big pharmacy" in a different light. There are truly some things that should be left alone. I really enjoyed reading this book.
The Fourth Descendant is a very good story. It certainly made me view "big pharmacy" in a different light. There are truly some things that should be left alone. I really enjoyed reading this book.
October 31, 2015
Got sillier and sillier
I stopped reading midway because the plot was not believable and the characters acted in ways that seemed unlikely. The bones of something interesting may there, but it needs so much more work to be a successful book.
I stopped reading midway because the plot was not believable and the characters acted in ways that seemed unlikely. The bones of something interesting may there, but it needs so much more work to be a successful book.
February 28, 2015
This is a great story with plot twists, character development and an historical angle. Allison is the next big thing in authors and I recommend everyone read everything she puts out!
February 12, 2017
Yuk!
What was the point? No plot really. I did not like this book at all. It had absolutely no point to it.
What was the point? No plot really. I did not like this book at all. It had absolutely no point to it.
September 2, 2017
You know its not a very good book when you keep looking to see how much longer until it ends.....
This book was full of so many unbelievable circumstances from the first.....the premise it that descendents of four families 3 to 4 generations later all get contacted to find special keys that open a safe. All four people contacted miraculously found the keys after 100 years....and on the first try. It went downhill from there, from 4 totally unrelated, unknown people to form a close bond, to a woman who would kill to keep a secret about her great, great grandfather. To an undrealistic romance to a stupid ending. And the final indignity......was that they tried to make you believe that this stupid story was true and that this fictional account was really true. Arrgh.....only the rule of "no book once started, should remain unread" saved this book from the dustheap!
This book was full of so many unbelievable circumstances from the first.....the premise it that descendents of four families 3 to 4 generations later all get contacted to find special keys that open a safe. All four people contacted miraculously found the keys after 100 years....and on the first try. It went downhill from there, from 4 totally unrelated, unknown people to form a close bond, to a woman who would kill to keep a secret about her great, great grandfather. To an undrealistic romance to a stupid ending. And the final indignity......was that they tried to make you believe that this stupid story was true and that this fictional account was really true. Arrgh.....only the rule of "no book once started, should remain unread" saved this book from the dustheap!
June 9, 2015
I had to really force myself to get through this. I found large sections to be confusing and I never developed any interest in the characters. Their actions were baffling. I couldn't get into it.
May 9, 2016
Interesting story with good characters. I didn't quite understand why the "fourth descendant" went so haywire, but it was a good read with lots of suspense.
February 25, 2018
An interesting story lost in all the words...
I felt like the story took with great vigor, but slowly got lost and scattered in several different ideas. The diversity of the ancestors was very intriguing, but wasn't explained in great depth as to how they were all chosen and brought together. The love story between the descendants was a little distracting and didn't play to the central story arc. The neurosis of the one villainous character wasn't greatly explored. And finally the title isn't really reflective of the book...I feel it should be "Descendants"......
I felt like the story took with great vigor, but slowly got lost and scattered in several different ideas. The diversity of the ancestors was very intriguing, but wasn't explained in great depth as to how they were all chosen and brought together. The love story between the descendants was a little distracting and didn't play to the central story arc. The neurosis of the one villainous character wasn't greatly explored. And finally the title isn't really reflective of the book...I feel it should be "Descendants"......
April 28, 2020
The main problem with this book is that it didn't seem to be able to make up its mind what genre to be — mystery, suspense, romance, with even a bit of genealogy thrown in. I was attracted by the basic plot idea, but did not feel it was carried out well, and ended up feeling somewhat cheated, especially as some of it did not seem particularly believable. This is a story of ethics and the choices the various characters make in unusual situations.
March 16, 2020
Interesting premise that was not very well thought out. Characters not very well developed and acted rashly for very little reason. I did not find it believable and that is where this story let me down. And the ending was lame. Peeps have had over a hundred years to think about how to solve a problem and they come up with a lame solution?
July 7, 2022
I enjoyed The Fourth Descendant and I wanted to keep turning the pages. There were many twists and turns that caught me out and surprised me. The fact that four people set off to solve a mystery that entwines their families, intrigued me. What happened to each of them was quite poignant and plausible. Recommended for anyone who enjoys mysteries with a hint of history.
March 23, 2017
It's ok
Received this book as a gift. It is not my usual genre but well written and a mildly entertaining story. Not a book I'd personally read again but like I said earlier, not my preferred genre.
Received this book as a gift. It is not my usual genre but well written and a mildly entertaining story. Not a book I'd personally read again but like I said earlier, not my preferred genre.
February 9, 2019
Absolutely horrible.
I don’t write reviews often, but I am for this one to warn others not to waste their time on this book. The storyline was a good idea, however, the execution was horrific, and the writing was poor.
Please don’t waste your valuable time reading this book.
I don’t write reviews often, but I am for this one to warn others not to waste their time on this book. The storyline was a good idea, however, the execution was horrific, and the writing was poor.
Please don’t waste your valuable time reading this book.
February 3, 2020
I have a 13 year old great niece whose short stories are better than this book. It was awful--ridiculous plot, weak character development, unrealistic ending, soupy romance. I would not recommend this book to anyone -- save your $$.
May 9, 2020
This was a good read.
This book was interesting and captivating all at the same time. I couldn't out if down once I started it. I'd recommend it to anyone who wants a good book to read.
This book was interesting and captivating all at the same time. I couldn't out if down once I started it. I'd recommend it to anyone who wants a good book to read.
November 30, 2020
Four individuals from different parts of the country are brought together to unlock a mysterious safe. Before it's all over they will end up friends, and on a journey that will change their lives forever.
Great story, characters were diverse and seemed interesting.
Great story, characters were diverse and seemed interesting.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews