Murderous Roots

Dangerous Journeys #1

by Virginia Winters

NEW EDITION - GOLD QUALITY MARK RECEIVED Scandal, blackmail, and murder haunt the small Vermont town of Culver's Mills. Pediatrician and amateur genealogist Anne McPhail seeks the history of her ancestors. She finds the dead body of librarian Jennifer Smith, the woman she planned to meet and her journey takes a dangerous detour into Jennifer's past of extortion and blackmail. Anne is drawn further into the investigation by detective Adam Davidson, to help him understand the genealogy and the possible motives behind the murder. Who among the elites in the small Vermont town of Culver's Mills has enough reason to kill—one of the founding families or a chiropractor, or a grandmother? Anne, a young widow, is attracted to local businessman Thomas Beauchamp, but will the investigation engulf his family as well? Genealogy in the midst of a murder investigation reveals secrets, secrets that threaten Anne's life, before she exposes the killer in their midst.

Genres: Mystery

188 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 28, 2009

About the author

Virginia Winters was born in Arnprior, Ontario, Canada and raised in the Ottawa Valley. After high school in Renfrew, another Valley town, she went down to Queens to study medicine, graduating in 1970. Fellowship in Pediatrics followed, with graduation in 1976. That year she and her husband, Internist George Winters, moved to Lindsay, Ontario with their two children, and have lived there ever since. Retired in 2010, she is busy writing sequels to The Jewelled Egg Murders and Painting of Sorrow as well as re-editing her first 4 books. Her interests in art and genealogy sparked many of her stories.
Dangerous Journeys series
1. Murderous Roots
2. The Facepainter Murders
3. No Motive for Murder
4. The Child on the Terrace
5. The Jewelled Egg Murders
6. A Superior Crime and other stories
7. Painting of Sorrow

Reviews

[Lynne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a great story, however there were so many editing and spelling mistakes that it took away from the story. I plan to read her second in the series and see if it is better edited.

[Marty Mcintyre · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting book. I enjoy the genre since I have been searching for my roots. This story was plausible and the setting in a quaint Vermont town lends itself well to the stereotype of snooty people wanting to keep their family trees unblemished. In to this setting comes a Canadian pediatrician searching for evidence of aboriginal people in her family tree. The library assistant/genealogist that she goes there to meet is found dead. What follows is a series of murders that can almost all be linked to family secrets. There were just too many people and too man threads that sometimes I forgot who the characters were. For that reason it only got 3 stars.
First books in a series tend to be that way so I will read the next to decide if it gets better.

[Wanda Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite a neat story

I enjoyed reading this cozy. Though I didn't enjoy the editing errors of which there are many. Me Winters writes well and her descriptions of places and scenery makes you want to visit. A good series, and I'm starting the second book now.

[Corine Kropp · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought the story line was a little too thin with too many extraneous subplots that rather than enhance the plot, just succeed in dragging it out needlessly. Way too many typos. Needs a really good proof reading with corrections.

[Tracey S Choat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genealogical mystery

I enjoy history and mystery. I enjoyed reading this book and plan to read the next in this series. This book is a good effort for a first novel but could use an editor.

[Loretta · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like a mystery with a genealogy twist thrown in, this is a winner

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Living on your own allows for a lot of reading time. I really enjoyed this book and the characters! Onto the next one ! Winter is great for reading !

[Agnes Bullock · Rating 3 out of 5]

Poor spelling and grammar

Poor spelling g and grammar made this challenging at times to figure out what was written. Poorly thought out ending